One day late. Sorry. I also hope the spelling/grammar isn't too bad. I didn't read over it more than once.

Chapter 9

Compromises

She couldn't breathe. Maybe because those eyes of his were boring into her. Or, more likely, because his hand was gripping her throat and he had started to squeeze. It was over before she could blink.

"My Lady!"

His hand vanished from her throat instantly. She felt herself sink slowly to the ground as everything went a little hazy. She could hear a deep growling not far away from her. Gaara, she presumed.

The other voice she recognized as the Kazekage. "Lay another hand on her and you will be put to death!"

Gaara snickered. "Wouldn't dream of it, My Lord."

"Get to your cell! Now! Guards!"

Sakura managed to speak out then. "No…" Her voice trailed as a whisper.

Then the Kazekage's surprised voice. "What? But, My Lady-"

"No cell," She murmured, trying to get her strength back and sit up again.

"But-"

"No cell." She repeated, shakily rising to her feet. She heard the Kazekage sigh and then the guards arrive. He waved them off.

"Fine. Have it your way. And you! Get out of my sight!" He barked at Gaara.

"Gladly!" The red head spat back, turning to leave. Just before he walked away he grabbed Sakura's arm again, yanking her towards him and once again whispering harshly in her ear.

"You're going to regret not locking me up when you had the chance. The next time you get in my way again, I will kill you."

Then he was gone, walking down the hall and out of sight before even the Kazekage had a chance to act. Sakura fell to her knees again, in total shock. The next thing she knew she was being supported by the Kazakage as he led her away.

Then she was in the Kazakage's study, seated on the couch in one corner of the dark room.

"I fear your kindness will one day be the death of you," He sighed. Then he sat behind his desk and took off his hat and mask to rub his face as if tired.

"I'm sorry," she said weakly, trying to sit up and regain her strength.

"It's not your fault. You're just kind, like your mother was. Always so kind…" He paused for a moment, looking down at his paperwork. "Why on earth were you wandering around on your own anyway?"

Sakura thought back, trying to remember. "I… was coming to see you."

"Ah," He almost chuckled, waking over to the light switch and bathing his office in light. "Then how may I be of assistance to you?" He turned to face her.

Sakura couldn't answer him. She simply stared.

The Kazekage gave her a puzzled look. "What's wrong, My Lady? You look somewhat frightened."

"You…" she tried to speak. "You look just like Gaara."

The Kazekage glanced in the small stand up mirror on his desk. His hair was dark red with perhaps a little more brown in it than what Gaara had. He had green eyes, lacking the small flakes of blue Gaara had in his. Like the boy he did have black rings around his lower lid, though they weren't nearly as large and dark and they were absent on his upper lids. His skin was pale and overall there was little difference between the structure of his nose, chin, and cheek bones and that of Sakura's protector's.

He smirked. "I suppose so, but being related will often make two people look alike."

Sakura's eyes widened. "You're related to Gaara?"

The Kazekage frowned. "My genetic material was used to create his physical being, yes, but he is far from my son. My real son was killed at birth so that his body could be used as a vessel for Gaara."

The conversation Sakura had had with Naruto came back to her, about he and the other protectors were created...

"Oh," Sakura said dumbly, unable to think of a different reply.

The Kazekage smiled at her. "Now that that's out of the way, what was it you were going to say?"

Sakura thought back, trying to remember. "Oh yes. Kazekage-sama-"

"Zurui." He cut her off.

"Excuse me?" She questioned.

"You may call me Zurui. After all, you are my superior, My Lady." He smiled.

"It's Sakura." She replied back with her own smile.

"Sakura-sama." The Kazekage bowed his head slight. "What was it you wished to speak with me about?"

She bit her lip and blushed slightly. "I… I wanted to apologize for my behavior and brunch. I was far too forward."

The Kazakage snickered slightly. "There is no need to apologize, My Princess. It was I who was out of line, undermining your authority. If anyone should be asking for forgiveness it should be me. Forgive me." He bowed his head again.

"But… But…"

"Sakura-sama," He smiled at her. "As I said, you are my superior. It is I who must listen to you, not the other way around. However, I would appreciate it if from now on we could discuss matters before you make your final decision."

Sakura felt her heart lift slightly. "Very well Zurui-sama, then may I discuss a matter with you presently?"

He sat down behind his desk, motioning to the chair in front of him. "But of course."

"It's about Jouhin and… Gaara." She watched his face become grave, but went on. "I… don't care very much for the way they are treated here in Suna. They're my protectors, after all, not slaves.

"Back in Konoha, Naruto was… free. He could go where he wanted and do what he wanted. He wasn't… restrained. And he was trusted. There was no need to have people to guard someone who was supposed to be guarding me."

The Kazekage listened with a stern face, folding his hands together. "I understand what you are saying. Perhaps we have been a little overly cautious with Jouhin. She has always been trustworthy and without suspicion. I suppose we could remove her collar… but to say she is treated like a slave… She is given food and living quarters. Plenty of freedom."

"Then why doesn't it feel that way?"

Zurui pursed his lips together. "Perhaps you do not understand. No one can be completely free. Even your Naruto is not such. He is your slave in a since, no matter what you want to believe. He cannot have a life, cannot go off and pressure a dream and have a family and do anything that his heart desires. He is tied to you, permanently, and will forever have the obligation of putting you first. Even if you sent him away, set him free, he could still not be relinquished from the contract he has been under since before he was born. He must protect you from now until the day he dies."

Sakura was… shocked. She'd never thought of it that way, but it was true. Naruto… he was forced to be there for her. He would never abandon her, whether he wanted to or not because they were tied together. She was his keeper, and could never set him free.

The Kazekage went on. "But I do see your point. They are people, just like you and me, be they demons or humans. I suppose the restraint collars take away their… rights, I guess. If they can never truly be free, it is best they have as much as possible.

"I will send to have Jouhin's collar removed and will also inform her of her new privileges. She will no longer be guarded and will have free reign of the palace and may venture out whenever she is not officially working."

"Thank you," Sakura bowed her head slightly. "But, what about Gaara?"

Zurui's face darkened immensely. "Sakura-sama. I will, under no circumstances, allow that monster to go free."

Sakura simply nodded. Morally, she disagreed. But thinking about him not being monitored… it terrified her.

"Well," the Kazekage interrupted her thoughts "It seems that this is indeed a good arrangement; to talk with each other on issues. Things get done quite neatly, wouldn't you agree? However, I'm afraid we're out of time for the day. You, as well as I, must start preparing for the farewell parade."

Sakura fround. "What parade?"

***From*The*Desk*Of*Tristen1497***

Sakura sighed, reminding herself once again that she was unable to move.

They marched down the Suna streets, lined with her subjects, all scrambling to get a look at her. The royal guard marched all around on white stallions, dressed in their best uniforms. Each of the Lords and advisors road along in carriages and foot soldiers marched with the Calvary. The Kazekage himself was ahead of her, being lifted up on a silver platform by many muscular men. They marched him and his perch along, though Sakura couldn't look at it for too long. The lavish dress and jewels covering the Kazekage blinded her.

Naruto was positioned at her right, also in extravagant military dress Sakura knew did not befit him. She said nothing though, only watched as he suffered in silence for her. Jouhin too was dressed up more finely than Sakura had ever seen her, but it was Gaara's transformation that struck her the hardest. He looked professional. You could never guess just that morning he's tried to kill her. Aagain.

He too wore the dark blue military uniform complete with hat and overcoat and sword, marching along with the other foot soldiers. To someone with an untrained eye it would seem he was just part of the ranks, not being guarded by the very soldiers he marched with. His hair was as neat as it could possibly manage to be, but he was still Gaara. Though she could not see his face, Sakura knew. She knew he was resenting her, resenting life and would have the best scowl he could muster upon his face. His collar hung heavily around his neck. Even from her high perch, Sakura could see that much.

She too was being carried on a pedestal by many muscular men, hers coated in an overlay of gold and being hoisted as high as possible into the sky. She was dressed in the biggest, pinkest dress she had with accents everywhere from her silver shoes and tiara to her white gloves.

Sakura felt like a doll. An overly expensive, rich and snobby doll. Her hair, done up with white lilies, was set perfectly in place as was the rest of her as she kneeled on her pedestal, holding her head high. She couldn't move a muscle or risk ruining something and making the Kazakage angry. They were finally seeing eye to eye and she didn't want to mess things up. However, every time the men carrying her groaned, a piece of her heart died. Oh how she wished she was lighter to lessen their burden. Or better yet, she wished she could have walked.

The heat, too, was getting to her. It was late in the afternoon and the sun would be setting soon, yet still the heat was relentless. Sweat was dripping off the men carrying her as the heat waves rose from the ground. She felt herself sweat too, though not so severely thanks to her clothes that had a wonderful ability to breath. Naruto looked like he was dying, his normally red face was even redder. But the guard marched on, used to the heat and the sun.

The Kazakage waved to the subjects as the announcer repeated "Her Royal Highness Princess Sakura Akari of The Land of Wind, and His Excellency, Zurui Uragiru, Kazakage."

Sakura wanted to wave too, but something inside her made her stop. She felt ashamed to be in such a state, embarrassed to be displayed as such. Why draw more attention to herself by waving? Though, more attention was probably impossible. They were all looking at her, cheering for her, throwing flowers onto the road in front of her throne bearers.

She felt faint. She wasn't ready. She couldn't do it. She was no princess. Her head started to spin. The hot Suna sun beating down on her did no good. The slight breeze helped but it was still so hot…

"Sakura-sama?"

Somehow despite all the noise of the cheering and the sound of the parade she heard Naruto, turning her head ever so slightly so she could see him.

"Naruto!" she pleaded, hoping he could see the desperation in her eyes.

"Are you alright?" He asked her with a concerned tone.

"No. I just want to get out of here. I want to go home." She was almost crying.

"That's no way for a princess in a parade to act." He tried to humor her. "Don't worry though. The sun's going down, and the Kazekage said we would be stopping for dinner soon."

"All of us?" There must have been at least a hundred people in the parade.

"Everybody but the guard, I think. Just hold out a little longer. By the way, you look beautiful sitting up there, like a real princess."

"Naruto," Sakura almost blushed, or perhaps it was just from the heat.

"Or at least, that's what Sasuke told me to tell you." Naruto grinned wider.

Sakura blushed a deeper red.

The parade continued on and, looking to the sky Sakura saw what she believed was the most beautiful thing in the world, even more so than that desert sunrise her and Naruto had seen up on top of the mountain. It was a Suna sunset. The sky painted itself a million colors as the sun behind them dipped lower and lower. Then the sky turned deep blue as the sun disappeared altogether, sinking into the desert sand.

The guard was dispatched and Sakura and the Kazakage transferred to a carriage before them and the nobles carried on towards what Zurui assured her was the beast restaurant in all of Suna. The entire place had been reserved for them and their party.

Sakura ended up at the main table of course, with the Kazakage and her special guests. Kakashi was seated on her right, talking with her about the old days, but she wasn't really listening. Sasuke was right across from her, his eyes boring down and that little smirk on his lips. She felt herself blush deeper every time his smirk grew.

Naruto was talking with the Kazakage of all people, and, from what Sakura could gather between listening to Kakashi and blushing at Sasuke, they were getting along. They were discussing his future role in the palace and shifts and things like that.

Jouhin was sitting with them as well, talking away with a happy smile on her face to the unresponsive red head next to her. He didn't look like he wanted to kill her, but Sakura wasn't deceived. She saw the way his fists were clenched. Gaara was trying with all his might not to leap across the table and gut her. Jouhin's babbling was serving as a minor distraction.

Kakashi. "…and with the treaty between us being iron clad…"

Zurui. "... so it's required that you have guard duty at least once a day."

Naruto. "As long as I don't have to wear a collar."

Sasuke. "…"

Jouhin. "I saw this amazing kimono in one of the stores we passed…" She kept touching her neck, now free of the restraining collar.

Gaara. "Hn," He looked annoyed. Very annoyed.

"Sakura-sama? Sakura?"

"Hu?" She pulled her eyes away from a smirking Sasuke and an annoyed Gaara and back to Kakashi.

"What do you think? About my proposal?" He smiled at her from under his mask.

Sakura bit her lip. "I… uh…"

"I think it's a splendid idea Kakashi. The caravans would benefit from it greatly." The Kazekage interjected.

"Yes, greatly," Sakura murmured, still focusing her attention on Sasuke with more and more of it being directed to Gaara every times he readjusted his arms crossed over his chest or clenched his fists tighter.

Then, he did something new. He stiffened in his chair before rising suddenly to his feet. His eyes were wide and wild, his body tensed. Then Jouhin was on her feet as well, acting in the same manner as Gaara. Naruto's ears seemed to perk up.

"What is it?" Kakashi asked, folding his book up and putting it away.

"Something's wrong." Jouhin whispered, not taking her eyes off the door to the restaurant. Gaara nodded.

"Yeah," Naruto agreed with them, getting more and more on edge.

Gaara's eyes darkened. "They're coming."

Before anyone could ask what he meant, the door to the restaurant burst open. A shinobi rushed in, a terrified look on his face. "Demons!" He panted. "They're coming towards the city."

END

Yeah, nothing much happens, sorry. But I had to put this in before the next chapter (which will be pretty intense, just saying.) Next update, Jan 29th. As always, if I get to a certain number of reviews (this time it's 55) then you'll get it earlier.