Inverted Cross

Ayane Selznick

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Careless Gaze

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He entered inside their home, as what they usually call, their sanctuary.

It wasn't shiny or fabulous or huge. It was just… rusty abandoned church without crosses and saints. There were no faint signs of holy material and if it does had then they could have died, brushed by the wind after turning into ashes.

Actually it was a church cemetery. The field of dead was just behind it.

He didn't feel any coldness, he was already cold inside out and besides he wasn't human. He was already dead…

…A walking dead.

Why he was here he recalled.

One of the Lord's subordinates called him. And that subordinate was none other than the one who turned him into something he didn't want to become.

"Haku." A low masculine voiced called.

The one was called Haku looked at the shadow walking towards him. Thanks to the full moon, he was able to see the man, looking old and strong, stood before him.

"Zabuza-san." The young man called Haku bowed politely. Even as a vampire, his politeness and kindness never changed. He was still the same.

"We will kill the minister."

Haku raised a brow. Why would they kill the minister? Of course he didn't ask out loud, it would be embarrassing. He never asked questions out loud. He was there just to follow orders, nothing else.

He nodded nonetheless and was about to leave when Zabuza spoke.

"It's about time you start drinking human blood."

Haku could only stare then left.

-----+-----

Kakashi widened his eye.

The person on the other line hung up. He couldn't believe what he just heard.

"There had been a threat to the minister coming from him. He said he would kill us all if he didn't get what he wants. The minister refused and tonight they'll be coming over."

Kakashi massaged his temple. Those vampires have been too ambitious nowadays.

They were trying to get in any political position just so to amend everything, for their existence to reign. What was it? Ah. World domination.

…Damn who invented that evil plot…

Pressing the numbers on his machine, he waited until somebody answered his call.

"Good afternoon, Hatake-sama." A cheerful female voice greeted him.

"Ah, Ino-chan. I want you to assemble all our members. I need them in fifteen minutes."

"Hai."

He hung up.

-----+-----

All his young members were assembled in front of him. Fully geared and prepared. All vaccines were infused. All they needed to know was where they were going.

Kakashi stood behind his desk, looking at the message that was sent to him earlier.

"I want you to go to Minister Tsunade's place. A threat was directed to her. It was from vampires."

Sharp as ever, Neji inquired. "Do you want us to protect her?"

"The usual, Neji-kun."

Neji understood. Kill vampires.

When silence reigned Kakashi knew that they already know what they're going to do. It's up for them to think of a plan.

"Alright then. Move out kids!"

And dashed they moved.

-----+-----

"I really hate it when he refers to us as 'kids'. We aren't kids anymore!" Naruto retorted, speeding off in his motorbike.

"Just take it as a compliment. It only means he's old. He has white hair anyway. So he's old." Sakura reasoned while chuckling behind Sasuke. They were on Sasuke's favorite motorbike.

Getting in serious matters, Sasuke adjusted his mouthpiece as he drive.

"Why would they want her dead? Some political issues?"

Neji chose to answer, "Probably. They wanted to gain her attention and let them inside the real world."

"Let's say… the very cliché line: World Domination. Savvy?" Tenten sarcastically butted in.

"Thanks for that insightful bit of comment, Tenten." Sasuke dryly said.

"Why thank you."

"Are we there yet?" Sakura lazily asked.

"…Yeah."

-----+-----

Zabuza and Haku stood side-by-side with a few of their races gathered below them.

They stood high on a building adjacent to their target mansion by the main road.

Zabuza, the vampire who doesn't choose his prey, eyed the mansion grounds. There had been several cops and SWAT people scattered all over the perimeter. Do they even know who they're up against? He doubted.

"We have plenty to drink tonight." He announced earning snickers and smirks from behind.

The leader of the group glanced at the young pretty boy beside him. The young man hasn't showed any sign of interest yet. He still disliked taking blood from humans.

"You're free to drink blood, Haku. Why do you still want to drink on animals? That doesn't make you healthy."

Haku slowly blinked his eyes before looking at the speaker. His black shiny eyes reflect nothingness.

"Zabuza-san," Called person looked at him with superiority air, "isn't immortality a sin?"

Ah, religious as always. Why would the young man ask about sin and everlasting existence?

Zabuza didn't answer. He chose to remain silent. He knew that Haku wasn't finished yet.

"Why did you choose to live in sin?" The beautiful young vampire asked.

Raising a hand, Zabuza declared for them to move forth while he searches for the main target. He and Haku left. He couldn't answer when the mob of blood sucking creatures were below them, now that they're alone, he could give an answer.

"We are born from sin, Haku. There's no difference."

Speeding away, Zabuza left the young Haku staring blankly at his back. He chose to remain in that area until he decided what he'd do next.

"…but living in immortality is living in the torments of mortal life."

-----+-----

Cross arrived at their location. Neji assigned positions to his members while they ran towards their client. They rarely do this kind of mission - a mission to protect a well-known person, image to the public. Their usual clients didn't know that they exist. Some did when they survived an attack from a vampire.

Sakura noticed a lot of cops around the mansion. Didn't they know that they would just improve those vampires by sucking their bloods? They should be away from this place.

"Neji." Sasuke spoke, "should you tell those people outside to get rid of this place at once?"

Sasuke had the same thinking like Sakura's. Naruto announced that he had arrived, followed by Sakura and Tenten.

"I'm on my way to the Chief Police." Neji replied and stopped running.

They heard his mouthpiece as though he closed the line. He must be talking to the superiors.

Sasuke announced his arrival on his location. He was assigned with Sakura to guard the client. While he was on close range to Tsunade, Sakura hid herself somewhere inside the same room. Sasuke changed his line so as to speak to her.

"Oi, pinky."

Sakura glared at Sasuke's direction. "Call me that and I'll shoot you between your eyes."

What an intimidation. "My brother will come home soon. He wanted to meet you."

"Oh really." She answered uninterested.

There was a pause.

"Aa. I've never told you about him, right?"

"Yeah, so what?"

A sigh, "Never mind."

Ino's voice rang in their earpieces. "Ground posts had been attacked!"

Immediately, Naruto ran towards a window to watch everything from the other side. Since it was a two-story mansion, he could easily see what was happening from below. All the cops took the ground post. The SWAT was positioned near the room of the minister, where Sakura and Sasuke were.

"Holy…" Was all he could muster when he watch a number of vampires jumping over the high walls while evading every non-silver bullets that went pass them.

They rushed towards their targets. Clawing, kicking, punching and even shooting back when they've held the cops' guns. These weren't any normal kind of vampire. They were trained! Hell, they were expert!

Tenten's grunts were heard from their earpieces. She was now engaged into a battle.

"Are these their army?" Tenten angrily asked. She evaded an incoming attack and took that opportunity to counter attack.

Naruto returned to his post when he heard a number of footsteps drawing near by.

"They've come here!" He shouted.

Ino's keyboard resounded in their earpieces. "Ten vampires are on your way Sasuke."

Sasuke glanced over his shoulder to look at their client. She was quietly looking at the windows as though nothing happened. He thought at first that this must be a trap but then… who are they to eliminate them? He changed the direct line to group line.

"I'm ready."

Sakura's gasped was heard. "They've come."

Sasuke glared ahead when the huge door of Tsunade's office banged open. Ten vampires appeared, surrounding him and his client inside. He scrutinized every single one of them until his eyes landed on a tall man dressed in gray outfit. He knew that this man led the vampires tonight.

"If glares could kill, I could have died." The man sarcastically uttered when he casually walked towards the Cross member and his client from behind.

Tsunade slowly looked at the vampire. She had the very boring expression all over her face. The vampire just looked at her with eyes lusting for her blood.

"Minister Tsunade, huh?" He stopped walking when Sasuke stood in front of the client. "Get out of the way, kid."

Sasuke glared him. He had no intention of attacking yet. He would let Tsunade do the talking first.

"So be it then." He looked past the young Cross member in attempt to get Tsunade's attention. "We've come here personally to ask you again, Minister. Take the offer."

The minister's brown eyes squinted warily. These vampires were getting on her nerves.

"I'm serving humans, Zabuza. You and your men have no place in this world."

"Ah, that means you're not taking the offer."

Sasuke knew that it was a warning statement so he unleashed his sword and pointed it towards the neck of the vampire.

"Kid, are you sure you know how to swing a katana?"

"Want me to demonstrate?" Sasuke smirked arrogantly.

In a blink of an eye, Zabuza the vampire disappeared in his previous location only to reappear behind the client. Zabuza held both Tsunade's arms from behind. Sasuke immediately turned around, passively looking at his threat.

"Had enough, kid?" Zabuza inched his lips towards Tsunade's neck.

"We're just starting." Sasuke challenged.

The Cross member assaulted despite the hostage within Zabuza's arms. Tsunade's eyes grew wide.

This boy is actually ignoring his client! The nerve!

Everything seemed to play in slow motion especially when Sasuke leaped towards Zabuza. Sasuke positioned his sword as though he going to swing his sword horizontally however when he's about to have it near Tsunade's neck, a silver bullet went passed them, targeting towards Zabuza's head.

Sasuke smirked.

Nice aim Sakura.

Unbeknownst to them Zabuza had shifted his position before the bullet went through his head.

"I see. An almost-perfect sniper."

Both Tsunade and Sasuke's eyes grew wide.

I-impossible! Sasuke yelled shockingly.

I never knew the girl could shoot like that!

Before the vampires could find where she was hiding, Sakura aimed and shot her guns on every nearest heads. They who were hit were wildly combusted then turned into ashes. Some of the vampires ravaged their way to reveal Sakura's hiding place.

Sakura rolled to the side, shooting the ceiling before budging her way out.

"Sakura reduced the number to four." Ino reported from their receiver.

"Way to go Sakura-chan!" Naruto commented from the other line. He was still fighting with some of the vampires in the hallway.

Now that Sakura let herself be revealed, she nonchalantly aimed her gun towards Zabuza, who in turn, had jumped away from the client. Sasuke immediately took his position to protect Tsunade.

Zabuza glared at the pink haired girl. He never knew that such person exist. What a talent.

"That was smooth, girl." He chuckled, "You will be of great use in our men."

Sakura held the trigger of her gun, "Screw you vampires."

"Ah. The tone of vengeance is seeping through your lips." Zabuza gave her a warning look as he walked towards her position.

Sasuke lowered his stance in preparation for an attack if something happens to Sakura. The female gunslinger never wavered from her position. She held the trigger of her gun even until when Zabuza was standing a few feet from her.

"I don't remember this girl in your club, Uchiha. Since when do you hire delicious chick like this?" Zabuza eyed her as though he was undressing her with his cruel eyes.

Gritting in annoyance, Sasuke gripped the hilt of his katana. If Zabuza would say anything directed to Sakura he will kill him.

None of the Cross members inside the office talked. They held their gazes and guards from all the remaining vampires inside the room. Sakura took down four vampires already. It's up to them to take the six.

Zabuza glanced over his shoulder to look at the minister being protected by the young Uchiha. Shortly he returned looking at the girl before him.

Letting her unprotected is an act of a fool.

In a blink of an eye, Zabuza disappeared from his position.

Sakura felt something on her back. She was forced to drop her guns when something immediately held her wrist from behind!

Why didn't I notice him!

Zabuza reappeared holding Sakura as hostage.

"Shit!" Sasuke cussed while glaring menacingly at their target.

-----+-----

All Cross members heard Ino's alert. "Sakura had been captured!"

Neji, Tenten, and Naruto halted at once. With blood shot eyes they looked at the hallway towards the Minister office while asking the same question inside their minds.

What's going on!

Losing patience, Naruto finished off the remaining vampires he had been fighting. He pulled out his silver bullet gun and dashed towards the minister office.

Ino suddenly shouted at his earpiece, "What're you doing Naruto! Get back to your position!"

The Cross member gritted his teeth and glared his way towards the second floor.

"If Sasuke can't protect Sakura-chan, then I will!"

-----+-----

From his angry stupor Sasuke almost stood still in shock when he heard Naruto's response from Ino's alert. When Sakura was held hostage that doesn't mean he wasn't able to protect her. He believed in Sakura's skill and if he goes in without proper planning then one of them dies.

Naruto was such a moron at times.

Relaxing his already white hand that gripped the hilt of his katana, Sasuke whispered his command through the mouthpiece.

"Stay on your position Naruto or I will kill you."

Naruto literally stopped running. He was already standing at the front door of the office only to be held back once he heard Sasuke's grave voice echoing through his earpiece. Naruto thought that he could have hit Sasuke's nerve when he said those words earlier. Either that or Sasuke already had a plan in his head.

Zabuza turned towards Sasuke while he held Sakura in his strong arm. There was a malicious smirk emitting from his face and Sasuke knew that he would make a deal.

And Sasuke was right.

"I'll offer you a deal, Uchiha."

There was no response from Sasuke, only deadly glares and angry aura.

"If you don't want this chick to be part of our army, make the Minister agree to our offer. If she declines, this girl will immediately become one of us."

Zabuza couldn't tell what Sasuke was thinking but through the young Cross' eyes he knew that Sasuke wouldn't think twice to save the girl. The beating of his heart made it obvious.

"My patience's running low, Uchiha, if I didn't get an answer this girl shall die."

Painfully, Sasuke closed his eyes.

No matter how crucial the situation is, he won't let his comrade be sacrificed. Neither the client should be offered. It was hard for him to make a decision but he had to, or everybody will meet certain death.

Breathing slowly, he straightened up his position. He held a steady gaze to Sakura before looking menacingly at Zabuza.

"Nobody tells me what to do, vampire!" Then Sasuke burst forth with his katana aiming at Zabuza's head.

Shocked at Sasuke's unintelligent decision, Tsunade and Sakura stood shocked, watching the young Cross member in his mad dash towards Zabuza.

And while everything seemed to be playing in slow motion, Zabuza smirked at Sasuke. He knew that the young man wasn't taking this deal seriously. If he wanted proof then he'll give him proof.

Holding Sakura's neck, Zabuza let his fangs out to plunge it on her white skin…

…However…

The glass window shattered into pieces. Zabuza had to stop his attempt to look at the person who invaded his feeding time. Even Sasuke had to stop from his attack, jumping back to avoid shattered glasses raining on the floor.

Once everything went quiet, a young man with long silky black hair clad in his all-black attire, stood at the broken windowsill.

All eyes were on the newcomer. Except for the vampires who already knew him Sasuke and Tsunade started scrutinizing him. They both knew that it was a vampire. His extremely pale face was evident and his dull eyes bear no soul.

Sakura stood frozen staring at the young man before them. Her green eyes went wide after she finished her observation.

It… it was him!

Breaking the silence, Zabuza tightened his grip to Sakura's neck. The girl yelped in pain.

"I'm glad you came, Haku."

To be continued…

Author's Note: Aww if you're reading the first chapter and the summary of this story, you'll notice that it directed to Uchiha brothers, meaning Sasuke and Itachi. But it's amusing just to think that most of you are relating Itachi's features as feminine. He's a gorgeous, pretty boy isn't he?

For those who have guessed it right… COOKIES for everyone!

Also, very thanks to Gina01 for pointing that very important spot – the Art Store, though only a few included Sai's name in their guess list.

Read and Review please!