A/N: Yoshhhhhh! (pumps fist into air) I actually managed a what I'd consider very much timely update. I'm so happy! (grins brightly) (Heh, and of course I hope you are, too.)

First off, COLOSSAL thank yous for the absolutely baffling reviews! (HUUUUUGS) You know, it's all thanks to your support I keep updating this fast. You seriously keep this fic going, so THANK YOU for that! (offers some treats of your choice, too)

Awkay, before this goes all mushy, let's move! I really hope you'll enjoy the blo… eh, ride.

The list of species and genders of characters is still on, btw, and updated, so now worries. It can be found from underneath the chappy.

/ When Kushina Uzumaki entered a tiny chapel on the far edge of the city, one trembling hand placed to her mightily swollen bump, she was surprised to discover that she wasn't alone. Kneeled by the altar, her head bowed, was a woman with long, black hair and the eyes of that same color. She spotted a flash of fangs. " I'm sorry – I didn't mean to…" She trailed off.

" You're not disturbing me." The other looked away, appearing embarrassed. " This… is the only place of this type where my kind are allowed. I don't come here often, though."

She found herself smiling, although her instincts tried to tell her she should've been afraid. " It's alright. I don't come here often, either." She then recognized a familiar glow on the other's cheeks. " Sometimes… there's just a good reason to come."

The other blushed and covered her bump just like she had done not too long ago.

As they lapsed into a silence, they were blissfully unaware of the fact that soon both of them would be gone. /

CHAPTER 4: Beat Towards Dark

Four days passed agonizingly slowly, and Naruto found himself growing desperate and something he couldn't even name when finding no signs of Sasuke.

It was almost like she'd disappeared from the face of the world.

" Naruto, you've been circling the room sixty-four times now." Kiba's groan forced him out of all disturbing thoughts. " If you don't stop right now, I swear I'll use my claws on you."

A somewhat sheepish look rose to his face. " 'Sorry. I just…" Actually, he didn't know what. He couldn't explain the workings of his brain (or, perhaps, his heart) even to himself anymore.

Kiba, however, seemed to catch something he hadn't figured out just yet. The brunette leaned back in the chair he'd taken. " I sense that this has something to with that vampire chick."

He scoffed, folding his arms to defend himself against something he couldn't name. " 'Doubt it." Even so, he felt a suspiciously great need to explain. " It's just… I owe her and it bugs me, okay? She saved my life."

Kiba shrugged. " And you hers. You're even, right?"

He shot a dirty look towards his best friend. " You're not helping at all right now, Mint breath."

He felt something hit him at that, and looked down with a mew to discover a brush. He gave Kiba a look of accusation. " Hey!"

The brunette gestured animatedly with his hands. " If I listen and watch you moping around another day I'll go crazy, okay? We need a break."

He frowned, somehow not liking what he was hearing. " A break…?" That couldn't possibly mean anything the pack elders would've approved.

A toothy grin flashed in the semi dark room. " Yup. I may not be able to help you regain your senses, but I know a place that is. So let's go."

He knew well going out was probably the stupidest thing to do, but at the moment he didn't really have a choice – Kiba wasn't the only one losing his head.

" Lead the way, Kitty-witty."

In the meantime Sasuke ducked and hit back with a breathtaking speed when Gaara struck her, time after time. She didn't feel faced although they'd been training for hours already. Everything would've looked good, if only she'd had her mind in the right place.

/ " Why did you help me? You… You could've just let me die – I bet it would've been better for you. So why?" /

She snarled when Gaara's fist whistled past her face, managing to hit her cheek on its way.

Crap…

The redhead frowned. " Are you alright?"

She nodded sharply, seething inside. " Yes." She'd endured a lot worse – it was her pride that'd been damaged.

That blond was going to be the death of her.

" Gaara." The sound of Kabuto's voice made the hair in the back of her neck rose, as did the look on the gray haired's face. " Orochimaru-sama sent me to get you. He has a scouting mission in store for you. It's of high importance."

Sasuke felt a shudder, knowing exactly what that meant.

Scouting already, huh?

It was a matter of two days or even less before the main attack would take place.

" I'm coming along as well", she announced without thinking. She knew exactly what these missions were like – she wanted to make sure Orochimaru wasn't sending her best friend straight into the wolf's mouth.

" No." Kabuto's sharpness surprised her, although she didn't let it show. " Officially you're still recovering – you won't be sent to missions like this just yet. You know that." The male then focused on Gaara again. " You have three minutes." They were left alone.

Her eyes were sharp when looking into the redhead's. " I'm expecting you to show up for the midnight report." It was the best 'Be careful' she managed.

Gaara nodded, apparently understanding. " I will." With that – no further empty words passed – the male turned around and walked away, not looking over his shoulder even once.

They'd done this a million times over, they both mused – there was no use in getting sentimental.

" So the time's getting closer, huh?"

From the corner of her eye she'd seen Suigetsu appear about five seconds earlier, so she wasn't taken by surprise. " Yeah." It was more of a breath than anything else.

Suigetsu looked at her for a moment before speaking and moving. " Okay, that's it." The boy's tone left no room for objections. " When you look like that, there's only one thing that gets your mind to happier things. So let's go."

She knew exactly what he meant, and in all honesty it was the about last place she wanted to visit that night. But this tiny part of her was all but burning, anxiously demanding her to move.

She followed Suigetsu.

It was a long time from when Sakura had last felt anything even close to the sizzle that crossed through her being while she watched the raven haired stranger eating a small, light meal she'd brought – not daring to give him anything heavier in fear of what it'd do to his stomach.

So far he hadn't asked for more light during daytime, although even through the curtain she'd pulled to cover the window it was clear how tempting the sunlight was – he hadn't spoken much at all, actually, answered almost none of the questions she'd made. So far she hadn't brought in a mirror to find out what he was. He hadn't tried to harm her, and he was recovering – so far that was enough information, although a part of her would've wanted a lot more.

" You're staring."

The rather hoarse, little used voice startled her out of her thoughts, and she felt some heat appearing. " I'm… sorry. I was just wondering."

The boy seemed to click, and put away the plate he'd been holding although he was only halfway finished. " I wish I could tell you more, Sakura. But…" He trailed off.

She nodded while swallowing down the bitter taste left by disappointment. Whether it was because he simply couldn't remember or found it safest to keep everything to himself, he hadn't been able to tell her anything since he'd woken up.

She'd wait, she decided. He'd talk when he'd be ready for it – she just needed to be patient. Unfortunately she'd never been too good at that.

She shook her head a little and turned her gaze when there was a hesitant knock and the door opened. Moegi peered in, seeming slightly nervous. " It's… Sai. He came for a visit."

She nodded, sensing a movement inside. " I'll be there in a second." She then glanced at the stranger once more. " Try to get some rest, alright?" She looked at all the uneaten food he had left and winced inwardly, knowing how little there'd been to begin with. " And if you can, eat some more – you need strength to recover."

The boy nodded somewhat dully, his thoughtful eyes not meeting hers.

She fought back a sigh of frustration while getting up slowly and leaving the room. Maybe he'd be slightly more talkative after rest.

-

Sakura, of course, didn't know that a pair of dark eyes followed her as she went, sharp and filled with thoughtfulness.

He couldn't trust her with information just yet although a part of him would've wanted to. But she might turn out to be very helpful with fulfilling his quest…

-

As soon as Sakura entered a hall and found Sai, her eyes locked to a fresh wound on his cheek that'd definitely leave a scar.

She walked up to him and frowned, brushing the wound gently. " You're hurt."

He stiffened slightly under her touch, and she knew much too well what that meant before he even spoke. " There were… complications, nearby the western borderline."

Her eyes flashed and darkened, and she fixed them to his uniform, unable to look at his face.

So he'd killed – again – who knows how many and of which species this time. The blood shedding and madness continued.

She brushed the metallic symbol that was attached firmly to Sai's uniform, wanting to rip it off from the bottom of her heart. " I… hate this", she confessed quietly, squeezing her eyes tightly shut so she wouldn't have to see the army's logo or the clothing. " I hate this so much."

" I know." A surprisingly gentle hand moved in her hair. " But this isn't going to last forever. This nightmare will end eventually."

She grit her teeth even more tightly than before. Damn it, how sick of those words she was already! " Hmm", was all she managed. Just then an urge she hadn't felt in a long time filled her like a tideway, and she tightened her arms around him. " Stay tonight. Please."

For several moments Sai was perfectly still – most likely stunned – then nodded so that she could just feel it. " Alright."

She felt a warm wave. " Good. I'll… see if I have some food for us." Pressing her forehead against his chest, she wrinkled her nose at the stench of blood and death that attacked her. " You, take a shower and take off that uniform, or I'm letting you nowhere near me."

Giving something that'd most likely been supposed to be a chuckle, the man disappeared towards the bathroom. She, on the other hand, turned her gaze towards the room where the now awake, mysterious raven was.

She frowned, feeling a sensation of unease for a moment, when becoming almost certain that someone was observing her.

After a moment she shook her head, starting to make her way towards the kitchen.

There was no point in making things even more complicated than they already were.

In the western end of the city, Gaara left the ruins with two other vampires. Their eyes were solemn and filled with flickering hatred while they looked at the desolate sight before them.

Four of them butchered, their remains now scattered absolutely everywhere like some sort of filth.

" They'll pay for this", Juugo snarled, crackling his knuckles.

" Yes", he murmured, letting the sight take its full effect. And Orochimaru will as well, for sending us to another suicide mission. " But right now, there's something I need to do."

Karin, another survivor, frowned when looking at him. " Please don't tell me you're planning something idiotic."

Not bothering to reply he made sure he had at least some weapons along, then prepared for leaving. " If I haven't showed up for the midnight briefing, stop waiting." With those words he left, paying no mind to the gazes he could feel on him.

Finally, he had a chance to complete a mission of his own that'd been waiting for too long already…

Naruto blinked once discovering where Kiba had led him. It was a rather shady building in a part of the city he'd never visited before. At first he thought it to be abandoned, but then he heard something his ears hadn't met in years. Soft pounding, almost like the heartbeat of the building.

He blinked with stun.

Music…?

" 'You gonna keep gawking or come?" Kiba's amusement filled voice woke him from his stunned thoughts.

He rolled his eyes a little bit. " Yeah, yeah, hold your horses."

They didn't speak a word – most likely out of excitement – while walking up to the front door. He watched with some curiosity while Kiba knocked sharply four times, and a tiny lid was opened, revealing a pair of dark eyes. The brunette exchanged some words with the person behind the door he couldn't catch no matter how hard he tried, and soon enough the lid was closed. No more than seconds later the huge door opened, granting him a view that made him gasp.

It was an enormous hall, filled with beings of all three species and flashing lights in all colors – and most of all, music, such that made every single cell in his body jump to the beat. In a matter of moments a radiant grin rose to his lips while his eyes shone. " This… is incredible!"

Kiba grinned as well. " 'Thought you'd like it here – you always complain about Koharu not letting us play any music."

He opened his mouth to say thank you, but before any words passed his lips everything inside him froze when he spotted a very familiar face on the opposite side of the hall. His eyes widened, became dyed pink when light hit them.

Can't be…!

He closed his eyes and opened them again, but the image remained. Sasuke was finally there, right before his eyes, only steps away.

Kiba obviously noticed her as well. The brunette's hand landed to his shoulder. " I'm not sure if I should let you do this, but I don't think even wild horses could stop you. So go." The other then noticed something on a balcony that'd been built above the hall, and dark eyes filled with mischief. " I think I'll be able to keep myself entertained for a little while."

He felt reluctant to leave his friend alone in this place, but figured that Kiba seemed to know it so well that the brunette would make it just fine. " 'K. I'll take an hour, tops."

The brunette rolled his eyes with a dry expression. " We'll see about that…"

After swatting his friend's head to pay back that remark he was already moving towards Sasuke, as though a force of some sort had been pulling him. The music was captivating, hypnotic, and before he properly realized what he was doing he was already stood before her. The male friend she had along – and whom he only just noticed – whispered something to her ear before leaving subtly.

Had he been a little less distracted by her, he might've noticed that the whole place all but froze, and air electrified while everyone waited what would happen next, how the strictly forbidden encounter would end.

Sasuke's eyebrow rose. " You're stalking me, aren't you?"

He fought the urge to scoff. " I could accuse you of doing the same, you know?"

The vampire made a sound of irritation. " Whatever." She then looked at him. " So… What do you want?"

He shrugged. I have no idea. " A dance, for starters."

The raven seemed almost interested. " You sure are a bold little thing."

He tried to glare, but once he noticed Sasuke's expression he had a feeling it didn't come out right.

In a matter of moments Sasuke finally gave her consent, in a form of letting him wrap his arms around her and returning the gesture.

A shiver crossed his being, and his eyes narrowed ever so slightly while his hold on her tightened. " Bite me, and I'll scratch your eyes out."

" This wasn't my idea, remember? Besides…" As she spoke, he wondered if the club's temperature had picked up or if it just felt that way. " You shouldn't harass a vampire if you're that afraid of teeth."

He snorted. " Smartass."

In beforehand he'd wondered with some nervousness if he'd know what to do with her once he'd be close enough. As the dance started, he realized that he shouldn't have worried.

The beat took a hold of him as he moved, easily finding sync with Sasuke. Neither noticed how close by they were while dancing, they remained completely oblivious to the looks and murmurs of disapproval everyone around darted their way.

The tension that'd been lingering underneath Naruto's skin and everywhere in his muscles disappeared, and he found himself swaying a fraction closer to the raven, who didn't seem to even notice.

Songs changed far more rapidly than he would've liked, and in the end he'd disappeared into the motions and Sasuke's presence so wholly that he barely noticed it when the vampire's every muscle stiffened, giving a clear sign of something being badly wrong.

When his instincts finally worked, his heartbeat picked up. He didn't dare to meet the raven's eyes. " What's up?"

" We have to leave", the vampire replied in a growl. " Fast."

All he could do was nod.

His thoughts whirring and heart thumping, he followed with irrational trust while Sasuke led him towards what turned out to be a backdoor, then through it to an alleyway that made him cough with its stench.

He prepared to take a breath of relief – only to have an unfamiliar male's voice proving it premature. " Going somewhere, Sasuke?"

Looking up with embarrassingly wide eyes, he found a dark skinned male with sunglasses covering his eyes. Shirtless outfit with loose pants and a jacket brought out the stranger's muscles and threatening height. The male's appearance, however, wasn't what stole his attention.

An arrow – that made of silver, he could tell – was pointed towards Sasuke and him.

In the humans' base, Neji found himself visiting the female vampire once more. The white haired cast a look of curiosity and mistrust towards him, although he'd visited her several times during the past days. " You again?"

He nodded, not letting any possible emotions show. " I came to give you an injection – Danzo's orders." He showed her a needle, and could easily spot a shiver of revulsion. " Don't worry – it's for the sake of your health. A vampire needs certain things in a gravid state, no?"

For another moment distrust was evident, but eventually the female moved her arm as much as she possibly could with the restraints, allowing him a visual of her veins. Her eyes remained firmly on him while he walked closer, cleaned up the injection area and started the work. She shivered when the needle pierced her milky skin, but didn't fight.

He pulled away as fast as possible, not liking what the touch of her skin did to him, and placed a bandage to the needle mark quite roughly. " Done."

The vampire remained silent – waited – until he was at what she apparently considered safe distance. " Thank you."

He didn't react, instead focused on putting away the equipment and not meeting her eyes.

He felt a small jolt when the room's door opened, from loud steps knowing who it was before hearing the voice. " There's been some fighting nearby the western end of the city", Danzo announced roughly. The man was careful to keep his voice such the vampire couldn't hear. " I sent several men there, and they met vampires. It's apparent that idiot – Zaku – was right; there's a storm incoming."

He managed to give the man a rather impassive look. " What do you want me to do?"

" Prepare your men for the upcoming battle." Danzo's eyes then flashed dangerously towards the vampire. " And do whatever necessary."

He nodded stiffly, feeling extremely cold as those words seeped through. " Yes, Sir."

As he looked at the vampire after Danzo's departure, he came to a sudden realization.

Out of Danzo's demand, prisoners were always executed first when battles occurred, so that their own wouldn't find them and get valuable information. If he'd leave her behind, under the mercy of the battle… She'd die.

His eyes narrowed while he marched to her with sharp, heated steps, then opened the restraints entrapping her.

She looked at him with bafflement she was visibly trying to hide. " What…?"

He pulled her up sharply, feeling a stab of guilt he couldn't understand when she swayed, not having walked for a while. " We need to go", he announced in a harsh tone. " You want to protect your… offspring, don't you?"

Green eyes flashed hazardously, and the vampire instinctively placed a hand to protect her slightly visible bump from him. That was all the answer he needed.

Their steps made barely any sound while he led her trough the laboratory to a carefully hidden second exit, several emotions boiling inside him.

He was protecting a valuable source of information, something that might be able to help with saving his daughter's life – that was all there was to this, he reminded himself while opening the door. There was no reason to pull something as ridiculous as emotions along.

He glanced towards the white haired when a long, dark hallway opened up before them. " Ready to go?" he inquired.

She merely nodded rather eagerly.

-

Just before following Kimimaro found herself pausing, irrational and dangerous as she knew it to be. She had a frown upon her face while she looked around the laboratory, having the strangest feeling that she should've stayed to wait for someone.

She shivered a little when feeling movements in her stomach, and brought a hand to shield the new life growing inside her.

Those thoughts vanished when a firm, almost painfully tight hand grabbed hers. She almost revealed her fangs before hearing Neji's voice. " We have to go, now. Trust me."

Of course she didn't trust him. How was she supposed to? But she knew he was her only hope of making it out of this place alive. She had no other choice.

They didn't make a sound while disappearing. The door closed rather loudly behind them.

-

In the meantime Gaara entered the laboratory, and felt a flare inside that nearly suffocated him.

Kimimaro… She'd been here, only some short moments earlier – he knew that with utmost certainty. She'd slipped through his fingers, she was gone again.

That thought striking him, he closed his eyes and roared, as loudly as he possibly could, setting free absolutely all the rage and helplessness inside him, releasing everything that'd been weighing his chest for days already.

He barely heard the steps of five human soldiers as they entered and circled him. " We don't have to do this the messy way." Apparently one of them was an idiot enough to try and reason with him. Spinning around, he met panic filled eyes, along with a quivering weapon. " Don't make us shoot you. Be reasonable."

Reasonable was the last thing he wanted to be.

Giving another roar he charged.

In the meantime Naruto ducked with a yelp, never even noticing that he took a protective stance before Sasuke, expecting pain. That, however, never came.

He blinked with disbelief. " Huh?"

Lifting his gaze slowly, he saw what was at first nothing more than a shadow on a nearby roof. " You're still good at getting into a trouble, Sasuke", a dry male voice spoke.

Judging by Sasuke's frown, she didn't recognize the man's voice, either. " Who the hell are you?"

" That's hardly a way to talk to someone who just saved your life."

Shifting his gaze once more, he gasped faintly when seeing that a blade had pierced the attacker's throat. Blood had spilled to a nearby wall, forming what looked like a sickening painting of some sort.

He forced his gaze elsewhere again when hearing what sounded like a whisper, and discovered that the man had now jumped down from the roof. He could see hair that glowed like silver in the moonlight, along with one dark eye and face that was exactly halfway hidden by a mask. He also saw a sharp fang, and gulped.

Uh-huh…

The arrival's gaze was utterly solemn. " You're playing a dangerous game, but I can help you."

Sasuke frowned and folded her arms, most likely subconsciously moving so that she was shielding him partially. " Why would you care enough? I'm breaking laws."

The stranger responded with pulling out a tiny card of some sort and handing it to the raven. " Because not all of us care about laws. Your name still has a lot of power." With that the male disappeared into a puff of some.

He immediately looked at the card, curious as always. " What's on it?"

Sasuke didn't respond, instead seemed to start trembling, her eyes turning red. In a moment he decided to take a peak on his own. What he saw was a small, black raven – almost like a symbol of some sort.

He blinked, then frowned and looked towards the vampire, utterly confused. " What the heck is that?"

The way Sasuke's eyes narrowed told him a lot. Her hand squeezed around the card almost tightly enough to destroy it. " Just a old, very bad memory", she all but hissed, then obviously forced her attention to him. " You, go home. This is something I need to think about and take care of alone." It was also clear to him she also didn't want them to be seen together.

His eyebrows furrowed, and coldness he couldn't explain filled him. " Are you just gonna leave again?"

She made a 'Hn', obviously slightly calmer already. " Somehow, I have a feeling that we're bound to run into each other sooner or later." With those words as her judgment she disappeared like some trick of his imagination.

A weird sound erupted from the back of his throat. " I can't do anything but to trust that, can I?"

Koharu Utatane's eyes were sharp and narrowed while she made her way through a pitch black, decades ago abandoned parking lot, her gaze sweeping across surroundings to spot every single sign of a threat.

She, apparently, wasn't observant enough, because the unfamiliar female voice caught her off guard. " You're late."

Her gaze whipped to side, spotted a woman with shortcut, bluish hair and pale eyes that shone abnormally in the moonlight leaning against a nearby wall. Her insides shuddered with disgust. " I received your message", she stated stiffly. " Though I don't understand what a vampire could possibly have that I'd want."

Those pale eyes seemed almost hypnotic when meeting hers. " Cooperation. With our help, you'd be able to wipe out humans – once and for all. And you'd also get rid of Orochimaru's clan."
She frowned, feeling electric shivers. True enough, that offer was far above tempting – the opportunity to get rid of two powerful enemies was extremely hard to resist. But would she be able to trust this deal – this… vampire from some separate, traitorous clan she'd never even heard of?

This woman had betrayed even her own. What would she and her gang do to her – to her pack?

She snapped out of her thoughts when the vampire spoke once more. " I'm leaving you to debate, though I wish you're reasonable – for the sake of your pack." The other turned around, starting to walk away. " When you've come to a decision, you know how to find me."

Despite darkness, she saw a blood red cloud tattooed to the vampire's shoulder as she went.

Her eyes narrowed even further.

Things, apparently, were becoming even more complicated than before.

-

Konan's eyes barely moved while she stepped into a nearby alleyway and spotted movement. " Well?" Hidan's voice was as impatient as always. " Did she buy it?"

" Yes." She didn't spare the male a glance while passing by. " Now let's go back to the base – I'm sure Leader-sama wants to hear these news…"

Orochimaru's eyes barely moved when Kabuto entered his office. " Well?"

" The scouting mission was a success, although we lost five", the gray haired informed in a rather flat tone. " We've got all the information we need."

His allowed his fangs to show and eyes to flash. " Very good."

" What's the next move?"

He waited for a while, enjoying the taste of the moment. " Prepare everyone", he commanded in the end. " We'll attack tomorrow. Make sure Sasuke-kun doesn't manage to warn that… playmate of hers."

In the humans' base Danzo was having a meeting with Sai. " So… You say there was seven of them?"

The raven nodded. " That's right. We managed to handle five, two escaped." The boy held a pause, as though to sort out his head. " This… is everything we managed to get."

His eyes gleamed dangerously. " This is more than enough." He then chased his thoughts away from the sight before him for a second. " Now go home. Consider your duty done for today."

Sai left without saying a word.

Once the boy had disappeared, he heard the voice of Neji, who'd been stood on his other side, completely silent thus far. " What… do you want me to do?"

" Get the new silver", he commanded without a beat's hesitation. " It's time to give it a test ride, especially now that we have a battle at hand."

Had he paid even the slightest bit of attention, he would've noticed how the brunette hesitated before leaving. All his attention was, however, on their newest prisoner.

When the vampire lifted his head to look at him, red hair moved enough to allow him a clear visual of eyes that burned with utter rage and hatred.

He quirked an eyebrow.

A feisty one, hmm?

An icy grin appeared.

That makes this all the more fun, then.

TBC, riiiiiight?

A/N: And so it begins, as soon as in the next chapter. Soon we'll see which side(s) fall, and what kind on alliances are made. (shudders) Poor Gaara! (sniffs) Wonder what Neji's gonna do now…

Heh, there's no rest for mad authors, so I've zooming out for now. PLEASE do review before following the lead! After all, you do want to give me fuel to keep the keyboard burning, no…? (wink, wink) (Me, bargaining? Nah, never!)

Until next updata, folks – I hope you're all still ready for more bloodsucking!

Peace out!

The species and genders of characters (male/female):

Werewolves: Naruto (m), Kiba (m), Koharu Utatane (f)

Vampires: Sasuke (f), Gaara (m), Kimimaro (f), Orochimaru (m), Kabuto (m), Suigetsu (m), Juugo (m), Karin (f) (Zaku (m)) / Kakashi (m) / Konan (f), Hidan (m), Kakuzu (m)

Humans: Neji (m), Sakura (f), Sai (m), Shikamaru (m), Shino (m), Danzo (m)

Unconfirmed: "the stranger" (m), Temari (f)