Okay, chapter nineteen of The Prince and The Slave. I hope you all enjoy it. Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed and added me to their faves and alerts lists.
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The Prince and The Slave.
Chapter Nineteen.
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(Sakura's P.O.V.)
I couldn't help but feel guilty. I mean, I've just taken someone's life. He might have been scum and he would've done worse to me. I still can't help feeling guilty about it. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up at my brother. "Sakura, you're a human being, I know you feel guilty about that guard. You wouldn't be human if you didn't feel anything. Everyone feels that way, the first time they kill someone. But it was necessary. You did what you had to do. Not just for yourself, but for all these girls that are free now." Pein told me. I nodded.
"Will this guilt go away?" I asked him. Pein looked at me curiously.
"I don't know if it'll ever go away completely. I haven't forgotten the first man I killed. But it does fade in magnitude. That is something I can guarantee." Pein replied. Then he walked over to Konan and I was alone with my thoughts again. I had to admit that my brother was at least honest with me. That made me feel a little better. Somehow, I wondered if this kind of guilt could dim.
"Sakura?" I knew it was Sasuke, before I even looked at him.
"Sasuke?" I questioned back. We were still walking. I looked up at the sky to see all the stars glinting over our heads.
"Are you alright?" He asked me. I couldn't help but look at him, feeling more than a little bit confused. "I know what it's like to kill someone and feel guilty for it." Sasuke added, as if to give me an answer.
"Do you still feel guilty?" I asked. Sasuke bit his lip.
"The first time I had to kill someone, it was an escaped slave. A boy who was fourteen years old. I was the same age. My father insisted I be the one to do it. He was tied up and defenceless. My father said that I had to. I never forgave myself for it Sakura. It was different for me. You were defending yourself. You're right to defend yourself. If my father ever got a hold of you, you wouldn't be able to do a thing unless you could kill him." Sasuke told me. I felt sick. How could a man do that to his son? Make his son kill a defenceless boy? I don't think I could ever forgive someone like Fugaku Uchiha. I understood now why Sasuke had seemed so cold to me when I first met him. With a father like our King, how could he act in any other way without drawing attention to himself?
"Was he like that with your brother too?" I asked. Sasuke looked at me for a few moments, and nodded.
"He was like that with both of us. I hoped that he would ease up on us with time, but he never did. As I got older, he got harsher. I used to wonder what I did wrong. I know now that it's him that's wrong. Seeing all of this... the suffering and pain of the slaves... it makes me want to change things. I hope that we can overthrow my father, and I can change the laws of slavery. Then all of these people will be truly free. They'll be able to do as they wish. That's something worthy to fight for." Sasuke stated. I couldn't help but grin at him.
"You're really learning something out of all of this." I said. He nodded and grinned back.
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(General P.O.V.)
Once the group arrived back at the Akatsuki base, Pein took note that Ibiki was waiting for him. "What's going on Ibiki?" Pein called out.
"Things have changed in Orochimaru's household. The rest I'll tell you about once these girls are settled in the base." Ibiki stated. Pein nodded and led the group into the base.
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A few hours later, after Pein had given the girls a choice to learn to fight for themselves, Pein went to his office and sat in his own chair. Ibiki was waiting for him. "What's happened?" Pein asked.
"Orochimaru is looking for a new slave to toy with. He's gotten bored of his latest bed-warmer. It might be a way to kill him quickly. The trouble is that he prefers his girls to be rather young. He's given me the task of finding him a new girl. He's had the last one for over six years, maybe seven." Ibiki said softly.
"You realise that if you don't bring him another girl he'll suspect you." Pein stated.
"I know. My plan was to bring him one of the girls here. One willing to kill him. I don't know if either of us could ask that of one of these girls." Ibiki stated.
"I'll do it." The pair turned to see Ten Ten standing there. "I'm willing to kill him. He destroyed my family. He murdered my Uncle and he took my cousin and Aunt away from me. He took my best friend from me and kept her as his slave. I don't even know if she's alive or not. It needs to be one of us. Me, Ino, Hinata or Sakura. Sakura just went on a mission, and she's already had to kill someone. Hinata is too gentle to kill someone, at least for now. Ino... it would bring back bad memories for her. I have a reason to kill him. I'll do whatever I have to do to finish him off." Ten Ten stated boldly. Pein and Ibiki looked at the girl carefully. "I want to ask one thing Ibiki." Ten Ten added.
"Yes?" Ibiki questioned.
"This bed-warmer of Orochimaru's? What's her name?" Ten Ten asked.
"Her name is Guren. How long Orochimaru will keep her around once there's someone new to replace her is anyone's guess." Ibiki stated.
"I won't be anyone's bed-warmer. I'll kill him the first night that I'm taken to his bedroom. That's something you need to be prepared for Ibiki. I'm sure I can pull that off as long as I know what's going to happen. That's where you'd need to inform me." Ten Ten stated.
"We'll have to devise some hand signals or code. We've got a week before we need to travel back. In that time we'll make a plan and learn how to communicate. This will have to be played very carefully." Ibiki stated. Ten Ten nodded her understanding.
"I'm prepared." Ten Ten quipped sternly.
"I'm going to need to change my appearance. He was the man that captured me as a child and sold me to the slave market. Maybe I should change my hair colour." Ten Ten stated. Pein nodded and the trio carried on making plans.
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Later that evening, whilst everyone was eating, Neji looked around anxiously for Ten Ten. "Has anyone seen Ten Ten since we got back?" Neji asked. The others shook their heads. That was when Konan walked into the room with a girl who had jet black hair. She walked over to them, dressed in a grey sack dress and bare feet. Her hair fell down her back like a raven waterfall as she sat next to Sakura. That was when Neji noticed her eyes. They were the exact shade of chocolate brown as Ten Ten's. He felt his eyes widen in shock. "Ten Ten what the hell did you do to yourself?" Neji asked.
"I'm going on a mission in a week. I figured that if none of you could recognise me straight away Orochimaru definitely won't." Ten Ten stated. Neji stood up and glared angrily.
"Orochimaru?" He hissed out angrily.
"Yes. Ibiki and I are going to infiltrate his house. I used henna to colour my hair black. Konan really did well turning my hair a different colour. I'm so glad that it'll wash out after a month or two." Ten Ten stated chirpily.
"You're not going." Neji said.
"Says who?" Ten Ten hissed back.
"Says me! There is no way I'm going to let you throw yourself into the snakes den! He's a pervert and a predator! He takes young girls and destroys them Ten Ten! You can't go to his home!" Neji yelled. Ten Ten stood up and faced Neji with an icy look.
"Just in case you forgot Neji, I'm not your property anymore. We're equals. That means, that I have the right, to make my own decisions. You can't tell me what to do and what missions to take Neji Hyuga." Ten Ten stated coldly. Neji's hands were shaking with anger and Ten Ten's glare could've murdered him, if people could be killed with a look. Ten Ten turned on her heel, knocking over the chair she'd been sitting on, and strode out of the hall leaving her friends, and Neji in silence.
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(Ten Ten's P.O.V.)
Who does he think he is? How dare he tell me what I can and can't do! I'll do what I want! I'm not being ordered around by anyone! I wanted to scream all of this out, but I refused. I was sat in my room trying not to throw things at the wall when I heard a knock on my door. I opened it to see Hinata standing there looking at me timidly. "What's wrong Hinata?" I asked her.
"Can I come in Ten Ten-Chan?" Hinata asked. I moved aside and let her come in. She sat down on one end of my bed. "I thought I should let you know that it's not because Neji views you as inferior, that he doesn't want you to go Ten Ten." Hinata told me bluntly. I couldn't help but wonder what gave her that idea. "It's because he cares about you Ten Ten. He doesn't want you to get hurt. He knows that Orochimaru would do terrible things to you. Especially if you're not prepared. He wants to keep you safe, not stop you from being your own person." Hinata added.
"What makes you think all this Hinata?" I asked.
"Because Neji is my cousin. I know him better than most people. You should know him better too." Hinata replied. She then stood up to leave. "Go and talk to him Ten Ten. He didn't want to hurt your feelings. He just wanted to protect you." Hinata added before she left. I couldn't help thinking that I know she's right. I know Neji cares about what happens to me. I know that's why he's acting like this. I just wish he'd understand that I'm capable of protecting myself.
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Okay everyone. That's the end of chapter nineteen. I hope you all enjoyed it. I tried not to make it too depressing. I hope that I managed it. Although I must warn there will be some rather depressing topics coming up. Anyways, please R&R and let me know what you all think.