Chapter 16: Dance around blossoms, dance!
As she strolled past Chiyo her heart must have skipped a beat. There in a blank and white male kimono stood the men she dreamed about. Without noticing she stopped in her track that would lead her into the square for her ceremony, into his direction. Everyone gasped at the beauty that was in front of them. But she didn't took notice, the only thing she knew was that those eyes could stop time whenever she looked in them. The geisha's were uncomfortable stroke the arms of the businessmen for attention they didn't got. Getting back into reality after being sucked into a timeless dimension she felt unsure and ashamed for her natural beauty.
Feeling a little push she saw Chiyo wising at the moon, telling her it was time for the ceremony. Taken the little steps Yuakri told her to take what made her look like an angel sliding down the stone bridge she couldn't stop looking in those mysterious onyx eyes. Time stopped. Her eyes betraying her every view, drowning into deep dark eyes. Emotions were stolen. Her heart flied away from her, abandoning her to seek comfort in his hands.
She stopped in the middle of the square which was lightened with torches and candles. Chiyo sure knew how to create a atmosphere. The blossom of the sakura tree danced from the branches around her like some sort of spell draw every blossom around her making more and more geisha's gasp. As the blossoms continued their love spell around her she took her position and placed the fan in front of her face. Though it may have looked like a geisha she was fully aware she wasn't but that still wasn't a excuse if she blew the dance. To satisfy a perfectionist like Chiyo she already made enough mistakes to scowl at her the entire remaining night. Sighing deeply with a shaking hand she cleared her mind and let the inner peace take over. This was her dance, her ceremony and no one not even the handsome looking young men that still had his eyes glued to her would ruin it.
A wave of music, the first drum of the Taiko, echoed in the air, making her jump. The dance, her dance, blank, part of the ceremony how in the world got she forget. The musician playing the Taiko started over after seeing the girl frozen in fear.
After some panicked looks she luckily spotted Yukari hidden behind a paper door performing the dance in shadows. Making a note in her head to hug the girl for her rescue, she could clearly remember the moves the shadows made. Keeping one eye at the raven haired men she started dancing the spring dance know over whole Suna. It wasn't a tough one, but she never really practice it, never seeing any sense in it to do so. But like always she remember Chiyo always had her reasons and so it was with the dance she was taught.
The dance went great, Chiyo would be happy that she didn't screwed up this part of the ceremony. With the last steps of the dance she finished in the same position she started in. Placing the fan in front of her face she could no longer see the young men that had haunted her mind the whole dance. With the fan still in place she panicked. Pleading in silence he didn't made his depart. She needed to see him, as her body was drawn to him without any control. She wanted his head cupped in her hands, feel the warm breath tickle her lips that were only centimeters from his. Disappointed she got out of her position and took a deep bow ending this part of the night.
With still shaking hands she placed the fan in her kimono, or she thought she did. A hard wind blew it out of her trembling hands. Hypnotized and the girl in total shock knowing the value of the fan, they al looked up seeing a golden figure pushing himself up from the ground and grapping the fan with his other.
Everyone released their breaths and start talking about the amazing rescue of the fan. Everyone knew Chiyo never took enough with cheap items for ceremonies and the girl would have been punished till she doctor needed to bring her to the hospital. Yes it could be a nightmare in the mansion, but the ceremonies where always magnificent and breathtaking so everyone never spoke a word about Chiyo's hard fist for rights. Instead everyone couldn't stop talking about the beauty of those well thrown parties that reached the other countries by rumors. It was one thing hearing about them, it was another being invited to one and no one dared to decline the invitation, businessmen through their whole schedule around just for these kind of parties. It didn't matter why it was throw it would always end in a delightful evening with beautiful women by their sides.
The girl apologized at the audience for her silly mistake, people nodded in return as stiff as they were. One wrong action and you would be never to been seen in the mansion, ever. "It could happen to anyone, milady." The young men said pushing his golden bangs out of his face. Bowing deeply she took the golden fan from him and excused herself for she has seen by Chiyo's maids that was winking at her. But instead of walking to Chiyo's maid, she was to hypnotized by the sea blue eyes that showed themselves behind the golden bangs. With strong cheekbones and a golden skin, the golden hair dancing on the winds and then those sea blue eyes. She was caught, looking up at him she couldn't move nor speak a word that would explain her actions, if there even was an explanation possible to form in her mind. Gently she followed his cheekbones with her forefinger. He didn't speak, just closed his eyes as she continued what Chiyo must have thought was crazy and improper.
"So you already meet one of our guests?" Chiyo snuck in a evil way behind the girl. The girl, startled from her masters voice stopped her exploring and took her finger from the young men. Turning completely red she apologized and made her way to the mansion where the maid was tapping her shoe on the floor in annoyance.
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"She's quite a beauty Chiyo-chan." The man smiled touching his cheekbones he though made him look like a vagabond. If no one knew his name they must think he didn't got enough food but it were the strong cheekbones that made him popular with the ladies. Unfortunately those 'ladies' were more like stalkers in his eyes. "She's rare, but not in the market I am afraid." Chiyo answered making an excusing notion. "That's a shame, whom may I ask has taken this angel before I was given a chance?" He said in a smiling but in the same time demanding voice. Chiyo wasn't feeling so comfortable anymore, the girl, who yet needed to be named, wasn't a geisha or maid she could wed. She was a patient of hers from one of the strongest ninja's from the Leaf. But this man in front her is the head of the Sand Special Unit Force, well known for his strengths and remarkable kindness toward women. "I am terribly sorry but I am in no position to answer your question." She swallowed deeply and looked around to see her rescuer walking in big passes towards them.
"Chiyo-sama, the girl needs your help in the mansion." He saved her looking at the man in irritation. "If you'll excuse me sir Rayu.." She bowed at the golden haired man, he nodded in return. "If you'll excuse me too your highness." She bowed deeper at Gaara. "It's okay Chiyo-sama, go help the helpless one." He said with less interest how he called the girl of his now-a-days-friend.
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"Child, how could you be so improper to the head of the SSUF? Have I taught you nothing?" She was about to hit the girl with a spoon but luckily Tochi coughed making Chiyo rethink her action. "Your right Tochi, we can't have you work another two hours, please enjoy the party I'll handle it." She bowed and Tochi did the same before retreating himself to the party. "You are not to speak to sir Rayu again, is that clear?" She asked though it sounded more like a order. The girl nodded but didn't really listen. Actually she was more curious about the raven haired man then about Chiyo's rambling about the mistakes she made. The poor girl was getting dizzy of the thoughts and before she knew she interrupted her master. "Who was that young man Chiyo-sama?" Folding her hands in front of her mouth she wished she could pick the words out of the air but the words were spoken and Chiyo sighed. "You will find out soon enough." That wasn't the answer she was hoping for and she sank back to her knees unsure when it was she rose. She wanted to hear it, her body and heart knew it, but her mind wanted to hear it from someone other then her feelings. It was the young boy from the dream, matured but it was him. Those onyx eyes she dreamed about, those feelings she felt every dream and every morning she woke up.
A maid entered making both Chiyo and the girl jump. The maid gave Chiyo a strange look. It was unusual to see her so tensed in the middle of a party. Though she was old and sometimes grumpy you could see her coming alive when throwing a party.
"Everyone is waiting Chiyo-sama." The maid informed, bowed and closed the paper door behind her.
"It's time my child, and don't let me spot you with sir Rayu again. It's for your own best." The girl nodded again but was tangled with the thoughts about the raven haired man.
The guests were al seated with giggling geisha's surrounding them pouring them sake when Chiyo entered the garden again this time through a different entrance. Behind her walked two maids with a paper screen between them hiding the girl that walked in the middle. Everyone was silent and the geisha's returned to their spots. The girl in the middle of the two dressed up maids had changed clothes and now wore a indigo colored kimono with golden cranes. Her upper body hidden by the screen. In the middle of the square she danced on that same night she stopped. The maids taking the paper screen with them, leaving the girl with her master.
Chiyo looked around, it was silent except from a view gasps from the men. She made a gesture for the girl to sit on her knees, though she didn't fully, it would ruin the kimono, but for the audience it looked like she was. Facing the rich men and geisha's she didn't find the young man she was looking for. Was it all a dream, was her mind playing tricks on her? Her eyes passed Rayu's and a shameful red spreadacross her face, making her look down. Chiyo took notice and also looked around. Searching for the man the girl belonged to. After minutes of scanning and coughs of the men she spotted him in the back leaning against a tree. She couldn't suppress a grin, just like him she scoffed inwardly.
"You who have all been invited to this ceremony will be taken on a big responsibility…" Some men shifted others began to sparkle they were involved with such a thing including a beauty like the girl in front of them. After everyone calmed down she continued. "today, a day this nameless girl has waited for so long, will be named." It took another minutes before she could continue. Without meaning she was drawn into the stare of the young man leaning against the tree. He looked afraid? Did he saw the girl touch Rayu? Would she be punished for the girls mistake? It was turning into a nerve-racking party. This is girl was giving her too much problems, too much worries.
The girl was sprinkled with some water from the moon and gestured to look up. Slowly she rose her head from the ground and everything began to slow down. She saw the men looking at her in a lustful ways, Rayu the man she spoke, even touched, looked irritated and then, there he was. Her eyes shot to the back of the square, leaning against a tree was the man of her dreams. The man she wished to be hold by. Without notice a single tear rolled down her cheek. Everyone was in shock and followed the girls view. No one really understood what was happening. In the back against a tree was one of the best commanders of the SSUF.
Rayu also took notice and got a unsettled feeling. Could it be that his friend, the strongest commander of the SSUF had taken his price before his eyes?
Coughing hard enough so everyone could hear Chiyo continued. "On this day, within the night I bless this child within my might. I will call her name and she will rise to it." It was silent for a moment, people were still confused about the tear shed for the SSUF commander. "Haruno Sakura, rise to your name." Her eyes widened. Haruno Sakura was the girl she dreamed about, the stories she lived inside her head, her dreams, it was herself all along. Rising without much effort she was hypnotized by the young raven haired man making her way.
Taiko:
A Japanese music instrument that looks a lot like a big drum on a stand. It is played with sticks called bachi. It's a popular instrument for ceremonies within Japan but makes itself further known into the Western world. With having various sizes the sounds is unique for every Taiko.
SSUF:
SSUF stands for Sand Special Unit Force, similar to the ANBU from Leaf. What's different is that Leaf's ANBU can decline missions, SSUF cannot, or rather said don't. They get the toughest, hardest, bloodiest and inhuman mission you can think of. The SSUF has been giving birth to do those mission and make big cash for the Sand, and it works. The only 6 months old organization is already well known and feared in the entire world.
Hilru Rayu is head of this organization and also one of the three units leaders. Though he is born ladies man, he thinks, by being the moneylender for the organization, he can and has right to control the other respected members.