Here we are, ladies and gents: my latest multi-chaptered fic. At your request. While I'm hoping this doesn't get as long as Yearning for Change was, I can tell this shall be quite lengthy.
As will this author's note =3
Just a few things to clear up:
Vampires don't sparkle. If you expect them to, you're in the wrong place. Also, I believe them to be feral creatures wrapped in beautiful features, so you shall be seeing a lot of territory-osity, growling, snarling, scenting, etc. Also, I like the idea of shapeshifting—go figure. My ideas are probably a bit different from yours, but bear with me; they won't be all powerful, but they'll be pretty damn cool ^^
As for the stuffy way Konan speaks: she is centuries old so it's only natural that she speak like a gentleman/woman. My creatures of the night shall act in accordance to what time period they were "born" in and many of them shall resist modernization.
Each chapter shall be named after a song that belongs to the band listed below it. Thank you for understanding that these lyrics are not my own.
Also, there're going to be a few subjects I'll be writing about that may or may not offend (I'm expanding my horizons in a way). I'll issue a warning at the beginning of the chapter as to the content so look out for that.
Disclaimer—Not only do I not own Naruto, I don't own any of the songs, movies, games, etc that are mentioned here. Shocking, no?
Now that all the technical stuff is over with, Supreme Distraction and co. brings you…
The Beast Within Beauty
"We don't like what we don't understand, in fact it scares us, and this monster is mysterious at least..."
—The Mob Song; Beauty and the Beast
The building was a threatening presence—dark, silent, and gloomy—looming over those who dared to enter.
Or, it was to Temari Kaze, anyway.
"You spend way too much time here," the sandy-blonde groused, blue-green eyes focused warily on said building in all its beige-walled glory. The sign above the doorway read "Library" in flowing cursive.
"Temari, I come here once a week," her companion and reason for her being anywhere near this place, Ino Yamanaka said, tone distinctively amused.
The older girl gave her closest friend her best you-can't-really-mean-that look. "That's more than you need. Trust me."
Ino just laughed, the automatic doors parting with an audible 'hiss', the rush of air conditioning towards the balmy outside air causing her long blonde ponytail to dance. "With how lazy you are, Tema, I'm amazed you do so well in school."
She laughed some more when the sandy-blonde hugged her arm, leaned into her, assumed a wounded expression and whined, "That really hurts, Ino. How could you even begin to think that about me?"
Ino rolled her eyes, heading for the back where the desks were located. Temari released her and dragged a chair over,—the wooden legs making an obnoxiously loud screeching sound as she did so—straddling it backwards opposite of her companion. She watched for a moment as Ino began to pull papers out of the messenger bag she had slung over her shoulder.
"What'cha studying?"
"Latin." Clear blue eyes scanned the sheet, reading over the notes that had been written in neat bubble letters.
"Oh, you're taking that this semester? I was thinking I'd try that later. Is it easy?"
"It's certainly interesting," the blonde answered vaguely.
"Interesting shminteresting," Temari scoffed. "That isn't what I asked you, Yamanaka." When Ino didn't say anything, the older girl stared intently. After a beat of silence, she grinned. "Is he hot?"
A single blonde eyebrow rose at that. "How is it that you immediately assume that there's a guy involved?"
Which was the equivalent of a "yes" in Ino—something Temari had become quite fluent in over the years.
"Well, God, Ino, if you don't want me interfering with you and this hottie, I won't take the class!"
"But there isn't," Ino began, but decided not to bother. Once the sandy-blonde made up her mind, one was hard pressed to dissuade her.
The truth was, that there was a guy—a pale, dark-haired male by the name of Sasuke Uchiha—and he was attractive. But her heart raced when he was around for a totally different reason: fear.
There was just something about the male that made her body tense and her palms sweat.
Maybe she was being paranoid, but she really didn't want her best friend around him.
"Earth to Ino?" Despite the playfulness in her voice, her expression was concerned. "Sorry… I didn't upset you, did I?"
She couldn't help but smile as Temari stared at her chest—as though she could see through the cloth, muscles, flesh, and skin that covered her heart. The older girl was perpetually lighthearted—"A serious Temari is a boring Temari," she had said once—and flirty, so she never failed to warm Ino when she went all worried and gentle.
"I'm fine, Tema. Old ticker's still ticking away." When the sandy-blonde's expression remained uncertain, she made a show of rolling her eyes and groaning in exasperation. "I'm not going to get anything done with you around. Why don't you go read one of those trashy romance novels you're so fond of?"
"They aren't trashy," Temari defended immediately, already rising. "Call me if you need me, babe."
"I will."
"Study hard!" she called, walking backwards amongst the shelves.
"I will."
"Be good!"
She had to raise her voice. "I will!"
"I love you!" Temari's voice could be heard clearly from across the building.
"Shhhhhh!" hissed the librarian who had come to investigate the disturbance in the peace.
Ino had to bite her lip to keep from laughing as she turned her attention back to her notes.
~o~
Amegakure; Big Spooky Castle, 2:00AM
"The hour is late, even for one of our kind," Sasori murmured, his face a mask of disinterest as he studied well manicured nails.
"Surely we have dawdled here for long enough," Deidara agreed, pushing the long blonde bang that covered the left side of his face (the rest was pulled back into a high ponytail) to reveal what appeared to be a mechanized eye-patch that extended from his ear to the bridge of his nose.
"Be silent," a voice commanded—this one female. "Both of you."
Both males bowed their head as a blue-haired woman dressed as they were—a billowing black cloak that covered the lower half of their faces when zipped all the way up with a rose complete with a stem and thorns in silver wrapped around a crescent moon printed about mid-thigh—emerged from the room they had been waiting in front of, the thick double doors sweeping shut behind her. A chandelier hung from the ceiling, the dozens of candles that replaced light bulbs reflecting dimly off of the polished marble floor and making the tiny stud just under her full bottom lip glitter.
Without another word, she began crossing the room, her booted footsteps echoing loudly in the silence, forcing the two to follow.
"Lady Konan?"
"Not now, Deidara," she said sharply, waving his words away with an impatient flick of her wrist.
Deidara sighed, sharing a knowing look with the red-head.
Her mood—the sharpness and the less than silent gait—could only mean one thing.
"The Vampire Council has approached you on the subject of a Mate once more then?" Cool, level-headed Sasori wasn't one for hesitation, but he'd be damned if the set of the female's shoulders didn't make him wary.
"Correct." That single, disgusted utterance was punctuated by the 'thud' of the heavy brass handled doors as they opened to allow the trio to exit the entrance hall seemingly of their own accord. Once they were clear, the doors slammed shut. It was drizzling as it usually was in Amegakure.
"And your stand on the matter remains the same," Deidara continued.
She gave him a curt nod, her swift footsteps sending the pebbles that made up the driveway in all directions. "Sasori," she said suddenly, rounding on the male.
If there was any doubt that the bluette was annoyed, it was gone now: cobalt eyes had gone midnight blue, cat-like pupils thinned down to pinpricks.
Sasori started—what could have the normally patient, calm female so worked up? "My Lady?" he responded, taking care to keep the surprise from his voice.
"We shall require blood bags. See to it that the house is stocked."
Blood bags were just as they were called: bags of blood. Normally, their kind Fed directly from humans, but on occasion, they were unable to Hunt or, in some cases, newly Turned vampires refused to drink from the source. Thus, the prettied up version of Feeding was handy.
He inclined his head. "Guests, My Lady?"
Konan's jaw clenched, her eyebrows drawing together minutely as she whirled and resumed storming across the yard. "No. A new housemate."
The males shared another look, this one confused. This was a bad thing?
"New blood for the Coven," Deidara began. "Is that not a good thing?"
"The Council has assigned a Fledgling to my care," Konan bit out. "A child vampire. What is it that I have done to deserve this?"
"It is an honour—"
"There are other more capable than I," the bluette growled. "Females who would nurture this creature as if it were their own blood. Make no mistake: this is a punishment for turning down that arrogant, presumptuous cur…!"
It was then that the three came upon horses; a huge, muscular sorrel Clydesdale with white stockings and a star at the center of its forehead, a roan Arabian with a black mane and stockings, and a Friesian that was dwarfed by the two with a pure black coat that looked almost bluish in the muted sunlight.
"I assume you speak of Councilman Hidan?"
"Hidan…" Konan seethed, hissing the name like one would a curse. "He's pursued me for years now with no avail and still he persists."
"You must admit: his perseverance is admirable," Deidara joked, hoping to lighten the mood.
His efforts were rewarded with a dark look from the female as she mounted the Friesian and took up the reigns. "Nothing about that male is worth commendation. I would… I would rather Mate a human," she added, tone derisive. "My fondest wish is that he burns in Hell for all of eternity."
"Harsh words," Sasori chuckled, mounting his Clydesdale. The beast was easily twenty hands.
The blonde hesitated, however, reaching up to stroke the Arabian's forelock. "Perhaps the Council members prove a point," he said slowly.
"What do you mean?" Konan asked, face a mask of calm despite the challenge in her tone.
"You are at prime Mating age, you lead your own Coven, and are of Aristocrat blood," Deidara elaborated. "Blue blood—the highest class among our own. You could have a line of suitors and yet—"
"I want none of it." Deep blue eyes became hazy as though she was seeing something beyond her surroundings for all of four seconds. Then, they snapped back into focus, hardening. "I have tried to take a Mate before—" She paused. "Never again. I've no wish to settle down; I have my Coven—my brothers in arms—and that is all I require."
"Situations change, Lady Konan," Sasori chided, sensing the sadness that the bluette couldn't hide completely.
"The living change all the quicker," the female replied, spurring her horse into a canter.
The males traded yet another look as she drew out of sight.
It appeared they would have to take matters into their own hands before the Council decided that asking nicely wasn't going to work.
And so it begins…