Author's Note: Woo! Next Chapter! I have finally found the time to post! This chapter and the next one are very important chapters. This one may not seem like it, but it leads into the next one which is VERY important! I did say that it was going to be around 30 chapters! And I was very correct...I'm not going to tell you exactly how many more there are, cause that would ruin all the fun! I'd also like to thank those who reviewed the last two chapters. Cause, uh, lets see, I got, three and four reviews? That is quite pathetic my dear fans! Oh, well +sigh+, I will just have to go on without your support +sigh+. I'm just messin' with you guys! I've never before asked for reviews and I'm not starting now. That's just not my style. But, it does tell me that you guys care...He He...Hope you guys enjoy this chapter! I'll see you all next update!

Gaara had never felt such anger as he did this day. Orochimaru was parading him about the room like some sort of trophy wife. Each of the attendants had with them a 'pet', all of them in a similar state to Gaara's. The only thing that made him happier in any way was the fact that compared to some of the others, he was covered completely. Many of the men slaves wore nothing more then a flimsy loin cloth. For the women there it was even worse. Many of them wore the same gauzy material that Gaara did, barely covering their lower regions, let alone their breasts. They might as well have gone naked.

The thing that irked Gaara more then anything though was the constant attention that the others paid to his stomach. He hated it. An extreme protective instinct was kicking in and it didn't like all these men staring at him as if he were Orochimaru's cattle. What was even worse then the condescending stares were the looks assuming that Gaara was a fresh piece of meat up for grabs. If at any time Gaara had wanted to be sick, now would be that time. He wanted to lash out at all passing by. No amount of music and punch would be able to dispel his overemotional defensive state, one could tell just by how stiff he stood and how tightly he dug his hand into Orochimaru's arm.

They left another group of people to continue on to a new portion of the room. Orochimaru set his lips next to Gaara's ear and whispered, "Lighten up my pet. I want you to make a good impression on my allies and I won't have you screwing it up because you're scared."

"Oh fuck off! I'm not scared! I just hate the fact that you're showing me off like I'm you're whore!"

Orochimaru smiled and looked up. "Ah and here's my newest student. I believe the two of you have met?"

Gaara looked up to find Uchiha Sasuke leaning against the wall with an angry scowl set upon his lips. Gaara's eyes darkened. "Yes, we are acquaintances, but nothing more."

Sasuke lifted his gaze at Gaara's voice. A nasty smirk lit his features, mocking the red-head. His eyes just screamed what he was thinking. 'Not a slut eh?' Gaara's eyes narrowed as Sasuke opened his mouth to speak. "Hello Gaara. Enjoying your alone time with Orochimaru?"

Gaara didn't answer; Orochimaru did the talking for him. "Why yes, Sasuke. Gaara and I have been enjoying one another's company very much. Isn't that right my pet?" Orochimaru wrapped an arm around Gaara's waist and pulled him close. Gaara looked up and gave him the best glare that he could.

Gaara let out a fierce whisper. "Maybe if you weren't touching me." Gaara said the word as if it were the deadliest of all sins.

"Oh, all right Gaara." Orochimaru sighed dramatically. "The punch table is over there. Get us some punch. I have something I wish to discuss with my pupil." Orochimaru pushed Gaara in the direction of the punch table, turning away his attention completely as if Gaara wasn't there. The red-head gave a small sigh, finally glad to be rid of the snake-man's touch.

Gaara walked across the room slowly, watching everyone and avoiding all human contact. Gaara could swear he had seen some of the men there; however, without forehead protectors or any form of identification, Gaara couldn't place any of them. He reached the punch table, his breath now labored from the long walk. He glanced over his shoulder and growled; it wasn't even that long of a walk. Trying to ignore his frailty, Gaara turned back to the table and began pouring two glasses of punch.

Gaara jumped as a cool hand brushed its way up his spine. Soft breath caressed his ear as an unidentifiable voice began to speak to him. "You know, I was quite surprised to see Sabaku no Gaara here, of all people. They did a good job dressing you up. You look positively appetizing, even in your condition."

Gaara whipped around. A bulky man with large brown eyes and ragged chestnut hair stood no more then two inches away from him. "What do you want?" The red-head said in a dead-pan voice.

"Why, didn't you know Gaara? At balls such as these, it's customary for attendants to share their slaves with the others. So I'm quite in my rights to have you."

Gaara felt a weight of fear drop in the pit of his stomach. Despite his fear, his voice came out calm as ever. "Even the host?"

The man chuckled. "It's a requirement for the host to supply his allies and followers with companions for the evening."

Gaara's non-existent eyebrow rose. "I doubt Orochimaru would like it very much if you took without asking."

The man grabbed hold of Gaara's arm. "I don't have to ask. I can just take."

The man started dragging a resisting Gaara along. A person or two noticed this and looked at them curiously. The guy smiled at them. "I picked a feisty one." This lightened the others up and they all let out a laugh. Gaara was dragged out a different set of doors then when he came in. By the time they reached what Gaara suspected was his room, the red-head was thrashing about with all his might. But the man had triple Gaara's strength and he easily pushed him into the room. The door closed and Gaara stood still, wrapping his arms around his stomach.

"Do you know what the collars are for Gaara?" Gaara glowered at him, not wanting to hear the answer. "Well I'll tell you. It's a collar of submission. When the slaves fight situations like this all we have to do is say a few simple words and you are completely helpless. Ah, I see you finally understand your situation."

The man said a few whispered words. Gaara's knees collapsed beneath him. He struggled to get up, but he couldn't even get one foot on the ground, let alone stand completely. Gaara looked up into the eyes of what looked like to him in that moment, a monster.

Break-

Kabuto was standing near the doors, conversing with a fellow follower when Orochimaru himself approached him. Although his voice was neutral enough, Kabuto knew that Orochimaru's eyes were deadly, ready to kill anyone in sight, although for what reason he didn't know. "Kabuto; have you seen Gaara by chance? He seems to have lost his way while going to the punch bowl and back." Oh; now Kabuto understood.

"No, I haven't, but I'm sure he's fine wherever he may be."

The man who had been speaking with Kabuto looked over at Orochimaru. "Are you talking about the red-head you had on your arm earlier?"

Orochimaru whirled on him, a smile on his face. "Yes, that'd be the one."

The man gave him a confused look. "Didn't you know?"

"Know what?" Orochimaru's voice was turning lethal.

"Zaki left with him just a couple minutes ago. I thought you'd know."

Kabuto noticed the flash of rage in Orochimaru's eyes. "No, I didn't, but I'm sure Zaki and I will be able to clear up this little mishap right away."

Orochimaru left through the double doors, Kabuto right behind him. The snake-man's tense muscles just screamed his instinct to slaughter. Kabuto just hoped he wouldn't have to clean up too much blood tonight.