Suddenly, the music stopped and, at the top of the same staircase where Sakura had entered, my sister appeared. She looked stunning, like a Queen of Hearts, an imposing tyrant, accompanied by Suigetsu. He was unrecognizable, with his hair dyed vibrant colors, eccentric glasses and a top hat that looked like it had come out of a crazy tale. The Queen of Hearts and the Mad Hatter, together, as if the fantasy had come to life.
The DJ asked us to make room, as the two of them were about to share their first dance. I drifted along with Pakura and Tenten, trying to stay focused, but I couldn't help losing sight of Sakura and feeling like a real fool, searching the crowd for her pink hair.
Karin and Suigetsu were having fun, dancing with a vibrant energy. Even though my sister would never admit it out loud, he made her happy. Suigetsu talked non-stop, his enthusiasm was contagious, while Karin, although more reserved, had a unique way of choosing her words. She could be considered shy, but she always seemed to have something interesting to say, as if silence was just a mask for her intelligence.
And then, as if on cue, everyone started pulling their peers onto the dance floor. Finally, I found Sakura, but she wasn't alone. She was dancing with King Ay, who was... in a "Greek God" costume
***
- Do you want to dance? - I asked, watching Hinata blush violently. She hesitantly let go of her cousin's arm and took my hand. Neji called Tenten, and Pakura was pulled onto the dance floor by a guard in a werewolf costume.
Hinata said nothing, and I absent-mindedly watched Prince Darui waiting for an opportunity to ask Sakura to dance. He seemed to like her, or at least find her interesting.
- What do you think of the party, dear? - I asked Hinata, who turned as red as the tips of her ears. At first, I thought her shyness was adorable, but now it just seemed hard to bear.
- Lovely. The princess really understands decorating. - Her voice was soft, but I couldn't help feeling that something was out of place.
I danced two songs with Hinata, while Sakura danced three with King Ay. They were chatting animatedly, and that bothered me somehow. I wasn't used to such closeness between them. After a while, I pulled Pakura up to dance, and she took me by the arm, as if it was obvious that I would accept. She was provocative, biting her lips and giving me a cheeky look.
- I love rabbits! - she said with a mischievous grin as I spun her around.
- I'm not a big fan of peacocks. - She laughed; a charming, low laugh that made me feel a twinge of anxiety.
- You can worship me if you like. - She said, and I felt myself blush instantly. Pakura came so close that our bodies were pressed together. There was no more distance between us, and that made me nervous, even more so with Pakura's parents and sisters watching closely.
I danced to three songs with Pakura, but the thought of asking Sakura for a dance soon dissipated when I saw her in Darui's arms. Tenten, on the other hand, was a great dance partner. She made me laugh with her sarcastic remarks about all the costumes in the hall. Of all the people there, Tenten's company was undoubtedly the most enjoyable.
Sakura, however, always seemed to have other partners. As soon as the music finished, she had someone else waiting for her. First it was Darui, then Prince Killer, followed by C, King Mangetsu, Private Sasuke, Private Obit, and lastly Private Itachi. Her list of suitors seemed endless.
Karui and Ino were near the sweets table when I approached, and Ino's laughter reached me before I could say anything.
- Would you like to dance with me? - I asked Karui, and she said yes with a smile. I led her to the dance floor. If Sakura was my first place and Tenten my second, Karui was definitely my third. I loved her irreverent manner and her acid jokes. Her sincerity charmed me.
Then I danced with Ino and, to be honest, it wasn't such a pleasant experience. Ino and I simply had no chemistry. It seemed that our only goal was to bore each other.
When I finished dancing with Ino, I saw Sakura denying a guard's request and coming towards me. Her lips curved into a charming smile and her eyes sparkled, looking pleased. When I realized that she was, in fact, coming towards me, I lost my breath. It shouldn't have been so surprising, but at the same time, I couldn't help the feeling of awe. Every time I thought I knew everything about Sakura, something about her changed, and I found myself falling in love all over again with the new details that emerged.
- Prince rabbit? - she called softly. - Would you like to dance with me?
She had already danced with several men in that hall: princes, kings, Uchihas, bastards... I could have let my pride speak louder, but when she offered me that brief moment at her side, I had no choice but to accept.
- Of course. - I said, taking her hand and leading her onto the dance floor. The music started to play, slow and soft. She pulled me so close that I could smell the sweet cherry scent emanating from her soft hair, brushing against my cheek.
- I wondered if I could at least have a dance with you. - I commented, trying to sound playful. - You've danced with so many princes tonight that I thought you'd forgotten all about me.
Sakura smiled without saying a word, and the silence between us was comfortable. I smiled back and pulled her a little closer. We were in a small universe, where the rest of the world seemed to disappear. Forget the angels, the gods, the shining harps... Paradise, in fact, was being in the arms of your true love.
***
I remembered the priestesses of the temple at home, always so immaculate, dressed in their pristine white kimonos, fulfilling the sacred mission of taking our messages to the Gods. Something about the kimono I was given made me think of them, but there was a clear difference: the priestesses weren't forced to squeeze themselves into a corset that accentuated their curves. Their kimonos never left their shoulders exposed, so as to provoke the men, and their robes didn't have a slit that went up to the thigh, revealing more than was necessary. No, the temple priestesses were different. Compared to them, I felt vulgar.