AN: I hope this doesn't mess with your head. It was kind of confusing to write, but then again I am writing at 3 in the morning while watching meteor showers out my living room window. So far, I'm not impressed.
I think this is fairly predictable, but I've tried to keep the suspense and junk in as much as possible.
As I've already been saying on my website for the last 24 hours, this has been partly written since chapter 4 of 'Back to Surreality', so it's liberating to finally get it out.
1860 words in this chapter
Unmasked
Chapter 17- Battle situations
The others had nearly all found their ways onto the dance floor, partnered up conveniently. Sakura noted that, although she had returned from speaking with Gaara a good hour ago, no one had made any attempts to steal her away from her personal bubble.
She had been half expecting Tenten to have found her in order to complain, but from the sight of the older kunoichi dancing slowly in her husband's arms, she made the conclusion that something must have happened while she was out of the room.
Kiba had found some other woman to dance with, but Sakura wasn't too bothered. Just so long as no one starts talking...
She found something strangely nostalgic in the act of watching as the pairs twirled around the floor, flashes of silk shining glistening reflections from the light of the lit candles adorning the room like little jewels. She sat back, observing the peculiarly familiar patterns and colors as she sat patiently.
Her hair was wisped up by a gentle breeze coming from the open door of the large hall and she began to forget that she was the only one left sitting at the side.
Music drifted in and out of her ears like the air it was carried in as she lost herself completely to the rhythm of the dance. Her limbs remained centered in their composed, settled position although her mind was out with the turntable of synchronized footsteps she knew so well but had yet to experience first hand.
Then she felt pressure on her shoulder. Tearing herself away, she turned to look what it was.
A hand, masculine, gripped the top of her arm gently, drawing her attention.
Deep, soft words sunk into her. "Come"
There was something about that voice… something that made her legs melt underneath her and her mind go blank.
She didn't even think to look up, only stood ready to follow his guidance.
He led her a little further along and then turned her to face the dancers once again. She didn't once question his motives or his intentions, feeling complete trust in him.
Fingers reached to the sides of her face, pulling strands of pastel hair towards the back of her head and out of the way. She felt something colder, metallic, slide through the gathering of hair to fasten it in place.
Catching the reflection off a mirror across the hall, she noticed it was the hair fastening from before, with cherry jewels in the heart of each little metal blossom, cascading down from the main fastening, along with tresses of her hair. The events began to dawn on her, and she figured that she had fallen asleep sometime, so was now just replaying her dream again.
She had to admit though, something about this dream made the clip seem more beautiful than she remembered, the way it caught the candle light sending sparkles of colour across the plain walls. She could barely keep her eyes off it, drawn by its enchanting nature.
She only tugged her gaze away when the comforting hand once again contacted her arm, and she was wisped away from the mirror's sight.
Before she knew it, a new hand was coiled around the bare small of her back as the first slipped tenderly down the length of her arm to link with her own outstretched fingers.
She looked around and discovered that they were both now in the centre of the floor, the teacup couples twirling around them as they remained stood, frozen in place.
"What's wrong?" he whispered. She looked up into his dark eyes in wonder and shook her head slightly, finding no words. Something isn't right… it's so much more detailed this time, she thought to herself as she glanced around to see faces of people she had never put in the dream before.
Reluctant to spoil it, when she always enjoyed the next part of the dream, she rested her free hand onto his shoulder and he pulled her closer before beginning to recite the steps perfectly.
Everything was in place. She had her ball, her dancers, her elegant gown, her hair clip, and even her romantic escort. Nothing could feel more right. This was truly further than she had ever been in her dreams. Every detail was carefully mapped.
She wondered if she had fallen backwards into some bizarre Gen-jutsu on the sand ninja's arrival. It would certainly make more sense than what she was seeing now. It just felt so real, so tangible, not like a dream at all.
As they kept dancing across the hall together in a whirlwind of steps and turns that left her feeling breathless, she began to wonder what would happen next, having never reached this point without waking before.
The song soon finished and a slower, quieter tune came out. Or at least, it sounded quieter to Sakura's ears, as the male presence who had been guiding her pulled her softly into a hug. She couldn't help but to wrap her own arms around him as she leant her head against his shoulder, taking in his scent.
His scent… I know that from somewhere…
She cautiously pulled her head up to stare up into his slightly mismatched eyes and almost lost her breath. I have to wake up… this is insane…
Having been left out of the dance himself, Naruto stood at the side of the hall, agape. Before the song had even finished, a number of the other couples began to break apart, all staring at the same thing.
"That was intense" Kiba spoke from beside him as a few of the others approached, still watching as his 'girlfriend' began to leave the hall, taking her dance partner with her without a word.
"What the hell was that?" Ino approached them with Shikamaru at her side, her expression struggling between frustration at not knowing, and grinning with pride.
"Where did she even come from? She was supposed to be with Gaara" Kiba scowled "wait, no, scratch that. Where did he come from? I thought he was in an indefinitely long coma"
Ino decided to state the obvious "He woke up"
"Kiba, are you going to let him get away with that?" Tenten glared dangerously as she pulled to a stop in front of him, Neji heading off in the other direction quickly.
He shrugged "she wasn't resisting"
Shikamaru frowned. "She's supposed to appear in a committed relationship. She shouldn't be playing with him like that."
"Since when were you bothered about Kaka-sensei?" Naruto stared at him "I told her, if he did it again, I would kill him. He shouldn't be touching her like that."
Kiba stuck out a hand to calm him. "Naruto, no one was supposed to know."
"Know what?" Tenten asked suddenly feeling left out about something.
Everyone else looked around at each other. Out of the five of them, she was the only one that didn't know something at least about Sakura and Kakashi, even if what everyone else knew only applied to events that took place weeks ago. They had all been led to think that it was over, so they didn't think it necessary to tell her anymore.
No one was exactly sure what it was that was going on, so no one said anything for a while.
Eventually, Ino sighed in surrender and turned to Shikamaru. "Hold me Shika"
"Steady on" Kiba laughed, "we don't need a demonstration"
"Are you getting tired again?" he looked anxious
"No! Kami, why do you all jump to conclusions? I meant hold me so I can go and figure out what's going on."
"Ino, is it such a good idea to spy on them?" Tenten asked gently
"Hai, she brought this on herself." In seconds she performed the sequence of hand positions and whispered the words so not to attract any unneeded attention.
Then Shikamaru rushed forward to hold her limp body against his own.
Temari walked up behind him with a sly smirk. She had been chatting with Takahiro, but she stopped at the final discovery of her prey, so Hinata and Takahiro just walked over to stand by the others. "Aww… the little weak kunoichi can't hold her drink? Surely even you can do better than that lazy boy?"
He ignored her, focusing on Ino's body as he tried to keep her upright.
"I have to say though, just as expected from a place like Konoha, this celebration is boring. Hey Nara, wanna ditch the drunk and come make it more entertaining for me"
Shikamaru turned to scowl at her, resisting the temptation to growl. "She's my fiancée"
She laughed out loud "No, I meant it"
He narrowed his eyes even more than usual "So did I"
"Her?" Temari pulled a disgusted face "She's pathetic."
"Back off." He snapped
"Ha, you won't fight me"
"No, he won't" Tenten stepped forward to face her "we aren't going to start disagreeing now"
"Hey, if it isn't the piece of trash." She looked her up and down with a superior expression "I barely recognized you without that ridiculous hairstyle of yours."
"I meant it Temari, this is a prestigious event and you are disrespecting Konoha with that attitude. I won't allow it."
"And I suppose you'll fight me?"
"No, none of us will fight you." She said, holding back Naruto with one hand "If you wanted a fight club run for your birthday, you should have just asked; then it would have saved us all of this effort."
"I didn't want a fight. I wanted another evening with the Nara boy, hence why I had him specifically invited."
"It's not going to happen Temari, you're too late."
"He isn't married yet."
"Don't be a sore loser Temari, there's more than just him in Konoha" Kiba smirked
"Don't get your hopes up dog-boy" she walked off in a strop, probably to inflict her anger on Kankuro
"Arigato Kiba" Shikamaru mumbled as he looked back to Ino.
"Don't worry about it, she's such a princess, she needs to get a reality check. I just don't get why the chicks are so hot on you man. Is it some kind of shadow-bondage trick or something?"
"Not really, I don't use that unless I have to. Battle situations only" he replied stoically, knowing it would frustrate Kiba.
"So how then? What's the secret?"
"I have no idea" he looked down at Ino with a sigh
"I know…" Tenten smirked. "I've heard girls talk. I respect my captain's dignity though, as should you Kiba."
"Is Ino alright?" Hinata looked worried.
"Sure, she's just being nosy." Kiba smiled at her
"Oh, you mean with that couple from before?" Takahiro questioned, not really understanding the fuss, seen as he knew neither of them personally.
"Hai"
"It's good that Kakashi-sensei is alright though, right?" Hinata attempted to wipe the negative expression of everyone's faces. "And I don't think I've ever seen Sakura so happy. What's the problem?"
"The problem," Tenten pointed out "is that Sakura is dating Kiba."
"Oh…"
Ino snapped back into her own body and stood back from Shikamaru with a scowl. "That just wasn't fair"
AN: Just to clarify, there is a reason why all of the couples have randomly grouped; it's not just filler, although this chapter is much shorter than I had first thought. Oh well.
I hate to say it, but my one a day regime is going to have to end. Hints will be added to be website, so go looky and comment lots. Basically, after today, I'm going to get very busy with A level work, and cosplay production, and planning for my eighteenth. (And my exam results come out on Thursday so I'll have to spend the whole day talking to relatives that don't actually give a crap, but we are civilized and polite so it must be done. Sob.)
So yeah… don't know when the next one will be out, but don't expect it too early tomorrow, if at all.
I'm running low on luff levels guys… tiredness is approaching faster than fingers can hit keyboard. Zzzzzzzzz
Crap. I just looked outside… and it's day light already. It must be time for me to go to bed, otherwise the light will burn me.
Stay shiny and show the luff
Xx Belizma-chan xX