Linger

silverdiadems

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Chapter 3: a date with destiny

They sat opposite to each other, with cups of tea grasped in their hands.

One pair of hands gripped the cup with great strength, holding onto its warmth like a lifeline. The other clasped the tea on the edge of his fingers, the warmth too much for his body.

"You like tea?" Sasuke questioned, as they sat on the simple sepia themes couches of his home.

"I do," Sakura said with a smile. "Though I have never had it warm." She looked at it with a mixture of astonishment and wonder, a smile ghosting her features as she looked at the thin trails of steam arising from the cup.

It was ever so exhilarating, being in another place- so different and so unfamiliar to the springlands she was used to. Every morning here (even though she had only been here five days) was spent getting up early and staring out the window of Sasuke's
bedroom at the sunrise.

The sun would peak through the clouds, casting its glittering- no, ethereal light on the freshly fallen snow that had come down on the night before. Though Sasuke had explained to her every day at her request the feeling of snow, and it's beauty,
it was nothing like seeing it in person.

"Not warm?" Sasuke asked, incredulous. "How do you have tea otherwise?"

"Oh, in Attakai we have iced tea," she explained, smiling. It was truly fascinating how different their worlds were, even though they were so close together. Why not share what you know and gain more by trade, and exchange of knowledge?

Sasuke furrowed his brows, shaking his head, before taking a sip of the still steaming green tea in front of them. Sakura giggled, and poked his cheeks, turning his cheeks red.

"Hey!"

"It's amazing that there are so many simple things we don't know about each other," she sighed, giggling at Sasuke's scowl. "Don't be pouty, Sasu-chan."

If so, this made Sasuke pout more.

She laughed, but when the tinkling sound disappeared the two sat in silence.

"So," Sakura said. It was always her to break the silence. Her duty as the icebreaker. "What are we going to do about this?"

"This?"

"Well, me." She gestured at herself. "I don't belong here. You know that. You can't hide your troubles, but you can't hide a whole person, Sasuke."

Sasuke carefully set his mug down on the spruce wood table. "I know," he said, sighing, as he turned to face anything but the person in front of him.

"You know?! Isn't there someone who can help us out?"

Sasuke pressed his lips in a grimace. "There is," he said, meeting her emerald gaze. "But… I do not trust her. Most think her mad."

Sakura blinked. "Who?"

"The Seer. They say she appeared claiming to be from another world- not like yours," he said, staring at Sakura. "But another world entirely. She claims to hold great healing powers, but most are frightened of a 'supernatural' being to seek out her services."

Sakura smirks. "Sounds like the person we need. She's crazy, just like me for being here, and you for being friends with me."

"…sarcasm?"

"Not at all."

The two set out, trudging through the steadily melting snow. The two had set of in the early morning, regardless of Sakura's whining on not being able to watch the sunset.

"You'll see it on the way," he had replied, as he pulled some strips of meat and some bread to pack for their endeavour. Storing the meat between two loaves of bread, Sasuke pulled the drawstring bag shut.

He tossed the bag to Sakura, who caught it with a yelp, and packed it into their bag. Sasuke had demanded he be the one to carry their equipment for their trip to see the seer, even though Sakura had pretested against his actions.

"Men," Sakura had huffed under her breath. "Always so full of 'manly pride.'"

"Done." Sasuke picked up the bag, and Sakura slipped his gloves over her much smaller fingers. She rubbed her hands together to keep warm, and Sasuke let her out the door before closing it with a thud and a twist of a key in the lock.

The Seer lived on the other side of the town Sasuke resided in. Sasuke explained that travelling through the streets would be much faster, but Sakura had punched him lightly, saying she wanted to take the scenic route.

And here they were, trekking up one of the many mountains of Korudo. Sakura was giddy with joy, seeing the unfamiliar world from up high made her feel 'on top of the world'.

Sasuke smiled softly, as they made their way up the rocky path that had been revealed when the sun melted the top layers of snow. Every now and then, he'd watch with soft eyes as she'd pull of her gloves and scoop up the melting snow, and watch it as
it slowly turned to water in her warm hands.

Ah, the fun.

The lookout came into view, and Sasuke stopped to let Sakura catch up, who was cradling a ball of snow in her cupped hands.

"Let's eat up there," he said, pointing at the lookout, where some log benches had been put into place, as well as the remains of a campfire.

"Al-right," Sakura said in a sing-song voice, skipping to join Sasuke in his fast pace. The two made their way up in comfortable silence.

When they arrived, Sasuke sat on one of the logs, motioning for Sakura to do the same. She complied, and Sasuke pulled out the bread and cooked meat, handing it to Sakura. She took it, muttering 'thank you'.

Sasuke watched her as she took a bite, and when she did, she smiled. "This… is… so…good!" she said, between chews, as she finished of the meal with not a moment to spare.

He ate his own quietly, while Sakura played with the snow like a child. He couldn't blame her, for she had never seen the wonders of winter from her home land.

They made their way down the other side of the mountain, walking slowly to avoid slipping down. "The Seer's dwelling is down there," he said, pointing to a hut roughly six hundred paces away. "We're not far."

"I hope she's not…well, you know," Sakura said, worried. "a little… out there."

He shrugged. He didn't know much about the seer himself. Sakura took that as an answer and continued down the gradual slope, taking the lead.

Soon enough, they were at the Seer's door. Sakura held her fist in the air, about to knock, when the door swung open of its own accord.

"Come in."

Sakura glanced back at him, and he nodded, walking in behind her. The hut was empty, except for a woman in a wooden chair.

She was by no means old- she looked as young and fair as Sakura did, only ten years her superior. Gold coloured hair, and soft honey brown eyes. Ad diamond in the shade of violet sat imprinted on the crown of her forehead.

Sakura stared at her in astonishment. "You… you're the seer, aren't you?"

The woman smiled, and nodded. "I am. You seem surprised."

Sakura glanced briefly at Sasuke before returning her gaze to the woman. "I had assumed you were older."

The woman laughed, a coarse but earnest laugh. "My appearance has deceived many, daughter of spring."

The two stood awkwardly in front of the seer, before she caught their unease. "Please, sit," she said, motioning to two chairs Sakura was positive weren't there before. "And tell me you reason for seeking me out.

The two sat. Sakura took it upon herself to be her and Sasuke's spokesperson.

"Great Seer," she began, but was immediately interrupted by the woman's laugh.

"Please, I was named Tsunade."

"Tsunade-sama then. We came here to ask you for help- well… I think you understand why."

Tsunade nodded, and sat back in her chair. "I do, daughter of spring. You ask me for my knowledge on how you are to return to the land in which you were born, am I correct?"

"You are."

Even when having her information confirmed by Sakura, Tsunade shook her head. "No. You already stand on the land of your birth."

"What do you mean? Sakura has lived her whole life in Attakai."

Sakura turned to face her companion, who had remained silent between the females' exchange. "Sasuke-kun is right, Tsunade-sama. I was brought up in Attakai, and I was born there too."

"You misunderstand me," the seer replied, and waving her hand, a table appearing between her and her guests. Sakura reeled back in shock, seeing Sasuke had done the same.

Tsunade laced her fingers together and rested her chin atop them. "Netsu, Korudo, Attakai- they were all one land, once."

With a flick of her wrist, she conjured a map. The map showed their land, a continent that had been harshly divided into three. Each third bordered the other third. Sakura could see the border of Korudo and Attakai, where she had first met Sasuke.

"A very long time ago, there was a nation. A nation greater than the others, filled with prosperity and great riches. The fairy-tale land.

"This world had what they called seasons. In Third month, it would be Spring. In Sixth, it would be Winter. The seasons alternated throughout the year, three months for each season before it passed over to the next in line.

"But it was purged and broken from its tranquillity and balance by one man who desired to control the world he lived in. And so, he cut the world into pieces to divide the balance. To divide the people by separating them into the season that suited their
nature."

"Three months for each season?" Sakura cut in, furrowing her brows. Suddenly, she turned to Sasuke quickly before looking back to Tsunade. "But a year is Twelve Months. That means…"

"The fourth season," Tsunade nodded gravely. "The fourth season was destroyed. It was once named Autumn, and was set to become a land of its own. The season that the leaves turned blood-red like fire, and lifeless at the same time, paving the
way the foliage for the coldness of winter to take over."

"Why?" Sasuke and Sakura looked at each other suddenly, for they had spoken in unison. Sakura stared at Sasuke before quickly averting her gaze.

"The Masked One had an enemy. A group of warriors that resisted his power. They wished for the world to be whole once more. They had named their town Konohagakure, for they-"

"The village hidden in the leaves," Sasuke murmured from next to her. "As a reminder of the season he had lost."

Tsunade nodded, and fell silent.

Sakura's mind whirled. A whole season, a whole nation had simply been erased from history. It would have taken years to let the memory of the dividing simply fade away.

"How long ago was it?" Sakura asked, speaking into the silence.

"A very long time ago," Tsunade smiled sadly. "Long enough for my kinsmen's memory to fade from history."

Sakura's eyes flashed, and she gasped. "You! You were part of-"

"I told you," Tsunade said dryly. "My appearance is deceiving."

Sakura stilled.

"What… what can we do to return Sakura to where she belongs?" Sakura blinked, remembering their reason of seeking the Seer out.

Tsuande laughed harder than before, and Sakura saw Sasuke frown, not finding anything amusing to laugh about.

"Son of winter, learn to rephrase your words. True, you may believe that Sakura belongs in Attakai, but you do not change the meaning of the gods," she said, tapping the diamond on her forehead. "You ask me to tell you where she belongs. And I will answer."

"Tell us," Sakura breathed, shuffling forward in her seat, getting closer to the seer. "Please."

"You forget that the son of winter asked the wrong question. He asked where you belonged, and I say right here, in front of me."

Sasuke stood so suddenly, his face contorted in the barest characteristics of rage. "Answer us properly, Great Seer," he hissed.

"Sasuke," Sakura muttered, clasping his hand and tugging him back in his seat. Sasuke's face softened, and he let her ease him back into the beige armchairs.

"You must first learn to ask the right questions, Uchiha Sasuke," she countered. "She belongs here because you are with her. It's cruel how the border tears other apart."

Sakura flushed, and spoke to hide her embarrassment. "Then, great seer, answer us this- how can I return to Attakai?"

Tsunade laughed, her amusement fading. "Now, we're getting somewhere."

a/n: eeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhh

i've planned the next… 4 chapters, so we should be on track for a well-rounded plotline. i'm doing my best to re-edit the past three chapters.

i did my best to incorporate Tsunade in the plotline- I always wanted her to play the role of a woman from a fallen kingdom, who had lived long enough to become a wise woman, shrouded in mystery. :P

Thanks guys. i noticed that i didn't get as much feedback last chapter as i usually do…. So did i do something wrong? :l

Be sure to review, rate, and leave your opinions of the story! I look forward to seeing what you thought, and what you want to see in my story. Feel free to drop some concrit, too.

Tourmaline Sword