Disclaimer - I do not own Naruto

~Chapter Ten~

Naruto decided that they all needed a night off, a couple of hours away from the palace and from constant reminders of Orochimaru and his plans. He suggested that they went to a Ramen bar for their evening meal, so that is where they all ended up. Fugaku had allowed Ino, Hinata and Tenten to meet them there. Sakura couldn't wait to see her best friends, it would enable her to feel like her life was back to normal, and nothing unusual had ever happened.

It was Itachi's night off from hunting rogue supernaturals, so he accompanied Sasuke, Shikamaru, Naruto and Sakura to Ichiraku's. It was a quiet night as they walked down the streets of Konoha. Hardly anyone was around, but those who were would look at the two vampires and two shapeshifters and think that they were just normal human beings. However, their natural beauty set them apart from others. Seriously, the four of them could be part time models. Sakura felt a little self-conscious walking with them, knowing her beauty didn't match up to theirs.

"Forehead! We've missed you so much!" Ino squealed as they reached the Ramen bar. Sasuke took a step back as the blonde jumped on Sakura, nearly knocking them both to the ground. Hinata blushed when she saw Naruto, and Sakura realised that the pale eyed girl had a crush on the knuckleheaded shifter. It was also pretty obvious that Ino still liked Shikamaru as the loud female gave him a big smile. Sakura could do some matchmaking tonight…

After the meal they all walked around Konoha, making the most of the fresh air. Sakura was enjoying the freedom from the palace. She had a lot of catching up to do with Ino and Tenten, she wanted to know every detail of their life from since she left school.

"That Inuzuka set the fire alarms off yesterday, everyone –" Ino abruptly stopped talking mid-sentence, staring at a dark figure ahead. The silhouette was hunched, one arm leaning on a tree trunk for support. He looked to be in a lot of pain. As the group got closer, Sakura recognised the figure.

"T-Tenten." Neji groaned, staggering forward a couple of steps. The brunette girl rushed forward without thinking, gathering his weak form in her arms.

"Neji, what's wrong? Why are you covered in blood? Neji!" Tenten cried, trying to get an answer out of her boyfriend. However, he refused to answer as he stared at her neck like he was in a trance.

"Tenten-san!" Naruto called, realising what had happened to Neji. Hinata stood in shock with her hands to her 'o' shaped mouth as she watched her cousin sink his teeth into Tenten's throat. The girl froze for a second, and then started flailing her limbs around, struggling to be free of Neji's iron grip.

Sasuke, Naruto and Itachi bolted towards the couple. It took both of the vampires to pull Neji off her, and Naruto immediately checked Tenten's wound. Her cheeks were stained with tears as she stared at her boyfriend being manhandled by strangers. She attempted to tell them not to hurt him, but her voice wouldn't obey her.

"But Neji's not a vampire!" Sakura exclaimed, rushing toward her friend. "He said he was human!"

"He was. Orochimaru has started recruiting." Shikamaru said, wrapping a comforting arm around Ino's shoulders. "He really is going to start a war. He's made the Hyuuga into a newborn."

Tenten suddenly collapsed in Naruto's arms. He managed to catch her before she crumpled on the hard floor. It was safe to say that Ino and Tenten couldn't be shielded from the supernatural world anymore.

"Is she alright?" Sasuke asked, appearing next to Sakura.

"Apart from the obvious? I think she'll be fine." Naruto said, ripping off one of his sleeves and wrapping it around the unconscious girl's injury.

Sakura glanced over at Neji and Itachi. The older Uchiha had his wrist to the newborns mouth, and Sakura remembered that Orochimaru had done the exact same thing to her in the alleyway.

"Newly created vampires go into bloodlust." Sasuke explained. "The only way to stop them is to feed them another vampire's blood. We don't give it away lightly."

Itachi pulled his hand away from Neji, who looked around dazed for a few seconds until his gaze fell on Tenten who was still out cold. He walked over tentatively, unsure how close he would be allowed to his girlfriend.

"I'm so sorry. Ten, I couldn't stop, I…" He trailed off, lost for words. How could he ever make it up to her? He was disgusted with himself.

Itachi had followed the Hyuuga, and he placed the palm of his hand against Tenten's forehead.

"What are you doing?" Sakura asked, having a good idea what the answer was.

"Erasing her memories." He said simply like he did it every day, which he probably did. "Sasuke, take care of Ino-san." At the mention of her name, Ino's eyes widened and she shook her head.

"No. I won't let you." Sakura said, trying to figure out a way to stop the Uchiha brothers.

"Sakura, they know about our world. The rules state that-"

"I don't care about your stupid rules! These are my friends, and they deserve to know what has happened tonight. Tenten needs to know about Neji's circumstances, and Ino clearly doesn't want her memories taken away." Sakura said, gesturing to the blonde who nodded in agreement. "I know the feeling of not being able to recall anything from the past, and it's horrible! I don't want that to happen to these two."

Itachi slowly removed his hand from the rousing girl's head. She quietly moaned while she sat upright, putting a hand against her neck. Neji went to put a hand on her arm, but thought otherwise, not sure whether the gesture would be appreciated.

"Ten, I-" Neji started, but was cut off by a fist to his jaw. The newborn didn't feel any physical pain, but he was hurt by the fact that Tenten had punched him.

"Don't you ever do that to me again, baka!" Tenten shouted, cradling the hand she had used. She then engulfed him in a hug, not wanting to let him go.

"I am really sorry Tenten. I promise I won't. I've got my mind back now." He turned to face Sakura. "I know who you are. Orochimaru told me everything. He tried to persuade me to join him, but I refused so he left me out on the streets. He really does want the throne."

"We will need to hold you in a cell and interrogate you until we know you can be trusted." Itachi said. "Sorry, it's protocol."

Neji didn't seem fazed by Itachi's words, he expected to be taken back to the palace to be questioned. He would tell them everything he knew. "You're the only one who can stop him, Haruno-san. That's why he wanted you on his side."

"How can I stop him?" Before Neji could answer, Sasuke unexpectedly grabbed her arm and dragged her away without an explanation.

"We need to go." He said. The last she saw of her friends was Neji holding Tenten, repeating to her how sorry he was while running his fingers through her hair. Naruto and Shikamaru were comforting Ino, and Itachi was placing wooden handcuffs on the newborn with an apologetic look on his face. The night's events had finally hit Ino, and she was wetting Shikamaru's shoulder with her tears. He would soon have to explain to her that he wasn't human.

Sasuke led her to the palace and up the grand staircase. Mikoto was showing a couple of guests the artwork and weapons in the entrance hall. "Sakura, sweetie? Sasuke?" Neither of them answered. The Uchiha was on a mission and nothing was going to distract him. He still held on to Sakura's arm, leading her into his room. Every step he took Sakura had to take two, nearly jogging to keep up.

She had never seen the younger Uchiha's bedroom before. There was a four poster bed against the far wall with deep red covers. His possessions were spread out on a large desk opposite a door which she presumed led to the bathroom. It was extremely tidy, but then again royalty had maids and servants to do the dirty work.

"What's wrong?" Sakura asked him as he sat her down on the bed.

"Neji is right. You are the only one who can stop Orochimaru." He sat down next to her. "You need to remember, Sak. It's about time you knew your past." Sakura couldn't stop the flow of blood to her cheeks after he gave her a nickname.

"Sasuke, I know I've been complaining that everyone knows who I am apart from me, but I don't know if I want to know. Mikoto said I was an ally of Orochimaru, if I regain my memories I might go back to him, and I don't want to. And how can memories stop Orochimaru?"

"You haven't been told the whole story. That vision you had, it was a memory from your past." So she had killed an innocent man. How many other people had she slaughtered? "Two hundred and seventy five years ago Orochimaru made you a vampire. My grandfather killed you in eighteen ninety four, and then you were born again, human."

Sakura sat in silence. She had been a vampire? Why was she only being told this now?

"My grandfather was developing a potion to bring back the dead, but he only had one vial. He used that on you, but no one knows why. Before that he wanted you dead, but then he brought you back by sacrificing his own life."

"W-why did he want me dead?" She asked.

"You were the most feared and ruthless vampire to date. You were Orochimaru's favourite possession. He has been after the throne for centuries, but he had given up. Now you're back, he's wanting you back on his side. He wants you because you're the only one strong enough to kill him."

"I don't want to remember. If I murdered lots of people, if I worked for Orochimaru, I don't want to remember!" She shouted. "I like it here, I like my life. I don't want anything to ruin it."

"Sakura."

"No, Sasuke! I don't want to know all the things I used to get up to, that's if you're even telling the truth. According to everyone I used to be a monster. Orochimaru himself called me a monster, and look at him!" She stood up and faced the Uchiha prince, tears streaming down her face. "I can't do it! What if I turn into the person I used to be? What if I start killing innocent people again? I don't want to fight against you guys! I'll go insane just remembering everything that I've done. I don't want to turn into that monster again, Sasuke. I don't want – hngf?"

Sasuke had stood up in a blur and pressed his lips to hers, getting annoying with waiting for her to finish her rant. He could taste her salty tears on his lips. He broke away as quickly as he started, resting his forehead against hers.

"You won't go back to the person you once were unless you want to, you are stronger than that. Besides, I won't let you." He smirked. "When Orochimaru turned you he brainwashed you, and you followed everything that he told you to do. You didn't know any different. And for the record, Orochimaru isn't the best at judging characters." He rubbed his nose down the length of hers. She rested her head on his broad shoulders, savouring the closeness of their bodies. She was still crying, but the sobs were slowing.

A niggling feeling at the back of her mind told Sakura that something was wrong. They shouldn't be doing this. He shouldn't be holding her in his arms.

"Karin!" Sakura jumped out of Sasuke's hold. "No, no, no! Sasuke you shouldn't have done that!" She paced the room. "You're engaged. You're getting married!"

"Didn't you tell me that marriage was all about love? When you said that to me it made me open my eyes. Yes, I'm the prince and I have a duty to my kingdom, but I don't have to be miserable. I don't feel that way about her I never have and I never will. Besides, if Karin really is the spy then the wedding will be off. Even if she isn't I'm calling it off. Sakura, please listen to me." He grabbed her pacing form and turned her chin so that she was looking at him.

"But you're father…"

"My father needs to realise I'm not an object that he can do whatever he wants with. All he wants is what's best for his kingdom. He doesn't stop and think about the happiness of his family. I was five when the engagement was first announced, and I didn't care about marriage and all that stuff. But now I've realised that I don't want to be stuck with Karin for all eternity. You made me realise that."

"I'm not going to live for eternity." Sakura said softly, touched by his speech. "I'm human. I may not have been in the past, but I am now."

"You don't have to be." Sasuke stated. "Back to the matter before, there's only one way to regain your memories, and that is to return to the state you were when you lost them." She understood what he meant. To recall her locked away memories, she needed to become a vampire.

"But…"

"I'll be there when you wake up, I promise. They are only memories, Sak. Whose side you are on is your decision. You've had a human upbringing, you have a human conscience. The memories you have now are not going to fade."

"I'm…" Sakura felt embarrassed by speaking her fear in front of him. He didn't seem to be afraid of anything. "I'm scared. Orochimaru tried to make me into a vampire and it hurt. I thought I was going to die."

"I won't hurt you." He whispered in her ear. She took a deep breath as his eyes turned blood red and his fangs sunk into her neck.

Sasuke laid her down on the bed. He knew she wouldn't be completely unconscious as his blood ran through her veins, transforming her body into a faster, stronger, immortal version. Her face was twisted in pain, and it killed him not being able to do anything about it.

After listening to Neji, he decided that the pink haired girl needed to know who she was. People were getting hurt, she was getting hurt. It was about time she was in control of her own life, and if she decided to join Orochimaru once again then that was her decision. He didn't want her too, for the kingdom's sake and for his own, but it was her choice. They would just have to deal with the three possible scenarios that would result.

Either she would join Orochimaru and fight against him for the throne, or she would stay and fight for the Ruler. The last option was that she would do nothing at all, not chose a side and just disappear to do her own thing. He desperately wanted her to do the second and he would try to stop her making the wrong choice, but no matter the result it would be her decision, not his or his fathers. Those memories were a part of her, it should be a crime to keep them away from her.

He bent down and kissed her forehead, knowing full well that when Fugaku found out he would blow a fuse. But there was nothing the Ruler could do, the deed was done. Sakura was turning into a vampire. Or rather, turning back into a vampire. She would gain her past memories, but she would also retain her current ones. Which side she would chose, Sasuke didn't know.

A knock alerted him to the presence of a maid. By the faint whiff he got of her though the crack under the door, he knew it was Ami Yagami, one of his personal maids who cleaned his room. He opened the door to shoo her away, but she immediately looked over his shoulder to see Sakura laid on his bed, her small fists gripping the duvet covers. She glanced over at the Uchiha's hand which was resting on the door and noticed the small scar that was rapidly fading on his wrist where he had cut himself. Being a vampire herself, Ami recognised the signs.

She screamed for Sasuke's father, dropping the clean bed linen that was in her hands. In three seconds Fugaku appeared at the door and Ami pointed inside the room, speechless.

Sasuke was in so much trouble.

Gosh, it's been a while! Sorry for the late update, I had to wait to get Office on my new laptop. The next chapter should be up either tomorrow or Sunday.

I received my A level results last Thursday and I got AAB! I'm off to University in September!

Don't forget to review!