Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, or any of its associated characters!

Summary: Sasuke is tired. Sasuke is hungry. Sasuke is...well, hunting, now. Vampire AU, SNS, will be explicit. Two years later...it's done! New chapter will be up every day until the fic is finished!

A/N: I have a warning for today's chapter as it mentions Itachi's illness - the descriptions are not graphic, but the emotions are potent & might hit hard, so please take care of yourselves and feel free to scroll past to the vampire-y bits. Thank you so much for reading so far along!

Bite Me

Chapter 37: Past

These walls were so tall…

Sasuke stared at the grass, bored again. Bored again! He'd been in this backyard a million times! Itachi was studying again and his parents were working again and Sasuke was just in this stupid backyard….again. With its big, stupid walls.

Sasuke kicked at the ground. A bit of grass ripped up and flew ahead of him.

He sighed, poking his fingers through the holes in the wall. The big fence...this one was big enough for him to see through, but it was the only one—

A kid. A kid! Somebody his age! He—

"Hey, you!" he called.

The kid looked around.

"Stupid-hair!"

"What?! Who—say that to my face!"

"I am!" Sasuke yelled, through the wall. "Turn around!"

"You—are you in the wall? Who—"

The boy turned around, and Sasuke squinted through the hole, trying to figure out what his face looked like—

"Are you stuck in the wall?"

"Of course I'm not stuck in the wall! How dumb d'you—"

"Well, you're yelling at me from the—are you stuck behind the wall?"

Sasuke's mouth snapped shut.

The stupid other guy grinned.

"Shut up," he said, ripping himself from the wall— "Go away!"

"Yeah? You want me to go?"

"Yeah!"

"Okay. I think I'll sit right here."

Sasuke jumped back, squishing his face to the wall to watch the guy sit right down on the sidewalk—

"You suck," Sasuke told him.

The boy grinned up at nothing, squinting his big blue eyes.

"Not as much as you!"

"Dad! Dad, I got a—"

"Sasuke!"

His mother picked him up, spinning him around and pulling the door shut—

"Your father is in a very important meeting," she said, her voice hushed and stern. "We'll tell him the good news later, okay?"

Sasuke huffed out a breath.

"He's always in a stupid meeting," Sasuke pointed out.

"Is he?" she said, laughing softly. "That's news to me. Come on, we'll get dinner ready."

"But I...when Itachi got an A he got to tell everybody!"

"And you will, too," his mother said, pulling on his hand. "At dinner. Come on."

Sasuke begrudgingly followed, staring back at his father's door…

The meeting went past his bedtime.

Itachi stayed at his friend's house for the night.

Sasuke's mother kissed his forehead and put him to bed.

His report card stayed in his drawer, forgotten.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing!"

"Liar!" the boy yelled. "You didn't even listen to any of my cool ninja powers!"

"How is that any different than normal?"

"Usually you call them dumb!"

Sasuke flinched.

"Well—it—they—they were so stupid, this time, that I didn't even—"

"Don't lie," he said. "If you actually want me to go, I'll—"

"No!"

The word was out of Sasuke's mouth before he could catch it.

"N—no," he stuttered, "it—just—tell me again. I'll listen this time."

"...Okay. You sure you don't wanna talk…?"

"I'm sure. Tell me about your stupid ninja powers."

"They're the coolest and they're gonna kick your butt! You better get ready!"

"Hm," his father said, shifting the papers to the side of his desk. "Unfortunate."

Sasuke kept his head down, shifting the rice on his plate.

"It's the first test of the year, Fugaku," his mother said, quiet. Admonishing. She was standing up for him, thinking this was just an accident—a bad day, but—

"Of course," his father said. "Sasuke will do much better next time, won't he?"

Sasuke knew better.

"Yes, father."

"Usuratonkachi."

"You always call me that! Are you ever gonna tell me what that means or do I gotta break a hole through this wall—"

"Break a hole through the wall."

"Argh!"

Sasuke laughed at his blatant frustration. He wasn't even totally sure of what it meant—he'd heard his mom say it to somebody over the phone, and it had made Itachi laugh, so it had to be a bad word or something, right?

Sasuke thought so.

"When are you gonna come back?" Sasuke asked, looking around the backyard. "It's winter soon. Right?"

"I—um. Actually, I—I dunno."

"What do you mean, you don't know?"

"I'm kinda—I'm kinda moving away. Or further away—"

"Moving away?"

"I—I'm moving somewhere else. Next week. I don't know where yet. Um…"

"Are you...will you come back?"

There was a pause.

The backyard felt so quiet, all of a sudden.

"I don't know."

Sasuke hopped out of the bus, swinging his backpack over his shoulder. It had been a long time since he'd been this excited to get home—but he had a medal in his hand, and even his dad couldn't be disappointed in gold. At the science fair! Gold! And he'd done it all himself—

"—tachi! Oh, that's so wonderful, oh my goodness—"

"Sasuke!" Itachi called, spotting him.

"Hey," he said, slowly taking off his shoes. "What's—"

"Itachi was accepted to his first choice university," his mom told him, and his dad clapped Itachi on the shoulder—

"Early acceptance, no less," he laughed, looking happier than he'd ever been when Sasuke had met his eye. "Incredible, Itachi. You are truly my son."

Sasuke breathed in.

"I—" Itachi laughed a little. "Thank you. Sasuke—how did the science fair go? I only managed to make the first half, I'm afraid."

"It, um—"

Sasuke clutched the medal behind his back.

"It went fine."

"Finally!"

Sasuke stopped.

"Or—that's you, right? Or is that somebody else? Did—it's the usu—usuta—what's the stupid thing you always call me—"

"Usuratonkachi. It's me," Sasuke said, walking over to the fence. "I thought you said you left. What are you—"

"Yeah, well, I came back!" said the blonde, slapping a hand to the hole Sasuke tried to see out of as he stood—

"You—"

"C'mon," he said. "I've been waiting like three hours. Y'know what I came up with the other day?"

Sasuke couldn't help but smile.

"Tell me."

"I can't, Sasuke, I'm sorry."

Itachi pressed two fingers to Sasuke's forehead, and Sasuke flinched back, immediately infuriated—

"Stop doing that! Why can't—you're never even home anymore!"

"I know," Itachi said. "I know. I'm sorry, Sasuke. Maybe during the summer, I'll have a bit less to do…"

"That's what you said last summer."

Itachi laughed softly.

"Yes, well," he sighed. "I have to study tonight. I'll spend time with you as soon as I can, alright?"

Itachi turned away.

Sasuke watched him go.

"What, did you run a marathon or something?"

"I ran all the way here!" he protested. "Ungrateful asshole."

"Moron. Why did you run here?"

"What, did you think I had a car or somethin'?" he laughed. "Maybe once I get a license. And a car. And a job to pay for the—y'know nobody's lettin' me work yet? It's annoying as hell—"

"Yes," Sasuke deadpanned, "I'm fairly sure there are age regulations."

"I'm fairly sure there are age regulations," the idiot mocked. "You're such a priss."

"And yet you ran all the way to me. I thought you moved even further, this time."

"I did! I move all the time, makes no difference," he laughed, and Sasuke shifted. He wanted to ask, sometimes, because the more he thought about it...it was strange. Wasn't it? This boy with constantly changing homes, staying out on the street for hours, even as a kid…

"Besides," he was saying, "what would you do without me? Where would you be? Surrounded by pretty girls confessing their love for you—"

"That was one time."

The moron laughed again.

"Just wait 'till February. You're gonna be begging for my company."

Sasuke snorted.

"Doubt it."

But the blonde only laughed, and Sasuke smiled at the grass, nudging his homework to the side. It could wait a little longer.

Sasuke was in a bad mood.

Not that that was particularly unusual, but today had been—just—inane. Sasuke didn't have time to spend a class watching a stupid movie, and turning the lights off so he could barely read the homework he was trying to finish had been the cherry on top of an absolutely fucking infuriating day—

He had to work harder than anyone else.

No one seemed to understand.

And worst of all—worst of all because it felt worst of all—that...guy hadn't come back. His...friend, Sasuke supposed. Sometimes it felt like his only one. And Sasuke hated that he noticed, hated that he was so dependent and weak and—

Stupid.

He was so stupid.

He hadn't even gotten his name.

Sasuke sighed, and pushed his door open.

Oh.

"Itachi," he said, stopping in place. "You're home?"

Itachi smiled, breathing out a laugh—

"Yes, I—yes—"

"Itachi is going to be a doctor!" His mother called, hurrying in from the other room. "Just like his father, isn't he?"

Itachi laughed.

"Not exactly the same, I'm sure, but—"

"A true Uchiha," said his father, "through and through."

Yeah.

Itachi was.

Sasuke turned away.

The years were a blur. Sasuke had gotten into his first choice for a university...Itachi had been at his for four years, and then his next for another two—university, and then medical school. And standing next to all of that, Sasuke's departure for his new undergraduate degree seemed like…old news, really.

Nothing special.

Sasuke always did just well enough.

He sighed, looking over at the other shirts in his closet. He hadn't realized how many he'd had until it was time to pack them all. Living away from this house would be...interesting. He wondered if he'd miss it here—the quiet halls, the lonely spaces. Sasuke had found himself drawn to the city, more and more...some small, stupid part of him hoping to see a familiar face.

It was stupid. Sasuke didn't even know if he was there. Sasuke had no idea what might have happened to him. And even if he was—he probably wouldn't even remember Sasuke—and he certainly wouldn't recognize him. Sasuke had seen his face, but he'd never seen Sasuke's, and even those memories were getting blurry and confused...

He sighed, zipping up the suitcase so he could awkwardly move it through the doorway...lifting it up so his father couldn't complain he was scratching the hardwood…

"—tell him. It's—rious, if it's nothing, then we can—"

Sasuke tucked his suitcase by the door, and glanced around. It was Itachi's voice, quiet and serious, filtering through the hall...his parents must have been there with him.

"—sure? I know you have—ntment—Monday—"

Sasuke opened the door.

"Sasuke!" Itachi called, a little bit too loud—

"Is everything okay? I heard…"

"Fine," Itachi said, moving around the table. "Everything is just fine. Are you just about packed?"

"I am."

"Great! We'll—I can't drive you, change of plans, I have an appointment to go to, but—"

"What for?"

"Just the—ah, dentist. It was the only slot they had, so—but I'll come right after! I'll be there. Don't worry."

He laughed a little, and reached a hand—

Sasuke grabbed it before he could poke his forehead. He'd learned to dodge that ages ago.

"Alright," his mother said, sighing it out, "I suppose all that's left to do is—go to bed for the night. Sasuke, Itachi—try to get some rest, will you?"

Her gaze lingered on Itachi, and Sasuke watched him nod, feeling…

As if he was missing something.

It was a strange period of his life.

More than ever, Sasuke's drive to study was the only thing moving him forwards. His drive to be productive, to be the best, to earn his place alongside his family—

More than ever, he was tired.

But he couldn't rest. Not yet. And so here he was, hoping that a nighttime walk would...give him something. Some energy, some drive, some long-lost…

Sasuke shook his head.

No, this city was too big. Even the university was too big. The chances of finding someone here, even if they had both miraculously ended up in the right place—it was next to none. Sasuke knew that.

But still, he...walked.

People changed with age. The boy he'd met was probably long gone; the constant chatter, the easy intimacy—the loud, obnoxious understanding. The part of Sasuke that missed it all had dulled, but it was there. Panging, now and then, in these moments of...weakness.

Nostalgia, he supposed.

He paused, glancing at a storefront that was still open. Or, not a storefront—a studio of some kind? Oh—classes. Art classes. There had been a part of him that had...leaned that way. Something that required so much of his focus, so much of his skill...of course, that had been in high school, with the convenient excuse of an elective. He had no time for it anym—

The door opened.

"Hey! Oh, sorry, were you coming in? I always open this door too fast—"

He laughed, stepping back to let Sasuke in.

"Come in, come on. We haven't started yet."

Sasuke stared at his bright blue eyes, and obeyed.

He didn't get in.

It wasn't a surprise. He hadn't expected to get in after three years, and his fourth hadn't left him feeling any...smarter. Any more worthy. Medical school was a distant dream, and more and more, Sasuke was starting to wonder if he'd...ever wanted it at all.

He was just so tired.

"Sasuke," Itachi was saying. "Come now. The vast majority of my classmates didn't get in until many years after school—many of them worked different jobs before returning to medicine. And they're brilliant, Sasuke. Just like you."

Sasuke stared at his wall. Kusanagi made a small noise, shifting her head to roll over on Sasuke's lap, paws in the air.

"Uchihas aren't supposed to fail."

"And you haven't," Itachi insisted. "You haven't failed in anything, Sasuke—"

"Stop," Sasuke said, something searing and painful lashing through him. "Don't—just...I don't want to talk about this anymore."

Itachi breathed out, still looking at him. But Sasuke—Sasuke just wanted to be—

"Are you sure? Sasuke—"

An alarm went off, and Itachi breathed in.

"I—I'll be right back," he said, flicking something on his phone. "Sas—"

"Just go."

Even Itachi thought he was fucking stupid.

He'd noticed the medicine years ago.

"It's been a while!"

Sasuke glanced up, catching the same blue eyes again. Naruto, the people tended to call him. He still hadn't built up the courage to ask. To talk. To do more than nod.

He didn't want to know. Not now, not yet. There was a part of him that was sure, but the rest of him screamed to stop. To say nothing. To just enjoy the dream while it still lived here, alive—there was a soft, gentle comfort that Sasuke clung to, in the moments he was here.

He needed that.

He couldn't bear to be wrong.

And so he pulled out his folder, took a desk at the back of the room. He let the familiar chatter fill his ears and caught blue eyes whenever they turned to him. If there was any recognition there, Sasuke couldn't pick it out.

But Naruto smiled when he saw him, and that was enough.

For Sasuke, for now, that was enough.

"Of course I fucking know! He's had fifty appointments in the last five months, and you thought I wouldn't—"

"Language, Sasuke," said his father, and Sasuke—

"Language?! Itachi is dying, and you're worried about me saying—"

"He isn't dying," his mother said, but she was lying. Sasuke saw it in her red-rimmed eyes, thin mouth, the tremble in her hands— "He'll pull through. He's—"

"He isn't?" Sasuke repeated, turning to Itachi. "Alright. Fine. Look me in the eye, and tell me you're not."

Itachi swallowed.

"Sasuke, please—"

"When were you going to tell me?" Sasuke asked, voice cracked and burning. "Or were you ever going to? Were you just going to pretend you had 'somewhere else to be' for the rest of my fucking—"

"I didn't know how to, Sasuke. I wanted it to be good news, if—"

"Well, it isn't," Sasuke snapped. "It isn't, is it?"

Itachi's mouth closed.

Sasuke refused to cry. He refused to cry. He refused to—

"Sasuke—"

Break.

"Don't die," said his heart, and Sasuke's face was wet. His head was shaking. His breath came in gasps and he suddenly could barely stand—Sasuke's reality turned to face him and he couldn't—he couldn't—no—

"You can't die, Itachi, you can't—"

"Sasuke," Itachi said, hugging him. "It's alright. It will be alright. I love you."

Sasuke didn't understand it.

Itachi didn't really, either. Their parents talked in hushed tones, tucked away and hidden from both of them, until they'd brought them together and proposed something that seemed—

Impossible. Insane. Sasuke might have laughed if he'd had the capability. He hadn't, though—and so his parents kept talking. Continued to explain. And he'd caught Itachi's frail, tired eyes often enough to know it was probably crazy. Probably the desperation of a family clamouring for something, anything to help them have hope—

But Sasuke was desperate, too.

And so he'd stood in the middle of markings he didn't understand, moved aside as his father compared the floor to the papers they'd found the pattern in. They'd rolled up the carpet and ruined the floor, Itachi sat in the middle and Sasuke stood on the side, his father had made the last mark and then—

Itachi had collapsed.

The markings glowed a deep, eerie red—the ink almost seemed to circle, to spin around Itachi, enveloping him in a fire so strong Sasuke flinched back from the heat—

When Itachi's eyes opened, they were red.

His parents hit the floor in a heartbeat. Sasuke hadn't even seen it happen. He'd backed away, horrified, unbreathing, staring at the bodies of his parents—at Itachi, clutching his mouth, stumbling back—

His eyes met Sasuke's, and they flickered.

For a moment, they'd flickered.

And it had been that that made Sasuke turn as Itachi fled past him—that made him scream Itachi's name and try to catch him as he passed—that made him tear out the door after him, clutching at the shoulder that seared with pain—Itachi was so much faster than he was, he never stood a chance, until—

"Itachi!"

At the end of an alley, Itachi turned around.

But Sasuke didn't see his brother in those eyes.

A/N: Tomorrow's our last chapter before the epilogue. I can't believe we're here already! I know I keep saying that, but I'll be saying it for ages after this is all done. I've been working on it for so long!

I wanted to say that if I didn't make it clear enough - the conversion to vampire is a cure for disease, meaning that Itachi will no longer be sick, even when he turns back to human. There's some epic story involving Madara and perhaps a lover and a great deal of desperation in there somewhere, but I'll leave you all to use your imagination for that one :)

See you tomorrow!

- Kinomi