Thicker Than Water

celestia193's Author's Note: We are finally delving into the world of (at least intended) mpreg. We also have a teasing Indra, frisky Kisame, and peacocking Gaara. Enjoy!

Chapter 21

It was strange, but Itachi couldn't help smiling at his foolish little brother from where he lounged on the sofa in their sitting room. Years ago, it would have made him shudder to his core to think that Sasuke could kill someone, despite the warrior that he'd always known Sasuke would grow up to become.

But today, he couldn't find it in him to admonish his little brother. If anything, he was proud of Sasuke's accomplishment. And the tiny smirk on his face said as much. "I heard a rumor being passed amongst the maids this morning that Orochimaru and his bodyguards were found dead in his chambers. Apparently, there was a fight between them, and not a soul survived."

"Oh well you know how the maids love to talk." Sasuke feigns disinterest. He had grown much better at that sort of thing as of late. "One of them probably had a nightmare or something."

"Yes, I'm sure. And I am equally sure that he will be greatly missed by the court." Itachi chuckles softly at his little brother's dodge. "You did well, Sasuke. I'm proud of you."

"I told you that I could do it." Sasuke couldn't help, but smirk.

"Yes, you certainly did." And perhaps Itachi was foolish to have doubted his little brother. "You've grown…even more than I expected." His gaze slides over Sasuke critically. "Are you alright? That is not a battle that I would ever hope to emerge from unscathed."

"Nothing of consequence." Sasuke rolls his eyes at the thought of Orochimaru. "He was nothing more than an overgrown mosquito." Like Hell was he going to mention any of his injuries to Itachi, besides they would be gone soon enough.

"Of course." Though the slight bruising that Itachi spied peeking out from Sasuke's collar said otherwise. "I am glad that there was no permanent damage." Itachi hums softly, watching his foolish little brother fondly. "…I am sorry that I underestimated your ability to handle this problem for me."

"It's alright. I'm sure that you've learned a valuable lesson from this experience and really that is on the bottom of the list for things we needed to address anyway." He shakes his head as he look at Itachi. "I'm sorry for being foolish enough to believe what you said that day."

Itachi sighs and allows his fingers to play with the ends of his hair to distract himself a little. "You were meant to believe me, Sasuke. You did nothing wrong, you merely believed what you were meant to. And you took actions that you believed befitted that knowledge." Of course, there was the issue of him becoming a vampire. But knowing that Sasuke had Gaara now, Itachi would not begrudge Sasuke his choice.

"I still should have known better. No one changes the core of their being that quickly." Sasuke shakes his head.

Sasuke's point was valid and Itachi had no way to refute it. "I do wonder now…if perhaps I should have distanced myself sooner, or allowed Kakashi to take you with me. I will always be riddled with the many possibilities of how I might have done things differently." Itachi's gazes finds Sasuke's one more, this time appearing quite contrite. "I truly am sorry for what I've done to you. And know that not once did I ever stop caring for your well-being, even if I couldn't see you again."

Sasuke sighs as he pokes Itachi's forehead for a change. "You've punished yourself enough and we're vampires now." He pauses for dramatic effect. "In the grand scheme of things, ten years is nothing to us."

Itachi's eyes widen slightly at the familiar gesture, the one he used so often to annoy Sasuke into making that endearing expression. His gaze softens and he smiles as he slowly pulls Sasuke into his arms and properly embraces his little brother for the first time in years. "Yes, in the grand scheme of things, ten years is nothing." Ten years was nothing, and Itachi's heart was healing.

"Mhm. So no more of that fretting. Kisame will kill me if he thinks I upset you." He scoffs at the thought of the shark in a fond way.

"No, he will not." Itachi chuckles as he loosens his hold on his little brother, his dark eyes twinkling with promise. "If he even entertains the thought, I will make it clear to him in no uncertain terms that he will NOT be welcome in my bed any longer, and that he WILL find himself missing certain crucial parts of his manhood."

"Wow." Sasuke blinks at that. "You're a little scary sometimes."

"I am a vampire, Sasuke." Itachi thought that much was rather obvious. "I am entitled to use whatever measures I see fit, no matter how drastic they might be. Can you tell me that there is nothing in this world that you would threaten your own lover's manhood for?"

"No. Not really, I quite like it attached." Sasuke nods vigorously.

Itachi rolls his eyes and presses a kiss to Sasuke's forehead. "Of course…I prefer Kisame's manhood attached as well." But there was nothing he wouldn't do for Sasuke. "Besides, it is merely a threat. And an effective one."

"Yes, I could see it being an effective threat." Sasuke mulls the possibility over.

"Very effective, though I would caution against using it too often." Kakashi can't help but wince as he saunters into the sitting room. The room might be soundproof to the outside, thanks to Itachi's illusion magic, but when one was standing right in the doorway…it was astonishing what sorts of things one could hear. "Good afternoon Itachi, Sasuke." He bows to the two young lords before him.

Itachi looks over his shoulder at his mentor and surrogate father-figure. "Hello Kakashi."

"I still don't like you." Sasuke gives Kakashi a dirty look. "What do you want?"

Itachi raises an eyebrow at his little brother's outburst. "Sasuke? Care to share what happened between you and Kakashi?" He'd gotten hints of Sasuke's animosity towards the elder vampire, but couldn't quite place where it came from. Certainly, Kakashi had never stepped out of line in front of Itachi. Then again, there was a great deal that did not happen in front of Itachi…

"He tried to shame me into feeling sorry for you." Sasuke glowers at Kakashi. "Even if he didn't lie, he's a manipulative bastard."

"I see…" Itachi's eyes narrow on his teacher. "Care to explain yourself?"

Kakashi shrugs. "I just thought that he needed a different perspective. A more…accurate one than the one he once held."

Itachi's heart drops like a cold stone into the pit of his stomach. That was not what he'd wanted to hear. "…Sasuke, do I want to know what he told you?"

"No, I don't believe so." Sasuke shakes his head as he stands up. "I think I'm going to go check on Gaara."

"Lord Indra would like to see the both of you tonight." Kakashi heads Sasuke off, scarlet eyes fixed on both young vampires. "At dinner. Apparently, the two of you have been quite busy, and he would like to hear about it."

"We'll be there." Sasuke issues his best death glare at the older vampire. "Though if you're curious you can ask Lord Orochimaru about our latest exploits." That should silence Kakashi quite nicely.

"Sasuke…there is no need for you to threaten Kakashi in such a way." It had been a long time since Itachi truly chided Sasuke, but he felt it appropriate to do it now, rather than later. "As it is my secrets he has decided to part with, I will be sure to deal with him."

"I wasn't threatening him." Sasuke smiles 'innocently' at Itachi. "I was merely making a suggestion, but as you said it concerns you more than I. So deal with it in the manner you see fit."

"I certainly shall." Clearly, Itachi would need to teach Kakashi a thing or two about respecting the privacy of others. And impossible task, perhaps, but not one that he would take lightly.

Kakashi coughs suggestively and back up towards the door of the sitting room. "I will inform Lord Indra of your attendance tonight."

"Please do." Itachi glares slightly until the moment Kakashi disappears from sight. "…I'm sorry that you were subjected to that, Sasuke. Kakashi has always enjoyed playing head games. Usually, however, they are relatively harmless."

"It's fine. As you said, they were your secrets." He looks at Itachi reassuringly.

"Yes…and I trust that you will keep them for me?" they were still newly on good terms, and Itachi was hesitant to demand anything of Sasuke.

"You shouldn't have to ask that, but I will." Sasuke eyes Itachi warily. "I know the truth now and besides, it's not as though you don't have things you can use against me. It's not to my benefit to spill that sort of information to the Court."

"I could use them, but I think you know me well enough to know that I wouldn't." Itachi may have changed in the intervening years, but he had not deceived Sasuke since he first arrived here. And that sort of vengeance wasn't in him. "But I suppose what is more important now is that it is likely Lord Indra knows exactly why it was Hidan and Orochimaru who perished."

"He's not going to punish us for that." Sasuke shrugs gracefully, feeling rather unconcerned. "If anything, he might thank us. Perhaps chide us on being reckless, but I highly doubt it'd be more than that."

"I am inclined to agree." Itachi knew for a fact that Indra loathed several members of his court, but tolerated them merely because they were useful in some way. If they could be killed so easily by his heirs, then it would mean that their usefulness had come to an end. "However, if he suggests that perhaps we continue to remove his annoyances, tread very carefully. There are more than a few members of the court who would rip your heart from your chest without hesitation."

"You're worried he might wish for us to become his assassins?" Sasuke blinks at that. He hadn't foreseen that possibility.

Itachi hadn't quite meant it like that, but in effect, it would be the same thing. "Not exactly. But he might encourage us to facilitate our own rise to power through the elimination of those who already hold it. Vampires respect and fear power. Many are ordinary vampires. But our line's blood flows with magical prowess. To some, that would be an asset, to others, a threat."

Sasuke pauses as he considers that. "You're right." It was fine though. Between his own strength, Itachi's, their lovers, and Indra, Sasuke almost pitied anyone foolish enough to make a move against them. OF course, some caution would be necessary. It wasn't always the strongest vampire that won the war.

"Yes, use caution, Sasuke." Itachi smiles and rises to his feet. "After all, we are still very young. We have time. Time in which to grow and prove ourselves."

"Yes, we do. We do need to work on your confidence though." Sasuke rolls his eyes. "You'd think a vampire who can create Amaterasu and tamed a shark demon would be more...well, less skittish."

Itachi's eyes darken slightly and he looks over his shoulder at his foolish, innocent little brother. "You have not yet seen the true darkness of this place, Sasuke. And I hope that you never will." He says nothing more on the subject of his confidence. Such a topic could wait for another day. "Dinner is waiting." And he needed to make himself presentable.

It was odd. The young vampire had come to realize that he had never truly known the challenges of getting oneself dressed until he'd found himself with a shark for a lover. Now, preparing to arrive for something as simple as dinner was made into an hours-long challenge.

As such, Itachi huffs softly and rolls his eyes as he runs the brush once more through his long raven locks. His fingers go to work quickly and put the two braids up for the fifth time, tying them together at the back of his head. "You know, I am trying to make myself look presentable, Kisame. Not as though I have just been ravished by my lover." And was his lover ever intent on making him look utterly scandalous before the court. "I know that you prefer my hair down, so I have compromised. So please stop pulling it down until after the feast." Then his demon lover could pull on it all he liked.

"You're as cute as an angry kitten, Dolphin." Kisame couldn't help, but laugh at the other man's exasperation. "Alright though. IF it's that important to you, I'll try to keep my hands mostly to myself. Though you can't tell me you didn't enjoy me messing your hair up in the first place."

The vampire's lips curve up slightly. "I did, however that is hardly the point. I must 'look pretty' for the court, as you so delicately put it." Itachi adjusts his collar to hide the numerous lovebites decorating his pale skin. He leans back in his chair and reaches up to pull his lover down for a chaste kiss. But his voice fills itself with dark promises. "I promise that I will allow you to mess it up again as much as you like later."

"Deal." Kisame smirks as he returns the kiss. "So what's the game plan for everything? I know you've gotta have one or is looking pretty the plan? I mean I can't blame you if it is. "

Itachi smirks and leans back in his comfortable armchair. "It is part of it. After all, vampires do value appearances greatly, and Orochimaru's fixation on mine was ultimately his downfall. Now that Orochiamru is dead, the balance of power is shifting, and with Hidan's very public demise, certain members of the court are likely to begin shifting their loyalties and making new alliances." Alliances that could prove either beneficial or dangerous.

"By observing these patterns and watching who approaches myself and Sasuke, it will become clear which way the wind is blowing. And by only hinting at mine or Sasuke's involvement in Orochimaru's death, our opponents and our potential allies will make themselves known. Indra has publicly claimed us as his heirs, which means that we will now have to fight and prove ourselves in court politics. Indra's own reputation might protect us, but it will not gain either of us the respect it will take to fulfill Indra's plans for us." And so, Itachi would sway what other vampire lords and ladies that he could. Once he had his allies, he could better protect both his brother and his lover from unpleasant entanglements.

"The politics thing kinda makes my head hurt. Let me know who you want me to kill." Kisame smiles at Itachi as he caresses his cheek.

"Of course, provided that Sasuke or I lleave them alive long enough for you to find." That was the immediate plan, though. The long term plan was rather simple in comparison. "As our positions in the court become more secure and there are no opponents left who would openly challenge us…" Itachi looks up to his lover and smiles, placing his hand on his stomach. "I think that it would be rather nice to research magic that might help me in giving you things that normally a vampire could not."

Kisame's brow furrow with confusion. "What do you mean give me things a vampire normally couldn't?"

"Pups." Itachi runs slender fingers along Kisame's arm and brings the demon's large blue hand to his leather-covered stomach. "That is what your kind calls your children, isn't it? Magic is powerful and versatile. And with my own magic reserves, there may be a spell that could allow me to bear your children."

He blinks. Honestly, the thought had never really occurred to him. "Yes, we call them pups." Both because Itachi was a vampire, but also because he was obviously male. "I mean don't get me wrong, I'm sure they would be cute things and all, but is that safe for you?"

Itachi laughs softly. "I am quite certain that I would be fine, if it does prove to be possible. After all, what could it do to me now? I am no longer alive, so to speak."

"Well yeah, but even if it doesn't hurt you...what about the pup? I mean like you said, you're not technically alive." How were they going to grow? Where were they going to grow? Itachi didn't have a womb!

Never in his life had Itachi expected to theorize on magical pregnancy with his lover. Or…any lover. "I would guess that it would involve a magical sac, as I am not female and do not have a place for the pups to grow. And even if I were female, there would be no guarantee that such an organ would continue to function, even with magic. Therefore, a magical substitute that draws power from my own reserved of magic seems most likely to work. Most vampires are not initially gifted in such a way, but as I was gifted with powerful magic as a human before being turned, I have an advantage that most others would not."

He smiles and kisses him. "Itachi, I'd love to have pups with you. I just want to make sure it's safe is all. I can't lose you and I don't want to lose them either."

Dark eyes soften and Itachi stands gracefully, letting the locks he had finished with slip over his shoulder and across his back. He raises his arms to circle them around Kisame's neck and pulls his demon into a loving kiss. "I survived my turning and am no longer human. You will not lose me. Not to age, or sickness, or poison. And so long as I have you, I will not succumb in any battle."

"I love you. I just hope you're right about that." He returns the kiss, cursing the fact they had to go to dinner. "This has been on your mind for awhile, I take it?" Itachi had put too much thought into this for it to have been a whim.

Itachi nods. "You once said, when I was mourning the impending loss of my humanity, that your kind only ever mourned the loss of a mate or your pups. After the night we first became lovers, it occurred to me a few times that…you have one of those things now, but not the other. You have a mate to cherish, but no pups. I have thus been contemplating how I might resolve the absence of something that you would cherish as much as you do me."

"You're incredible. You know that right?" Kisame caresses his cheek as he searches Itachi's eyes, trying to figure out which emotion or emotions had driven this decision more. Guilt or the desire to have children in general. "I'm not missing anything though. I have you. Yes, I would love pups, but I don't want you to think you've disappointed me somehow because you haven't. You've only ever surpassed my expectations."

"Thank you." As always, Kisame was generous in his praise and affection. Itachi could bask in it for the rest of eternity. But this was a path he had decided on. "Your kind cares only for your mate and pups, and I would not deny you the chance to have pups if I knew a way to have them. You saved me from my darkness and gave me a future to look forward to. It was also one of the many things that I had given up on when I came to this place. I knew that vampires sired themselves 'children' when they desired, but had none of their own. And you showed me that perhaps I did not have to give up everything that I had hoped for before coming here."

Itachi's eyes shimmer red with emotion and cool determination. "If it does prove to be possible, then yes, I want to have your pups. I want to make a family with you."

"You know, you're doing an awful job of trying to convince me not to ravish you again before we head to dinner." Kisame chuckles as he kisses his forehead.

The young vampire groans unhappily. "Kisame, you have ravished me FOUR times since I returned from my time with Sasuke." Could Kisame not give him an hour or so to recover after such treatment?

"It's not my fault your irresistible." He laughs as he leads Itachi into the hallway. "Alright. Alright. Let's go make nice with everyone."

Itachi huffs quietly, but a trace of amusement warms his gaze. "And try not to kill anyone until I know precisely who it is that needs to be removed first. And preferably not during any mealtime mealtime." There was nothing more irritating than having one's appetite ruined with a murder at breakfast.

"Alright. I can always wait and kill them after dinner." He winks.

"If Sasuke doesn't get to them first." Itachi shakes his head. At this rate, he was liable to witness a race between his lover and his brother to see which of them could take out their opponents the quickest. That was NOT how he'd expected to start dinner.

Itachi strides gracefully into the hall with Kisame at his side. He could feel all of the eyes on him as he glides towards the head table to join his Sire. And unsurprisingly, Sasuke was, as of yet, absent. Itachi needed only a single guess to know what was keeping his foolish little brother from arriving on time to dinner.

"Lord Indra." Itachi bows slightly as he approaches the head table.

The elder vampire smiles at him and nods. "Itachi. You and your intended may sit." His eyes glance around the court in a casual manner, but a trained eye would know what Indra was doing. He was mentally cataloging everyone's' reaction to Itachi and Kisame's arrival.

Itachi smiles at his Sire, then turns it back on his mate as he slips around the end of the table and takes his seat to Indra's right. This time, there was a place set to his own right for Kisame, a statement in and of itself. And to his satisfaction, he saw a number of wary glances being shot his way, as well as several gazes filled with admiration. One corner in particular appeared less full than usual, and those of Orochimaru's allies who remained had clued into Itachi being involved in some way in Orochimaru's death.

Kisame takes his seat and grins. "Well, this all looks pretty fucking fantastic." He looks at the food. "They've even got sushi this time."

"Yes, so they do." Itachi watches with amusement as Kisame unashamedly digs into the fishy dishes. Did that count as cannibalism or merely the natural order of things? Itachi wasn't certain, but he chose not to ponder it much. Not when the sight of his little brother finally trailing in with his own lover proved to be more than a little entertaining. By the state of those messy, spiky locks, Sasuke had not had Itachi's success in preventing his lover from ravishing him before dinner. He smirks at the sight of his little brother's disheveled state.

Sasuke quickly averts his gaze, trying to hide his slightly pink cheeks. Itachi knew. He'd never let him live it down.

Gaara, on the other hand, strides forward completely unabashed, and even a little smug as he places a hand against the small of Sasuke's back. He guides his young lover towards the head table, where two more places were set out on Indra's left. "Lord Indra." If Sasuke was too embarrassed to observe courtesies, he would do it for the both of them.

"Gaara, Sasuke." Indra nods, hiding his amusement at the whole spectacle. It was likely only dumb luck that explained why it was Sasuke and not Itachi observing his shoes so closely.

"Come, Sasuke." Gaara guides Sasuke into the seat next to Indra and makes sure to press a kiss just under the curve of Sasuke's jaw. The entire court would know precisely what their relationship was by the end of the night, he would be sure of that.

Sasuke could only pray that he wasn't actually blushing as he sits down. "Apologies for being late..." Fuck. It didn't take a genius to realize what had just happened.

"It's fine. There is no need to apologize for enjoying yourself here, Sasuke." And it appeared to Indra's eyes that both of his young heirs were enjoying themselves greatly with their respective lovers.

Gaara's smug expression only grows as he fills his plate from a number of rather delicious-looking dishes. "Yes, I believe that Sasuke has certainly enjoyed himself this evening."

"Thank you for your understanding, Lord Indra." Sasuke was so going to make Gaara pay for this later.

Itachi hums with amusement on Indra's other side and leans over to sit closer to Kisame. "Perhaps I am not the only one for whom I should be doing my magical research."

"Don't say anything to them." Kisame shakes his head quickly. "Their pups would burn the place to the ground. You know what they say about red heads."

"Oh?" Itachi raises an eyebrow curiously. "What DO they say about redheads?"

"They're wild and have one hell of a temper. I wouldn't want to deal with one in the middle of their Terrible Twos." He smiles at Itachi. "I much prefer my dark dolphin."

"Hn. Good." They would have had to have words if Itachi discovered otherwise. "After all, I believe that dyeing my hair red with blood might be in bad taste."

"Very poor taste and it would be a shame to burn a bridge with Sasuke after you've reconciled." He chuckles as he nuzzles his lover. "Your jealousy is erotic though."

"Hmph." Itachi spears a piece of roasted boar with his fork and gracefully devours it. "I take it that there is very little that I do that you don't find erotic, Kisame."

"Mostly when it comes to you." He snorts at his lover's feigned annoyance. "You should try looking in a mirror sometime."

"And if I did, what would I find?" Perhaps he felt like indulging his vanity in front of a crowded room, or perhaps he merely needed to assure himself that Kisame's attentions were on him and only him, but Itachi couldn't stop himself from running his mouth a little.

"If you looked, you'd see why I can keep my hands off of you. You're the most beautiful being that I've ever seen." He smirks as he caresses Itachi's cheek.

"Really now…? That's good to hear." Itachi closes the distance and molds their lips firmly together, nearly climbing out of his seat and into Kisame's lap.

He smiles and returns the kiss. It was rare to see Itachi be this affectionate in public.

Indra chuckles at the sight of his childe being so openly affectionate with his lover. It was quite the display, and rather strategic as well. Now he would ward off potential 'allies' that wanted nothing more than to bed him, and thus prevent any jealousy or backstabbing later.

Then he turns his attention onto the fuming young man sitting quietly to his left. "Sasuke, is life at court agreeing with you?"

"Yes, it is very much." Sasuke smiles, deciding to deal with his lover's smug, possessive displays later. "Thank you for asking. How fare you this evening, My Lord?"

"I am satisfied with your progress, and amused by the entertainments of the young." Though Indra would be lying if he claimed to have no concerns. "You have been a vampire for less than a year, if memory serves correctly."

"I'm glad that you've been so entertained of late." Sasuke shakes his head in amusement until he hears the next question. "Yes, that's correct. Your memory is impeccable as always, My Lord." There was no point in lying. Indra had ways of finding out, if Sasuke did.

Indra nods slightly, contemplating the dilemma Kakashi had presented him with. "Then you have lived with the Sabaku family for some time, I take it. Have you since returned to visit with you human family?"

"No, but I've written them." He glances at Indra. "Does that displease you?"

"Not at all." In fact, it may help to solve said dilemma. Indra laces his hands together pensively. "If…given the chance to visit them, do you believe that they would welcome you home for a little while? Given that you are now a vampire."

He tilts his head, not certain what game Indra was playing, but there was certainly more going on than he was being told. "Yes, I believe so. They're loyal subjects, Lord Indra." He could only hope it wouldn't end in their demise. If it came to it, Sasuke would protect them to the best of his ability and that meant Gaara, Itachi, and Kisame would as well. Possibly even Temari and Kankuro, but even then the odds were...low they'd be victorious. He didn't want to think that way about the elder vampire who hadn't really shown anything, but courtesy since he got there. It was just impossible to know what was going on in the other vampire's mind.

"Yes, of course." Indra sighs at the thought of his childe, now happily bundled in Kisame's arms. "As you know, Itachi is recently turned, but has greater control over his bloodlust than even I expected. And so, now that the risks have been largely mitigated, I believe that it would do him some good to visit your parents. He has missed them greatly."

"Well, I could write them." Sasuke pauses not sure how Itachi would feel about such a thing. "I know they'd be delighted, but some forewarning is only considerate. Assuming he wishes to go of course."

"I believe that he wishes for it, but his place here and so much time away from them has made him wary." It was one of those small, hidden things that Indra did not like to see in his childe.

"That's only to be expected, but I'll speak to him on the matter." Sasuke nods.

"Thank you, Sasuke." Indra's eyes glow with approval. "It pleases me to see that the two of you have reconciled to such an extent. The both of you look much happier for it."

"I never thought such a thing would be possible, but you're right." He watches Indra, noting the approval in his eyes. "We are both happier for it."

Indra's lips curve into a smile. "Good. Though it seems that the source of your happiness is not solely to be found in your reconciliation." His eyes grow bright with humor. "I commend you on your taste. Your lover is certainly quite the prize."

Everyone seemed intent on making him blush tonight, Sasuke notices. "Yes, he is. He's also going to be punished severely for his..." Sasuke didn't even know what to call it really. "Strutting about like a peacock tonight."

The ancient vampire chuckles heartily at his descendant's indignation. "I'm certain that you will devise a punishment worthy of our line." Ah, the emotional enthusiasm of youth.

"Yes, I'll think of something." Sasuke nods vigorously.

"Very good." Indra's chuckles slowly and peacefully die down as he recalls one last piece of business that he had with the young vampire. "Oh, and be assured that your little…after-dinner activities the other night have been properly disposed of. I must say that I have been rather impressed by your determination and ingenuity."

Sasuke rubs the back of his head sheepishly. "Thank you. He was an...annoyance, but predictable." Mostly predictable. He had seen through Sasuke's game, not that it had helped him much in the end.

"Yes, and I am quite glad to be rid of that…snake." Indra flicks his fingers in distaste. "I suggest that you slowly allow it to become known that you were the one who ensured his demise. It will help to build your reputation." And reputation was everything when one would live conceivably forever.

"I'll follow your counsel on the matter." The younger vampire nods as he considers his words.

Good, and now that that was settled, Indra returns to his own luxurious dishes and glances sideways at his youngest descendant. "And be sure to eat well. You will need the extra energy for when your lover plans to ravish you again tonight." And this time, on Indra's other side, Itachi hears the snippet of conversation. The elder brother smirks into his goblet of wine and casts his own sideways glance at Sasuke.

Sasuke rolls his eyes at Itachi before turning his gaze back to Indra. "I'm not sure why you assume that it's not the other way around."

The ancient vampire smirks at the challenge. "Because he is as smug as a peacock and your cheeks resemble roses."

"Damn it." He was going to make Gaara pay for this!