a/n: so. i decided to just combine what i was calling the companion story directly into tomato juice. there's obviously a second pairing it revolves around but i also tried to add in some hints of the naruto-sasuke angst as well as some set up for the continuation of that plot. because of that it's a little choppy. frankly writing this story is my guilty pleasure so i'll be rather carefree about updating and creating a smooth plot but i hope you like.
2007
The clock dongs, three times and deeply. It's the same astrological clock but in a place far off. It smells different here. The night wind carries the scent of the sea, of salt, and of wet rock. Sasuke bows to the regal man sitting cross-legged in the parlor of Itachi's house glaring back at the boy. The thirteen-year-old turns sharply on his heel. His feet are bare even in the presence of such high company. He climbs shallow wooden stairs to the third floor of Itachi's house. This is their private quarters.
The stairs open to a largely bare living room. The two outer walls are glass, open now to the night. It affords a view of the sea to the west and, in the daytime, the rocky, green coastline that curves out into the blue waters in the south. At this time of night the coastal city is only a sparkling blur in the inky darkness.
Sasuke passes down a hallway to the right and enters Itachi's room.
"Itachi, there's a Councilor here to see- what are you doing?" Sasuke stands puzzled in the doorway. His older brother is sitting on the floor of his bedroom with an antique cat toy- a wooden fish, its salmon pink paint peeling, attached to a rod with a string. It is swinging in the air tantalizingly above a small cat.
The cat doesn't look like a housecat. It's slightly bigger than one but still has kitten proportions. Rings of stripes decorate its twitching tail. It has a white belly and black paws. The rest of its fur is a mix with grey and it has faint spots hidden in its coat. On its ears are tufts of black fur that come to a point. They too twitch with anticipation. The wooden fish drifts closer to its head and it pounces. Itachi jerks the toy up out of reach and the cat crouches to wait once more.
"Itachi…"
"Yes little brother?" He jerks the fish out of range again and the cat meows, irritated. It stands on unstable legs and careens into the side of Itachi's thigh, head-butting him before tumbling over.
"What the fuck is that? Why do you have it?"
"Language," Itachi admonishes automatically and disinterestedly. "Is he here about the rogue?"
"Probably," Sasuke says. "But he requests your presence specifically," he adds with an unhappy downturn of his mouth.
"A Hyuuga?"
"Yes," Sasuke answers savagely.
Itachi rises and tosses the toy to Sasuke who catches it one-handed. "Entertain him until I get back. Don't let him out of my room." He passes a hand through Sasuke's hair. "Remember you have slighted them little brother; it's fortunate that for now the most they do is ignore you."
"You stink of cat," Sasuke mutters angrily as Itachi shuts him in. He turns his gaze to the furry animal. The cat returns his gaze with intelligent eyes. Too intelligent. Black lines of fur outline and darken the black eyes of the cat. Sasuke frowns. "What are you?"
The cat meows irritably. It rises from the rug near the bed and trots over to the vampire boy. Its claws click on the wooden floor. It sniffs at Sasuke's bare feet before rising on its back legs and sinking its claws into Sasuke's leg, batting wildly at the toy in his hand. Its paw stops short, out of range from the desirable fish. Sasuke cries out in pain and tries to kick the beast away. The cat's claws are ensnared in his pants and aren't loosening in the slightest. Sasuke growls threateningly in his throat and the cat jumps away. It lands and hisses at Sasuke before disappearing under the bed.
"Councilor Tokuma," Itachi greets. "It's a pleasure."
"Captain." The Councilor eyes Itachi's clothes critically. The Uchiha is dressed in a distinctly modern human style with an unbuttoned jacket and tie. "Let's get down to business, shall we?"
"As you like," Itachi replies and takes a seat in front of the Hyuuga.
"You requested authorization to execute a rogue vampire. The Council has denied your request." Tokuma smiles nastily. "May I remind you that your duty as captain of the VPS is to protect vampires- not humans. No matter how much you may care for them."
Itachi barely blinks at the dig at Sasuke's unsavory past. "I assure you, my request is for our people. The humans have already named this rogue vampire a serial killer. His method of killing is too revealing and too frequent to be safe. He's already killed at least eleven humans."
Tokuma hums. "But he has not revealed his nature, correct?"
"No."
"And there's no reason to believe he will."
"Humans are neither stupid nor patient. Eventually they will find something. This rogue is an unnecessary risk."
"Yet the Council finds his actions understandable," Tokuma says. "You are allowed to deliver a warning to him and-."
"An empty threat if the Council does not allow additional action," Itachi interrupts. "Is it their habit to bluff without backing their words with strength?"
Tokuma hisses. "Keep your place Uchiha."
"I am not ignorant of my place just as this rogue is not ignorant of the Council's laws. I am captain of the VPS and he a criminal. Therefore I find it my duty to carry out a fitting punishment rather than deliver a meaningless smack on the hand." Itachi's words are quiet and burning.
"I have delivered the Council's decision. See that it's done, Captain," Tokuma says rising.
Itachi rises as well and bows stiffly.
"Councilor." Itachi calls out quietly as the man is about to leave. "It's not the Council's practice to deliver such a verdict in person."
"No," the Councilor says smirking. "It isn't. However it is our desire to keep an eye on those with a history of sympathizing too deeply with humans. Associations with the lower races have caused one too many rifts within our own society. I'm sure the captain of the VPS is all too aware of this."
Itachi bows once more with a politely expressionless face. "My thanks to the Council for their swift decision and personal attention."
"Any time. Captain."
When Itachi returns to his room he finds Sasuke cursing viciously while licking up blood from four long streaks on his arm. He's sitting cross-legged on Itachi's bed. He glares at his brother's arrival.
"Your monster is under the bed," Sasuke spits. His teeth are elongated, his eyes an angry red.
"What makes you think he's mine?" Itachi inquires mildly.
"Because I hate him! And everything I hate leads back to you."
"That, I very much doubt," Itachi says eyeing the spiral of black that crosses over Sasuke's collarbone. Sasuke doesn't notice the glance however. He's too busy licking up his wounds. Itachi stands by the bed and takes his wrist, drawing his arm closer. He lowers his mouth to a gash and lays his tongue to the blood. Sasuke squirms at the feeling, yet the real protest comes from the new cat.
He attacks from beneath the bed, biting at Itachi's feet. Itachi releases Sasuke and turns his attention to the furry attacker. Itachi crouches down and puts his hand on the cat's head. His teeth are hidden, his claws retracted when Itachi rubs his ears. He purrs happily beneath Itachi's palm.
There's a creak as Sasuke steps off the bed. The cat hisses and Sasuke snaps his teeth at him.
"When are you getting rid of the stray?" Sasuke asks moodily.
"He's not a stray," Itachi says. "You said it correctly earlier. He's mine."
The cat's purrs grow louder, like a thrumming engine. He knocks into Itachi's palm repeatedly until the vampire picks him up gently and places him in his lap. The cat's tail flops over Itachi's leg and beats against his ankle.
"Uck." Sasuke leaves the room as swiftly as he can, confused and maybe a little jealous at his brother's display of affection towards something other than himself. He touches a tendril of the black marking on his collarbone as he closes the door to Itachi's room.
It's been six years since that night. If it weren't for an eternal thirst and ache for blood sweeter than that any Itachi finds for him, Sasuke might think his childhood and time with a blonde human was just a dream. It's for this reason he doesn't mind the spindly black lines that curl up to his collarbone, no matter how other vampires curl their lips at the sight. He's glad the proof of their bond is etched into his skin. It calms him and gives him patience. He doesn't care what Itachi says- he knows he'll see the blonde again. Because even if time is fraying that connection it's still there. Their contract is eternal.
The growing vampire doesn't regret it. Yet.
"You're not sleeping in my bed until you've bathed properly."
The cat meows a question Itachi can't understand.
"You can sleep elsewhere-not without a bath- but you have to stay in my room. Sasuke is too young for you to wander around without me. He could bite you out of hunger and although my kind doesn't crave your blood like we would a human's, he would probably drain you. So stick close to me until he grows used to you and learns control. The water's ready." Itachi rises from the tiled floor of his bathroom and twists the faucet off. "Come here."
The kitten slinks forward, stomach low to the ground. Itachi picks him up around the belly. The kitten struggles, yowling when Itachi lowers him to the steaming water. The water touches the kitten and he morphs suddenly, splashing water over Itachi's arms and face. His fur recedes into pasty skin and his paws become hands. Itachi wipes his face dry with a towel. He drops it and turns to his new problem.
The kitten has become a young boy. Ears top his head and the tip of a tail swishes over the water's surface. His nose is still furry and flat like a cat's and his cheeks are marked with stripes. His dark eyes stare at Itachi as he shakily tries to escape the tub. Itachi stops him, placing his fingertips to the werecat's bare chest and shoving him back down into the water. When the boy struggles, sloshing water over the sides of the porcelain, Itachi lays a hand on his head and holds him under for a few seconds. When he lets him back up for air the boy is decidedly more submissive.
Itachi lifts his chin and examines his face. Dark eyes blink water away and stare back at him, watchful but calm. "You haven't learned to morph completely," Itachi comments, releasing him. "Have you learned to speak the human language yet?"
"…yes." The boy's voice is quiet and toneless.
"Where is your mother?"
"I don't know."
"Do you have any siblings?"
"I…did."
Itachi reaches for a bottle of shampoo. He squeezes some out and, kneeling forward over the side of the tub, gently rubs it into the boy's hair. His fingers slide up over furry ears and slick them with soap. "Is there anyone you want to return to?"
"No."
"Good," Itachi says quietly. He manipulates the boy's pliant body into laying back and tilting his head beneath the water. Itachi combs his fingers through the child's short hair, rinsing out the suds, before allowing him to sit back up. "Do you know how to clean yourself?"
"Yes."
Itachi hands him the soap but the boy doesn't move. "Do you know how to clean yourself in this form?" he asks dryly.
The boy shakes his head. Itachi takes back the soap. He pushes the boy upright and rubs suds over his back. He's thin. Itachi can feel his spine and ribs easily. Itachi washes his arms and torso and then wraps the boy's fingers around the bar of soap. "Rub this between your hands to make suds," he orders. "Then clean your legs up to your hips with it."
The child werecat tries but his attempts are pitiable. It's clear he isn't used to this form yet. Itachi rises and rummages through a linen closet for a washcloth. When he comes back to the tub's side he grabs the soap and twirls it around in the wet washcloth. "Stand up," he orders. The boy obeys immediately. Water sluices down his limbs. Itachi pushes his hips to face him. Impersonally he cleans the boy from his belly button down. When the boy doesn't react to the washcloth touching his privates, Itachi chalks it up to werecat culture. It seems modesty is of even less importance to them as it is to vampires. Itachi has him rinse. He rubs a wetted thumb over the boy's face, cleaning his skin and the fur on the ridge of his nose. "Step out," he orders. Just as he towels the boy dry his stomach growls. Itachi frowns. "What do you eat?" he asks.
The werecat looks confused.
"Human food, cat food?" Itachi questions. He doesn't get a response. "Fish?"
The child nods.
"Milk?"
A nod.
"Bread?"
A frown.
"Hm." Itachi wraps the towel around him and goes to his room. The boy pads after him, damp feet slapping on the wooden floor. "Here," Itachi says tossing a shirt to the child. He catches it and spreads it out. Itachi almost groans at his puzzled expression. He yanks the shirt back from the were. "Hold up your arms." Itachi tugs it down over his limbs and head. It falls to his thighs. "Stay here." Itachi goes to Sasuke's room to steal a pair of his shorts. His brother is on his bed reading absorbedly.
"I'm going to the store," Itachi tells him.
Sasuke glances up. "It's late. The sun's already rising."
"Can't be helped."
"Is this about that cat?" Itachi doesn't respond. "Those are mine," he protests as Itachi pulls a pair of shorts from his closet. Itachi grabs a pair of sandals as well.
"Sleep well," Itachi says as he pulls the door shut behind him.
When he returns the werecat is sitting on the floor naked. The shirt is a rumpled pile on the floor. "Put that back on," Itachi frowns. He swipes it up from the floor. "Arms up." The child obeys and allows Itachi to put it back on him but once it is he yanks at the front.
"I…" Words fail the child and he looks up at Itachi looking pitifully sad and helpless.
"You don't like it," Itachi says.
"Like..." the boy murmurs.
"But you have to wear it if you want to stay in this form," Itachi tells him. "As well as these." He holds up the shorts.
"I don't…"
"Want," Itachi says. "You don't want to. But I need to get you food and you can't go out without clothes on. You can't stay here with Sasuke without me. Stand up."
Itachi wrestles the pants on to his legs, letting the boy brace himself with a small hand on Itachi's shoulder. He picks each foot up and slides on the sandals. After he's adequately dressed Itachi stands. "Come along."
As they leave the room Itachi hears a thud. The boy is on his hands and knees. One of his sandals is a yard away from him. Itachi smells the blood before he sees it. The boy half falls to the side, on to his butt, revealing a scraped and bleeding knee.
Itachi kneels and pushes his legs apart. He lifts the injured one and swipes it quickly with his tongue. He winces when the sweet taste hits his tongue and swallows a few times to rid his mouth of it. The broken skin reknits, healing as if the wound was never there.
"You're eyes…red," the child says touching Itachi's cheek.
Itachi jumps up. He grabs the sandal and forces it on to the werecat's foot.
"Don't want, don't want!" the boy cries kicking his feet.
Itachi smiles softly and runs his fingers through the boy's short hair. "I guess I shouldn't have taught you that word, huh? Just wear it for now okay? I'll carry you so you don't trip again." He turns and pats his back. The boy clambers on, locking his ankles around Itachi's waist. "Good boy," Itachi says. He feels a light touch run through his long hair and his smile grows.
Itachi carries the boy through narrow alleys. The city is modern, but his apartment is in an older section. Here the streets wind up and down cliffs and plaster houses crowd over the square stones of the roads. The sky is light blue. The sun isn't fully risen and the shadows are stagnant in the alleys. A wind rustles through little box gardens and whips at their clothes. Itachi sniffs at it. He feels the were's arms tighten around his neck.
"Can you smell it too?" Itachi asks quietly, turning his cheek to speak over his shoulder.
"Yes."
Itachi changes his direction, quickly darting down an alley to the side. They wind through the city on foot, making their way east where skyscrapers begin to dominate the cityscape. Itachi pauses in the shadow of one atop a parking garage. Daylight is creeping onto the city. Itachi kneels and the werecat slides off his back. He picks the boy up and tucks him into a corner.
"Do you know what that smell was?"
The boy shakes his head.
"It's a dangerous smell, especially around my kind. If you ever notice it you must watch out. That's why I want you to stay here. Okay?"
The werecat gives a short quick nod before his gaze drifts down to the cement beneath him.
Itachi leaps over the side of the parking garage, landing gracefully and setting into a run towards the heavy scent of blood. He's lived long enough that the sun rising above the sea holds little beauty to him and only reminds him of the danger. The sunlight will soon become torturous to his delicate eyes and the water's glare will only worsen it. Yet there's one attribute of the sea he takes simple pleasure in. He revels in the smell. The clean scent of water that even a human city can't saturate with pollution. And it's only more delicious when the cool damp scent is mingled with the allure of coppery blood. Although, in this case, he's sure the scent of blood is a bad sign.
He finds the source a few blocks from the sea. It's a young woman, dead and torn apart. There's a long streak of red as if a heavy animal dragged her limp body through a pool of her own blood. But Itachi can still smell a vampire. He imagines the rogue vampire played with her before she died, tossing her broken body back and forth as he fed in a frenzy. He isn't close anymore, but the kill is somewhat fresh. The kanji ai is drawn messily on her forehead in blood.
Itachi cleans the entire area quickly. Not a trace of blood is left. He dumps the body in the ocean. He can depend on the sharks to erase that evidence. It wouldn't be the first time he's relied on their hunger.
He stops in a corner bakery to purchase bread and milk and finds fresh fish across the street, along with a few other items. He returns to the parking garage pleased with his work only to find the werecat gone. The clothes and sandals are in a pile where he left him. Itachi tucks them into one of the bags and starts to search the area.
When he finds him, Itachi's eyes are squinted against the early morning light. The werecat is in his animal form, scrounging behind a dumpster for breakfast.
"Little one," Itachi calls out.
The kitten jumps at his voice and hisses when he sees him.
"Come here," Itachi demands.
The kitten retreats further behind the dumpster, swinging a clawed paw through the air jerkily.
Itachi hisses softly in frustration. He sets the bags down and settles beside them, sitting cross-legged on the dirty ground. He rustles through one of the bags and extracts a small dish that he bought for the kitten. He sets it on the ground and pours some of the milk into it.
The kitten is quick to peek his furry head out from behind the dumpster. Itachi clicks his tongue encouragingly but the cat ducks away at the sound. So Itachi waits patiently. The cat slowly creeps forward towards the bribe. Itachi shifts impatiently and the werecat scampers away hissing. Itachi withholds a growl.
He creeps closer again and this time Itachi tries to snatch him up as soon as he's within reach. The kitten squeaks and, with an agility that's surprising in such a little fluffball, escapes Itachi's swipe.
The cat's third approach is faster though. And this time the kitten ignores the milk, creeping instead towards Itachi's shoe.
"You're playing, aren't you?" Itachi says with some surprise and confusion.
The kitten's tail flicks. He slinks close to Itachi who holds absolutely still. The cat bats his foot and jumps back. He paws at his shoestring a few more times, jumping at it whenever it flops, before going to the milk and drinking. Itachi waits this time until the dish is drained. Slowly he strokes the kitten's smooth back.
"Did you think I abandoned you?"
The kitten meows earnestly.
"I didn't want you in danger," Itachi tells him.
The kitten pounces his leg playfully.
"Apparently I'm forgiven. Come on, little one, let's get home."
Itachi is sitting on the floor of his living room, one leg bent above the other. His neck is bent back and he rests his head on the couch cushions. The sound of lapping is coming from the kitten, eating milk a few feet away. Itachi's eyes are resting shut but he opens them when he feels a sharp pinprick of pain at the tip of his finger. A paw pushes against Itachi's hand. The kitten's mouth is open. His rough pink tongue twists against Itachi's finger and small, pointy teeth dents his skin. His striped tail flicks to and fro as he gnaws at Itachi's fingertip.
"Stop that," Itachi admonishes and pushes the cat's head away.
He tumbles over without any resistance. He meows playfully and pounces back at Itachi. They play, pushing and biting, back and forth, until an especially hard push sends the kitten's small body into his bowl of milk. It clanks loudly against the wooden floor and spills an arc of white milk. The kitten gives a pitiful meow as the overturned bowl tangles up his paws. Milk dots his fur, wetting it in odd patches. Itachi lifts him out of the puddle of milk and, before he realizes what he's doing, apologizes and licks his face clean. The kitten meows happily and licks Itachi's cheek in return.
The noise wakes Sasuke. Rumpled and sleepy but curious he drags his bare feet across the wooden floor. The hallway is dark but it lightens as he blearily makes his way to the living room. Afternoon light is sneaking in through the slitted blinds. Sasuke glares at the thin lines it makes on the floor. A yawn takes hold of his jaw. He tries to blink away his sleep haze as he sniffs at the air.
"Sasuke," his brother says quietly. "You should be sleeping."
"I'm hungry." Sasuke's slitted eyes shift to his brother and, more specifically, the droplet of blood that is sliding down his finger. The cat is in his brother's lap. Itachi pets it, unmindful of the small amount of blood on his hand.
"Come here." Itachi beckons him.
Sasuke sits cross-legged next to him. Itachi offers him a wrist but his attention is on his cat. In a flash of irritation Sasuke leans forward and chomps down on his brother's neck.
"Sasuke," Itachi hisses. The kitten meows angrily when he's jolted.
Sasuke sucks in blood deeply. It spills over his lips in his haste. Through the pleasure coursing into his body with the blood, Sasuke hears his brother apologizing to the kitten. He bites down harder.
"Sasuke," Itachi says exasperated. "That's enough. We're going hunting tonight."
Sasuke withdraws his teeth. "Tonight?" he asks excitedly.
"Yes," Itachi replies wiping a thumb across Sasuke's chin. "Go back to sleep. Rest up."
"Hn." Ever stubborn, Sasuke curls up on the couch watching Itachi and his new companion. He scrubs at the blood on his chin tiredly with the back of his hand. "Why aren't you in bed?"
"He got hungry."
"He is nocturnal isn't he?" Sasuke asks sleepily.
"Crepuscular I suspect." Itachi strokes the purring kitten. "But he shouldn't have a problem acclimating to a new schedule and for now he has to eat often anyways."
"Hn." They stay quiet for a moment, tired and sleepy. "What's his name?" Sasuke asks.
Itachi's brows crease. "Do you have a name, little one?"
The kitten blinks and yawns.
"A name," Itachi says to the cat. "Like Itachi," he points to himself. "Or Sasuke," he finishes with a gesture.
The cat shakes his head to the side slowly.
"Did he just…?" Sasuke begins to ask.
"Foolish brother," Itachi murmurs. "He's a werecat. Would you like me to name you, little one?"
The kitten meows.
"A werecat? Where'd you get him? I thought they were rare…"
"Relatively," Itachi answers. "It was luck that I happened across him." Itachi is caressing the cat as he speaks.
"Ugh. I'm going back to sleep," Sasuke says rising from the couch.
"Good night brother."
In his lap the kitten has his black eyes fixed on Itachi. The tip of his tail twitches. Itachi rubs beneath his chin. "Sai," he says softly. "I'll call you Sai. For as long as you'd like to be mine."
The kitten purrs happily in approval.
Itachi wakes just as the sun disappears beneath the ocean. Sai is breathing heavily in his cat form. His furry body is stretched over Itachi's pillow, hogging the feathery cushion. His tail lies across the vampire's neck. Itachi carefully moves the appendage without waking the cat and tugs his long hair that's splayed under the kitten's body. He moves from the bed and ties his hair in a ponytail, then dresses for the hunt and leaves.
Claws click against the floor as he walks down the hallway. He glances down to see Sai trotting at his heels, eager for whatever Itachi is doing.
Sasuke is already waiting for him in the living room. "He's not coming, is he?" he asks.
Itachi shakes his head. "Sai are you hungry?"
The kitten shakes his head.
"Are you sure?" Itachi asks sternly.
Sai meows petulantly.
Itachi shrugs. "I guess you can morph if you get that hungry then. Milk's in the fridge."
"Meow?"
"Sasuke and I have to feed. You stay here," Itachi says patting the kitten on his head. Sai pounces on the hand and gnaws at it with his sharp baby teeth.
"Come on," Sasuke whines. "I'm hungry."
Itachi shakes Sai off. He tumbles down the stairs after the two brothers as they leave. Itachi picks him up around the belly and carries him back upstairs, scolding him lightly. "Stay," he orders as he sets the cat down on his feet. "You can't go into the office or guest bedrooms on the second floor," Itachi explains. "We don't want you getting into mischief or vampire business."
"Meow."
"Itachi, hurry up!" Sasuke calls from the first level.
"I'll be back soon," Itachi promises. This time Itachi skims down the stairs quicker and pretends to not hear the clumsy thumping that follows behind him. He doesn't have any real inclination to discipline the little kitten at the moment. He ignores the soft meow when he closes the door tightly behind him.
An hour later finds the two vampire brothers near the beaches. Wind blows sand over the multilaned roads and bike paths that follow the curving coast. The clubs are scattered throughout the district, pumping bass into the black night.
Itachi watches as Sasuke takes his first snack of the night. He's been training his brother for the past few years, teaching him to act and think as a true vampire. Itachi knows his brother fakes acting like a true hunter. In truth his young brother is too emotional. He connects with his meals too easily, perhaps seeing some shared emotion with the lonely and lost peoples. But he is skilled nonetheless. Vampire child who switch to human blood too early often run into trouble when their hunting prowess fail them. Their bodies reject the synthetic blood and become weak. Itachi taught Sasuke to care for himself within a year. The vampire child is capable and so far his hunger and urge to please his elder brother made him willing and very eager to drink from the humans. When Itachi sees him feast so hungrily he wonders if Sasuke even remembers the contract with the blonde human. He wonders if Sasuke realizes how much pain the blonde is in somewhere across the ocean. But he doesn't remind his brother. It's good to see him drink strongly. His mouth is locked onto a teenager's neck; his fingers cord through his blonde hair. Itachi frowns. Golden hair has been a trend in his little brother's victims lately. Itachi is still wondering about the implications of that when Sasuke releases the teen and leaves him with plenty of blood to join his brother.
"You are full?" Itachi asks.
Sasuke nods.
"Good. Come on."
Sai paces back and forth in the living room, claws clicking against the floor. A breeze drifts through the open window, ruffling his thick fur. He springs onto the couch and then to the open window from there. The city is glowing below. It's quiet for a city. Itachi's home is high above it and the sound doesn't travel here. It looks peaceful from so far away.
The window is only cracked but Sai shoves a paw through the gap. His paw bats back and forth into the open air furiously. Slowly the glass creaks open. Sai shoves his head through and wiggles his shoulders to push it open fully. Below are balconies from the second level. The terraces are overflowing with trailing flowers. Sai leaps down, landing gracefully near a tangle of thorny roses.
He pads around the flowers and squeezes through the cast iron railing to drop to the road below. He sniffs at the air and turns to trot down into the city with a very specific destination- Itachi.
Gaara is holding her against the wall. A minute ago she was kicking at him wildly with her strappy heels but now her feet dangle limply. The fight went out of her with her blood. The dark liquid is splattered at their feet, over her pale skin, and tight dress that makes a stiff noise whenever he shifts her body. She's still alive- her eyes are still fearful even if her body is draining of life.
Her taste is almost sickening. It's too much and not enough, not ever enough. Gaara could gorge himself on these whorish, mindless humans every night and it would never be enough. It doesn't satisfy and leaves him acutely aware of the purposeless nature of life. If he had a reason, some goal, some person to live for- but he doesn't. He's alone and lives only to kill and drink in blood.
"Release the human," a clear male voice orders.
Gaara's teeth rip from her. He drops her and turns. There are two of them. Vampires, like him. The scent of the human's blood is covering up their scent but he can tell. The way they hold themselves, their beauty. Their bloodlust. There's a longhaired one and a younger one, perhaps a couple years younger than Gaara. The younger one's eyes are glowing a bright red.
"Who are you that you're bold enough to hunt in the city of the VPS headquarters?" the elder asks. "Are you aware of your trespasses or are you so far gone to be uncaring of our laws?"
"I've done nothing wrong," Gaara replies blankly.
"Your theatrics in hunting are excessive and unneeded. You're drawing the attention of humans and that is wrong. We're here to deliver a warning to you. Move on and limit your exposure."
Gaara sniffs at the air. Something's out there, beneath the scent of human and vampire and sea. His red eyes slide passed the pair of vampires, seeking out the source of the new scent in the shadows. He finds the furry form perched on the top of a stone wall. It's a cat, staring back at him intently. But it doesn't smell like an ordinary cat. "You warn me away from your territory yet allow the were to reside here?" Gaara asks disgustedly. "You must be weak."
He watches the longhaired vampire's eyes open wider with surprise. He turns immediately to the were until shifting back and locking on Gaara.
"We are under truce with the were, just as we are required to keep an equilibrium with the humans, as designated by the Council and Knights."
Gaara shifts on his feet. The laws of the Council have never interfered with him before and he's never laid eyes on the mysterious Knights. He doesn't care for either party, but this vampire in front of him defending and upholding the laws of so many invisible people- it's annoying. This endless existence of feeding and loneliness is tiring him. When he attacks he goes directly for the werecat, wondering if the vampires will actually have the gull to interfere. He's never tried were blood before.
Itachi sees the rogue vampire going for Sai. He leaps between the two of them- or rather between the rogue and where Sai was. The rogue veers from his path and darts away. Itachi hears a hiss and realizes that his kitten is still in danger. He must have spooked and leapt down from the wall- the rogue is almost to the werecat. Itachi snarls and lunges. His eyes are brilliant red with rage. He hits the rogue in the side and his momentum throws the redhead into a wall. The wall cracks. Sai scampers passed him, darting to attack the rogue who would dare to threaten his Itachi.
"Sai!" Itachi lunges for the kitten. He catches him around the neck and tosses him back behind him as gently as his rushing adrenaline allows. When he turns to the rogue, already rising from the debris of the wall, he finds the problem already taken care of.
Sasuke is grinning like mad at the vampire. The rogue is coated in white dust. Small bits of concrete fall from his red hair. He looks even wilder than Sasuke, eyes red and fangs elongated. The rogue moves to attack Sasuke but the younger vampire darts in close very quickly. He kicks him in his chest and sends him reeling back into the damaged wall. The redhead recovers quickly and leaps at Sasuke, pushing off the wall.
They tumble to the ground. Sasuke dodges a bite and grabs the rogue's arm, yanking it up as far as it goes. He levers the rogue off of him with a bent leg and flips to pin him to the ground. Something snaps in the rogue's arm, still held captive at an unnatural angle by Sasuke.
"Leave this city or accept your death," Sasuke snarls. The redhead calms beneath him. He stares at Sasuke balefully but does not fight.
"Sasuke," Itachi calls out to him. Sasuke looks up to see his brother give a brief shake of his head.
Sasuke makes a face and releases the rogue, cautiously rising to his feet, eyes locked on the enemy.
Gaara rises slowly. His arm is throbbing. It's broken, he's sure. "I've never seen an officer of the VPS defend a were," he states.
"We have a truce with them and humans," Sasuke growls. "Both of which you broke. You deserve worse."
"You like them too much," Gaara observes neutrally.
"Leave," Sasuke orders.
Gaara shrugs dispassionately. This city is nothing to him. There are others. With no home, every city is the same to him. This one had, at least, been entertaining. He can't help but think that the young VPS officer is interesting as he goes. He smells delicious as well. Gaara breathes in the scents of the were and the sweet smelling vampires. An interesting combination indeed.
Sasuke watches him fade into the night. He turns to see his brother crouched in front of the rogue's victim. She's still breathing shallowly but her skin is deathly pale. Itachi is laying a hand on her neck.
"What are you doing?" Sasuke demands.
Itachi doesn't look at him. His dark purple fingernails slice into the woman's skin and slash her throat. She gasps once, blood squeezing slowly through the gap in her neck, and dies. Her eyes stay fixed. "A mercy stroke," Itachi replies rising to his feet. "She would not have survived."
Itachi flinches when he sees Sai. The little kitten is shivering, with his belly close to the ground. He's watching Itachi wide-eyed.
He saw him kill the human.
Itachi freezes. He doesn't want to scare him by approaching.
"Go to him," Sasuke hisses violently.
"What?"
"He's young and he needs you," Sasuke snaps. "Don't hesitate to comfort him, idiot."
Itachi considers if he should believe his younger brother. What does he know of werecats? But when it comes down to it, Itachi doesn't know much about Sai either. He takes a step towards the quivering cat and raises a hand to him. Sai's muscles bunch tighter. Itachi takes one more step and kneels. "Sai."
The kitten rushes to him and curls against him. His body is hot and shivering violently. Itachi picks him up, tucking him in the bend of his arm.
"Told you," Sasuke mutters. He glances towards the dead woman and shoves his hands into his pockets, frowning unhappily.
"Let's go," Itachi says. "And don't call me an idiot again."
"I won't," Sasuke replies. "Unless you need it."
The next evening Sasuke rises as the sun sets. He stretches an arm above his head only to abruptly drop it as he enters the living room. "Isn't he a little young for you?" he asks bluntly. "And didn't you just feed last night?"
His brother is on the couch with a young boy in his lap. The boy is wearing only a long shirt that falls to his thin thighs. One of his small, pale hands steadies himself on Itachi's bare chest. The other is entwined in Itachi's long, loose hair.
Itachi barely spares a glance for his brother. "Use your head for once Sasuke."
"You have a half-dressed minor on your lap, caressing your hair, in our private quarters, and you aren't wearing a shirt. I knew you were a sick sadistic bastard but this adds criminal to the description."
"Don't insult me. I'm not like your precious humans." Itachi removes the child's hand from his hair and lifts him off his lap. "Breakfast time Sai."
The child trots to their kitchen, open to the living room. Itachi had converted the unnecessary kitchen to a miniature greenhouse years ago. The counters are covered with exotic plants that had caught Itachi's curiosity and the glass-doored cupboards are filled with books and trinkets rather than food. However, because of the new kitten a shiny fridge is now installed and the stove is at least cleared off.
The boy opens the fridge and belatedly Sasuke notices the stub of a tail and ears the boy sports.
"Why is he in this form?"
"He says he wants to practice," Itachi informs Sasuke. He gets up from the couch and enters the kitchen to help Sai reach a cup. He lifts the child up to the cupboard and somehow the action sparks in Sasuke a pained sadness. Suddenly he can't stand the little werecat. The scent of his blood is bad enough but to see his brother interact like that, like Sasuke himself used to interact with-
He's launching himself towards the werecat before he realizes he's gone feral. Sai gives a violent squeak as Itachi throws the boy behind him. He catches his brother by slinging an arm across his chest. He slides his foot around Sasuke's legs and pulls, taking his legs out from under him. The young vampire crashes to the floor and Itachi kneels on him.
"Calm down Sasuke."
A growl rips from Sasuke's mouth but Itachi holds him still until the noise trails away from his quivering lips and the red fades from his eyes.
"Finished?" Itachi inquires.
Sasuke nods shamefaced.
"Sasuke look at me. Now," he orders when Sasuke refuses to meet his stern gaze. His brother meets his eye fearfully. "Sai is going to live here from now on. If you hurt him you answer to me. Get control."
"I'm sorry," Sasuke mutters.
"That's it?"
"It won't happen again."
"It had better not." Itachi lets him free. He goes to Sai and picks the watchful werecat up. He carries him on his hip to the kitchen table. The overly large shirt stretches between the child's spread legs. His fingers immediately pet Itachi's hair but the vampire removes his small hand once Sai is seated.
Sasuke would leave but frankly he's curious about the little werecat that Itachi decided to keep, apparently for a while. He edges towards the kitchen table and sits down. Sai doesn't spare him a glance. His black cat eyes are fixed on the milk carton in Itachi's hand. Or maybe just Itachi.
"Why don't you choose this form more often?" Sasuke asks, curious.
Sai's head swishes, unsure whether to focus on Sasuke or where Itachi is. He settles on Itachi but answers nonetheless. "Hurts."
"It hurts to morph?"
Sai nods.
"That's because he's young," Itachi says. He sets the cup of milk with a bent straw in front of Sai. "Once he's grown the pain should stop."
Sai holds the straw with one hand and lowers his lips to suck it. His other hand rises and tangles into Itachi's hair that's so conveniently dangling within reach.
"Do you know a lot about them?" Sasuke asks his brother.
"Just common knowledge. There's not much literature on them because they're so elusive. And what research we do have wasn't attained in…their natural habitats."
"Hm. Is that why he's here? To observe him?"
"…no."
"If it hurts," Sasuke begins, turning back to the original topic and to Sai, "Why are you changed today?"
The straw slurps dry and Sai releases it. "Fingers…like." To demonstrate his meaning the boy tugs lightly on Itachi's hair. Itachi allows it patiently.
"Wait," Sasuke laughs lightly. "Sai, did you change forms just so you could touch him easier?"
Sai's eyes flick to Itachi and where his fingers are still entangled his glossy black hair.
"Don't tease him," Itachi says lightly turning away from them.
Only Sasuke sees the small and very pleased smile on Sai's lips.