Chapter 18

For a long time we trekked around the colorful and festive town, taking in the extremely foreign culture whilst politely greeting any citizens from Sunagakure who were brave enough to approach the strange and pale visitors. Stalls lined the walkways, decorated with brilliant lights and cloths and offering an array of items or services.

Itachi and Temari eventually split from the group to, I assume, spend some time alone. Kankuro's non-stop blabbering simply began fading into the background and I wished eagerly that he'd follow their example and go somewhere else.

Ino and Sai were sharing a kebab of some sort as they blatantly ignored the Suna Prince's attempts to join their conversation. Sasuke and I were following behind them with Gaara on my other side. His bright eyes remained locked emotionlessly ahead. He and his outgoing brother are complete opposites in demeanor.

I felt Sasuke's larger hand squeeze mine slightly and it drew me out of my worries. He gestured with a nod and I noticed the stall Ino and Sai'd opted to stop at was serving alcohol. I glanced over to see Gaara accepting one of the tall glasses from a beautiful young woman with dark hair and skin.

I couldn't help but recall how awful my first and only experience with alcohol had been. My eyes traveled back to Sasuke's and I felt my anxiety melt away. Madara isn't here to cause any trouble and Gaara backed off when I'd asked him to earlier, so maybe I should just try to relax and have a good time.

I gave the quiet and handsome prince the go ahead and followed closely behind him as he ordered a drink for us each. Soon, we were once again walking casually through the crowds.

I noticed Gaara and Kankuro both glancing as I tasted the clear liquid. It burnt as though I'd swallowed a mild medicinal rubbing alcohol and I nearly coughed, but a suddenly tangy aftertaste ended the discomfort and my eyebrows rose in confusion at the odd sensation. I kind of liked it.

Kankuro let out a loud laugh, "You Haruno girls continue to impress me!"

I looked up to see that Ino'd had a similar reaction. I felt my cheeks heat up in embarrassment, inching closer to Sasuke, who gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.

Before long, we'd each finished our drinks and one of the guards collected our glasses before disappearing to return them to the stall from which they'd come.

A heat had risen to my cheeks and my movements felt slightly lighter than usual. The feeling wasn't unwelcome. It was the enjoyable place I'd been in before I eventually drank too much at the ball. The desert wind was chillier than I imagined it'd be, but the alcohol was keeping me warm.

We approached a large decorated gazebo that had a group of people playing music I've never heard before. People were dancing energetically while some others stood around, clapping along to the music and cheering on the dancers.

Kankuro was approached by no less than five beautiful women and allowed himself to be pulled out to the middle of the floor where he joined them in the dance, taking turns twirling each girl around. He did little to hide the giddy look on his face. It was starting to fall into place why he acts the way he always does.

I noticed that almost every female in the area was eyeing Gaara, as well, but none of them dared approach. I couldn't imagine him accepting any invitations and imagine they felt the same way.

Ino and Sai gave each other an agreeable look before skipping out to join the other couples in dancing. I heard Kankuro cheer when he noticed them. Sasuke's hand slipped from mine and I turned to see him walking over to lean against the railing of the gazebo, a look of discomfort easily readable on his features. This type of thing's definitely not up his alley.

I turned to join him, only to feel someone grab my hand and stop me in my tracks. When I looked back, I saw that Gaara was staring blankly down at me. Dozens of onlookers started whispering excitedly when they noticed their king inviting someone to dance and it made me nervous.

Surprise had to be all over my face, but my body allowed him to pull me out onto the floor anyway. It would be improper to turn our host down for a simple dance and I didn't see any harm in the friendly act.

I could feel eyes on my back and I looked back to see Sasuke glaring at the King. A cold hand pushed against my lower back, pulling me against Gaara's chest and drawing my unsure gaze back up to his more intense one.

I could tell my hands were shaking as they pressed against his chest in an effort to create some space, but the redhead enveloped them with his larger ones instead.

Suddenly, we were dancing.

I don't know how my body knew what to do, but it did and acted on its own to mirror my dance partner's actions.

Gaara's moves were precise and impressive, like he'd done this specific dance a million times. Inwardly, I was shocked that someone as stoic as him would ever dance at all.

The cheers of the crowds heightened in volume and I felt a flutter of excitement in my stomach. A smile crept onto my lips and a small laugh came out. Before I realized it, I was having a lot of fun. The king's blank gaze became curious as he continued to twirl me around to the beat of the drums.

Before long, the other couples stopped dancing and moved to the sides of the gazebo to make room for their king and his dance partner. My skin was dusted lightly with sweat and my mouth was stretched into a wide grin as I skipped around and moved to the music.

When the song finally came to an end, I put my hands up in the air and cheered with the crowd before my partner offered a polite bow to thank me for the dance. I bowed back, my smile faltering slightly as the thrill started to fade.

Gaara firmly took one of my hands and led me back over to a brooding Sasuke as the band started to play the next song and the many couples from before headed back out to restart their celebration. I eagerly moved to stand beside Sasuke, my back against the railing, and looked up to see the Suna ruler excusing himself from the gazebo and heading back the way we'd originally come.

Before I could speak to the obviously angry prince, a low whistle caught my attention. I looked over and saw Kankuro, Ino, and Sai rejoining us. Kankuro let his eyes travel up and down my body openly, earning a glare from both Uchiha twins and my sister, "Who knew you could move like that, my little blossom!"

He shamelessly licked his lips and rubbed his hands together, "You're gonna get me in trouble."

My face burnt with a mixture of my starting-to-wear-off buzz and embarrassment at his bluntness.

Sai offered his usual perfect smile, "It looked like you were having fun, Sakura. It's nice to see you smiling."

Ino nodded, a toothy grin on her plump lips, "You're a good dancer, Saku! How come I never knew?"

I shrugged, face burning even hotter with all of the attention directed at me, "I don't know…"

One of the armed guards from before, thankfully, interrupted us, "Lord Gaara would like you all to return to the palace for a more intimate celebration for the remainder of the evening. Follow me."

I turned and started following his lead, eager to let the attention avert from my dancing.

Sasuke didn't even attempt to hold my hand on the way back, or even look in my direction. It made me worry I'd somehow made him angry by dancing with Gaara, but I wasn't left with much of a choice. If I turned him down, both the Subaku's and their townsfolk would get a bad impression.

Once indoors, we were escorted back to the throne room we'd seen upon our initial arrival, only to be met with crowds of almost nude women and men dancing and rubbing against each other.

My face burnt wildly at the scene. The culture shock from earlier's nothing compared to this. These people were so open and uncaring that it made me nervous. I was very uncomfortable.

The music was so loud that I could feel the drum's beat vibrate my ribcage. A thick, smoky haze was floating in the air around us, looking almost like a fog. I took a deep inhale, trying to pinpoint the scent of the spices in the air, and felt my discomfort ease slightly. Perhaps it's some kind of drug or incense to induce relaxation?

A beautiful young woman wearing nothing but a see through robe handed me a glass like I'd had earlier and took my other hand into hers with a kind smile, "Come with me, Lady Sakura!"

I glanced back at the group and saw that everyone was being pulled apart by beautiful hosts such as the one helping me weave through the sea of bodies. Sasuke's dark eyes met my panicked ones just before I was enveloped in the crowd.

I looked around nervously, continuing to allow this strange woman to lead me wherever she intended. I took a large gulp out of my drink, glad to find that it was indeed the same drink as before and not something I didn't like. I tried asking my guide where she was leading me, but she either didn't hear me over the music or pretended not to. She led me from the throne room into the hall, which was still lined with men and women dancing to the music.

My head spun as I tried to pinpoint my location based on what I'd seen of the castle earlier in the day and failed.

The guide stopped, suddenly, outside a room with a thick black curtain serving as the door and motioned for me to take another drink. I did as instructed, giving her a distrusting look when she put her hand on the bottom of the glass and urged me to chug the rest of it. Then, she snatched the empty glass from my hands and pulled the curtain aside, motioning for me to enter the room with a slight bow. I naturally bowed back, not knowing how to respond to the odd gesture, and stepped past the threshold of the doorway.

The curtain fell heavily closed behind me and I turned to look around, freezing in my tracks. The first thing that drew my attention was Kankuro on a large bed, completely nude, and surrounded by at least ten women.

There were too many to tell at first glance, and I didn't dare take a second. I couldn't see much of his body due to the sheer amount of people up there, but I still realized he was actively having sex with and feeding from them right there in the open, for all to see.

My head felt dizzy with the haze in the air, alcohol I'd just chugged, embarrassment at witnessing something so sexual out of nowhere, and fear of being in the room with a vampire whilst he was feeding.

When I turned to leave, a familiar hand grabbed my wrist for the second time in one night. I looked over to see Gaara staring down at me once again.

I shook my head at him frantically, glancing over at Kankuro's bed when one of the girls let out a loud moan, and then back to him. He ignored my discomfort and pulled me firmly with him to another bed in the room. This one, however, had no one else on it.

What kind of room was this? Was it prepared solely for the purpose of pleasure and feeding done by the Subaku royals?

Tears rose in my eyes. My limbs were shaking nervously. I was terrified to be here. I want to go home. I'll even take Madara threatening me over this.

Gaara sat calmly on the side of the bed and gestured for me to follow. I awkwardly did as told, not wanting to make him angry, although as far away as possible with his grip still tight on my wrist. His gaze hardened when I tried to pull it free from his hold, "Why do you still try to escape despite what happened earlier?"

I felt confused in my inebriated state. How is it that I can hear his voice so clearly above the pulsating music?

"Y-You mean when we danced?"

His eyes danced down to my lips, my exposed throat, and then back up to meet my gaze, "I want you. I have never been denied something I want."

I opened my mouth to respond, only for Gaara's grip to tighten against my skin, "If I force you, will you tell the Uchihas?"

My mouth clamped shut and I met his gaze again, nodding after searching for any sign of mal-intent. His eyes started to darken and my blood ran cold despite the hot air in the room.

I couldn't pull my gaze from his as the familiar red glow finally appeared.

His gravelly voice grated against my very being, pulling a shiver from my spine. Even if I couldn't see anything but his vampiric gaze, I could sense he'd moved closer. My suspicion was confirmed when he spoke and his voice sounded just inches away.

"I can ensure that does not happen."

The hand that wasn't holding my wrist moved my hair away from my neck before his fingers wrapped around it slowly. He didn't choke me, but his hold was firm.

Tears rose in my eyes and my body jolted in shock when he spoke again. His voice was deeper and more beastly, "Why do I want you so badly? Your scent…"

My body trembled beneath his touch and I felt myself getting more desperate, "N-No, please stop, Gaara. You're not a bad person. You're not this person."

For a moment, he was silent, but eventually had to respond, "You consider me a person?"

The only thing I could do was grip the thin sheet below me as he leaned in closer. I wanted badly to squeeze my eyes shut, but couldn't even do that.

In an instant, Gaara surprised me by pressing his lips against mine. My tears spilled over as he kissed me slowly in a way that seemed like he was unfamiliar with the act but not necessarily bad at it.

I wanted to pull away.

I wanted to tear my lips from his and flee this horrible room, but couldn't move a muscle.

His grip on my throat loosened before he snaked his hand behind my head to pull my lips against his more firmly. His fingers tangled in my hair in a way that made me think he liked it. The maid had told me he demanded my hair be left down, so that must be the case.

A terrified sound rumbled through my throat as tears ran down my face and dripped from my chin. Electricity was starting to eek its way up my spine as I fought harder and harder to move.

Eventually I was able to inch my free hand to push against his chest. My palm was sweaty and shaking with effort as pain rolled through me, but I had to show him how opposed I was to his actions.

Gaara pulled back and the red slowly faded in his eyes before he finally released his hold on me. I covered my mouth with my hands as I tried to stop crying.

He stared down at me with an unreadable expression. It could've been surprise, or maybe even bewilderment. Regardless of how he felt, I had to put some space between myself and this room or else I'd be sick.

Slowly, I rose to my feet as I watched him carefully for movement, before stepping around him and rushing out of the room to find Sasuke before the redheaded king could change his mind.