Happy Chapter Day everyone!
Wow so I just got a wonderful reminder on why I write.
These last 2 weeks have been a bit tough, such is life.
It's a voyage of unpredictable waters.
Let's just say emotions were high and moral was low.
So I did a lot of reading to cure.
I nearly forgot how cathardic reading could be when you're at your lowest. Mostly because you guys have been keeping me soaring and content.
I hope these chapters bring you the same sense of refuge from any hardships and just makes you're day better.
Enjoy!
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CHAPTER 59: Thank you for Everything
Routine for Sakura, changed in that short span of time, another month passing, leaving only three before the ceremony, during that time, Sakura was hardly able to do her regular work for the company, unable to come up with new products for her department or create her current merchandise, because every time she went to her office, someone would come in and pull her away to deal with matters concerning the opening ceremony.
Sakura stared at the spread of dishes in front of her at the table, each of which was in small sets and lined up for tasting. There were a few people gathered around her chair, watching her carefully as she took her fork, pinned the food on the plate to it, brought it to her mouth, chewed slowly, uncomfortably, and swallowed.
"How was that one miss?" a woman asked.
"Well…it's got a bit more spice than the previous dish-although I liked the source on that one better."
"Excellent, now how about this one for one of the main courses?" Someone pushed another plate in front of her, watching expectantly. It was chicken, but it was smothered in a thick sauce that had a tangy sweetness.
"You should definitely add this to the menu." Sakura said, wiping her face with a cloth, "And don't forget, some of the members of the alliance also have children that might be attending; so you'll need to make some dishes suitable for a child's palate. I know I didn't have a taste for anything if it wasn't sweet."
"Ah, speaking of which, we still have to talk deserts."
After doing taste tests on several dozen platters, Sakura was so full and somewhat nauseous that she couldn't bring herself to eat that day or the next. After the tasting, she was asked all these questions about what kind of layout of food and in what order she would like to have at the ceremony's celebration dinner, which would be taking place in the palace with all of the royal guests from the Seven Seas Alliance.
And things did not end there.
Another day, someone had come into Sakura's office, saying that they had a problem with the table setting and decorations. They rushed her out of her office and into the dining hall, where she had to stand for almost three hours, while the table was set several times, discussed, debated, and set all over again.
"What do you think of this red with gold lining, tablecloth?" Sakura was asked.
"Well…."
"No, wouldn't the blue and white be better?" asked another person, holding the cloth in front of Sakura. "To represent the sea."
"But it doesn't mix well with the rest of the decor, including the drapes." Someone pointed to the curtains.
"Then we can just change them for the night, isn't that correct, Miss Haruno?"
Sakura rubbed the back of her head, "That's…."
"Why not go with the white with silver patterns? The design is intricate and unique. Besides, it complements everything."
"Including wine stains, it will be visible on the cloth."
"These are high-class guests; surely they will be suited to avoid such incidents."
"Enough alcohol induces accidents for anyone, and there will be plenty with the wine tower."
Sakura sighed, covering her face in her hands. She clapped her hands, getting everyone's attention. "Go with the red and gold, but make sure the plates and dishes are all white and no one touches the rest of the decor in this room, understood?"
Everyone nodded, "Yes, ma'am."
Flower arranging, by far, was the worst item on the agenda. When Sakura had to sit and look through hundreds of flower arrangements, help customize them, and place them right in different parts of the palace, she nearly screamed and threw her fist into the wall. Flower arranging was something she had done back when she was still a student at the academy, and she admitted she was not good at it. Although she had followed the advice of a certain blonde-haired, blue-eyed friend who happened to be the daughter of a florist. She told Sakura to find a main flower and then find other flowers to complement it. Of course, it didn't save her that much time, since there was also the consideration of what vases to use.
There were set ups for the tables, the courtyard, the lining in the hallways, the inner gardens and so on was Sakura's entire day.
"It's not funny."
"Yes, it is."
"No, it isn't."
After another long day of celebration planning for Sakura, she came into the room and collapsed on the bed. She felt the continuing shooting pains in her back, along her spine, between her shoulder blades, and just below her backside. Today was one of the worst; she could usually ignore the discomfort, especially when she was at her desk for the day, but she had been walking around all day again, three weeks in a row, and her body had long been feeling the pain. Now it just refused to go away.
Sakura actually considered for a moment using acupuncture on herself, when Sinbad came in, found her lying on the bed and offered her a massage, while she complained to him about having yet another day filled with making party preparations-that she believed herself to be unqualified for.
"I'm telling you, I can't take it anymore. If I have to see another table set, look at another flower arrangement, or taste another dish I can't pronounce, I'm going to land a punch so hard this entire palace will crumble." Sakura moaned, feeling Sinbad press into the knot in her back. She was lying on her stomach, her entire upper body bare but still hidden from her position. Her nightgown was bunched at her waist, while her bottom half remained covered.
"Now don't do that; we just moved in." Sinbad chuckled. He felt Sakura's muscles flex under his fingers every time he pressed hard. Even though she was petite, she was also toned, which made it a bit of a challenge to find the knots in her back. "Wow, you're stiff."
Sakura scoffed, turning her head to the side and resting it back on the pillow. "I don't understand why I'm the one who has to do all the planning and decorating for this. I'm worried because everyone wants me to finalize everything."
"Just do your best, pick whatever you like," Sinbad told her, shifting his weight on the bed to lean over Sakura. "I know you'll do a great job."
"I don't know about this stuff, Sinbad; besides, it's planning for 'your' country's opening ceremony. Shouldn't you be the one to deal with all of this?"
Sinbad glided his hand down Sakura's back, ending right above her backside, rubbing in small circles with both hands. "I can't; I've got my hands full already, and it's not just my country, Sakura; it's ours."
Her heart gave a small tug, and a conflicting spark was ignited within her. "Right."
Sakura started shivering when she felt his lips brush across her neck and his hands move to locations that were going to end her relaxing massage and turn into something more.
"Cut it out." Sakura warned, "It's not safe."
Sinbad paused, "New moon?"
"Full moon." Sakura corrected. Using the Luna cycle was a discrete way of informing Sinbad when and when not they were… safe.
"Anyway, you're still the king, and this opening ceremony is for the country you are going to be ruling."
"I wouldn't be too sure about that." There was a hint of mischief that could be picked up in Sinbad's voice, and from past experience, it made Sakura a bit nervous.
Sakura frowned, propping herself on her elbows and turning to look at Sinbad. "What do you mean exactly?"
Sinbad just grinned, "It's a surprise."
..
..
..
"Good morning, everyone. Please begin with the morning reports." Sinbad ordered.
Ja'far, Sakura, Vittel, Mahad, Mystras and Hinahoho would meet in the morning in Sinbad's office to give him morning reports on their current status. Company matters at that time had currently been placed second to priorities since they were handling preparations for the opening ceremony due in three months and sorting the immigration applications, but business was still running.
That morning, everyone gave in their morning reports, starting with Ja'far. He informed that the resident's accommodations were in order and would be ready for the ceremony, although, on account of population control, Ja'far said they were going to have to start rejecting applications from immigrants from other countries.
Sinbad sat behind his desk, his hands folded on top of each other. "Everyone is welcome. If there are people in trouble, we will accept them. It's part of our country's policy, isn't that right, Ja'far?"
Ja'far let out an exasperated sigh, but he expected this kind of response already. "Understood, we'll increase the number of accommodations somehow."
Sinbad turned to Vittel and Mahad. Vittel gave the report on the company's status. Sales with Reim and Balbadd had a massive increase compared to the last fiscal year. Apparently, the idea of founding a nation increased the confidence of every country. Expansion of large-scale projects.
Hinahoho, Mystras, and Drakon gave in their reports on the circulation network, which was doing well thanks to the allied nations' cooperation. All that was left was to call everyone to the founding ceremony.
"Everything seems to be in order, which reminds me. Heliohapt is the only one that hasn't replied to the ceremony invitation. Where is Sharrkan?"
Sharrkan came running in at that moment, with a bright smile on his face and a piece of paper rolled up, "I'm here your majesty! I just got the documentation. Heliohapt confirms to attending the ceremony. Every member of the Alliance will be there. It's sure going to be a lively event your majesty."
Sinbad chuckled, "It's a bit too early for this 'Your majesty' don't you think?"
"Nonsense," Drakon interjected. "The ceremony is extremely close."
Ja'far nodded, "Exactly, you have to start getting used to it. Soon you'll be our king. King Sinbad!"
Sakura gave a wry smile, "They're right, you're going to be king."
"By the way, Sinbad…." Ja'far trailed, narrowing his eyes at his leader, pointing at him. "How long are you going to keep dressing like a common merchant!?"
Knowing this would lead to one of Ja'far's many rants, everyone took a step back with surrendering expressions. Hinahoho put his fingers in his ears to block out the noise, and Sharrkan leaned away from the white-haired boy he was standing next to.
"I've just been too busy to buy new clothes with everything going on this year." Sinbad defended.
"There's a limit to everything!" exclaimed Ja'far. "We're all busy! You can't look worse than the rest of us!!"
Sinbad had taken to his work very often, more often when he couldn't find Sakura unoccupied. Even so, she knew Sinbad was continuing to use his busy schedule to push back the memories of that night on the island. She had done the same, and for a time it worked, but the nightmares wouldn't stop, and now there was more to add to it. Although Sinbad did seem to be coping better-a lot better than she was, given he was actually able to smile with ease, hold in his food, and sleep without nightmares.
"But seriously," Sinbad laughed after Ja'far calmed down somewhat. "You all have come a long way and grown so much- even Ja'far."
And the brief period of calm left Ja'far as quickly as it came.
Mystras scoffed softly, smiling. "What's the point? It's not much compared to that guy."
The door creaked open, and in walked the red-headed Fanalis, pardoning as he held up several large piles of papers for Sinbad to read, approve, and sign. 'That guy,' Mystras referred to, was all too clear after Masrur put the stacks on Sinbad's desk and went to stand in between Ja'far and Sharrkan, dwarfing the Heliohapt prince who was a year older and matching the ex-chief of assassins who was five years older.
"Hey, don't stand next to me." Sharrkan slouched, depressed.
Ja'far kept his posture straight but trembled angrily. "Shar, you can't say that! It's like you're admitting defeat!"
Sakura chuckled; she wondered if Masrur was going to outgrow Ja'far as well. He didn't seem to have a high growth rate to begin with.
Sinbad cut the height debate short, turning to a matter that had everyone's ear and standing straight in respect. "Thank you all, really. The fact that we only have three months left until the ceremony is on account of your hard work and support. Thank you for staying by my side and believing in me."
Sakura swallowed hard; she felt something bitter on the tip of her tongue.
"Like a symbol of strength and new hope, you will become the future of this country," Sinbad stated, his eyes getting the familiar gleam of firmness and strength that swayed minds and captured hearts. "I, Sinbad, with the support of the seven of you, want to create a new nation under the name of the Kingdom of Sindria. You will guide Sindria as its seven generals."
While Sakura noticed the odds in the number, Sharrkan was the first to point it out. "Wait a minute, I'm not included!?"
"Hm? Yeah, you're not." Sinbad replied coyly. "Because you don't have a household vessel yet. When you find your special talent one day, you can be part of the generals."
Sharrkan looked back at Masrur, whom he had considered his underling, and went ballistic, throwing his arms in the air and waving them around. "I want to be a general too!"
"Okay, Okay!" Sinbad exclaimed, holding out his hands in surrender, "Well, it's decided then."
Sinbad looked at each individual as he addressed them, "Drakon, Ja'far, Vittel, Mahad, Hinahoho, Mystras, Masrur, Sharrkan….This is the formation of the eight generals of Sindria."
Everyone put their hands together, bowing their heads in respect to Sinbad, their future king.
Sakura did the same, silent and secretly relieved she had not been chosen as a general. She would have protested as well against being excluded from the count but she had other matters on her mind. As she was right now as enough. Also, the nine generals of Sindria didn't have the same harmonic ring to it as the counter.
"Wait," Ja'far said, lowering his hands. "Why wasn't Sakura selected as a general?"
Everyone looked at the kunoichi and started questioning the same.
"That's right, she is one of your first companions, Sinbad." Drakon pointed out.
"And she tops you four djinns to three," Hinahoho added.
"She's also strong," Masrur said.
"And she can use-
Sinbad stood up from his chair, spreading out his arms and holding up his palms, signaling for everyone to be silent. "Alright, alright, I get it, everyone. Look, Sakura can't be a general."
Now Sakura was really skeptical, as well as offended.
Then, he looked at Sakura, holding out his hand for her to take. Sakura came over to the side of his desk, taking Sinbad's hand, her heart beating and internally feeling a sliver of dread. He then looked back at the group of eight.
"You better give Sakura the attire speech too, Ja'far," Sinbad grinned widely, and everyone waited anxiously for what was to be said next.
…
…
"Because Sindria's also going to have a queen."
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..
Sakura would not have believed the chaos a few short words could cause until she had seen what took place in Sinbad's office with her own eyes. The way everyone had gone from composed to complete lunatics in a matter of seconds. There wasn't even a brief pause, where the shock paralyzed all manner of communication; however, there were some speech impediments then.
On the floor, leaning against the foot of the bed, her knees tucked under her chin, in the room with no candlelight under the slow setting sun, Sakura sat. This had been her position for hours; she didn't want to leave it.
Recalling what happened to that morning meeting after Sinbad's declaration.
Ja'far (like everyone else) was gaping widely with his mouth open, like he was desperate for air, except this time it was words he wanted. "W-W-W-WHAT?"
"QUEEN!?" Drakon exclaimed.
"REALLY!" Sharrkan asked, throwing his arms to the back, his eyes shimmering in awe.
Sinbad's smile broadened, his hold on Sakura's hand strengthened as he pulled her closer. While Sakura remained still and silent, it was as if she had gone into some kind of shock-coma and couldn't wake up. Couldn't bring herself to question anything.
"Of course; Sakura is going to be queen." Sinbad looked at her, tilting Sakura's head to meet his eyes. He brought his hand to take in her other, bringing it to his lips and kissing her. "My queen."
Everyone watched the pair as they stared at one another, their eyes meeting, holding hands, and they were washed with a wave of happiness and satisfaction. What had been a joke in the past to fluster the teens became a serious truth.
"Well, then let me be the first to say congratulations to our king and queen," Drakon said, bowing his head. "I am certain that the two of you will rule the Kingdom of Sindria to greatness, raising it high."
"Finally," Hinahoho said, placing his hands on his hips, his chin raised. "I've got to tell Rurumu."
"And Pipirika!" Mystras added.
"There's someone who will keep you in your place, Sin," Ja'far chided. "You're definitely going to need a change of clothes now too, Sakura."
"I'm going to make the official announcement at the ceremony," Sinbad told them. "So we have to make sure everything is prepared."
Sakura sat there, staring into nothing for hours; she didn't go into work that day. While everyone was busy celebrating, Sakura had barely said a word. She excused herself and didn't look back; no one seemed to suspect her surprise at the situation. After Sinbad had made that bold statement, Sakura felt like something inside of her had shifted. When realization set in, she concluded what made her stomach twist painfully, her heart clenched, and ache with every beat, and tears threatened to pour out of her eyes and never stop.
"He never even asked."
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..
Sakura let out a small shriek when Yunan removed his staff from above her head. It was like a weight had started to pile on her shoulders and finally became too much because she fell to her knees, trembling with wide eyes. Sakura could barely keep herself up, as her arms threatened to give in, but she had this overwhelming feeling of nausea and was worried she might regurgitate whatever was left in her stomach. She couldn't even breathe properly anymore, overwhelmed with what little she saw and even more with what she heard. Yunan had used his magic to show her what he had seen and what he had heard. Everything that he knew about her world. Yunan had clearly been around for a long time-Sakura was certain of this from what she had seen. He knew what she was certain had been a sealed past, the moments that shaped history in her world, and she-she couldn't fathom them. What she now knew…
"I'm sorry." Yunan walked towards Sakura, crouched down, and started rubbing her back. "I didn't want to show you all of this, but-but if you really are going to stay here, you need to know and really understand. You can't decide while ignorant, Sakura, not after all you've done to get back home."
Sakura was still trying to regulate her breathing; she felt her eyes burning, but she still tried to hold back her tears because she wasn't sure if she could stop them once they began.
"T-T-T-That," Sakura inhaled deeply; she couldn't think of anything to respond to what she had just seen and heard.
"I know," Yunan said, still rubbing her back. "Your world's history, their truths, it's not easy to comprehend."
"Why, why?" Sakura asked, her voice shaking. "Why would you show me this?"
Yunan removed his hand before placing the Looking Glass in Sakura's line of sight. He stood up, and Sakura listened to the sound of Yunan's boots against the wooden bridge. "You know, I think that Sinbad has all the qualities to become a great king who can change the world, but it also scares me, and what terrifies me even more is…
Yunan looked back at Sakura, meeting her eyes. "He doesn't know the kind of power you give him."
Sakura felt lost. "The kind of power I give him?"
"I'll be really worried if he becomes aware of it." Yunan started walking again, refusing to elaborate any further, but Sakura didn't care much to find out anything else. Not after all she had just discovered and was still attempting to process. There were still blanks in everything Yunan knew because he didn't spend all of his time in her world, but Sakura still struggled to accept what she now knew as the truth. "You're a king's candidate too, Sakura."
"Wait-that still doesn't answer my question!" Sakura called, still unable to gather her bearings.
Yunan paused, "It's just, when I look at you now, it's like you're not here anymore."
Yunan vanished into nothing, leaving Sakura alone with her thoughts. After nearly ten minutes, she crept to the edge of the pier and leaned over. Looking at her reflection in the water, to the girl with the pale face, sunken cheeks, a constant dreary look in her eyes…
"Who are you?"
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..
There were moments in time we wished we could destroy, never mind revert, because it wasn't only the choice made in that time but everything that had factored and created the path that led to that curving decision. Sakura couldn't bring herself to admit to that moment because the more she thought about it, the more she realized she would never be able to place it.
As she looked around their room through the darkness, her eyes landed on the chest sitting in the moonlight.
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Sakura held her stoic expression as she watched Orias, who was waiting impatiently, with her hands on her hips, her chin raised high, and her eyes narrowed in expectation.
"What did you ask me?"
Orias raised an eyebrow, un-amused by the fact that she had to repeat herself. "I believe I was clear, but I'll ask again. What do you plan to do once you conquer my dungeon?"
Sakura's stoic expression fell; her thin lips curved upward at the ends as she opened her mouth.
"I…."
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Today had been especially long for Sinbad; after his declaration that morning, everyone was taken over by their own excitement. They asked him questions, mostly about what his plans were going to be now for the future in terms of him and Sakura, but he didn't feed them much information. It should've been obvious, though. The two had been together for such a long time, and Sinbad had been thinking about this longer than anyone really knew.
Sinbad stopped when he reached his room's door, putting his hand in his pocket before reaching for the handle. As he walked into the room, excitement already swelled in the pit of his belly as he looked around for Sakura in the dimly lit room. He saw her standing in front of the bed, near the chaise. Despite the time of night, she was dressed in her everyday clothing and had a solemn expression on her face.
"Sakura, it's late. Why are you still in your clothes?" he asked, stepping towards her, but stopped shortly after she didn't respond.
"Sakura, what's-
When Sakura cut Sinbad off, he heard it, the disdain in her voice. "I couldn't…"
"Huh?"
With her arms held tightly at her sides, Sakura stared at her feet, shaking her head lightly. "I must have rehearsed this a hundred times in my head…."
Sinbad frowned, wanting to come closer towards her, but every time she spoke, he would stop, and she would continue to speak to the ground.
"What I would say…."
"Sakura…"
"How I was going to say it."
"Sakura, please just-
Drawing a deep breath, she continued, her voice beginning to break. "I thought-I thought that this would be easier somehow. How stupid… just-just because I had made up my mind, but now when I see you standing here-I'm so stupid."
"What is going on, Sakura?"
The girl shook her head roughly. "I told myself so strongly-I said that this-this was for the best. Th-That-That I-I have to…."
When Sinbad saw the shining drops, ready to turn into tears, he lurched forward. His arms wrapped around his distressed companion, pulling her close. He felt her tense for a few moments and then slacken. He wanted to know what had caused her to become this distraught out of nowhere, and he was going to ask her, but before he could speak, she did.
"I'm leaving."
With eyes widened, Sinbad pulled away, holding Sakura literally an arms-length away by her shoulders. Looking into her eyes, with the hopes of confirming that he had misheard her or that she was just playing a joke. Instead of reassurance, what he saw in those glossy eyes; it made him feel nothing but dread.
"Sakura," He forced a smile as he said her name, "What are you talking about?"
Sakura closed her eyes after seeing his smile. She felt her tears smear against her eyelids as she struggled to breathe. "Why is it so hard… why is it so hard?" She inhaled, and the next words she spoke- well, Sinbad would've preferred if she stabbed him than spoke them- were, "to look at the person you love and say it's time to leave?"
Sinbad's breath caught in his throat; he shook his head in disbelief. "Sakura, no, no, no, this-you're-you're not leaving-you're not leaving."
Bringing her hand to wipe her face, Sakura began to take several deep breaths in an effort to calm herself. She wouldn't be able to speak clearly and make Sinbad fully understand if she continued to cry and stutter. After some sniffling and more deep breaths, Sakura opened her mouth.
"I was actually going to leave while you weren't here; to be honest, I wanted to-I knew it would be easier than facing you," Sakura said, turning her head to the window. "But then I thought… the pain it would cause. The pain when someone leaves without saying a word, making you feel like you weren't worth an explanation."
Sinbad took one step forward, towards her, but Sakura took one back in turn. "Sakura, don't tell me…."
"I am leaving Sinbad," Sakura confirmed, her mouth going dry. A single tear fell from her eye, down her cheek, collecting at her chin and dripping on the floor.
"Where are you going?" Sinbad asked, "Where could you possibly-
"I'm going home, Sinbad. My home-my world-I'm going back."
It felt like all the blood in Sinbad's veins became ice; his body stiffened, but it was far from numb as he felt a pain beginning to settle in his gut, slowly building.
"Home…." Sinbad clenched his fists, tightening his jaw as his hurt began to conduct feelings of anger and betrayal. He didn't care now for an explanation as to how she was going to get back home; all he cared about was the reason why she was leaving him now.
"Why now?" he asked, his voice like shards of ice, piercing into Sakura. "Why are you doing this now?"
Sakura didn't flinch at Sinbad's cold words, having already experienced them. She was able to keep her voice steady. "I can't do this anymore, Sinbad."
"Do what?" he snapped.
"This! I can't keep doing this anymore!" Sakura gestured between her and Sinbad with her arms. "The way we are right now!"
"What's wrong with the way we are!?"
Sakura pointed at him, her voice going quiet again. "That right there…..that's the problem. You don't see it…you don't realize it. Look at us, Sinbad. Everything we've done together. The lies we have told, the things we have done to get here, the lives we have destroyed!"
Sinbad scoffed, "Is that what this is about? What happened on this island? Is that it?"
"This isn't just about that." Sakura clenched her teeth, hitting the side of her leg as her frustration began to grow. "It's everything that's led us here."
"Listen, Sakura, we both made our choice."
"You made me choose!" Sakura snapped.
"And you chose me!" Sinbad pointed out, "You had a choice, and you made it! You could've refused to help in the rebellion; you could've chosen not to be with me, not to have killed, not to abandon those people; you could've chosen to leave with Serendine or Prince Hakuyuu, but instead you chose me. You chose this life. This world. And that's not sitting so well with you because now it's just rotting inside of you. What's funny is-it's not so much the choice you made but the fact that you are capable of making those kinds of decisions. But guess what, I love you anyway. The same way you love me."
Sakura covered her face with her hands, sighing heavily, but still didn't respond to Sinbad.
"You already decided what you want, Sakura."
"What I want," Sakura removed her hands, looking straight into Sinbad's eyes. "All I want is freedom."
"Freedom…?" Sinbad shrugged, with a confused and partially hostile expression.
"From you." Sakura clarified, her voice strengthening and held together with pain. "From the promise I forced on Naruto, from Sasuke, from everything. I don't want to be tied to anyone anymore. I don't want to be the one walking the path of someone else's destiny all the time. I want the freedom to have my own path. I want to take on my own path."
"You want to run!" Sinbad exclaimed, slamming his foot on the ground. "That is it! You are running! From the life you could have and the responsibilities that come with it."
Sakura bit her bottom lip, chewing on it slightly before releasing. A splatter of blood could be seen as she spoke with a metallic taste in her mouth. "You're right. I am running. I am running away from you because I can't take this anymore. I can't take closing my eyes and waiting for my mistakes to appear in my dreams. I can't take that every time I look at my hands, I remind myself how sullied they are. And I can't take not breathing for you; I can't take waiting for you, watching for you. I can't take the fact that you control me!"
Sinbad was taken aback by her last declaration; he opened his mouth to argue against that, but Sakura wouldn't have it.
"I have suffered, scraped, and bled for you. I have destroyed everything I am for you. I tried so hard to change because I wanted to be what you needed; to be able to stand by you. Every choice I make is to benefit you. You owe me," Sakura threw her hand out, gesturing to Sinbad, sneering lightly. "But did you even care? Did you ever think about what I am giving up?"
"Sakura-
"Remember what you said to me? What was it, Sinbad?" Sakura interjected, her face twisting in pain, "You're either behind me, beside me, or in my way… where was the choice in that when you knew I loved you? When you knew, I couldn't possibly refuse you anymore. That wasn't a choice-that was manipulation. That was your revenge."
Sinbad frowned, "Revenge, for what-
"Everything!" Sakura snapped, throwing her arms up into the air and then down at her side. After another few deep breaths, she spoke again. "I just can't figure out what was worse. When I had left you all those times to pursue my own goals, or was it when I came back, but you found there were still others who wanted me? Or could it have been that secret about who I really was? Where did I come from? Did you somehow come to resent me because of that? Do I owe you now because of it? Because you decided that you wanted me anyway?"
Sakura's expression was fierce, yet she could feel the shield she had up beginning to break on its own. Her weakness was returning, and she wanted to get everything out before then. "Tell me, Sinbad, what must I do to prove I am indebted to you for taking me off my difficult path to return home? For all the promises you made me, for loving me? Be your girlfriend, your queen, your property?"
"That isn't true, Sakura. None of that…." Sinbad said, shaking his head, his eyes softening.
Sakura shook her head. "You didn't even ask me if I wanted to be your queen."
"Because I thought we already decided! I need you, Sakura!"
"Is this because of what Falan told you?" Sakura asked
"Because this," Sinbad gestured around to the large room, "This place, this life, this goal, is what we've been working towards for so long!"
"It's what you've been working towards, Sinbad." Sakura replied, "I just-I just followed your lead. I walked away from everything I am so that I could follow you. But not anymore."
"Sakura, please, don't…" Sinbad's voice grew soft. "I love you."
Sakura laughed dryly, "Now I can hear it as an excuse."
"It's not an excuse, Sakura!" Sinbad stated strongly,
"It is! It's why I have given you everything! My virtue, my morals, my abilities, my life!" Sakura's eyes filled with tears again, and she moved away when Sinbad attempted to reach out for her again.
"Sakura…." Sinbad stared longingly at the pinkette, his face softening. "I love you. I really do, with everything I am. You own me. You are the greatest thing to ever happen to me. And believing that I am worth changing for-is giving me too much credit and yourself not nearly enough."
"We weren't even supposed to meet," Sakura choked out softly, clutching the top of her shirt. "We were never meant to be."
Sinbad began to slowly step towards Sakura, continuing to speak. "It doesn't matter where you came from, because in any world, in any lifetime, I would find you and I would want to be with you."
Sakura kept quiet, lowering her gaze once again. She heard Sinbad talk, and she could feel that there was a smile on his face.
"In fact, I bet that in another version of reality, we're already married, we have four children, and we live in a quiet house out in the wilderness with lots of room for the kids to play, friendly neighbors who look out for us and who we share our harvest with."
A small snicker left Sakura, feeling her shoulders become lighter. "So we're farmers?"
"No, I'm a fisherman, but we also own a plot of land that we use to grow potatoes and other vegetables- oh, and we have four trees that we planted for every child we have. Two are peach trees, and the other two are cherry trees. We also have a large dog that keeps away all the pesky animals since we live so far out." Sinbad stated, as if he were speaking fact.
"And four kids?" Sakura put her hand on her hips. "Really? I thought you didn't want kids."
"You swayed me." Sinbad shrugged, "Boys for me, girls for you. We're still young, so we've got some time to get to eight."
Sakura giggled, smiling softly despite the teardrops gathering in the corner of her eyes again. "That sounds like a wonderful life. Simple yet wonderful."
Sinbad nodded in agreement.
"But not ours," Sakura added sadly.
Sinbad shook his head, "Not ours."
Being surrounded by silence while wrapped in darkness, blunting the sense of sight and hearing, allowed Sinbad and Sakura to truly begin to sense, to understand, and feel each other's emotions. Their minds reached clarity without the guidance of their other senses, and in a moment, they both reached a tragic epiphany. One that took them to a new height of growth but did so in the most painfully agonizing way. As they both finally came to a resolution, there was only one solution.
Sinbad and Sakura stood in front of one another, face to face in the moonlight. Their eyebrows curling up towards their foreheads, their eyes glossy, on the verge of tears that they continued to hold back, and their mouths in a straight line.
This was it. Their final goodbye.
"You must really hate me for falling in love with you," Sinbad said, smiling, distressed. "But I still hope that you will remember me, as the man who would have cherished you, if he had been given another chance."
Glancing to his side, he reached into his pocket, pulling out something that made Sakura's breath hitch softly. He held out his palm to reveal a small black box. "It's a ring, very rare, actually one of a kind, in fact it even has a name…Tifl Malak. I wanted to give this to you at the opening ceremony but…."
Sakura stared at the box, blinking quickly, her fingers curled towards her chest, quivering. When she spoke, her voice grew husky despite her attempts to keep it soft. She looked up at Sinbad. "I don't want a ring from you."
Sinbad didn't flinch at her statement, hearing the pain in her voice when she spoke. "Then don't think of it as a ring, don't think of it as…" Sinbad looked at the box and then back at Sakura. "You don't have to love me; you don't have to come back to me, but if you could wear this- if I know that you were wearing this-then even if you hate me…
Sinbad tilted his head slightly to the side, a tear falling from his right eye and down his cheek as he leaned downward. "We'll be fine…I'll know you're out there."
Rolling her bottom lip, scraping it with her teeth before looking down at the box. Sakura took it, careful not to allow her fingers to graze Sinbad's skin when she did. For a minute, she did nothing but eye the box before swallowing and then opening it. There she saw it.
Contrary to Sinbad's flashy taste in everything, including jewelry, this ring was, in short, simplistically beautiful. The casing was black gold, in a knot, with two diamond studs on either side of a marquise-shaped amethyst gem, which was thrice as large as the studs.
Sakura picked the ring from its position in the box and rolled it between her fingers, never daring to see how it would fit.
"Tifl Malak, huh?"
Sinbad breathed out a laugh, "It actually means baby angel."
Sakura smiled, looking at Sinbad with a hint of smugness, "You want me to call a ring, baby angel?"
Sinbad didn't blink at what he stated next, smiling with serious eyes. "I want you to be happy."
Sniffing, Sakura put the ring back in the box. She took a step before she was in front of Sinbad. Her arms wrapped behind his neck, she leaned upward as he leaned down. Their eyes closed, as their lips brushed against each other like petals, soft yet worn. Sinbad got a hint of a metallic taste as he kissed Sakura, but he didn't stop. When they pulled away, breathing softly against one another, their chest rising and falling, and in that moment, as they stared into each other's eyes, they could see and feel that they were really breathing in sync.
"I could never hate you."
Sakura pressed her forehead against Sinbad's before she lifted her chin to meet his lips once again. Sinbad's hands held tightly onto Sakura's waist as the two began taking steps. Their steps continued through the room, beating softly on the floors until Sakura's legs hit the back of the bed and she allowed herself to fall with Sinbad. Despite what was about to occur, they both knew that this would be the last, and for one more night, one more time, one moment, it would just be the two of them once again. Neither world, a factor, nor a problem. Just them.
Just Sinbad and Sakura.
For one more night.
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There was hardly a word uttered during their embrace of passion that night. Despite knowing that this was going to be their last moment and consenting to it as one. They did not attempt to speak much; unlike the first time, when there had been a constant stream of reassurance, but this time there was none. As there was nothing to assure. They both knew how that night was going to end, and they believed it best to keep those thoughts to the side. Verbalizing would only have sullied their moment, when they were able to take a period to forget everything and see nothing but each other. The person they loved. The same tenderness and patience had been there as it had been on the first night. Grasping and pulling onto the thinnest threads to make their moment last a little longer. Despite the inevitable.
Sinbad slumped forward, careful not to throw all of his weight on top of Sakura. Their chests held together and for a second, just a second, they thought they could feel each other's heartbeats in sync. Still breathing heavily, Sinbad pushed himself up and to the side, his arm falling over Sakura's waist to draw her into him.
"Sinbad…" Sakura trailed her hand across the boy's bangs that were sticking to his forehead. His eyes were closed in content and she didn't want it to end but this was it. She needed to leave.
"Please, not yet." Sakura gasped as she heard the plea in Sinbad's voice, the pain and desperation. It was as if a child's voice had left him. He placed his head on Sakura's chest, and she could feel it: the warm droplets falling down onto her skin, his trembling shoulders as he held her tight.
"Sinbad-
"Just a little longer." He begged, his breath tickling her heated skin. "Just a little longer. Please."
Closing her eyes, Sakura wrapped her arms around Sinbad, her fingers gliding through his hair slowly and rubbing his back, lulling him to sleep, despite his efforts to stay awake. She kissed his head as he continued to hold onto her for as long as he could, crying silently, and she could've sworn that those muffles she heard were repeated, 'I'm sorry.'
For a few hours, Sakura stayed like that until she felt Sinbad's body become lax, his breathing slowed, and his hold loosened. Pushing the boy slightly back on his shoulders, Sakura observed his sleeping face under the moonlight. She wiped the dry tears from his eyes, running her fingers along his lips before pulling back.
"Thank you, Sinbad," Sakura whispered to him, smiling softly. She kissed him before speaking again, "Thank you for giving me the courage to love someone else and for showing me what it's like to be loved in return. Thank you for loving me."
Moving out from beneath the warm sheets, stepping out of the bed, Sakura's feet softly touched the floor without a single patter as she glided across the bed; careful not to wake Sinbad. Finding her clothes that lay scattered across the floor and putting them back on. She was about to walk to her trunk to get her metal vessels when her foot knocked against something on the floor. It was light.
Sakura bent down to pick up what she had accidentally kicked. It was the box that held the ring Sinbad wanted her to have. She opened the box, and when her eyes landed on the ring, Sakura sniffed softly as she turned back to Sinbad, who was still sleeping peacefully.
"Thank you for everything."
Sakura slipped the ring onto her finger. She made her way to the trunk to gather her metal vessels and looking glass.
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"What I am going to do…." Sakura exhaled, ignoring the continuous rumbling of the structure on the verge of falling. Her eyes were closing in content, eyes burning, but no more tears rushing like a dam had broken within her. Sakura looked back at Orias with a bright smile but determined and strong eyes that contrasted with it.
"I am going to use this power to change my world," Sakura stated
"Is that it?" Orias asked.
"That's it."
Orias, who was leaning on her hand with an indifferent expression, suddenly smirked at the girl. For she felt the truth of the pinkette's words. She held nothing more than a single wish, and it was obviously one she intended to realize.
"Well then…."
Orias brought down her hand towards Sakura's face, opening her fist to reveal two objects; the first was a beautiful silver necklace, with a teardrop ruby and a small piece of glass where Sakura could see a part of her reflection. Sakura took the necklace from the djinn's hand and watched as it began to glow a blinding light, along with Orias herself.
"Let us change your world, my king."
The final shard began to fill itself into the Looking Glass, slowly mending with the rest of the mirror. It then started lifting from Sakura's hands into the air, rising above her head. Sakura watched carefully, anticipation growing within her, and then she was blinded by a bright light. Her body felt like it was being pulled against her will in, and then, nothing but darkness followed.
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Her vision was blurry when she opened her eyes, nothing but brown mixed with bright splotches. Sakura wiped her eyes, once, twice, three times, blinking rapidly. She attempted to push her body up, failing the first time she tried. Her body felt heavy, as if it wanted to keep her on the hard ground, but tired of breathing in dirt, Sakura forced herself to sit up. She craned her neck from side to side, groaning when she heard a crack. She attempted to collect her thoughts; she had come back from a mission. Tsunade asked her to check the tunnels in the mountain and then….
Then, a clicking sound was heard after she moved her hands on the ground when she shifted her body. Her head throbbed painfully on the side. Sakura groaned, touching her forehead. When she did, though, something cold came into contact with her hand.
Sakura pulled back her hand quickly in alarm, and her eyes settled on the ring that was on her index finger. Her mouth opened slightly wider than needed as she began taking in breaths. She saw the bracelet on her arm, the necklace and ring around her neck, the dagger strapped to her waist, and took off her headband-the eight-pointed star with the leaf symbol in the center.
"Nice to see you have awakened, King." Orias's voice rang through her head, startling Sakura.
"My king, are you alright?" asked Beleth
"What happened?" asked Gaap
"I don't know," Sitri replied.
"I believe we have entered through the Looking Glass," Stolas replied.
"It was all real." Sakura smiled, despite the tears that she didn't notice until now. Her heart felt like it was being painfully crushed, and yet relief filled her as it did.
"Of course, it was."
Turning around, Yunan stood behind the pinkette, giving her a small smile. "Hello, Sakura."
"Yunan." Sakura wiped her face, forcing herself to stand with a bit of a struggle.
"It seems like the magic is causing your body a bit of strain," Yunan said, holding out his hand. He waited until Sakura took it. He led her in front of the large mirror, standing fully intact now.
"Careful not to touch it," Yunan said, partially joking, but Sakura didn't hear him.
She took a step closer to the mirror, examining her reflection. Her pink hair wasn't long anymore, only reaching her neck and barely grazing her shoulders. Her face seemed fuller compared to how sunken in she had been before, but her features had become softer again; her body was no longer toned from the hardships it had endured, and it felt like she had been slipped into someone else's skin, except she knew this skin. Her skin. From a time that felt like a dream, and she had just fallen asleep.
Sakura touched her face, then her forehead where the hundred healing seal once was, and looked back at Yunan. "I'm really back."
"The same day, same time, nothing has changed."
"Nothing has changed out there." Sakura sniffed, turning away from the mirror. She put her hand over her chest, feeling her own heartbeat. "But in here…."
"Yes." Yunan's eyes softened. "What has been gained from that world will not be reversed."
Sakura swallowed heavily, joy and sadness clashing, creating a storm within. Closing her eyes, Sakura saw the flashing memories of herself in the other world, with a certain purple-haired boy looking back at her, smiling with bright golden eyes. This caused Sakura to feel like her insides were ready to twist and churn. She wanted to cry again, to sob; her lip was trembling, and the tears were gathering in the corner of her eyes, but she didn't.
'Let's go change the world.'
Swallowing hard, Sakura straightened her back, facing forward, and looked towards the exit of the secret cave. Yunan watched as she started making her way out, stopping only for a moment to look back at him and smile, with silent thanks before making her way out into the light.
Yunan remained behind, standing beside the Looking Glass. He reached out, touching the mirror, and a light began to envelope him. To return to that world, where he would wait and watch, eager yet terrified to see the kind of world that Sinbad would create, and then come back here again, to see how Sakura would shape her world. Then maybe, just maybe, someday, Sakura and Sinbad would find a way to walk the same path together again, because even if fate had not meant for them to be together, the two showed that they were more than capable of shaping their own destiny.
With that, Yunan started slipping away into the mirror; the rukh swarmed around him, creating a twister.
"Welcome home, Sakura."
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The feeling was nostalgic, stepping out into the village for the first time in years. Nothing had really changed since leaving, not even the way the wind blew through the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Standing on top of a large steel pole, everything could be seen throughout the village, including Hokage Mountain, with the five faces carved side by side on it. Leaning back and drawing a breath, the figure dressed in orange and black stood tall from the top and called out loudly, happily.
"Everyone, Naruto Uzumaki has returned!"
As the blonde-haired, blue-eyed teen overlooked the village. He didn't catch the hasty patter of feet, but he heard a soft voice calling his name.
"Naruto, is that you? When did you get back?"
"Just now!"
Jumping down from the pole, Naruto saw four figures waiting to greet him. Seeing the pink hair from where he was standing, excitement filled him at the prospect of seeing his old teammate. However, when he reached the bottom, he was a little taken aback by the girl he assumed to be his teammate. She had emerald green eyes that definitely belonged to Sakura, pink hair, but it had been cut really short that hardly any strands touched her neck, she wore red like Sakura, only she had a tube top with a single strap, spandex shorts, and a gray apron skirt. She also appeared to have a lot of accessories. There was a hairpin attached firmly to her top. Her right arm held a bracelet on her upper arm. There was a dagger tied securely to her waist and around her neck, two rings on a chain, and another silver necklace.
"Sakura?" Naruto called uncertainly.
She smiled, tilting her head as she closed her eyes, an overwhelming happiness filling her. "Hi Naruto."
Fin
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