Temerity
Chapter One
-Miscreant-
Six dark haired males sat at a round table, their crimson eyes full of wisdom and irritation at the situation they were being forced to deal with. Each of them had a different black design in their red depths, since it was distinctive for each individual in their clan. "We can't ignore it anymore." One spoke, a frown marring his features.
"We haven't been ignoring it." Another spoke angrily, glaring across the table. He had dark stress lines on his face, obvious from the downcast expression he wore most of the time. "Hajime isn't exactly easy prey."
"Well he is in your sector Fugaku. We thought this would be handled by now." A man with longer, spikier black hair than the others said.
One of the younger men scoffed. "I don't see you doing anything about it either Madara, and it borders with your own sector. So you're equally as useless."
"Sasuke." The man beside him sighed. The two looked similar, though he looked more like the man with the stress lines, as he had his own. "There's no need to be so condescending."
"Well it's true." Sasuke grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at the others.
"Alright, everybody just calm down." The last of the six sighed. "Izuna, Madara, please calm yourselves. No one is intentionally letting this psychopath go freely." He spoke, giving them room to intrude. When neither did he continued, "Fugaku, do you have any information on Hajime? Kakashi said he might have seen him in my own district. Do we know if he is still there for sure?"
Fugaku shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose as he glared at the table. "No. He's slipping through the cracks and none of my police can seem to pin him down."
Izuna, the first one who'd spoken, cleared his throat, looking around the table. "It seems we need find someone who can track him and either bring him in or kill him. Whichever is more possible."
"He's getting stronger." Itachi informed them. "I think he's going after the Vampire Shards."
Everyone stiffened. "He wouldn't." Madara hissed, baring his fangs.
"There has to be a reason why he's able to be so evasive to our forces. We're the Vampire Police. We don't miss much, especially our own kind." Itachi argued. "And one's missing. It looks like he's going to be hitting each district."
"If he gets every single shard…" Obito frowned.
"We will be forced into servitude." Izuna said lowly. "By the new Vampire King."
They all hissed, looking around the shadows as if even mentioning the first vampire would bring him back into being. Fugaku slammed his fist on the table. "No! We destroyed that gem for a reason. We will not let it be reformed. It has already been proven that one man cannot rule us all."
Obito nodded. "Especially not by some sick bastard who killed his own brother."
Sasuke leaned back in his chair, looking off as he rested his folded hands on the table. "Isn't he…descended from the Vampire King of Old?" he asked, glancing back at the other heads.
"Yes." Madara clipped. "Which is why the piece of filth thinks he is worthy."
"He also killed the human mate of his brother, her child too." Izuna seethed, appearing disgusted. It didn't matter that they were vampires, killing a defenseless woman was sickening no matter what.
Fugaku pursed his lips together, "The child's body was never found."
"Well it couldn't have survived an onslaught like that. Not to mention a half-breed could never have lasted this long without being discovered." Madara argued.
"Look!" Sasuke finally barked, baring his fangs at the elders. "I have a suggestion for someone we could send to find him. My grandsons are very capable. I would send my son, but he guards the shard in my sector. Seeing as they are what Hajime is after, I need him to protect it. I have two other grandsons who we can send to guard the others, or just for extra protection. But the two I have in mind would be able to take Hajime. Noriaki, the one I think most of you have heard of, is one of the strongest, most capable vampires alive, and that includes us. The other is Sanosuke. He's a young vampire, but he's extremely clever, and has never failed a task I have put before him." He informed them, seeing that they were all listening. When nobody disagreed, he continued. "I say we send them both and focus on protecting the shards while they do so."
The group remained quiet, Fugaku and Itachi exchanging a glance while Izuna and Madara consulted with one another softly. They straightened and met Sasuke's gaze, "If we didn't know any better, it seems like you are trying to further your own agenda young one. Why should we send one from your direct line and not our own?" Madara asked.
Izuna nodded. "Madara and I are the first two created vampires, so why don't we send our own spawn."
Obito scoffed. "What a stupid accusation." He glared at them. "We are all from the same line you old fools. None of us seek our own glory, we just want this traitor captured and destroyed before our world turns to chaos and takes the human world down with it. The rise of a new Vampire King would cause friction between both worlds, which will only result in destruction. No one wants that. I second the plan from the young one."
Sasuke rolled his eyes. He hated being called the young one. Sure he was the youngest of the heads, but he was nearly five hundred years old, and Madara and Izuna were only nine hundred, so it wasn't like he was wet behind the ears. Fugaku nodded as well. "I concede to the plan as well." He lifted his hand to join Obito. Itachi did the same, and the four looked to the elders, who frowned with displeasure.
"I only hope these two can get the job done." Izuna warned. "Because we are running out of options."
Sasuke nodded, taking a deep breath. "I will inform them of this great task and the trust that they have received from you."
They all nodded before standing from their chairs, lifting their hands to their mouths and biting down with their fangs to draw blood. They held their hands over their glasses of wine and let the red life drip into the mixture. When they finished, each shifted their glass to the right and then picked up the new glass, drinking the contents. With the final ceremony complete the six went their separate ways, Sasuke staring forward as he tried not show his worry of what were to happen if his grandsons failed.
Sasuke walked up the steps of a glorious mansion. It was a lavish abode, decorated beautifully even on the outside. He knocked loudly on the door, waiting until one of the maids answered. She was dressed in black, with a white apron and white headband. Her black hair contrasted with her pale skin, and she stepped aside, allowing him entrance. "Master Sasuke. It is always good to see you." She said, shutting the door and locking it behind him.
"Your son is this way." She said, leading him from the foyer and into one of the main living rooms. When they came to a set of double doors, the maid knocked and waited until she received permission to enter. She opened the door and allowed Sasuke in, before leaving the two vampires to their privacy.
There sitting on one of the couches together was a dark haired man who looked much like Sasuke, though his hair was a bit spikier and his eyes a brilliant forest green instead of the elder vampire onyx. Beside him was a gorgeous pink haired woman, her jade depths dazzling to anyone who caught a glimpse. "Sasuke." Natsumi smiled, her fangs showing, though it only added to her dangerously beautiful look. "How nice of you to stop by. May we offer you some tea?"
"No thank you Natsumi. I do not plan on staying long." Sasuke sighed, taking a seat on the opposite couch from the pair. "As you both may know, I have recently come from a clan meeting."
Akito nodded. "Yes, I'm assuming you brought us news?"
He frowned. "Hajime has become an even bigger threat, and we have decided to act upon it by sending out two of our most promising younglings to hunt him down, while we focus on protecting our individual Vampire Shards."
"But father, I am the guardian of ours, I cannot-"
"Don't be so self-centered Akito, I am not speaking about you." Sasuke growled, making his son's mouth snap shut in surprise.
Natsumi frowned, lacing her fingers together in her lap. "You don't mean…" she trailed off, her gaze slanting into a glare. "No." she said sharply. "I forbid it. They are still young."
"They may be young, but they are more than capable. And this is their chance to prove themselves." Sasuke told her.
"You know they'd be more than willing Natsumi." Akito said.
"I said no." she hissed, bearing her fangs at the both of them before standing and storming out of the room.
Akito looked to his father. "You're still going to tell them, aren't you?"
"Of course I am. Natsumi may say no all she wants, she cannot go against the entire council of Uchiha heads." Sasuke said, picking up a bell and ringing it. The maid from earlier entered the room, bowing before looking to the elder Uchiha.
"Yes Master Sasuke?" she asked.
"Bring me Noriaki and Sanosuke. I do not care if Natsumi tells you otherwise, I must speak with them." he ordered.
She bowed once more. "Yes Master Sasuke." She said, before leaving the room.
Akito shook his head. "Natsumi will not be happy about this."
"I do not care about your mate's happiness. She cannot coddle them any longer. Noriaki is already seventy, and Sanosuke sixty-eight. It's time they started to be allowed more freedom." He said.
"I agree." The younger man sighed. "Still, I do not enjoy the thought of having to placate her." he said as the door opened and in walked two of his sons. One had a wild, harsh look about him, his jade eyes full of mischief. The second was nearly a carbon copy of Sasuke in his younger years, though his eyes were the same shade of green as his father's.
The two seemed slightly surprised to see their grandfather there, but the elder dark haired man was the first one who spoke. "What." He demanded.
"Your grandfather has something he wishes to discuss with you." Akito said, standing. "So sit down and listen while I go calm your mother." He ordered, leaving the room.
Sanosuke glanced after him, before obediently taking a seat on the couch. Noriaki followed after a second, still not seeming pleased on his elder's visit. "As I'm sure you both know, the Hajime situation is getting worse." Sasuke began.
"I've heard." Noriaki quipped. "But why is that our problem? I thought he was in great-grandfather's district."
"It's our problem because we have reason to believe that he is going after the Vampire Shards. One is missing, and as he is a descendant of the Vampire King, it explains why he has been able to evade our forces for so long." Sasuke continued. "So I nominated the two of you to go after him."
Sanosuke's eyes widened. "Grandfather…are you serious?" he asked, understanding the compliment he was giving them in giving them such a task.
"But we're like kids." Noriaki argued, his confusion only growing. "Why would they let us go after someone strong enough to evade all six vampire heads?"
"Because we have faith in you." Sasuke said simply. "You two are the most promising younglings in the Uchiha Clan, and I have no doubt that you can track him down and bring him in. And while you two are doing that, the rest of us will be increasing our guard on the rest of the shards, to make sure that he doesn't get any more."
Noriaki sighed. "That sounds like a lot of work."
"If you would rather I just give the mission to Sanosuke I will." The elder Uchiha said.
"He'll do it Grandfather." Sanosuke said, giving his brother a hard look. "He'd be a fool not to."
Noriaki scoffed. "What do we get when we succeed?"
Sasuke arched a brow. "Respect." He said. "And if that's not enough, your names will be known in our history."
"Well that sucks." He grumbled, getting up and heading out of the room. "Whatever. I'll pick up the mess you old farts made." He said, before disappearing.
Sanosuke shook his head. "I am grateful for this opportunity Grandfather, thank you." he said, rising as Sasuke did the same.
"Just don't fail. You two are even lucky they considered it, much less accepted to let you two lead the mission." Sasuke said as they headed out of the drawing room.
"We won't Grandfather, I promise." The younger vampire said, walking his elder out. When he turned around to go and find his brother, he halted, seeing his mom standing there with an extremely disgruntled expression on her face.
"You can't go." She said, crossing her arms. "It's too dangerous."
"You want me to defy the council?" he asked.
Natsumi glared at him. "You're just a child! How could they allow you to do this?!"
He sighed. "Mother, Nori and I can do it. It's just like hunting down another rogue who's breaking the law."
She shook her head. "He is not. He's a sick bastard who murdered his own brother and then his brother's lover and child. He raped her and then tore her to shreds."
"Then when we find him, Nori and I will kill him." he said.
"But what if you don't." she frowned.
Sanosuke had to keep from growling at her, since she was beginning to frustrate him. "Are you saying Nori and I are incapable of tracking him down?"
"I never said that." She hissed back. "What if he kills you?!"
"Then it was my time to go, and I went out fighting!" Sanosuke said, baring his fangs, his eyes turning red. They weren't as developed as his father of grandfather's, only having three tomoe, but he knew the rest would come with age. "Why can't you just let me prove myself?! I know I can do it mom, even without Nori I could do it. And when I do, nobody else in the clan can question my abilities, or second-guess my decisions."
Natsumi glared at him. "Then just do what you want Sanosuke! Since you will do so anyways!" she barked back, turning and leaving him in the hall, though it was mostly so he wouldn't see her cry.
Sanosuke growled, nearly trembling in his rage as he made his way upstairs. He went to his room and got ready, changing into an all black outfit and grabbing his sword, before getting out the rest of his gear. "Did mother try to get you to stay as well?" he asked, sensing his older brother in the doorway.
"Naw, I just missed her. But she knows I can handle myself." He shrugged, adjusting his belt.
He grit his teeth as he finished preparing for the journey, willing his eyes to change back to green. And when they did, he placed his stoic mask back onto his façade before facing the other vampire. "Consider yourself lucky then." He said. "Ready to go?"
"Unfortunately." He sighed, checking his sword before leaving with his brother. "So how are we going to find this asshole."
"Start at the beginning." Sanosuke said. "We find out more about his past, figure out his motives for killing his brother and raping the lover, etcetera. And then we track his movements and try to predict where he will be next. If we can beat him to the next shard he'll be going after, we can catch him by surprise and kill him."
Noriaki nodded, scratching his head. "So where's the beginning?"
Sanosuke looked at him. "The Archives."
"Shit." He cursed. "Are we going to have to break in there?"
"How else are we going to make this mission fun?" he smirked.
Noriaki grumbled. "But I hate homework."
Sanosuke chuckled. "I know, but it won't take too long. And the Archives are well enough protected that we can work throughout the day if we must."
"You're right." He nodded. "So let's get going."
"Yes, let's." Sanosuke said, before they sped up, off towards the Vampire Archives. Sanosuke only hoped they found something quickly, and that it didn't take too long for them to find Hajime. He hated leaving on a bad note with his mother, but he hated her doubt of him even more. And so he would do everything in his power to prove to her that he was just as capable as his brother. If he could do that, not only would she get off his back, but she would finally stop babying him, something that he had been working towards for over a decade.