Reviewers;
Logan Locke: You bet you owe me three reviews, but I hope that you take your time and write them to what you usually do, and you can't do that, without being stress free so no pressure for the moment. Pixar Is a part of Disney, so yes. And Ratatoulie? Really? You must love the food then! Good movie definitely.
I'm glad you saw how Sakura's spirits slowly lift higher and higher as the party gets underway, as that is what I feel parties do as they go on before everyone passes out at the end of the night because they never slept until then. I wanted this chapter to show all of the different positions that Sakura is faced with, from the alliance, to the ambassadors, and to the various issues going on around them. Now, it will all come into place.
Czar Joseph: Ha! Good emotional...hey! where'd everyone go?!
Nico2883: I thought about that, but the brotherly aspect of it makes the connection between the royals that much closer I felt. Naruto won't be seen for another four to five chapters though. And he won't return to Port Haruno Alone...
Duh Bomb: Your imagery poems are really inspiring me in a number of ways, and I appreciate your work on them. You have to put in at least the reading of the chapter and then of the poem itself I acknowledge you for your said work.
St3rfire: Well...my sisters always complain about wearing heels...and yet, they always wear them. Ha! foot massage(hahahaha)
AN: Hey Everyone! So I am moved back home and the erratic postings begin! I loved hearing about all of your various favorite disney movies, and so I can tell you that my favorite is ALLADIN! Primarily because of Robin William's mastery of the genie, and because to me later on in life, it represents the struggle that we all go through, feeling like we are worth nothing and yet have something that is special inside us that hoping our other half comes to see and know about us.
So...I know you all want naruto back...well, he's not coming back for a while... but when he does, he will not come Alone! (Hint Hint) Anyways, I hope that you all have loved the first part of my story so far, and will now prepare yourselves for this next part which I will make into an ARC of sorts. This is the changing game, so let us twist the story as of now!
Fire & Ice
Arc 1: Conceal It
Chapter 15: With You or Against You
"…You are in danger, My Lady."
Those six words sparked fear inside Sakura's heart, as if lightning had struck her at a billion watts a second, and Sakura's limbs wrapping around Itachi's muscular knightly frame stiffened and refused to move. But besides that, her legs paused only for a second and suddenly Sakura threw her head back and laughed loudly, attracting all the eyes in the room towards her.
"Oh Itachi! You do have humor!" Sakura spoke loud enough for people to blush at the scne before they turned look away from them, and then Itachi saw Sakura's eyes narrow in concern and with a hint of a promise for retribution if things did not go her way. "…What did you see, Itachi?" Sakura's words echoed darkly, and Itachi gulped unintentionally. His little sister could easily handle herself.
Itachi sighed and smiled gravely. "I thought you would be aware that you showed some of your magic in your veins."
"Most people said they took it as a sign from God." Sakura spoke calmly, her ears and eyes waiting for signs to show whether Itachi was friend or foe on this matter of her skills in magic.
"Well, God works in mysterious ways then, and we go searching for God in all the wrong places, now don't we?" Itachi smiled friendlier and Sakura relaxed a bit. Itachi felt her relax and took the hint with a grain of salt, frowning a bit. "You thought I would fear you, Sakura?"
Sakura giggled a little nervously. "Well…it's natural to fear the unknown, isn't it?"
"I suppose it is, but really. You were born with it I could hopefully surmise?" To Sakura's hidden nod mixed in with a flick of her hair, Itachi continued. "I'm sure I saw a bit of it when you came to visit the Citadel. At the time, I thought it was a trick of the eyes, but I suppose now, it's true."
"Your family's eyes have always seen better than most, Itachi." Sakura smiled, playing with the side of his face as she carefully examined his eyes.
"Yes…That is why you must beware."
"Why is that? Is someone after me?"
"I am afraid that after I realized what you had, my younger brother realized it as well."
Sakura widened her eyes and she placed her head in Itachi's flexible armor and cursed softly. The curse muffled quietly and Itachi smiled at Sakura's cursing, a royal general would look down upon such a thing to do, but in times like these, he supposed it was okay for the situation. Sakura looked back up and frowned.
"What do you think it'll take to keep him silent about this?"
Itachi shook his head as they spun in a small circle, continuing their dance as their conversation progressed. Now Sakura knew why her mother and father danced with so many people at these things. It was a way to be public and yet have all the privacy one could ask for. "You cannot give my brother anything. I don't know what happened to him but once my father named me as the heir apparent when I was seventeen, my brother started to do things to hurt my projects everywhere I turned."
"So then…he'll want to use me to his advantage."
"Yes. But I can tell you this, my fellow royal. The Nara and Yamanaka representatives have seen it as well, but we all agree that you are of good nature. The alliance stills supports you."
"Then…e-everyone knows now?" Sakura asked for confirmation, willing for her secret to be kept as tightly lipped as possible.
"Basically. Of course, some disapprove of the idea of magic. As you know, magic can be used to harm many people, but your actions even when younger and now have shown us that you are not evil."
"Then I am in the clear?" Sakura asked rapidly but Itachi shook his head, making her sigh in slight disappointment.
"On condition. You mustn't use your powers against the royal families. We have been at peace for so long that some do actually want to fight. Do not give them that reason."
Itachi stepped back as the song ended and kissed Sakura's right hand. "Thank you for the dance, My Lady."
"And thank you for the…humor. I hope to hear from you again."
"Of course. Good night."
"Good night, My Lord."
Sakura smiled as she watched Itachi blend into the crowd as if he was never there. Sakura sighed as she walked back to her place at the front of the ballroom. She wished that she could blend into the crowd like her now fellow crowned royal, and not be the center of all this attention. Sakura arrived back at Ino's side and sighed as she saw Ino's Cheshire cat smile.
"What is it, Ino?"
"You were pretty flirty with Lord Itachi?"
"Of course. It's harmless as we are both crowed royals, and I did idolize him when I was young. He is like an older brother. Also, he warned me about some things." Sakura spoke, and Ino's eyes moved erratically around before fixing upon her Queen's eyes.
"….he saw the…you know?"
"Yes."
"And he's okay with it?"
"Yes, as well as your father so far it would seem. Now, all I have to worry about is-"
"Hello Sakura." A voice called out behind Sakura and the hairs all around her burned in fright at the voice behind her. Sakura gulped back saliva and felt it pause in her throat, like it as afraid that the body's saliva was poison, and wanted to be wretched out.
But Sakura caught herself and calmed her body down before turning to face a royal who, unlike herself, could not rise to be King. The man was her senior by three years, at age twenty, black duck hair sweeping backwards as pale skin as white as Sakura's adorning his body. The man's wardrobe matched Itachi's, but without the golden raven symbol of the King of his province, and instead a red sun on the background of a traditional black raven. And just like his brother, his red eyes stared at her, but where as Itachi's eyes showed brotherly love, this man's eyes showed greed and lust for Sakura, as it had ever since she was young.
"Hello…Uchiha-San." Sakura spoke coldly and the man's smirk lowered a bit as his eyes narrowed at Sakura.
"I did call you by name, Sakura."
"I know, but I do not want to talk to you."
The man smirked. "Is this about what happened six years ago? Are you really still smoldering on that little accident?"
"You peeked in on me while I was bathing." Sakura glared at Sasuke, his emerald eyes moving into a tunnel vision as he smiled back at her..
"Your male servant was in there as well as I recall." Sasuke smiled at his wit, making Sakura want nothing more than to freeze that smile right off his face.
"He was my attendant." Sakura spoke, remembering the first time that Sakura had had Naruto wash her back.
"Of course." Sasuke spoke slowly, making Sakura's anger increase at his annoying voice.
"What do you want?"
"A simple dance, Sakura. Just as you gave to the other suitors and to my brother."
Sakura turned her head away and let her hand extend towards him. "If you must, Sasuke."
Sasuke grinned and pulled on Sakura's hand, before Sakura put on a mask of happiness as they walked down the steps and people parted until the two reached the center circle. Sakura had been dancing now for three hours in this center, but she didn't want to be here now, with someone she didn't even like for one, and now one who Sakura needed to fear thanks to Itachi's warnings.
And now Sakura grimaced as she put her hands around Sasuke's twenty year old neck and he put his hands…much lower than her waist. Sakura stared up at Sasuke as he smirked at her as his hands groped her clothed ass.
"You have grown very beautiful these last few years Sakura."
"Thank you. I wish I could say the same of you, but you haven't done anything to help your brother run your cities."
"My brother and I don't see eye to eye, but that matters not on your beauty." Sasuke spoke as he leaned forward, smelling her hair as he did. "How perfect you would fit beside me."
Sakura grimaced more. "And pray tell how I would ever stand beside you?"
"As my wife."Sasuke whispered and Sakura shivered.
"I would Never marry you, Sasuke."
"I'm sure you'd just have to actually get to know me better instead of living in the past."
"What does that mean?"
"It means, My little Queen, that you judge me for one little thing from ages past, and then I can never become better. You think only of the past traditions and how people should feel for others."
"And what are you then, My dear little prince?"
"I look to the future, of what can be, Sakura. Can't you imagine how much you could rule over others?"
Sakura stopped her movements, and stared at Sasuke. "...What are you implying, Sasuke?"
"You are special Sakura. I knew you were when we were younger, but this just confirms it."
"Just say it."
"You're a witch." Sasuke's smirk grew wide and Sakura swore that she saw his eyes widen in lust and greed and power. He looked at her darkly and Sakura frowned.
"You just want to use me, don't you?"
"Sakura. You could never imagine what the two of us could accomplish together. I saw you restraining yourself to hold all that power in, and yet it still flowed out. Show your power and armies would flock to you. Port Haruno could become not just the center of a simple alliance, but the center of the world. Can't you imagine that for our future?"
"I am fine as things are, Sasuke. And by our future, you mean yours. You ask that I be a weapon against those who oppose me, and kill them just for that basis alone. I will not do such a thing."
"I know you've killed before Sakura." Sasuke smirked as Sakura's worst memory came to the front of her mind, as Sasuke leaned in to whisper. "...I can only imagine what you did to your servant, but he's no longer here. He was your experimental lap dog, yes?" Sasuke chuckled before a slap came to his cheek.
(SLAP)
Sakura breathed heavily as she felt for the first time in her life, the sting of her own hand after slapping someone. It felt so good, and she felt her magic bubbling up inside her ready to slap Sasuke as well!
"How…Dare you!" Sakura whispered vehemently, her voice venomous to the man who dare insult whoever her heart desired. "Naruto was twice the man you were and the Only one who loves me for who I truly am."
"Well, you're feisty." Sasuke smiled, rubbing his cheek gingerly. "I like that in a wife."
"As I said before. Never." Sakura's magic bubbled harder, and Sakura breathed out, closing her eyes to calm herself down. Itachi warned her about this. She could handle this. Sakura felt Ino walk up and stand to her side and stepped back to leave, when she felt Sasuke's hand on her shoulder.
"You don't want me as an enemy, Sakura...I could destroy this city if I wanted to... It would become a fiery tomb for you." Sasuke's voice echoed around them, and yet when Sakura turned to face him, she was smiling, as if speaking to someone who failed to see the world around them, and spoke like a child.
"...You are alone Sasuke. You have always been alone, doing things you shouldn't do. You dare threaten me? You must have forgotten that Port Haruno is the center for everything, including the mercenaries that you've hired." Sakura taunted and Sasuke let go in surprise. "Oh I'm sorry, Sasuke. Did you not want people to know how you've been the one trying to overthrow and undermine your brother's rule? No? Then you will keep your bastardized mouth shut and keep my secret and we'll be fine."
Sakura turned again to walk away and Ino smiled and nodded to her before her eyes widened and suddenly, Sakura's right sleeve was pulled off, and Sakura's skin burned with warmth from around the room. Sakura gasped and looked to Sasuke who held her glove in his hands, smiling at Sakura's stunned look.
"G-Give me back my glove!" Sakura whispered, but shrunk as people looked at the scene to see the Queen's hand exposed to the eyes of all around her. This was considered an embarrassment of the highest sort, as if Sakura's entire body was being shown off at the party.
"Are you with me, or against me, Sakura?"
"I'm my own side." Sakura seethed through her teeth, but she held her arm with her other one, as she felt her anger building up in her arm. That one piece of magic that she couldn't master was surging from her blood, boiling up to just beneath the skin. She could feel it waiting for her mind to allow it to attack. "Give it back."
"No."
"Give-it-Back. G-give it-"
"Sakura, come on." Ino shook her shoulder and Sakura looked to her to see her asking her to just leave. Sakura sighed and nodded, feeling her magic slow down and begin to sleep again.
(SLAP)
….An angry red mark appeared on Sakura's cheek, breaking the skin to show the very beginnings of a dark bruise, and Ino looked into Sakura's eyes as the royal emerald fazed out and returned with ice blue. Suddenly, Sakura's body turned around at an amazing speed and Sakura's hand shot forth towards Sasuke.
The blue magic shot forth like a spear of ice out of Sakura's exposed hand, and surged out to pierce Sasuke's shoulder before he cried out as his feet came out from under him, and the ice expanded and pushed him through the crowd until he hit the column next to the floor to ceiling windows.
The ice expanded from his wound, as the ice moved to encase Sasuke's legs and arms. Ino looked to Sakura in alarm and moved to stop her as she saw Sakura's eyes darken as she smiled darkly as the ice began to press against Sasuke and suffocate him as his gasps for breath sounded in the now silent hall.
"Sakura, stop this!" Ino yelled and grabbed her friend's exposed hand, but as she did, Sakura looked to her and suddenly, Sakura pushed Ino down on the floor, and a slice of ice sliced into Ino's abdomen, ripping into her dress and as blood began to flow out of the wound, Ino whimpered and held it tightly as tears fell from her eyes.
At the sound of the cry of pain, Sakura's body froze before her eyes faded back to their emerald green, and Sakura gasped as she saw Sasuke against the wall and with a wave of her hand, the ice broke and Sasuke fell to the floor in a broken heap.
Sakura's powers died inside her at the sight of her retainer broken on the floor. She felt so warm in the late fall air. Sakura looked around herself, and saw the accusing glares and shocked faces looking at her. Sakura raised her hand to try to explain when suddenly everyone in her hands direction jumped back in horror.
"I-…I-um…." Sakura tried to speak, but tears fell down her face and she turned to see Ino holding her stomach as blood melted into her golden dress. Sakura's eyes widened. What happened? She couldn't remember what happened. Sakura stepped towards the door, the aisle opening before her larger than even the usual. Sakura looked to the doors and then around to everyone.
"She's a witch!" Sasuke yelled, and pointed at her accusingly. "Kill her!"
Sakura's eyes widened. Would they- no, of course they would. They killed witches just for being a witch! S-she had to run-Now!…Sakura looked at everyone one last time, her body shaking in withheld emotions, before Sakura held her face in her hands and ran out of the ballroom, crying into her exposed fingers.
As Sakura ran out, the crowd was silent for a full minute before Sasuke stood up, holding his shoulder wound and looking at the other royals. "We must kill the Queen."
"No, we do not." Itachi called out, glaring at his brother.
"She is a witch, brother. And we kill witches."
"It is true that most witches fall to their powers, but Sakura has always been generous to everyone. She is good."
"You can spout out all her deceitful deeds, Itachi, but this is not up for debate. Who here is with me?" Sasuke asked aloud and Itachi looked around as well, as people began to raise their hands in support between the two red eyed brothers of the Citadel of the Uchiha Plains.
Sakura ran and ran, her eyes crying over and over as she ran around her castle, not even seeing where she was going, but too focused on crying that she just let her feet take her. Finally though, Sakura heard her sobbing voice project more and cast her river-coated eyes around her to see that she had returned to the throne room, and Sakura cast her gaze up to the steps where….
Sakura sniffled and rubbed her eyes, walking forward over and over, pausing with every step to rub her eyes and rubbing herself all over. She felt so cold. So, so cold. S-she didn't have anyone, not even her parents. Sakura cast her eyes forward again, and there in front stood no longer her two parents' chairs, but now her own.
Sakura's hand found the dark mahogany armrest so soft, it was like a newborn baby. The small gems that were completely fake looked so pretty. And…the Haruno seal on the headrest. Sakura moved behind the chair and fell in a heap behind it, her saddened sobs echoing around the room.
The Haruno seal represented Unity, of all being peaceful within, but…it was all a lie! Sakura's body was anything But Calm! This magic betrayed her all the time! It had hurt Naruto! It had grazed against Ino! It had hurt her parents until the day they left her! And Now! Now, she'd hurt the one person left, Ino, in a worse wound than ever before!
She had wanted to murder him! Calling her pathetic and a weapon were things that she could take, but No! Just saying what she did to Naruto set her off like a explosive arrow! She had killed him! She knew that the moment her clawed hands retracted from his stomach. She was a murderer, an assaulting Queen of nothing! She deserved nothing but death!
...S-Sasuke was right. She should just die and make the world a better and happier place to be. Ino could take over, and all would be better if anyone besides her….e-even Sasuke was worthier than her. She was a witch, and there was nothing good about her.
Sakura's tears continued to fall and Sakura felt colder and colder and rubbed her arms now to warm herself up. Her hair was ruined and she knew that her cloak was somewhere in the hall from when it fell off. Her pink hair was an abomination, hiding her magic from her…no, from the people, and it covered her eyes, only allowing her emerald eyes to look up to the stain glass window that looked up at the still full moon.
Sakura heard the door open on its own and felt a cold wind enter the room, and smiled a bit. Maybe she could freeze her body forever, then they would just have to break the ice and she would no longer live. Or she could force her body to speed up her metabolism to having to eat every second and her body would die. Or-
Footfalls sounded on the stones outside the room and Sakura shivered. How had they found her so fast? How much time had passed? Sakura wanted to stay here until she died. Why couldn't the God who gave her this curse just let her die and go to hell already?! The footfalls entered the room and Sakura held her breath and sat still as she heard the sound of forty seven footfalls stopped into the center of the room, before silence reigned.
"…..Sakura?" Sakura sat still. They couldn't know she was here. They couldn't! "...Sakura? I know you're there." A feminine voice spoke and Sakura gasped silently to turn her head slowly to the right, her pink hair and eye edging just barely around the chair to visibly widened at the sight of Ino there in her golden dress, the blood still oozing down her bare skin, and held together by Ino's right hand.
"Sakura? Please come out." Ino ventured, seeing Sakura's feared look behind her throne of power. Slowly, Sakura stood up, leaning her still covered hand on the headrest.
"H-how did you find me?" Sakura whispered and sniffled, but Ino nodded her head down and Sakura widened her eyes as all around her feet and out the door was a small path of ice. Great! Now her other limbs could send out magic. She'd never be touched again!
"Will you come closer?"
"N-no. J-just shoot me from there." Sakura whispered, and Ino's eyes widened, as well as the knights behind her.
"Y-you…you pathetic witch!" Ino yelled and Sakura jumped where she stood. Ino never yelled at her! "You think that just because some Uchiha shows you as a witch means that no one cares for you? I though witches were smart, beautiful, brave! You're nothing like that right now!"
"I-Ino?" Sakura asked, wondering where her anger was coming from, but then she saw tears glistened in her eyes and closed her mouth.
"I've known for months keeping your secret, and when it finally comes out, you run and hide? That's not the Queen I vowed to serve! When you told me what you were, I was so…excited. You don't realize how nice you are, Sakura. That's your fatal flaw; never seeing yourself as worth anything!
"All of these knights behind me. They vowed to serve you, Sakura, to serve you no matter what. You vowed back to them that you would lead them to the future. If the future is being led by the first great witch of Port Haruno, why not serve you?"
"B-But Ino, look at you!" Sakura yelled back, stepping out from the chair and pointing to her friend who looked down at the inch wide stomach wound on her side. Ino shrugged it off.
"Flesh wound. And I know that you can make it all better."
"W-what if I hurt others, Ino? I can't do this anymore. I-if you kill me," Sakura spoke, her eyes wide with adrenaline, "you'll be seen as a good Queen, the witch slayer, and then-"
"How dare you!" Ino yelled as Sakura cringed as her ears stung from Ino's screech. "I could never kill you. You guys. Tell her." Ino spoke to the knights and soldiers behind her and slowly, they stepped up one by one.
"You saved me from a rampaging horse when you were thirteen."
"You gave me a bonus when you found out my family couldn't pay for food."
"You have made our trade routes safe by using us instead of just overcrowding the marketplace during the day."
"You give us purpose."
"You give us life."
Knight and soldier said these things, and Sakura slowly stopped crying and just sniffled as they progressed through each other. As the last one said their statement, Ino had worked her way to Sakura's side and held her hand in her own, before dragging it slowly to her wound. Sakura looked to Ino and slowly her hand turned green and the knights widened their eyes as the wound closed in on itself, showing them the power of the one they vowed to serve.
"These knights have faith in you, because at seventeen, you've helped everyone in this city. The commoners more so than even us within the castle. The city knows what kind of Queen you are, Sakura, and you haven't even used your magic yet! We want you to lead us."
The Knights and Ino suddenly bent their knees and lowered themselves to below Sakura's height as her hand moved to rest at Ino's lips as she kissed the closed fingers in reverence. Sakura whimpered and shook her head at the gesture, the gesture that she hated to impose, but knew that it meant respect and honor and everything they saw in her that she couldn't.
"Y-you….you really want me?"
Ino and the knights nodded their heads before Ino reached behind her to show Sakura her royal cape and Sakura nodded as Ino stepped behind her and draped it over Sakura's back. The fabric snapped perfectly around her, and Sakura sniffled a bit, but smiled and nodded.
"Then I will protect you, for however long I live."
Meanwhile, inside the ballroom, only foreign ambassadors, and royals stood in the room, with fifty figures on one side, and ten on the other. The dark torches in the ballroom now seemed to darken and Itachi grimaced at his brother.
"You do not know what you are doing, Sasuke."
"I am simply doing the right thing, brother. Something that we have always done. We have always killed witches. Why should this one matter and not the others?" Sasuke spoke and Itachi saw his fifty supporters rapidly nodding as greedy smiles adorned their faces.
All of those supporters behind him were foreigners, people who had no say in this part of the world and their alliance of twelve, including Queen Haruno. These people behind Sasuke wanted only war, pillage, and plunder. Nothing else.
"She is not evil as you claim, Sasuke. You know that, and you are lying to yourself. Stop this, before it gets out of hand."
"I will not, brother, and neither will our people."
"Then you had better leave Sasuke. I will not let you attack the Queen now."
"...I'll be back, Itachi, and the Queen Will die, just as easily as all the others. It has always been this way and it will always be." Sasuke smiled, his group disappearing into the dark exit to the room, and Itachi last saw his brother's eyes; mad for power and greed.
Itachi sighed and the room grew cold as an early winter approached them. The fireworks had stopped when the glass of the ballroom broke and martial law was now in effect, but Itachi looked to the members of the alliance. What did they, as an alliance want to do?
"So?...Where do we...the Alliance...stand, fellow royals?"
"We know where you stand, Lord Uchiha." A member spoke and Itachi nodded. He was biased; love for his sister outweighing that of his brother.
"I know Lord Akimichi, but I ask if we still support Lady Haruno."
"…Her Lady has never been a problem before."
"Lord Sasuke pushed her farther than what is considered appropriate."
"Therefore, she showed skill at keeping her powers in check, though I doubt that Lord Maki and Lady Yuki did not know this."
"I agree, they must have been training her to control it."
"Please, where do we stand? My brother will be back as soon as he can."
"….We stand…."
"…..With Queen Haruno…."
"Then…let us renew our pledge for War…."
AN: If you have time, go on youtube and watch, 'Answer The Call', elder scrolls for the ending song to this chapter. I felt like it really, while not being a war based story, it helped to show all of the emotions coming in between all of the characters.
Question: Say you stand on a cliff next to a really fat guy shaped like a boulder and down below, you see a train coming down the tracks and is about to kill five children on those tracks. You have a minute to respond. If you do nothing then the five people die, but your other choice is to push the fat boulder guy down, which will derail the train, saving the five to kill only the conductor and the fat guy. What do you do? (Also, only two choices)