Chapter 10

The three girls woke just as the sun set and bolted for the elevator, leaving the apartment as it was. There was no time to waste on unimportant tasks; the three of them needed to get to Suna before Ino and Karin found them. The walk to the old train tracks that would have taken Sakura an hour under normal circumstances took them only twenty minutes as they ran at top speed. Their exhaustion was gone, replaced by a grim determination that propelled them forward, fuelled by the moon's silver rays. But Sakura was distracted.

Images of Sasuke kept flashing before her eyes: how cold he was, the way he had looked at her like she was a stranger to him, the way he had hated her. Sakura growled as her vision blurred with tears and shook head in an attempt to clear it but failed. She heard the sound of Sasuke's growling ring through her head, low and menacing and terrifying, it brought goose bumps to her skin. Sakura stumbled and fell forward before her companions caught her arms and helped her back to her feet. She smiled appreciatively and snarled at herself. That wasn't Sasuke. That was someone else. She tried to convince herself but doubt kept tugging at the corner of her mind.

Tar and road turned to grey, white and brown gravel that crunched under their bare feet as the tall buildings grew fewer, replaced by tall trees, and disappeared as they run along the tracks that were overgrown with weeds and grass, the surrounding trees bathing the place in dark shadows. Sakura stopped them in front of the carriage where she had first met Gaara and suddenly felt sick when she wondered if he had managed to escape unharmed. Memories of how he had kissed her at the Summit hall made her blush as she stepped lightly into the cool darkness and began to search for the entrance to the Hidden Sand.

She couldn't deny that kissing him had felt right, good even, but she pinched herself guiltily. She was supposed to be with Sasuke wasn't she? She loved him didn't she? I do, she didn't even have to try and convince herself of that. But he doesn't love me... there was no doubt in her mind that whatever love he had once had for her was gone now, twisted by Ino's powers, and Sakura felt her heart break all over again as she searched for the entrance that would lead them to Gaara and safety, her tears hidden by the darkness.

A dark hole in the carriage's floor caught her eye and upon further investigation, Sakura discovered a dark staircase leading down into the ground. The Village Hidden in the Sand.

"I found it," she called to her companions and they joined her sides, gazing down into the blackness cautiously, wordlessly and following Sakura's lead, descended into the darkness. The tunnel they followed was made from hardened clay and stone, and was damp and humid. They walked for what felt like ages before the tunnel opened up into a huge underground cavern, similar to the Leaf but made from hollowed clay and stone. Similar enormous crystals decorated the high ceiling, but instead of being green, they were golden. The architecture of the buildings was different too, Sakura noticed.

A small and pretty vampire with short brown hair approached them with wide and innocent eyes. "You're from the Leaf," she stated, taking in the dried blood and scars on their bodies with concern and curiosity and Tenten nodded, causing the girl's large doe eyes to widen further.

"Come quickly," she said in a hushed voice, taking off quickly in the direction of the village. "The Kazekage has been waiting for you." Sakura and her companions followed her down winding sandy roads and between oddly circular shaped houses. The way the vampires here were dressed on top of the surroundings made Sakura think of an enormous clan of desert nomads.

It's hot here, Sakura thought, glad for the tears in her gown now as a drop of sweat ran down her forehead. Her dress felt heavy and restrictive, and the heavy fabric and bodice around her torso added to the heat and her discomfort.

They stopped in front of a large and wide building, circular like the others and made from the same, light brown clay. The girl led them from the lobby and up a flight of stairs to a doorless arch that opened up onto a wide balcony and Gaara turned to face them, dressed formally in deep maroon robes with a leather vest over his torso and black pants underneath. His pale gaze fell on Sakura with relieved astonishment and she rushed to him, relieved that he was unharmed, and embraced him tightly, burying her head into his shoulder and sobbing as she released all of the pain and feelings she had bottled inside of herself from the very beginning, finally allowing herself to grieve over Sasuke and the loss of her old life.

"You're here," Gaara breathed into her hair softly, holding her shaking arms gently and casting an apologetic look at the three vampires watching them in bewilderment. "Matsuri," he called and the small brunette pulled her large stunned eyes away from Sakura and straightened up enthusiastically, "Yes, Kazekage!"

"Take Sakura's friends to the living quarters I had prepared for them," he instructed her and Tenten sighed with relief, "Finally, a shower," and Hinata smiled gratefully as Matsuri led them away, leaving Gaara and Sakura alone. When Gaara was certain of this, he wrapped his arms around Sakura fully and held her tighter. "What happened, Sakura? Why do you look like this?" he asked in a low voice and Sakura calmed herself before answering.

"The Yamanaka Clan planned this revolt from the very beginning," she said in a small voice and Gaara snarled. "I think... I think the three of us were the only ones who managed to escape," Sakura fought back sobs, "Sasuke... They hypnotized Sasuke, and now he's the enemy, and I think they hypnotized others." Sakura couldn't continue and Gaara released her and offered her his hand. "Walk with me, Sakura." Sakura blinked and wiped away her tears before taking it.

He led her down a short flight of stairs at the end of the balcony and through the streets in silence. Sakura was glad for this because it allowed her calm her mind and recompose herself. They stopped outside of a small apartment building and Gaara led her up the steps to the top apartment and opened the door for her. The apartment was small, cosy, and definitely well furnished.

"You are under protective custody now and this is where you'll be staying," he explained before Sakura could ask, "Your friends are on the floors below you so they'll be close should you need them." Sakura looked at how terrible she looked through a mirror hanging on the wall opposite her and surprised herself when she giggled. "I need a shower." She turned to Gaara with wide eyes, "Will you wait here for me?" He frowned at the unexpected question but nodded and Sakura made her way to the bathroom.

xxxxxxx

Karin admired the small clay bird resting in Deidara's outstretched hand while the blonde grinned. "And how big did you say the explosion would be, again?" She asked with fascination at how such a tiny creature could be so destructive and Deidara grinned boyishly as he brushed his long fringe from his eyes, "This baby could blow up more than half a Hidden Village, depending on size of course." He tucked the bird away into a pocket in his cloak. "It's truly a work of art." He stated, turning to face the door with a dry expression, "I have business with Sasori now." Karin waved him off, sniggering at his facial expression with amusement as he left, and hastily made her way to find Ino and deliver the information she had.

She found the blonde where she normally was when she wasn't busy ruling over the Leaf with her father: Sasuke's room, lounging on his bed.

Sasuke was lying on his back and Ino lay on top of him, dressed only in her white lace underwear, her head buried in the crook between his neck and shoulder while he lightly stroked the smooth skin of her back with his fingertips, his face impassive.

Karin watched the scene in front of her with envy, admiring her friend's slender figure and closed the door behind her as the blonde's blue eyes opened slowly, catlike. "What is it, Karin," she asked softly. Sasuke turn to look at the redhead as well, his face blank and emotionless. So obedient, her mind cooed.

"I have news on Sakura," Karin shrugged and Ino watched her, listening intently through half-lidded eyes. "We've searched her apartment and we found traces of the three of them being there, but then the trail goes cold after that."

"She wasn't there?" Ino asked in a quiet voice and Karin nodded apologetically. "Then she's fled to either the Hidden Mist or Sand." Ino stated and Karin agreed. "We have reason to believe they have."

Ino sat up so that she was straddling Sasuke's waist with her hands pressing against his chest to hold herself up. "I want spies sent in, to both. Find out which one. I need to know where she's hiding." Karin grinned at her friend, who grinned back. "It will be done, Ino"

"Good," she said, climbing off of Sasuke and pulling her clothes back on. "Where are you going?" Karin asked curiously as Ino snapped her fingers and Sasuke immediately moved to the blonde's side as she headed for the door. "Come with me and you'll see. It's a surprise," she winked.

Karin raised an eyebrow at her friend's cryptic reply but grinned and followed nonetheless. The main Uchiha mansion was enormous, which was why Ino had chosen it as their base. Among other reasons, Karin thought to herself, with an evil smirk at Sasuke walking beside her, as they followed the blonde down corridor after corridor.

Karin knew where they were going. They were going to the Yamanaka's side of the mansion, where all the captives were forced into submission through mind control. Karin looked around at all the attractive figures around her, blue-eyed and blonde like Ino, and winked seductively at a particularly attractive boy with long hair like Deidara's, only paler. The boy winked back at her and Karin continued after Ino, a conceited smile on her face. Her red hair had always made her stand out from all the others. But Sakura's hair is pink, even more unusual than red. Maybe that's why Sasuke liked her better, the voice in her head hissed and Karin growled.

Ino stopped in front of an intricately carved wooden door and waited for it to open before stepping through it. Karin and Sasuke followed and Karin bowed her head respectfully at Ino's father in the corner.

"Are they ready?" Ino demanded and her father nodded wearily, "It took longer to break them than expected without the help of your friend's powers," he said, gesturing at Karin, "But it is done."

"Take me to them," Ino commanded imperiously and her father bowed and led her to a door in the far corner. Karin sniggered at how strange it was that the father was bowing for the daughter as opposed to the other way around, and followed.

The door opened and Ino clapped with delight while Sasuke gazed blankly at the two figures standing in the doorway. Karin couldn't help but smile nastily as she imagined what the traitors' faces would look like after seeing her and Ino's two new pawns. "This is fantastic, Ino," she breathed and Ino nodded and smiled triumphantly.

"This is perfect."

xxxxxxx

Sakura stepped into the joined living room and kitchen, dressed in light and airy desert clothes, comfortable but also fit for battle, and found Gaara waiting from her on the couch with a bored expression on his face as he watched the window through the front door.

"I didn't take that long, did I?" Sakura teased and Gaara gave her a ghost of a smile as he stood and Sakura joined him in the living room. She didn't doubt that she looked a lot better than she had when she had arrived earlier. Her arms were still lined with surprisingly well-healed cuts and dark bruises but she had washed away the dried blood and dirt from battle. Battle. The thought made her flinch. She had removed the left over stones and crushed flowers from her long hair. The clothes she had found in her room were a loose white tank top that exposed her stomach slightly, cream-brown shorts, and black combat boots that were identical to the ones she had left behind in the Leaf.

Gaara looked down at her arms with a sad expression when Sakura reached him and he brushed her injuries gently with his fingertips. "I should have stayed with you," he murmured and Sakura's breath hitched with surprise. "What-"

"Did, Sasuke do this to you?" He asked in a low voice, frowning, turning her hand delicately over in his as he examined the black and purple bruising on her palm and wrist, like it was something precious and delicate like glass. "Yes, but he wasn't himself!" Sakura squeaked defensively and Gaara didn't lift his eyes. "I know," he said softly and his grip on her arm tightened. "But if I'd been there I would have been able to protect you..." he trailed off releasing her hand and Sakura looked up into his face with concern. "Gaara?"

"He tried to kill you, Sakura."

Gaara pressed his lips to hers, his arms wrapped around her waist to pull her to him and Sakura gasped with surprise before she sighed into his mouth, her eyes closing and her hands instinctively moving up to twine around his neck as his mouth moved over hers. When they parted, Gaara leaned his forehead against hers.

"I will do whatever it takes to protect you," he whispered, watching her with sincere and deadly-serious eyes. "Even if it costs me my life." Sakura sighed and closed her eyes, her voice was bitter.

"Sasuke said that too."

"And he would have kept that promise if that Yamanaka girl hadn't altered him." Gaara murmured and Sakura could feel his cool breath fan across her cheeks. "I know," she whispered and buried her face into his neck, feeling happier and lighter inside, like Gaara was the sun and his rays were warming her from the inside out. But images of Sasuke haunted her once again, his hate, his coldness, and Ino's malice. Sakura tried to push the thoughts away but they won't leave her head and Tenten's voice kept ringing through her mind.

"They're the enemy."

Sasuke's the enemy...