The Pink Haired Pirate: An Old Norse Saying

Rated: M for language, future mature themes, violence

Warnings: Spoiler alert for Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

.

.

.

.

Sakura has had her breakfast with the Mottieres that morning. She couldn't lie; it took her quite some effort to walk around and about. She was grateful and fortunate to have her brother's pupil offer himself to fight in her place. She would have been toast otherwise.

At first, it was a little awkward, that she has shown up again at their door, seemingly on good terms with their eldest son again, but they didn't mind her presence. On the contrary, they were more than happy to have her for breakfast.

For Minerva to be perceptive of Sakura's fatigue and locomotory difficulties; that was pretty given. That woman was sharp as the senbon she had the habit of throwing around. But she didn't miss the suspicion the former Imperial soldier was giving both her and Marcurio, as he pushed his chair back to get up. Vincent knew that something was going on. What? And how bad it was? He was not entirely sure.

"Thank you for the meal." He merely leaned to kiss the top of her wife's head, lovingly, who simply smiled in response and replied with a 'For nothing, tesoro'.

"Alessio, are you ready to go?"

And Alessio, who's been done eating ages ago, and barely finished his morning coffee, stopped reading the newspaper on the table and nodded.

"Yeah, of course. Let's move out, the sooner we go, the sooner we can get Alessia to classes."

"Divines be praised, my little brother actually remembered." Alessia has just gone for a second to pick up her lute. It was lute day, and she has had to memorize a few partitions to play.

"Little?" Alessio turned on his heel. "Just because you were born 8 minutes earlier doesn't make me your little brother."

"Quit it you two." Vincent chided them, sternly.

"Have a nice day, you three. Be careful and-"

"Beware of the foxes. I know." Vincent cut off his wife immediately. He already knew what was she going to say... just like every morning and every time they left the boundaries of their home.

Vincent and Minerva parted ways with one last goodbye kiss before Sakura has gotten up to help her gather the tableware. Marcurio had yet to finish his coffee, so he hasn't done much besides stacking his empty plates. His eyes landed on the newspaper Alessio was looking at with great intent, hard enough to almost distract him from his duties.

"I can see that you're not feeling well dear, you can leave it on me."

"It's alright-"

Marcurio blurred their voices out, as he leafed through the parchment paper. Letters were finely printed with ink - who knew what kind of technology from High Rock those khajits used - and there was a black and white picture of the arena champions that would fight following the next week.

And there it was. 'Karasu of Skyrim', right under 'Tara the Strong', and a few other champions that had a chance to perform right under the Emperor's eyes, on Loredas. Or Saturday, in her tongue. It was... pretty soon. He discreetly folded the piece of paper and put it away, before anybody else could take a look.

"Thank you for your help, Sakura. I'm glad that you two finally made up. Marcurio has been a little mopey since you fell out. He would hunch himself over a bunch of scrolls, if the Dean wouldn't summon him for Mara-knows-what..."

Just by seeing that grin on Minerva's face, it was obvious she rejoiced in teasing her son.

He did not want to humor her. Not in front of Sakura, especially, since she'd find a way to rub it in later on, most likely; that woman smelled weakness.

"I wasn't... moping, mother. But I did get a lot of research to do and reports to write. You know I didn't really sign any resignation papers when I left the country. I'm not a teenager anymore."

Minerva laughed. "Like you have given me the occasion to embarrass you a little when you were a teenager... you have always been so serious."

"You did have Alessio to give you that satisfaction, you know."

"You think? Alessio was too much of a goofball to take it seriously. The kid played along; what is the point if he suddenly develops a sense of humor and laughs along with it?" She was kidding, obviously. But she couldn't deny that it was a little funny to see their reactions after a bit of teasing. It was adorable. But it was never ill-intentioned, and that was very important.

And Marcurio knew that too.

"That must have been a sight to behold," Marcurio admitted.

He low-whistled and suddenly got up from the table.

"Well, I'm full. Come on, Sakura, we have work to do." It was an obvious attempt to change the subject, and Minerva was sharp enough to notice that. But she didn't protest, she just kept smiling, holding back a chuckle.

"I'll help you with the stairs."

Sakura, who has been silent the whole time, who has been a little too embarrassed to speak, wanted to protest. She has barely finished helping Minerva washing the dishes. She has worked slower than his mother because it was obvious that she was at least in a little bit of pain.

She was suffering from chakra exhaustion, and not only she did not have the energy to summon a three-legged kitten, but she experienced muscle soreness and difficulties in moving around. The walk she has taken from the Waterfront and all the way up to the Market District has done her wonders in keeping her blood flow moving - as she did not want to be bed-ridden and be totally useless tomorrow, but it has also made her all the more tired and hard to stand up.

So she has understood why he was adamant in helping her up. He'd rather not have her collapse while taking the stairs or something. But she did not want to embarrass herself further in front of Minerva. Or have her get the wrong idea.

"That's alright, I can climb them up on my own. I'm not that bad..."

But Marcurio wouldn't hear it. While they had the same goal, he was more determined to get to work sooner and faster. "Nonsense, we don't have all day. I'll boost you up the stairs if I have to." He held her hand and waist steadily, as he leads her up to his room. Sakura simply sighed, defeated.

"Alright then, you two. Have fun! I'll be going to visit a friend just across the street, but I'll be back before lunch." Minerva smiled and shook her head, before taking her coat and walking out the door.

Sakura was relieved to finally walk inside the room, a few moments later, and to sit right down on his bed. "Thank you. I have never experienced chakra exhaustion this bad before. I mean... I did. But not like this. There's usually always a tiny bit of chakra to keep you up and moving, you know. You're bedridden, and maybe doing a simple clone could kill you... but it doesn't hurt like this."

She stretched her aching legs, holding her hands on the bed as support.

Marcurio in the meanwhile has closed the door.

She hasn't been gone for too long for anything to change, but she could swear there has been no cat bed on the floor before. On top of it was Tora, asleep, bandaged, and ruffled.

"How is Tora?"

Marcurio walked over to pet his nekonin's head, gently. She let out a purr, of both comfort and pain.

"She's fine. She has escaped with a broken leg and a few scratches, but she'll live. Neko-baa has patched her up pretty well. The panthers have reported the incident to Matatabi... needless to say, she was furious."

Sakura felt a pang of guilt in her stomach. "Matatabi... she has always been fiercely protective over her guild of cats, you know. Like... you know what are you getting into. Whether you enroll as a ninja... or you set sail... or your kittens enroll on the summoning roster. But it doesn't make it easier to see them be killed in action."

When she got no response, Sakura walked closer. "She'll be fine. She's tougher than she looks, believe me."

"The cat started to grow on me, what can I say." He looked at her, before getting up. "You know, there's something I've been meaning to ask you." He grabbed an alchemy book and leafed it for the recipe they required. He already had the ingredients to create maybe two dozens of health pills, but he needed the exact set of instructions, not to screw it up.

Sakura caught a whiff of what he may ask her, so she simply said, "It's about back in Sancre Tor, isn't it? The voices."

Marcurio opened the book and handed her a knife to start chopping and dicing some small blue flowers, that mostly grew up high in the mountains. They were wildflowers essentially, trampled by horses and mammoths most of the time, but were appreciated by alchemists for their regenerative properties and sheer commonness.

"You could see me... and you could talk to me. And I could hear you back." He recalled. He tried to remember everything he has seen and felt at that moment. It was a blur.

"I could hear the necromances wailing... trying to escape their partial soul-trap bindings. And even with my eyes closed, I could see your body. Or well... the body possessed by Solas. Like an outline of energy... and his influence taking control over you. I could tell my mind to dodge immediately, and it moved my body out of harm's way. There was no physical barrier to what could I do. My instincts were keeping me alive."

Sakura egged him on.

"I have been in dangerous situations before. But I never felt something like that, if it makes sense."

He awaited clarifications, explications, and anything useful to help him out. He has been trying to recreate the feeling he has felt facing Solas, to try to see if he could do it again. But as he closed his eyes, he could see nothing - as normally expected, and the opposite of what he was apparently capable to do. He has heard from Tora that sensor ninjas can train to sense mana very well. But it was something on the moment that allowed him to push past his initial boundaries.

"It's... complicated to explain. But it seems you have awakened your Kenbunshoku Haki. I guess it roughly translates as 'Observation Haki'. Sometimes, if you're lucky enough, it may awaken during a time of imminent death, to save your ass, if your body can take it. But those that are aware of its existence can train to the point where they achieve to further hone it."

"Haki..."

"It's like an extension of your senses, basically. Its strength varies from person to person; it can detect presences... emotions... or even give you mild precognitive abilities in battle. To predict where your enemy will strike next, to predict what are they going to do. I have met people with this ability during my time on the sea... both allies and enemies. My former crewmate and our resident sharpshooter could pinpoint an enemy's location from afar and snipe her from a really long distance."

Marcurio was listening to her with great intent. He did discover something new, and even better, it was about himself. He enjoyed his banters and debates of spells and chakra theory with Sakura, but he was far more focused on the mini-lecture she was giving him on Haki.

"So it's something that can be trained and used?"

"Pretty much. Now, I'm not that knowledgeable on Haki. I have learned how to use the Armament Haki instead. You see, ninjas, and those with the same bloodline limit as me, do not need this sixth sense. We kind of train for it from a young age to attain it. And even the basic Sharingan can copy movements, techniques, and predict movements.

But I have managed to grasp the basics of Armament Haki when I was training with my captain. But I'm not sure how you could train Observation Haki."

Marcurio put down the chopping knife to think.

"This is just... so wrong."

"Wrong? I mean I know it's kind of strange-"

"It's wrong according to every kind of law, every kind of formula... everything I have studied so far. Memorized. Absorbed in my mind. I even had exams having me write down everything I have managed to cram in my head up until the last minute." Marcurio clarified it for her. And he seemed clearly distraught.

"Have you never wondered why not everyone can become a mage?"

"Is it the social stigma that comes with raising the dead and burning buildings down?" Sakura asked, albeit innocently, to lighten up the mood, topped with a cute smile and a slight grin. Which was wiped off when he flicked her forehead.

"Very funny." Marcurio sarcastically said. "But no. A mage usually has a stronger connection to the Aetherium, that's what the scholars say. You draw your energy and mold it using old formulas, to create spells. Everything that's not humanely possible, comes from the Aetherium and its energy. And mages just happen to have a stronger bond with it. To tap in the mana it offers, and draw your strength to cast the spell.

And then come people like you, that have a totally different functionality and affinity, and prove to me that even Alessio, can cast said spells, despite having no understanding of the inner workings that revolve around a spell, or mana, or the Aetherium. It's ... "

Sakura scooted a little closer. "You draw your energy from the Aetherium. Your body can only take so much mana, and that's why it's quicker to get refilled. I take my energy from my own chakra coils. That's why it's taking me longer to replenish mine. It's like blood. So why do you see that as a disadvantage?"

"I do not see that as a disadvantage." He didn't seem to mind her coming closer. Nor the fact that she leaned and almost cocked her head to have a better look at his face.

"It feels like I've been living a lie, you know. I thought I knew many things... I could never call myself a ... master... but I thought I knew enough to say that at least I know something. And in reality, I know nothing."

"Well... that's certainly not true. You're the best combat mage I've ever seen. But it never hurts to try to draw your strength from other sources. If a technique saves your ass, it doesn't matter the source, I say. Unless you sell your soul to a Daedric Lord, then maybe that can be a problem.

And I'll let you know... talented thieves... like your brother, or Brynjolf, can get the hands-on basic chakra techniques fast enough, even more so if the situation is dire. They are known to be fast, quick-thinkers, and have even quicker hands. They also have the discipline and ambition to learn a skill that may help them in their future pursuits.

It should be even easier for a mage with a better understanding of how formulas and spells work, to get their hands on actual shinobi techniques."

"I hate it when you're right, you know that? I mean I normally do... but now I don't hate it so much."

Sakura snorted. "You'd better be calling me 'Sakura-sensei' from now on if you want me to show you techniques." She didn't have the time to dodge a large pillow that knocked her down on the bed. It was soft enough not to hurt her, but it was thrown forcefully enough to knock her bad.

"MEDIC!" Her voice came muffled from under the pillow.

Marcurio was laughing in the meanwhile. "Come on, Professor Uchiha. Teach me how to crawl from under gigantic pillows."

He could hear her saying something from under the pillow, that might have been something like 'You're an ass, Motierre.'

"I heard that you know."

But she was making no moves to take it off. It was not THAT big, she could just push it off herself.

"Don't tell me you're playing dead now." He crawled closer and lifted the pillow. Or at least tried to. All he saw was Sakura's face, grinning before her grip on the pillow tightened.

All in all, she caught him off guard, and he certainly wasn't prepared for the several pillow-smacks he received. She was pretty vicious, regardless of the weapons she wielded. Knives, blades, pillows... It didn't matter at all.

"Sakura, stop!" But he was laughing. It was a hearty, healthy laugh, and it was contagious as hell.

"Here you go! I hope you're taking notes!"

It didn't take much for him to blindly grab onto another pillow, and counterattack her. He knew his room even with his eyes closed. Smacked the pillow over her face, and Sakura had to spit out a duck feather from her mouth.

"Here's my homework!"

She parried, and in the end, they collapsed on the bed, out of breath, and their disheveled heads covered here and there with stray duck feathers.

"I'm feeling generous today... your performance was merely passable."

Marcurio turned her head to face hers, almost scandalized. "I have never EVER gotten a mediocre grade on any test. Never."

"There's always a time for new beginnings, ya know." Sakura got up, stretching her back. They really had to get back to making the pills. They have crushed and chopped a considerable amount of ingredients, amidst their Haki and nature of chakra lecture.

But they didn't quite hear Alessia poking her head through the doorway. She seemed to have gotten back from classes earlier.

"Why are you guys... all messy and out of breath?"

Alessia has been passing the hallway calmly and minding her way as walked towards her room, but has immediately stopped as she heard rather ... indecent bed sounds coming from her brother's room.

At first, she was too embarrassed to say anything, but while she cared little of what her brother did in his free time and with who, it would have been better if he at least knew to keep it down unless he wanted to be put in an even more awkward spot by anyone else.

So she built up some courage and discreetly opened the door.

Both pairs of eyes landed on her. She was either terribly mistaken, or they were just terribly quick to dress up.

"We were..."

"Pillow fighting. We were having a discussion and your brother happens to be a very big sport." Sakura quickly clarified before Alessia could insinuate anything.

All Marcurio could say was, "Look who's talking, Miss Sportsmanship." He smoothed his hair back up, over his head.

Alessia just blinked owlishly. "I ... see. I'll just leave you to your business then." She closed the door gently, before heading right back to her room, sighing.

"What's her deal?"

Marcurio only shrugged in response. But they got back to work, eventually. They needed a little bit to time sit after they were made into small pills, because they wouldn't be usable if they were all pasty and mushy.

Sakura was chopping them up, and Marcurio was using a mortar and a pestle to grind them up even more.

The mixture was starting to gain a reddish-purple color, deep and far more pigmented than its liquified counterpart. It was also gaining a more consistent mass, able to be molded into small, red, and round pills. Also, a small cauldron was more than enough to mix it.

It has taken them a few hours, plus a lunch break, to finally finish the large beads of health pills. They have individually rolled and evened out red spheres that would dry and solidify until tomorrow evening. They placed them on a large tissue, in a pyramid.

"This is it, Marcurio. Innovation. Something far more efficient than our soldier pills... and more efficient than your health potions. It's the perfect mix!" Sakura concluded, as she handed Marcurio a towel to clean and wipe the red paste off his hands, as she did the same with her own.

Marcurio admired their work. "I can't say I was 100% sure it was feasible... hopefully they'll also work as expected. How's your chakra levels?"

She shook her head. "Still low. The good news is that the Armament Haki requires me less energy to use and augment my strength. Worst case scenario... I can harden my arms and break the weapons if needed. And bash their skulls in."

"I will bring you more replenishing tea in a bit. It's annoying how you must take this long process of regenerating it... instead of drying out a mana flask." Marcurio commented. He needed a break too. His eyes were starting to get a little stingy from all the concentration he has paid the last few hours.

"If I accelerated it... my chakra coils could burn. Imagine trying to fill a bathtub, by using a bucket, but dumping it through a straw." She gave him an example. "My levels may not be nearly as high as Naruto's, especially now since Matatabi is not living in my head anymore, but honestly it doesn't make the process less tedious. I think that damn lich may have damaged my coils by sapping them dry. That's why it hurts so bad. Whatever Soul Cairn energy Solas was drawing strength from, has slowed down my healing process." Sakura mused.

"It sucks really bad..."

Marcurio pitied her. "You know, I bet it does. Let me get you some tea." He left after Sakura has given him a 'Thanks' and a grateful smile before she was left to sulk by herself. At least she could get a goodnight's sleep before the game would truly begin.

But she wasn't alone. And when the Emperor would deem her the new Champion of the arena... she'd get her cowl and she'd get her soul. And it would be all over, in less than a week.

—

A/N: Hey! I told you it will be a filler. Hopefully, the next chapter will be more fulfilling. I had an exam today; algorithms and data structures. I have gotten out literally a few minutes ago. My heart is still beating fast, but I think it will be fine.

Ya know what? I cemented the idea. MarcuSaku all the way. The ship has sailed. I could be writing one-shots and spinoffs with a different pairing if I get any ideas...

I also have read a while ago a collection of one-shots, with different Naruto characters acting as her parental figure. It was so wholesome and adorable overall. It explored more life stages too... dunno. 'The Pink Haired Pirate: An Old Nursery Rhyme' sounds pretty cute.

I'm also heavily considering ending this fanfiction with the Cyrodiil arc. And start a brand new fanfiction for the events of Helgen and onwards. I don't know. What do you guys think? I also want to finish the Arachnocat chapter.

I'm also open to ideas.

Bye and take care of yourself!