Silver's Author's Note: It's been awhile since myself and my co-writer Celestia193 have posted a new story. And this one is long overdue. Our long time readers might remember our old story called Centuries. We completed Centuries way back in 2018 and now, we've finally gotten around to starting on the sequel.
This is a YAOI story. That means there will be male x male romance. If that is not your cup of tea, feel free to turn back now. For those of you still here, we hope you enjoy this story and reviews are always appreciated. There will be a lot of romance, supernatural goodness, drama, and of course, comedy. Oh, and Aoda fans are in for a real treat with this first chapter. Seven of them in fact .
Story Notation: We do recommend that you read Centuries first, but it's not required to understand the sequel.
Full Story Summary: It's been almost ten years since Itachi found himself a new life and a new home in the arms of his mate, a four hundred year old vampire and ancestor by the name of Sasuke Uchiha, known infamously as the Oni of Edo. In these last several years, their family has known little more than happiness and peace, while Indra and Asura track down and destroy the remnants of Orochimaru's legacy.
Itachi believed years ago that he had severed all ties to his human life and left it behind when he became a vampire. But when Indra delivers an unexpected surprise, Itachi discovers the existence of a family he never knew he had. All thanks to a Japanese-born Australian MMA fighter whose magic cannot conceal the Uchiha blood running through his veins.
Disclaimer: We do not own Naruto and make no profit off of our fanfics.
Chapter 1
Pure golden sunlight filters through the clouds, brushing across the wide plains and green fields of the Heian period estate nestled deep in the countryside, in the lands once known as Iga. A beautiful, sparkling blue river winds down into the valley, cutting through the pristine lands like a sapphire chain.
In a rare moment of peace and tranquility, a young vampire lays asleep in the grass of the gardens, his head resting on the back of a small, warm, yet scaly body that breathes evenly, deeply asleep. A warm spring breeze wafts across his cheek, bringing with it petals from the cherry trees lining the path up to the manor home.
Against his stomach, two more of the tiny creatures lay curled up, whilst another lays over his arm, splayed out across the grass, and three more lay piled together against his back, squirming as they try unconsciously to untangle themselves from their siblings, only to tangle themselves in the long black hair pulled back at the base of the vampire's neck.
The sensation of having seven baby dragons laying on you was a rather...unique experience. Fortunately, Aoda's and Kara's brood where still quite young. Having only hatched, a couple months ago each tiny dragon was the size of a corgi. While one day they would be massive 'mythological creatures of legend,' for now they were just adorable. However, if they all ganged up on a vampire...eventually it would add up.
And so it was that Itachi's eyes flicker open to the sight of seven amphibious baby dragons treating him like their own personal nest. Shaking his head, he smiles and pets the two laying against his stomach. "It seems your parents are overachievers. Seven is rather ambitious..." Hell, even Sasuke, Indra, and Kakashi had only sired one vampire at a time. He couldn't imagine becoming a first time parent to seven.
The baby dragons beneath his hand purr contentedly, and the one draped over his arm blinks his big green eyes open. His body shakes like a cat as he stumbles to his feet, waddling over to boop his snout against Itachi's forehead.
Itachi chuckles and returns the gesture. "You certainly inherited your father's temperament." Honestly, Aoda may be a dragon but he had the heart of a golden retriever. Well, an enormous one with scales who could talk anyway.
"Having fun with your cousins, Itachi?" Quiet laughter accompanies the barest trace of footsteps in the grass. A familiar shadow sits behind Itachi, reaching a hand over his head to scratch the baby dragon behind its budding horns, before pulling away to run moonlight pale fingers through Itachi's messy hair.
"Of course. Who could resist their sweet faces? It's no wonder Aoda hasn't stopped strutting since they hatched. Though I must hand it to Kara, I'm not certain if I could handle corralling this many babies AND Aoda all at once." Itachi smiles, leaning into his mate's skillful touch. Ever careful not to squish the three babies behind him. "So, I can't really blame her for encouraging them to turn me into their second nest. After they've worn themselves out with their hunting."
It was a most peculiar and endearing sight. They couldn't seem to decide if they were more like cats or dogs. Their demeanor resembled a canine's but they purred like cats. They also hunted like them...right down to wiggling their scaly hindquarters before pouncing on whatever unfortunate insect or small critter caught their attention. Of course, they also supplemented their diet with some fruits, vegetables, and the occasional treat. Though they had learned the hard way never to give them anything sugary...lest they really make damn good use of their house insurance.
"I'm sure that Kara and Aoda greatly appreciate having such a calm dragon-sitter for their first clutch." Sasuke leans down to brush a kiss against Itachi's temple, smelling ever so faintly of blood, as he always did when he returned from the city after seeking out one of their family's willing feeders.
For a long time, Sasuke hadn't been able to bring himself to feed on a human, living or dead. It had taken Itachi's abduction by a cruel older vampire named Orochimaru, and the deaths of a hundred of the snake's underlings to drive Sasuke to drink blood again. And since then, the two of them had been working to manage him back into a healthy routine, so that the mistakes of the past wouldn't be repeated.
"They're smart. They know they all of us as backup dragon-sitters." Itachi laughs at the nickname Sasuke had bestowed upon him. But he knew his love wasn't immune to the clutch's charms.
"And I'm glad you're getting used to a more healthy diet again." He smiles caressing Sasuke's cheek. It was amazing to think someone who looked so young had lived for centuries? Then again, he supposed that was one of the perks of their longevity. Sasuke's handsome face and other...body parts would be preserved in all their splendor for a very, very long time.
"Me too." Sasuke leans into the touch, only to snicker and pull back when the three baby dragons sleeping behind Itachi wake and begin blearily and excitedly crawling into Sasuke's lap. He shakes his head, rumpling his damp, spiky hair. "Come on, little demons, it's time for you to release my mate and get back to your parents."
Itachi laughs, shaking his head. "Sasuke, how could you possibly call them little demons?" They were far too adorable to be demons. "But I suppose you're right. I have missed you."
"And I, you." Sasuke presses a kiss to Itachi's lips as the babies begin to wake up in earnest, squirming around the pair of vampires excitedly as a shadow passes overhead.
A massive purple figure begins to descend from the sky. When Aoda lands, the ground shakes just a bit beneath the great weight. But the proud papa wastes no time in stalking forward towards his master and licking his face. "Apologies, Master Sasuke. The hatchlings are just fond of your mate. They weren't trying to steal him from you."
"It's fine, we love them as much as you do." A glow of fondness fills Sasuke's eyes, where once Itachi had seen little more than a forced blankness to conceal a world of darkness and pain.
Itachi had never really give it much thought before coming to Japan. But dragons were much like people. Their personalities and vocabularies varied extensively. While Aoda had been like an excited dog given a voice, Kara had clearly been the more eloquent partner. Her manner of speaking was beginning to rub off on her Mate. Aoda's vocabulary had expanded significantly but his favorite phrases were still 'Master Sasuke,' 'My Mate,' and 'the hatchlings,' by a wide margin.
Aoda nudges each of hatchlings with his giant nose. Taking great care not to bowl them over completely before covering them with his massive tongue. "Now come along. Your mother and I have a surprise for you. It seems some ducks have taken to Master Sasuke's pond. Your mother thinks it's a bit early, of course. But I think it's possible you might be able to catch something besides bugs and mice."
The baby dragons yip and squawk in a manner vaguely resembling the yipping of smaller dogs, only with mouths full of already rather sharp teeth. Half of them leap in and out of Itachi's lap as they funnel chaotically into a little pack of yipping and chirping, and the many other curious sounds the tiny beasts could make.
Sasuke chuckles as a gaggle of wiggling tails amble out of sight around the hedgerows, watched over carefully by Aoda as the dragon takes to the air again to avoid destroying the gorgeous gardens. "It seems I missed most of the fun."
"If there wasn't the risk of the footage falling into the wrong hands, I'd be very tempted to film them." Itachi smiles, wrapping his arms around Sasuke's neck. It was almost a pity they'd never be able to have children of their own. Well, not unless they sired someone, perhaps. "But I'm certain we can manage to make our own fun while they go on their little hunting lesson."
"Oh yeah?" Sasuke's lips curve into a sly smirk as he slides into Itachi's lap and settles on his mate's thighs. One hand falls to rest on Itachi's hip, the other rises to free a few stubborn locks of spiky hair from his collar, before dipping down along the side of his neck to unzip the collar of Sasuke's high-necked shirt.
Itachi's fangs emerge as if they were nothing more than strings on a violin that Sasuke knew how to play to perfection. There were countless benefits to having a bloodmate but one of the most fundamental was the taste of their blood. Nothing else would ever compare to the taste of the vampire ninja's blood. "You really do spoil me. You know that right?"
A knowing smile of his own escapes him before Itachi glides the length of his tongue against that tantalizing pale skin. It was a great honour to trust another vampire like this especially for someone like Sasuke. That fact along was enough to warm Itachi's no longer beating heart in a way made him feel alive again. Smirking at the thought, he sinks his fangs into the sensitive skin and savours the sweet essence of lover.
Feeders were all well and good but they could never compare to this paradise.
As dark eyes close, Sasuke's fingers glide through Itachi's hair, spilling it from the band that held it back as they curl tightly at the base of Itachi's neck. He slides further into Itachi's lap, his knees falling and clenching around Itachi's hips. "Of course I spoil you, that's my job, isn't it?"
"If that's the case, I'll have to make certain to give you an exceptional performance evaluation." Itachi smirks against Sasuke's scarlet-stained skin, biting down a touch harder. The increased pressure was enough to make the sweet liquid spill just that bit faster.
Sasuke's grip tightens as he presses himself against Itachi. His eyes fluttered closed as a warmth spreads through his veins from the place where Itachi's lips kiss his skin. "Ngh, your biting technique is getting better."
He retracts his fangs, claiming Sasuke's lips in a bloody, almost bruising kiss. Once ends it, Itachi smirks at his mate through lidded eyes. "Better? I suppose that's high praise indeed coming from the likes of you. You do have a few centuries of experience on me but," he sinks his fangs back into Sasuke's neck again, moving his lips against the bleeding flesh slowly, "as you can see, I'm a quick study."
Sasuke groans and squirms under Itachi's lips, a heat flaring to life deep inside him. He rolls his hips, a tinge of ruby already bleeding into his sight around the edges as his cock begins to stir to life between his thighs. A common problem whenever he allowed Itachi a chance to feed. "Quick study on how to be a cocktease."
"Now, now. Words have meaning, Sasuke." Itachi makes a quiet tsk under his breath before letting go of his lover's neck. "A cocktease implies that I don't have any intention of fulfilling the promises implied by said 'teasing.' And," Itachi slides his hand against the ever growing tent between Sasuke's thighs, "we both know that I could deny you nothing."
A growl tears itself from Sasuke's throat as he shoves Itachi back down into the grass, straddling his mate with all of the strength his body possessed. "Oh, I know." He nips at Itachi's lips and pops all of the buttons off as he tears at Itachi's shirt, exposing the smooth, sunkissed skin underneath.
It was at moments like these Itachi was actually grateful his heart no longer beat. Sasuke might have given him a sexy heart attack. Still, what a way to go it would have been. He smiles to himself, kissing his mate once more. It was at moments like this that Sasuke was at his best. When he didn't bother to hide his feelings. His passionate nature on full display. Itachi rolls them over in the grass and wraps his mate in his arms. "Good. I'm glad. So very glad."
Indra throws another list into the fireplace, watching the edges curl with satisfaction as it burns. "Yet another of the snake's lackeys has been dealt with. You've done well, Love." The ancient vampire lord returns to his desk, settling himself into the padded armchair where he has a magnificent view of Asura sitting in front of the screen of his computer thousands of miles away. "That should take care of the last few hiding in Europe, I suspect."
Asura grins, not bothering to hide his fangs. Modesty was a 'virtue' he didn't see worth fretting over. He'd left that behind centuries ago. Perhaps even over a millennia. "Did you really expect anything less, Brother? Orochimaru prized his jewels but most of his followers are nothing more than moles. And I have no issue whacking them. It's good exercise if nothing else."
A smirk curls Indra's lips as his eyes flash with a crimson hue. "Of course not, and I too enjoy seeing them scurry back to their little holes, knowing that they are about to die." Still the job was done, and it had been done well. "I appreciate your help in this, Asura. That snake and his pets have been a thorn in my family's side for far too long."
"I'm happy to help and also pleased to see you've decided to come out of the stone age. It seems the merman's technology lessons paid off." Asura smiles, grabbing a mug of bloodwine. He takes a greedy gulp of it. "Ahhh. That hits the spot. Speaking of your descendants eclectic group of misfits, how are things going in that hemisphere?"
"It appears that all is going well. Sasuke and Itachi are as enamoured with one another as ever, Kakashi is settling in with his dominatrix, and Sasuke's strays are behaving themselves, for the most part. They'll certainly have to now that Aoda and his mate have hatched their first clutch." Indra laughs, for he hadn't seen the estate this busy in years. "There's certainly no shortage of excitement here. Though…there is certainly a lack of you."
"Sasuke's strays are behaving themselves?" Asura arches an eyebrow, snorting as he sets down his mug. "Has hell finally frozen over? But still, I can't believe I missed the eggs hatching. Baby dragons aren't something you see everyday but no matter what Sasuke says, I rode a dragon first. The only difference is you don't have scales and aren't as housebroken as Aoda." He sends an audacious wink at his lover for good measure before holding up a plane ticket. "But since I've wrapped things up here, I've already booked a plane ticket. I should be there in a few days."
"Asura…" Indra's eyes widen, before a fondness comes over him that makes his still heart swell. "I will be sure to tell Sasuke to expect you. And I'll make my rooms ready to…accommodate you." His lips twitch up into a sly, charming smile. "It's so kind of you to give me a few days notice, Love."
"Well, I was going to surprise you but when you gave me those sad puppy eyes of yours, I caved." He chuckles, an 'innocent smile' flashing across his face. Making sure his imaginary halo sparkled, of course.
"Bedroom eyes, Love. Those are bedroom eyes." The great Indra did not stare and beg like a puppy, he commanded, compelled, or coaxed others to obey him. Sometimes all at once, if Asura was feeling particularly adventurous.
"They're not mutually exclusive." He shrugs, playing coy and pretending to examine his nails. "You sure howl like a bitch in heat sometimes."
Indra's gaze blazes with all of the passion of blood and fire. "We will see who is left howling when you arrive, Asura. But I promise you that it will not be me." The moment a smirk stretches across his little brother's face, Indra hangs up the call, his nerves alight with anticipation.
Rising from his desk, Indra strides from the room, a renewed sense of purpose in his step. He had stayed here for the last eight years, making only occasional trips back to Scotland to be with his beloved. For beings such as them, a few measly years felt like no more than blinks of the eye.
Still, Indra would admit that it left the nights cold and lonely at times.
The sound of fighting and the static of this modern technology assaults his ears, drawing his attention downstairs to the sitting room. So fast is he that it seems as if a single step brings him halfway across the manor, to where one of Sasuke's strays, the merman, sits before a large screen, watching a pair of mortals fight one another for sport.
Indra watches for a moment, before making his presence known. "I see that you have rather simple tastes in entertainment."
"Ah, you don't always need to be fancy to have a good time. You know?" Suigetsu grins at him, shoving some shrimp into his mouth. He didn't bat an eyelash before pointing to the TV. "Humans are a lot more fragile than us. Makes the stakes bigger. Don't knock it till you try it. Come on. Watch the match with me. Curly is good. Real good."
Curly? Indra raises an eyebrow, but deigns to seat himself in one of the comfortable armchairs to observe the match. On the screen, two men spar shirtless and barefoot, circling one another in the ring as they exchange blows. Punching, blocking, kicking, grappling, pushing and throwing one another off balance as they sought their victory.
The taller of the two, a man with skin as dark as good chocolate, presses his height advantage over the pale-skinned man with the curly raven hair. Indra understood this strategy well, even if he personally found it to be faulty. Though using the force of gravity to lend strength to one's blows was a tried and true tactic, it could be taken apart all too easily by the right strategy…
The smaller of the two ducks out of the way with a speed Indra did not expect for a man pushing six feet. He closed the distance with the floor in the blink of an eye before springing back up and stepping right into the other man's guard. Three strikes to the chest, shoulder, and jaw unbalance the dark-skinned man, and an artfully placed foot and the straightening of the knee send the larger man crashing to the ground. "Impressive…" For a human, this man was a talented fighter.
"Told ya so. Curly is good." Suigetsu scarfs down a few more grins before smirking. It was nice to see the ancient vamp doing...well, normal things. "This is his third match this year. He hasn't lost yet."
"I see…" Indra watches the man on the screen curiously as he turns around to face different parts of the crowd. When he turns to face the cameras, Indra's eyes widen.
There was no mistaking it, but…how?
"Suigetsu, can you capture a shot of that young man's face?" Indra rises to his feet, a profound sense of shock rattling through his ancient bones.
"Yeah. Of course. Why though?" Suigetsu takes out his cell and snaps a picture. He then walks over and clicks on the photo increasing its size to the max. If Indra wanted to see the guy's face there was probably a reason. "I mean, I prefer women. I guess if I was in to guys, I could see the appeal. That's kinda robbing the cradle, though. I doubt the guy is even thirty." Then again, anyone the ancient vamp decided to hit on was bound to be much younger than him anyway.
Indra rolls his eyes and takes the phone, for it was clear the merman had utterly missed the point. "I have no interest in seducing the child." What he did have an interest in was discovering just who this boy was, and how it was that he was alive.
His dark gaze takes in every detail of the young man's face, for there it was in his face for all the world to see, even if they had forgotten the name entirely. The dark eyes and raven hair, the otherworldly beauty for which their clan had once been known. The boy was an Uchiha. Of that, Indra has no doubt.
"Alright. So, why are you staring at him like that then?" Suigetsu frowns in confusion. If Mr. Fancy was looking all serious and broody, something big was going on. "Should I go and get the lovebirds?"
It was not often that Indra found himself hesitating, unsure of how to proceed. But a decision needed to be made, and quickly. For if he realized the truth, it would not be long before others caught the boy's scent as well. "No, I will inform them in the evening when they wake. This…is a family matter that must be handled delicately."
"A family matter?" Suigetsu blinks. Wait. There was no fucking way. "Alright. So you think this guy is like a long lost descendant of one of you?" Damn. He couldn't help but wonder which one of the Uchihas had gotten around and not realized there was a chibi vampire out there? Or rather a chibi human but still. If Shisui was an Uchiha, he was probably going to get a complementary set of chompers soon enough.
Indra sighs disparagingly. "Yes, I am aware of the mechanics of human reproduction, Suigetsu. You forget that I too once has a son of my own, who went on to found the clan. Humans do tend to spawn, if left to their own devices."
Could it be that there was another survivor of that fateful night? Another who had done as Itachi's grandparents had? Was it right to hold onto the hope that there might be more Uchiha out there? Living ordinary lives under names not truly their own?
Indra doubted it, and yet…here was the proof of a living, human Uchiha staring him right in the face. "I cannot say for certain whose line this boy hails from, but I will be certain to investigate and find out. If need be, I will have Sasuke approach the boy and investigate the matter."
"Are you sure you want SASUKE to approach him? Sassy isn't exactly known for his people skills..." He might give the human a heart attack or something. "I'd normally say that Itachi might be the best one to send out for something like this but," given the fact that odds were greater than not Itachi had somehow applied for the parenthood club without knowing, that didn't seem like the best idea - "until we know for sure that might strike a nerve. And I doubt that Sasuke could keep a secret from Itachi."
"Sasuke is a shinobi, born and raised. He is more than capable of blending in, gathering intelligence, and keeping secrets." In fact, Indra had rarely seen a ninja so talented in all of his years. "The fact is, Sasuke appears younger than any other being here. This boy looks young, and so I would expect that sending someone visibly younger may enable him to trust more easily."
"Yeah. I guess you're right." Suigetsu sighs, leaning against the wall. This was going to get messy. And not the fun kind of messy either. "I thought Curly looked familiar but I didn't think much of it. Guess I know why now. Anyway, if you're going to be doing the snoopy snoop thing, I guess I'll run some Google searches on him. This guy is a professional. No way he isn't on social media."
"Very well." Indra regards Suigetsu for a moment, his lips curling ever so slightly. "Perhaps it was a waste not to train you as well. It seems you have some aptitude for the lost arts. Though we'll certainly have to work on your observational skills first."
"I can't tell if you're complimenting me or you're insulting me. Yeah you're definitely Sassy's great great great...holy fucking great grandfather, alright." Suigetsu shakes his head and starts typing on his phone. Probably better to start with the basics. "We can figure out his age, where he's from, and how long he's been fighting pretty easily. If we're lucky, maybe he'll be a regular poster or there will be some interviews with him. They usually have them after a match. Give us a feel for his personality."
"Indeed. Have a name for me within the hour." There was little time to waste, especially if the rumours Indra had heard were accurate. "I wish to ensure that we are the first to find him." If any others were to discover that the boy was an Uchiha…well, there were those who would much rather see their family wiped off the map entirely.