December 1315
Undisclosed location
Europe

"Why exactly do we have to transport the slaves?" Sasori kept his head low, ears perking when the trusted wolf ahead of their little group spoke to the one at the back.

A grunt was the first response of the other werewolf, who took his time in answering. Glancing to his right, Sasori catches his best friend's eye. Kisame grins, winking down to his shorter companion. "The head vampire said it's a long journey to this other vampire clan and would take until sunup," taking a second to nod back to the wolf who'd finally answered, Sasori silently asks his question. Kisame's only answer was to shrug. "So obviously the head vampire would just send a couple of the wolves he trusts to keep an eye on the group, make sure they don't escape during their travel."

Sasori looks forward again, wondering just what were his grandfather's reasons for sending him on a slave trade as well. He knew very well that he was only working as a slave since the head vampire couldn't admit to what Sasori's relationship with him was. Sasori was an experiment, nothing more. Kisame also seemed to wonder just why the halfling was coming along as well.

It had been just over six years since the two became friends, and in those six years, the wolves grew to fear Sasori as much as they feared his pureblood best friend. Kisame had encouraged Sasori to fight back when they were younger, especially after finding out just how strong the half-vampire really was. Because of the wolves being afraid, the two were generally ignored and had to learn what was going on through higher ups, like the trusted wolves.

Of course, that didn't mean the trusted wolves actually told the two what was going on.

"Well, what I want to know," the wolf at the front of the group starts again, cutting Sasori's musings off, "is why the head vamp is sending his little experiment halfling along as well. He's not a real slave."

Both he and Kisame almost straightened at this, their ears perked and ready to listen to what the answer might be.

Scoffing came from the other wolf, who'd once again decided to take his time in answering. The blue-toned wolf beside Sasori nearly started to growl at having to wait, stopping himself once the redhead shot him a look. "I think this other clan wanted to perform their own tests on him…"

Somehow, the shock didn't really register at first. Sasori had a feeling before that this other clan may be waiting to experiment on him, but he hadn't really given it much thought. Now that the idea was presented again, the redhead took his time in contemplating these words.

They would experiment on him themselves…? Well, it wasn't like he was unused to tests, so it wasn't like he should be experiencing anything different here. The real question he should be asking is whether he'd still get to work with the werewolves.

The last thing Sasori wanted was to be separated from his first and only friend. Glancing to the one in question gave the half-vampire the impression that his friend may be thinking the same thing.

"Course, I don't see what else they could do to the half-blooded freak." A snort and the sound of spitting comes from the back of their group, the rear wolf obviously thinking it was ridiculous. Sasori couldn't help but agree, his own clan having experimented as far as their minds could comprehend.

A thoughtful humming comes from the other trusted wolf, but he keeps any thoughts to himself.

Silence falls over them after this, giving Sasori time to think. Staring up at the sky above, the redhead catches sight of the nearly full moon. Kisame would be changing in two nights, and his mind would be lost to his second form as the wolf. Those nights were the only times his blue skinned friend ever willingly attacked Sasori, though it didn't actually mean Kisame wanted to.

Perhaps willingly was the wrong word; Kisame didn't have a choice in the matter, and Sasori did have the scent of human on his skin. Of course Kisame would attack. It was in the wolf's nature to attack humans.

Luckily for Sasori, the transformation never harmed him in the slightest; he could hold off his wolfish friend easily enough. He and Kisame also tried to keep the time of transforming as far from the other wolves as possible, so that the others wouldn't also attack the redhead.

It was bad enough Kisame had the need to hunt him down.

The thought of being separated from the pureblood came back soon enough, and Sasori contemplated what might happen at this other clan. Would he be with the wolves still, or would the vampires separate him from them all, therefore taking him away from Kisame? If that were to happen, then where would Sasori be? Would he simply be a prisoner to the full vampires? Or would he be treated like any other lower vampire?

Would they attempt to kill him in the experiments?

A shudder of cold fear went down Sasori's spine. He wasn't sure how to kill a half-vampire, but it had to be possible. His kind weren't common—in fact, Sasori was the first to be noted in history—but he was still half mortal. He had to have some way to be killed, like any common human.

If this clan wanted to experiment on him, what more would they find? Did they have ideas the head clan of the vampire society themselves had never thought of?

Worse, would they be willing to put the redhead on the brink of death just to learn more about his kind?

Sasori chances a glance at Kisame, hoping his friend wouldn't read his actions and therefore his thoughts. However, Kisame was intently glaring at the moon and therefore didn't even see his friend's fear in his eyes.

Sighing, Sasori looks back to his feet, watching his steps through the freezing snow that blanketed the ground. It hadn't snowed in a few days time, so perhaps it would snow again soon.

Sasori didn't mind snow too much. It was cold and wet, blankly colored and boring. Nothing special, every bit of it similar to his ancestors. Vampires were cold, though not exactly wet. Typically they were lightly colored, nearly white in their complexion due to hiding from a sun's rays and their bodies having died in the change. Some lived for so long that they tended to become boring.

Shaking his head, the halfling turns his attention to where they were headed. It didn't do too well for him to dwell on what he was only half of. Vampires were a big part of his life, but they also happened to be what destroyed his life. Snow isn't as horrible as vampires were.

On that thought, Sasori takes notice of the light beyond the trees ahead. They were reaching the edge of the forest now, and the moon's light was descending to the horizon. Morning had come and they'd only just gotten through the woods.

The group continues on in silence, walking past the barrier of trees at long last just when the sun broke through the other side of the world, bringing the sky to a pinkish tinge. Kisame grunts, catching his shorter friend's attention and nods ahead of them.

"I think that's the place…" He mutters lightly, Sasori's sensitive ears catching his words. They continue moving forward, Sasori attempting to look over the other werewolf's heads to see what Kisame could.

At long last, the building before them came into view, sitting in the middle of the large clearing. Various other werewolves—those already working for the clan here no doubt—were scatted about and pulling various piles of wood this way and that. Some stopped to watch the new crowd of slaves walk through, some spotting Sasori and murmured their inquiries to what he was.

The building itself was more like a fortress than a home for many. Brick walls surrounded the main houses, keeping any of those from the outside on the outside, large wooden doors at the front as the only allowed entrance. Sasori couldn't help wondering just what the actual building looked like when they reached the doors.

The trusted wolf in front called up to another of his kind, who answered back just as clearly. Their words though weren't registering in Sasori's running mind. Suddenly, the large doors opened wide, allowing their small group entrance.

Sasori allowed himself to look over the building in all it's glory. The walls were made by the same grey bricks as the walls they pass on their way in, high window set into the works. Black cloth hung on the other side of the glass windows, letting it be known that the sun wouldn't make it's way in to the immortals residing here. Fancy carvings were aligned into the sills, moss and vines curving their way up the sides of the building. Snow covered any horizontal surface including the ground between the outer walls and the actual fortress itself.

His breath steamed in front of his face, caught by the light of the rising sun as the group continued towards the large front doors. The wooden surface of these doors were less simple than ones of the outer walls, intricate carvings etched into the entrance and stating the name of the clan that it all belonged to.

"Uchiha…" Sasori whispers, trying the name for himself. Kisame glances down at his friend for a moment, unsure of what he was saying. It occurred to Sasori then that none of the wolves could read—why should they, considering they were nothing but slaves to the vampires. He however had six young years worth of learning under his belt and could read words when he really tried.

Flushing under his friend's gaze, Sasori pretends he hadn't said anything at all as they make their way through the large entrance to the Uchiha clan's fortress.

The wolves direct the slave group to stand in a line in the dark entrance, pushing them through another entrance to the front room of the Uchiha's home one by one. Sasori found that he and Kisame were shoved a bit more roughly than the others, but held his tongue. He couldn't afford angering anyone in their new master's presence.

Once they were all within the next room, Sasori chanced a look about. The front room was a bit lighter than the entrance hall, candles flickering in the chandelier above them. Gothic seats sat to the sides of the room and a few couches sat a bit more towards the center of the room. Wall hangings of portraits, most depicting vampiric men with crimson eyes and long dark hair, hung about the room. The fireplace set in the other side of the room burned and brought the room to an even lighter view than the candles over head would have been able.

Standing before the wolves was a man who held similar qualities to the men in the portraits; his hair was long and black, parts spiked in the back and framing his sculpted face. Crimson eyes roved over each of the werewolves in front of him, stopping when they settled on Sasori. This vampire didn't show any sign that he acknowledged who and what Sasori was, his eyes finally shifting to his right and looking over Kisame before continuing his once over of all the others.

"Welcome…" He pauses, his deep and gentle voice holding an undertone that suggested anything but. "You'll be working for me now; this is the Uchiha clan's fortress and you are expected to treat all of us with respect." His gaze turns back to Sasori then, the icy look giving the halfling another shudder of cold fear. "My name is Madara, and if any of you choose to disobey me or my family…"

He gives a low chuckle that was anything but charming. Sasori felt himself shrink at the sound, his eyes widening despite the control he fought to keep over his emotions.

"Well, let's just hope you don't do anything to upset me…"