Guess I don't owe any explanations unless it's necessary or a real emergency. XD Because it's always working on other fics but they always are complete.

Although this time is something with a new addition.

While I was doing this chapter, I felt I was under so much phantom pressure. I waited so long to do this moment because it set the foundation for this story, and there were problems: I feared people saying random things like "you should add more to this, add more to that" - because I have had that told before, only a rare few times, but it's too much on my psyche. :'( I'm forever haunted in everything I do nowadays, ever since I first started writing for Naruto, before Kim Possible. People start to be more vocal with big fandoms like them.

Pressure over the smallest of details, especially dialogue. Major complaint is people saying it didn't feel natural. I'm aware there are authors who do that. That always hurts most, because it FLOWS FROM ME.

Composition by Adrian von Ziegler.

Chapter Seven

In Light and Darkness

So, tonight was a mixed bag, to list it all off: first, she was overwhelmed by pure joy that people sympathized with the story behind the man in the red picture, vague as the details were.

Secondly, it was very strange because of what she could have sworn she saw. But would anyone believe her if she told them? No way in hell. They would say I am going crazy. So she tried not to think about it and assure herself it was only just an image, that she was only seeing things. The eyes - nobody except the man in her painting had them, but she wasn't letting fantasy cloud her eyes.

To say she brought this man to life because he appeared out of the blue in her dreams during a personal crisis was...she felt like she had said so much and had nothing new to say. Everything in the air and what she poured out, regarding her sadness for the man in red without a name and missing her brother so much - it was more than enough.

Her grandfather and his unknown but drop dead gorgeous date applauded for her. For some reason, that woman started to FEEL familiar, and Hanaru couldn't put her finger to it. She wanted to know her, but was she going to regret it? Just because you made a good first impression didn't mean it would stay that way.

Sasuke Uchiha, bastard he was, was clearly impressed, for his clap was monotoned, although his rose-haired spouse showed more enthusiasm. Makes you wonder how they've made it last this far and how she tolerated a jerk like him. Or maybe, just because this involved her and Temari's brothers, this was all a bad early start, and she didn't really know him.

He lost someone, like me...if only he were real.

The thought was dangerous, simply because wishing someone were real was a threat to cross the border into the fantasy world. Wanting something - or someone - you couldn't have only caused more pain.

Thank God Asuma pulled together and announced with this new boy for the world, copies to be on sale in due time for anyone who wanted him, the next hour would have refreshments and then onward to dancing in masks for the rest of the night as the new year's clock would strike. It was here that she now found herself mingling with all the guests, which was what made her feel her lungs constrict. And just like she expected, some girls were blushing madly when they told her that guy was better than whoever they dreamed about; a couple older women thought they could go for someone darker, erotically charged and exciting compared to the boring other they had.

The Uchiha detective came up to her himself. This she was unsure of what to say, because she never even thought she would see him outside Naruto's case. "Detective," was all she could manage. She noticed neither of them drank anything or even accepted the appetizers coming around. That's so strange.

"Uzumaki-san," he answered with a slight tilt of the head. "Congratulations on your piece."

"You like art?"

"On occasion. And this is my wife, Sakura. Doctor at the hospital."

D-Doctor at the Konoha Hospital? The guy looked young enough to be her brother's age, and yet he was married - and to top it, his wife was a young physician! That ring, too, now that she had a better look down at it, at the single thick band scrolling elegantly around the large round diamond. That was the most gorgeous thing she'd ever seen! Hanaru hadn't realized she was gawking until she heard Sakura's nervous laugh as well as noticed the hand was moving her way to lightly snap her fingers before blue eyes.

"Hanaru, you poor thing. You're amazed. Well, I just happened to work my way fast in a short period of time," the girl said. "It's hard to explain, but that's what happened. I started helping people at a young age and here I am now."

Wow...little information, but she's definitely not lying.

"How did you two meet?" Hanaru asked, and that made them visibly freeze, but not in the sense. Now that made her a little suspicious, since they seemed reluctant...

Sasuke cleared his throat, looking briefly at the ground. "Long story short," he said, "I nearly died of the flu and she saved my life. But she was there for me and had hands that I hardly trust. But you have to be wary of any kind of help you ask for these days." He looked down at his wife and gave her a little smile, accepting the kiss she pecked on his chin. It wasn't surprising he wasn't the overtly affectionate type, but she could see the love in both black and green eyes. Opposites attract.

Hanaru suddenly found herself stricken again when she looked past him at the portrait, at first the man's face and then at Sasuke's...and that was when she finally noticed it: the similarities. Even though the man in red didn't show his face all the way, she glimpsed it halfway. Now the wheels in her head started turning. "Detective -" she started.

"Sasuke." On a first name basis just because of tonight and your wife being here. "Outside the case." At the mention, Sakura glanced between her husband and Hanaru with a sad green gaze. It made Hanaru wonder how much she knew about the case.

"Very well, Sasuke," she answered simply. She really needed to get away now. She didn't even feel comfortable around him other than regarding her brother, and she had other guests to think about. "It was a...pleasure talking to you both, but I have other guests to attend to." Sakura looked disappointed, since it was clear she liked her, but Sasuke nodded and let her leave, but not before once more wishing her a congratulations.

That man...he's really offbeat, now that I think about it. His wife seems decent, but there's something about her, too. I think I'm losing it more, especially since he LOOKS like the guy in my painting.

Maybe after tonight was over, she wouldn't think much about it.

"There's my girl!" Thank God, her grandfather saved her by the bells. She really wanted to know his opinion since it mattered most besides her friends. She thought he would sweep her up again, but there were other people watching, so such PDA - pun intended - was out of the question. "That face is really giving me some ideas for my next -"

She didn't expect his date to swat him on the shoulder. "Jiraiya, honestly, bring that up on your granddaughter's night." The blonde woman looked her over with twinkling eyes, but besides the color, there was a fire that would burst if you stoked its embers the wrong way. But it softened when they rested on her.

"Hanaru, it is a pleasure to meet you."

Hanaru accepted that hand which she noticed was manicured and red, and then she unwittingly glanced past it and realized how up close the woman was well-endowed. And that the lady noticed and clicked her tongue. "You know, anyone who looks THERE gets more than just a bloody nose." Hanaru quickly looked back into those eyes and saw them brimming, gulping nervously.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I didn't mean offense, ma'am."

She received a half-hearted laugh. "Well, men, at least. And the name is Tsunade. I'm an old friend of your grandfather's."

Old friend...why is it that I feel it's something else?

Most of all: why were things getting stranger when her senses were acting on their own? First it was the man in her dreams, then Sasuke Uchiha who was such an ass but also brutally honest - and now this beautiful blonde woman who wasn't on Grandpa Jiraiya's arm but knew him a long time ago? That had to mean she knew her parents and Naruto...

"Then that means -" She immediately stopped herself before she could ask that question, because suddenly she felt embarrassed, which they both noticed.

"That I knew your parents?" Tsunade asked with a twitching corner of the mouth. "Yes, I did, before you or your brother were born. I'm sorry about the poor boy."

Jiraiya looked at her with a somewhat pointed eye which didn't match his smile. "Yeah, Naruto was a great kid. Rambunctious, but handsome like his father AND grandfather," he said with a wink that made both her and Hanaru blush pink - and yes, the latter blonde did notice.

~o~

In a darkened corner, shielded by the shadows, he watched as his mistress mingled with her former lover and their oblivious granddaughter, hearing every word they said from far away. Jiraiya's habits of openly flirting with women never changed, which she knew all too well. Hanaru was flustered, but it was obvious she wasn't miffed.

She clearly didn't fancy Sasuke any more than he did her, but Sakura had taken a great liking to her, and Hanaru seemed to look at the pinkette the same way.

It was here and now that he saw her in the corner with her red wine in hand, shaken by what she was still thinking about: she'd seen Sasuke's face beside the painting. She must have begun to see the resemblance and differences. But she doesn't have all the pieces. However...

He didn't want her involved in this world, nor did her grandparents, but he could see it happening before it even began. She was going to get sucked in sooner or later against their power, and even so, she would never get out if they forced her away. But this was based on the fact she would get drawn to him especially. Which was exactly why he wished he could stay away from her and not taint her with his own needs.

However, her scent refused to leave his system.

And his face in the frame...

Itachi decided to make his move then and there only when the hour was over, the music began, and that was everyone wearing masks to go well into the witching hour.

However, he was without a dance partner for the time being, watching in his same place, patiently waiting, and watched as she was in the middle of the room with her group as they assumed the position with their instruments and the microphone for herself, behind her Temari's as backup, and the haunting music came to life...but it was the voice of the goddess herself that riled him up the most.

If there was another thing regarding Hanaru Uzumaki that intrigued him besides her sensory perception, it was her voice and her artistry.

Among the stars

Across the wind

Across my mind

In this trip beyond time

All through the night

Throughout the winter

Crossing the sun

And this moonless land

Seeking then in that lost time

Only to find the echoes of dead voices

The soul begins to be prepared

To fight again in the battle

Journey of no return

Journey of no return

His hands were lowered to his sides, but they clenched into fists. Against his better judgment, he wished he could just whisk her onto the floor for a single dance that had to be worth it. At least this once to get it out of his system, but she could end up wanting more...

Humans always want more than they should. I remember.

Eventually, at some point in the night, another group came to fill in hers' place, which left her free to wander about the dance floor with a mask of her own - a Venetian half mask of blue to match her dress, sparkling though, and rimming around the eyes and outside with silver. That dress graced her wonderfully, her long pale hair cascading down her back, tucked behind her ears to show silver wings in the lobes, and that necklace...from her brother. Raven wings wrapping around the black stone which dispelled all evils, and suspending below the white quartz which absorbed and cleansed.

She was protected to the extent, but even that wasn't enough. Vampires were resistant to healing stones, except for those who had the abilities to suction away more than blood.

The music that began to pick up was a slow piano along with a string quartet, speaking of the love of two opposites drawn together - light and darkness. Somehow, it felt like it was written specially for him and her...

It was here and now that, in an unspecified point within the crowd, that the drums started to pick up and he took her hand into his, bringing her attention up to his. She was startled that she didn't sense him coming, or he just appeared so fast she didn't comprehend.

And so the light and darkness meet.

~o~

Temari was off with Shikamaru, her grandfather with that Tsunade woman, and who knew who Choji found. She was going to dance with him just because he was a very sweet friend, and she didn't mind starting the new year with him as her dance partner; she wasn't some lovesick adolescent waiting for some mysterious, handsome guy to sweep her off her feet, thus beginning the new year with him.

But it turned out her unintentional prayers had been answered.

Hanaru never saw him coming, but here he was, looming over her, and had her hand in his grasp. "Who -?" she started, only for him to lean a little closer to her face. She swallowed and stared into dark eyes behind that mask of black leather without décor, reminding her of the Phantom of the Opera.

"Don't be afraid of me."

That voice...she recognized it. It had been many nights, but it was fresh as if it were yesterday. "Y-you," was all she could get out. He was wearing a mask now, only half his face covered yet again, but this time it was the top half. However, she could see the strong jawline and perfect lips, sculpted cheekbones...

...wait, were those slanted lines beneath his eyes?!

His black irises blinked. "You recognize me," he said simply, rich voice ruffling her like velvet across her skin. Like the one covering her body, which was soon against his as the others around them were still dancing in each other's arms - loved ones and then dearest friends alike. "Hanaru, is it?"

He knew her now, having seen her during that trouble with Temari, and now her name was revealed. "Yes," she whispered. Her previous anger was present, but for some reason, it couldn't come forth like before. He'd done nothing to make her angry this time. And her friend was nowhere to be seen. "But what is your name? You never told me when you helped us..." She stopped, feeling so strained now. Well, might as well talk now. You might not get another chance - but then again, you didn't before.

He was again dressed all in black, in a collared shirt and trousers. He really gave off the vibe of those men in novels whom women were attracted to but were warned to steer clear from. This wasn't a book, though; it was real life. And she didn't even know who he was, but before she could get that answer, he hummed. "It's best you don't know my name - at least for now."

"You really like mystery, do you?" she said, looking at him suspiciously. "I'd like to know what you did with that guy..."

He chuckled, shaking his head as he started to take her into the waltz: his hand on her hip, hers on his shoulder, and then he took her free hand with his. "He's not dead, if you are wondering. But I promise, you won't see him again. Nor will he hurt another. I made sure of it." You're so sure of it, aren't you?

Based on the way he was talking, he was some kind of night protector, was he? Like Batman? He wouldn't let her see his face, but now she could see more of his features clearly, and that was when she found her gaze on his ravenesque hair: the bangs reaching his chin, the rest of it long but tied below the nape of his neck. She'd never seen a man like him except in anime and manga that she and Naruto used to love when they were kids.

And something else, too: that thing around his right ring finger - it spoke of a warrior slaying the dragon and wearing what was left of it as a trophy; the steel was crafted to resemble the scaled eyelid around the gleaming natural red ruby which was the fiery eye.

"What brings you here tonight?" she asked, switching the topic in left field. "Do you like art?"

Mystery Man sounded amused when she changed the subject in a heartbeat. "Very much. I have listened to you for the longest time, but never did I think the girl on the street with the shock toy would turn out to be the creator of that fine canvas on display...or the very same one who possesses the most celestial voice that I have heard."

Was it her imagination, or was he seriously making a move on her - and not an inappropriate one that she knew of? He sounded so sincere, just like he had been that night.

Now he had her dipped low, like classical, so he was towering over her. Hanaru heard herself gasp sharply, feeling her hair fall over his arm, and looked deep into his shadowy orbs. "When you said the man without a name was alone," he whispered, leaning close to her face, pressing his lips to her ear, "must have lost someone so near and dear to him, you should know that he and I share a similar experience, as do you and I - just like I once lost a brother, and I loved him very much."

He...he had a brother. He lost him - but is he still gone, or did he find him? She couldn't wrack her brain clearly with this disclosure. He wasn't toying with her, she was sure of it, but somehow, a strange connection had been made simply through this confession.

So before I was finished here, I took some Aspirin when it turned out to just be a little headache. Plus I hadn't reached my time of month, and it's a two week delay from last time I got it. :O However, today I finally got it and all is well. :D Sorry to the guys who are reading this. (blushes tomato red)

Anyhoo, the song Hanaru sang halfway through (again, Trobar de Morte) is "No Return". I really feel better now that I got her and Itachi to finally meet, though she doesn't know (for now) who he is or WHAT he is. :D

REVIEW. :D