Duality

Chapter Seven

-Dreams-

Gaara sat on his throne, though this time it was different. Everything seemed perfect and ethereal, and the light outside was almost too bright to be natural. But this didn't seem to matter to the king. There was an empty throne beside his and as he glanced at it, the doors opened to the front of the room. His jade depths focused forward and met beautiful emerald. Sakura walked in, dressed just like a human queen would be, in an elegant gown with a dazzling crown resting on her head. She smiled at him, and he couldn't help the flutter he felt in his stomach.

"Sakura." He rose from his spot and walked towards her. "You look so beautiful today."

She stopped before him, tilting her head back slightly to look up at him. "Well I had to look good enough to match my king." She said, reaching up and brushing some of his hair aside.

He smiled, for what seem like the first time in a while. "I think it's I who will always be trying to look as good as you."

She chuckled. "Let's just say we're an even match."

"I can agree to that." He smirked, cupping her cheek and looking over her in adoration. "I'm so glad you chose to stay with me."

Her smile widened. "How could I refuse? You're everything I've been looking for in a king." She told him, nuzzling into his hand as she placed hers over it. She kissed his palm. "I'm so glad you stumbled upon my kingdom."

"I am too." He leaned down and kissed her, savoring the sweetness of her lips. They both heard clapping and stiffened, before Gaara looked over Sakura's shoulder and saw the white haired man from the mirror. He forced Sakura behind him and drew his sword, pointing it at him. "You! What are you doing here?"

Kai smirked, not seeming intimidated in the least. "I just thought I'd drop by and point out how happy you are." he said, crossing his arms. "Being married to the demon queen and all."

Gaara's glare narrowed. "How did you get out? I thought you were sealed away."

"I am sealed away." The demon said, slowly walking towards the royal couple. "But through dreams, I can get out."

"Dreams?" he frowned. "What do you me-" he gasped when he sat up in bed and looked around in alarm. When all he was met with was darkness, he glanced at the mirror, hearing a dark laughter before barely catching the smirking face of the demon. Gaara glared at his reflection now, throwing the covers back and walking out onto his balcony.

He breathed out, taking in the scene of the nightscape. He just didn't understand why this demon was sending him dreams. And they weren't dreams of darkness or fear. They were only dreams of Sakura.

Sakura sighed as she sat in her throne, staring off at nothing. Her court was empty for the time being, most of the usual participants off learning how to use silverware. So far it was a hit with the upper demons, and Sakura knew it wouldn't be long until everyone was using the handy devices. She'd sent Tenten and Ino off to run some errands, and knew it would be a while before the blonde was back, since she usually stopped by to have sex with Kiba, one of the dog demons.

Tapping her fingers to her chin, the pink haired woman guessed it would be at least an hour before someone needed her. And so, wanting to use this time to the fullest, she rose, going back into her chambers and stopping before her scrying glass. Muttering a few words, she waved her hand over it, an image of Gaara appearing. He was sitting in his own throne, talking to two of his knights. He seemed bothered by something, and Sakura wished she could hear what he was saying. Despite the cute wrinkle in his brow and slight downturn of the corners of his lips, she wanted to know what it was that was upsetting him.

He rose then, dismissing the men before storming out of the throne room. She continued to watch him, her eyes widening in delight when he entered his chambers and began to strip. He went into his bathing room, getting into the tub there, which appeared to have recently been filled with warm water. Sakura watched him bathe in complete fascination, feeling herself become excited as images from their night together came to mind. She moaned in frustration. It felt like so long ago. For Gaara, it had only been a week, but for her, it had been a month and a half, and she longed for his touch more than she ever had. The only explanation she could think of for that was that now that she'd experienced what being with him was like, she wanted it even more, because it was a lot better than her fantasies had been.

Unable to take watching him any longer, she was about to clear the mirror when he rose from the bath. Gasping, Sakura gripped the edge and leaned over it, her emerald depths drinking in his form. A faint giggle reached her ears then, and she looked over to her vanity, frowning when Talia was in the reflection. "Go away Talia." She said, looking back at the redhead quickly so that she didn't miss anything. "I don't have time to deal with you right now, I'm busy."

"Busy watching your human love." She taunted with a wry smile.

"I don't love him." Sakura frowned, taking in Gaara's form one last time before making the image disappear. She rose and walked over to her mirror, sitting in her chair before the blonde's image. "He was an itch, and he was scratched. That is all."

Talia chucked, her smile turning into a smirk. "I don't believe itches linger that long. I know your dreams Sakura. You've seen yourself with him for all eternity. You've seen being a queen in the human realm and delighting in my sun."

"While I admit that your sun is enjoyable, that is the only part of what you say that is true. You know I cannot divine my own future." The pink haired woman replied.

"Your dreams are not only the future. They are your desires. Now…" Talia glanced off, appearing innocent. "I could possibly divine something mind blowing for you. A look into your future perhaps?"

She snorted. "Please, why would you offer to do something so nice for me? You loathe me." Her gaze narrowed suspiciously. "What's the benefit for you?"

Talia shrugged, facing Sakura once more. "No benefit. In my long captivity, maybe I have grown kinder and more humble."

The demoness looked off in thought. "Well…I suppose it wouldn't hurt anything." She said, returning her gaze to the blonde. "It's just one divination after all, I doubt you'll get anything good from it."

The blonde smiled, her expression darkening for a moment. "I am much more profound at the art than you give me credit for young sorceress." She said, before reaching forward, her hand going through the mirror and making it shimmer like ripples on a pond. Sakura's eyes widened in alarm, but Talia grabbed her head before locking her gaze with hers. Her amber depths burned a bright gold, and grew until Sakura was blinded by pure white.

She gasped and pulled away, only to be lost in nothing but empty white. She rubbed at her eyes, hoping it would go away, but froze when she heard something so sweet she could hardly believe it was real.

"Mommy! Mommy!"

She pulled her hands away from her face and saw she was in a beautiful garden. She looked away and gasped when a small redheaded boy ran up to her, holding his hands for her to pick him up. "Mommy!" he cried again, his dark jade depths watering when she just stared at him.

Not wanting him to cry, Sakura picked the boy up, confusion evident on her face. "Mommy?" she asked softly.

"Mom, dad won' play knights with me. All he eva does is play with Natty and Tomi." He pouted, puffing his cheeks out.

She blinked. "Natty and Tomi? There's more of you?"

His brow furrowed and he reached up, putting his hand on her forehead. "Are you okay Mommy? You're not acting like you."

"Yes, I'm okay." Sakura nodded, a slight smile coming to her face. "If you want, I can play knights with you sweetie." She said, running her fingers through his soft red locks, the way she'd always wanted to do to Gaara. "I'll be the damsel, and you can be my prince charming. How does that sound?"

"Great!" he grinned, showing off his teeth. "But, mommy would never be a damsel." He said, hugging her. "She's too great."

She laughed, hugging him back. "Yes, mommy is great. But since it's just make believe, we can pretend I'm a damsel. And you can do the one thing your father never did." She told him. "You can save me from a fierce dragon."

"Yay!" he cheered, and then suddenly the scene ripped away and it felt as if the wind had been knocked from her. Talia pulled her hand back, laughing darkly.

"Now, now. Don't be greedy Sakura."

Sakura placed her hand over her heart, gasping for the breath that had left her. "Was he really mine?" she asked softly, looking up at Talia. "And the others…Natty and Tomi, they were girls right? You didn't even let me see them." she complained.

Talia just sneered. "Perhaps I'm not as nice as I think. Quite a future you have, it's a shame you can't look into your own."

"Hmpf." Sakura crossed her arms. "I bet that wasn't even my future. For all I know you showed me a figment of my imagination."

Talia shrugged. "Believe what you want Sakura…but if you're curious…his name is Toshiro." She said with a devious smile. "And the twins, Satomi and Natsumi. Cute little girls with all your magical ability."

"Twins?" she asked, taken aback. "Twins are so rare…and lucky." She said to herself, beginning to picture her perfect family. She shook her head and rose. "It doesn't matter whether or not you showed me the truth. Gaara will not come back here, not on his own. And the only other way would be if Kai called him, and if that happens I'll just send him back."

"Can't you see we only mean to help you Sakura?" Talia sniffed, looking off as she appeared to be tearing up. "Just because we have to be separated for the rest of eternity, never to be with each other again, doesn't mean we don't want you to be happy."

"Oh cut the crap Talia." Sakura waved her off. "I've known you and Kai for centuries, even before I had to seal the two of you away. You don't care about me or my happiness, the two of you have only ever cared about yourselves. Besides," she placed her hands on her hips, "it doesn't mean anything unless Gaara comes here of his own free will. And I doubt he cares for me enough to do that, not after I left him."

"Why does he have to come for you?" the blonde asked. "You left him."

"I know that." she snapped with a glare. "Why else do you think it's unlikely he will come for me? It's not like I can go to him, not unless he gives me permission, and I doubt that will happen, nor do I wish to ask."

Talia rolled her eyes. "You really don't want to be happy do you?"

Sakura huffed. "What kind of a question is that? Of course I want to be happy." She said. "Look, all I've ever wanted was a knight in shining armor. Someone who would come after me, sweep me off my feet, no questions asked, and just…make me his. It's just hard because every man I meet is too intimidated by me." She sighed, sitting back down and rubbing her temple. "You're a woman Talia, you must understand my desire to have a man that will be the man in the relationship."

"I did not realize the human king had done anything short of valiant and manly deeds towards you." She said simply.

"The only manly thing he did was give me the best sex of my life." Sakura replied. "Anything else was when he was brought here by Kai, or when he figured out how to get here. And every time he was threatening me and trying to kill me."

The blonde sighed, "Fine. Be alone and miserable forever. Pass up your dream because you were too stubborn to call out to him." She said, before disappearing in a shimmer.

Sakura rolled her eyes and got up. Talia didn't know what she was talking about, the only man she'd ever been with was Kai. She didn't have any experience or knowledge of how the world worked, not since she'd been imprisoned for over a millennia. And there was nothing wrong with wanting Gaara to come after her. It was the only way she could be sure that he wanted her the way she wanted him, because from day one, she'd been the one doing all of the pursuing, and for once in her relationship with the redhead, she wanted to be the one who was pursued. Letting out a sigh, she flopped down on her bed, deciding to try and sleep. And as she dreamed, images of a beautiful little boy with his father's looks flitted across her mind, making her long for that life even more.