- Darling, you can't pull me like that in the presence of the Queen.
- You have to see, she insisted.
Ino, Mrs. Momi and Karui were talking and laughing away from the Queen. That seemed extremely suspicious to me. What were they talking about that made Karui stand next to Ino while she could have been there, just a few steps away from the Queen?
Moegi took me to the window and pointed outside.
- It's Grandpa.
I looked beyond the bushes and saw three figures. The first was my father, calm and serene, smiling. The second, my brother, was talking and gesturing with his hands, as if explaining something. The third, Naruto, in his light suit, paused briefly before answering.
Pain gestured some more. After a pause, Naruto replied something that made my brother take two steps back. My father laughed, shook Naruto's hand and patted him on the back. Then my father put his hand on Naruto's shoulder, as he used to do with Pain, as he used to do with me. And Naruto seemed to like it a lot.
We waited to see if Naruto would talk to another girl's father. If he did, it wasn't in the garden.
***
The party was as impressive as all of Karin's previous ones. The hall was decorated in shades of red and black, with decorations on the walls, bats hanging from the ceiling, glasses, plates and even the food, all with a subtle touch of gold. Nothing was less than magnificent.
The vibrant sound of pop music filled the room, but in the corner of the hall, a small band was waiting to play the traditional dances that a royal birthday required. Photo and video cameras were scattered all over the place, and I knew that this party would be part of our newspaper's program the next day.
The costumes were spectacular.
Karui and Ino looked like they had even accidentally combined them. They were standing together in a corner, and the combination between them was even more obvious. Ino wore long, shiny wings made of shimmering fabric that extended behind her. Her white dress, with what looked like stars woven into the hem, fluttered with the movement of her legs.
Next to her, Karui wore a short dress of deep black, like the densest darkness in the sky. A tiara of black flowers, delicately sprinkled with gold, blended with a pair of horns, and her heavy make-up highlighted her golden eyes, while gold glitter kissed her tempting shoulders. The guards looked at her twice, not knowing if they were frightened or simply dazzled.
The two of them laughed and joked with Ino's parents, who had decided not to dress up. I was happy to see Karui in such high spirits, especially as she was there alone, while all the others had their families by their sides.
Pakura looked stunning in a long greenish-pink dress made of feathers, and her hair was tied up in a braided bun, adorned with peacock feathers. Her red lips and the look she gave me when she saw me made me blush.
Tenten, on the other hand, was wearing the funniest costume of the evening. She wasn't sexy or adorable, but her corpse bride costume was impeccable, and the three monsters accompanying her made me laugh.
Tenten's three brothers were disguised as vampires, werewolves and mummies, and they didn't get out of their roles even when they greeted me, receiving my greeting with howls, grunts and one even asking me what type my blood was.
- My prince," said Tenten, bowing, and as she did so, Pakura approached too. When she leaned towards me, I caught a tantalizing glimpse of her pale breasts through the feathered neckline.
- A rabbit? - Tenten asked, tilting her head to the side.
I took my watch out of my vest pocket.
- Alice's rabbit! - exclaimed Pakura, excitedly, as she solved the riddle.
- That's right.
Hinata appeared, dazzling, as she approached us, arm in arm with her cousin Neji. Her purplish silk dress was an exaggeration compared to the discreet clothes she usually wore. The long, puffy sleeves were dramatic, and I was struck by the way she walked with that huge, white wig full of embellishments.
She was paler than usual and had vampire fangs, while her lips were painted in black lipstick, with a drop of blood, as if she had fed on some unfortunate. A vampire from the Victorian era. Neji, also dressed as a Victorian vampire, matched her perfectly.
Scattered around the hall, relatives and friends were also in costume, even the guards, who were in their formal uniforms.
Prince Gaara was dressed as a baseball player, Kankuro as a cowboy, King Onoki in a black suit, with his few remaining hairs combed back, and a badge that read "I am Orochimaru". Princess Kurotsuchi was dressed as a geisha, running after Prince Darui, who was dressed as a zombie.
It was then that I saw her. Sakura Haruno appeared at the top of the stairs, like a dream repeated a million times. Her long, curly, wavy hair was the only thing loose at the party.
The white dress was almost overshadowed by Sakura's perfectly embroidered flowers. The corset looked more like armor, and when she turned to speak to her father, I saw the sword attached to her waist. She was dressed like a samurai, a true warrior. No costume could suit her better.
Her beauty was magnetic, like the attraction of the greatest planets. It wasn't just her appearance, but something that emanated from within her. She shone, sparkled, not because of jewelry or glitter, because she wore none of that. She was radiant because she seemed happy, at peace with herself, with being there and being who she was.
Soon, Karui and Ino found her and led her onto the dance floor. Sakura was swaying with contagious joy, laughing and giggling, and I couldn't take my eyes off her. It was impossible, at that moment, to imagine that I could love another woman. I would never be able to do that again. Not after her. Not as long as Sakura walked the same earth. As long as she existed, no one else would have a place in my heart.