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The blue sea stretched before him ready to be explored. Naruto loved this place! He had been born here, raised here. This was his home, the one place on this entire planet where he felt safe, where he could be himself, but all that was gone now! This place no longer felt like home it no longer felt safe and he certainly couldn't and wouldn't be himself because now there was fear. Fear of being seeing burnable fear for his family but such fear could not be exposed to the intruder-the one who had altered his peace of mind.

No …fear was the last thing he would show her!

He gazed again out into the horizon. Pondering if indeed he would keep her? His inner demon smiled, he could kill the girl now!

Oh! Instant relief followed that thought! How wonderful that would be! No longer having to be responsible for anyone but himself!

He signed out. He had only had this responsibility for two days now and he couldn't shake the feeling of being binded, of being weighed down! Why was that? Maybe it was the fact that he had always been free, like the wind almost… moving from here to there, being anywhere whenever he pleased and not having to worry about anything; his family could take care of themselves pretty well and Sasuke never needed assistance in anything except this sudden situation-in fact if it weren't for the problem the Nation was facing, Naruto rarely saw Sasuke- yes they were friends very close friends but being vampires they didn't feel the need to weigh time like humans did. All you needed to know was that when they did see each other it was as if no time had transpired at all, behaving and laughing as always-well he Naruto doing all the laughing and Sasuke rolling his eyes at the blonde vampire´s antics.

He signed again.

"What is the matter?" asked a voice from beside him.

He had not been aware that someone had come and sat next to him but in this place and especially not that voice surprised him.

"Its this mess of a situation." He replied without turning to look at the speaker.

"What of it?" inquired the voice.

"Its just… I´m thinking of getting rid of the girl…" he trailed off.

The voice didn't respond immediately, in fact it took so long to answer that Naruto had to turn to look at the person sitting next to him.

He looked over at the vampire that was next to him. He loved this vampire, he was his family, a vampire he could always count on, someone that made Naruto feel as if he ever made a mistake he could count on him to have his back!

But the man wasn't looking at Naruto. He was gazing out on the horizon, his light purple eyes not wavering for a single moment from his train of thought and thus leaving Naruto perplexed about what his opinion may be? Because his opinion always matter to Naruto, his advice was wise and well thought out. Never given from the spur of the moment or to give preference. No… the vampire sitting next to him was everything a vampire should be in Naruto's unbiased opinion.

Naruto thought of never to pretend to be like him, he should like to one day grow as wise as him. Funny enough there was only eight years of difference between them.

"Why did you make her?" was the question he finally voiced.

"Because Sakura asked me to save her life."

"No… answer me truthfully. No one and I mean no one can make you do something if you don't want to Naruto."

Naruto exhaled, yes what his cousin said was very true, no one ruled him, he always had a choice.

And this situation was no different.

"I… I really don't know. I saw her lying there, bleeding to death, she didn't deserve to die but she also did not deserve this life. And when Sakura said all those things about how unfair her life had been well… I guess it just clicked into place and I did it." He said shrugging his shoulders and finishing somewhat lamely.

His cousin stared at him, the light rippling of his eyes swirling. The wind blew out swaying his green robe as well as Naruto´s own white one, but his hair being just a bit longer than his younger cousin´s- past his ears – it drifted into his eyes. He removed his dark red hair from his eyes, trying in vain to make it stay for just a moment and smiled at his cousin.

"Don't kill her… yet" he said.

Naruto´s eyebrows rose inquisitly in a silent question.

"We will help you with her, we will take care of her and teach her the rules of the vampire nation but we will not utter a word about our coven. If she proves to be a good soul then she shall live but if she proves to be untrustworthy and endangers our existence you have my consent to kill her."

Naruto thought this through. If the girl was a good soul as his cousin put it, then the nation will have gained one more asset in the war but if not he killed her and did it with a clean conscious because those who knew him knew Naruto hated to kill without a motive.

"I think that is a good plan, thank you as always Nagato"

A fully-fledged smile spread out on Nagato´s face.

"Anytime little cousin."

!¡

"Stay still-will you?" The red haired vampire order again.

Hinata tried with all her might to do as was order but she couldn't! Just the thought of a vampire standing next to her touching her, put her hair on edge. She sighed. A vampire next to her… that was ironic! She was a vampire! Hinata was a vampire! Oh god was she being punished for something! Had she done anything to be cursed this way! Her mind was filled with these thoughts from sunrise to sunset! And that was another thing; these vampires were out in the day time! Was the fact the sunlight killed them a myth? To make the humans like her think they had a chance?! What was she saying, she wasn't a human anymore! But what could she do?

She had spent all night as she was stuck in the room she had been given- which in other circumstances she would have admired for it was beautiful to say the least; actually this whole place was extremely beautiful. But under these circumstances she couldn't find her old self! This new Hinata was not afraid and she accepted the thirst that raged on the inside. She didn't have the old nightmares anymore; the ones of her as a little girl running through the forest as the yellow glow of her village came over the trees and of its inhabitants screaming. No. this Hinata knew she was different. Maybe it had to do with the fact that her unconscious mind knew that there was no solution to this situation! She couldn't go back to being human. She had always been a person who looked ahead of her, trying to find the positive side to any problem. She smiled to herself, glad to have found that trait of hers had not been lost. Maybe the rest of her was still there… maybe she just had to search a little deeper.

The vampire huffed next to her, her hands falling to her sides. "All right fine-there I did the best I could but that should be enough I guess. At least you won´t be naked"

Hinata looked to the huge mirror at the far edge of the room. She saw herself dressed in a pretty white dress that fell around her to the floor with sleeves that at her wrist almost reached the floor. It seemed female vampires dressed this way because the girl next to her, Karin, was also wearing one except hers was a light silver material that rippled like water every time she moved. She also remember Sakura had worn one similar except it had been more elaborate and made of heavier fabric.

"There see it´s not so bad is it?" said Karin, smoothing Hinata´s hair "your hair is really beautiful you know."

Hinata shrugged she didn't give a dam about her hair now.

"Why can´t I leave!?" she asked for the millionth time.

And for the millionth time Karin answered "I told you already that you can´t."

"But why? You just keep saying I can´t but you never tell me the reason.¨

"Are you not happy here?" asked Karin.

"No" was Hinata´s immediate reply.

"Enough... Come I will show you around and you´ll be introduced to the others." She bade Hinata, making her way to the door. "Yesterday when you came I had hoped that all would be here in time for you to meet them but you fell asleep and they arrived only until sunrise."

"Hey, stop right there!" she exclaimed holding her hands out. "Is everyone that lives here a vampire?"

"Yes… why?" asked Karin looking surprised.

"…" Hinata looked flabbergasted at such a revelation. "Well aren't vampires supposed to be killed by sunlight?! And here everyone walks around like it´s nothing!"

Karin smiled and said "Don't forget to add yourself into your observations" she mocked.

"That´s right!" exclaimed Hinata "I hadn't really thought of it until now! Why is that though?"

"Well of course. That would be because-"

"Karin!" a male voice says just behind them. And there rounding the corner was none other than Naruto. His face was set rigid and his eyes glared fiercely at Karin or was it Hinata? Somehow she couldn't find herself to care, all Hinata knew was that she hated him and he seemed to feel the same way towards her because he would glare, be angry or outright ignore her; whenever he saw her, so what was the point. Yesterday as soon as they arrived Karin had asked her if she had wanted to see the rest of the house but Hinata had declined saying she was tired, Karin had raised an eyebrow at that one knowing perfectly well that vampires had more endurance than humans but she chose to ignore it and then proceeded to lead Hinata to a bedroom to "rest".

Hinata had not seen Naruto since- until now that is. He came striding toward them; his white robes trailing behind him. He would look almost like a god had Hinata not known his true nature.

Her new eyes took notice of the man that calmly walked behind Naruto. They were the same height but whereas Naruto had a glare upon his face that detracted his features, this new man had a small smile that made him seem friendly even though his eyes made Hinata tense; they were a light purple color but the pattern that surrounded the iris made Hinata think she was being hypnotized and looking like the rippling effect that water left as it fell on a smooth surface.

"Yes Naruto?" Karin responded once the men had reached them.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I was going to show Hinata around. Is there a problem?" she questioned looking between the two vampires.

"We have to meet the others." He answered.

They began to walk toward the gardens and Hinata felt Karin give her a slight push for her to follow Naruto. The new vampire the one with red hair look curiously at Hinata and all through the walk of the garden she could feel his eyes on her.

Finally they crossed the great gardens and came to an enormous wooden shogi door that had two sprirals painted in red across them. Naruto walked up the short steps and slid one side of the door and stepped in followed by the two red headed vampires and finally Hinata. Inside she was astound to find a small grassy courtyard with a single cherryblossom tree swaying in the wind coming in from the huge window that covered the expanse of the courtyard, the other part that was not laid out in grass was polished dark wooden side walk that encased the whole outer square of courtyard.

Sitting on the roots of the tree was a laughing man and woman. He had his head on her lap and was blowing petals up at her face which kept getting caught in her short blue hair.

Nagato cleared his throat and the man and woman looked up.

A huge smile spread on the man´s face before he yelled "Naruto!"

He sat up and ran to them stretching his arms and embracing Naruto. Hinata had thought that the vampire would halt him before reaching him but was shocked when Naruto too hugged him back and laughed -that laugh which made Hinata think that Naruto was a gentle being.

"It's been too long!" exclaimed the auburn haired man, he laughed again and she was able to see his fangs protruding.

Another vampire… she thought.

"It certainly has. How are you?" asked Naruto.

"Eternally happy!" exclaimed the other vampire. And it was there in that moment that Hinata saw exactly just how much Naruto actually despised her! Never once in all the time she had known him had he ever glanced or even appear to be as relaxed and carefree as he was in this moment, he was happy! There was no other way to describe his state, his eyes were bright and his smile seemed to make him glow as if the sun were shining from deep within him, warming everyone it touch. She saw as Naruto gained childlike qualities as he embraced the other female vampire and swung her around in circles, the rest of the vampires laughing with them.

Hinata felt out of place. She didn't want to be here but she couldn't leave. And why should she stay? She accepted that she was a vampire but why couldn't she be free?

"Hinata" came Karin´s voice.

Hinata only looked at her signaling her she was listening.

"Would you like to meet everyone?" she asked.

Hinata then realized they were all looking at her, even Naruto, who wasn't really looking at her but a point beyond her. She gazed at him for a fraction of a second longer, before turning to Karin and nodding.

"I am Nagato" said the red haired vampire bowing to Hinata. She did the same.

"I am Yahiko" said the vampire with auburn hair. He bowed and smiled radiantly. he was very handsome with a square jaw and wild hair about him. He looked next to him and his eyes softened even more. There standing next to him was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen, only Sakura clearly surpassed her but none the less the elegance and confidence this woman excuded were unprecedented. Her hair was a shockingly intense blue reaching just past her chin atop of which was a white paper flower, and her eyes seemed to reflect liquid amber. The edges of her lushes lips pulled up into a soft smile as she glided forward; her red and white dress gliding as if it were water on her incredible assets.

She came to stand in front of Hinata "I am Konan" she said softly opening her arms, Hinata looked down at Konan´s stance, it was clear of what her intention was. But the young vampire didn't know how to feel? She couldn't just embrace a vampire willingly! But as she looked deep into those amber eyes she saw kindness and for one moment Hinata felt like crying because she wanted to be consoled; she was tired of keep up this charade of being a strong woman, she wanted someone to comfort her and tell her it was all going to be fine!

Hinata leaned in and let Konan wrap her arms around her likewise embracing her into a comfortable hug.

"Welcome" she whispered into her ear.

"Come let us be more comfortable." Said Nagato indicating to the low wooden table below the enormous cherry blossom tree.

They made their way to the table taking seats on big embroided cushions. Nagato sat at the head while Yahiko took a seat to his right and Konan next to him, Karin to his left and Naruto sat at the head opposite from Nagato.

Hinata looked to where she could sit. She didn't want to sit next to Naruto but there was no other place left but the one between him and Karin. Before she could say anything she felt a hard tug on her hand and found herself next to Naruto. She glared at him yanking her hand from his grasp. He appeared not to care as he received a tea cup and saucer from Konan who was serving everyone drinks, she extended another to Hinata who took it and before she had a chance to say thank you, she was assaulted with the delicious smell of blood. Looking down into her cup she realized it wasn't tea at all but blood! Her mind began to panic her senses wanting to take over but her mind finding the disgust into the action but before she could react either way she felt a hand touch her knee under the table. Looking up she realized it was Naruto's he applied pressure and looking into his face she recognized the warning. He was restraining her.

Nagato cleared his throat drawing their attention. "Hinata its all right… drink"

She looked again to her cup her mind screamed no but her throat pulsed with the desire to drink.

"We didn't kill any humans to gain it, you know." Said Karin

That made Hinata feel a little less anxious, she raised the cup to her slightly trembling lips and drank. As soon as the first drop hit her tongue, she moaned deeply relishing the taste, and in two mouthful she had drained the cup. Keeping her eyes closed she savored the deep taste of blood on her tongue and how it smoothed over her parched throat. She hadn't realized until this moment that Naruto´s had on her knee had increased its pressure until she winced and casually swept her hand over his effectively breaking contact.

"Well know that we have gotten that out of the way." Said Nagato "I will like to tell you all that Hinata will be spending some time with us here."

"Why?" came Hinata´s exclaimed right after he had made the announcement.

"You can´t leave Hinata." Was Nagato´s response.

"But why? Why should I stay here? I know I am a vampire now. I accept that but I have a family to return to. They will be worried sick not knowing what happened to me?"

Nagato felt his face softened at her declaration. "I am very sorry Hinata… but you cannot leave."

"But-"

"But Nothing!" growled Naruto "I am your creator! And I decide what happens to you!"

"You created me against my will!" screamed Hinata "You should have just finished me off!"

Immediately Yahiko was kneeling in between them with a calming hand on both their shoulders.

"Hinata" he said waiting for the girl to calm down until he spoke again "You cannot leave because the rules of the Nation state that a newborn vampire is the responsibility of the one who created him. He has to teach you everything from hunting, to being part of the Nation. That is the reason he cannot let you go, you must stay with other vampires if you want to live. It is in our nature to seek the presence of our own kind in order to survive"

Hinata bawled her fists shaking with anger, with her impotence in this situation and with sadness to know that even though she had a home and people who cared about her… how would Ten ten react? Would Lee accept her?

She didn't know if she had a home anymore…

"Now if you are to be with us. You must learn a few things." Said Karin "First of all do you know what a coven is?"

"A group of vampires leaving together." Responded Hinata hesitantly.

Konan answered "Yes they are a group of vampires leaving together; to feed and protect each other"

"That is what you all are… a coven"

"No" said Nagato

Hinata´s eyes widen. They were vampires, it was clear they lived here! So what else could they be?

"We are a family." Stated Nagato

Hinata´s eyes widen considerably looking around them. A family of vampires…

"Covens may be composed by new vampires and their creators or vampires and their mates." He continued. Hinata had blushed slightly at those words, her eyes immediately shooting to Konan and Yahiko. He smiled broadly at her and grabbed Konan´s hand on the table bringing it to his face, in order to kiss her palm.

Nagato laughed as Naruto rolled his eyes at their antics.

Hinata felt herself relax a little seeing them all. They didn't act like those vampires in her memories, they acted like normal people as friends and they loved each other she could now see that.

"You are a family because you care for each other." Hinata said

"Yes we do care for each other; we love each other enough to lay our lives down for anyone at this table. But that is not the reason we call ourselves a family" said Nagato.

"It´s not?" Hinata asked surprised by this fact.

"No, we are a family because we are related by blood" finished Nagato.

"You mean like a human family! With a mother and father, brothers and sisters?"

Karin nodded at her "Except we are not brothers or sisters but cousins instead."

"Cousins…" repeated Hinata.

"Yes and Nagato is our leader"

Nagato smiled at her.

Naruto who had been quiet until now decided it was time to speak openly.

"We are a family who will never betray each other but you are not family. You will stay here until we have judge you as an asset to the Nation. Do you understand?" he said in a hard voice looking directly into her eyes. She tore her gaze away and looked at them all, Karin pouted, Nagato analizing, Yahiko tensed jaw and Konan smiling softly at her.

In that moment Hinata was absolutely sure of one thing. She was alone. No home and no family. These people had been welcoming but she was not one of them, Naruto had made that very clear.

I´ve had this chapter sitting on my computer for a month now. Thinking I add something else but no, I think it looks good like this.

ENJOY

XIAO