HELLO READERS! It's good to be back. Have to admit I've had a hard time these last few weeks, and I was finally able to take a small break to clear my head. Now I'm back and excited to bring you new chapters and upcoming stories. But new projects can be a little hard to manage all at once.
Which is why I've got something important to share. I want all my stories to be enjoyed, but we all have our favorites.
So I started a poll, that will only be up until the end of December. This will help me adjust my writing schedule to avoid burnout.
You can get to the Poll through my Tumblr here: https://www.tumblr.com/katsura369/768599853376864256/new-poll-out?source=share
And I hope you enjoy the chapter!
It became apparent in the next few days that something big was going to happen for the Mariadel trading company, Madaura had been gone for days at a time and when she returned there was a certain glimmer in her eyes. At first, this was just a suspicion of Sakura's but became fact after Madaura returned, gathering her older slaves and staff together, basically the adults minus Sinbad and Sakura.
"Is Sinbad here?" Madaura called through the large meeting hall where the adults had gathered to greet her upon her return.
"I am right here," Sinbad said quickly appearing with Sakura beside him, all expression of feeling withheld but Madaura paid no heed to her.
"It's going to get busy from now on, I am going to have you collect slaves from other slave traders in addition we're not going to send out any of the slaves we have currently. I'm leaving you in charge of all of them."
"That's quite an abrupt change." Sinbad pointed out.
"Yes, circumstances have changed," Madaura said with a sinister smile.
Kil walked past them, "I'll be going with to lend Lady Madaura my support. We'll leave things to you."
Sakura and Sinbad glanced briefly at one another before Sinbad responded, "Just leave it to me."
Sakura breathed out 'There's no going back now.'
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When night had fallen and everyone slept, Sakura exited her room, her footsteps were swift and silent through the hallways that usually echoed them as she made her way to Madaura's office. Once inside, Sakura went over to the desk in search of what she hoped would quench her pressing thoughts. With the way things were going right now and the children's current state, still becoming accustomed to the reality that Sakura and Sinbad had forced upon them, she did not want there to be any mishaps in this plan and she was not able to shake the way Madaura was acting today. The women made a living selling slaves, so why would she suddenly stop trade just to collect a few more slaves? Why not rather collect the slaves while selling? Something was without a doubt amiss and she was going to find out what it was.
She carefully shuffled through the different papers on the desk, going through scroll after scroll but it gave her nothing other than a feeling of disgust until she pulled out the top draw and found nothing but two scrolls sitting neatly inside, the parchment was still clearly fresh, unruffled by constant opening.
'What could that be?' Sakura wondered as she began undoing the bind of the scroll and then opened it, narrowing her eyes to focus carefully on the words because of the poor light, but as she read the contract even though it was clear she didn't believe it.
This was a contract between Mariadel Company and Sindria Trading Company, or the new Sindria Trading Company. The details were all very familiar and elementary, just as you would find in any contract dealing with merchandise trade…only it was saying that they would be dealing slaves. Looking at the date, she saw that it wasn't too old, in fact only a few days old based on the ink and papers state, the contract was also just a copy meaning that the original must be with the other company.
There were several details of the contract that worried Sakura.
'Mariadel company must hand over one thousand slaves to Sindria trading company.'
It made sense now why Madaura did not want any of the other slaves to be shipped off, that solved one part of her suspicions but then there was another…Sakura's eyes landed on the second scroll which she was quick to read, skimming through the details she understood…
'So Sindria trading company is taking responsibility gathering the slaves….' Sakura narrowed her eyes. 'But the requirement is still technically by the Mariadel Company.'
Something was defiantly going on, so Madaura had been dealing with Sinbad's own company this entire time?
Then she caught on another detail….The fees that would come with Sindria taking responsibility for gathering all the slaves. Mariadel Company would have to pay a large amount and by the signature on both of the contracts she had clearly agreed to this! How in the world Rurumu had convinced that women to take such a huge risk….surely it must have taken some kind of great form of evidence to convince Madaura that this was legit.
Having gone through several lessons in business and trade with Rurumu, Sakura was able to quickly pick up the quirks in this proposal. While it could make Madaura a great deal of money….she would first have to pay up the fee to gather the slaves, that alone would bring her to the verge of bankruptcy and then she would have no way to pay back Sindria company… and then she saw another part of the contract
'Should the Mariadel fail to pay Sindria substitution of company assets and property is permitted.'
"No way!" Sakura gasped when it finally sunk in.
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Sakura never did tell anyone about what she had discovered that night and decided to allow things to proceed as planned. The conclusion Sakura had drawn up was very unexpected, the outcome was a bit difficult to decipher but she did. She realized the intentions behind Sindria's contract she put her thoughts on one particular goal in mind that did not include real business and trade. However, she did not mention this to Sinbad. He had already drawn the slave children in and backing out was no longer an option, if he left, he would most likely still want the revolt to happen in order to be rid of Madaura's threat once and for all. She wasn't certain if this was personal to Sinbad as well but it didn't matter now. The children weren't going to return to the way they were before and the only thing that they could do was move forward with that. This plan of Sinbad's went against every fiber of her being, her beliefs and morals, it was one thing to use people for the sake of your own purpose but these were only children, and yet; no matter how many times Sakura told herself this and reminded herself of this fact, it didn't seem to be enough to waver her.
She smiled bitterly, running a hand through her long locks, wondering if she honestly had lost her mind during Madaura's torture and she just wasn't aware of it.
A hand fell on her shoulder, she glanced up through her bangs.
"Are you okay?" Sinbad asked
She nodded, choking back the truth "Of course."
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The contract for Madaura to pay Sindria, the deadline that Sakura remembered clear as day had finally come and for whatever reason Sakura was extremely anxious. She could not stop fidgeting, playing with her food, twirling her hair, rocking back and forth when she stood and it seemed that anyone she talked to noticed but she would just brush it off by coming up with a trivial excuse-not at all very convincingly but enough to get the message across that she was not willing to share in conversation.
'I wonder what kind of storm is about to come rolling through there.'
Sakura had seen many different forms of anger and fury, in the worst shapes and forms, from both her enemies and those she held dear and Madaura looked as if she was out for blood. The darkness of her sclera only highlighted that burning rage within her, her footsteps were heavy on the floor, and she stopped when some of the children (those still full of doubts) came to gather around Madaura to welcome her back. There was still clearly a need for clarity from them.
Two of the staff members also appeared as she entered the building. "Lady Madaura we are in trouble!"
"The company funds have been reduced to practically nothing has something happened!?"
Sakura watched everything from the uppercase of the room, leaning against a pillar with her arms crossed, able to overlook the scene as it began to unfold.
Madaura grabbed one of the children's arms "Bring all of the slaves here, we have to sell them for cash as soon as possible."
'There's the clarity,' Sakura thought grimly, watching as the child pulled away from Madaura's sheer horror on his face as he ran back to the other children gathered together. They looked at Madaura, eyes narrowed with sad, angry expressions.
Madaura was clearly very surprised at this. "W-Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Then Sinbad came in, grasping Madaura's wrist and pulling her away from the other slaves.
"You mustn't provoke them, come this way."
As they moved out of sight Sakura sighed tilting her head up, her bangs falling away from her eyes.
"Here we go."
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The plan was fairly simple, to draw suspicion off himself Sinbad would inform Madaura of the slave rebellion, saying it occurred during the time she was gone, the excuse for what caused it-the shipping off of Fatima which began to harness suspicion from the other slaves, that way he would still be able to move about and keep Madaura's trust until the time was right. It wasn't really necessary but it was also a way to give Madaura a taste of her own medicine before they shoved the entire vile down her throat. However, when Sinbad returned he came back to report something even he did not expect.
"What, are you having second thoughts about this rebellion?" Sakura asked softly
Sinbad shook his head, "It's not that...I just found out by Madaura that I'm leaving. Some friends of mine found a way to trick her and now she is forced to give me back, they'll be arriving tomorrow."
….
….
….
"I see."
It may not have been the most conventional response but she was already suspecting this. After finding those documents, it took but a bit of analysing to figure out what Sindria's intentions were-to get their leader back. Had Madaura been a bit more aware of the loyalty of Sinbad's company she would have known not to even entertain the idea of doing business with them but obviously what was promised had blinded her with greed and they took that chance when she wasn't looking to get her right where it hurts.
"Of course, this doesn't mean the rebellions going to be stopped." Sinbad pointed out rather quickly. "I know that it's supposed to happen-
"It will happen." Sakura snapped, "Whether you're here or not."
Sinbad nodded slowly, "Actually this might play to our advantage, I might be able to bring things to an end sooner….I just hope I get my metal vessels." Sinbad had muttered that to himself thinking Sakura wouldn't understand what he meant, but she understood easily enough and she couldn't say she disagreed.
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The night was long, eerie, and silent, many struggled to find the strength to sleep knowing or more likely not knowing what tomorrow would bring for them but one thing was eminent-they were going to fight. The time that had gone by since Sinbad and Sakura reset the children's minds and turned them against Madaura and now they were determined to do whatever it took to get away from her…absolutely anything.
'That's what's so terrifying about children,' Sakura thought 'They're never able to see further than what's right in front of them….and we just took advantage of that.'
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"Is everyone ready?" Sinbad asked, his tone hushed.
"Almost." Sakura replied, keeping her eyes on the floor "Some are still gathering up their weapons, and Masrur's just gone to the Coliseum."
Sinbad nodded, the Coliseum wasn't that far from the Mariadel headquarters and plenty of Madaura's slaves fought in the arena there other than Masrur. They had been taking the weapons there and giving it to the other slave children when they returned bit by bit every day until there was enough to put a weapon in every child's hand, Sakura shuddered even though she knew she knew she had no right to.
"I'll be back as soon as I can, which shouldn't be too long," Sinbad said with silent promise.
She couldn't tell him 'not to worry about it' or to 'take his time' because that was something they could not afford to take for granted right now. This revolt needed to be swift to avoid as much damage as possible and even then there was no way they were going to get out of this unscathed.
They stared, having covered the last details of what was to come and now it was as though there was nothing else, the curtain of silence was brought down by Sinbad.
"You know all this time I can't help but wonder what you really look like," Sinbad stated, taking a step forward.
"So you thought I should give it as a farewell gift?" Sakura asked her tone light, her lips twisted into a smile.
Sinbad shrugged "Well it seems appropriate to know the face of the one who helped pull me out of my darkness. You kind of remind me of someone."
"Oh do I?" she sounded amused.
Sinbad nodded "Yeah," a nostalgic expression fell over Sinbad's face "Though I'm sure she'd be raving at me if she knew what happened. Probably call me stupid, tell me I deserve this and then try to smack me through a wall."
With a soft exhale, Sakura stepped forward "You really believe that? If she's your friend I'm sure that wouldn't be the case."
"No, you're right" Sinbad's voice dulled "I'm sure she would be more disappointed than anything else, she might not want to be my friend anymore."
Sakura gave a small chuckle, Sinbad watched her curiously. "Oh, I don't think she'll have any right to be disappointed….."
"Huh?"
A swift hand swiping back the long blonde bangs completely drew Sinbad in, he gasped as his eyes met unique emerald green ones, it was sadly hilarious; something as simple and weak as a few strands of hair being able to obscure what was right in front of him the whole time. His jaw dropped which encouraged a somewhat smug smile from the pink-no blonde-no pinkette as blonde-whatever, at the end of it he knew that this was his Sakura.
"Sakura…."
"Hey Sinbad,"
Before Sinbad had the chance to act on the overwhelming emotions that rendered him immobile while they processed came to take up too much time as the door opened and Madaura appeared with Kil.
"They are here Sinbad," Madaura said, she did not appear the least bit affected by the fact that Sinbad was no longer her slave but that would be because Sinbad made her think he was still under her influence, still one of her 'children'.
Sinbad did his best to keep calm but he couldn't help glancing back at Sakura when he was out of the door, all she did was smile, watching as he left as if to reassure him but it didn't help to remove that sad gleam in his eyes.
When the door closed, Sakura's smile immediately fell, her face turning firm, and when she could no longer hear footsteps she put her hands together….
"I hope this works."
…
…
The crowds cheered with a sickening chant as if they had lost the ability to say anything else, their desperation for the simple command was eminent and they wanted to see it all, the seats were filled to the brim, their screams working like a cycle in the circle. It was something Masrur was disgustingly all too familiar with, it never changed; there was no distinction from his first coliseum fight. With the same boring need to fulfill, the audience oblivious to the actual intent of the gladiators in the ring.
"KILL"
"KILL"
"KILL"
Drowning out the screams of the arena, swiping his large sword swiftly, like cutting through the air he watched the bars of the cage separate diagonally, everyone and everything grew quiet, allowing him to speak.
"Come out. You shouldn't be in a place like this." Masrur stated lowering his weapon. "If you're the same kind of beast as me."
Wanting to avoid any escalation two guards emerged behind Masrur, spears in hand, armor heavy, and frowns deep but there was fear in their voices.
"Wh-What are you doing?!"
"Destroying the cages of the animals for the arena right before a match….you lowly slave!"
The blade swept over the men's heads so fast they barely saw the steal nor did they feel it but knew it had hit their helmets as the split halves no longer supported by their heads fell and behind them, the entire entrance gate meant to keep the fights within the arena, preventing entrance and escape.
"I won't hold back…Because I was told to show my true power…" Masrur's eyes widened, his voice powerful "YOU WILL LET US THROUGH."
That is when there were screams following, they were not cries of fear but more of a warrior call though high pitched, from the gate that had been destroyed by Masrur several children appeared, some had smears of blood on their traditional white clothes.
The audience cried out in alarm as the children appeared, taking in their forms. Though blood lust was not something uncommon in the coliseum it was harder to accept when it was directed at you-or even felt like it was. They swarmed the coliseum, gathering together while keeping their vicious glares.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?"
"THESE SLAVES-AREN'T THEY MADAURA'S?"
"ARE THEY REBLLING?"
Guards made their way through the audience until they were at the end of nearly the entire parameter of the arena, bows in hand and all aimed at their small but fairly easily spotted target creating a circle that any normal person would find impossible to break.
"Masrur," 'Sumire' gently called crouching down in front of him, "Are you sure you want to do this?"
The Fanalis was a bit confused now, they had just finished talking about how they were going to start a slave rebellion and what a crucial role he was going to be playing in it and now she was taking precautions-that in Masrur's opinion was unnecessary but he chose to answer her still.
"Yes," he said, "I want to be free, I want to be able to see the outside world for myself."
She smiled at him, her hand moved and was now resting on top of his head, "You're a very brave child,"
Child...
The phrase wasn't foreign to him but over time it seemed as though it had lost its meaning behind it. He did not have anyone that attempted to be tender with him, because of his strength what he was and his position, most overlooked the fact that he was a child, not even ten, and that he still had needs as one.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because you're afraid."
The statement was so blunt yet it pierced straight through him.
"No, I'm not afraid."
Sakura chuckled, the response was as expected of a child (and of most adults still in the minds of one), stubborn and unyielding despite temptation but Sakura has had her fair share of stubborn children and hence was able to easily figure out their weak points as she found with Ja'far and the Kou Empire's children.
"Masrur, if that's true then why are you here? Why are you wearing those chains?"
Tensing in an instant Masrur's eyes trailed to the ground. What would be an appropriate response to a question he had not yet figured out was rhetoric and purpose for making him consider the reasons.
"I…."
"Of course, it might be hard to think about freedom when there might not be anything left for you on the outside…" Sakura trailed knowingly. "You stayed here because you felt there was nothing else you could do, no one you could return to."
Masrur touched his cheek in shock as he moved his hand in front of his to see wetness on his fingertips, they were warm tears.
Nearly his whole body was pulled forward, arms securely wrapped out of him, something he had not felt for such a long time he nearly forgot what it was called.
"Don't worry, you're brave because you're willing to face your fears but…" she pulled back and smiled "If you get scared you only have to do is call out to me and I'll be there."
"Sumire."
She shook her head, leaning down to whisper in his ear "Call-
"SAKURA"
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When Madaura returned to her headquarters after handing Sinbad back to his comrades she was far from distraught, nothing on her face showed a crevice of defeat. Even the Sindria Company had managed to get back their precious leader but Sinbad was already one of her 'children' completely under her influence just as she had planned from the beginning. She did not doubt that he would come back to her. He had built a reputation for himself in such a short time, a boy with promise to become a great man and she had gotten him trapped within her clutches. But For the time being, she would focus on rebuilding her company by selling off the slave involved in the rebellion that Sinbad had mentioned but when she got there-
"Lady Madaura!" Kil called in alarm "All of the slaves have armed themselves and they're rebelling!"
The slaves, all of the children she had worked so hard to train and obey her every command were rebelling, she would not have believed it if she didn't see it for herself. All of them gathered together like a pack, in their tiny hands they all held weapons from the arena, how in the world they had all gotten a hold of them was a question best left for later.
'Sinbad said that they were only a small group of children but-but this looks like nearly ALL' Madaura thought in alarm, her shoulders drew back and shaking as if they were strained.
"All of the slaves kept as gladiators in the arena and all of the high-class slaves in the headquarters are rebelling at the same time!"
There were cogs turning in Madaura's head at this point, trying to figure out a solution to this what seemed to be an irreversible problem. The children had lost complete control or rather she had lost control of them but how and why? She had never had a contingency plan for something like this. She needed these children in one piece, as she had made them, kept them so that they would fetch for a high price, so that she could bring her company back to life but that was a little difficult to do when your merchandise is damaged.
Madaura realized this when she saw one of the guards holding back several children with his spear, no one had attempted to strike yet. The guards may be hesitant because it would be children they'd fight but that sliver of concern would vanish as soon as they believed their own life to be in danger and would take priority and the children were likely not attacking because they were children, still just children.
"Those children are merchandise!" Madaura held up her hand with faint hesitance as if it would be cut off "If you scar them in any way we won't be able to sell-
That sliver of concern was gone as one of the guards readied his spear to strike down on a child the strike did not hit for it was stopped.
"Looks like I made it."
Madaura's face twisted into a disgusted frown as she looked over the 'newcomer', hair so short it would only suit a boy but in contrast, it was pink, had it not been for the subtle outline of a petite figure with small curves she would not have guessed it was a girl from behind (if you didn't go lower than the torso) but she was facing forward, holding back the single armored man who looked as though he was straining against an impenetrable force. Her eyes Madaura was yet to see.
"Who are you?" Madaura demanded
"Mmm, I suppose it would be hard for you to know who I was now right Madaura."
The spear this girl held in her hands, Madaura and the rest of the guards watched as the solid metal within her grasp bent as though it had been warm wax, molding against her fingers and then snap!
Mouths hung open, looking on with shock but the pinkette remained perfectly calm, her head tilted up ever so slightly and she was able to see those unmistakable eyes, shimmering like emeralds and glistening with strength and painful promise at Madaura who recognized her immediately.
"You're-
"My name is Sakura Haruno," the kunoichi cut her off, she raised her leg and gave a swift sidekick to the guard she had disarmed, taking along two other guards that were beside him yet too shocked to react, sending them all flying for a few seconds in the air and then crashing into the walls, there was a cracking noise heard.
Madaura took a fearful step back as Kil (her remaining loyal slave) stepped forward to guard her even though he was obviously no match for Sakura.
"And I'm the last thing you'll ever see!"
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-Commission: Demon slayer x My hero academia
Kunoichi amongst Benders (Avatar x Naruto crossover) ( 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-Kunoichi amongst Heroes chapter (74, 75, 76)
-Kunoichi amongst Heroes WHAT IF SPIN OFF: Dorms and Exams
-Kunoichi amongst Pirates chapter ( 30, 31, 32)
-Crossroads of Fate chapter 22, 23, 24, 25
-Through the Looking Glass chapter 28, 29, 30, 31, 32. 33
-(SEQUEL) Through the Spyglass chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6
-SPECIAL HALLOWEEN CHAPTER: Shinigami amongst Shinobi
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