-xxx-
"Stay away from her."
"You say that as though it were possible."
-xxx-
Ch.7 The Damages We Win
Conversation was scare as the carriage trudged towards the King's castle. Sakura was certain the King would be made aware of the Uchiha lord's presence and in turn require an audience upon his arrival. If she were to show up with the Uchiha, she was sure her appearance would be taken into question as she would also arrive before the king, seeing as she was traveling with the new guest of honor. Assuming that this was the reason Madara hadn't prodded about her recent scuffles, she couldn't decide if he was decidingly annoying or brilliant.
Which is where time brought her now. Through the front gates, the long halls, and now the throne room where she stood next to the grand Uchiha lord directly before the King. His pawns had gathered around him to witness the next play of the game, but whether it was her move or his was yet to be determined.
"Lord Madara," the smooth tenor of Sasori's voice greeted as he spared a glance towards the long haired lord and extreme presence of the Uchiha house. "We were not expecting you in the capital so soon."
"I found my schedule cleared sooner rather than later and decided to push forward my arrival. I hope that this is not an inconvenience to you, King Sasori." Though it was his name in title, Sakura had not heard a single voice utter the specified title since she arrived in the capital. Calling any noble by their given first name was a sign of mutual respect and further relations past simple acquaintances. And though this man was sure to have more than a handful of meetings with the king, the title sounded like luring bait tumbling from the Uchiha's lips.
It was a blatant challenge of respect that Madara Uchiha had thrown to scorpion king. A bait that Sakura knew to expect from someone with a high status that he held. Next to the king's own family name, the Uchiha name was one of the most powerful and well known across all nations. Though Madara was not head of the family, he was one who held a high respect of power among the name. In relation to the younger Uchiha's also residing in the capital, he was their uncle by blood.
The king had taken a rather relaxing stance upon his throne and was now in delicate possession of his jaw, his index finger rest just below his lower lip. The motion was one the king favored when a situation peaked his interested. And right now, his interest was peaked in what looked to be amusement and distaste swarmed together through his cinnamon colored eyes. "Not at all. It allows us to conduct our business sooner rather than later, as you said previously," Sasori answered back, as his eyes briefly flickered to the pink haired girl standing further away before trailing back to the man seeking his audience. "What I crave to know, is how you came into keeping Lady Sakura in the current state she is in. Care to explain?"
The upward tilt of Madara's lips was expected as he tossed a glance over his shoulder to view the woman in question. The implied question under the king's words was: were you the one that left her in this state? A valid implication it was, for she was sure her current state was less than ideal for a woman in the king's court. Finger shaped prints of purple hued the pale skin of her neck, contrasting harshly against her skin. New shadings began to appear across her outer arms, curtesy of the city guards. A keen eye could also pick up the red marks that barely marred the flesh around her neck and collarbone. To add to it all, her hair was a waved disaster and her dress had sand and dirt stains that would make Ino cry in despair. But she knew the king's question intended to stem into more pressing inquiries about the how she received each blemish and blow. Questions only she could answer.
"I'm afraid pure persistence was what lead me to Lord Uchiha's company and nothing more." Sakura answered the king's question, causing the red haired ruler to fledge his full attention to her. Madara on the other hand, allowed his smirk to hint on predatory as he watched her speak of him. "He knows little of my endeavors earlier today. Perhaps your questions would be better directed if you asked me, my king. I'd be happy to quell your curiosity."
A smirk played on the king's lips as he listened to her words. He extended his hand to allow her approach towards his throne, subtly dismissing Madara to the back of the room in the process. "As you wish, Lady Sakura. Care to explain your current state?"
"You'll have to be more specific, my king. To what about my state are you referring?" Her tone was barely polite as she spoke, testing the king further, but she had lost her patience somewhere between the sharp teeth of a Jashinist and the vice grip of a demon. Her hands were clasped lightly in front of her, as her posture was still held tall, disheveled appearance or not.
His smirk peaked further across the planes of his face. She watched as he pushed himself out of his elaborate throne and began his path towards her. "Very well, my lady. We shall have it your way," his voice drawled lowly as he moved to stand in front of her, his elaborate attire flowing with each movement. Once he was close enough, his hand trailed lightly against the column of her neck. "Where did you procure these?"
"A disagreement of sorts," she replied back, her tone lower as her emerald eyes clashed with his chocolate ones. She intended to be as vague as possible, if he allowed it. The king did not need to know her true intentions revolved around the game he had challenged her with.
"My lady," the king pressed, his tone emanating lowly enough that it could have been considered a growl. "I also require specifics, as you yourself requested. I will not ask again."
Impatience rolled off the king in waves, and the Konoha native was not naïve in his feelings. "They were procured from a man's hands around my throat. Perhaps your loyal knight could fill in the rest of the details for you," the lady replied as her eyes spared a short glance to Kisame's form that was still standing at attention behind the king's throne. Without even a glance towards the large man in question, Kisame replied with the mist demon's name.
Satisfied enough with the response for the time being, the king's touch moved to the miniscule red markings near the junction of her neck and shoulder. "And these, my lady? Quite the curious little marks."
The king knew what they were. Anyone standing in a similar position could see the pointed indentation that could only be acquired from the pressure of teeth against skin. She dared even admit that the assumption of the mark's origin emitted a darker palate to his smoky eyes.
"I made the mistake of inquiring about Jashinism."
His eyes seemed to narrow at the comment as his thumb surged rather harshly against the marked skin. The king did not seem to want to press the subject further, and Sakura assumed it was because of some of the comments Hidan previous made about Sasori's involvement with his religion. The rumor had yet to be proved true, but the bearing was not in the king's favor. His hand trailed across her bare shoulder and down to meet the fresh bruise on one of her arms. He did not question with words this time, as his eyes gave her a demanding message when she met them.
"You may thank your city guards for those, my king," she told him with a little satisfaction playing under her tone as she uttered her next words. "They were a tad bitter that they had been outdone by a woman with pink hair."
"Humor me, my lady," Sasori's voice intonated as his free hand came to caress the bruise that mirrored against her other arm. "How did you manage to provoke the city guards?"
"I would never dream of provoking your men, my king, but the moment one of them unjustly places their hands on me, I will break them," the woman replied as her voice husked her intentions lowly to the space separating her from the most powerful man in the world. Her eyes flickered over to Kisame's form before she realized, defining that her words should be comprehended by not only the king, but his pawns as well.
"Your words could be taken as a threat against the king," Kakuzu's voice resonated through the large hall, alerting Sakura's attention to his form. A loyal piece indeed.
"I suppose if you were regarding the situation so plainly, that could be construed. But if you were well enough informed, you would realize we are much past such rudimentary drivel," her tone shot back as her lips tilted subtly in the master of coin's direction before once again returning her eyes to the king. Any polite subject would apologize to the king for any misunderstanding in tone, but Sakura did not care for such forgiveness.
"I assume that is what lead you into Lord Madara's care," the read haired king retorted. There was no apology to her new damage, as she was sure the king felt little remorse. "But what were you doing in the western part of the city, my lady?"
This time, she allowed a small smile to grace her lips as the mischief in her voice could no longer be contained. "Smelling the roses, my king."
The king stared for a few seconds, but said nothing in reply. It seemed their conversation had come to an end. Finally. She would take it as a small victory of her own. "If you'll excuse me, my king. I'd like to get cleaned up."
The king simply nodded as he watched her give the polite curtsey before moving further away from his presence. Her emerald eyes trailed up Madara's lithe form as she passed, giving him a slight nod. "Lord Uchiha."
"Lady Sakura," he purred in return as he watched her leave the throne room, two guards flanking behind her as she left. The eldest Uchiha tilted his head back in the king's direction, noting that the redhead currently looked upon him less favorably now that the young pink haired noble had made her leave.
"Do not forget your place amongst my court, Madara," the king hissed as he gave the Uchiha a pointed glare before he swept a careless hand through his rust hued tresses. "You may hold power amid your own lands, but you are now in my territory. See to it that you do not forget that fact."
"Of course," Madara replied with a short bow as his entertained smirk still played across his features. "I would not dream of it."
Sasori waved an uncaring hand to dismiss the Uchiha noble before returning to the comfort of his throne, leaning back with an arm settled against a rest. "Kakuzu. Find Hidan. That imbecile has caused me enough trouble for one day."
The tanned treasurer bowed lowly before soundlessly exiting the room to find the foul monastic. Though he was sure the king would not kill him, the tone of his voice let on that he was less than pleased. "Itachi," the king called out. "See that Sakura is taken care of."
The younger Uchiha bowed to the king before departing to complete his task. A short hum was sounded from the king's left as a smile cracked the features of the king's close companion. "So its Sakura now, is it?"
The king allowed his own amusement at the implication. "It always has. It always will be."
-xxx-
Once Sakura had returned to her room, she noted that one of her chamber maids had prepared a hot bath for her, which she graciously obliged to. She stripped herself of the sage dress that seemed to carry the weight of her day with it before she stepped into the basin of steaming water. She lavished her skin with some of the oils and soaps that had been left for her, hoping to wash away any remnants of the Jashinist's touch and the smell of blood that Zabuza seemed to pass onto anyone whom got too close to him. Once satisfied, she fully submerged herself in the water, allowing her pink tresses to darken with the added substance. Instead of a dusted rose in color, they now showed a vibrant color of carnation when she broke the surface.
The day's events had certainly not been what she had intended. See did not intend to be assaulted by a Jashinist, asphyxiated by a mist demon, shadowed by a spy master, or assailed by city guards. She had certainly not intended to meet someone as powerful as Madara Uchiha to top the entirety of the day off. The man posed a difficult block in her movements. He was a piece to the game she could not ignore. But instead of being a piece on a specified side of the board, it was as if he played on his own board to move as he pleased. For what little information she knew about the man and his influential abilities, she did not assume him to be in close command with the king.
In fact, from what she witnessed briefly in the throne room, the two men could hardly stand to breathe the same air as one another. To this circumstance, she knew that having an Uchiha, an authoritative one, on her side of the game board could greatly benefit her intentions. But acquiring him would be risky and certainly pose many dangers. Ones she was unconvinced would be worth the hazard in the long run. Patience would be required if she decided to pursue, but scoping out the possibilities would have to be added to her plans. Perhaps she could enlist the spymaster for additive information about the eldest Uchiha lord, if he were willing to cooperate.
The young Haruno noble let out a frustrated sigh as she combed her nimble fingers through her wet tresses. The king's game was proposing to be quite the nuisance. Much more than she had originally intended. Deciding that her fingers had pruned enough, she begrudgingly pulled herself from the relaxing bath, and dried herself with a cloth before wrapping herself in a dressing robe provided in an elegant cream color. She swept her long locks over one shoulder, intending to brush it upon return to her room.
Moving back into the main area of her secluded Suna prison, she sat at her vanity style mirror and finally took in the appearance the others had already been graced with. Her neck was a ghastly shade of purple almost over its entirety. Zabuza's fingers were clearly engraved against the flesh upon closer inspected. She was unaware that he had grasped so crudely. Attending down closer to her shoulder junction, Hidan's brands were less visible, but still quite clear to her eye. That lascivious stint did not know when to quit. Lastly, she pulled down the shoulder of her robe enough to view the purple dusting gracing her outer arm. Though not as bad as the bruising Zabuza gifted her with, it was still enough to allow a scoff of annoyance.
"Incompetent idiots," she cursed under her breath as she adjusted her robe before starting the process of brushing her lengthy tresses. Her pink mane now reached past her breasts and kept growing. It was starting to become an annoyance more than anything. She was sure if she had an object sharp enough around her at the moment, she would relieve herself of the unnecessary feminity and sport something more practice. Alas, the trust of a weapon in her possession was a poor decision on the part of the king, and he knew it.
Her thoughts trailed off until she heard a light knocking across her door. Inquiring to who it was, she was surprised at the voice which responded. "It is Itachi, my lady. Are you decent?"
The always chivalrous nature was a part of being a respected Uchiha who would once take over his father's power. She called for him to come in, knowing that even in the state that she was fully clothed, Itachi would find it improper to see her in her dressing robe. Though she found that she didn't care. Out of all the men, she thought he would be the most reserved in this situation.
Upon first glance of her, she could read the slight surprise that flashed briefly through his charcoal eyes, but nowhere else. His mask was replaced effortlessly, but Sakura allowed a small smirk to pull at her lips as she continued to brush through her endless locks. "Lord Uchiha," she greeted simply as she glanced at his reflection that now graced her mirror.
"My lady," he greeted with a small bow in her direction. "I apologize for the intrusion."
"What can I do for you, my lord?" she questioned, giving him no forgiveness for his incursion as he had suggested.
"I have brought something that might help with your bruises, if you'll accept it." She noted the small glass container he now held in his hand that seemed to contain some kind of paste. She raised a brow in question which procured a reply. "It's a mixture of parsley and mint. It will help with the swelling as well as the pain."
Giving him a small nod, she watched as he approached from behind her through the reflection in her vanity mirror. She attempted to turn and accept the paste herself but was stopped by the simple gesture of Itachi's delicate hand on her shoulder. "Allow me, my lady. This way you can be sure it is distributed evenly."
An odd request coming from Itachi, but she supposed she could use the time with him to ask a few questions. She gave a short nod as she moved back to face her mirror, watching Itachi collect some of the mixture across the tips of his fingers, before placing the jar to rest on a nearby table. He approached her slowly from behind as his dark eyes met hers in the mirror.
"May I?" She nodded as his fingers gently brushed against one side of her neck, applying the cream that was much cooler to the touch than she had expected. Shivers ran down her spine at its unexpected temperature and it seemed Itachi took notice. "I apologize. I did not warn you that it would be cool to the touch."
"No need to apologize, my lord. I appreciate your assistance," she thanked as she felt his nimble fingers smooth the paste across the delicate discoloration on her throat. His touch was gentle and slow. He took his time with his motions as he made sure not to miss and inch of affected skin. She was sure if her neck hadn't been so tender, it would have almost felt good.
"I presume the king requested you to do this," the noblewoman spoke up once more as his fingers felt the vibrations of her vocal chords through her neck. "He can't have his guests showing any blemishes under his care. It would give off the wrong impression to his people."
The prod was light hearted, but still evident. And very true. Though the king was known to possess a cruel streak, a noble under his care was directly reflected upon him in terms of their wellbeing. A noble of Sakura's standards was held in the highest regard. And though the king would hold support with whatever endeavors he chose to commit his time with, nation relations were a delicate balance, as Pein had made obvious in their previous meeting.
"Your wellbeing is important to the king, but do not doubt that I would do anything I could if it was to help you, my lady." His voice was deep. Deeper than his younger brother's, but not quite as deep as his uncle's. He almost sounded sincere, but she could never be too sure.
"If only we knew how far that loyalty extended, my lord," Sakura replied as she caught his eye in her mirror once more. She wasn't just talking about his loyalty to her own service. Deciding a change in subject was necessary, a brief smirk tilted at the corner of her mouth. "I had the pleasure of meeting your brother today, my lord. I find that your words from the king's tourney fit rather…well with his person."
"I apologize if he insulted you in anyway, my lady. He was never the most well-mannered boy, even growing up as an Uchiha," Itachi explained as she felt his fingers trace to the front of her throat, running soothing circles across the bruised flesh, dipping low enough to make contact with her clavicle.
She initially hummed in response to his comment, thinking back to another particular Uchiha whom manners seemed to escape. "I wouldn't go as far to assume that all Uchiha's are the pristine definition of manners, my lord. Your uncle seems to enjoy testing the boundaries of the acceptable, if I'm bold enough to assume."
"Of that, my lady, you have every right to assume," the young lord retorted with what seemed to be a small quirk of amusement at his lips as his fingers trailed to the left side of her neck. "I hope that he did not affront you in any way as well. I'd hate to think you were insulted by more than one of my family members in the span of a day."
"Ah, but the day is not even over yet, my lord. And insults can come in all shapes and sizes." She watched as his dark eyes trailed to the junction of her shoulder were Hidan's parting gift was present across her skin. His eyes met hers in the mirror, asking permission. Giving him a brief nod, she felt his free hand slowly peel back the light fabric that kept the skin partially covered. Once the full area of skin was exposed, his fingers drug over the markings rubbing more of the cool past into her flesh. She felt more than just the pads of his fingers as his skin caressed her own. At some point in his ministrations, his entire hand began to caress her skin. The intent to help her with her bruises seeming far from his mind in the moment.
He was drawn to her skin like a moth to a flame. The outcome for the month always posing to be a deadly one. It was the same look she witnessed in the eyes of several other males in the capital. It seemed to be a theme. In that moment, she knew how to discover answers from Itachi.
"I have a personal question, if you'll humor it, my lord," her voice was light, barely audible as she watched their gazes meet once more, noting that his eyes flickered to the vision of his hand resting upon her exposed skin.
"Of course, my lady."
"Why does the rightful heir to the Uchiha hierarchy spend his time as a shadow to the king? Most in your position stay close to their impending throne, learning the ropes of succession in order to better their position when the time comes around. So why stay here, miles away from your home and your family? What purpose does that truly serve?"
"You have an unquenchable sense of curiosity, my lady," Itachi stated as his touch danced along her collarbone, the intention of quelling her bruises now completely fleeted. "My purpose in this world is to serve the crown. It is my family's charge dating back to the time of the world's creation. Whatever the crown needs, I help supply to them."
"In this instance you supply an uninterested bride to fill the void as future queen," her tone was pointed as she accepted the fact that is man was more the king's errand boy than shadow. "A tall order to fill and a standstill that it puts you at. Your purpose is lacking, my lord."
"Is it though, my lady?" his question was taunting as it reached closer to Sakura's ears as his form moved closer. More contact was made as she felt the heat of his own body seeping through the thin material of her robe from behind. His other hand now rested on the curve where her neck met her shoulder. She watched as his form bent lower, his lips now so close to the shell of her ear, eyes still locked with her own through the shared vision of the mirror. "You seem to be pressing towards something, my lady. Care to indulge your point?"
The soft heat of his breath procured shivers down the length of her spine. She was unsure if they were from the temperature change or because she enjoyed the sound of his relaxed tenor in her ear. A curse directed towards herself rang through her thoughts. He should not have such an effect on her, as she was aware of the effect she held over him. But she divulged that it was not often someone so attractive held such an intimate moment with her; side they played on the game board being briefly set aside.
"Your skills are wasted here in the capital," Sakura responded as watched his face for change in emotion, truly not expecting to see anything at all. "You have an ability that could be used for so much good, yet it's thrown away on degrading errands and frivolous tasks."
As she expected, his face did not change. Until she uttered her next words to push the king's pawn over the edge of the game board on which he had so proudly sat. "Haven't you been degraded and unappreciated enough? Aren't you tired, Itachi?"
Though she did not know if it was truly her words alone, or the fact that she uttered his name so directly with a tone that resembled honey, that made his façade break away. The hand that had been casually resting on her skin to the right had since tangled itself in her damp pink strands, purposing itself as an anchor to reality as it tugged hard enough to bring her face to meet his directly. Their noses brushed, breaths mingled, and eyes clashed. She felt his lips just a hair's distance away from her own. Any sudden movement and they would meet.
"I am aware of the dangerous game you play, my lady," his voice was huskier than usual as it seemed to send vibrations through her joints. "The damages you won today are enough to attest that fact. And though, I will begrudgingly admit, I am nearly prone to consent to the risks that come with your game, I will not be played so hollowly."
"Ah, but who insinuates that this game is a hollow one? A game may be what it can be called to everyone else, but to me, it is a battle. A war. One that you assisted in dragging me into, if you need to be reminded." She made sure that her words were strong as she spoke. As much as it was easier to call what the king had posed a game, she had to be honest with herself and admit it was something much more treacherous.
"You may believe my words to be false, but that is not the case," Sakura began again, never taking her here gaze away from the dark depths of night staring into her own soul. "You are better than this desert and the man who rules it. All I ask is for you to give yourself the chance to see that."
The young Uchiha stayed silent for a few moments before speaking again. "You are a dangerous woman, Lady Sakura. But you should know, for every danger you hold, the King holds twice as many. And he is not of a kind heart as you are. Nor does he give second chances."
"I believe we have had a similar conversation to this where I deterred that I do not enjoy being underestimated, my lord. I'd hate to waste our time by having such a conversation again," Sakura chided as a small smirk tugged at her pastel pink lips.
"That will be unnecessary, as I recall where I stood at the end of that conversation, my lady." She heard the amusement dance through his tone as she spoke, and she knew their conversation would soon come to an end, but he had not yet pulled away. His hold was still firm and his eyes still ever present. "But do not take my words with a light heart."
"I do not intend to, my lord. Nor do I intend to need a second chance," she countered. "Nor should you take mine so carelessly."
"Ah, nor do I intend to, my lady," he whispered back as she felt him brush his cool lips against her own, pressing them for the briefest moment before retracting completely and heading towards the door. Her emerald eyes widened. The gesture was unexpected, as was the flush that rose up her neck to meet the apples of her cheeks.
"To give you fair warning, my lady, your presence is requested at dinner tomorrow night. Due to my uncle's unforeseen arrival, the king is preparing a dinner in his honor. There will be a large attendance of guests, but nothing to concern yourself too much with."
"I appreciate the notice, but I'm certain the king would not want me around his guests sporting such distasteful accessories," she told him as she referred to the markings gracing her skin. She prayed the excuse would relieve her of such an outing, but when Itachi told her he would find a way to take care of it, she was fully convinced his talents were going to waste.
-xxx-
The request had never been uttered that she was required to join the king for dinner on this night, so she requested to have it sent to her room to retire for the night. It seemed there were no objections, seeing that she already had quite the eventful day and needed her rest. She took her dinner on her balcony as she watched the sun set through the Suna sky.
It was one guilty pleasure she had derived upon since her arrival in the capital. Though Konoha had some of the most beautiful sunsets she had ever seen, Suna's also held a certain beauty she had never seen in a setting sun before coming here. The colors seemed to be richer as they contrasted with the neutral palate of Suna's landscape. She wished that she could capture it in a painting and keep it forever to gaze upon as many times as she wanted.
Sitting on her balcony, she let the breeze serve as the means to dry her long pink locks after her bath. She had since changed into a more casual dress the color of the sky on a clear day. It had capped sleeve over her shoulders and tied in at the waist with a simple cut at her neck. The fabric was delicate, but comfortable. It was light enough that she felt as though she could breathe in the thick air around her.
Since dinner, she had requested that tea be brought to her room. Hearing a knock at her door, she assumed it to be one of the maids bringing what she had requested. She called them in, but kept her eyes locked to the beauty of the setting sun. She heard footsteps approaching her position, and she found that they sounded heavier than that of any of her maids. She braced her posture, as she was now alone with someone she did not trust.
"Lady Sakura," the voice greeted lowly, bringing back the memory of whom it belonged to. "Would you mind if I joined you?"
"Please have a seat," she replied simply as her hand gestured to the empty seat to her right. She heard the shuffle of the man's movements as he took the seat next to her. Taking in a calming breath, she turned her attention to the man now in her presence.
"Lord Uchiha," she greeted plainly, her mind too tired to make much politeness of the situation with the powerful man sharing her air. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company? I had not expected to see you so soon after our last meeting."
"I thought it best to see how you were doing, my lady," the eldest Uchiha's voice responded in a low purr as she watched the setting sun reflect off his charcoal eyes. "And please, call me Madara."
"I appreciate your concern, Lord Uchiha, but a few nasty bruises won't stop life from carrying on right before our eyes," she replied, blatantly ignoring his request as she turned back towards the colorful sky. "Beside the point, I know how to handle myself in less than savory situations."
"Ah," Madara sounded as he watched her from the corner of his eye when his voice continued. "Such as the precarious one you stand in with the current king."
"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean, my lord." But her actions led him to believe otherwise. He watched as her jaw clenched and eyes widened just the slightest fraction.
"You can cut the coy little act with me, my lady. I can see that fiery little temper of yours begging to be released from its cage," the dark haired royalty supplied with a dangerously handsome smirk playing his features like a waltz. "But perhaps you'll let me stoke the fire within you as I ply you with some tantalizing information."
"And what about my person articulates that I crave this information you so freely wish to supply, my lord?" Her tone spoke with a certain husk that drove a spike of thirst through Madara's core. He hardly knew this woman. But he knew enough that he wanted her. He wanted her passion, her anger, and her desire. He wanted to feast upon them all with a fever that could not be contained.
"Do not persist to know so much about me or my situation just from the idle gossip you hear through the streets," she chided as she glanced at him quizzically with a brow raised slightly in his direction.
"Oh, my lady, you have me confused with some imbecile of a man if you think I thrive from petty city gossip," he chided back as his smirk persisted. "My facts are concrete, my information verified. Do not think that just because this land does not belong to me, that I don't have little spiders that that can lend me their ears in my absence."
His words directed her thoughts back to Zetsu and his little flowers. Though Madara called his spies spiders, she wondered if the two men had any relation to each other. Something she would certainly look into herself. "And what do your little spiders ply your ears with, my lord?"
"So you admit you're interested in what information I do have, my lady?"
"I admit nothing, as you were the one so openly offering information, Lord Uchiha."
He chuckled as she threw words back in his face so effortlessly. "Have you not heard the saying that everything comes with a price, Lady Sakura?"
She knew his words had been too good to be true. "I anticipate your price being too steep for its true worth, my lord. Perhaps you can find someone else who would be willing to pay the price you ask."
"Ah, but Lady Sakura, you are the only one to benefit from this information. Anyone else would find it trivial. But perhaps you would be more trusting if you knew what I said was true. But know this favor only extends in this instance," Madara spoke, his voice low, as he reached a hand out to brush a stray strand of pink hair behind her ear before he spoke once again.
"My spiders say that the king resorts to trickery and unfair political ploys to keep you in the capital. He resorts to waiving precious lives in your face as if they're nothing, to bribe your time. They say that he and his companions intend to compete for your affections." He spoke the last fact with more bitterness then the previous, and she was surprised by his words. His spies were truly well informed. The last comment had been fresh news to her, but it would certainly explain the added affections certain men had been providing. She wondered again if he and the mysterious spymaster of Suna were in league together. The possibility was looking more favorable by each passing second.
"I'll admit, your web of spies is well informed, my lord. But I fail to see how this lack of new information is supposed to stoke any fire within me," Sakura replied as she averted her attention away from the intruding man as she noted she had missed the last fleeting seconds of the sunset.
An amused hum escaped his lips as he watched her gaze trail across the darkening sky. "You assume that this information is all that I possess. If the whispers I just shared were any conciliation of the knowledge in my custody, you should know that I hold things of much more value."
She did not know if he still spoke of just words, or another type of valuable. She was unsure she really wanted to find out. As this man had stated before, what he offered always came with a price.
"I'll keep that in mind, my lord."
"See that you do, my lady."
She sensed that their conversation had ended, but she noted that he showed no sign of leaving. She wished to sign aloud in annoyance, but knew it would be considered a heinous insult. "Is there anything else you wished to discuss this evening, my lord? I find myself rather fatigued from the day."
If he had picked up on her lie, he showed no indication of it. He simply showed the smirk she was becoming so familiar with before standing from his seat, his tall form now towering above her lowered one. He reached out to grasp her hand, pulling her knuckles up to meet his lips chastely. "Not tonight, my lady. Rest now. I look forward to seeing you at the celebration tomorrow night."
A polite incline of her head in his direction was her only reply before he excused himself from her presence. Once she heard the door to her chambers shut behind him, she let out the sigh of frustration she had been holding in.
Noble men were insufferable.
-xxx-
"Why the fuck was it necessary for this stitched fuck to drag me from my important matters at such an hour?" Hidan demanded as he leaned against the stone wall of the King's sitting room, sending a glare at the master of coin as he casually leaned near the closed doorway.
"Shut up, Hidan," Kakuzu shot back with a sneer making its way to his face. "You were fucking a whore. I hardly call that important business."
Hidan's taunting grin crept to his features as it pointed in the direction of the tanned man. "Just because you chose to be a celibate fuck, doesn't mean I have to be."
"Enough. Both of you." The king's voice was harsh as he spoke. He was seated comfortably amongst a dark covered divan nursing a glass of dark red wine. His lazy eyes showed little patience as they landed on the silver haired Jashinist. "You are not here to question my demands, Hidan. You are a libidinous imbecile who has caused me too much trouble today."
Hidan scoffed as the king scolded him, crossing his arms over his partially covered chest. He was no child and had no desire to be treated as such. "You're referring to that fiery pink bitch, aren't you?"
"What did you say to her, Hidan?"
"We stand on a fucking mutual agreement, your majesty," Hidan spat the honorific with no respect, "That I kill of those you name to appease Jashin and in return I hold no attachment to this royal horse shit. What I said or did with that smoldering wench is none of your fucking concern."
"Watch whom you speak your foul words to, Hidan. Though we arranged an agreement, do not take me for some lowly commoner that you can push around so easily. I could have you killed where you stand."
The Jashinist scoffed openly at his words as he shot a testing glance at the other man in the room before returning back to the king. "By whom? Kakuzu? That little shit can't touch me."
"What did you say to her, Hidan?" This time his question pushed more demand as a slight hiss slipped through his composure.
"She knows you're no fucking saint," Hidan supplied with slight amusement towards the king's stress of the situation. "That bitch is smarter than you believe her to be. And she's certainly fucking smarter than you. If you underestimate her again, you might be the one that ends up fucking dead."
"Leave, Hidan," the king dismissed, obviously hearing enough from the foul celebrant for one night, knowing he would get no further. "And do not proceed to put your hands on her again."
Hidan surprised the king with a breathy chuckle as he moved towards the exit of the room, shooting a dangerous smile over his shoulder. "Like I fucking said before; I have no attachment to this royal shit. My only ruler is Jashin and he demands that I put my hands all over that bitch. Starting with those delicious hips of hers."
-xxx-
Author's Note: It's been a minute. Hello again. So here's the next installment. The plot thickens and Madara just likes to help stir the pot. I finally gave in to those who were asking for more Itachi interaction, so here it is. You even got a little extra action out of it. Hope you enjoyed that scene! I certainly enjoyed writing it.
So in this chapter we get Sasori showing a bit of his possessive side, Itachi giving into temptation, Madara stirring the pot, and Hidan being an arrogant ass because I love him. You have a great scene to look forward to in the next chapter with Madara's celebration party thing. If you've liked everything so far, I think you'll like what's to come in the next chapter. Thank you again for taking the time to read my story. I appreciate all the support and reviews you leave me with. It fuels the madness within.