Chapter 1: The red eyes

"Did you see that guy in the waiting room?"

"Yeah, talk about sexy."

Sakura heard the two nurses' gossip as they walked past her. She was looking over her schedule for the night. She had another training session with the doctor: checking a patient's heart rate and blood pressure, then she had to watch a surgery. It wasn't easy, but if it meant she'd become a doctor she'd do it.

She felt her phone buzz in the pocket of her red scrubs. She pulled it out and looked; she smiled. It was a picture of Naruto and Hinata together. Apparently, they were enjoying the beach. Naruto had taken a selfie with Hinata, a beautiful sun was setting over the ocean behind them. She was happy for them. The two went on a vacation just for them. Even though she kind of missed Naruto annoying her for a date; she was happy he finally noticed Hinata. She didn't feel like she missed an opportunity with Naruto, God no! He was like the annoying brother she never had. She just missed those simple times, when they were kids.

"What'cha looking at forehead?"

Sakura sighed at the infuriating nickname, she got it; her forehead was big!

"Hello Ino."

"Those two look like they're having a good time," Ino looked over her shoulder to see the picture.

"You would two if you were on a vacation with your boyfriend," Sakura put her phone away.

"Speaking of, did you hear about the hot guy in the waiting room?" Ino asked.

"You too?" Sakura asked, tired of annoying gossip, "We're not high school students anymore Ino. We're medical students."

"I know, that doesn't mean we can't date," Ino said, "Don't you want to find your soul mate?"

"I'll start looking after I become a doctor," Sakura pulled her long pink hair back as she pulled out a hair clip. She sometimes thought it would just be easier to cut her hair short, but she liked her hair long; to brush, to braid, to pin. It just felt right.

With the clip securing her hair up, her fingers gently tapped her precious amethyst earings, she was ready for her medical training.

"You're such a stiff."

Sakura smirked playfully, "Don't you have a lesson too."

"Alright, mom, I'm going," Ino replied playfully before walking down the hospital's hall. Sakura rolled her eyes. Ino might be her best friend, but she could be a handful. Regardless, she had her own training to attend, so she turned and began to make her way towards the room with the patient she would examine.

As she walked, she noted she was about to pass the receptionist desk that had a window to the waiting room. Recalling what the nurses and Ino had said, she decided to stop for a second and take a look. She scanned the room full of waiting patients; mostly, just normal people, waiting to see their doctor, most of them looked healthy, probably just want to discuss something or get a prescription filled. She spotted an unfortunate woman with a caste on her arm. A pale child, with his mother holding a box of tissues sitting next to him.

However, it was the patient in the very back corner, that drew her attention. No doubt this was guy everyone was talking about, and they were right, he was handsome. Raven hair, spiked back, to reveal his elegant face. Sharp, refined, she'd even say aristocratic. Like he belonged in a palace on a throne, not the cheap chairs they had for patients.

He was wearing a long black trench coat. That was understandable, the weather had taken a turn for the cold. The coat was open, to reveal a navy-blue V-neck, that showed of the top part of his chest; which was, by Sakura's medical expertise, very well defined. He wore blue jeans over on his crossed legs, with black boots. Sakura caught a glimmer from his right ring finger. A golden ring with a red jewel glistened on his finger, she couldn't really tell if it were a ruby or a garnet. There was one thing she couldn't see about him, his eyes.

He was laid back in his chair, with his eyes closed. His face was expressionless, he was motionless. Sakura couldn't help but wonder, was he asleep? It would make sense, taking a quick nap while waiting for your named to be called. However, apart of her wanted to go over and shake him awake, sleeping like that was terrible for your back. But she didn't, she doubted a ten-minute nap in the chair would hurt him, but that wasn't just it.

He was handsome. Almost hauntingly beautiful, she definitely felt something like an attraction. She wanted to go into that room and get a closer look, examine his beautiful features, but at the same time, she wanted to just leave. There was… something about him. Something that made him unapproachable, that made her want to run.

Why was he there? He didn't look sick or injured. He didn't look like he belonged there at all.

Clattering caused her to snap out of her observation, "Oh geez."

The receptionist was on the ground picking up some pencils and pens a pair of scissors that had fallen open. Without hesitating Sakura crouched down and began to help. She grabbed a few pens, when her hand collided with the scissors next to her. When Sakura felt a sting shoot through her pinky, she let out a small yelp.

"Are you okay?" The receptionist asked. Sakura quickly looked at her pinky and sighed. It was just a small scratch on her pinky.

"I'm okay," Sakura assured, "Just a scratch."

"Oh, good. Go wash that, I'll be fine."

"Okay, sorry," Sakura stood up. As she did, she could see the handsome patient in the corner of her eye, as well as a flash of red, but not from his ring. Sakura quickly turned her head to see that the patient's eyes were no longer closed. Onyx met jade. His eyes were just as dark as his hair. It just made him seem even regal. His face remained expressionless as they held eye contact. She had no idea what he was thinking, she felt frozen in his stare, like a deer in headlights… or more accurately like a prey being caught by a predator.

When Sakura felt blood running down her pinky, she finally broke the gaze and walked away. She needed to wash and disinfect and find a small bandage. She was in a hospital, that wouldn't be hard.

Her mind was still on the stranger's eyes. She could have sworn, that flash of red, came from his eyes… she shook her head.

It must had been the light reflecting off the ring!

The day went on like any other. Sakura learned more things about medicine. Things she took to heart. It was her dream to be a doctor, her destiny. To save lives.

During one of her breaks she went to the bathroom. She looked into the mirror and saw her earrings. She couldn't help but touch one of the purple studs. They were a gift from her parents. She wore them ever since she was a small child. Her parents told her to never take them off while she was outside the house. They said they kept her safe.

As Sakura got older, she started to think her parents were being silly. One time, she bought a new set of earrings. Beautiful, pink cherry blossom shaped ones, and wore them home, and her parents were livid. She never forgot their expressions. Her mother looked like she was about to have a heart attack and her father looked just as bad.

Sakura didn't understand. She tried to make them explain why she had to wear them outside the house. They never did explain, just that her amethyst earrings kept her safe. Safe from what?

They never had the chance to explain. A few years prior, Sakura got into a fight with them. It wasn't just the earrings they were strict about. Sakura had a curfew, despite almost being eighteen. She wasn't allowed to talk to strangers, she wasn't allowed to leave the house without one of her parents. She was tired of the way she lived, she felt like a prisoner! Then in anger, and spite, she ran out of the house.

She wandered the city for hours. When she came to a bridge that was over a river, she was going to take off her earrings and throw them into the river. Just as she was about to, her phone rang, it was the hospital calling, telling her, her parents were in a car accident and were in surgery.

She remembered how her blood went cold. She ran all the way to the hospital, hoping, praying, her parents would be okay.

Unfortunately, neither of them survived.

Why did I yell at them like that?

Sakura never took her earrings out after that. She didn't see them as protection, she saw them as a gift from her parents. A piece of them, she desperately wanted to keep close.

She still had that letter. Her parents had a letter with their will. Sakura was told to read it upon the time of their death. She never even opened it. She wanted to, she really wanted to, but every time she held it, got close to tearing the envelope open… she just couldn't. She would break down into tears.

As she splashed some water in her face, Sakura felt a small ache in her earlobes. She hoped her ears were starting to get infected. She stood up straight and looked into the mirror to look at her ears. However, something else in the mirror caught her attention!

Behind her was the man from the waiting room. His arms reaching out, like he was about to pull her into a hug. And this time she saw for certain, his eyes were red!

Panic exploded in her chest and she turned around screaming, "What are you-…"

When she turned, she saw no one there. She was alone in the bathroom. Just like before. She turned back towards the mirror. It was just her, no man. She carefully looked into the other stalls; in case he was hiding in one of them. All were empty.

Sakura took in a deep breath. Maybe Ino was right, she was working too hard.

"Finally, we're done," Ino stretched as they both walked out of the hospital.

"I can't wait to go home," Sakura sighed, it was Friday night. That means it was take-out night. What did she feel like ordering? Pizza, Chinese?

"You're so boring," Ino said.

"Well not all of us are party animals Ino," Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Not even on your birthday?"

Sakura stopped walking, it was her birthday? She pulled out her phone and checked the date; it was her birthday.

"You actually forgot your birthday, didn't you?" Ino asked.

"Maybe…" Sakura hadn't really been celebrating since her parents died.

"Come on Sakura," Ino said, "Let loose a little."

"I…" Sakura really didn't want to celebrate. Luckily, Ino saw that, so she didn't press it.

"Well, I did get you something," Ino pulled out a small wrapped box and gave it to Sakura. She unwrapped it and opened it. In it were a pair of earrings. Tear dropped shaped ruby's glistening back at her.

"Thank you, Ino, they are beautiful," Sakura said, she was grateful, but she didn't want new earrings.

"I know, it's been hard for you since your parents died," Ino put a hand on her shoulder, "But, they wouldn't want you to mope forever."

Sakura didn't respond. She stayed quiet for a minute, until Ino spoke up.

"Sakura, moving on isn't the same as forgetting the dead. I know you miss them and I'm not trying to force you to stop grieving. Just try to take it one step at a time. How about, just for tonight, you take off your earrings. How long have you worn them? You might get an infection if you don't clean them at least."

Her earlobes did sting a bit earlier in the bathroom.

"I'll… see you Monday Ino," Sakura said then she left.

"Alright, take it easy," Ino called watching her friend walk away. When she knew Sakura was out of sight, her smile fell and she walked out towards her car. Before she entered she stopped. She was alone in the parking lot, or so it appeared.

"She accepted them," Ino said.

"Good."

"That doesn't mean she's going to wear them, it might not even mean she'll take them out."

"She will eventually."

Ino's grip on her purse strap tightened.

"I'm only doing this because you said you won't hurt her. It's been hard, for me to do this."

"Those earrings are meant to keep me, specifically, away from her. You can speak to her and convince her to take them off."

"She might not do it," Ino said, "They were a gift from her parents after all, and like it or not, she misses them."

She heard a growl, ripple the air.

"Don't hurt her," Ino snapped.

"She's mine, I don't hurt what belongs to me."

The voice ended, and Ino got into the car. She sighed in exhaustion, "Sakura forgive me."

Sakura entered her house. Food in hand, she decided on Chinese that night. It wasn't a fabulous birthday celebration, but Sakura was fine with it.

She ate the fried rice and spring rolls. She watched the next episode of her favorite drama. Then took a nice long bath. As she dried herself off, she took notice of her earrings. When was the last time she took them out? Before her parents died?

They probably were getting dirty. She wanted to take care of her earrings, but at the same time didn't want to be away from them. She looked at the jewelry cleaning kit she kept in the bathroom. It was just a jar of cleaning liquid.

She looked at her earrings one more time.

Just for tonight. I'm not forgetting my parents, I'm just cleaning my earrings. I'm taking care of something they gave me.

With a deep breath and a lot of will power, Sakura removed the ear buds and put them in the cleaning solution and left them there for the night.

Sakura got into a set of comfortable pajamas and snuggled into her bed. She was tired, but it was now the weekend. As a trainee she had weekends off. She could sleep in and relax. Maybe then she would stop seeing people in mirrors. She closed her eyes and drifted to sleep.

"Sakura."

Sakura pulled a pillow over her head to block out the voice.

"Sakura! It's time to go!"

Sakura pulled the pillow off and got out of bed. She went to her window and looked out towards the source of the voice. Someone was standing in the street.

"How long are you going to keep me waiting? Come on."

She looked at the figure in the street. She… she had to go to him. He held out his hand.

"Sakura, come to me!"

Sakura turned and went to the door. She felt strange as she walked through the halls of her home. She felt light and happy.

"Come to me!"

Heeding his call she began to descend the stairs. She needed to go to him.

"Sakura!"

She reached the bottom of the stairs, then began to cross the living room to the front door. She'd go out the door to meet him, then, they'd leave.

"Come to me, my bride!"

That's right, she was getting married… That was nice… right.

Her hand was just about to undo the lock, when, "Sakura wake up!"

Sakura gasped and nearly collapsed on the floor. Wait, the floor? The front door? What was she doing in her living room? She looked around; she couldn't remember how she got there.

Oh great, don't tell me I'm sleepwalking now?

Sakura took in a deep breath, no choice, come next morning she was going to call the hospital and request time off. When you start to sleepwalk, it was really time for a vacation! She went back upstairs to her room. She looked out the window into the empty street, before going back to bed.

She went back to sleep, completely unaware of the red eyes that watched her from the window.

My friend suggested writing something different to get over my writer's block. Vampire fics are over done, but it's different for me, so I'm giving this a try.