1506 words in this chapter
Back to Surreality
Chapter seven- Jewels
Sakura stayed, 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 looked on, mesmerized by the patterns and colors as she sat patiently for her chance to place her strapped heels into action, knowing in her heart that it would never happen.
Her hair fell plainly around her shoulders, wisped up by the slight breeze coming from the open door, leading into the gardens. She barely noticed that she was the only one left sitting on the soft cushioned bench.
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.
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"
She felt her legs melt underneath her but managed to hold on long enough to stand and 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 an intricate hair fastening, with cherry jewels in the heart of each little metal blossom, cascading down from the main fastening, along with tresses of her hair.
It was beautiful, 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 whisked 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.
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, even 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. She would never let go. Not when the goal was so…
Knock!
She looked around at her feet, wondering where the sound had come from.
He looked down at her with concern again. "What is the matter?"
"I don't…"
Knock! Knock!
"Did you hear that?" she asked him, staying their movements.
"Hear what?"
Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!
"That!"
"It's nothing." He bent down and gave her a quick peck on the lips in reassurance "Ignore it"
"I can't… what if it's…"
Soon, her thoughts were interrupted as she was overcome with the sensation of discomfort. She felt a twinge of her neck, followed by a rustling sound filling her ears.
Eventually, she was jolted from her senses as the vision blurred away and she was left with a stabbing pain where he had been touching her hip.
She swore as she tumbled from her lying position and landed on the hard floor.
Knock! Knock! "Oi! Forehead girl! I'm not knocking all day!" Knock! "I know you're in there because you weren't at the hospital!" Knock! "I'm in a hurry so if you don't open the bloody…"
Sakura had managed to pull herself over to the door and swung it open. "What?!"
"Finally!" Ino pushed through and walked into the apartment "I need you to look at…"
"Stop pig!" she snapped, slamming the front door. "You just said that I wasn't in the hospital. That means, it's my rest time, which means… I'm not looking at anything."
"Rest time huh? Is that doctor speech for nap time? Because you look like you really need it. Your eyes are really blood shot. That's not attractive you know."
"Thanks pig, now leave!"
"I can't do that" she went to sit down but Sakura noticed that something had fallen out of her pocket when she had fallen off the sofa so ungracefully earlier. She quickly dived and moved it back to her pocket before Ino could see it.
"Why, exactly, can't you do that?" she fumed, drawing attention from the box under her hand "It's not hard. There is absolutely nothing wrong with your legs so…"
Ino simply pulled down the edge of her top to show the new shiny selection of red marks she had picked up from the night before and told her plainly "I have to go and see my father, now"
"And you need me for…?"
"Get rid of them. Please. He'll kill me."
"Your dad? No, he'll still be freaked out; he'll probably think they were from the last lot."
"Exactly. He won't kill me, but Shika will. He has this plan that relies on us acting like nothing ever happened at all. This…" she gestured to her broken skin "quite clearly indicates that something did happen."
"Maybe you should have thought about that… wait, this is surely his fault anyway. Either way, tough luck, I'm here on recovery after chakra exhaustion so you'll have to ask someone else. That or learn to live with that Shika-induced rash of yours"
"You know fine well it isn't a rash"
"I know, but can you imagine what Naruto would do if he figured it out properly? He can spread a rumor faster than you at times. Please leave me alone."
"Why alone? Is there someone you are trying to hide?"
"No but I haven't slept in days so please just piss off"
"Fine, but only on one promise"
"Anything. Just shut up"
"Well… next time you see Kakashi…"
"Anything except that"
"Just don't sleep in your medic uniform again, and try to make it to the bed for once."
"Hai, whatever."
"I'm going to see someone else then. It'll probably have to be Tsunade-sama, I mean; Shizune would probably tell Genma…"
"Genma already knows. Anyway, he knows better than to spread it- what am I saying? Go away!"
"Fine! I'm going! Sayonara!" Ino got up and stormed out in a hurry.
Once the door had slammed, Sakura collapsed back onto the sofa, intending to go right back to sleep.
She turned over and was greeted by the same sharp pain at her waist. She groaned and sat back up, reaching back into the pocket.
She held the box in her hand with curiosity. That's right. I meant to open it after my shift, but I never got around to it. I was so busy I completely forgot.
Something is odd about this. Why would he give me this? What is it?
She cautiously un-wound the wrappings to see more of the black box. It was velvet, and was long enough to reach past her span, though not that wide. There was no print on the presentation box, giving no indication of where it was bought or what price it was.
Without the wrappings, it didn't seem so much of a reminder of him. She could still sense him but it was more faint, making her sure that he wasn't watching. That was why she waited, she didn't want him to see her reaction, or that she even opened it. She knew that, with the bindings there to throw her senses off course, he could still have been watching from somewhere in the hospital. Now she was safe.
She lifted the lid on its hinge and saw the hint of a sparkle from inside. Metal. As it lifted higher, her view became clearer and she took a sharp intake of breath. Balanced on a metal clip, a series of delicate silver flowers surrounded strawberry-colored stones that reflected the meager light of the apartment into a wondrous spectrum.
It was the clip. The clip she had pictured in her dream not long ago. It was exactly how she remembered, down to the last jewel.
How did he know…?
AN: right, that's the lame filler done with. It was so hard this time. I'm so sorry it's late but I had exams to deal with, then I had major writer's block so I went to Wales for the week. It cleared by head a bit and now I'm all ready to write.
Next chapter will be one of the ones I've had written for a while. Should be fun once it's all edited.
This one I was trying my best to improve my descriptive skills. Feedback is very welcome. Thanks for reading.
Show the luff.
xxBelizma-chanxx