Chapter 22

After the meal, we all went into the Sunagakure castle's dungeon to see if we could get anything from our prisoner: Deidara. To my surprise, screams and sounds of torture could be heard the moment the door to the stairs was opened. When we finally turned the right corner in the winding underground halls, I was surprised to see Sasori standing in front of the hostage's cell.

As soon as the redhead noticed us, the screaming stopped, and he looked our way, "Sakura. Hello."

It was slightly funny that I'm the only one he greeted when so many royals were around, but I felt relieved he hadn't been captured or killed and smiled as I bowed politely, "I'm glad you're alright. Did you receive our letter?" The others didn't say anything and simply stared and listened as we spoke.

"I did. Thank you for the warning. My family was kind enough to allow me to stay in the castle while awaiting further letters." His light brown eyes danced up and down my body before meeting mine again, "I am relieved to see you in good health."

He glanced behind me and seemed to hesitate, making me turn to follow his gaze. Both Sasuke and Madara were glaring at him without shame.

"Rest assured, the effects of your blood did not linger for more than seven days. I am in a clear state of mind now."

A sigh left my lips as I blushed and turned to face him again, "That's a relief…."

"If you two are done with your little reunion, can we get this show on the road, hm?" We both faced the cell as Deidara's hoarse voice left the dimly lit area.

A frown tugged at my lips. Sure, he attacked us out there, but he didn't seem happy about it and honestly appeared to have been considerably holding back. Plus, he was one of the only advisors in Amegakure that'd shown concern for my well-being after feeding on me during those days of hell. Up until the moment that their allegiance to Kaguya was made known, I actually liked him.

Still, I forced my disappointment and feelings of betrayal to take a back seat, "What show?"

His blonde hair was smeared with blood and messy, and his skin was littered with hundreds of cuts. I learned from Obito that a common practice for vampires is to bleed them out enough that they can no longer heal or use their other powers before trying any other form of torture. Judging by the massive, wet, black stain surrounding his shackled body, Sunagakure's no exception to that tactic.

"It'll be easier for everyone involved if you simply kill me now because I won't break. Save us all the time and effort."

My brows rose. Every other time I've heard him speak, he's been polite, friendly, and maybe a little more casual than other royal family members are. Now he's talking like he grew up in the streets like Ino or me.

"How did you know Sakura and the Uchihas would travel to Sunagakure?" Sasori asked without regard to the statement Deidara had just made.

Something flashed across the man's blue eyes for just a millisecond, but he quickly tucked it away so he could glare and spit out some insults at us all. Maybe I'm crazy, which is a severe possibility considering I saw things in the bathroom upstairs earlier, but it looked like guilt or hurt. My eyes danced between Sasori and the blonde man a few times as the questioning continued, but I didn't say anything.

After a few minutes, it became clear that Deidara wouldn't answer anything willingly. I was advised to go back upstairs unless I wanted to witness a more brutal approach to getting some information.

Matsuri pulled me along as she led me up the stairs and out of the castle so we could stroll casually through the windy streets of Sunagakure and catch up. Kankuro joined us. Everyone else remained downstairs to aid in getting Deidara to break and spill any and all info he may have about Amegakure.

"I've been awaiting your visit for so long. I'm delighted to see you again and turned at that!"

The soon-to-be queen of Suna held my hand in hers, a pretty smile on her lips as she glanced at me with sparkling eyes. A blush dusted my face, partly because of her overwhelming love of physical affection and partly because of the blazing sun and heat.

"You're even more stunning than the last time we met. I must say, I'm quite jealous of your fair skin and hair."

I shook my head, squeezing her hand shyly, "Don't be. You're beautiful, Matsuri."

She grinned more widely, "And you're just as kind as I remember, too. Thanks to you, Lord Gaara took a chance on me."

I glanced at Suna's prince, who winked flirtatiously before lowering my voice, "You still call him "Lord Gaara"?"

Kankuro chuckled, responding for her, "Yet another cultural difference between our cities, Goddess. Gaara would see it as offensive if she referred to him any other way until they're officially married." My mouth made an "O" shape, and I nodded in understanding.

No wonder she thought something was happening between us the last time I was here. I called the king solely by his first name a handful of times without knowing it was even more casual than I thought.

The three of us walked silently for a few minutes, greeting the few who approached us. As I glanced over at the two welcoming hosts, I mulled over whether or not I should ask them about what I noticed down in the dungeon.

Matsuri noticed and smiled encouragingly, "Please, if there's something on your mind, I'll gladly lend an ear."

Once we were further away from citizens who might overhear, I hypothetically took a step off the ledge, "Is it just me, or was there something weird about Sasori and Deidara?"

The two looked at one another knowingly before she replied, "Sometimes I forget that you've been in the company of the royal family for less than two years. The bonds of many famous vampires are known, Sasori and Deidara included."

I could've stopped in my tracks and let my jaw hit the ground. "What! Those two are..?"

Kankuro nodded and picked up where Matsuri had left off, "Deidara is Sasori's master."

Confused, I shook my head, "If that's true, how come he didn't just glow him to-"

"The fledgling isn't the only one affected by the bond. The master grows more fond as well."

Now it makes sense, the look on Deidara's face earlier. He knew that if he forced Sasori to try and free him, the redhead would be in danger because everyone would try to stop him, so he chose to sit there and take it instead. Sasori's face is so stoic all the time that I couldn't see it, but I can just imagine how hard it was for him to hurt his master like that.

Since I've grown to know him better, I understand why he's doing it, too. He's said more than once in my presence that when he makes a promise, he keeps it. He swore his allegiance to me if I helped him kill Hidan and if I inherited Kaguya's power. This is his twisted way of proving his sincerity.

"Can we go back now?" I asked, feeling guilty. I have to tell him to stop and let one of the others do it. Sure, his master will still be hurt, but at least he won't have to be the one dishing out the torture.

"Of course! Are you feeling too warm? I've never visited another city, but I'm told the weather is milder." I nodded with a frown, glad Matsuri had found an excuse for me.

As we walked, she surprised me with a swift turn of conversation, "On the topic of masters and bonds, my apologies if this question makes you uncomfortable, but why have you not accepted one of your masters?"

Rather than blush harder, the blood left my face as I struggled to find a response.

"Matsu, my queen, I told you that Konoha doesn't typically practice polygamy," Kankuro drawled in a playful tone.

The woman gasped, turning her pretty brown eyes onto me, "Oh, I'm sorry I forgot! So the bond must be difficult for the three of you?"

Sighing in defeat, I nodded, deciding to be honest since neither of the men in question was here to listen, "I don't know what to do. It feels wrong to look at anyone but Sasuke but also wrong to reject Madara."

Rather than offer me some sympathy or encouragement, Matsuri seemed to genuinely assume I was much more confident in my sexuality than I am, "Well, now's the perfect time for you to accept him finally! You're in a city where polygamy is expected. I recall seeing both of your masters partake in the past, so I'm sure they'll make you quite comfortable."

Kankuro burst into laughter as my skin got so hot it felt like it was about to catch fire, "You didn't have to tell her that! Now she's going to be worried about it."

I shook my head, wiping some sweat off my brow as I pointedly avoided both of their eye contacts, "No… I already knew about that. Ino told me."

The Suna prince flirted shamelessly, "I'll gladly help you get back at them if you want to experience an outside partner for yourself." An irritated groan left my lips, only making him laugh harder.

~

When we returned to the castle, the torture had already been stopped for the day because Deidara had fainted. After dinner, everyone left for dessert except for Sasuke and me, dessert being blood and maybe more, to my mortification. However, it left us with the opportunity for some one on one time for the first time in days.

I thought we'd jump right into it the moment we returned to the bedroom, but I was surprised when Sasuke stood to face me instead. "Have you thought about what happened?" I knew immediately that he meant in the cave when the three of us were seconds away from doing something we could never undo.

"Sasuke, I already said I can't do that to you."

Those gorgeous dark eyes searched mine for a moment, and he seemed like he wanted to say something else, but instead, he simply nodded his head in quiet acceptance.

So, he pulled me closer so he could lean down and press his lips to mine. Slowly, the kiss deepened until it was almost frantic, and my fingers fumbled to unbutton his shirt. It's been two days, plural, since we've been able to do this, the most extended amount of time since I was turned. My body's desperate for him, like he's food and I'm starving.

Sasuke matched my level of passion quickly, and the moment my top was removed, my back hit the wall. He tore my skirt by accident as he moved it out of the way so he could slide my underwear down, and I unbuckled and slid his belt out of its loops, letting it fall to the ground as I moved onto his pants.

The moment it was possible, Sasuke bent down to pick me up, and my legs bent over his arms as he pressed inside me. Sinking my teeth into his shoulder felt as natural as can be when he shoved against me so hard that it almost hurt.

He froze so I could drink as though reading my mind and knowing I needed him to. Slight sounds of pleasure escaped me with my desperate pants of breath between mouthfuls of the flavorful liquid; I shoved my wrist up so he could bite into it.

After a moment, it seemed he couldn't resist anymore and began moving inside me. I removed my teeth from his skin and moaned in shock, holding his shoulder with my free hand as my body rocked with each thrust. Those glowing red eyes locked onto mine, turning me on further somehow.

When he found that oh-so-sweet spot deep inside me, I saw stars and found it hard to keep my voice down. He apparently realized that and adjusted my weight so he could carry me across the room and sit on the edge of the bed. My knees hit the mattress, and I immediately began moving my hips.

After a moment, he closed the bite mark on my wrist and released it so he could wrap his arm around my waist and aid me in moving up and down on his lap, our chests pressed together. A frantic sound rumbled through my chest, and I came forward slightly so I could bury my teeth into his neck, delicious satisfaction filling me when a rare moan emitted from Sasuke's throat.

My insides spasmed around him when he began hitting that same spot repeatedly until I was thrown right over the edge. He followed me soon after, and then we were under the covers cuddling and basking in the post-sex calm of the room. I lay across his chest with one of my legs hooked between his as he danced his fingers slowly over my lower back. The blanket was down at my hips.

"Do you think you'll fall asleep tonight?" I wasn't the only one to receive injuries this morning. Both Sasuke and Madara took their share of hits.

He made some non-committal sound that meant he wasn't sure. The room was silent again.

You'd think after all the craziness we've endured the past few weeks, we'd have a lot to talk about now that we're alone, but you'd be wrong. It's not necessary.

He knows how awful I feel about all this bond business with Madara. He also knows I'm just as afraid of his uncle as I am tempted. Above all else, Sasuke knows I love him so much that I'm willing to do anything to ensure his safety, even if it means throwing my life on the line.

On the other side, I've picked up on the fact that he, too, has begun feeling the effects of the bond with Madara. That means he's unintentionally warming up to the idea of accepting it but won't do anything about it unless I come to feel the same way.

All of this feels so incredibly taboo. I mean, Madara is his uncle. Apparently, this situation, where masters are related, is relatively common. In fact, in most cases where there are two of them, they're family. Even Izumi's masters, Kagami and Shisui, are grandfather and grandson.

"Sasuke…"

The prince made another sound, his chest vibrating under my cheek.

I hesitated momentarily before finally asking the question that's been on my mind since what happened in that cave yesterday, "Do you think I'm overreacting to all this?"

He didn't respond for a very long time. So long, in fact, I was tempted to pull back and look at his face but didn't. When he did finally answer me, his voice was quiet and almost timid, "It depends on who you ask."

Then I did sit up, propping my chin atop my arm, "I'm asking you."

When he simply searched my face in silence, his expression increasingly guarded by the second, I began sensing an odd vibe. Sitting up on my knees, one of them between his legs, I let the blanket lay at my hips, "What do you want to do, Sasuke? I can't believe I haven't asked this yet."

He allowed his dark eyes to dance over my naked body, jaw flexing stressfully, "I'm content with whatever you choose."

I shook my head with tears, "Disregard how I feel and tell me, honestly, what you really want." I've been so selfish. I've been so focused on how this affects me that I haven't thought much about his opinion. How awful.

Truth be told, I was stunned beyond relief when he admitted to not being wholly opposed to the idea, but now I'm not sure if he was holding back for my sake. What if he's been keeping his urges and desires to himself? I promised him long before I was turned that he'd never have to do such a thing with me, even if it meant he wanted us to go our separate ways.

"I want it to have been anyone except him."

My tears overflowed, and I wiped slowly at them as we stared at one another in sad silence. Long fingers brushed against the bare skin of my waist as he wordlessly tried to offer me some comfort in my mental distress. With a shake of my head, I began forcing my despaired emotions to take a backseat. Maybe it's time I take a page from my sister's book and loosen the reins.

I took a slow, deep breath, "I want you to choose what we do."

He sat up, a slightly confused expression on his flawless face, "...No."

I raised my hands against his chest and kissed him quickly before shaking my head again, "Ever since we met, you've been the one compromising, so now it's my turn."

His brow furrowed in disbelief.

"I'm serious, Sasuke. From now on, tell me what you really want, okay?"

Sure, he's come to disagree with me on many things and didn't shy away from making it known, but those were things very un-similar to what we're facing now. Regarding our relationship, both the physical and the not, I've almost solely been the one setting boundaries or choosing which lines to cross, and he hasn't complained once. That needs to change, or he'll end up suffocating, and I'll feel too guilty to remain by his side.

"Okay."

His low timbre tore me from my anxious thoughts, and my face warmed with adoration at the warm aura in his eyes. I accepted a slew of affectionate kisses from the prince before he pulled back, "I want to think about it."

I nodded, pushing his hair out of his face to see it better, "Do that, then."