Hey guys :)
I just want to say THANK YOU to the amazing people who left me reviews :D 15 in 1 chapter (although not much by many other peoples standards) means a hell of a lot to me :) And because there was that many, thank you's will once again be at the bottom :P
Talk of reviews leads me to another point. I don't want to sound mean or ungrateful, because really I'm not. See, although I got 15 reviews last chapter, around 210 people read it. Around 10 people have already reviewed this story, who didn't review last chapter, so I'm discounting you because you have already reviewed at least once, which means a lot :) But that still leaves approximately 185 people who won't take a minute out of their time to write 'hey', and it really upsets me. I don't write for the reviews, but reviews make it worthwhile. It makes me feel like my story is appreciated. I do my best to give you a story with as minimal spelling and grammar errors as possible, with at least a half decent plot. Surely it isn't so much of me to ask you to give at least one review? You can't exactly give the excuse of 'I can't review!', because anyone can. What really irks me is when you favourite and don't review. Surely if you can click a button then you can also type a few words? I mean, you wouldn't go into a bookstore and walk out without paying for your book now, would you? Then why would you read a story without letting the author know your thoughts? I don't expect 185 reviews in one hit (that's just stupid), but I'd at least expect you to think about it. I'm not asking you to review every single chapter (although, I'm not averse to that idea XD) but maybe just once? It'd be really appreciated, and it means a lot.
Bottom A/N is important. Please read it :)
Story time! Oh, and nobody guessed who Shadow Man is. I can now die a happy girl :D
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Sasuke on the other hand... :D
Chapter 8
.:{*}:.
Speculations and Blame
March 28th
Dearest Diary.
'Tis my birthday today. I have only just woken up, and such is the time that the castle is still asleep. Sasuke has stopped trying to break my pelvis, and now we only have sex once or twice a night. Still a fair amount, but at least it is better than the eight to twelve times that it was previously!
We've been planning my escape… I still can't believe that Neji sent Naruto after me! Naruto told me that it was a secret mission, known only to Neji, my Lady Hinata, Naruto and I. He dyed his hair blood red, so no wonder I didn't recognise him. The poor dear has been dying for a cup of ramen… I'd nearly forgotten his silly little obsession with it. He told me that there are no good ramen shops in Otogakure. What he really means is that Ichiraku should expand… He is so funny. I tried explaining to him that Ichiraku cannot follow him wherever he goes. He has yet to understand why. My days are certainly brighter now that he is around.
I can't help but toss Ino's words round and round in my head. It disgusts me that someone could be so cruel as to say those sort of things. It makes me want to hit her, but I refuse to stoop to her level. How could she insult Yue like that? How could she mock the deaths of Sasuke's family? At first, I thought that Sasuke was just being prejudiced and stubborn, but now I know that his hatred for her is not without reason. For yes, that is what it is: Hatred. I can see it in his eyes whenever she is mentioned. He hates her.
Karin has thought of a few ways to call the marriage off. Her first idea - and one that I immediately declined - was actually allowing myself to fall pregnant to Sasuke's child. When she asked me why, I told her that I refused to be known as Sasuke's whore. I refuse to be known as the harlot who broke Sasuke's marriage to someone who could potentially get Otogakure out of debt. The second idea was to catch proof of Ino's infidelity. It is no secret that she sleeps around with other men, but she is very private about her affairs. 'Tis hypocritical, I know, seeing as Sasuke is sleeping with me whilst he is engaged (and I really hate that part of our… Whatever we are) but the public would be far less likely to accept a Queen who sleeps around, than their own Prince whom they know and love.
I suppose that for this day, at least, I should try and forget about all of these courtly matters. It is my birthday, after all.
Happy birthday to me…
A few hours later, Sasuke started to stir, holding the pink haired girl tighter against his chest. She, in turn, sighed into wakefulness.
"Sasuke, guess what?" She asked, and he grunted in response. "It's my birthday today." She smiled softly at the dark haired male. He turned obsidian orbs on the roseate.
"Forewarning would have been nice."
Sakura turned a confused gaze upon him. "Whatever for?"
He rolled onto his back, shrugging. "I could have gotten you something."
Sakura was perplexed. "Why would you have done that?"
"Because I can."
Sakura furrowed her brows. "Uh… Well, I appreciate the thought, but don't worry about it."
"Hn."
Without wasting a second more, he got out of her bed and started to look for his clothes. "I'll see you later," was all he said when he had finished dressing, before he left her room.
The girl flopped back onto her bed, sighing contentedly. It was her birthday, and she was eighteen. She wondered if Naruto had remembered her birthday. She wouldn't have minded if he didn't, but to get a 'happy birthday' would be nice. She hadn't expected the excessively stoic Uchiha to give a damn about it. The fact that he'd offered to get her something was… Weird.
She got up and wandered over to her cupboard, pulled out a light green chemise and slipped it over her head. Tenten entered her room soon afterwards and brought in some breakfast for them to share. They finished quickly, some light banter exchanged between the two girls, before they went for a walk in the garden. Sunlight drizzled onto the soft green grass, highlighting the splashes of colour from the flowering buds in the trees and bushes.
"Are you lonely here, Sakura San?" Tenten asked suddenly.
Sakura was quite taken aback by the randomness of the question, but quickly composed herself. "Why do you ask?"
Tenten shrugged. "You always have a sad look in your eyes. And you don't seem to have any friends. I was merely curious."
The roseate lowered her eyes, thinking of how best to give an answer. "I was lonely for a while. I miss my home, mostly. I wish I could return, without having to give my lady's whereabouts. I've started to make a friend, though. Her name is Karin, and -"
"You're making friends with Karin?" Tenten interjected, aghast.
Sakura turned perplexed emeralds towards to brunette. "Yes. Why? Is there something wrong with that?"
Tenten sighed, her features presenting the hectic internal debate which was taking place within. "She's… Well, just don't trust her, okay? Speak to her, be nice to her, just… Just don't trust her. She isn't one to be trusted."
With that, Tenten excused herself and left Sakura to her own devices. The roseate stared after the brunette, questions brimming. What was wrong with Karin? Why couldn't she be trusted? She was so confused by Tenten's words. There were so many things that she could mean by that. Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt a presence behind her.
"Oh! Sorry Sir, you startled me," Sakura gasped.
"'Twas not my intent, I assure you." The man held Sakura's emerald orbs with his startling sea foam coloured eyes. Sakura resisted the urge to squirm under their penetrating gaze. It felt as if he was trying to learn her life story just from staring at her. "I am Gaara."
"Sakura," she replied quickly.
The red head smirked. "Do I make you uncomfortable, Sakura?"
Said girl gaped at him, baffled, before she shook her head to get herself out of her strange trance. "No, Sir… Uh, Gaara. Is there anything you need?"
With the smirk still plastered on his face, he leant his lips towards her ear. "Need and want are two separate things, Sakura San. And what I want is you."
Sakura felt a shiver crawl up her spine. She was both frightened and attracted to this man. Just by words alone, he had her completely hot and bothered. Only Sasuke had ever been able to that to her.
When Sakura didn't immediately back away, Gaara took that as a sign to continue. "I want to take you to my bed, Sakura San. I want to feel your lips on mine. I want to feel your body… Your skin under my fingertips. I want to push my cock inside your walls… I want to fuck you. I want you to scream my name until you know no others. I want to do that to you every night. I want to take you back to Suna with me, so that I can fuck you as much as I can. Only you. No one else. I want you. Tell me, Sakura San. Will you acquiesce to my request?"
Sakura was trembling. Out of fear or desire, she had no idea. His speech was disturbing and perverse, but the longing in his voice gave her the impression that he meant far more by his words. "I uh… I don't think -"
"One night, Sakura San. Give me one night before you dismiss my request. I know all about yourself and the Uchiha, but he will be married in a few months, will he not? And then where will you go? I offer you a place in my bed. A place I would not readily kick you out of. There are no plans to marry me off, and right now I am only interested in you, Sakura San. Give me one night. I promise you, you won't regret it."
With that, he walked away, leaving Sakura flushed and trembling in his wake. Was his desire for her truly that great? But why? Why would he desire her? He didn't even know her! Surely there were plenty of other women, far more beautiful, rich, witty and smart in the court. Why her?
"What is it about me that attracts trouble?" She asked herself out loud as she walked towards the pond where the Koi fish frolicked. "Kami, why was it so hard to understand my wish for this life? Fall in love and marry, have two children and serve my Lady Hinata for the rest of my days. Maybe you don't speak my language? What about the language of the Hyuuga court? In amore et nubere, filios duos et servite Hera Hinata reliquis diebus meis. Or the common language of the markets? Koi ni ochiru to kekkon, ni-nin no kodomo o motte iruto watashi no hi no nokori no tame no watashi no redi Hinata o teikyō. Those are the only two languages I feel comfortable asking you in, because I'll probably accidently say the wrong thing otherwise, but surely you must understand one of them! Because you've most certainly misinterpreted me the first time I asked. I don't ask you for wealth, Kami. I don't ask for extreme beauty, or excessive wisdom. I don't ask you for anything more than I deserve. So surely simplicity isn't so much to ask?" She fell silent at the end of her soliloquy, seemingly lost in her thoughts. The sun was in the middle of the sky before she heard someone calling her name.
"Sakura San!" Said girl looked towards the source of the voice, and a smile automatically came to her lips when her eyes alighted upon Karin.
"Karin San, how are you?"
"Well, thanks. And yourself?"
"Fine as ever."
Sakura looked to where the red head was almost jumping up and down in excitement. "You have another idea, don't you Karin San?" She could only nod in response before she sat next to Sakura and immediately started to speak on her newest plan to get rid of Ino.
"Ino takes a certain medicine every morning to prevent conception. If we were to get a hold of some of the potion and make a replica of it that looked, smelled and tasted the same, but was absolutely harmless, then Ino would eventually fall pregnant to someone else's baby. She would leave Otogakure in disgrace, seeing as the court would never accept her if she fell pregnant out of wedlock! It is perfect! No one need ever know that her potion was changed, because Ino would just think that the potion was faulty. Seeing as the potion would be harmless, no one would even get hurt! It's fool proof! There's only one problem…" She trailed off, her brow creased in thought. Before she could continue, however, Sakura spoke up, believing that she knew the flaw in the plan.
"I studied Herb Lore back in Konoha, Karin. I could make the dosage out of the herb patch in these gardens. If you can get me some of her contraceptive potion, I'll be able to make an identical batch that has no effects whatsoever."
Karin's eyes lit up in joy. "Oh, would you Sakura? That would be fabulous! I'll try and get some of that potion to you in the next few days." She stood from the bench and almost skipped away, such was her happiness. Sakura just smiled at her friends antics, before she started to muse again.
Why was she helping to get rid of Ino? Sure, Ino was a nasty person and she would only hurt Otogakure, but by all rights shouldn't Sakura want that? Otogakure had waged a war against her home for two years. They had killed countless men, women and children – her father included! – and were seeking the murder of her best friend. Shouldn't the prospect of their demise be a comfort to Sakura? She only had until December, before she would be tortured for information regarding her Lady's whereabouts. Shouldn't she wish some form of pain upon those who were plotting to do that? Most rational people would, she presumed.
But yet, she didn't. If Ino were to rule, then many innocent people would also suffer. The servants of the palace – people like Tenten – would go through a daily hell because of her. People who had never done any harm to anybody – children – would suffer. Because Ino was greedy. If she wanted something, she would stop at nothing to get it. If that meant putting up the public's taxes to a ridiculous level, or executing a few innocent people, then Ino would do it. The blonde seemed to lack a conscience, from what Sakura had witnessed or heard. Many a morning, Tenten came in telling of how Ino was in a foul mood and took her anger out on the servants. She said that one time, a serving girl who was only new, accidently made Ino a green tea instead of jasmine. Ino had apparently poured the tea back over the girl, giving her terrible burns. One morning, Tenten had come in with a bruising cheek, because Tenten hadn't finished making Ino's breakfast in time. Sakura herself had been the brunt of Ino's scorn and anger countless times. They ranged from the harmless name calling to full out physical attacks. Ino was beautiful, that wasn't hard to deny, but her heart – if she had one – was black as the void, and cold as the darkest abyss.
Sakura couldn't live with herself if she brought Ino's wrath onto innocents whilst she had the power to do something about it. She wouldn't. Hence, she would stop Ino's marriage to Sasuke.
Her thoughts turned to Gaara, and his apparent infatuation. Sakura hardly even knew him! Apart from the fact that his name was Gaara, he came from Sunagakure, and that he was the Kazekage's son. That was it! Nothing else! And he probably knew around the same amount about her! So why his sudden interest? Why did he want to sleep with her? The whole situation was an enigma, one which she was desperate for some answers to.
"Sakura Chan?"
The roseate jumped about a foot in the air as the unexpected voice sounded behind her.
"Oh, Naruto… you surprised me." Her hand was on her chest, trying to calm her erratic heartbeat.
"Sorry, Sakura Chan. Are you alright?"
The girl blinked in confusion at him. "Of course, Naruto. Why do you ask?"
He shrugged. "You didn't seem all there."
She just smiled at him. "I was daydreaming, Naruto. Just thinking about a couple of things. How have you been anyway?"
Naruto sighed, relaxed. "Pretty good. I've been dying for a decent cup of ramen, though." Sakura giggled at that, and he shot her a cheeky grin. "Anyway, Happy Birthday. Here, I got you something." He put a small packet in her hand, and, curious, Sakura opened it. Amongst the messily wrapped paper was a silver coloured hair comb, with cherry blossoms around the top for decoration.
Sakura's heart immediately felt light upon seeing the gift. "Oh Naruto, it's beautiful! I love it. Thank you so much." She enveloped him in a warm hug and kissed his cheek in thanks, before carefully placing the comb in her hair. "How does it look?"
"Beautiful, as always, Sakura Chan."
Sakura blushed at his compliment. "You're so sweet, Naruto. I'm so glad Neji sent you to save me."
Naruto turned away from her at that, his eyes serious. "Sakura Chan, why did you cheat on Neji?"
Sakura blanched at the forwardness of the question. "What do you mean, Naruto?"
"You're sleeping with that bastard!" He took a deep breath to calm himself, before continuing in a slightly softer tone. "Sakura Chan, I thought that you wanted to be with Neji. So why is it that once I get here I find out that you're sleeping with that bastard? Neji wanted to marry you, Sakura Chan. I thought you wanted to marry him. So why have you completely forsaken that and gone off to give another man your virtue?"
Sakura had her eyes averted from Naruto's, her orbs swimming with tears of guilt. "Naruto, please know that I did not have much of a choice in the matter originally. When I was first brought into the war camp, and after they had figured out that I wasn't Hinata, the general ordered me to be a pleasure toy for the men in the camp…" She wiped away the tears that had started to spill at the painful memory. "Sasuke saved me before they could touch me… He took my virginity the following night, so as to lessen the chance of the rest of the men raping me. It worked, too. The following day a group of men took me in the hopes of raping me. When they realised that I was no longer a virgin, they beat me instead." She suddenly turned imploring eyes in the blond. "Naruto, if I could get my virginity back so as to give it to Neji, I wouldn't hesitate to do so. I lost it to lessen the chance of a far worse fate, but it doesn't stop the sadness I feel knowing that I'll never be able to give my virginity to my future husband."
Naruto rubbed soothing circles on the girls back while she calmed down, and once she did he started to talk again. "I've started to make plans to get us out of here, Sakura Chan. We should be able to escape sometime within the next month."
Sakura's tears were immediately forgotten. "Really? We'll be able to escape sometime in the next month? I'll be able to see Hinata again, and… And Neji within a month? Oh Naruto, thank you so much!" She tackled the boy in a huge hug, laughter echoing from her mouth. "Naruto, I think you've just given me the best birthday present I could ever wish for. Thank you so much!" She felt that she couldn't thank him enough for the joy that he gave her with that news. "Do you think that Neji will forgive me?"
Naruto nodded with conviction. "Yeah, Sakura Chan. Neji will understand."
Sakura smiled sweetly. "Then that is all I could ask for."
.:{*}:.
Later that evening, Sakura closed the door to her room, exhaustion screaming from every bone in her body. The sun had barely even nudged the tip of the horizon, but Sakura felt ready to collapse into bed. That is, until she felt a pair of arms encircle her waist. Arms that did not feel like Sasuke's. And besides, Sasuke never waited for her in her room. He always came under cover of night.
"Who is that?" Sakura asked timidly, all thoughts of sleep pushed to the back of her mind.
She felt a soft chuckle. Dark. "It insults me that you would forget my earlier request, Sakura."
Foolishly, she let herself relax slightly when she recognised the voice. "Gaara San. What are you doing?"
She felt his lips lightly nip at her throat in small kisses. "I'm seducing you, Sakura. Have you forgotten my earlier request?"
Sakura's body had frozen in shock, but her mind was working in overdrive. Half of her was screaming to let the red haired man have his way with her, while the other half was screaming to be rational. Sasuke would probably bust a nut if he found out she'd slept with someone else, not to mention how much it would insult Neji's name if she were to sleep with another man out of wedlock. Neji would be hard pressed to forgive her for willingly sleeping with two men.
"Gaara, I don't really -"
"One chance, Sakura. I won't force you, but I won't give up on you so easily, either." His hand had crept to the hem of her chemise and was slowly hitching it past her knee and up her thigh.
"Gaara, I…"
He turned her around to face him and slanted his lips over hers, effectively silencing her protests. He hitched the chemise up higher whilst pushing her towards her bed.
"Gaara, please I -"
His mouth silenced her once again, before he started to remove his shirt. He broke away from her whilst the damned material intervened, and that was enough for Sakura to protest properly.
"Gaara San, I said no!"
Said male stopped his ministrations, letting his shirt fall lazily to the ground. "Why?" He asked her. "Do you find me undesirable? Do I disgust you?"
Sakura sighed, annoyed. "It's not that, Gaara San… I hardly know you. That's just one of the issues. Before today, you've said all of two words to me, and the rest of the time you've just stared at me in passing. You say that you know of Sasuke and I? You know nothing of it. It is degrading and insulting to my name that I have had a man out of wedlock. To have two? I'd rather slit my throat. Yes, I have slept with Sasuke, but the reasons for which I initially did so are known to a select few, and to this day I would give anything to have my virtue back. Whether I am attracted to you or not is completely beside the point. The fact remains that I do not want this."
Gaara stared at the roseate for a while, before he decided to reply. "In Konoha it would be difficult for you to find a husband because you have lain with a man out of wedlock?"
"Nigh impossible."
Gaara looked thoughtful for and moment. "So what if I were to ask you to be my bride?"
.:{*}:.
Sakura was asleep by the time that Sasuke crept into her room. He watched as the moonlight caressed her body, revealing the jumbled mess of sheets which were twisted around her legs. He smirked, feeling his arousal at seeing her look so innocent. But to take her, he'd have to wake her up too. And besides, he had something else for her.
"Sakura, wake up," he demanded gently as he shook her awake. The pink haired girl groaned in agitation, before rolling around, putting her back to him.
He smirked at her stubbornness. "Wake up, Sakura." She just murmured something in her sleep. It sounded suspiciously like 'go away'.
His patience was wearing thin. He wanted her, and he was going to have her, asleep or not. "Sakura, wake up, else I'll fuck you 'til you bleed."
Sakura immediately sat up, her eyes groggily landing on Sasuke. "I'm up, I'm up!" She exclaimed sleepily.
He smirked. "So am I."
Her brow furrowed in confusion for a moment, before her eyes widened and a blush pooled in her cheeks. "That was both disturbing and unnecessary, Sasuke."
"But still true," He replied casually. "This is for you," he said, dropping something into her open palm. His face was averted, so she couldn't read his expression, but from the sound of his voice he was annoyed and embarrassed. "Happy birthday."
Curiously, Sakura looked down at her hand to see what he had put there. There lay a silver chain with an onyx pendant. Sakura gasped at the beauty of the necklace, before looking at Sasuke. "Sasuke… Thank you so much. It's beautiful. Surely I don't deserve such a gift?"
"It was my mothers, before it was given to Yue for her birthday. I want you to have it now."
Sakura could do nothing but stare at him incredulously. "Sasuke… This necklace must be so precious to you… Why would you give it to me of all people? Surely Ino -"
"Enough questions," he interrupted her, before capturing her lips with his own and pushing her onto the bed. He started to pull her night gown off her, when something about her smelt… Off. She smelt different. Of someone else.
"Sakura," he said, dropping the material of her dress. She looked at him, perplexed.
"Yes?"
He leaned towards her throat and inhaled. "Who is it that I can smell on you?"
Even in the darkness he could see her blush. "I… I don't know what you're talking about, Sasuke," she answered quickly.
He glared at her. "Don't lie to me Sakura. Have you fucked someone else?"
Sakura blanched, a look of mortification and anger on her face. "No, I have not. Why would you accuse me of such a crime?"
"You smell different," he replied stonily.
"I might have changed my perfume," she retorted.
"To cologne?" He questioned.
Her eyes widened. "No! And if you must know, Sabaku no Gaara took an interest in me and tried to have his way with me. I told him no. I didn't sleep with him, Sasuke. Just because you like fucking me, doesn't mean that everyone else would immediately shy away from me."
He frowned at her response. "I did not say that you couldn't be seen as undesirable, Sakura. What I mean is that you are mine. Only I can touch you like this. Only I can give you your release. Only I can fuck you senseless. You are mine, Sakura. You would do well to remember that."
He spent the rest of the night making sure that she wouldn't forget it.
It was mid-morning a few days after her birthday when Karin came running towards the roseate, a smile plastered on her features. Sakura was sitting in her usual spot as the red head sat beside her, a small vial in her hands. "Ino's contraceptive potion," she affirmed when Sakura gave her a questioning look.
Sakura smiled, before she took the vial. "I shall get started on it right away." She stood and walked towards the herb patch, Karin trailing in her wake. "Karin, could you get me a jug of water and some cups?" The roseate asked as she sniffed the potion. "The contraceptive has barely any scent, so most of this potion will have to be diluted with water."
Karin just nodded and rushed off to do as Sakura asked. Said girl knelt on the edge of the herb garden, surveying all of the plants. "The contraceptive is a diluted muddy orange, so I think some of… Sun Shadow will help imitate that colour." She picked the flowers from their stems, before placing them in her lap on top of the fabric of her dress. "It smells of… Mint and… Peony Seed… With a hint of Nightshade. So mint…" She picked the green leaves and placed them with the Sun Shadow flowers, "and what could imitate the Peony Seed and Nightshade plant?" Her brow creased for a moment, before she had her answer. "Redweed!" She scooted over to the plant with blood red stems and white flowers, which she picked. "The flowers aren't toxic to humans, although the stem is, and they give off a faint smell that resembles the Nightshade plant. I think I could use a few Peony Seeds in this. They aren't toxic either, unless used alongside the Nightshade, so… And now for taste."
By that stage, Karin had returned with the water, and Sakura thanked her. "I have the things that are necessary for the look and smell. Now we just need to imitate the taste." Karin nodded her head, her eyes betraying her wonder. Sakura lifted the vial to her lips and took a small sip of it, before swallowing the dosage. "It tastes of vanilla, but has a bitter aftertaste. The vanilla will be easy enough to imitate, but I'll have to think of how I can give this the bitter aftertaste."
Karin smiled sweetly at Sakura. "While you ponder that, let's take this back to your room and start to make the potion."
.:{*}:.
A few hours later, a jug full of the new 'contraceptive' sat on the small table in Sakura's room. Sakura had soon found another herb to give it the bitter aftertaste, and both girls were staring at the finished product. They had tested everything. Both potions looked the same, smelt the same and tasted the same, and now the only thing left was to give it to Ino. Sakura had checked and re checked to make sure that the imitation wasn't poisonous, and she was finally satisfied with the result.
"So, Karin San. All you have to do now is take this into Ino's room and give her the normal dosage. Within the next few weeks, she should be pregnant, and will be forced to leave Oto in shame. There is nothing more I can do for you now. I wish you the best of luck."
Karin enveloped Sakura in a bone breaking hug. "Thank you so much, Sakura San. You've no idea how much this will benefit everyone."
Sakura merely nodded in acknowledgment of Karin's thanks, before watching the red haired girl depart from her room, potion held carefully in her hands. As Karin left, Tenten entered, curiosity in her eyes and lunch in her hands.
"What's Karin doing, Sakura San?" She asked curiously, and Sakura smiled in welcome.
"It's nothing to worry about, Tenten San. Come, let's eat."
The day after the potion had been made, Sakura was having a pleasant lunch with Itachi.
… "So, aside from being a serving girl, did you have any other profession in Konoha?" Itachi asked curiously.
Sakura nodded and quickly swallowed her mouthful of rice. "Yes, Itachi San. I helped with the hospital sometimes. Our main medic taught me Herb Lore, so I made medicines for the sick, or anaesthetics for those in pain. I also helped to tutor some of the newer maids coming into the Hyuuga Clan's household. I was mainly in charge of teaching them the main languages. There were three that were necessary to learn the basics of: The one I speak to you in now, which is the informal tongue of the household, the formal tongue of the household, which was utilised during ceremonies or meetings with important figures, and then there was the common tongue of the markets. You are probably familiar with two of those languages: This one and the formal tongue of the court, seeing as it is learnt by most main households throughout the lands. As I understand it, the formal tongue is a middle ground language that all important officials must be familiar with, lest another's main tongue isn't your own. That is the same idea for the common tongue in the markets. This language which we are using now is predominant in the markets, but all know the other one because it isn't uncommon for a foreigner to not speak this one properly, or know very little of it."
Itachi surveyed the roseate quietly. "I am curious about this third language, and I wonder if those in the markets of Otogakure know it. Would you teach it to me, Sakura San?"
Sakura blushed at his request. "If that is what you wish, Itachi San."
He nodded his assent. "I do. Would you speak some of it for me now?"
Sakura blinked at his question, before averting her eyes. "What would you have me say, Itachi San?" She mumbled.
"Whatever you wish."
Sakura thought for a moment, before she spoke. "Sora wa, kyō no utsukushii shirabe."
"What did you say?" He asked curiously.
She smiled at him. "The sky looks lovely today."
Itachi leaned back in his chair, his gaze not once leaving that of the girl before him. "That it does, Sakura San."
Suddenly, the room was in chaos. Guards were scrambling everywhere, their armour ringing incessantly inside the small space. Sakura screamed in confusion, and Itachi stood demanding to know what was happening. When handcuffs where placed on the roseate and a kunai held to her throat, Itachi's eyes turned murderous.
"Get your hands off her!"
"I can't do that, Itachi Sama," Orochimaru said forlornly. "I have an arrest warrant for Sakura Haruno."
"What are the charges?" Itachi demanded, and Orochimaru met his eyes lazily.
"For the attempted murder of Yamanaka Ino."
Itachi looked at Inoichi, anger seething from his stance. His face, however, betrayed no hint of emotion. Both men were seated at opposite sides of a cherry wood table inside a plain conference room. Although both looked relaxed, the tension and anger that filled the air was palpable. "Why have you accused Haruno Sakura of attempted murder, Inoichi Sama?" Itachi asked calmly. It took physical effort on his part to not attack, and only the thoughts of possible civil war held him at bay.
"Ino is currently in the hospital, being treated for poison. We searched everything in her room, and eventually found a jug full of potion that looked suspicious. We took it to Kabuto for analysis, and he deduced that it was a potion made to imitate a contraceptive that he had been making for her previously. It had hints of Redweed stem in it. As you should know, the stem of Redweed is toxic to humans."
Itachi folded his arms over his chest, annoyance making its way onto his features. "That is all well and good, Inoichi San. But it does not tell us how you came to the conclusion that Sakura is the culprit."
Inoichi studied the Uchiha passively. "We got it from a reliable source the Miss Haruno had personally made the potion."
Itachi snorted. "Inoichi Sama, believe me when I say that Sakura would be no more capable of hurting a fly, than she would of purposely trying to kill someone. Whoever gave you the information must have been lying."
Inoichi raised a disbelieving brow. "Really now? You believe that?"
"I do," The coal haired male replied without hesitation.
"We found hints of the Redweed plant on the girls' dress. And I believe that she herself told you that she was skilled in Herb Lore."
Itachi had to admit that the evidence was slowly piling against the roseate, but he wouldn't back down. "That is still not enough to condemn her!"
Ino's father just snorted, before he yelled, "Come in, my dear! No need to be shy."
The mahogany door slowly opened, and a trembling figure stepped in. "My name is Tenten, Itachi Sama. I am Sakura San's serving girl."
O_O Cliffhanger :O And now you know who Shadow Man is :) And Gaara's a horny little bugger, isn't he? Gotta love it... :D
I do not speak Japanese or Latin. I got all translations from Google (which is a lot better than everyone makes it out to be, actually). If there are mistakes, I'm sorry. Let me know and I'll correct them as soon as possible :)
And now you're going to kill me even more :S
Until further notice, I'll be updating every 2 weeks, on Monday. My reason? I've only completed writing up to chapter 10, and I need a bit of time to get further ahead. I'm doing everything I can to avoid putting this story on hold, but to keep updating, I'll need larger lengths of time between updates. I'm really sorry :( Updating is like, the highlight of my week, so know that I wouldn't delay updating unless necessary. Haha, I feel so silly for writing this, but reviews give me inspiration. They seriously do. Your 15 reviews had me sit down and write out all of chapter 10 and part of chapter 11, so the more reviews I get, the more I'll write, the quicker I'll be able to revert back to my updating once a week schedule :) You've gotta like that, don't you?
In case people decide to be mean, though, could I get 12 reviews for this chapter, please? Getting to 80 reviews in 8 chapters would be amazing :) Of course, if you're willing to give me more than that, I'd be on cloud nine (aka, heaven) :D
My Authors notes just keep going, don't they? Here are my thank you's XD Thank you to all of the wonderful people who reviewed :) You're all amazing and I love you for it :) Rainless: I'm glad you laughed, hun :D You say sexual innuendo? How about Sexual in your endo? XD;Alipiaoca: For reasons I gave you in my PM :) And to kill Ino, you must kill Kishi :S ; Apple: Your rant was amazing. Seriously :D And thank you very much :) ; I.L.U.38: Can't promise anything with Karin, and I hope you liked this update too :) ; just me: Why must you come to the end of a chapter? Because I stop writing XD And if you were to review under multiple names... I'd fly up to QLD to kiss you :) ; river of the sand: Gaara is pretty damn numm, I know :) Haha, I kept chuckling when writing that part :) I'm glad it made you chuckle too :) ; pinkypinkypinky: Naw, thank you :) I'm glad you like my story :D Karin should go die in a vat of boiling lead, but that's just me :P ; sweetass: Thank you :) Bitches are mean, but fun to write :P For now? O_O ; Queen: Chapter 8, done and dusted, just like you wanted ma'am :) ; A.A.A: I think my brain just exploded from internal yelling, but thank you for your compliments :D ; ApplelovesApples: Thank you :D; I hate them too; love writing them; maybe...; Now you do :D; In the story and manga; thank you XD; and I'll update as much as I am capable of :) ; Chantrea Moonbeam: Haha, I suppose it is :D ; watchingtherain1: Thank you :) And Karin isn't human. She's a demonic, slutty, robotic thing, that I have to make resemble a human for this story. Sigh... ; SMILE: Haha, you make me smile (geddit, geddit?) Gotta love smexy SasuSaku, eh? ; Crying Silver Fox: Aww, thank you! You're a beautiful person, you know that? That's because any review is better than no review, so I'm happy with what I get. I hope you continue to like the story :)
You guys are actually amazing, and if I ever meet any of you (apart from just me, whom I've known since, like, birth) I promise I'll hug you and buy you ice cream. Don't worry, just me, I'll still hug you and buy you ice cream! :)
I'll see you in 2 weeks *sobs*
-SapphireRivulet xoxox