Duality
Chapter Two
-Beckoning-
Gaara stared at himself in his mirror. It had been nearly four days since his trip into what he now referred to as the Underworld. He leaned closer to his reflection, his gaze narrowing. "What are you waiting for?" he whispered harshly. "Bring me back already. It's what you want isn't it?" he said harshly.
When nothing happened, the king let out a defeated sigh. He walked out of his bathroom, blowing out the candles, though he stopped in the doorway and glanced back. Through the smoke of the candles he could have sworn he saw a dark smile.
He shook his head and continued forward, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword. He had a feeling about tonight, and thus he had dressed in something more fit for a fight. He had on black pants and brown leather boots that stopped at his knees. His shirt was also black and long sleeved, and he had a brown belt strung across his waist to hold his sword.
He went to his bed after blowing out the candles and lay there, waiting for something to happen, but as the minutes turned to hours, Gaara grew angry. "Just take me already!" he demanded, turning on his side and glaring at the wall as he closed his eyes.
He hadn't realized it, but the darkness in his eyes seemed to change and the next time he opened them, he was once more in the dungeon. This time though, he was before a door with a massive design on the front that looked like a seal. It had crescent moons drawn into the wood, and the heavy oak doors looked old and forced shut.
"Hello?" he called, walking towards the door, though the closer he got the colder his body felt.
Come to me…open the doors… That same, velvety voice whispered across his mind. And I will help you defeat all of your enemies…
"You mean the pink haired witch?" Gaara asked, placing his hand on the door and watching as frost began to creep up his skin.
Everyone… the being promised. But before Gaara could do more he was ripped back from the wood by an unknown force, and suspended in the air.
I don't think so… The feminine voice from the time before said. He's mine Kai…not yours…
No!
And the next thing Gaara knew he was flying through the corridors, so quickly that he couldn't tell where exactly he was going. That is, until he entered the familiar throne room, where Sakura and her subjects were. "Well, well, well, it seems you missed me." the pink haired queen smirked, walking up to the suspended redhead. "Did I leave that much of an impression on you?" she asked, stroking his cheek lightly. Today she was in a black dress that was similar to the first, only it tied behind her neck and dipped low in the back, and her arms were completely bare.
Gaara blinked, trying to jar himself from the vertigo he was feeling. He shook his head finally and met her green gaze. "I wouldn't exactly say miss, but something to that derogative I'm sure." He smirked.
She chuckled. "You shouldn't play the games you're trying…it can only lead to disaster." She warned, beginning to walk away from him. "Though your attempts are quite amusing."
"My attempt hasn't even started yet." He corrected. "Besides, I was in the middle of making a deal."
Sakura stopped in her tracks and looked back at him over her shoulder, her emerald gaze hard. "A deal that no doubt would have ended in ruin." She said sharply, going back to her throne. She raised her hand, making Gaara follow after her and halt at the bottom of the steps. She sat down then, facing him. "So now the question is…what to do with you?" the demoness wondered, rubbing her chin.
"You could always let me go." Gaara smirked. "You know, since you've got a thing for me and all."
She laughed softly. "Oh Gaara, you're cute, but not as cute as you think. Not to mention you're a human. And humans are just…disgusting." She said, her nose scrunching up slightly. The other demons in the room either laughed or nodded in agreement with her.
"Well, I mean no disrespect, but you look pretty darn humanoid yourself. Unless that's just a disguise and you're really a gross old monster…though with as big as that forehead is, I guess that's where all the excess is." He chuckled.
The queen's expression instantly turned serious as her jaw clenched. "Uh huh…" she said lowly, her left eye beginning to twitch. Everyone glanced between the two, seeming to be wary of their leader's demeanor.
Gaara reached into his pocket and pulled out some shimmering dust. He tossed it on himself and fell to the floor, steadying himself as he drew his sword and pointed it at her in challenge. "I came prepared this time."
She arched a delicate brow, not seeming worried in the least. "So you mean to kill me? After the kindness I showed you last time?" she asked. "How rude. I would think a king to have better manners than this, though as humans are not as evolved as we are, I suppose your loutish ways are somewhat understandable." She sighed, beginning to look at her nails. "You should put that away before you make me really angry. I'm only willing to humor you for so long."
"I don't like the idea of you demons so close to my kingdom. I've fought a great number in my day, but none like you…so you'll have to forgive my weariness." He smirked. "And I'm not afraid of you, I am aware of the fact you use magic. But I do have some counters for it."
Her emerald gaze met his once more. "I am aware of your so called counters for my abilities." She said. "But if you think that is all I can do, then you insult me." she smirked, standing from her seat and walking down one step, until she was before the tip of his blade. She reached out and touched a finger to it, the metal beginning to heat up and turn red. "What was your plan? Stab me in front of my subjects?" she wondered, gripping the blade then and watching as its metal began to drip onto the steps as it melted.
"Not precisely." He smirked, jerking his sword away from her and wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her against him as he pressed his blade into her back, looking around and daring any of them to move.
Everyone in the room appeared alarmed, but Sakura just began to laugh. "Oh, you are so much more fun than I thought you would be!" she said in delight. Her form began to shimmer then, before suddenly melting into a puddle on the floor. It moved away from the redhead, reforming back into the pink haired queen. "Alright, playtime is over." She waved him off. "It's time for you to go home." She snapped and four of the guards ran at Gaara, divesting him of his weapon as they grabbed a hold of him to restrain him.
Gaara growled, trying to break free from the demons, but their sheer strength was much more than he possessed. He looked forward, meeting her gaze. "Your name…Sakura right?" he huffed. "At least tell me this…our worlds are connected right? How and why?" he ordered. "From a ruler to a ruler, I deserve to know where this place is."
"Well…technically, we live below your kingdom." Sakura told him, walking back over to where he was. "But you would not be able to reach us by any amount of digging. The way is a secret, one in which I will not tell you. As for the why of it…it's a long, ancient story." The brightness in her eyes dimmed slightly, as if she were remembering something sad. Then it disappeared as quickly as it had come. "One in which I do not feel like telling. So when you return home, you should just try and forget about this place. It really is for the best." She nodded, reaching up and patting his cheek. "And ignore anything odd that happens. It will stop eventually, once He has given up."
"Who is He?" the redhead asked, only looking lost.
"The one who keeps bringing you here." She said. "Do not pay him any mind, and He will leave you alone. You're only making it worse, what with your little display earlier about wanting to be taken here." She shook her head, a small smirk coming to her face. "Really Gaara…I thought you had a bit more dignity than that."
Gaara glared at her. "How does that have anything to do with my dignity? I see him in my reflection." He frowned.
She shrugged. "Stay away from mirrors for a while." She said simply, reaching out and gripping his chin. "Now, this time when I send you home, stay there." She instructed, pressing her lips against his in the same manner she had done the first night.
This time, Gaara actually kissed her back. "I wouldn't count on it Queenie." He smirked before he fell unconscious.
Sakura blinked, a small blush coming to her cheeks at his actions. "Um…take him back." She instructed the guards, walking up the steps towards her throne. It slid out of the way then, revealing a tunnel. "I'm going to retire to my chambers for a while. Do not disturb me."
"Yes Majesty." Everyone nodded, going about their tasks. All but one dark demon, who followed after her.
She sighed, closing her eyes for a brief moment. "I said not to disturb me." she repeated, not even looking at the man as the tunnel opened up into a large dome-like room. In the center was a large bed, made up of furs and soft silky pillows. Off to the right was a pool, where the pink haired demoness bathed, and a wardrobe was next to it, housing her clothes. On the other side of her bed was a vanity, set up with different oils and perfumes for her to use to get ready. And on the same wall as the door was a small station set up for the queen's alchemy, where she could perform and prepare various spells.
"You are letting him get to you." Sasuke said, ignoring her words and want for solitude. "He's just a human, why do you give him the freedom you have?"
Sakura walked straight over to her vanity and sat down on the stool before it, gazing in the glass at her reflection. "Because he is special." She told him, picking up her comb and beginning to brush out her pink locks. "Killing him is not in the stars."
Sasuke scoffed. "Special? A human king? He's nothing but a sack of meat with a pointy stick."
Her emerald gaze hardened and she glared into the mirror at him. "Do not speak in such ways around me, am I clear?" she asked harshly. "I know what I am doing Sasuke. Do you doubt me?" she arched a brow at him.
He shook his head. "No Highness." He said, placing his hands on her shoulders and beginning to rub them to try and soothe her. "I am merely concerned with how easily you let him go, on both occasions."
"Well," she breathed out, relaxing in his hold and relishing what his fingers were doing to her muscles. "It was not his fault that Kai brought him here that first time. And he is a king. I must have a better reason than the ones he has presented me with to kill him and destroy a line of royals. His kingdom would erupt into anarchy."
"Who cares? They are just humans, and do not affect us." The raven haired demon said, moving a bit lower to rub at her collarbone.
Sakura chuckled softly. "Oh, but we are all connected. If something happens in their world, it could affect ours. Everything must stay balanced." She frowned, standing quickly and facing the demon, making him lower his hands. "Sasuke, I am not in the mood to continuously stop your advances." She said, since the demon had been trying to slide his hands down to her chest only moments ago. "I already told you that I am perfectly capable of seeking out my own partners, and do not appreciate your disregard for my rules."
"But Sakura," Sasuke smirked slightly, placing his hand on her hip and pulling her to him. "It would do you wonders to relieve some of your stress. I only want to help my queen." He purred, nuzzling her as his hand slid down to grab her rear.
She stiffened, pushing him away and slapping him hard across the face. "Get out!" she yelled, another element of power coming to her voice as it boomed and echoed throughout the entire room. "Go back to your post, before I decide to do something rash in order to teach you that I mean what I say!"
He nodded stiffly, holding a hand to the cheek she had struck, since she had seared the flesh there. "Yes Majesty." He said, turning on his heel and leaving her chambers.
Sakura waited until she knew he had gone, before turning and laying her head on the stone of her dresser. She needed to be more careful around him, because that was the most forward he had ever been with her yet. Perhaps in her displays of mercy towards Gaara, she was giving him, and everyone else, the impression that she was soft. But that was not the case. It just wasn't her destiny to kill the handsome redhead.
When she sat up, it was to meet a set of amused amber eyes. "Oh shut up." She hissed, getting up and walking away. She went over to her bed and crawled onto the plush pile, pulling a pillow over and wrapping her arms around it. She just needed to sleep. Once she was well rested, she could resume her duties, and put thoughts of that meddling human out of her mind.
