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The Wind Daimyo: Our Dark Waltz
Dance me into the night
Underneath the moon shining so bright
Let the dark waltz begin
Oh let me wheel - let me spin
Let it take me again
Turning me into the light
XXXXXX
The large pagoda was glorious, more than what the daimyo had demanded the décor should be and he was swelling with pride. Soft, pale lilies hung from silver linings along the atrium like snow daring to flutter to the floor. Rice cake flowers were strung along the stage and the alcove. The room resembled the gentle winters that he would never see but dreamed of and read in scrolls, heard of from traders and courtesans but envied when he heard them speak of so fondly.
The daimyo pursed his lips; bringing the dark cup of sake to his lips and watching the court enter into the room. Some had wonderment on their pale faces, others were simply blank. The daimyo heard the soft familiar footsteps and the scent of one his most trusted 'little birds' enter his nostrils.
Ayumi.
She stood near him, her pale blue and white tight dress brushing his arm. He gave a glance to her lazily and began pulling his thin mustache. Her toned arms were crossing her chest and her eyes were that of ice. She was alert and burning with anger.
"Ayumi, my sweet, whatever is the matter?"
She tossed her braided hair and cleared her throat.
"Your guests from Sunagakure are proving to be difficult. I want to run a blade into the ambassador's heart."
The daimyo clicked his tongue before resting his eyes on the aforementioned company. The group entered the atrium slowly, eyes straight ahead. The blonde ambassador walked stridently alongside the puppeteer towards their reserved part of the room. He waved his hand away as a servant appeared to refill his sake. He sat up much more regally, his throat tensing. The delicate Hyuga heiress followed the siblings, her hand on the heavily muscled arm of her bodyguard. Her lavender eyes surveyed the room with wonder. Such innocence, grace, and wisdom in those eyes outlined by the longest eyelashes he had ever seen.
He had erased her from memory after her appeal to him, until learning her pedigree and importance but now that had changed. She was a ravishing beauty. How could such a frail and rounded woman be the heiress and a kunoichi at once? Her dress was delicate and fragile; a silky reflective white mixed with soft lavender and sheer gold meant to exaggerate her curves. Unlike traditional Hyuga garb, her dress was almost foreign. Fragile fabrics of tulle were nearly translucent along the main dress. The neckline was lower and richly embroidered with dark gold. The obi was a dark gold with light gold and lavender stitching dotted with reflecting glass beads. The dress swept the ground nearly if not for the under dress made of silk organza in the shade of a dark gold. The shoes, when the daimyo could see them were a dark gold. Her dark hair was simple. A loose bun with a comb of wood and pale lilies along the comb was piled along her neck, while loose strands fell near her cheekbones. How interesting.
"The heiress is a beauty to behold. She is a jewel in the crowd, a beam of light amongst the dark black of the Suna crowd."
Ayumi huffed.
"He mentioned she was quite a ravishing sight. Too bad she is so frail, my lord."
The daimyo pulled his eyes from the heiress to Ayumi.
"Now, now."
Ayumi stood straighter and narrowed her eyes.
The daimyo followed her sight.
Ah, he saw it now and it confirmed reports. The young Sabaku no Gaara followed close behind the heiress. The monster was dressed in dark black robes with the signature Sunagakure crests along his back and sleeves in blood red no less. The daimyo watched closely as the killer's bright green eyes kept flickering over to the heiress. The normally blank eyes became much more intense and fiery, burning with turmoil. Even his milky white hands, with all the bloodshed on them, fisted each time he swept his eyes along her body.
"Does that confirm reports too, you little spy?"
Ayumi picked at her nails, smirking in response.
"He mentioned that the young Gaara had some obsession with her. He wrote as if it…bothered him."
"Ah, the ambitious and strong councilman is flustered over this little infatuation of the young Gaara? How ironic really. It's always the innocent and sweet ones, never the lusty and cold ones, Ayumi?" The daimyo responded with a laugh at her expense.
Ayumi growled but regained composure.
The daimyo swept his sleeves back and stood, a false smile along his mouth.
"I welcome you, my loyal court to this grand event. The kabuki theater performance has been cancelled but a traditional fan dance by our most talented courtesans has been scheduled. I entreat you to enjoy the performance. Food and drink is available."
XXXXXX
Temari scanned the crowd for her fellow conspirators, while trying to not be distracted by the graceful fan dance on the stage. It certainly was a great dance, with the lilies falling like drifting snow amongst the dancers. The story was sad, one she knew and had seen performed in Suna once or twice at the rare festivals held. As a fellow fan performer, in battle and clumsily at festivals, she tried to not watch. Everything had been moved up and changed due to the theater performance being cancelled. She wasn't too worried. She had three plans worked out no matter the circumstances, being the perfect strategist she was…until the next announcment.
"Please, do join as we dance to the health of our guests and the beauty of the winter solstice."
The daimyo clapped his hands, encouraging the musicians to pick up their other instruments and a slight woman to sing in a soaring, light soprano voice. It was the most heartbreaking voice she had heard and a song that she decided wasn't the best now.
"Ready?"
Temari smirked at the man next to her, the one who was determined to be the next daimyo. He had his flaws but after their terms being decided he proved to be useful for Suna.
She popped her small fan out and snapped it open, twirling in a circle with him.
"Ready now. Signal your men when you're ready."
He nodded and followed suit, bowing and raising a hand. Never touching but simply following like a cat and mouse game.
XXXXXX
The fan dance was beautiful, beyond words. Hinata lightly brushed away tears, trying not to get the makeup and gems on her outer robe. She had made sure to wear a simple translucent robe over her dress, not feeling too comfortable with just the dress. Her eyes drifted to the ground before she heard the muffled words of her bodyguard. Her wary eyes reached Ko, who stood tensely.
"The daimyo has announced a dance."
"W-what do you mean? I d-d-don't know what to do."
Ko scanned the crowd.
"I do not either. This was not part of the plan."
Hinata placed her shimmery hands along her face, before feeling warmth along her neck and shoulder. She slowly dropped her hands and lifted her chin, her eyes meeting the sea green ones of Gaara. He looked uncomfortable, which was unusual but he met her eyes and regained his steel composure. His hand shook, she was sure it did, but he attempted to raise it near her hand.
"I do not dance. I train. Think of this as training. A mission."
Hinata smiled gently and nodded.
"I do not ask of you to join in this-"
Hinata placed her hands on her shoulders, shivering in utter nervousness and fear.
"W-w-will you train w-w-with me, then?"
Gaara's head sharply turned to face her, his eyes a storm of emotion before calming to nothing.
He did not respond with words but simply nodded.
"I am n-n-nervous, Gaara-san."
Gaara began to turn, letting his arm rise. She dropped her hands, her body moving slowly to keep pace with his. Her eyes never left his, the quivering easing to nothing as she lost herself in his gaze.
He mouthed silently words she needed to hear.
"I will protect you. Do you fear me?"
Hinata let her arm rise, her feet moving not of her own accord. She could not think in this moment, as her movements kept time with his and her hand moved closer to his own heated one.
"No." She whispered.
XXXXXX
"No." She whispered.
Gaara felt his body go weak and heat up at once, the burning fire rise up from his gut to his head. His chest felt tight, the breath hanging in his throat and lungs. He kept his heavy lidded eyes upon hers. The wide doe eyes watered over, the fire from around them reflecting in her luminescent eyes like beautiful jewels. He felt…lost, entranced. What was this feeling deep in his gut, rising in his chest and wanting to burn through his heart? His skin began to heat up and his eyes narrowed in deep focus.
He never noticed his body moving to close in the space between them, their breaths touching each other. The voices around them, the strings of the music, the laughter, the clinking of sake glasses, it all became static noise around him. Shukaku never once made himself known, not once but Gaara felt his presence like a buzzing in his mind.
He wanted to speak, to touch, to be able to feel her heartbeat under his palm and on his chest.
Sand drifted from his hand to wrap gently along her small wrist.
She dropped her lids in response, never closing her eyes.
He saw the pulse throb in her neck and her soft lips open, the breathing erratic when she released the air from her lungs. They were so close now, nearly touching.
He closed his eyes, letting his mind try to take control.
There is nothing but us.
No coup.
No politics.
No blood.
No past, only now.
XXXXXX
Hinata felt the warmth of his hand, the sand massaging her wrist and tickling along her pulse. Her eyes drifted down from the intense flames of his own. She didn't know how close they were until she saw him cock his head, his head angled and pale full lips so close to her own.
She felt her neck nearly drop back from the heavy feeling in her head and chest, threatening to spread everywhere. His breathing was hot on her neck and exposed collarbone. She lifted her head as soon as she heard his next words. She didn't know his face was so close to her own. His eyes weren't blank or cold like everyone thought. They were rolling with deep emotion.
"You make me feel human."
It was then, before she could speak, that the signal was given for the coup to begin.
Author Note: I apologize that this took so long! Writer's block was killing me and I have been doing voice lessons and doing practicing. Its been hectic. Read, review and let me know how this was.