Chapter 7: The Mark

*.*.*

Your memory comes back to me
to strangle me with its sweet taste

~ Joan Osborn

*.*.*

When you hear a scream you have a reaction to do something.

Being neutral gave you two choices: Help the person in need or just leave.

Fortunately for that person Sasuke was in a the mood to kick someone's ass, especially after what that stranger appeared. What he didn't expect when he approached the 'trouble' that this person happened to have…well…pink hair. Was the universe trying to play a joke on him? Melting into the shadows he watched her five captures struggle with her as she kicked and screamed. She even nailed one with a swift kick to the groin. Sasuke didn't flinch but he knew that HAD to hurt whether they were supernatural or not. One of the captures growled before smacking her across the head. She fell to the floor limply, unconscious or very dazed he didn't know which one. He would have taken them down at that moment but a few words stopped him.

"Now you sure she's the one? Cause I like to keep my head on my shoulders"

"Positive, master would be pleased."

"Hey what are you doing?"

He watches almost anxiously as one of them bent down over her. Silently he moved to a closer hiding spot, readying his attack.

"Just want a taste, after what that bitch did to me."

"You're not allowed to!"

He crouches, watching every movement they make. The one that leaned over her stopped and backed up. Something was wrong. He frowned; no vampire can resist just a simple taste. Well except him, he did have a lot of self control. This was different something about the girl had spooked him.

"Uh oh"

"What?"

"Look"

"Uh oh"

"So what?"

"So? Who'd ya thinks gonna come?"

"Er…the brander of the mark?"

"Or me" Sasuke said, moving out of his hiding place.

The group backed away from him sensing his power now, crashing out in huge waves. They didn't know if he was one of the old ones or worse but they knew something bad was going to happen to them. To Sasuke it was old times before his clan died, he can still feel the beginning of rush of battle.

"Great, a light one"

"Shut up!"

"Let's just quickly grab the girl and make a run for it"

They made a move towards her but Sasuke was already in front of her. He tsked at them, eyes glowing red now. Deliberately slowly he pulled a sword from back, well hidden from underneath his coat. They all gulped at the glinting mettle, but what really freaked them out was the symbol on it. They backed away from him, scared beyond comprehension.

"Your species are extinct" one of them shrieked.

Sasuke smirked and let his sword do the talking.

Ever so slowly a connection between each sense began switch on, the first being sound. There was a muffle of sounds from people talking in an echoing place. The second was smell; a hint of strong disinfectant was in the air. Third was taste, the back of her tongue had a subtle taste of blood. Touch was next, she felt she was enveloped by something soft and light. Finally sight, to which her eyes opened and the room was dark save for the little light above the door. She was in a creamy coloured room, creamy coloured cabinets and in a creamy coloured bed. She sarcastically made a mental note the designer sure had an epiphany when they decorated the place. Once the connections were made she could feel that someone else was in the room.

"You're awake. That's good" a smooth and seductive voice said.

She knew that voice anywhere.

A voice that caressed the senses quite easily but kept one's attention.

His voice.

"Sasuke?" Sakura asked.

"Hn"

Yep. Definitely him.

"That is STILL not an answer" Sakura growled.

She heard him chuckle as he appeared from behind the curtain to her side. He strolls casually to the empty seat next to the bed. He then sits with his elbows alongside the chair rests and his hands clasped against chin. His dark eyes were hooded as they watched her carefully, almost waiting for something to happen.

"Where exactly am I?" Sakura asked.

"Hospital. You had were attacked and then subsequence been knocked out. I just happen to be walking by when it happened" Sasuke said with ease.

"And then happen to save my life" Sakura said with a look of disbelief.

Sasuke shrugged.

"You have a knack for needing my help" Sasuke said.

"Which I didn't need, I could have taken them!" Sakura grumped.

"Five against one? I highly see the fairness in that. I just surprised them" Sasuke said.

"Okay, so what happened to them?" Sakura asked.

"Dust in the wind really" Sasuke said with a secretive smile.

Sakura narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously at him.

"Why do I have the feeling that you know more than you're letting on" Sakura said.

"Hn" Sasuke said.

"Not an answer" Sakura growled.

"It's the only one you'll get" Sasuke smirked.

Sakura patience was near its end with her temper beginning to boil. To think she slept with this guy.

Multiple of times. Her dear inner reminded her.

SHUT UP!!!!!

"What are you thinking?" Sasuke asked softly.

Sasuke cocked his head, watching her in fascination while she blushed under his intense stare. She tried to look away but his stare kept her in place. Resolving that she tried her best to keep her face blank.

"Nothing" Sakura said.

"The blush says otherwise. That is the same face you pulled before you kissed me" Sasuke said.

She wanted to growl at his arrogance, why was it the pretty ones that happen to be arseholes in the end?

"And will be the last time" Sakura said.

His eyes sparked at her comment; intrigued at this sort of challenge.

"And why is that?" Sasuke asked.

"Not to sound rude but you happen to be a one night stand" Sakura said, lifting her chin in determination.

"Hn and I suppose if I lean in just a little closer you wouldn't move away, fighting against me hmm?" Sasuke said.

Sakura eyes wavered a bit as he leaned in, she knew from experience that moving away would only further intrigue the man. Yet if she stayed where she was she may as well throw a white flag and her legs apart for him and just give up.

I'm screwed.

Yep.

He moved closer till his breath trickled down her throat in soft caresses. His confidence grew but he held still once he was inches away from touching her. She felt heavy, almost like she was in a daze. His eyes flick blood red for a second but she was too lost in his hypnotic gaze. Little did she know she was under what a vampire would call a 'Thrall'.

"What were you doing before those men attacked?" Sasuke asked.

"I was coming back from the library" Sakura said.

"Anything else?" Sasuke said, intoxicated by her scent.

"No, why are you asking me these things?" Sakura asked.

His eyes narrowed a bit. Some part of her was resisting it. Very few humans could and those numbers had been trained to. He leaned in closer, drawing more power into it till she was yielding. He did not care that a small part of him was put off from doing so. He had to make sure there was no 'exposure' from any of this. Freaked out humans was the last thing they needed. Besides, Sakura was…different.

"Do you remember what happened as soon as you were grabbed?" Sasuke said.

"I thought of you" Sakura said in confusion.

Okay, may have put a bit too much power into it.

"Anything else?" Sasuke asked.

"Something wet on my neck, hisses, people talking, sounding scared, something about Mark and then…nothing" Sakura said.

Sasuke's eyes flicked down to her scar. There on her almost pale skin was a thin white line he'd cut during the night before. He frowned, he swore he had closed every cut or bite he inflicted on her delicious body. Maybe he had left it a little longer before he healed it. He lightly brushed a finger over it; her breath hitched.

He swallowed.

The scarred skin was very sensitive and aching.

Just the memory of delving his tongue into the open wound made him hungry for her. He didn't know if it was for her body or her blood, they were both as addictive. He loosened the thrall till she was able to think clearly in that moment, there was no telling what he would do if she had no free will. Deliberately he stood and walked towards the window as her eyes followed his form. He heard her sighed quietly, maybe from relief, disappointment or both but at that moment he needed to think.

Leaving a mark on her would give her a better chance of survival if she encountered more vampires or any other nasties. But then an experience hunter would be able understand the mark and try to kill her or lead the vampire that marked her out.

"Who would have thought you were such a gentlemen" Sakura said, ridding of his trail of thoughts.

Sasuke frowned and looked back at her.

"Excuse me?" Sasuke asked.

"You didn't kiss me" Sakura said.

Sasuke relaxed a bit as he smirked, remembering their earlier conversation.

"I didn't kiss you because we would have the orderlies trying to stop us from fucking in the room" Sasuke said bluntly.

Sakura flushed slightly before straightening herself up, she would not be undermined by him.

"Kami forbid the interruption" Sakura drawled.

"You are loud" Sasuke smirked.

She blushed and looked away.

He has a point ya know.

Shut up!

Well we are! Have you forgotten that the morning after we'd have a sore throat?

True but don't need to be reminded.

She turned, hearing the door open, and sees Sasuke being the one who did. Her heart slightly sinks at the thought of him going and then scorn her heart that it would sink. She reminded it that 'one night stands were no strings attached' and he may have saved her butt but should remain no strings attached.

"Wait, where are you going?" Sakura asked.

"To inform a nurse that you are awake" Sasuke said.

"And then?" Sakura asked.

"Carrying on with my life" Sasuke said.

It should have stung but Sakura understood. He'd go with his life and she with hers. Simple. So why did she have this nagging feeling that something was missing from all of this.

"Okay" Sakura said.

Sasuke sensed that she wanted to say something but was still debating about it in her head. He sighed.

"If you wish to further our conversation my number is on the table" Sasuke said.

Sakura blinked at that before her eyes flicked onto the piece of paper with his phone number on it. She frowned, she didn't remember seeing it there earlier on but before she could say anything to him he was already gone.

"Sheesh, someone should put a bell on him" Sakura said.

There was a few images that seemed to pop up from her comment courtesy to her inner. These images were of Sasuke with a bell tied around his neck and ONLY a bell tied around his neck.

Not helping.

Hahahaahahahahaha...

Sasuke stared at the Haruno room he had left for a moment, contemplating about her. There was something about that girl that he liked and quite frankly it disturbed him. It was very unusual to feel such things for a stranger, and to even give her his number? Well, that was not normal for him. Females were his playthings, a plain means to an end but this one set his cravings on fire. Just her mere scent had his mouth watering.

And why didn't he take her when he had the chance?

He really couldn't stand having someone with power over him, especially if they were human. Humans were weak, brainless idiots that there sole purpose in life was to sleep, eat and make more little humans. It was a never ending cycle to him and the humans continue to expand, continue to ignore what was really going on in the world.

Just continue to exist.

Just like him.

But he couldn't ignore the supernatural world. It always left its mark known, that man earlier on in the shadows reminded him, and the vamps he fought reminded him. Hell the blood cravings made sure of that and it all led back to that Pinkette. Out of all the women he drank from, even fucked, why was she the only one the held his attention firmly.

He shook his head and walked away from the room. This was no time to be wondering about the female human. He fucked her, saved her life and made sure she was safe and awake in the hospital. That was all he needed to do for her and that was all he'll ever do for her. Once he was out of this godforsaken place he can return home, open up a bottle of scotch and be done with being a part of her life.

Clean. Simple. Easy.

"SOMEBODY HELP ME!"

Sasuke frowned at the voice. Precisely as he turned a corner of the hallway leading to the reception he saw Naruto clutching a raven hair girl in his arms. He had to admit, it looked like a poorly scripted soap scene as the orderlies looked stunned at the young blonde man. Sasuke watched by the seconds as it seemed that Naruto was making things worse by holding the young woman in such a way, she looked like a puppet.

"Dobe, what's wrong?" Sasuke casually asked, trying to defuse the situation.

"Teme! What are you doing here? Never mind! Hinata just collapsed on me!!" Naruto said, panicking like a headless chicken.

Sasuke stared at Naruto before walking up to him and checked the girl himself. He sighed, feeling his patience growing thinner by the minute, and looked at him.

"Dobe, what happen just before she collapsed?" Sasuke asked.

"I kissed her" Naruto said.

There were a few snickers from the nurses, while Sasuke felt a sweat drop forming trying to control his need to hit the man over the head. Is that so stinking obvious that the dobe could not even see what the hell was in front of him that he needed the teme to explain? Sasuke got his answer from Naruto's apprehensive face. Yep, looks like it!

"I'm no doctor, but I think she just fainted from the sensation overload" Sasuke said.

"Really?" Naruto asked, surprised.

"Yeah" Sasuke said then gazed over at a nurse "Is there any spare beds for her to recover on?"

"Uh sure, let me just check sir" the nurse replied, blushing at his intense dark eyes.

Naruto sighed happily, adjusting Hinata in his arms before freezing in realisation.

"Oh Kami! I left Gaara with Ino!" Naruto gasped.

Deep within a forest near by there was nothing but chirping of happy birds, digging of happy rabbits, digging of happy moles and foraging of happy bears. Until the dreaded sound pierced the air.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" a red head screamed followed by a giggle from a blonde.

Needless to say it scared every animal in the vicinity.

Okay lack of updates? Um, job, writer/artist block and lack of will. Combine them together and that's my excuse. I was going to write an action scene but I was just not up for it but in the next one there shall be just don't count on me writing one up in the next 48hrs, I'm really tired from all shifts I've been getting and I have my brothers birthday this week.

Also I was wondering who'd ya want to appear in the story, I'm trying to figure out how to place Matsuri (have I spelt her name right?) in the plot. Also couple wise too, who'd ya want to see with whom?

I mean on my other story Forest Child NejiTen just floors everyone and ShikaIno, SaiIno, ShikaTema it's a draw!!!!!!! LOL

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter (even though I feel this might be a filler), there shall be more NejiTen in the next one.

Mysterious-Vixen out!