~Chapter XI~
~New Divide~
There was nothing in sight but memories left abandoned / There was nowhere to hide, the ashes fell like snow / And the ground caved in between where we were standing / And your voice was all I heard that I get what I deserve
If you placed a human being in the dark car of the Uchiha brothers while they were driving home from school that frigid, November afternoon, said human being would more than likely be suffocated with how heavy the atmosphere was in the confined space. The brothers had been going through a lot of tension those past few weeks so it wasn't a new occurrence but, this stress was high over the moon and maybe past Mars. The same thing was on each of their minds: they never fought! They never seriously fought. Any fighting they usually did was either pretend or petty. There was nothing they couldn't agree on. It had always been as so.
Unbeknownst to each other, both brothers were conflicted as to whether or not they should say something to break the silence. Sasuke formulated an apologetic rant in his head – even though their problem wasn't his fault – and Itachi struggled with trying to remember how you went about begging for forgiveness. Neither brother got their speeches out before they pulled into the long driveway. When Sasuke exited the vehicle, the explosion of subtle, miniscule sounds in his ears almost staggered him in comparison to the deathly silence in the car.
His eyes trained upon the majestic house in front of him, resisting the urge to glance over the roof of the car to his stony brother. He wondered what would happen when they crossed the threshold into the ancient mansion. He knew they couldn't contain their troubles for much longer. He was already having enough issues trying to contain his unnecessary apologies. Sasuke took the first step up the concrete path to the front door and listened intently to Itachi's feather-light footfalls following him. The few steps it took to reach the front stairs felt like an eternity whilst walking at such a human pace. Sasuke didn't look back at his brother but, the feeling of having him walk so close behind him made his spine tingle with longing.
They reached the front door and Sasuke laid his hand on the door handle to open it. Upon pressing it down, the younger Uchiha realized that it was locked and Itachi had the keys. Sure, he could have just snapped the handle free of the lock and spared himself the lusting feeling at Itachi's next movement but, his longing to have his lover's arm around him outweighed his need to be inside. His hand melted from the bronze handle as Itachi's arm fluidly lifted to slide the key into the lock. Sasuke's eyes fell shut at how the movement leaned Itachi's chest against his back and how his long hair mingled with his own.
Itachi prolonged twisting the key to allow them entrance and leaned his head against his companion's, breathing in his sweet, frosty scent and feeling his raven locks tickling his cheek. His hand that wasn't pressed around the key, reached up and rested on Sasuke's arm, gently. Itachi's midnight eyes slid to the side to catch his brother's pale profile and turned his head in ever so slightly so his lips caressed his earlobe. The older Uchiha caught a brief glimmer of a reaction from the younger, where his marble lips pursed and his slight brows furrowed as if in contemplation. Itachi's lips trailed down to Sasuke's jaw-line like a whispery wind and, simultaneously, his fingers pressed against he key to unlock the door.
In a rush of calm, easy wind, Itachi swept Sasuke inside and gently trapped him against the barely stirred door. The younger's onyx eyes drifted open to meet his brother's identical ones and his dead heart twisted at the intense emotions swirling in those dark confines. Yet again, silence surrounded them but, this time it was more tranquil and filled with mutual understanding. As they gazed at one another, they each read one another's unspoken apologies. It was a quick, silent exchange that they locked up inside to never be forgotten. Exhaling slightly and washing chilled breath over Sasuke's equally cold skin, Itachi leaned his forehead against the others, their dark bangs melding together.
"I'm sorry," came the breathy apology before the elder laid a chaste kiss upon Sasuke's lips. "I'm so sorry."
Itachi's mouth connected with Sasuke's, pressing him deeper against the door. The younger responded by sliding his white fingers along the side of his brother's face and down to play with the collar of his jacket.
"It's not your fault," Sasuke whispered when they broke apart for an instant. "I understand why you were so angry and I'm sorry for that."
"It doesn't matter," he said. "I shouldn't have said what I did to you."
"I deserved it."
"No! Absolutely not," Itachi immediately disagreed, cupping Sasuke's face with both hands. "You were right and I was wrong. Hurting the brat would have only made our situation ten times worse. I understand that now."
"Why haven't the Council done anything about him?" Sasuke asked, not expecting an answer. "Don't they know how much of a threat he is?"
"I don't know," Itachi sighed, resting his head against Sasuke's again. "There's something they're not telling us. Jiraiya and Tsunade know something we don't."
"You noticed, huh?" Sasuke managed to chuckle.
"I notice a lot of things," he replied, countering Sasuke's laugh with a small smile, and kissing him again.
"What are we going to do about all of this?" Sasuke sighed afterwards, leaning his head against the door, lazily.
"Investigate," Itachi replied, twining his hands with Sasuke's and gently tugging him away from the door and slowly leading him upstairs. "Isn't that what you've wanted to do from the beginning?"
"It couldn't hurt to give it a try, could it?" Sasuke responded, raising a slightly mischievous brow at the thought of getting to sleuth a little bit.
"With our combined genius, we could probably solve the mystery ourselves," Itachi added, cockily, making Sasuke laugh again.
Itachi smiled and reveled at the sound. He wondered how Sasuke had been able to forgive him so quickly. He had been planning on being given the blizzard cold shoulder for a few days. He had thought Sasuke would be much more stubborn to his actions begging for forgiveness. Naruto's knowledge and the continuing murders were a lot of stress for the two of them. Fighting with each other would not have made coping any easier. Looking into Sasuke's eyes, Itachi saw that he was just as grateful for not having to fight amongst themselves. It wouldn't have made existence any easier.
"Where do you want to start?" Itachi asked as the two entered the bedroom.
Sasuke took a seat in the middle of the bed, his sleek, black laptop seeming to materialize in his lap with his swift retrieval. Itachi swept to the mini bar and poured each of them a bloody beverage.
"The best place to start would be where it all began, wouldn't it?" Sasuke said, crossing his legs and getting situated.
"So, with this Tenten girl?" Itachi said, settling down on the edge of the bed beside Sasuke.
"That's the plan," the younger said, accepting the drink offered to him and flicking open the machine.
"You haven't hacked in a while," Itachi noted, sipping from his glass before setting it down beside him and preparing to trek into confidential terrain.
"No problem," Itachi replied, resting his chin on Sasuke's shoulder and carefully watching the screen.
Sasuke's fingers danced across the black keyboard like a spider's scrambling legs. Boxes popped up left and right on the computer screen, filled with numbers and letters, warnings and "access granted." Sasuke had always been better at tech stuff than Itachi. He could never get past such high blockades as quickly as he could. Sasuke keyed in a password in the last pop-up standing between him and the evidence he sought and then drank from his glass as he waited for something to load.
"You're amazing," Itachi sighed, nuzzling his brother's neck, affectionately, as a dark screen filled with murder case files filled the screen.
Sasuke smirked, slightly smug, at his work and tilted forward to read the titles of some of the folders.
"Where would these murders be?" Sasuke wondered out loud, opening a folder titled, "Under Investigation."
The four case files the Uchihas sought sat within the digital folder, each titled with the victims' names and ages: Tenten – 18, Haruno Sakura – 17, Shigure – 22, Hisame – 28. Sasuke entered Tenten's murder case file and the screen filled with case photos and a victim profile.
"What exactly are we looking for?" Itachi asked as he drew away from his red glass, absently sloshing the contents with a slight twitch of his wrist.
"A connection, I suppose," the younger responded, eyes zipping through the history of the victim before scrolling down to examine the gory photos. "What do they all have in common?"
"Well, the three gashes is a given," Itachi noted, tilting his head to the side, slightly, as he gazed at the first photo of the mangled body.
"This first murder was the most staged," Sasuke said, pointing at a photo taken farther away and that captured the red-leaved tree the body lay beneath, matching the ocean of blood at its roots. "The killer definitely wanted us to know he wasn't human."
"'Us' specifically or 'us' as a whole?"
"Us, specifically."
"You really think this thing is trying to get our attention and nothing else?" Itachi questioned his companion, drawing away slightly to look at his concentrated expression.
"What else could it be trying to do?" Sasuke rebuked, not turning his gaze from the macabre screen.
"We're not the only ones in this town, Sasuke. It could be trying to flag down anyone, if that is in fact what it's trying to do."
"It has to be us," Sasuke insisted, memorizing every detail in Tenten's case file before moving on to the next one. "There was not a scrap of violence in this town before we came. Besides, we're the only suspects in the investigation. You don't think that's all a coincidence do you?"
Sakura's file popped up on the screen, making Sasuke falter. A heavy silence, filled with regret, breezed through the room as the younger brother looked at the first, smiling photo on the profile, taken for identification purposes. Itachi's maroon eyes narrowed at Sasuke's rigid reaction and they turned to look, intently, at his lover.
"What are you thinking about?" the elder Uchiha asked, carefully.
"Honestly?" Sasuke said, allowing his frosty breath to tumble past his lips in an exasperated sigh. "I was thinking of Naruto."
"Of course," Itachi mumbled with more resentment in his voice than intended.
"Why do you hate him so much?" Sasuke asked, softly and tentatively, not seeking to bring up an argument.
"He is a threat to our existence," he answered, flatly. "He knows our secret."
"That's not his fault. It was lack of speed and hesitation on my part."
"Regardless, his knowledge makes him dangerous."
"And that automatically means you have to hate him?"
Itachi's fingers tightened around his half-empty glass and Sasuke tried to concentrate on the sound of his half-empty glass, resisting the pressure that threatened to shatter it, instead of his brother's frustrated gaze. Said Uchiha flicked his eyelids down to curtain his pupils and he took a moment to recompose himself. He didn't want to fight; neither of them did. Also, neither knew why the topic of Uzumaki Naruto was so sensitive.
"How do you feel about him if you don't hate him?" Itachi asked, slowly, sitting cold and statue-like, weighing the bed down like a cinderblock would.
His eyes remained veiled from Sasuke which made it more difficult for him to read into what he was thinking. The raven-haired Uchiha took an unsure breath and spoke the honest thoughts swimming in his head.
"I pity him. He hasn't had an easy life. His friends told me that he really doesn't have much of a family. His parents went missing a while back and his godfather abandoned him to foster care. Now, to top it all off, someone else in his life was murdered and he's gotten it into his head that I've betrayed him. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to cope. I can't compare. I've been very fortunate."
Itachi's eyes blinked back open to meet Sasuke's sad but, thankful smile. The elder's cold eyes softened at the innocent and lax expression and his porcelain-like hand fell down over one of Sasuke's. Each brother leaned in and touched foreheads again before sharing another "forgiveness kiss."
"I'm sorry, again," Itachi sighed, feeling like a complete and utter idiot.
"Its okay, again," Sasuke giggled, the velvety sound stirring warmth within Itachi's stiff heart.
"I love you," the elder murmured.
"Forever and always?" Sasuke teased.
"Yeah. Forever and always."
They exchanged another meaningful kiss and then returned to their investigation like the conversation had never transpired.
"He didn't get a chance to stage this one since we showed up," said Sasuke, trying to treat Sakura's murder like he had just treated Tenten's.
"Do you remember anything about him that stands out?" Itachi asked, finishing the remainder of his drink.
"No," Sasuke said, shaking his head. "Just the wings caught me off guard. Nothing else really stood out."
"Let's move on then," said the older brother, discarding his glass and returning in a blink.
Shigure's body had been staged at the church, hung on the cross above the front door. The same three gashes were evident, just as clean and accurate as the first two victims. Sasuke shivered at the disturbing resemblance to Christ. He didn't know what the killer was trying to convey through such grotesque imagery. Was the depiction supposed to symbolize something? Was it supposed to be a biblical reference? The Uchihas couldn't make sense of Shigure's killing.
The woman named Hisane had been left in Konoha's Gardens, a botanical attraction. Her body had been found, woven in a thorny rosebush. Sasuke shut his eyes at the gruesome photo and it took him a moment to regain control of his lurching stomach. He hadn't felt so revolted in decades. Itachi's hand found his shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze while his free hand closed out the case file, ridding the screen of the disturbing murder.
"What do you make of it?" Itachi asked his brother when he reopened his eyes and the bizarre nausea had passed.
"I don't know," the Uchiha sighed, letting the laptop fall shut. "The only one that seems to say anything is the first. The rest is just a trail of breadcrumbs. I just have no idea where it leads too."
"Uzumaki Naruto?"
Naruto started at the sound of his name. He hadn't slept a wink the previous night for fear of losing a chunk of his neck while his eyes were closed. He'd been half asleep in the past two classes and it caught him off guard that the teacher this class was calling on him. He was preparing to be ridiculed in front of the class – since teachers loved doing that to their students – but, he was confused when he saw the teacher gesturing to the classroom door. He was being kicked out for being half asleep? That had never happened before.
"Naruto, there are some people outside that have requested to see you," the teacher explained to him after seeing his weary eyes, concern furrowing her brow.
Naruto ran a hand through his disheveled hair and tried to rub the sleep from his bleary eyes but, to no avail. He was aware of the curious stares from around the room following him as he rose from his seat and dragged his backpack over his shoulder. He glanced up at his worried teacher as he passed, wondering who on earth was taking him out of class. Then, the panic ensued. He jolted into awareness as his situation caught up with him. What if it was a trap? What if it was the vampires waiting for him beyond the door? Since his paranoia over Huntress, Naruto had learned to not underestimate anything suspicious that popped up in his life. Such creatures as the Uchihas appeared where you least expected them and posed as people of the safest occupations, such as the two detectives waiting for him in the hallway.
"Uzumaki Naruto?" the red-haired woman asked to clarify his identity.
Blue eyes narrowed in wariness, the blond nodded, slowly, glancing between the two and trying to discern whether or not they were dangerous.
"I'm Detective Tayuya," the black-clad woman introduced herself, flashing her badge for clarification. "This is my partner, Jirobo. We have some questions to ask you in regards to the recent murders about town."
Hmm...All in all, they appeared human. Their skin tone was the same as his except not as tan. He could very visibly see their chests rising and falling with their breathing. Their eyes, although acute and searching, weren't as still and unmoving as those of the Uchihas. The male detective, Jirobo, was intent upon him, however. It made him uneasy but, he was almost positive that it was solely the intimidating detective stare. Kakashi gave it to him a lot and he believed that he had developed a damn good poker face because of it. It appeared that it was time to put that to the test.
"I've already given my statement to multiple officers," he said, coolly, responding to Jirobo's stare with a defiant one of his own.
"I didn't ask you for a statement," Tayuya shot back, snapping the boy's gaze to meet her calculating and sly one. "I'm telling you to answer my questions. Now, walk with us."
Well…he hadn't been expecting that. She was awfully…abrasive. She wasn't really giving him any choice – and he was pretty sure that was the point. Tayuya turned and started down the hallway, clearly having no doubt that the two would follow her. Jirobo's judging gaze did not falter over Naruto once, not even when his partner departed. Feeling uneasy, the blond trudged after Tayuya and her heavy-set partner shadowed him. Was he safe? Naruto kept on asking himself as the hallway doors fell behind him. Were they really who they said they were? Were these people monsters, just like the Uchihas?
"Sit down," Tayuya ordered more than offered him when they exited the building and arrived at a picnic table sitting near the front entrance.
Naruto hesitated and his breath caught in his throat in fright when Jirobo roughly shoved him onto the bench.
"Hey!" the boy protested, heart racing at the treatment.
Police officers didn't force you to do anything, did they? He didn't think they were even allowed. Glancing between the two foreboding characters, he seriously doubted either of them were of the occupations they claimed. Great. What was he going to do?
"What do you want?" he asked, trying to stop the shaking in his voice.
Tayuya crouched in front of him, giving him the impression of a tiger with her dangerously flashing eyes.
"How many times do I have to repeat myself?" she growled. "I want answers. I don't buy your repetitive statement claiming you can't remember the face of Haruno Sakura's murderer. You know exactly who did it and if you don't give me the name within the next three seconds I'll have you put in jail for obstruction of justice."
"Easy Tayuya, you know you can't do that," Jirobo grumbled from above, his squinty eyes sweeping the surrounding area now, instead of resting on Naruto.
Holy crap! the boy couldn't help thinking. This chick was hardcore! His life didn't feel at risk with Tayuya so in his face, he just felt afraid for his limbs or place of occupancy after this conversation. There was no suffocating burden weighing down on every fiber of his being as there had been when he encountered the Uchihas. He was pretty sure it was safe to say Tayuya was just a very, very convincing cop and not some temptress of the night. Jirobo, Naruto still wasn't sure about. The man hadn't said much and had a very terrifying air about him. Was it terrifying enough to be vampiric?
"Time's up!" Tayuya suddenly barked, startling Naruto back to attention. "Uzumaki Naruto, you're under arrest for jeopardizing a murder investigation with a false statement."
"What! No way!" said freaked-out teenager protested as the red-haired woman jumped to her feet and unhooked her silver handcuffs from her belt loop.
"Tayuya," Jirobo warned, setting a stern gaze upon her that she did not turn to meet. "Don't be rash."
"He's pissing me off," she spat in irritation. "Do you know how severe your lying is?"
"I'm not lying!" Naruto tried to defend himself but, she really didn't allow him to speak.
She crouched down again, like red lightning, and slammed her hands on the bench seat on either side of Naruto. She pressed forward, tawny gaze boring into his in fury. Her breath was fiery hot in his face and smelled of that spice and cinnamon flavored gum. Over the course of a few seconds, the woman had gone from hungry tiger to fire-breathing dragon. What the hell was her problem?
"People like you make me want to go shoot something," she hissed and Naruto could almost imagine sparks flickering past her white teeth. "How do you sleep at night knowing that a killer is on the prowl and your lie is costing innocent people their lives? Does it even matter to you, really? Your whore's dead so everyone else can rot too? Is that how it is?"
Naruto couldn't believe it. Had she really just said that? He went cold inside and stared at her ferocious eyes in horror and disgust. How dare she? How dare she squat there and accuse him of hiding the murderer's identity for malicious reasons? How dare she speak so lowly about Sakura? Rage coiled in his stomach like molten lava. How could these strangers drag him out of class after the hell he'd been through and harass him like that? They couldn't be with the police.
"Take that back you bitch!" Naruto snapped, fisting the collar of her shirt in his hands.
Everything after that happened way to fast for Naruto's confused mind to keep up with. He was on the ground, laying face first in the grass and his left arm was twisted behind his back. Tayuya sat on top of him, one booted foot pressed to the back of his head.
"Now I can arrest you for assaulting a police detective," she laughed and he heard the jingling of the chain between the handcuffs. "You just made my day kid. Jirobo! Go warm up the car!"
"Yes Your Majesty," came the strained reply and Naruto heard his heavy footsteps fading away.
The blond was jerked back to his feet and his twisted arm screamed at the angle (it was the same arm Itachi had nearly crushed the day prior). Who were these people? Naruto kept asking himself as Tayuya started reading him his rights. Were they really cops? This woman sure was acting like one…until she burst into a fit of giggles behind him. At first, Naruto feared for his life. Was that the laughter of a woman turned mad or a bloodthirsty demon? When Tayuya's hold on him released and she collapsed on the picnic bench in hysterical laughter, Naruto was totally lost. He, unconsciously, rubbed his wrist where she had been clutching him and he stared at her as she cackled away. What. The. Hell?
"Wow!" Tayuya exclaimed in between laughs, one arm hugging her stomach and the other rubbing tears from the corners of her eyes. "They weren't kidding! You really are the overreacting paranoid idiot!"
Naruto wasn't sure if he was supposed to be offended or not. He was just drawing a humongous question mark in his head. Was this lady on something?
"What the hell are you talking about?" the blond finally asked, retreating one step away from her, just in case.
A few more seconds passed where Tayuya couldn't stop laughing and he just stared at her in disbelief. When she finally regained control of herself, Tayuya got back on her feet and shook her head, an amused smile still on her face.
"First, you think the leeches are running Huntress and then, you think I'm a cop not following protocol? You are the dumbest person I think I've ever run into!"
Huntress…She's mentioned Huntress. Did that mean it really wasn't the Uchihas typing to him? Or, was Tayuya in league with them?
"Explain yourself," Naruto demanded, grinding his teeth together in response to her previous insults.
Tayuya managed to halt her left over giggles permanently, although her teasing smile still remained in place and a sly glint was still in her eyes.
"My name is Tayuya. That much is true. I work as a homicide detective as a cover."
"Cover over what?" Naruto asked, narrowing his eyes and scrutinizing her in suspicion.
The red-head stooped forward and her face landed inches away from his…again. She made him so uncomfortable when she did that. The playfulness on her lips changed to that of pride and her next words she spoke with a deep respect that Naruto didn't understand the meaning of.
"I am a hunter. My loyalties lay with Huntress and Huntress only. Soon, you will be the same."
Naruto's heart thumped, excitedly, in his chest. She was with Huntress? But, she was human. Naruto was sure of it! Did that mean the people giving him advice really weren't vampires after all? There was really another human being that was on his side?
"Who is Huntress?" he burst and she stood up straight again, those blazing eyes narrowed with an emotion Naruto couldn't read.
He had to know. Was it true? Could he rely on Huntress? Was there really a safe haven for him on that site, where everything he said wouldn't be turned against him? Was the information he was receiving truly going to help him against the Uchiha monsters?
"You'll find out soon enough," Tayuya said as if she was reciting something from a manual.
He was getting sick and tired of that damn answer. He clamped his teeth shut to stop himself from saying so out loud. He'd already annoyed her enough, he was sure. No need to drive her away when he still had so many questions and needed so much help.
"Did…Huntress send you here?" he asked, carefully.
"Yes she did and with a message. Stand still."
Naruto blinked in confusion and got nervous when she stepped up to him again. He did as she said though and didn't move, much to his instincts disapproval. He was anticipating some deep, mysterious code or something so, imagine his displeasure when Tayuya reached over and hit him upside the head.
"Ow! What the hell?" he whined, rubbing the sore spot on the back of his head.
"That's for being a brat and thinking Huntress was a leech!" Tayuya explained, eyes flashing. "She usually doesn't give you hormonal, know-it-all teenagers a second chance so feel honored."
"What's there to be honored about?" he mumbled, glaring at her in annoyance.
"Watch it Newbie," she retorted. "When you get home today there should be a gift waiting for you. Make sure to call the number left behind for instructions."
Her orders left Naruto dazed and his mind just went totally blank. She must have seen the vacant look in his eyes because she rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh.
"There's nothing more I can tell ya, kid," she said, walking past him and waving her hand dismissively. "I'll be in touch. Don't do anything that'll make Huntress regret accepting you. Good job with leech-proofing your apartment, by the way."
Naruto's brain was jelly as he watched her leave. Jirobo was waiting across the front parking lot in a dark blue car. Naruto could see his fingers tapping the steering wheel, impatiently, through the windshield. His eyes were slitted and puzzled as he watched his partner approach. Tayuya flopped into the passenger seat and the man instantly asked her something, Naruto saw. The woman waved her hand as she answered, eyebrows slanting down as if she were angry about something. Naruto watched Jirobo shake his head and roll his eyes before driving the car away from the school. Naruto caught a knowing glance from Tayuya out the passenger window and then he was alone, his mind exploding with questions.
Tayuya had been at his apartment? She had left him something? What could it possibly be? A gift from Huntress, she said? Huntress was a woman? It was hard not to believe that with the name Huntress but, Naruto had been resistant to accepting the fact that he could be receiving advice from a woman. Tayuya had confirmed it though by referring to Huntress as a "she." Naruto didn't have a problem with women or anything but, for some reason, he was having a hard time imagining the snide chat posts coming from the hands of a female. What did she look like? he wondered. How old was she? What was her name?
"Oh boy," Naruto huffed, closing his eyes and tangling his hands in his hair.
This was a lot to process. The loud bell that dismissed class rang from inside. He dropped his hands to his sides and took a long, calming breath. He could trust Huntress. He could trust Tayuya. All he had to do was survive through the day and get home. He bent to retrieve his pack and left to return to the school building, all the while totally oblivious to the cold, ebony eyes observing him from the second story window.
Sasuke loved Itachi. He'd loved him for three centuries and planned on continuing to love him for the rest of eternity. But, sometimes, his brother was just so infuriating! He understood Itachi's concern about Naruto. Sasuke had been startled with the news from Itachi after school that afternoon. Sasuke was glad to have the knowledge that Naruto was associating with hunters before the boy learned anything. It was good to be a leap ahead of the enemy but, Sasuke positively despised how Itachi was stalking Naruto. His lover wasn't helping to make them seem more innocent. He also wasn't trying to hard to sympathize with the mortal. Even though he hadn't been like that for a long time, Sasuke understood emotions. He couldn't really relate to Naruto after the murder but, he could imagine how he felt. The kid was probably confused and scared, lonely and heartbroken. He wasn't thinking rationally and Sasuke didn't blame him for it.
The thoughtful Uchiha breathed in the crisp night air and cherished the peace it brought him for that split second. He had escaped his brother's ranting and worrying and had sought solitude in the clear night. Ever since Itachi had taken him to be with him forever, Sasuke had always welcomed the rise of the moon. There was no one on the streets of Konoha lately and he welcomed the silence. He wasn't concerned for his safety. He would have loved for the murderer to try and jump him. He wanted nothing more than to tear the bastard's throat out and end all the misery he was causing.
Sasuke's calm eyes remained forward as he drifted through the streets, veiled in shadows. His ears remained sharp, catching every sound within a ten mile radius. He couldn't stop himself from wondering about Itachi. It felt so alien to be away from him. At about this time, on any normal day, Sasuke would be home, tangled in his dear brother's arms and listening to his melodious voice in his ears. The Uchiha's marble lips slipped down into a frown as his head filled with all the arguments he'd had with Itachi the past week. It scared him, he realized. Every time they spoke against each other. Sasuke grew more and more afraid. Of what, he did not know. He didn't seek to think about it either. First thing was first: he had to deal with Naruto.
Sasuke halted on the sidewalk, blinking out of habit. He could smell him. Naruto had an unmistakable scent about him. It was that of sweat and ramen. It wasn't necessarily pleasant but, Sasuke didn't think any human smelled pleasant. What was he doing walking the streets that night? Did the boy have no sense? There was a monster on the loose – maybe two! Sasuke considered turning around and going back home as opposed to dealing with the nuisance but, he knew he wouldn't be able to exist with himself it Naruto got killed tonight when he could have prevented it. This wouldn't be a comfortable encounter.
Sasuke counted the shuffled steps as Naruto approached. The Uchiha did a quick double check of his surroundings and moved himself to what he thought was the least frightening position. He kept out of the shadows so as not to catch the boy by surprise and he made sure his teeth were flat. When Naruto rounded the corner up ahead and faced Sasuke, the Uchiha focused all of his acute senses. He scented the blond's fear as he stood, frozen to the sidewalk. He could feel the rising heat, pulsing off of him and heard his pounding heart in his head. There were about fifteen feet between them but, Sasuke had no trouble meeting the blue gaze. It was still as full of cold hate and flaming fury as it was the night of the murder.
"It's late," Sasuke said. "Silly teenagers shouldn't be out, especially not alone."
Sasuke knew by the look that flickered across Naruto's face that his velvet words had been taken as a threat. It had not been the Uchiha's intention but, he didn't plan on being entirely kind after the trouble the brat was putting him through. If anything, Sasuke was beginning to believe that he was far too soft on the kid. Itachi was right, especially if Naruto had contact with a hunter. He was going to become dangerous.
"Why are you here?" Naruto asked, the anxiety in his voice as clear as polished glass to Sasuke's ears.
"There could be many answers," he teased, although it didn't show on his white face. "Depends on where 'here' is."
Sasuke contained an amused chuckle at the sound of Naruto's teeth crunching together. Did he think his anger and devotion to revenge impressed him? Sasuke had admired him, briefly, for his courage in standing up to two individuals that were so far more superior than himself. However, the appeal was starting to wear off. Sasuke knew that they had barely hit a dent in the dilemma at hand and already, the blond's recklessness was growing tiresome.
"Out to hunt?" Naruto spat at the black-haired revenant and said individual wanted to punch the kind in the face for his arrogance.
"I am out for a walk and nothing more," Sasuke spoke honestly, turning his eyes up to the matching sky of inky dark. "As hard as it may be for your thick head to comprehend, most of us really aren't that complex. We enjoy the same, simple pleasantries you do."
Was that condescendence Naruto heard in his voice? The bastard knew he had the upper hand. Naruto's fists slowly clenched and unclenched and he tired to breathe evenly. His hateful stare remained on the casual, nonchalant monster up ahead and his fingers itched to reach his pocket…
"The holidays will be upon us soon, no?" Sasuke asked, his voice floating across the space between them like a phantom's whispers. "It's not exactly the nicest time for a serial killer to be stealing lives away. It'd be a shame if any more heartache came to this town."
Sasuke's eyes fell down to meet Naruto's again and this time, they were filled with authority and determination.
"You're not making things any easier."
Maybe it was instinct that allowed Naruto to sense when Sasuke was going to move. It felt as if all the breath in his body abandoned him in that lightning fast moment. Sasuke was directly in front of him, making the air frigid and almost unbearably freezing. Their eyes remained locked and Sasuke studied the bewilderment in the mortal's eyes as the nose of the gun pressed against where his heart was supposed to be. Naruto battled to hold the vampire's stare and not look down at Huntress's gift, gripped in his hand. He couldn't believe he had moved that fast. He couldn't believe that he was so close to slaying his first vampire. His amazement quickly passed and he glared, defiantly, into the Uchiha's blank gaze. He was not shocked, Naruto noticed. He didn't seem scared in the least bit.
"You got a gun," Sasuke stated, dark voice laced with disappointment.
Maybe it was the mockery Naruto thought he heard in his voice or maybe it was his fear that fueled his next motion. A red hot thrill jolted through him and the peaceful night exploded with the sharp, lingering sound of a gunshot.
So give me reason to prove me wrong, to wash this memory clean / Let the floods cross the distance in your eyes / Give me reason to fill this hole, connect the space between / Let it be enough to reach the truth that lies across this new divide
