Chapter IV: What a party…

The House at night was always beautiful, the warm glow of the lights and walls made you feel so comfortable and it really was like being in a desert, minus the hot climate. I stared at myself in the mirror, biting my lip and dully twirling the end of my hair in my fingers. Ino had given me a simple white dress to wear, one that had a see through floral print that exposed my shoulders and hugged my chest. The hem fanned out, ending a little above my knees, and the cute white sandals fit snuggly.

I felt that I looked drab, nothing special, just that I was there, in a dress. I looked around the room, my eyes falling on a small white headband with simple tiny bow. I picked it up, tucking it into my hair, my bangs being pulled back exposing my forehead and making my eyes seem bigger. I stood there practicing different smiles before I gave up and laughed. A dress can't just suddenly change the fact that you're pretty much a harbinger of death… I shrugged and looked myself over one more time, before exiting the room.

The house was full of music, and chatter… It made me nervous to go down the stairs. Not only was it Gaara's return, but Christmas was next week so they figured they would throw it all together in one. Naruto had told me that other people would be coming beside the House residents, friends from other Houses and people who we're normal childhood friends. I suddenly felt like the dress was too short and the shoes were too tight. I stood at the top, looking over the railing, gathering up what little courage I could to go down there and cling to the closest person I could find.

We never had parties at the House of Night, or in my actual home, well the short time that I lived there. I was seven years old when my mother gave me up to Orochimaru, I remembered the grateful face she wore the day he showed up on the doorstep, and how despite my crying she didn't take me back. I guess that's what you do when your shunned for having a cursed child who basically predicts when someone is going to die by wailing uncontrollably.

'It's alright mom…' I think, gripping the railing, 'I forgave you a long time ago.' I close my eyes and take a deep breath, before slowly breathing out. It's a beautiful party, no need for tears now.

"Aren't you going to go down?" I perked up at the familiar voice, Temari was standing behind me in a purple, sultry looking gown. Her hair was pulled up in a neat bun on top of her head making her eyes look sharper and more beautiful than anything. It seemed good looks ran in her family…

"I was, umm… Readying myself I guess. Never been to a party to be honest." She laughed and came to my side, overlooking the people below.

"It's not hard, you just go down and talk to people." She smiled, "I got you a present by the way." She handed me the small box she was carrying, it was white with a small pink ribbon.

"But I didn't get anything for you…" I apologized quietly, holding the small box.

"No need, having you here is enough. You girls keep me alive, I wanted sisters and got stuck with not one, but two brothers! Felt like I was being punished…" she grinned, "Open it."

I did as she said and slid the ribbon from the box, opening it to reveal a silver necklace and charm. I loved it. It was so simple and pretty, like a night star and hanging from it was the small tornado shape that everyone had tattooed on their skin. The symbol of the House of Wind. I looked up at her, biting my lip and felt my eyes watering.

"Glad you like it. I know it's not official, which is why it's just a necklace, but you belong here Sakura. You belong to us, and this symbol will let everyone know that." She stared me in the eyes and I knew she meant the House of Night. She gently took the necklace out and put it on me, as she whispered in my ear.

"You're a hero Sakura, what better place to be, than a House of Hero's…" she pulled back and smiled and I flung my arms around her, hugging her tightly. The first real contact I had besides my situation with Gaara the other day. She hugged me back and patted my head, making feel like a small child. "Let's get going, shall we?" She linked her arm in mine and we walked down the stairs together. She was only a couple years older than me, but watching her in the way she moved, the way she spoke, in some way she reminded me of a mother and I wished that I could become like her one day…

Downstairs, we headed over to the main half where most the people we're. There was people doing small tricks with their abilities, people eating and people just dancing together. The lights, sounds and the general mood was amazing and it had my heart racing. I didn't really get it, but more people than I would have liked kept staring at me, I nervously touched the necklace, or smoothed my hair keeping up with Temari through the crowd. At one point in time, I got separated thanks to this group of boys that had apparently bet on who could jump higher and were racing outside, most likely abilities we're involved. I moved away from the crowd and stood near the wall, watching everyone.

"Sa-ku-ra…" I heard Kankuro call from behind me, causing me to jump. He grinned and held out a drink to me, "Why are you over here alone?" I liked Kankuro in a way that I felt he looked out for everyone. Whether it be Naruto forgetting a jacket, taking Akamaru on a walk for Kiba, or even just helping with general things around the house. He seemed like he an idiot, but an Idiot with a big heart, it made me comfortable around him.

"Ah, just got separated from Temari is all. There is a lot of people here." I took a sip of the drink, a fruity juice with a hint of something warm that lingered on my tongue.

Naruto yelled form the middle of the dance floor, he and Kiba having a dance battle, the shirts unbuttoned and ties loosened. I smiled and watched them.

"Well, I'm not much for dancing, but I don't mind if you don't." he offered me a smile and held out his hand, I laughed and shook my head. "Why not." I replied, wanting to break out of the shell that I felt was holding me back.

We swung out onto the dance floor together, seeing small splashes of blond and raven as Hinata and Ino jumped to the booming music. Kankuro twirled me around, and the people's faces became like a blur. I looked up as we danced and twirled with another spin, a splash of red catching my eyes from the balcony. Another quick spin and I was tilting my head back, looking for the splash of red again, and I gasped quietly as his eyes met mine, the corner of his mouth twitching into somewhat of a smirk. The dance ended and I quickly looked up to see he was gone, wondering if the small smirk was just a figment of my imagination.

I smiled at Kankuro and thanked him for the dance as the lights dimmed and a slow song began to hum. He shrugged at me offering his hand, I laughed and took it as we once again swept through the dance floor. Two turns and three steps in, someone behind us cleared his throat, asking to cut in, my heart felt like it could stop. Kankuro grinned and handed me off to the next dancer, a smooth hand slid into mine as the other found the small of my back, pulling me closer.

His eyes couldn't have been brighter, the dim glow sharpening his features. My steps became clumsy and I felt like my hands were sweating. He danced with ease, his lead flowing and strong, making it easier for me to keep up despite the current crisis my body was going through. The man I was dancing with, wearing his red shirt and vest, the black slacks and white tie… Was too beautiful in this moment. I kept my eyes on his tie, afraid that I would do something stupid if I looked up into his gaze and the heat of his touch was beginning to be too much to bear.

He leaned down, his lips barely a hair form my ear, making my heart leap.

"You look beautiful…" he breathed, his eyes found the necklace around my neck and then they were meeting mine before he twirled me around. I could feel the heat of my blush on my cheeks and hoped that he would think it was from the dancing.

As he brought me back to him, I managed to stutter out a quiet thank you and the corner of his mouth twitched into a smile once more. I stopped and stared at him, catching his attention.

"You're beautiful…" The words left my mouth before I could stop them and my hand flew from his shoulder to my mouth too late to cover it. I was so embarrassed as he stood there for a moment staring at me with wide eyes… And then he laughed. It was so quiet, almost inaudible, but he laughed and then a small grin over took his face almost mirroring Temari's. I knew my face was red, how could it not be for saying something so outrageous. I couldn't help myself, everything about him was beautiful, strong and just amazing. He took my hand once more and we resumed dancing, his hand pulling me closer and for a moment, everything seemed perfect.

Until… That familiar, aching feeling began to creep up my throat, the small burning rising and rising and I gripped his shoulder. Biting my lip, I began looking around the room frantically. I felt him gently shake me, asking me what was wrong.

"I… Can't- "my voice was strangled, "Danger…" I gripped his shoulder, hoping he would understand. He nodded and began looking around, trying to pin point someone or something. The burning was growing and I left his side, I had to find the source, someone here was going to die, and I had to save them. That's when I looked up, hearing a laugh come from the dining table as Temari smacked Shikamaru's shoulder, laughing at something he said. It was her, something was going to happen, I had to get to her.

I scrambled towards her pushing people aside, knocking a platter from someone's hands, the loud clatter bringing attention. Temari was seated under the window, and in my shadow of the trees a giant creature lurked. My voice broke out as I was wailing, running through the crowd, tears falling down my cheeks, catching other's attention. I watched as the figure jumped from the tree, the windows shattering above Temari and Shikamaru as the large creature, fangs and claws targeted them for his landing. One jump, one more push, I closed my eyes and leaped through the air, my arms catching something and a great pressure falling on me.

Everything went quiet, no wails and no screams echoed through the room. My eyes we're squeezed shut and I was holding onto something for dear life, while my back felt like it was going to break. For a second I was ready to die… If she was safe, I could die… If I managed to save her, I would be happy. Another good person would live, another friend would see tomorrow and Gaara wouldn't lose his sister… And then the pressure was gone, and someone was screaming.

My eyes opened to the start of chaos as people were running for the doors as ability holders dressed in black entered through the broken glass. I looked to the side at Temari under my arm, and Shikamaru under the other, he was calling out to Temari who was unresponsive. I got up, my arms bleeding from different cuts, the weight gone and shook her, calling out. Her eyes fluttered open as she looked at me with a small grin. "Hero…" she stated softly as I hugged her tightly causing her to groan, I let her go immediately as an ability holder was falling right towards us. A dark thing stretched out and caught him in mid-air, immobilizing him.

"I got him, just get her up." Shikamaru called as he stared at the guy in mid-air, it was strange how it seemed like their shadows became one. I helped Temari up and ran over to a small corner. She clicked her tongue and wiped the blood from the cut on her face, "Party-poopers." She spat, getting up to her feet. I joined her, and watched as people bearing the brand of the House of Night came crashing through the window and doors.

"Amateurs…" she stated, as a giant wave of sand flooded through the room, sweeping them up and flinging back out of the window. Gaara stood there in the middle of the room, a look of distaste and annoyance on his face. He looked towards Temari, and then nodded to me before another pillar of sand swirled through the room. Temari and I ran across the sand, jumping over knocked down chairs and avoiding large pieces of broken glass.

"They're here for you?" Temari asked me, grabbing her large fan from the corner of the room.

"He doesn't like it when his belongings are taken…" I answered back, the annoyance in my own voice surprising me.

"Tch. You don't belong to anyone." Temari growled before flinging herself onto a pillar of sand, a wave from her fan forcing the rest of the windows to shatter towards the outside of the house. I watched as the ability holders in the house took up arms, fighting the ability holder's flooding into the House. I hopped on top of a table, searching the room, there was about ten Naruto's yelling and taking on different guys, Kiba had already taken over his beast form and was running around outside, clearing the yard, while Neji and Hinata fought side by side, crippling the people who attacked them.

Ino stood across the room, holding her hand out, people falling one by one to their knees. Her face seemed pain, her other hand holding her rib cage. I jumped from the table and began running towards her, dodging people and items that we're being thrown. A man I recognized from the House of Night started running towards me, he swung his ragged sword towards me and I slid to my knees watching the blade barely miss my nose. Jumping up I staggered and began running again, barreling into the group of men surrounding Ino, catching them off guard. The impact of my small body against theirs hurt, a lot, but I wasn't about to let it stop me. I jumped up, kicking away the hands that reached for me, and grabbed Ino by the arm

, her weight leaning on me.

"Thanks…" she breathed, her hand covered in blood. I put her arm over my shoulder and hugged her to my side, quickly stumbling through the broken chairs, trying to get away from the men. I lost my balance as we we're lifted into the air by a floating mound of sand, I looked over the edge meeting Gaara's eyes, his hand raised in our direction.

"That won't stop me!" Another familiar face shouted, a man jumped up, his large sword ready to swing. I covered Ino with my body, ready for the slice… That never came. A Howl sounded as a large white dog went colliding with the man knocking him and his sword away. Two Naruto's leaped onto the mound, grabbed me and Ino and jumped onto the balcony nearby.

As we landed, he gently eased Ino against the wall before jumping back down, the second Naruto staying beside us, tending to Ino's wound. I looked over the edge and found Gaara with Temari by his side, giving orders to everyone to get to the side of the House we were on. I watched as the members and house guests ran and helped each other to the other side of the House.

Temari held her fan back, exposing it completely and drew back… With a loud cry, she swung it wildly in front of her, two large tornados erupting out of nowhere as Gaara raised his hands, a wall of sand separating us from them and the invaders. I watched, waiting for some feeling to emerge, or a burning ache, surely someone was going too… I shook my head, 'Don't think like that Sakura.' I turned to check on Ino and Naruto… Or Naruto's copy. Kiba was by her side and she was holding her wrapped-up ribs, but all in all she seemed fine and she sent a grateful smile in my direction. Everyone seemed to be O.K. getting away with minor scratches and cuts.

I glanced back towards the large wall of sand, and felt a leaping sensation as it began to dissolve back to the floor, revealing a very triumphant Temari and a disgruntled Gaara. The room was clear, broken glass and sand littering the floor, and no sign of the intruders at all. The whole House and Myself erupted in a cheer as we raised our hands to them, I found Gaara staring at me and I offered him a big smile and a nod. He nodded back, and smirked, Temari clapping him on the back. So, this is what it meant to be a House Head, they were amazing… but something didn't sit well with me. Neither Sasuke or Orochimaru were here tonight, their absence meant that this attack wasn't a big deal. What were they planning?