The Kekkei Genkai Curse

By Shiroihato

(Chapter 7: Flowers, Cranes, and Candles)

A/N: Just for future reference: when you see W A R N I NG: from here on out, it’s absolutely crucial you read it. You’ll see what I mean…

Anyways, here’s chapter 7!

Tsunade looked at the digital numbers glowing at her from the thermometer. Satisfied, she put it away.

“Her temperature is normal; so is her blood pressure and her pulse,” She said softly, not wanting to wake her sleeping student. Actually, she was a bit surprised that the girl was sleeping as soundly as she was. Sakura had dozed through everything, including when the older medic Nin had to change her I.V. Even though she understood how exhausting these fits were to the girl, if it weren’t for the soft rising and falling of her chest, the Godaime would have thought she was experiencing a very different kind of slumber.

“So,” Naruto asked, his tone hushed and nervous as he clutched to his girlfriend’s hand, “can she be released when she wakes up?”

Tsunade shook her head. Naruto’s eyes grew worried, or rather, more so. She noticed that the worry never really seemed to leave his eyes, now. Clearing her throat, the sannin explained, trying unsuccessfully to keep her concern from creeping into her tone.

“I’m pretty sure she’s fine now, for the time being at least, but I’m not going to take any chances. I need her to stay here, close to medics and life support, until I’m sure she’ll be fine outside the hospital.”

“But…Tsunade-baachan…tomorrow’s-“

“Christmas Eve, I know!” the woman’s voice was harsh and angry, “But would you rather I lay her life on the line?!”

That shut the blonde shinobi up immediately. Tsunade sighed, feeling guilty for her misplaced anger and frustration, though she’d never let the boy know it. Gently, she turned back to her patient, removing the girl’s headband and brushing her bangs out of her eyes. Her eyes softened as she gazed at the Haruno’s hitai-ate.

“Naruto,” she said, her words calm and almost sympathetic now, “I just can’t risk it, not with Sakura, even if that means keeping her in the hospital on Christmas, too. Now go home, and get some rest. Some one will call you if anything major happens.”

Wordlessly, Naruto stood up. After kissing Sakura lightly on the fore-head, he walked out.

----break

Ino could remember that trip to the beach so well. It was burned into her mind, though at the time it had seemed just like any other vacation. Looking through the photo albums, she couldn’t believe just how naïve she and Sakura had been. She closed her eyes and rested her head on her pillow, wishing they could be those little girls again.

And as if by magic, she was there. She could see it all so clear. Inoichi, her father, laughed as he talked to his wife, sitting on a blanket on the shore, the sunlight glinting off his ponytail. Ino’s own short hair waved softly in the wind, and the waves lapped gently at her feet.

“Ino?” a timid voice asked, and there was Sakura, looking nervous, but all the cuter for it, the way little kids sometimes did. She shifted uncomfortably in her red one-piece and swim vest; Sakura had never been a strong swimmer.

“Ino?” she said again, this time a little louder, “thank you… for bringing me with you and everything, I mean.”

Ino smiled warmly at her.

“No problem, Sakura. I’m really glad you came. It would be really boring if it was just me and my parents!” the blonde made a face, “come on, let’s build a sand castle.”

Soon the girls had grown tired of their messy project, and were playing among the waves.

“Ino!” the pink haired child exclaimed in a frightened voice, “I can’t touch here!”

“Don’t be a worry-wart! That’s what that vest of yours is for, right?” Sakura slowly nodded. “Besides, I’ll make sure nothing happens to you! I’m the best swimmer our age in Konoha! Why, I bet I’m even the best in all of the land of fire!”

Sakura’s smile returned, and she gave Ino an I-don’t-think-so look, for which her friend promptly dunked her. The girls laughed and played, splashing each other, until Ino spotted a familiar face on the shore.

“Hey, Sakura, there’s Mrs. Nara! I think she brought cookies! And, Shikamaru’s not even with her! Let’s go say hi!”

With out a second though, she turned and started heading in the direction of the much wanted cookies. After she got to shallow water, she turned back to see how far her best friend had gotten, only to see a small red dot, waving her arms and yelling.

“She was caught by the riptide!”

“Daddy!” Ino screamed, and Inoichi looked up. He immediately spotted the frantic Haruno, who was getting pulled farther and farther out to sea. Jumping into the water, he swam toward her, and all his daughter could do was stand there, scared, and watch.

Finally, he reached the sand, with a shivering, frightened Sakura clinging to him. She gave Ino a hurt look that seemed to say “You said you’d watch out for me.”

Sighing from a mixture of relief and guilt, Ino closed her eyes, searching for the right words to apologize. But, when she opened them again, the scene was gone. Instead, Sakura, the same age she was now, sat at the waters edge in a different swim suit and no swim vest, wiggling her toes in the sand. She turned back to a shivering Yamanaka.

“I told you you’d be cold in that bikini!” she laughed, as the breeze blew a little stronger, “At least you took my advice about wearing you hair up!”

Ignoring the other girl’s scowl, she jumped to her feet, and started walking deeper into the water. Ino wasn’t so sure that was something she should do; the sky was dark and cloudy, and the waves seemed rough, almost angry.

“Come on, Ino-pig! You’re not afraid are you?!”

Nervously, Ino followed.

“Since when was billboard-brow this fast?!”

Then, for some reason, the blonde’s legs stopped moving. She couldn’t move no matter how much she willed it; she was stuck at knee-deep. “Forehead girl” was now long past deep; Ino could see her beginning to struggle. Caught by the current, she was being pulled adrift again- and this time there was no one to help her, except a trembling Yamanaka, who, try as hard as she might, could not start running.

“Help!” the Haruno screamed, her voice cutting off, as she was pulled under. When she emerged, all she had time to do was wave her hands, before the tossing, stormy waves reclaimed her. Even from where she stood, the other Kunoichi could see it: Sakura’s lone hand just above the water, looking for all the world like a faerie’s in the lightening, just a moment before in fell under the water.

Sakura didn’t resurface, despite all of Ino’s screaming. Then, the blonde heard her pink-haired companion’s voice.

“Ino,” it sounded out of breath, betrayed, and angry all at once “Ino, why didn’t you help me?”

“I-“

“I called and called, but you didn’t help me, just like before…” now only sadness could be heard “why did you just sit there and watch me die? Do you hate me that much?”

“Ino”

“Sakura, I’m sorry I-“

“Ino, stop it’s-”

“Sakura, let me explain, you see-“

“Ino, wake up! It’s just a dream!”

The terrified sat up, startled, to find herself safely in her own bed. Her mother handed a phone to her.

“Make it quick,” Mrs. Yamanaka frowned, “Make it quick. It’s only Christmas Eve, and you haven’t spent any time with the family yet.”

“Hello?”

“Hi,” it was Tenten’s voice on the other line.

“Hey, Ten. What’s up?” The words came out sounding apprehensive.

“I just wanted to let you know, Sakura’s finally awake. Tsunade-sama said she can’t leave. We can’t visit her either. Apparently, she “needs her rest”. I.e. Tsunade can’t handle us right now. I sure hope she’s better by tomorrow. Otherwise everything we planned…”

“I know,” Ino rubbed her temples. Man, how this all stunk.

------break

Hinata placed a dish of chips and dip on the coffee table of Sakura’s apartment. No one even pretended to be interested, not even Chouji. The air itself seemed depressed.

“Man, I guess all that work went to waste,” the Akimichi said, voicing everyone’s thoughts, “She couldn’t even make it out for Christmas Day.”

Temari shot him a look, and then asked, “Has any one seen Naruto?”

All of a sudden, Kiba sat upright, almost hitting Hinata in the face. Akamaru barked. Kiba shushed him.

“Did you hear that?”

“Hear what?”

He didn’t bother explaining, “Get in position!”

-----break

Naruto put his hands over Sakura’s eyes, just as she unlocked her front door.

“Naruto? What are you doing?” she asked, her voice a little weak.

“Trust me,” was all the answer he would give, as he guided her in the front door, and down the hallway, into the living room. He flipped on the light, and took away his hand.

Sakura blinked, and then gasped. Christmas roses poured from expensive looking vases she knew she didn’t own. (Funny, hadn’t she seen Ino with one of those vases a few days ago?) The smell of gingerbread pervaded the air, and mingled with the scent of mint. Poinsettias were draped on the fireplace mantle, and mistletoe hung from the same. Her sparse furniture had been rearranged. A large tree stood in the corner of the room, glass ornaments twinkling in the soft glow of the lights that draped its branches. A brand-new soft, plush, white armchair rested next to the blazing fire, and one look told Sakura that she could never afford it. Her eyes caught sight of a small tag, and she went to read it.

“From Kakashi and Anko” she said aloud, and then turned to Naruto, “Are they here? Did they do all of this, too? Can I thank them?”

Coming out from her hiding spot, the chip platter balanced in one hand, Temari laughed. Sakura spun around, a grin spreading across her face when she saw who it was. The others emerged as well.

“Hey, don’t give them all the credit,” the sand Nin teased, “We all worked our tails off getting this place ready, even Shikamaru!”

The image of Temari forcing Shikamaru to work was just too much. Sakura had to giggle.

“Hey, kid,” amusement rang through Anko’s voice, “look up.”

Doing as she was told, the owner of the apartment looked up and gasped again. Countless origami cranes hung from the roof, all folded neatly out of gold-flecked white paper.

The cranes,” Hinata explained shyly, “well, you know the legend, right? That if a person was to fold a thousand paper cranes she’d surely get well… ah, w-well…” the Hyuuga started blushing.

“What she’s trying to say,” Shino broke in, surprising every one, “is that we all knew you’d probably never fold a thousand yourself, no offense…”

Kakashi finished off, “so the rookie nine here-“

“And my team!”

“-Yes and Gai’s team-“

“And me!”

“And Temari folded a thousand for you.”

“At least, the girls did,” Tsunade laughed, startling the room’s occupants as she walked in and Shizune picked up the rest of her sentence, “I’m afraid your boyfriend’s rather helpless with paper art, Sakura-chan.”

Said boyfriend was too afraid to make a comeback.

“Wow,” was all Sakura could manage as she spun around, trying to take everything in at once. Happy tears welled up in her eyes. “Thank you”

She stumbled ever so slightly, but that was all it took for Tsunade to lead her to the new chair.

“I’m bending a few rules as it is, kid,” she grinned, “You need to rest. Sit. I suggest we open the presents.”

-----break

Chouji munched happily on his chocolate as he watched Lee tease Neji endlessly. Tenten just blushed slightly as she held her new brooch in one hand, and restrained her boyfriend from murdering their teammate with the other.

Anko had taken Kakashi outside for a “talk”; the muted sound of her screaming echoed through the walls. No one could hear her words, however, a fact even Temari knew to be grateful for. Looking at her date, who was snoozing away even through the commotion, she sighed. Ino held up a plum-colored cashmere sweater set with a look of delight. Kiba absent mindedly wondered how Kakeru was going to pay his rent this month, as he held a blushing Hinata, who in turn was holding a squirming puppy.

Sakura was thinking the same thing. She laughed, stopping when she felt a pair of hands cover her eyes.

“What is it this time?” she inquired.

“Keep your eyes closed, okay?” She nodded, and gingerly, he fastened something cold and light around her neck. Gently, she pressed the tips of her fingers against it. Some kind of chain…?

“You can open them now…”

She saw a certain item from chapter five, and instantly Kiba decided that Kakeru probably wasn’t the only one who was broke…

She grinned at him, and he bent over and kissed the top of her head. Shino made a gagging sound. Kurenai closed her eyes, the sight brining back memories of Asuma. She looked at the sleeping infant she held in her arms, and a peaceful feeling washed over her.

Tsunade made a small coughing noise, and Shizune handed her a package. She waited for the mayhem to die away, which it slowly did, and then handed the package to her younger surrogate daughter. It wasn’t wrapped very prettily; it was bound in simple brown paper and twine, Sakura’s name scrawled in the upper left hand corner. Still, from the way the sannin had been clutching it, the recipient had no doubts about its value. Slowly, she tore away the packaging, and pulled out the gift. A collective murmur passed through the room.

“Why don’t you try it on? Tsunade asked, a little nervously. Sakura nodded slowly, and walked to her bedroom, gingerly donning the present.

She walked back out again, blushing.

“It was my grandmother’s, the Lady Ichidaime’s, from before she married. It was her favorite. She left it to me, to be passed on down our family tree. I decided that this was as close as it was going to get,” the Godaime explained as Konoha’s cherry blossom gently ran her fingers over the silk of the beautiful furisode-kimono. With bright eyes she turned her gaze to her sensei. “Thank you,” she said.

Kakashi and Anko, who had just slipped back into the room, were overcome by the lovely sight.

Sakura was still pale and thin, but the kimono seemed to hide it. Her blue brocade obi was tied by Shizune (wearing a similar kimono, but not looking quite so pretty…) into a butterfly knot, the ends sweeping the floor gently. The gold cranes and pink cherry blossoms embroidered on the fabric seemed to glisten in the dimmed lamp light, out done only by her eyes.

“Since when did I have Kaguya-hime as a student?” Kakashi asked softly, looking at the delicate, princess-like creature in front of him, and finding it hard to believe it was really the Amazoness- warrior Haruno he knew.

“Thank you,” the girl’s voice conveyed every emotion, every word she left unsaid, and Tsunade felt that strange mother-like feeling bubble up again.

“She looks fitting for the future wife of the future rokudaime, ne?” Anko asked, nodding to Naruto and Sakura, and not realizing just what she was saying until the words were out of her mouth.

“Yes, she really does…”

Tenten walked up to this new found snow-faerie, handing her a parcel in different, more festive wrapping.

“It’s cucumber melon scented. Not really all that festive, I know,” she laughed as she placed a hand behind her head, looking at the thick, three-wicked candle in her friend’s hands, “but I liked it, and thought it was relaxing, so I thought…”

“It’s perfect,” Sakura cut her off, “Does any one have a lighter?”

Kurenai handed over something Shikamaru was sure he recognized from a certain sensei…

Gently, the candle was placed in the front window. With her friends pressing her with questions, the sick Kunoichi explained.

“In the old days, when some one had somebody or something to pray for, they’d light a candle for each prayer. I’m lighting three: One for my clan, and one for Sasuke-k…for Sasuke.”

“Who’s the last one for?” Temari questioned softly, taken aback by the missing suffix, and sudden thoughtful mood.

“For all of us.”

A/N: Well, I finally followed through and wrote a longer chapter, though this didn’t come across nearly as smoothly as I had hoped. A few quick explanations:

1. Kaguya-hime is from the folk tale, “The Bamboo Cutter”. According to wikipedia: One day while walking in the bamboo forest, an old, childless bamboo cutter called Taketori-no Okina (, "the Old Man who Harvests Bamboo"), comes across a mysterious, shining stalk of bamboo. Cutting it open, inside he finds a baby, the size of his thumb. Rejoicing to find such a beautiful girl, he takes her home and he and his wife raise her as their own child, naming her Kaguya-hime,( Princess Kaguya, "radiant night princess"). Thereafter, Taketori-no Okina found that whenever he cut down a stalk of bamboo, inside he found a small nugget of gold. Soon, he was rich, and Kaguya-hime grew from a small baby into a woman of usual size and extraordinary beauty. At first, Taketori-no Okina tries to sequester her from outsiders, but over time, the news of her beauty spreads.

Eventually, five princes come to Taketori-no Okina's residence to ask for Kaguya-hime's hand in marriage. The princes eventually persuade Taketori-no Okina to tell a reluctant Kaguya-hime to choose from one of the five princes. To this, Kaguya-hime concocts impossible tasks for the princes to accomplish. She will agree to marry the prince who manages to bring her a specified item. (All the princes fail, okay)

After this, the Emperor of Japan, called Tennō in Japanese, comes to see the strangely beautiful Kaguya-hime and upon falling in love asks her to marry him. Although he is not subjected to the impossible trials that thwarted the princes, Kaguya-hime rejects his requests for marriage as well, telling him that she was not of this country and thus could not go to the palace with him. She stays in contact with the Emperor but continues to rebuff his requests.

That summer, whenever Kaguya-hime would see the full moon her eyes filled with tears. Though her adopted parents worry greatly and question her, she is unable to tell them what was wrong. Her behavior becomes increasingly erratic until she reveals that she is not of this world and must return to her people on the moon. In some versions of this tale, it is said that she was sent to the earth as a temporary punishment for some crime, while others say it is because she was sent to earth for safety during a celestial war.

As the day for her to return approaches, the Emperor sets many guards around her house to protect her from the moon people, but when an embassy of "Heavenly Beings" arrives at the door of the Bamboo Harvester's house, the many guards are blinded by the strange light. Kaguya-hime announces that though she loves her many friends on earth, she must return with the moon people to her true home. She write sad notes of apology to her parents and to the Emperor, then gives her parents her own robe as a memento. She then takes a small taste of the elixir of life, attached it to her letter to the Emperor, and gives it to a guard officer. As she hands it to him, the feather robe is placed on her shoulders, and all of her sadness and compassion for the people of the Earth are forgotten. The heavenly entourage takes Kaguya-hime back to Tsuki-no Miyako (the capital of the moon) against her will, leaving her earthly foster parents in tears.

The parents become very sad and were soon put to bed sick. The guard officer returns to the Emperor with the items Kaguya-hime had given him as her last mortal act, and reported what had happened. The Emperor reads her letter and is overcome with sadness. He asks his servants "Which mountain is the closest place to heaven?", to which one replies that the Great Mountain of Suruga Province is the closest place to heaven. The Emperor orders his men to take the letter to the summit of the mountain and burn it, with the hope that his message would reach the now distant princess. The men are also commanded to burn the pot of elixir of immortality since the Emperor did not desire to live forever without being able to see her. The legend has it that the word immortality became the name of the mountain, Mount Fuji. It is also said that the kanji for the mountain, (literally "Mountain Abounding with Warriors") is derived from the Emperor's army ascending the slopes of the mountain to carry out his order. It is said that the smoke from the burning still rises to this day. (In the past, Mount Fuji was much more volcanically active than today.)

2. Incase you didn’t get: She saw a certain item from chapter five, and instantly Kiba decided that Kakeru probably wasn’t the only one who was broke It’s the necklace.

. The next chapter is called “Gothic Lullaby”

_________________________________________________________

Reviews/comments are really appreciated at Fanwork Feedback  It only takes a minute ^_^!