Chapter 12
Juri Yakimochi, Prince Lee's Bride-to-Be
Ello, all! I hope everything is all well with everyone, at least better than I am. Well, I know I haven't been around much and I'm trying to get back in the groove of writing this, but hey, I will always make time for my work and my loyal readers! Speaking of which…
KawaiiScorpio—Yes, it does seem as though Juri has come between Lee's fondest dreams hasn't it? Poor Kabuto is just following orders…or IS HE?! XD but thanks a lot for your review, I love your stories too, I'll do my best to keep up my bearable work.
honeyflower15—I'm glad you think it's getting good; I totally agree, this was the part I was very excited to write! About what happens next, I can't TELL you, but you can read and find out! Thanks for the review; you're awesome for doing so!
Kimmy Nagasaki—I know, I know! I thought it was too predictable before; one of my MANY errors…thanks for pointing out my mistake, I fixed it. Thanks for the review as well.
SereneDarkness13—Yesh! I'm very glad you are happy that I updated, hopefully you're happy now too! SAKULEE FOREVA!!! Thanks so much for reviewing.
Sakura-Moonlight—You're welcome! Thank YOU for reviewing! I'm glad you enjoyed this so, and you're welcome; your penname gives me this image of sakura blossoms swaying transversely a moonlit lake with the dancing night wind, streaming them across the water while rippling the reflection of the moon…yeah, I'll stop useless rambling now! Thanks again.
—Thank you! Thank you! THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING! This is for you and I want to do you proud. I find much more joy in writing when you do it for a special person, place or thing; that's what gives this meaning. Yes, unfortunately Lee is being forced into marrying Juri. Orochimaru's theme? Lol, that's awesome! I have updated, as your request, please enjoy and thanks again!
murai-sakura—o…m…g…that was the LONGEST review I have ever gotten EVER!!! THANKS SO MUCH! I'm so glad you love my work; I love yours just as much if not more! I'm so shocked by your praise that I am speechless! Thank you VERY much and I will honor your kindness by updating…NOW! Thanks for your review; I loved to read it.
Lee lover forever—I'm SO glad that you're here to support me my best friend! You always manage to lift my spirits when I am down, and I thank you. Your writing is wonderful, so don't compare it to mine! About Lee marrying Juri…hmm…I don't know if I can promise that…I know the end, of course, but I can't spoil it! You just have to read and find out! Thanks so much for your review; BFF!
Tearfeather—I'm so glad you liked it! It makes me so happy to get positive feedback, especially from good—BEST friends!!! You did change your name, cool. My name is kinda too simple, but that's ok; I like simple names. Thanks SO SO much for the review, BFF!
InvaderWeb—Well, you know that old saying; Great minds think alike! I feel extremely honored whenever you review because it makes me feel like I can write SOMETHING. Thanks a bunch; Sakura's reaction will come VERY soon.
Alusy—Yes, unfortunately, Lee has become engaged; keep reading to see what happens! Thanks for reviewing, love hearing from you!
Elycat—OMG! I WIN I WIN!!! I'd like to thank all my readers, my family, and Johnny Depp. What did I win btw?? Well, 3 out of 4 isn't too bad, and I was actually searching for a way to fit Kabuto in the fic; I like him. And I promise on my youth I'll keep up my tolerable work; thanks for reviewing!
rukiayuzu—Thanks, is this your first time reviewing? Well, I'm so happy that you did. I'm glad you enjoy this.
Luna Forest—o.o, I don't want her to marry Lee either, but is death necessary?? It really isn't her fault...thanks for reviewing; I hope I hear from you again!
Anon.—I'm really sorry about the wait, it's totally my fault I have no excuses. I'm flattered you think that I would make a great novelist; it's my life's dream! Thanks for the review, I loved getting it!
Youthninja—Yes, I know. I'm sorry it took so very long. I'm not even going to bother with an excuse; it's all my fault. Thanks for your review; I would love to hear from you again!
LeeSaku4eva—No, don't worry about it. You are totally right, it's my fault for letting it go on this long. Six months is not cool. No excuses from me. I'm sorry it took such a long time, and let me make it up to you! You want a one-shot in my Lotus Petals? Thanks a lot for your review; I love getting them.
AND LET THE CHAPTER BEGIN!!!!
Shock had not only managed to solidify him, but it had also pilfered the reserve of oxygen he held within his lungs. With vexed, concave eyes, the prince ogled the frigid beauty, one million things coursing around in his mind concurrently. Lee's eyes performed a swift alteration to his father, who only smiled to him dimly and repentantly; he was of no help in this state of affairs. After a few minutes of that, his eyes hurriedly reallocated back to the princess Juri. The girl fluttered cool eyelashes to him, as though venturing to induce the thought of being satisfied and merry at the thought of their novel engagement.
However, Lee knew, come hell or high water, he would never smile or find their obligation of marriage a pleasant thing; he found it quite repulsive.
The clock loudly ticked away seconds to minutes of discomfited muteness in the cramped study. Sir Kabuto's eyes, secluded my gaunt eyeglasses, were pasted over not just the Leaf natives, but on his princess as well. The sir leisurely spawned an eerie grin and gesticulated faintly towards the exit.
"Perhaps it would be best if you both had a moment alone?"
Gai opened his mouth to address him, but no words escaped his maw.
"I'll take that as a yes." Kabuto retorted to his soundlessness.
He mechanically placed a slender hand on the door and gently pushed it open.
"Come, princess." said Kabuto utterly.
The princess elegantly nodded and curtsied politely to the King and Prince.
"May we meet again soon, Rock—ouji." She said sweetly and departed.
One last nudge of his glasses, and Kabuto followed suit with his own removal from the presence of King and Prince.
Instantly as the door clicked closed, the youthful prince about faced and locked his hollow eyes back on his father, blended sentiments of resentment, anguish and bafflement speckled athwart his face.
"Lee," Gai began glumly "I'm sorry that—"
"No." He firmly said, neglecting his father's words.
"Please listen Lee, it wasn't—"
"No. I am sorry father, but I will not do this."
"It was the only way! We had no other choice."
"Everyone always has a choice, father. Everyone but me."
"This is our kingdom we're talking—"
"That is what I mean!" Lee's voice grew in reverberation. "Everything I ever do or say is for our kingdom. Just once, may I act on my own welfare and refuse this commitment!?"
Gai's face simply fell lower at his son's eccentric outburst.
"It's our only hope Lee. If you marry her, then there is no war."
The prince's lip released a shudder of anger. This girl was a sight to behold; however, it was more than beauty which some dignified men desired in a woman. Lee longed greatly to close his eyes and stir to this as a garish nightmare that he would laugh about in weeks to come, but sinking his eyelids would only convey the enticing likeness of his Sakura to his psyche, which bruised him more than anything he had ever experienced in his existence.
"I will not love her…" Lee muttered humbly. "…I never will…"
"You don't have to." Gai answered. "Just be with her."
Slumber had been unfeasible that repugnant night. Lee would doze of every so often, letting some sleep take his mind; however, that mind would drift away to the fair countenance of his lovely Sakura, but fade into the bittersweet likeness of his compulsory fiancée. After Juri broke into his mind, Lee would burst through rough walls of rest and remain awakened and wan for what he believed to be years.
Hell nearly gave the inkling of being a getaway to this bona fide nightmare.
When the Lord finally felt like being merciful, the sun eventually prodded its light unto the world, and Lee, exhausted from the lack of respite, mounted from his sheets, dressed, bathed, and was primed for Christmas Day.
Moving slower than normal, he tumbled down the long flight of stairs to find someone or something that could lift his spirits, though it was more or less impractical.
As he arrived at the last part of the staircase, his eye deplorably caught the sight of his father blithely chatting away with Sir Yakushi and his cloying betrothed.
"Ah, at last! Up from bed!" Gai exclaimed with a radiant grin.
"You seem pale, Rock—Ouji." Kabuto said inquisitively "Feeling under the weather? Or did the sea of dreams give you coarse waters last night?"
Lee stared impassively at the emissary.
"I had rough seas last night, yes, Sir Yakushi. A storm rolled through and blew me of course, and then when I found celestial sunbeams to lead me home, the tempest called the wind and shook me of my path once again."
"My deepest apologies Rock—Ouji!" the princess shouted with concerned eyes and a maiden blush.
'It seems so wrong to loath her like I do…' the prince thought with infinitesimal grief 'But she keeps me from the thing I want most in this life. Should not it be normal to loath that which divides you from your heart's one aspiration?'
"It is fine, princess." Lee said to her with objectivity, not entailing that his missing lull was her doing.
Lee then addressed his father, but did not avert his eyes from Sir Yakushi and Juri.
"If I may inquire, father, where is my Lord and Lady?"
"Lord Hyuga is in the library, Lee." His father said gravely "I don't know where Lady Tenten is at this moment."
"Very well." The prince replied in an even way. "I will be in the library with Neji-kun then."
And he fled from their company devoid of any additional words.
In all of Konoha, maybe even all of the Fire Country, the library of the castle was the most colossal library anyone would ever lay eyes on; it was a book-lover's dream. The room contained shelves upon shelves of seemingly infinite knowledge winding the circular walls of the chamber and ten or so rows of straight and narrow shelves in the middle. Next to the ballroom and kitchen, the library was the largest room in the palace; it definitely needed it to house the thickly bound books that were held there. Lee had read many of the books within the library; some on war tactics and strategies from past great leaders, but he had found that his liking were the more fictional and adventurous novels. When he was a young boy, he had read many novels with epic heroes and romances. Being a prince, he had always thought himself to have a great adventure like the fiction he had read, but as the time grew by, it seemed that his prince life would be quiet and tedious as royalty could ever possibly be; it was depressing to discover. Lord Neji had also read many of the books in the library as well, but his take on novels were on the much more serious side. He had read many books on genealogy and biology; he was interested in science and his family history for reasons he never liked to go into much. Lee had constantly found Neji in the library with a cup of chamomile tea in his hand and his head buried in a large book, so it wasn't a big surprise when his father had told him that he was there. Lee casually opened the doors of the library and sauntered slowly to the east wall, where between to shelves and below a small window sat the bibliophile himself, curled up in a red velvet chair, book in one hand and a small glass of white wine in the other.
"Happy Christmas, Your Highness," Neji said without looking up from his book while sipping on his wine with etiquette "Is there something you require of me?"
"Good morning, Neji-kun," Lee said dispassionately "I do have something I need to ask of you."
"Yes, Your Highness?" Neji responded coolly.
"How long have you known about her?"
Upon hearing this, Lord Hyuga heaved a great sigh, placed his wine glass on a table beside him, closed his book and placed it softly in his lap.
"About who, Your Highness?" He asked candidly.
"About the Sound princess, Neji." Lee said sardonically.
"…Your Highness…" Lord Hyuga sighed again, rising from his chair. "I found out about the girl the night you did. Don't pin this affair on me; it was not my doing. I did not send a scroll to Konoha declaring war."
"But you know that I love—"
"She is a maid, Lee!" Neji shouted angrily, his voice echoing in the vast room "You. Cannot. Be with her!"
"How many times must I remind you that I care not?!" The prince returned a shout "I am in love with her; deeply in love with her! I refuse to marry a—"
"THEN YOU CONDEMN YOUR COUNTRY TO DEATH!" Neji cut him off with a scream so loud the bookshelves shuddered with the vibration from his voice.
The prince's countenance fell with alarm from the volume that his Lord had taken with him; his head feel just the same.
"You were never one to show compassion…My Lord." Lee spoke mechanically "I am deeply sorry I bothered you. I shall remove myself from your company."
As his sentence finished, the prince turned on his heels and marched for the exit of the library; his face never looked back to his Lord.
"Very well, Your Highness." Neji replied just as mechanically.
As his sire left from his presence, Neji sat back down in his chair, gulped down the rest of his wine, and sloppily threw the book he was reading to the floor.
'If I were to name hell...'
"Happy Christmas, Sakura!" Yoko cheered out to her friend, presenting her with a hand crafted bracelet woven from pink and green string.
"Oh, thank you so much, Yoko-chan!" Sakura exclaimed with surprise "I wish I could have gotten you something!"
"It's ok Sakura!" Yoko beamed jubilantly "Where were you last night anyway; you missed dinner."
Sakura blinked a few times, realizing the words that had just come from her friend's mouth. She tried her best to mask the distress in her eyes with a crooked smile.
"I-I was all over the place with the ball…I didn't have much time…"
"Oh, ok!" Yoko nodded, believing Sakura's half-lie. "Happy Christmas, anyway!"
Sakura's crooked smile straightened, and she hugged her good friend.
"Thanks a ton Yoko. You're great. I'll see you later, ok? I have to go clean the marble tile on the second floor. It still has some soot from the fire!"
The spry girl smiled to her dear friend, and then happily skipped away down the hall to do the chores she had been assigned for this remarkable Christmas.
'How in the world does she stay so perky?' Sakura wondered with a grin.
Dragging a heavy bucket with hot soapy water up the long spiraling stairs, Sakura couldn't help but reminisce on that short but stunning evening she had spent with the prince of all Konoha. It was indisputably an atypical thing; never had a noble of such high stature had felt such romantic feelings for a lowly maid such as herself.
Sakura could not deny that she felt good about it.
When she reached the second floor, Sakura walked over to the middle of the hall, placed the pail of hot water down gently, and pulled a scrub brush from her apron. Dipping the brush in the water, Sakura ignored the burn that swallowed up her hand and scoured the marble floor in a circular motion.
'I wonder what Lee-san is doing right now…?' She thought dreamily.
There was no doubt in her mind that Sakura knew that he was doing something to celebrate the wonderful holiday of today, and the maid hoped with all her heart that he was thinking about her.
As she continued the spherical polishing of the tile, the maid could see a slight reflection of her own face through the foam, water and muck. When her full face emerged, Sakura stopped and leaned closer to get a better look into the floor. The refinement that had covered her face the previous night had all but vanished; her face was again covered in a thin layer of grime, and her hair was frizzed and oily from sleeping on that filthy cot in that filthy basement. All of the work Lady Ino had put into her appearance for the ball was gone, and Sakura knew that it would probably never return.
But somehow, she still felt beautiful.
It could have been the other noblemen of the different countries leering at her, or it could have been the fact that the prince had told her of her loveliness before she was primped to perfection. Either way, what happened did happen; Sakura felt blessed for it. For one night, she had been the belle of the ball, and she had won the love of the most dignified men in all the world.
And in return, he had won her love as well.
Smiling at herself, Sakura did her best to mend her frazzled locks, then went back to scrubbing the tile flooring, singing a festive tune as she worked. Her incredible pitch could be heard through the entire hallway, yet no one seemed to respond to its beauty.
While she sluiced and sung, Sakura caught the sound of footsteps approaching her. The maid immediately silenced her voice, but kept at her duties with her head down. As they passed, Sakura could hear some of the conversation they were carrying between each other.
"— and they haven't even set a wedding date yet!" giggled one of the giddy girls.
"They should be tonight!" chimed in the other girl "Oh, what a marriage this will be!"
'Married? Who?' Sakura mentally questioned.
Oh, well; it didn't bother her in the least. As long as Lee was her prince, her love, it would never matter.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME FUZZY EYEBROWS?!?!" Naruto Uzumaki exclaimed to the prince, rising up from the chair he sat on.
"Oh, Naruto-kun, how I wish this was a dream!" Prince Lee lamented, sitting up from his bed.
The castle fool took a large breath of confusion and rubbed the back of his neck tenderly.
"Geez, how the heck are you gonna tell Sakura?" He asked with sympathy.
Lee buried his face in his hands.
"Oh, Naruto, I do not know!" he cried out with pain "How can I tell the angel I promised my heart to that I must give that promise to another woman who I do not even love?!"
"I don't know." Naruto said brusquely "Man, how the hell do you get into these messes?"
Lee sluggishly lifted his tear-drenched face from his hands to stare at his friend.
"This is the life of royalty Naruto-kun." The prince said morosely "I would give anything to be in your place. I could be with my Sakura-angel…"
"Well, you could see Sakura behind her back…" Naruto suggested with an indifferent tone.
"And stoop to such a lowly level?! I dare not!" The prince said with revulsion "Sakura deserves more than to be my mistress! How mortifying for not only her, but for Juri-hime and I as well!"
Naruto nodded distantly towards his friend; he knew the way Sakura was feeling, and that way was unidentified to that of the prince and everyone else but the fool himself.
Lee didn't know Sakura had fallen in love with him yet.
"Thick brows…" Naruto began but trailed off.
"Naruto-kun…" Lee responded just as indistinct, and lay with his back on his bed. "How do I know that Sakura does not despise me for running out on her? She gave me a kiss, but she had much sorrow in her eyes…she has probably forgotten…"
"Thick brows there's something you gotta know!" Naruto yelled suddenly. "Sakura isn't mad, she—"
But before the fool Naruto could finish his confession, there was a swift but hard knock on the prince's door.
"Yes, may I help you?" Prince Lee said hardheartedly.
"Your Highness," a servant girl's stifled voice could be heard from the other side of the door. "Your father has requested you join him, your fiancée and her advisor for dinner."
The prince privately groaned and progressively lifted himself from the sheets of his bed.
"We will talk later, Naruto." Lee said coldly, and exited his chamber.
When Naruto was certain that the prince had left the room and could not hear his voice, Naruto unfettered a grand bellow from his craw.
"SHE LOVES YOU, IDIOT!!!!!"
Naruto left the room in a huff, eager to find Sakura and warn her of the imminent kismet.
"SAKURA-CHAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Naruto ran through the halls of the castle screaming at the top of his lungs "SAKURA-CHAN!!! WE'RE IN TROUBLE!!!!!!!!! SAKURA!!!!!!!!"
Though her singing was loud, the maid Sakura could hear the frantic screams of her friend Naruto barreling through the halls even though she was a floor below him.
'Trouble…?' Sakura thought with mild panic 'What could have…?'
"Naruto-san!?" Sakura fairly yelled to catch his attention (and to shut him up).
She rose from the spot on the marble flooring that she had been rigorously cleaning, with scrub brush still in hand, and looked around for her friend that was screaming for her.
Slowly but surely, Sakura could see the image of the jester come into view with great dread about his face. The maid
"Sakura-chan!" Naruto exclaimed as he reached her; he was panting from his howling and running "We…we've got…problems!"
"What problems, Naruto?" Sakura asked fretfully "Is Lee-san ok?"
Naruto looked up at his dear love-struck friend with the saddest eyes she had ever seen him bear.
"Fuzzy Brows is…engaged…Sakura."
The brush she was holding hastily slipped from her clutch and hit the marble floor with a smack.
"No…" She whispered, tears forming in her eyes. "It…it's not true…"
"I'm sorry, Sakura-chan…" Naruto apologized with great compassion and hugged her gently.
A massive smoldering feeling crept its way into the pit of Sakura's chest. The tears that were shaped in her eyes made her vision hazy; she had never felt such pain like this before. Had it all been a lie? Had he deceived her into thinking that he had felt such great affection for her? Did he plan to be with her even though he was betrothed?
"Did…did he lie to me…?" she gruffly whispered.
"No!" Naruto cried out at her whisper "Sakura-chan, Fuzzy Brows didn't find out until last night! He didn't even know!"
Sakura Haruno looked deeply into the eyes of her fool friend, and she knew in her heart that he spoke the truth. The prince still loved her with every fiber of his being, as stated by his benign promise.
But the immense throbbing that was circulating through her veins did not leave her.
"I…I can't believe it…" she murmured feebly.
With a broken heart and all of her hope lost, Sakura loudly sobbed into the arms of her best friend knowing the things her mother had told her had been true all along.
As Prince Lee gradually meandered through the hall of the third floor to find the Dining Hall, he was struck with a immediate sting in the pit of his chest that burned with more intensity than any wildfire.
'Somewhere…' the prince thought insufferably, one tear trickling down his cheek 'There is an angel…crying for me..."
Yep, I would like to formally apologize to all of my dearest and loyal readers for my lengthy absence. It is all my fault. My excuses (which aren't good enough) are poor internet connections, family issues, educational hardships, and acute depression. But even though, I still feel awful for letting this go on so long and then coming back with this awful thing here. This fic has about 6 or 7 chapters left to go, and now that I am back in the groove of writing things, I will update much more quickly now. My sincerest apologies to you all.
In my absence, I have not been totally slacking off. My next fic that I believe I will post, which is Far Away, I have been working on. I have also been working on the sequel to The Prince and the Castle Maid. I have watched Pirates of the Caribbean so many times I can quote most of it from memory! I've already written the first and second chapters, and I will post them most likely when I finish my Twenty Lotus Petals, Which I have also been working on. Please be patient a bit more for me, my readers! I promise I will supply you with all my work very soon! Review if you want. I won't mind the flames…I probably deserve them…
Next Time: Chapter 13: A Promise Made
Teaser:
"There has to be something we can do for them, Neji!" Lady Tenten cried.
The Lord Hyuga gazed into the eyes of his love, then back to the garden that was leisurely blooming. His eyes wandered back to Tenten, and he genuinely smiled at her; something he rarely did to anyone.
"…There might be one thing, love…"