Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews!

ABeautifulDeath: I do too! Here's the next chapter for ya!

crystaldrops14: I was hoping for that. Yeah, he's going to be living with her. It's part of the contract they made.

Onto the story!

Secret Vampire: His Master or Her Influence?

Who would have thought that after centuries of avoiding this, I've made yet another human familiar? I, who swore to never interfere in the life of a human. The great vampire who's very mention strike fear within the strong, made them cowards.

Yet, I drew my fangs, made an oath to save this foolish human's life, whose good intentions led her to her doom. Because she wanted to protect me, she took my place in the end we call death.

That is something I will never let a woman do ever again.

"C-can you tell me a l-little about your w-world?" Hinata asked. Tonight, they visited the balcony above her father's study, way late in the night. It was the hour when no one roamed the night, that rare state of time when safety wasn't an illusion.

Pein pondered beside her, considering whether or not to answer her request. He looked ethereal, the moon shining its pale glow on to his features. She was once again reminded just who he was, what he was.

A beautiful, cruel monster.

"It is an endless battlefield," he answered at last. "Someone like you would not survive a moment of it."

"S-some like me?" Hinata repeated, feeling oddly hurt by his assessment of her.

"To live in my world, you must be cruel. And you, girl, are anything but."

That was totally true. Hinata simply did not have a single cruel bone in her body. That was why she had been so easy to pick on during both elementary school and middle. Had Ino never declared her as a friend freshman year, she had no doubt the torment would continue into high school.

Boys had been the worst. Especially when she starting going through puberty at age ten and grew the massive mounds on her chest. Hinata couldn't count how many times she thought her virginity would be stolen.

She began to tighten her legs together, when Pein put his hand on her knee. "And your also too vulnerable," he added, his tone making it sound like an afterthought.

"I-I know."

He glanced at her, noticing that their comfortable mood was fast disappearing. Sighing, h e removed his hand and laid back, staring at the stairs.

"But for all its cruelty, it is the most beautiful world to live in. no, because it is cruel that it is beautiful," Pein told her. "There are certain occurrences that only happen at night. The rarest flowers bloom only under the moon's rays. Creatures so lovely only come out to dance beneath the stairs. Yes, it is a cruel world, but it is my world."

Looking at him, Hinata could see the truth in his words. Even the piercing were like an art, only further flaunting his beauty. It was almost like a dream that he was there, next to her. She, who couldn't even get one guy to see her as anything like a girlfriend. It wasn't that she was ugly. She was just too shy.

"I-I wish to s-see it one day," Hinata said, looking out at the sky with him.

"Is that an order?"

"H-huh?" She turned to him but he didn't change expression, continued to look at the sky.

"If you want to, you can order me to show you my world," Pein explained, referring to the contract they had made. Her blood and a place to stay for his servitude.

"I-I don't want to," Hinata said softly, looking down at the cup of tea she had been nursing. "I-I don't want t-to make you d-do something you don't want t-to do. I could n-never do that."

Pein moved, the action so suddenly that she jumped, but he only shifted, allowing his head to drop to drop on her shoulder. "You are a foolish girl," he murmured into the fabric at her sleeve.

"A-are you tired?" Hinata asked, remembering the heavy wounds he still sported, even after four days later. When he didn't answer, she realized that he had fallen asleep.

She smiled, and tried to stay still lest she disturbed him. Lifting her tea mug, Hinata wondered how long would this last. How long until their contract shatters.

School has become a bit of a hassle. Ino has started noticing the bandages on her neck and so started asking questions. Hinata had almost started to avoid her, but stopped wearing the bandages and opted for a gauze instead. She didn't want to worry her friend but how could she explain? The best excuse would be a hickey but then Ino would want to know who the boy was.

It was a very distressing situation.

But finally, her father revoked her punishment. Hinata decided to apologize to her friend by taking out on her favorite past time-shopping.

"Look, Hinata!" Ino pressed excitably a black halter dress against the short girl's form. "This looks so good on you!"

"I-It sort of does," Hinata agreed, checking herself out in the mirror. Though it wasn't something she would normally buy, the dark color compliment her pale skin and the fabric hugged her curves snuggly in a way it would feel comfortable, not naked.

"Come on! Let's try it on!"

"H-huh?"

Ino pushed Hinata into an empty stall, closing the door. "Hold on. I'm going to find some more dresses for you, okay?" Before she could protest, Ino was already gone.

Hinata sighed, defeated, and began to change, taking off her school uniform and into the dress. Ino was right, she thought as she looked into the mirror, moving this way and that. I could probably wear this at home…

A blush formed and she smacked her cheeks. Of course, she could wear this dress at home as well as many other places. Why should home be the most important? After all, who was there for her to show?

There was a knock, startling her a bit. "Hinata, are you done?" Ino asked through the door.

"Y-yeah," she answered.

"Let me see."

Hinata opened the door and stood back to show her friend. Ino gasped, gushing at how "hot" she looked, making her model for her a bit.

"That totally suits you!" she said.

"Yeah b-but it's a l-little too much," Hinata said, looking at the price tag.

"Nonsense. This dress is just too perfect for you to not buy it," Ino insisted. "If you need the extra money, I can pitch in."

"N-no. It's alright. I-I'll just buy it with the c-credit card. Tell f-father that it -w-was an emergency," she said.

The blonde smiled proudly. "Girl," she said, "there's hope for you yet."

Hinata gave her a nervous smile before looking down at the multiple dresses over Ino's arm. "U-um, are those…?" she trailed off as she just stared. Was it just her or were those dresses awfully short…?

"Yep! I've been seeing them around every time I go to work and I just know they'll look great on you!" Ino said. She worked at a shoe store in the mall a few stores down. She held up one dress and carefully assessed its look on the girl. "Perfect," she grinned, giving the small, shy girl a look that told her they wouldn't be leaving the stall anytime soon.

As it was, they left the store about several hours later, weighed down with their purchases. After giving Hinata the dresses, Ino searched for some of her own and outfits for the two of them. Hinata was very reluctant to wear the really short dresses, absolutely refusing to wear the one that barely covered her butt and had a low cut. She did end up buying the back halter dress and a cute lavender shirt that matched her eyes.

The two girls went out the mall, talking nonsense things until they came to one subject that Hinata would loved to avoid - boys.

"Naruto's being an ass, like always. Trying to act all cool for Sakura and stuff but I know his real feelings," Ino said. "Though I'm not sure yet whether or not to go for it."

"W-what about th-that other boy you liked?" Hinata asked a bit shyly.

"You mean Sai?" she shrugged. "I don't know. He's a little too weird for me." She gave Hinata a knowing look. "But I know who's hot for you."

"Wh-what?"

Ino grinned. "Come on, Hinata! Don't tell me you haven't notice." When Hinata continued to stare at her blankly, she sighed with exaggeration. "Come on, Hina! I know you're not that dense. I mean, why else would Sasuke be paying so much attention to you?"

"I-I don't think th-that's the case. I-I mean, we had an a-assignment together, th-that's all."

The blonde shook her head. "Jesus, Hina. You're so down on yourself. Here's a hunky piece of meat checking you out and you haven't even notice? Girl, we nee to talk."

"The-there's nothing to t-talk about," Hinata insisted. "I mean, S-Sasuke's nice and I- know he's good l-looking but I-I guess I just d-don't see him in th-that way." She stopped when she noticed Ino had began to stare at her, mouth wide open. "W-what?" she asked, shyly moving her feet.

"Oh. My. God," the blonde said, a bit breathless from shock and surprise. "Oh… my… God!"

"W-what?"

"You already like someone!"

"No, I don't!" Hinata said in a rush, forgetting to stutter.

"Yes, you do," Ino said. "Why else would you not even imagine, fantasize even, a relationship with the Sasuke Uchiha, the most sought after guy in our school? Jeeze, I cant believe you! Who's the guy?"

"Th-there's no guy." Hinata became flushed under her friend's stare. "R-really! Th-there's no one e-else."

"Then what's with the bandages this week?" Ino asked, putting her hands on her hips. "Or that band-aid you're wearing right now? Pretty suspicious if you ask me."

Hinata put her hand over the spot, her face turning a bright red. "I-I-I cant explain! I-I'm sorry, Ino, b-but I hat to g-go."

Looking at the sky, Ino noticed that it had gotten dark. "Okay then," she gave up. "But remember, this isn't over with. I will find out who he is. I want to make sure he's treating you right, got it?" Her tone softened with concern. "I worry about you in a relationship, Hina. You're too nice. You don't have the guts to stop a guy from walking all over you."

"I-I know," Hinata said, facing down. "I-I got to go. See you M-Monday?"

The blonde smiled. "Of course."

The two girls parted ways and Hinata rushed to get home. The mall wasn't that far from the Hyuga house, so she didn't really feel the need to call for a ride from her cousin. It was on the outside of the business district, a relatively safe route.

The air grew cold.

It could be just her imagination, or her desire to see Pein messing with her unconsciousness. Nevertheless, Hinata took off the gauze and made sure no hair fell from her ponytail, allowing the fang marks to be revealed. They were nearly healed, a week old from the last time he had fed. But they should still be able to protect her.

Right?

A breeze blew, shielding the ghostly hand the stroke the back of her neck, sending her chills down her spine. Hinata shivered and turned around, but the apparition vanished into the shadows. The strong feeling of deja-vu passed through her, as a sense of similarity filled her mind.

It had been twilight, the last hours before the light disappeared from the sky. She had been running a little late, the movie ending a bit later than she thought it would. She started to run, hoping that she could reach the house before her father came home…

Hinata held the bags in both hands, securing the weight so if she swung them, they will hurt. Though she wasn't sure now effective it would be in the supernatural category.

Whoosh! The wind blew as someone rushed past her, idly stroking the side of her neck.

"Shit!" she heard. "This bitch has his fucking smell." She yelped, as a separate, disembodied hand grabbed her throat, pushing her chin back to reveal the tell tale marks.

"You might be right, Hidan," said another voice and her heart nearly stopped at hearing there was two of them this time. "But why," the strings, black as blood, lengthening until it reconnected to the arm, "would he choose someone like her?" Golden eyes, narrow and boring from a covered face, glared down at her in close examination.

"Fuck. She's shaking," another figure appeared, a violet eyed man with slicked back white hair that glowed in the approaching darkness. "After waiting a fucking long time, he does it to this slut?" He shook his head in disgust. "Fuck, not even Konan was this wimpy."

K-Konan…? Hinata looked from between them and then swung her bags at the closest one, the man holding her. She hadn't expected him to suddenly disappear, so she ended up hitting the other guy.

"Aw shit! What the fuck?!"

She took this opportunity to flee, stumbling through spilt clothes and bags. But she didn't get very far when that creepy man's hand grabbed her again, this time, his grip wasn't so light and whatever gentleness he had disappeared.

Slowly, the limb held the gasping girl in the air as once again the threads closed between the space between the main limb. Meanwhile, the other guy had gotten over his shock at being hit by heavy bags of clothes and turned to glare at her.

"Stupid bitch!" he sneered. "I'm going to sacrifice your pretty little ass!"

The one who held her had said something in reply, his anger cooling albeit slowly. The tight grip on her throat hadn't lessened in the least.

Was she going to die? So soon after Pein had saved her, had even bother to do something with her? No, she wouldn't allow it. But how was she going to fight? These men were obviously different from her, an entire new species. How was she going to hurt them?

An idea popped in her head. Hinata lifted a shaking hand, horribly unstable as she made the sign of the cross on the wrist of the man who held her.

She hadn't expected anything to happen. Vampires were adverse to the sign of the cross only in movies and manga. There was nothing here to tell her that it might work.

But it did.

With a howl of pain and surprise, the man let her go. Hinata collapsed to her knees, coughing and breathing much needed air into her lungs. Her eyes wavered with delirium, threatening to close as they followed the man, who thrashed his arm, trying to put out the blue flames currently burning his arm.

There was a separate sound, as the other man crashed into the wall by an unseen force. The solid brick shattered like fragile glass and she heard him give a fluent lesson in profanity, some of which she has never heard before.

Gentle, cool hands reached her face, lifting her head so she could see her savior. Not once in her life did Hinata thought herself to be so happy to see so much spinning metal.

"P-Pein," she whispered woozily.

"Hinata." Pein reached down and scooped her up in his arms, his gray eyes all the while examining her for any further injury. He eyed her neck. "There will be bruising," he murmured quietly, and for some reason Hinata got the impression that he was angry.

"For what?"

"F-for being w-weak." It was then she could stay awake no longer, her head falling on his chest.