Chapter Ten

I walked into my room my stomach flipping and hands shaking. What was happening to me? I couldn't stop thinking about how gently her lips touched mine and, even though I was surprised at first, how I wanted it more than anything. The image of her big green eyes looking up at me, pleading, flashed into my head. I could still feel her arms around me as she begged me to be with her. I grabbed the place on my shirt that she'd grabbed. It was still wrinkled.

How could I have been so stupid as to respond to her kiss? I sat down heavily on the edge of the four-poster bed. My hands came together and clenched. Little half moon indentions were left when my hands released each other so I could grab the sides of my face with my hands. She is a client. She is a client. She is a client. A smaller voice whispered mockingly in the back of my mind. She's a human. She's a human. You can't have these feelings for a childish human. You can't repeat your father's mistakes. You have to maintain your reputation in Akatsuki.

I still couldn't disperse my memories of her curled up in bed, her heavy lidded eyes watching me speak. Her bruised face, swollen and purple, the product of my inability to protect her. Anger sparked inside me as I thought of that irritating Hyuuga brat. Next time I saw him, I'd make him look worse than Sakura had. Her face swam into my head again, a small curve of mouth as she spoke and my favorite, that look of anger as she berated my brother. It made me angry how Sasuke was able to be with her. No one expected anything from Sasuke anymore; he could be with her if he wanted. Was that what I wanted? To be with her? I didn't know. I didn't know anything anymore. I sighed exasperatedly, flopped down on my bed and closed my eyes.

"Sakura," I began nervously, glancing over to the pink haired girl in the passenger side of my car. She was sitting quietly, staring out of the window. She had a white bandage on her cheek and although I couldn't see them, I knew there were more under her shirt, around her ribcage.

"What is it, Sasuke?" she whispered and I glanced at her listless hands lying in her lap. My hands gripped the steering wheel harder. That damn Hyuuga bastard. How dare he beat her like this? She was a girl, a defenseless woman who didn't deserve to be harmed. Next time I see that asshole I am going to kick his ass. After being beaten like that, I could understand her stoic disposition but did she have to sound so damned depressed and…pitifully alone? Maybe if a provoked her…

"You know, it's your own fault this happened. I knew that Gary kid was trouble. I can't believe you didn't tell me, either!" I looked over at her, expecting her to clench her fists and grit her teeth and yell at me like she always did. I loved when she got angry like that, when her eyes flashed and her cheeks would flush with frustration. To see her sitting there like she was now pissed me off, especially when it really was partly my fault.

"You're right, Sasuke. I'm sorry. It'll never happen again, I promise." Sakura said in a low voice, still staring out that stupid window. I narrowed my eyes, feeling like crossing my arms but I was still driving. We pulled up to her door and she opened the car door. I heard a soft thanks escape her lips as she shut the door. That's it. I practically ripped the emergency brake up, turned off the car and got out, slamming the door as forcefully as possible.

"Sakura!" I called and she turned around. I walked up to her, stuffing my hands in my pockets. "Listen, I'm…" I avoided looking into her eyes. "…sorry I wasn't there for you today. E-even though it was your fault. But…" I stared at the gravel of the driveway like it was the most fascinating thing I've ever seen. I hated this mushy gushy stuff. "Please don't be depressed. I won't let it happen again." Sakura kept staring at me for a while before she nodded and started heading towards her door again. She was just going to nod? My face crumpled and I bared my teeth. I followed her and grabbed her shoulder, spinning her around. She winced as her arms bumped her sides and guilt turned my stomach. I wrapped my arms around her so I could talk to her without looking into her eyes. There was something about looking into her eyes that made it difficult to speak. She was going to listen to me, damn it.

"Listen to me," I began, trying to convey to her what I felt. "I know I haven't been the best bodyguard and the best…ally." I was going to say friend, but for some reason I felt that Sakura would have scoffed at me. "I want that to change. I know I like to provoke you but I want to be someone you can trust and that you don't…mind…having to spend so much time with." My voice faltered as my courage fizzled out. I pulled away and Sakura just looked at me, her face rather bewildered. I dropped my hands and crossed my arms, scowling. "Because after the stunt you pulled tonight, I'm going to make extra sure we're together all the time now." Sakura's face crunched up into a look of unpleasantness. Well, that was an improvement.

"Fine, Sasuke. But on one condition," she finally said, her voice sounding a little less miserable. I just looked at her, waiting for her silly condition. "Lose the attitude. Please? I feel like you don't want to 'spend so much time' with me, that's why I'm reluctant. Okay?" I shrugged my shoulders.

"Fine. You have to stop being so damn stubborn and difficult then." Sakura's mouth pursed.

"Then you have to stop acting like an emo brat!" I felt like grabbing her head and digging my knuckles into her skull.

"Well then lose the stupid pink hair, it's ridiculous." I regretted saying that insult. Her hair was one of my favorite things about her.

"I was born this way! Stupid cockatoo!" The hell! I opened my mouth to retort but Sakura started laughing as she ran to her door. She stopped with her hand on the handle and turned around, a soft smile playing across her lips.

"Thanks, Sasuke." She said before she opened the door and went inside. My cheeks felt hot as I sputtered out, "Thanks for what, stupid girl."

But I couldn't stop smirking on the way to my car.

"Well, someone looks happy for a person who got the shit kicked out of them." I jumped as Madara appeared from behind my door after I shut it. I backed away from him, narrowing my eyes. "Does mommy know about your little adventure? I'm sure she won't be happy with those bad Uchiha boys for letting you get into a scrape like that." I turned around, ignoring him. Wait…what about…

"What'd you do to Temari?" I asked, spinning around to get a straight answer out of Madara but he wasn't there. His voice reappeared next to my ear.

"Don't worry, I made sure she got home safe and sound." He was acting strange. He kept getting too close to me and when I'd move to get away he leaned into it. I looked into his eyes; they were red and blank and mad. His smile was looser and not as controlled as most times I've seen him. My spine tingled—why was he behaving like this?

"Really?" I asked, backing up. Madara nodded without saying anything more, every step backwards he made one forward. "You didn't do anything to her at all?"

"Nope, but that girl sure did put up a fight. It took so long to get her home I didn't get to eat before I came." I looked down as I noticed Madara's hands were shaking. He was scaring me…his behavior was erratic and jumpy, so unlike the usually poised, graceful Madara I was used to. So this was a hungry vampire. I felt blood dripping down my face and clutched my cheek. Madara had the bandage from my face between his fingers, grinning. My fingers jumped to feel the place where it had been seconds before and I pulled my fingers away to find blood tinting my fingertips red. Shit, I was covered in blood from that damn Hyuuga and now I had Madara staring at me like I was a plateful of takoyaki.

My eyes glanced towards the door and I moved to run towards it but Madara anticipated my move and grabbed my waist with both of his hands, pushing me onto the bed. I screamed but I was quickly shushed with Madara's hand. Madara grinned and his tongue slithered out and he licked the blood from my face. I whimpered and punched at his face and chest but it was useless; I was punching a brick wall. He clucked his tongue and grabbed my hands, pinning them next to my head. "Come on, Sakura, be a good girl."

"Madara…what about not wanting the commitment?" I managed to squeak out. He shook his head, eyes never leaving my neck. So this is what he meant about the strength of hunger for blood. He was no longer sane enough to talk. My only chance was to fight him off. Even the thought sounded ridiculous in my head. I struggled pointlessly as his head lowered towards my neck.

"Yo, playboy. Come get your meal." A voice came from my window and Madara growled as he looked up. He released me and stumbled over to my window. I flipped over, scrambling to get as far away from Madara as possible and saw a big brawny guy with pale skin and dark, spiky black hair. His eyes were dark and calculating like a shark. He didn't look very Asian…maybe he was mixed. "Itachi isn't going to be very happy when he finds out you tried to eat our client." The man said as he glanced at me. "Woah!" He made his way around Madara who was ravaging a scarlet, plastic blood bag.

"Hey, little lady," the man grinned as he looked at me. He turned back around to Madara. "I didn't know she was such a looker." Madara, who had finished the bag and was currently licking his lips looked at the tall man with a look of disgust.

"Kisame," Madara muttered, stuffing the bag into his back pocket. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, princess forgot his dinner and out of the goodness of my heart I figured I should get it to you so Fugaku-sama doesn't punish you for doing anything rash to cute Sakura-chan," Kisame explained, winking in my direction. The way Kisame said "punish" made me curious, especially with the look Madara got in his eyes after it was said. He narrowed his eyes at Kisame. Kisame didn't seem to like Madara, either though.

"I don't know how Sasuke and Itachi have resisted with such a kawaii girl…" Kisame smiled, looking back at me. I didn't like his smile, he said "kawaii" like someone would say "delicious." I could tell Kisame was dangerous.

"I don't get what's so great about her," Madara said, leaning against the windowsill.

"Well, we all know you're waiting for your precious Itachi to become a faggot like you," Kisame grinned but he looked sickened. I looked at Madara who threw a treacherous glare in Kisame's direction. "Too bad it looks like Sakura is keeping him firmly on our team."

"I think it's best that you leave now, Kisame. You're forgetting your place. Need I remind you that you're very disposable to the Uchiha clan…which includes me, a legitimate member." Madara threatened and Kisame made to attack Madara but he shrugged his shoulders and turned towards me.

"It was nice to meet you, cute Sakura-chan," Kisame grinned and jumped out the window. Their conversation kept running through my head. What did Kisame mean about Madara's 'precious Itachi?' Faggot? Was Madara…?

"Poor little Sakura," Madara whispered darkly from the window. "No matter what you do, Itachi has no feelings for you." He walked over to me, menacingly yet graceful like a cat stalking its prey. "She's tried so hard, kissing him and throwing herself on him and to no avail." My eyes widened. How did he know about that? Madara leaned even closer to me and put his lips up to my ear.

"Give up, Sakura. He'll never love a dependent little child like you. I've known him his whole life. He's the heir to the biggest corporation in Japan. He's going to marry a wealthy vampire heir and you're going to be all alone. Just let it go while you still can, before you get hurt." His hands stroked down my face before a blur flew through my window and he was gone.

I hugged my arms around my body and tried to keep my sobs as quiet as possible.

"Hyuuga? Hyuuga's not here either?" Iruka-sensei looked around the room. "Hmm, Temari and Gaara and Neji-kun, absent then." I looked to the empty desk next to me, relieved that he wasn't here but I was worried about Temari. Why wasn't she here today? Did Madara really do something to her?

"Apparently Gaara went missing last Friday," Kiba said to Naruto who looked at me. I looked down at my desk. "I talked to Shikamaru and Temari decided to stay home with her family. She's really worried about him."

A nervous and guilty wave coursed through my body. So that explained Temari, but not Gaara. Had Hyuuga done something to him? My world was slowly falling apart, it seemed like. My best friend was suffering because of me. Gaara was MIA and Itachi refused to talk to me. The thought of Itachi made me sick; all I could think about was my surprise kiss and how stupid that was. I made myself look like an idiot to Itachi who probably didn't even feel the same towards me.

Maybe I should just give up on Itachi, like Madara said to. The thought brought tears to my eyes, but I knew there was not much I could do about it. Itachi was the heir of Uchiha but he was ultimately a vampire and I could tell by Madara's reaction to the mixed blood of Itachi and Sasuke that if Itachi and I ever ended up together, it would not be accepted by the vampire community.

"Sakura-chan? Are you okay?" Naruto whispered towards me and Kiba looked back. I looked up at him and more tears ran down my face. I hadn't realized I was crying. A warm hand grabbed mine and pulled me up out of my seat. Sasuke grabbed my school bag and began walking out of the classroom.

"Uchiha-san, where are you taking Haruno?" Iruka-sensei yelled after us but Sasuke didn't answer and slammed the door after him. Sasuke dragged me down the hallway. He grabbed my shoes from my locker and handed them towards me. I changed my shoes, sniffling my way through the buckles and clutched my book bag to my chest as I followed Sasuke outside. We passed Karin and a group of other girls smoking. Karin looked surprised.

"Sasuke! What are you doing? Why is she with you? Sasuke!" Karin called after us. Sasuke ignored her. I silently got in the car and didn't say anything the whole time Sasuke skidded out of the parking spot and sped out of the parking lot. People were gathered at windows and pointing and I knew there'd be a few rumors shooting around school but I couldn't find myself caring.

I recognized the way we were going from the first time and so I wasn't surprised when Sasuke pulled up to the ice cream parlor. I unbuckled my seat belt and got out of the car but Sasuke told me to wait outside. He came out holding two cones and handed one to me. I followed him down the vine-lined path and across the bridge sitting on the bench in the gazebo. Why was Sasuke being so sweet to me?

"You can cry, Sakura. I won't judge you." Sasuke said and I blushed as more tears came pouring out on their own. The last person I wanted to cry in front of was Sasuke but for some reason they just kept coming and coming. He took my cone out of my hand and sat next to me, hesitating before taking my shoulder and drawing my head to his chest. For some reason, Sasuke acting so sweet made me want to cry even more. The tears eventually stopped and I hiccupped a couple times. I lifted my head and got up, thinking maybe that'd help slow my breath.

"Sorry, I look like an idiot," I laughed and wiped away my tears. I looked at Sasuke who looked perplexed as he stared at me. "What is it?" I asked him and he looked down to my ice cream cone, which was melting and dripping onto the worn white wood.

"Sakura…do you…like my brother?" A blush crept all the way down to my toes. What was he asking? My mind went blank and I didn't know what to say. Why would he ask me something like that? My hands clutched at my skirt and I looked down at my feet. What was I supposed to say to that? My defense mechanism switched on; I started laughing, almost hysterically.

"What? Why would you ask something like that?" I laughed obnoxiously again. He didn't look pleased.

"Madara mentioned something last night about how Itachi was making a poor little girl cry in Haruno mansion and how Itachi would never love someone like her and just…things of that nature. Madara likes to provoke people though, so I wasn't sure." Sasuke said, licking up some of the ice cream drips from my cone.

"Sasuke, tell me about Madara," I said, sitting next to him.

"Why do you want to know about that creep?" Sasuke asked, leaning against the bench, his elbows resting on the rim. "He's nothing but trouble. He causes difficulties within the clan all the time."

"I don't know. Madara just really doesn't seem to like me. He's made that clear…" I said, pursing my lips at the thought of all the words he told me. "Plus, he's the one that helped me accept what the Uchiha clan is…you know…" I trailed off. Sasuke looked at me a long time before sighing.

"I don't know what he's told you but Madara likes to mess with people's minds. Although, Madara hasn't always had it easy." Sasuke glanced up at the ceiling with a pensive expression.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked. I wished I could tell him about all the times Madara had attacked me but something told me it'd be better to keep my mouth shut.

"Madara's father was the rightful heir to the Uchiha will but when he died it fell to my father. All the power of the Uchiha corporation would have fallen to Madara but it was stripped from him. You'd think that'd make him hate Itachi but for some reason…he doesn't. In fact, he has this…disgusting obsession with Itachi." Sasuke said, scowling. "He doesn't keep it a secret, either. Because of this he's gotten a lot of shit from other members of the A—uh, the family." Sasuke corrected himself quickly.

"I know about Akatsuki, it's okay," I said and he looked taken aback.

"What all has Madara told you?" Sasuke said, shaking his head. "Damn bastard."

"A lot…" I blushed, looking at Sasuke's canines and imagining the throws of ecstasy Madara was talking about people experienced when they were bit. "Just the Akatsuki and what the Akatsuki does and that people can't become vampires if bitten and just the logistics of…the Uchiha clan, I guess." I looked at Sasuke and realized he was…smiling at me. I looked at him suspiciously.

"What are you all smiley about?" I asked; he looked weird with a smile.

"It's just…" Sasuke looked down at his hands. "I've never had anyone else outside Uchiha International that knows our secret and I don't know…it's…nice." Was he blushing? I laughed and smacked his shoulder. He scowled at me.

"Sasuke-kun blushing is just so adorable." I teased him. He crossed his arms and turned his head to avoid looking at me. I grinned and looked around for my ice cream cone. "Sasuke! Did you eat my ice cream?"

"Yeah you were too busy weeping." Sasuke said, a mocking grin gracing his features. Somehow, Sasuke didn't seem as high and mighty as he had before. I liked it.

It'd been a week since I last saw Madara and I was thankful for it. I also hadn't seen Itachi in as long either, but Sasuke made sure to keep my mind off of it. We'd been spending a lot of time together recently and surprisingly, alone, without the other members of his gang. We hadn't done anything big, we just studied together in my room and we'd watched a movie last night with Naruto. Naruto and Sasuke didn't talk to each other but they didn't fight, either, so I considered this a good sign.

Sasuke was also getting closer to me, it seemed. Of course, emotionally we were but physically, too and in all honesty it was beginning to make me uncomfortable. We often walked shoulder to shoulder and he'd try to grab my hand one day afterschool when we were walking to his car. I pretended to see Naruto so I skipped off, waving at a blonde haired freshman who seemed frightened that an upperclassmen pinkette was skipping towards him, waving like a madwoman. The poor kid started running and tripped over himself multiple times in an attempt to escape. I laughed and brushed it off as a mistake, but Sasuke didn't look so convinced. I didn't know if I could pull the same trick twice.

The second time Sasuke got too close, I was telling him goodbye after the movie on Friday. We were on the porch making sure Naruto got down my driveway alright. Naruto rounded the corner and I looked up to say goodbye to Sasuke, but his face was inches away from mine. He leaned in closer, a serious expression on his face. He kept looking at my lips, which I bit trying to think of something to do to avoid this awkward situation…what was he doing? His eyes widened as he suddenly leaned over sharply, pulling his sweatshirt way low over the top of his pants. I looked at him quizzically.

"What are you doing?" I asked him and he groaned a goodbye and started walking at an odd gait to his car. I could have sworn I'd seen his fangs flash out for a second, but he drove so fast out of the driveway I just brushed it off, as he was hungry or something and sparing me a fate of being tied to him for all eternity.

This damn girl was driving me crazy. Just imagining her sent me over the edge. I saw sparks, my whole body shuddering and then I fell forward, panting as my forehead rested on the steering wheel of my car. I leaned my head back against my seat and let me catch my breath. I finally got out of the car and locked it, hanging the key on the rack of keys we had for all our cars. That damn girl was doing it on purpose. I was going to Faze her into kissing me but it was as if she blocked it and ended up…affecting me. Biting that damn pink lip and looking up at me with those eyes. I couldn't wait anymore.

I walked down one of the corridors to my room and glanced up to be face to face with one of the last persons I felt like looking at. Well, might as well make this fun while he was here.

"Hey, dumbass," I grinned as the blonde clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.

"Shut up, bastard! I'm going to kick your ass if you don't shut it!" Naruto growled, pushing past me. "I'm going back home."

"What did my dad want to talk to you about?" I asked, my voice dropping to a serious whisper. Naruto looked behind at me and scoffed, a sneer on his face.

"Like I'd tell you. He just sent a message to the Perv Master. Nothing big." Naruto shrugged his hands into his jacket pockets and nodded. "Bye."

"It's a full moon tomorrow." I said in parting and Naruto stopped. "Just a friendly reminder." I kept walking to my room and Naruto continued walking to the exit. I opened my room and stopped in the doorway.

"What are you doing in my room?" I asked, walking in and staring at another person I didn't have a particular care to talk to. Itachi continued staring at me from my bed. He looked like he wanted to ask me something but he kept quiet. "So? If you're not going to say anything, get the hell out of my room."

"Where were you just now?" Itachi asked and I narrowed my eyes. Why did this bastard want to know? I grinned and walked over to my laptop.

"You can see yourself out," I opened my Mac and avoided turning around. Itachi showed up at my side. Why was he so persistent? I scoffed. "I was at Sakura's." I said and Itachi tensed up. "What are you all testy for?" I asked and logged onto a porn site, thinking that would make him leave. He closed the laptop, leaning over and sniffing at me.

"Why do you smell like…that?" Itachi asked and my hands clenched. Shit, I'd forgotten to clean up. I didn't look at him but then an idea to hurt this bastard popped into my head and I couldn't let such an idea go to waste. I looked up at him and grinned.

"What do you think happened?" I gave him a challenging glare, which I kept plastered to my face even as his canines elongated and his eyes flashed crimson. I was happy I'd pissed him off, but if he was getting pissed off, did that mean he really did care for her?

"Did you do something with that girl?" He asked, maintaining a perfect poker face and calm aura, but his fighting instinct reaction gave him away. My canines grew in challenge and I stood up.

"What if I did? How does it concern you?" I asked, gripping the top of my desk chair so hard it splintered. He remained apathetic to my anger, instead challenging my bluff with his glare. The irises in his eyes began to turn and I realized too late my mistake. I cried out in agony as his Faze tore into me, ripping through my memories of Sakura. Sakura appeared in my mind again, licking her ice cream and crying on my shoulder, her expressions during the memory then at the door way, her lips and low cut shirt and innocent look with her big green eyes and then to my actions in the Corvette and my encounter with Naruto and then I was on the floor, panting as the pain subsided and Itachi walked past me out the door.

"Fuck you!" I called after him, my body still fidgeting with pain. I shakily sat up, my cheeks hot. I'd wanted that memory of Sakura all to myself and that bastard stole it…and what I'd done in the car. I'd make him pay somehow. Then I realized it; I knew what I had to do that would piss off Itachi and give me what I wanted simultaneously. She'd be all mine. I was going to Mark Sakura.

That irritating nuisance. How could he have those thoughts about Sakura like that, how could he do something like that while thinking about her. It made me shake with anger. So that's what Sasuke had in mind all week. He was in love with her. Another flash of spite radiated from my stomach. I'd never felt like this about something before. I felt angry at Sasuke and something I hadn't felt since Mother died. Sadness? Or something of the like…I felt like I was losing something. I didn't want Sakura to be with Sasuke. I had no claim to her, so it was completely irrational that I should be feeling like this.

I realized I'd read the same line in my book for the fifth time. I sighed and set it down, taking off my glasses and pinching the bridge of my nose. I closed my eyes and Sakura's form appeared in front of me again. She looked up at me and with a tear streaked face inched towards my face, her lips grazing mine and then fully enveloping them. I knew that at the time I wanted nothing more than to keep kissing her, even after I pulled away.

Stop. I was having the same thoughts as Sasuke, this was completely unacceptable, especially after her, a human and client and…competitor to Uchiha International. She was a threat. But I couldn't help thinking that this girl who is such a contradictive enigma as herself as a threat. She was strong when she needed to be but so defenseless and rather ditzy. I felt amused at the thought of how stupid she must be to get in the wrong damn car. She was funny but got such a serious and inquisitive expression in her eyes when she asked me questions. No one wanted to know about me so much before like she had; no one cared.

Something snapped in me and for the first time, perhaps ever, I knew what I wanted to do for me. I didn't know why I had this strange, inexplicable attraction to her, I didn't know why my body seemed to react to her like I was a nervous child on the first day of school, I didn't know why I got angry at the thought of anyone getting closer to her than I was but I did know three things. One, I was an idiot bastard for ignoring her and leaving her to Madara of all people; two, I was attracted to her in a way I've never felt for anyone before. And lastly, after I put myself back on night duty like she had asked, I was going to Mark Haruno, Sakura.

So I just realized I didn't leave any author's comments. So, first and foremost sorry about any POV confusion (and thanks to "asdf" for pointing it out). I put line breaks where I could. I had separators on my copy in Word on my laptop but I guess those didn't transition over into DocX. Secondly, you all knew it was coming, but I apologize profusely for the lateness of this chapter. I actually had it written in February but things happen. As a gift, I'm writing/almost finished with Chapter Eleven so if you're interested keep an eye out for that. I'm going to try to keep writing when I have time but I just started school again and this semester is not going easy on me! Thank you for your loyalty to this story even though its author is horrible at updating. Just FYI, since I actually know where this story is going it's going to get updated more frequently and it's actually nearing a close. Well, that's a little dramatic I'm going to say it has at least five or six more good length chapters. Damaged is giving me a headache right now. I know where I want to take it but attempting to write it has been hell. If you think about it, I started it four years ago when I was young, immature and...well...inexperienced so I feel like I've grown...out of some of the topics that, to be honest, gave it a fan base. Anyway, enough chatter, I'll get back to Chapter Eleven!