"When you get to know a fellow, know his every mood and whim,
You begin to find the texture of the splendid side of him;
You begin to understand him, and you cease to scoff and sneer
For with understanding always prejudices disappear."
And he came the next day, the day after that and the day after that too. It has been over two weeks since their first meeting on the rooftop now. Naruto had sworn to give him shelter but didn't expect him to come every morning to hide under his hospital bed.
His fear for the man has faded away but a strong respect is still there inside of him. He knows that he's a vampire and have the power to kill him whenever he wants. If Naruto keeps his promise, so does the vampire; hopefully.
It´s a cold spring morning and the dark figure jumps in through the window as he always does at this time. His lips are swollen and a shade of red are still there; he licks his lips before closing the window. Naruto, who is still resting in his bed, nods as a greeting. They don't speak to each other very often but the blue eyed young man is determined to find out who this man really is. He takes a deep breath and asks;
"What's your name?"
Just out of the blue; but still a question he had thought of before. Naruto doesn't know anything about his guest and his curiosity has grown over the time they had spent together. Or literally; the times they've meet when both is awake.
The sudden question startles the vampire but his emotionless expression hides his surprise well.
"Why do you want to know?"
"Well, how can I trust you when I don't know who you are?" Naruto answers honestly.
The vampire smirks as he walks over to the blonde's bed. His spiky hair is damp, probably because of the fog outside, and it hangs over his pale face. His eyes are in his usually dark colour and Naruto feels less frightened around him, but when they change to red; he can't hold back his fear.
"You should never trust a vampire, Naruto." He states. "The name is Sasuke."
Naruto sits in silence for a while and during that time do the vampire, Sasuke, prepare himself for his sleep. The blonde offers one of his pillows as always and Sasuke accepts like he usually does.
"Sasuke hmm…? Sounds nice."
Sasuke doesn't bother to answer that statement. The black haired young man takes his place under Naruto´s bed and relaxes with his head on the fluffy white pillow. The alluring scent of the blonde fills his senses. His smell of vanilla mixed with the hospital's own scent is always there on the sheets.
"Good night." Sasuke utters.
"You mean good morning?"
"…Whatever."
Sakura enters the room at 10 for his daily check up. She smiles sweetly at him as she helps him to take of his white shirt. Her fingers move over his chest as she uses the really cold instrument to listen to his heartbeat. Naruto shivers as the cold metal makes contact with his warm skin.
His heart flutters… It's not steady… no progress.
The pink haired Nurse hides her concern for him as she talks about everything but his condition. Like what he wants for dinner, if he has seen something interesting on the TV etc. She's careful to not hurt the blonde with her long nails as she opens his eyelids further to se his eyes properly.
His pupils are too small…
Green eyes move over his chest as he breathes.
He's breathing alright, but the x-rays will show if the tumour has spread to his lungs… too.
"How much time?"
The sudden question takes her by surprise but she just shakes her head and smiles weakly. She can't tell him all the wrong in his body. She has noticed how the illness tears his body and mind apart, but lately, a new light has been spotted in those blue eyes of his.
"Don't ask it in that way, Naruto. I guess I'll get a proper view of that when the x-rays are ready… "
Naruto smiles weakly.
"You don't need to hide it Sakura. I know I'm dying. "
An uncomfortable silence makes them both look away. Sakura feel bad about herself. She needs to be honest with her patient but her kind heart is too weak; she can't just let him fade away like many others in her presence has done.
"Don't lose hope just yet."
That's the last line spoken between them as Naruto´s check up ended earlier than expected.
Naruto sighs once more as he switches through the many channels on the TV. Nothing special there today and he turns it of with a light push on the red button on the remote control. Blue eyes closed as he rests in the wide white bed; the only sound is Sasuke´s breathing. It's boring to be sick, nothing to do and you're not allowed to do ´the cool stuff.´ It was over a year since Naruto walked down the streets of Japan, felt the breeze caress him in all seasons, go to parties and just be with friends.
"Why can't I just get well? Or die? Why this suffering? "
He feels so pathetic sitting there not able to do anything but… be there. To breathe, to live…but not forever.. Naruto groans. Why can't it just end!
"Cherish your life."
Naruto flinch as he notice how the dark haired man stares at him with those dark eyes of his.
"Don't throw it away."
Sasuke glances at Naruto before he decides to put his coat on. He sends the blonde glances as he dresses himself while Naruto just spaces out; probably thinking about something important.
"Sasuke, tell me more about yourself? Do you have any family here in Japan?" Naruto asks suddenly, in a rather weird way.
Sasuke, who just is about to leave, stops immediately. Naruto notice this and tenses; he maybe crossed the line? With the question lingering in the air does Sasuke turn around to face the blonde.
"…I've an older brother."
"..Nice…how old is….."
"My goal is to kill that man." Sasuke interrupts.
The vampire just waits to see the fear in the heavenly blue eyes, but they just narrow slightly. Sasuke frowns.
"…Why?"
Sasuke´s eyes narrow at the question. Naruto hadn't screamed or accused him of being an idiot, monster, freak etc. He just sits there in the bed, looking at him with those blue eyes and asking why. In the same innocent tone he had used the night he nearly killed him; that cold December night.
And just as that night; he leaves without telling anything. As a lonely shadow does he disappear into the darkness of the night.
Sasuke didn't seek shelter under his bed the morning after their conversation…nor the morning after that…
Naruto yawns in his bed as Sakura pierces his forearm with the long and sharp needle. He is so used to it now so he doesn't feel the pain anymore. Blue eyes look through the window and sees how the sun rises over the horizon. Sasuke…
"Naruto, how are you feeling?"
"I'm just tired…"
Sakura gives him a concerned glace before she starts to measure Naruto´s blood pressure. Pumping air into that pillow like tool around the blonde's arm; carefully. Her eyes narrow slightly as she sees how the arrow points at one of the lowest numbers there are in the scale.
"Oh, but you slept the whole day, yesterday; Naruto. It's time to get up." Sakura smiles. "Do you want to go outside? I can take you to the garden."
"…Yeah." Naruto answers tiredly." That would be nice..."
"Well how about I fetch you in about... one hour?"
"Sure."
Sakura helps the blonde to stand, one hour later, and she helps him keep his balance. The pink haired young woman can't help but notice how thin and fragile he feels against her healthy and curvy body.
"Do you want a …?"
"No I can walk." Naruto interrupts. "By myself."
A smile graces Sakura´s lips as the blonde leaves her as she proceeds to walk towards the door all by himself. Naruto has a strong will, He just hasn't decided in witch way he wants…to live or die and get or over with?
"It's still cold outside; I'll get your jacket for you. Wait by the door."
Naruto nods as he reaches the door, he leans against the wall while his blue eyes look through the window. Another season has gone him by; spring has come. Last time he has been outside was in December but now; the snow has melted and some lonely flowers can be spotted.
"Have you heard? Another child is missing…" A voice whispers.
"Yeah… It's terrible. Do you think it's the same person?" Another whisper answers.
"I've no doubt about it…"
Naruto closes his eyes and tries to block out their voices. But somewhere deep inside of him he already knows the truth of those rumours; it's him. His excitement fades as he thinks about Sasuke. And when Sakura arrives doesn't the trip to the garden interest him anymore.
Where is he?
Naruto makes himself ready for bed and switches his nightgown into a new one. The cloth is very thin and it reaches down to his tights, lust below his butt. He yawns and searches after the watch to check the time, his blue eyes flicker a little as he can't find it anywhere. That was about time…Sakura has finally taken that stupid thing away. The blonde thinks as he makes himself comfortable under the newly washed bed sheets. He turns off the light over his head and closes his eyes.
The sun's light makes his skin shine as he lays there; still trying to stay in that dream world where he can't feel any pain. His nightmare doesn't haunt him anymore now and sleeping has become one of his favourite things to do. Why be awake when you can sleep?
He turns around once, trying to find sleep but the itching feeling in his throat makes it hard. Naruto swallows some saliva but the tickling sensation doesn't disappear. A groan leaves him as he forces his tired body into a sitting position. I'm so tired…Sun go away…I need to sleep… Blue eyes open and they searches after his cup on the table near the window. He steps out of the bed and walks over to the window, taking the cup in his hands; stops as he notice how the window is slightly open. He shuts it before turning to head of to the toilet for some water to clear his throat.
"Naruto."
The sudden voice startles the blonde and he turns around quickly. The rushed reaction makes him lose his grip on the cup and it falls to the ground. Thousands of glass pieces cover the floor as blue eyes meets dark ones.
Pitch black eyes follow Naruto´s slim form as the blonde trembles to walk without stepping on the broken pieces of glass. The blonde's eyes widen for a second as a yelp leaves his lips. Blood starts to colour his white nightgown red as Naruto tries to move away. Sasuke can't do anything but stare at the red liquid dripping out of the boy's body. His feet's change colour just as his forearm, as rose red blood…emerges…
"Ouch…"
Sasuke don't register the simple and short sentence. He feels how his fangs start to grow without him wanting them to. His heart beat quicken and a warm feeling floats through his cold body. Food…Black turns red in the darkness and he approached the blonde slowly. Naruto flinches as he notice the change but he doesn't dare to move away. Sasuke grabs him by the wrist and inches closer to the open wound on his forearm.
"Sasuke..?" Naruto starts surprised. "Where have you been?"
Blue eyes go wide when the vampire starts to lick his wound. Naruto whimpers with fear as Sasuke moves even closer; he can't help but feel scared when those red eyes are fixed at him. A pink tongue caresses his sensitive skin in a gentle way, sucking, nibbling and licking… Sasuke moans loudly and he licks his lips. ´His blood is so delicious… I…want more…´
Naruto shivers as the warm and wet tongue leaves him. A strange feeling grows in the pit of his stomach. The vampire didn't bite him as he had thought he would, and it didn't feel that disgusting…He kept the promise.
"I'm…sorry... I couldn't …control myself." Sasuke murmurs in a surprisingly weak voice.
Sasuke apologies as he understands what he have done. He lets go of Naruto and steps away from the blonde like he burnt himself. Sasuke keeps his face emotionless as something similar to guilt grows inside of him. He's not ashamed of his race but in some crazy way does he detest acting like a vampire in front of the blonde. I'm vampire…why do I feel this way? He feels like he's actually doing something wrong.
"It's okay…"
"…Are you alright?" Sasuke asks in a cold voice, as if he doesn't care at all, while he tries to ignore the irritating pain in his chest.
"Yeah.."
Naruto steps closer and touches Sasuke´s cheek gently, giving him a weak smile. He feels how his trust towards Sasuke grows for every moment they spend together. And the days he been gone is all forgotten, all in the fast. It's dangerous to trust a vampire, he knows that, but the man didn't bite him when he had the opportunity to… The fact makes the blonde smile. Sasuke leans into the touch after some hesitation. But his demonic behaviour doesn't change.
"Naruto…you taste incredible." Sasuke murmurs with a smirk, probably trying to scare him.
But he doesn't get the reaction he expected. A pair of blurry eyes looks at him tiredly and a sigh leaves Naruto´s mouth.
"I though I never would see you again." He states with a smile." I was scared."
Sasuke´s eyes narrow slightly as Naruto leans on him. His whole being tenses at the contact and his mind tells him to push the boy away from him. Heart beat quicken. He's paralyzed. Fluttering feeling… What's going on? The vampire gets a hold of the situation and frees himself from the blonde's warm body. Naruto´s fragile form falls to the ground. Sasuke stares with eyes wide on the unmoving form as he tries to calm himself down. I guess my desire for his blood is too strong right now… He sighs deeply.
"Naruto?"
No movement.
"…Naruto?..."