Chapter 2: Berries
"Everything will be fine, Nee-chan." Hanabi said trying to calm her sister's nerves, her eyes drifted to her sister's hand as it shook uncontrollably. The sight astonished Hanabi because one thing she always knew her sister for was her tranquility. When their parents died, Hinata took responsibility for her sister in more ways than Hanabi can show gratitude for. To see her elder sister in episodes of helplessness throughout their upbringing tore at her.
Hanabi could see panic set into her sister. The stood alongside seven other girls in a room that could hold 400 people, with each person having personal space. Pillars rose from the marble floor to reach the height of a sycamore. There were floor-to-ceiling stained-glass windows in between the pillows that let in the light from the sunset. The room was roughly empty apart from the oppressing art fixtures and lamp posts. As well as a large elaborate, upholstered chair at the head of the train of black velvet fabric across the floor.
All nine girls stood at the edge of the clothed path facing said chair. None of them knew where they were or how to get back home if that was an option.
"I hope so, Hanabi." Hinata began to fidget with her sleeves as she prayed that they make it out of here.
"Do your markings still hurt?" Hanabi asked. The young girl could remember a particularly hot summer day after playing with Konohamaru that her elder sister came home smiling joyfully...admiring weird markings on her hand. She had originally passed it off as her sister taking an interest in body art and was playing with the ink brush. Hanabi was proven wrong that evening when her father punished her sister for her "carelessness" after dinner. Her sister was in bed for three days after that. Each time Hanabi went to her sister's room, Hinata was happily engrossed in the art adorning her skin. As they grew, people thought it to be markings of a curse placed on Hinata. Despite its side-effects, it was a curse that she took pride in.
Just as Hinata was about to answer her sister, large mahogany doors near in the front of the room opened. Every girl remained as still as a statue as some very old men walked in followed by a young man. Hinata couldn't keep her eyes off of him.
He stood a clear foot over the older men ahead of him. The sleek black robes her wore did little to hide the strength build of his, the fabric was thin enough to expose the flexing of his muscles as he walked. His walk held such confidence, as if walking was beneath him. As Hinata's eyes drew higher she was struck by the contrast of his clothing to the locks of his hair. He had carmine-colored tresses, it grow to a dark maroon at the name of his neck. His neck that led to such a strong jaw and…. Hinata had to fight back a blush as she realized that even in this moment of unknown terror she was lusting after a stranger.
"Okay, we'll just pick enough for a month or so then head back." Hinata said to her sister as they walked along the river.
"Sounds good. Thanks for letting me come with you." Hanabi replied, a few steps ahead. How did she get so far ahead? Hinata usually went alone at these times. It gave her ample opportunity for alone time away from judging gawks and fearful stares. None of which she ever received from her sister so she didn't regret having her come along.
"Uh-huh. See any signs of them?"
"Not yet." The girls were looking for nagusame berries. It didn't take long for the side-effects of Hinata's marks to make themselves apparent. Up until her early teenage years, she'd have frenzied panic attacks from them. She'd experience shockwaves of pain coursing through her bloodstream that would leave her in fetal position for hours in her room.
One day her sister had brought a fruit bowl for them to share while she comforted her. Hinata chose to eat the nagusame berries since they were the smallest in the bowl and she had a non-existent appetite. Almost immediately she felt her symptoms begin to fade and the more she ate, the better she felt. They rushed to inform their father. He informed them that they were brought as a delicacy gift from a diplomat from Suna that was visiting for business. From that day forward, her father had weekly shipments imported for Hinata. The tiny fruit became her medicine.
After the old Suna King's death, imports from Suna became scarce due to the new king's decree. The familiar irritation began to plague Hinata again. For the last 10 years she built an impeccable tolerance to the pain in order to ration the berries whenever her family could get their hands on them.
"I found them!" Hinata was pulled from her thoughts. She placed the basket she had between the two of them and they began picking the jade-colored berries from the bushes along the banks. Her train of thought drifted again.
When their father passed Hinata knew that she needed to be at her full strength to consistently care for her sister. After taking care of their family's affairs and leaving their cousin in charge of the estate, she and her sister moved to Suna. However ,upon their arrival to the kingdom, Hinata's markings grew more irritating than they ever did at home. She would've assumed the opposite, considering they were in the homeland of the fruit.
Picking the last of the berries, Hinata heard a sound coming from the trees behind them and paused. Hanabi must have heard it too because she paused as well. They both looked around but didn't see anything.
"Mmmm. Berries."
The girls were snatched by their clothing and quickly blindfolded, giving no opportunity to see who and where the voice came from.
Are they as sweet as you? I'm sure the King will find out..."
Hinata blinked rapidly as she tried to focus on the matter at hand. Which one of these men is the king? She dark-haired girl frantically surveyed the old men before them, looking for any isolating signs of high royalty. She couldn't help but allow her eyes to periodically drift to the handsome one, who chose to stand aloft, staring out one of the windows. He seemed stressed. What did he have to stress about? The next errand the king would send him on? Just as the thought left her mind, Hinata caught girls leaving. She shifted her attention to those that remained. They were being dismissed after they spoke to the old men. Four girls were left, including them. She and her sister waited with anxiety. It seemed as though the girls were asked a question, once given their answer they were shooed away. Once the last girl was released one of the men stood before Hanabi.
"And you?" He asked.
"I What?" Hanabi asked, he deadpanned.
"Do you have virgin blood?" He asked impatiently. Hanabi paused.
"No." She answered. Hinata looked at her sister in complete bewilderment but before she could do anything. Why ask that? And what did she mean no? Was she lying? Is that what the other girls answered?
The man spoke up. "Dismissed." He said with a slight wave of his hand. That was it?
"Wait. She can't leave without me." Hanabi interjected.
"Ah but the matter is simple. Do you have the blood?" He motioned toward the elder girl. Hinata knew if she said yes there was a good chance she would never see her sister again.
"No." Hinata was never very good at lying yet with her age she knew it could be believable.
"You may go." Relief flooded Hinata's body as she quickly grabbed her sister's hand and rushed to the doors. But before she could open them...
"Don't touch it." The words pierced through the dense air of the massive room, completely halting Hinata's movements but she kept her eyes on the golden handle, begging it to save them. Soon she heard heavy footsteps approach them, and her sister's hand began shaking. The footsteps ceased and she turned around while still looking low. "I believe my men were sending out taken maidens, why is it that I smell purity from one of you?" One of us? HIS MEN?
He stepped loser to Hinata. Lowering himself until his very breath brushed her collarbone. Now having a look at his face, she could see his sharp and prominent features, indeed a strong jaw, well sculpted nose, and aqua eyes that reminded her of the waters by the river. Of the berries. A quick jolt of pain scaled up her arm, but she ignored it. A red tinge scattered across her cheeks, but she remained still.
"Vous êtes le pur." He said stepping away. Huh? He can speak different languages? Is he really the-
"Leave," He spoke in a deadly tone to Hanabi. Hanabi took a shaky step toward the door but Hinata's grip on her hand tightened. Gaara raised a brow.
Hinata sighed and finally met his eyes, taking note of the soft gasps from the old men. She saw those oceanic green eyes narrow at her. Pale pink lips pressed into a hard line. Everything about him seemed precise, he was mouthwateringly breathtaking...and pissed.
"I-I...If she goes then I go with her."
"Who are you to her?" He asked as though he held honest curiosity yet it sounded like impatience.
"I'm her mother." Bullshit. In a split-second, she felt a strong arm around her waist and she was pulled into a hard body. She gasped as he ran a short claw along her lower lip. How did he-He has CLAWS. How did I miss claws?!
"I could rip out that little tongue of yours for the insolence you have shown me by lying today. Twice. ll est assez tentant." Hinata said nothing and only stared, dumbfounded by how he held and spoke to her. Considering he probably all the necessary "tools", she believed he actually could. Or even order someone to do it.
"Wait!" Hanabi intervened, her sister's hand still in hers. Gaara glanced at her. "Alright. No, she isn't my mother. She's my older sister and we only have each other."
"What is your name?" She turned back to Hinata. She said nothing.
"Hina-" Hanabi swallowed the rest at the deadly glare fixated at her by the intimidating redhead.
"H-Hinata." She said in a soft tone, regaining his attention.
"Hinata." An involuntary shiver raked through her body at the way he said her name, accentuating every syllable. "Fine." Huh? Fine? Was he letting us go? Hinata heard a sharp snap which gave her a very bad feeling. "Since you are insistent on remaining together, both of you shall stay. You may help around with the chores and what not." He said motioning to Hinata. "But you." He looked back to her, her breathe hitched. "You're the one I'm keeping."
