Hunger. It's growing and Gaara is mad with it. He's desperate for the train to arrive. His throat is dry. Even his eyes feel scratchy. From experience he knows the midnight train is on its way. He knows the squeal of the metal wheels, the crackle of electricity, and the huffy release of the brakes. He knows the scent of sweaty humans just as he knows he'll be forced to bite them. (But not forced, no, he's too hungry to resist or even want to resist. Even his captivity means little next to the consuming hunger.) Then the slaves are shipped out and he'll be starved of blood for another full month.

He's only vaguely aware of his surroundings but slowly the situation draws his mind away from his thirst. The first thing he notices is that the train is late. The second is that his arms are free.

There's fighting going on around him. Yahiko's hated coven is gone from the station- only the leader and his two lieutenants are left. Gaara inhales slowly. The disgusting scent of wet fur hits him first. Werewolves. He spares a thought of hate towards them before a second scent hits him.

It's a human. It has to be. Already his fangs are aching to bite into that sweet morsel. The pupils of Gaara's jade eyes shrink rapidly as he focuses on the source. Yahiko is drinking from the splayed human. It's a strangely vulnerable position for a vampire to feed in, straddled and laid out as Yahiko is. It looks intimate, like how a vampire may feed from their lover. It's far too intimate for feeding from a human. Vibrant red blood is running down the human's neck. Gaara's tongue pushes up and scrapes itself against his sharp fangs in anticipation of the feeding he's about to get.

He dashes across the station quickly, skirting around Konan and a white werewolf. By the ticket booth Nagato is clashing with two other werewolves, Knights, in their human forms and brandishing anti-vamp weapons. Gaara hisses at the sight of those. It would serve Nagato right to be hit with one of those. No vampire should touch a cursed weapon like that but Yahiko's lieutenants had no qualms about using them, especially in the early days, before Gaara's resistance was starved away.

He doesn't bother to hold back a growl as he launches at Yahiko savagely. The vampire's teeth cut away from the human's neck when he hears the feral sound and turns just as Gaara slams into him.

Akamaru feels his twin come up beside and can see Nagato hesitate. "I'm fine," he mutters lowly to reassure his volatile brother. There's a gash on his forearm, his sword arm, and the blood is flowing in curved jags down his skin.

"Let's get this shit done quick," Kiba growls. His rifle snaps down from his shoulder to an aggressive position, perpendicular to his chest and nestled into his shoulder.

"Cover me," Akamaru says. He crouches low. The thin vampire has a dead look as he eyes the Knights closely. The shiny spittle on his fangs speaks of hunger and viciousness. Akamaru makes his move, closing the distance between Nagato and his pretty blade. He slashes at the vampire, catching his collarbone. The metal digs at bone for a second before Nagato feints away. The second there's a foot of air between him and Akamaru, Kiba fires. Two bullets hit Nagato's trunk. The vampire doesn't even scream. He sprints behind Akamaru, keeping the swordsman as a shield between him and Kiba.

Akamaru's kneeling before Kiba even orders him to duck. Two bullets fly over Akamaru's head but neither finds their mark. Realizing his vulnerability Nagato dashes around Akamaru, giving him a berth to stay out of reach of the poisonous sword.

The time it takes for Akamaru to rise from his knees and for Kiba to aim gives Nagato time to attack Kiba at close range. His rifle is too unwieldy for the range- it's why Akamaru chose a blade all those years ago when they began their training together. But he's too far now, meters away, but it might as well be miles with the speed of these fights.

Nagato's teeth rip into Kiba's neck and his tongue licks up his skin. The rifle falls to the ground with a loud clack.

"Nn!" Kiba hands dart out at the vampire but the moment the pleasure seeps into his veins his hands hesitate. They shake, filled with adrenaline to attack, but stopped by the attack on his sensory system.

Nagato swallows quickly, mouth working to drain the Knight quickly. It's a deadlock. So long as his fangs are in the Knight's flesh, delivering venom and ecstasy the Knight is immobile. But Nagato can't do anything drastic or risk breaking the connection and losing his advantage.

"Kiba!" Akamaru's eyes glow red and his human form slips immediately. Wolf ears spring from his messy hair and his canine teeth elongate drastically. He growls, a wolf growl, before yanking his control back, at least enough to stay mostly human and keep his hands. He needs those for his sword. He pours all of his concentration onto his sword and Nagato. His surroundings fade into the oblivion of his fury.

Kakashi is slowly circling the female vampire. His paws pad soundlessly on the tiles. The lean muscles on his back slink back and forth beneath his white fur as he stalks his target.

He hears the shout and sees Konan start. Her blue eyes widen in surprise before the corners of her dissatisfied mouth tip up. She's closer to his boys than he is. He realizes that fact too late.

In a field of red Akamaru only sees Nagato sucking the life from his twin. When he is jarred it takes him a precious couple seconds to realize it's the female vampire. It's pure luck that his sword ends up between their bodies. It's awkward but he manages with a quick twist of his wrist to slash across Konan's ribs. He throws her off of his body and follows through the motion thrusting his sword into her. She was too eager in her attack, sacrificing speed and surprise for her balance. Akamaru takes advantage of it and ends her life by cutting into her heart.

It's Kakashi who prevents Nagato from finishing Kiba. The white wolf leaps at the vampire, latching onto his throat. He shakes Nagato's body violently and hears the crack of his spine breaking. He morphs back into his human form, straightens his jacket, and wipes the blood from his mouth.

A glance tells him Akamaru is tending to his brother.

Across the tracks a gunshot blasts through the station.

Naruto simultaneously hears and feels one last rip to his throat. There's a burning when Yahiko's teeth rip away. Yahiko's weight is lifted off him and his hands are suddenly free. Instinctively he covers the gushing wound on his neck.

The redheaded vampire, the reason he didn't detonate the bomb, is biting at Yahiko but skirts backwards when Yahiko aggresses. The redhead is slight and dances quickly out of Yahiko's reach but doesn't run. Steady growls are spewing from his glistening fangs and his green eyes are filled with a crazed intensity of hate.

Naruto fumbles for his pistol. His fingers ram the weapon and it skitters a few inches away. He tries to steady himself as he snatches it up from the tiles. One shot left. Just one.

The pistol's muzzle traces Yahiko's movements in the air. Yahiko's muscles tense as he moves in on the redhead. The hammer clicks. Naruto isn't even aware of the grin creeping over his lips. He's got him. He fires and the specialized bullet crunches through the bone of Yahiko's forehead.

The vampire falls to the ground.

Naruto lowers his gun and automatically feels for his wound. Blood is seeping out at an alarming rate and already he's feeling light-headed.

Green eyes fall on Naruto.

"Akamaru!" a voice snaps out. "The rogue."

The air feels light and shifty. Naruto's vision is spotty as he watches a uniformed man check Yahiko's body. "Dead," he hears the man confirm. Akamaru slips behind the redhead, placing a sword to the shaking vampire's throat and holding him back from Naruto. The white-haired Knight speaks into his radio, requesting personnel. Naruto is on his hands and knees on the ground. His wound is leaking. The vampire is staring at him and the Knight holding him is as well.

"Kiba, how are you?" the white-haired Knight calls out.

"Fine. I'm good, just hurts like a bitch." The tired voice comes from the Knight behind Naruto. There are bloodstains on his white uniform and teeth marks on his neck. "Akamaru?"

"I'm fine," the Knight holding the redhead replies.

The Knight, the one in charge walks to Akamaru and stands in front of the restrained vampire. There's a strange whine when he blocks the vampire's view of Naruto.

"Get him on his knees," Kakashi orders. Akamaru muscles him down keeping his blade steady.

Gaara starts to struggle in earnest. The hunger's burning but the sword is a much more immediate danger. He doesn't like the look in the Knight's eye.

"Gaara Sabaku. We had wondered what became of you. Don't be mistaken- we're punishing you for your past crimes, not for what Yahiko forced you to do. Akamaru."

Akamaru places his palm to Gaara's forehead and draws his head back, exposing his throat. Gaara writhes in Akamaru's grasp, throwing his body back and forth. Akamaru's arm tightens around him but not before Gaara nicks himself on the anti-vamp sword. He screams as his blood burns from the technology.

"Finish it Akamaru," Kakashi orders.

"Wait!" Naruto yells. "Stop, don't hurt him!" He struggles to his feet missing the hand gesture Kakashi throws Akamaru. "He didn't do anything wrong." Naruto clamps his mouth shut when the Knight looks at him. One eye is scarred but his gaze is intense.

"He did actually," Kakashi replies calmly. "He's killed numerous humans. And if I were you, I'd worry about my own fate."

Naruto feels a shiver course through him and he doesn't think it's the blood loss. "What?"

"You're technically a terrorist."

"The fuck I am," Naruto says angrily with an ugly expression. "You killed the other two."

"Ah, but I'm allowed to. You're an outsider and a killer. So don't interfere."

"Yahiko's coven was murdering people."

Kakashi sighs. He gives Akamaru a look signaling him to wait. Akamaru withdraws his sword from across Gaara's throat and pushes him face down to the tiled floor. Gaara struggles but he's too weak and Akamaru kneels on his back. Kakashi watches and satisfied that he has all the time in the world, turns back to answer Naruto. "That's debatable. Those humans aren't dead you know."

"I know what they are. It's almost worse."

"I can't argue with that," Kakashi says shrugging. "There is hope for them though. You on that other hand will be tried and executed. Unless you can prove you had some authority to kill Yahiko."

"Authority?"

"Yes. Only three organizations can kill a vampire legally. If you aren't a member of one of them you'll be put to death."

Naruto glares at him too pissed to be scared.

"So, keeping that in mind I'd like to offer you a position. Contract yourself to the Knights-."

"Kakashi!" Kiba exclaims.

"Captain!" Akamaru hisses urgently.

"-for ten years," Kakashi continues ignoring the twins, "and you'll be safe from the VPS."

"What's that?"

"That is the vampire's police. If they catch wind of you they'll kill you without a doubt."

Naruto shakes his head. "I'll be fine. I can't work for you for a decade."

"I don't think you understand," Kakashi says. "If you don't agree, we'll inform the vampires of your existence. We'll hand you over to them ourselves."

"Oh really? That really makes me want to work with you," Naruto snarls.

"We'll let your friend live," Kakashi adds.

Naruto eyes the redhead vampire under the Knight's boot. "He's not my friend."

"He saved your life," Kakashi says.

"Yeah, I know."

"Ten years isn't that long."

Naruto thinks about the offer. Joining the Knights could be the worst possible move for him. He doesn't even know that much about them other than the fact that they're vampire hunters. If they saw his lēof mark…everything could go wrong. But he also can't afford to be turned over to the vampires. That could be just as dangerous to Sasuke's secret, not to mention himself. In the end he can't afford to die. He has to find Sasuke.

"Fine," Naruto says calmly, looking Kakashi in the eye. "Promise me you and your men won't kill or hurt him."

Kakashi holds up a delicate pinky and smiles, eyes squinting shut.

"And the vampires can't know about me."

"You'll be registered as a human recruit. They won't even look at you twice."

"Fine."

"Akamaru, escort Sabaku to the Jeep. Kiba-."

"I'm fine, I'll help."

"You said you wouldn't hurt him," Naruto says quickly.

"Yes," Kakashi says. "I'm upholding my promise. Holding him here without allowing him to feed is hurting him quite a bit. And in this state releasing him is too dangerous to humans. We'll get him fed."

"Oh…"

"Now, what are you?"

Naruto is surprised by the question. "Human."

"I've never seen- or smelled- a human like you before." Kakashi bends over his blonde hair and sniffs at it.

Naruto jerks away. "Uh, weird dude."

Kakashi smiles. "Not for my kind."

"Your kind?"

"The were."

"You're a werewolf?"

"Mm-hm," Kakashi hums nodding. "You're faster and stronger than any human I've come across. And you smell sweeter."

Naruto shrugs unconcerned. "Diet? I eat a lot of sugar."

"What's your name?"

"Naruto. You know, I don't think I've ever been asked what species I was before I was asked my name."

"Naruto, how old are you?"

"No question is off limits to you is it?" Naruto states. "I'm twenty." That's a lie. He's really twenty-six. But he looks younger. In fact he hasn't aged a day since he entered the lēof contract with Sasuke. Another difference between him and the addicted.

"Hm. You're very young to be delving into our underworld. Why were you after Yahiko's coven?"

"He was enslaving humans," Naruto says, the duh obvious in his tone.

"That's it? Nothing more personal? Any relatives or friends turned into addicts? "

"No."

"Interesting." Kakashi eyes him but Naruto ignores the funny look he's giving him. "Well Naruto, let's get out of here before the VPS show. I hate bureaucratic bullshit and those annoying arrogant bastards. Come on," Kakashi calls striding away. "My men will take care of the scene."

Sasuke comes to on the hard wood floor of his living room. His muscles are tingling and sore, tired, from the pain. He never fell unconscious but he certainly hadn't been aware of his surroundings. He must have managed to stay quiet though because Itachi's bedroom door is still shut. With a very light touch he brushes his collarbone. The skin stained with the lēof mark is on fire. It still hurts and feels feverish. He winces and lets his hand fall.

It's the middle of the morning. The sun is high, that's evident from the small slits in the blinds. Just the sight of it gives Sasuke the beginning of a headache. He goes to his bedroom quietly and lies down in the cool dark. Sleep doesn't come. His muscles are tense, expecting another invisible attack. He forces himself to relax into his silky bed but his mind won't rest. Is this what his human feels every time he feeds? He squeezes his eyes shut desperately against the thought. He's thought of Naruto so much in the past years but the idea of him is making the real memories fuzzy. The lēof contract has only caused resentment from other vampires and disappointment from his brother. It's hard to remember the burning desire for the blonde that caused him to initiate it in the first place. He still wants him. He knows that. But Naruto can't ever be with him. Itachi taught him that much. The human lēof is a weakness, one the Hyuuga would surely find and turn against him and his clan.

Sasuke huffs and turns his face into his pillow. A miserable fear strikes him. How is he supposed to feed now? Can he, knowing and remembering now what it costs Naruto? But what choice is there?

Finally he gives up on sleep. He rises and grabs Gaara Sabaku's file on his way down to the office.

"You wanted me?" Akamaru asks as he enters Kakashi's office. They're back at the regional headquarters. They're halfway through the four o'clock hour. Dawn won't come for another hour but neither of the werewolves shows the weariness a human would at the early hour. Their day won't end for a few more hours.

The captain gestures Akamaru to stand in front of his desk. It isn't his style, the prestigious office of dark wood and books full of Knight doctrines dating back centuries. His feet are resting on the desk and a modern book with crisp new pages lies in his lap.

"Is the human settled for the night?" Kakashi asks flipping a page.

"Yes."

"And Sabaku?"

"Still feeding. We're taking it slow. We weren't sure how much to give him…"

"Get him to full strength," Kakashi says.

"Captain, if he decides to attack from within our own headquarters-."

"Hmmm," Kakashi hums as he reads. He smiles faintly at the page. "That shouldn't be a problem. We're Knights. If the men are lax then this is just the sort of training they need."

"Of course sir. I'll see to his accommodations."

"Good," Kakashi replies. He reads for a minute in silence before closing it with a sigh. He observes Akamaru dully for a moment. Akamaru stares back, unspeaking but unwilling to submit and lower his gaze. They both know what's coming next.

"This isn't the first time," Kakashi states.

"I know."

"It isn't even the second time."

"Right."

"It'll get you killed one day."

There's no response.

"It'll get you both killed one day," Kakashi adds.

"I know," Akamaru responds quietly.

Kakashi sighs. "Your co-dependence is a problem."

"But-."

"I know, I know. It's a strength as well, until…it's not. Like today." Kakashi commands his eye contact. "Akamaru, you can't keep worrying over Kiba in the middle of a battle. It doesn't do either of you any good. Don't let it happen again."

"Yessir," Akamaru says with a shallow bow.

"We're starting Naruto's training tomorrow. I want both you and Kiba there. Escort Sabauku to me when he's finished. We need to talk."

"Of course."

Sasuke works in their office but eventually the tiredness catches up and he manages a short nap in the afternoon out of sheer exhaustion. His sleep is restless. He keeps turning over and scrunching into a ball, thinking back to the pain and dreading it. But it never comes.

He wakes when Itachi enters his room. He glares at his brother from his bed, grouchy and irritated. "It's dark already," Itachi says.

Sasuke grunts.

"Get up. We're hunting."

"No," Sasuke refuses.

"Why not?"

"I just want to sleep. I'm not hungry."

"What happened?" Itachi asks.

"I- nothing."

"Sasuke."

"I want to go on my own."

"Why?" Itachi grits.

"I just do. Take Sai."

"I am. But if this has anything to do with-."

"Just go!" Sasuke screams.

"Itachi…" a soft voice says from the hallway. It's a youth who appears to be seventeen with dark slanted eyes like those of a cat. Sai. He doesn't go on to say anything else but watches Sasuke darkly.

"Sasuke," Itachi says. "I want you to hunt tonight."

"Got it," Sasuke affirms coldly.

"Let's go Sai." Itachi runs his fingers from Sai's temple to the top of his skull, pushing his head back along the way. It's become a familiar greeting between the two. Sai jerks his head against the hand before grabbing Itachi's wrist in return and drawing it down.

"Go hunt Sasuke," Itachi reminds him sternly before closing the door.

Sasuke rolls over onto his side and squeezes his eyes shut.

Naruto is restlessly cleaning his gun. The werewolf who delivered him to this room –his for the next ten years apparently- had clearly expected him to sleep. They don't know Naruto is as nocturnal as them. The Knights' compound is old. It reminds Naruto of an old university, haunted and deserted. The trees that tower over the stone terraces are just as ancient. The height of the old wood opens up the campus while shading most of it. Naruto glances out his window. It's still dark but every now and then the wind rustles the treetops and he catches a glimpse of the paling sky.

"Isn't it time for humans to be sleeping?" a little whispery voice says.

Naruto continues wiping down his gun, watching the redheaded vampire from the corner of his eye. The door is open. "Normal ones," he replies shortly.

"I guess a normal one wouldn't have saved me," Gaara says.

"Not a sane one," Naruto agrees. "I didn't give you permission to be in here."

"I don't need it."

Naruto's eyes narrow as he tries to guess what the vampire's doing here. "Have you recovered your strength?"

"Yes."

"Good. The Knights kept their word then. I didn't realize you were in their Bingo Book as well as Yahiko."

"Would you have saved my life if you'd known I was a human killer?"

"I didn't save your life," Naruto says. "I was just after Yahiko. You happened to benefit from his death."

"I know about the bomb. You could have detonated."

"Yeah. But I didn't. You're welcome, I guess. The Knights took you off the Bingo. You should try to stay off it."

"Why did you save me?" Gaara presses. "You had to know I was a vampire."

"I'm not out to kill vampires."

"I thought you were a vampire hunter?"

"A discriminatory one. Yahiko was evil. I didn't try to find him I just happened across the situation. I'm not out to kill your kind."

"What are you after?" Gaara asks.

Naruto's fingers tighten around the rag polishing his pistol. "Information."

"About what?"

"It doesn't matter now," Naruto says bitterly. "I can't use it until I'm free of the Knights."

"Who has the information you need?" Gaara asks intensely.

Naruto laughs a little. "I don't know. Maybe you."

"What is it?"

"Are you that desperate to even your debt to me? Don't worry 'bout it- you don't owe me."

"I'll do anything you want," Gaara says without emotion or inflection.

Naruto laughs loudly this time. "Oh, have I found a little vamp disciple?"

Gaara snarls.

Naruto gazes at him unfazed until the noise dies. "You can come back when my contract's up."

"You won't survive ten years. No human survives in the Knights for that long. You're used as bait and decoys. Only addicts or those with a deathwish join."

Naruto snorts. "No wonder they were so eager to recruit me. You really don't owe me."

"I do."

"Do vampires have a code of honor?" Naruto wonders.

"They have their clans."

"Where's yours?"

"I don't have one." Gaara crosses his arms. "I'll keep you alive," he decides.

"Fine. But if you're gonna be with me you can't kill anyone." He stands and moves close to Gaara, staring him in the eye. "And if you ever try to bite me…" He extends his arm and pulls the trigger. The empty chamber clicks and Gaara blinks his understanding.

"Is Sai back yet?" Itachi asks strolling into the office barefoot. When Sasuke looks up from his computer with an angry expression he knows something's wrong. "What is it?"

"Yahiko's dead. The Knights got to him."

Itachi clicks his tongue, annoyed. He goes to his desk, stopping abruptly when he sees a dead bird on his chair. It's bright yellow stomach and red spotted wings are undulled by its death.

Sasuke smirks but it turns into a half-grimace. Itachi smells like human blood. "Sai got back a bit ago. He left that for you." The werecat had certainly been suspicious, slinking into the office with the bird held gingerly in his mouth. He'd laid it down with care, slipping the tips of his teeth away from its small body before leaving. He'd ignored Sasuke presence. "It looks," Sasuke remarks not without some amusement, "Like somebody's songbird. I never get how much he understands but I can't think why that gift seemed appropriate to him. What are you going to do with him?"

"I'll talk to him."

"That isn't what I meant."

Itachi takes the bird away- Sasuke doesn't know what he does with it- before returning to grab the newest reports from Shisui.

"Are you writing a report to the Council?" he asks.

"Done," Sasuke says. "Look it over?"

They spend two hours filtering through the information, contacting Shikamaru, the ambassador to the Knights, and informing the Council of the situation. It isn't unusual for the Knights to jump in without informing the Council; when they do give warning it's merely a courtesy. The Knights are all too happy to challenge the vampire Council's power at every chance, despite both parties hesitation to battle outright. The long history of war between the vampires and the Knights makes their current peace an uneasy one, but for now, it holds. Itachi and Sasuke both hate being blind to the Knights' plans yet neither can deny a slight pleasure from Yahiko's death. His skirting of Council law was despicable.

Sai comes in after a while. His dark eyes glare at Sasuke before he turns and shoves past Itachi's knees to the rug beneath his desk. They work for another hour, mapping out how the Knights attacked and studying their movements. As the minutes pass the pauses in conversation become filled with tension. Sasuke struggles to maintain his emotions. He's hungry and tired and he needs time to think about his connection to Naruto. He's irritable and Sai and his calm challenging stare isn't helping. His tails beat against the floor steadily.

"What's wrong with him?" Sasuke finally growls.

"Do you have the engine counter data?" Itachi asks.

"Here," Sasuke says. He leans over his desk to thrust a leaflet of papers to Itachi. Sai, draped over Itachi's feet, hisses showing his teeth and spit. Sasuke retreats, glaring at him. "Seriously, what's wrong with him?"

Itachi glances at Sai. "He's in heat."

"Isn't that a female thing?"

"Whatever the male equivalent is then." Itachi shrugs. "It's his mating season and he's fully mature now. His pheromone levels are rising to attract a mate. It makes sense for him to be more aggressive." Sai nudges his leg and Itachi scratches his ear. "He probably sees you as a rival."

Sasuke observes the pair of them quietly for a minute; Sai rubbing his side against Itachi's leg while Itachi scratches behind his ear absently. "He does know you're a male right? Because he's getting awfully friendly with your leg."

"Sasuke, we need to go through timeline. If the train was stopped when Shisui says there shouldn't have been a need for the bridge to be destroyed."

"Hn, sure. He definitely thinks you're a female," Sasuke says offhand, delighted to see his brother' resulting blush. "Sai," he calls out, gaining the werecat's attention. Sasuke tilts his head to rest in his palm and returns the cat's stare. "There's no way you can impregnate Itachi," Sasuke tells Sai seriously. "It's very much impossible."

Sai's ears twitch forward. He twirls around Itachi's leg just once before looking up at him. Itachi sighs at the look the cat is giving him. "Sasuke, finish up here."

"What about the timeline?"

"You can handle it."

Sasuke grins, excited for the challenge. He grabs the reports back from Itachi's desk and sets to work without another word.

"Sasuke." He waits for his younger brother to lift his head and look at him. His eyes are a dull red. "You haven't gone hunting yet."

Sasuke frowns.

"Do it. Tonight," Itachi commands.

Sasuke shakes his head. "I'm fine. I want to wait for Shikamaru to contact us. Maybe the Knights will give us a reason for everything."

"You can do that here after the sun is up."

"I'm not hungry," Sasuke says stubbornly. He lowers his eyes, suddenly conscious of their red coloring.

"Don't lie," Itachi says lightly. "Go feed. Come on," Itachi speaks softly to Sai. "We need to talk." With a curious meow the cat pads after him. Itachi goes up to the third floor living room. Itachi sits on the couch and looks out over the black water. Sai leaps up beside him.

"We've never talked about your future." He rubs Sai's ear and drops his hand to his lap. "You're not a cub anymore. By your peoples' standards you're nearly grown and ready to find a mate. More than anything your kind values the young and having cubs of your own. There aren't any potential mates in this city I'm afraid."

Sai gives a curious meow.

"You'll have to leave here to find a mate. Of your own kind. Even without knowing your pedigree your tails mark you as a Nekomata." Itachi smiles. The Nekomata is an extremely rare breed of werecat, known for their stealth and elusive beauty. When Itachi had first laid eyes on the boy, maltreated and captive but still so beauty, he hadn't believed his luck. "You're very beautiful," he tells Sai. "It shouldn't be hard for you to attract-."

Sai morphs suddenly. His paws change to hands and he places them on Itachi's biceps. His fur recedes, leaving him naked. Only his eyes stay the same, black and slanted like a cat's. Itachi is careful to hold the eye-lock and not let his gaze linger over the boy's cut abs or drop lower. Sai holds his gaze as well, even as he gets closer and closer, until he presses human lips to Itachi's. "I don't want to leave you," he says. Itachi has time to note the pink that paints Sai's pale skin. And then he twirls away from Itachi, changing back to a cat, and leaps to the floor, scurrying away quickly.

Itachi sits there for a few minutes. The situation is irritating him. He's known it was coming for years. He'd known the implication of taking in a young were, yet he'd allowed the kitten to imprint on him. Still, he'd thought that somehow it would be…easy to convince Sai to leave him in order to find a suitable mate.

Eventually he gets up to follow Sai, thinking it was good he'd already hunted. The allure of Sai's blood is becoming harder to resist. Still he promises himself to not give in to the temptation.

"Sai," Itachi calls out upon entering his- their- bedroom. He kneels to peer under the bed. Sai is hiding under it, curled in the corner, his back towards Itachi. "Sai come out." His tails twitch but he doesn't turn. "There's no need to be embarrassed," Itachi says gently, yet Sai's body only wraps tighter around itself. "It was unfair of me to tell you what to do," Itachi admits. No response. "Please come out?" The tails flick back and forth decidedly, clearly answering no.

Sai hears Itachi retreat from the room and reenter. The next sound is a large dish clacking on the wooden floor.

Itachi sees Sai's ears perk up excitedly and smiles. "You have to come out for it."

A tail flick.

"It's getting cold," Itachi reminds him.

Slowly Sai rises into a slink and crawls out from under the bed. He keeps a wary eye on the vampire as he lowers his head to drink the warmed milk. When he's finished he happily smacks his tongue over his teeth and purrs. Playfully he pounces into Itachi's lap, smacking against his stomach. Itachi rubs his bulging belly and Sai squirms happily. They stay like that for a while. Itachi's strokes slow and Sai yawns, his eyelids drooping after his snack. He flips back onto his feet, sniffing at Itachi's hair. A paw stabilizes itself on Itachi's pectorals and shoulder. Sai's whiskers brush his cheek as the cat sniffs at him. A wet tongue snakes out and scrapes against Itachi's earlobe. Sai is half standing, half sitting. His butt is warm against Itachi's folded leg.

"Sai," Itachi murmurs trying to shift him away without hurting his feelings. His hot pants fall on Itachi's skin and he shivers from the difference in temperature. It isn't that he doesn't like Sai's attention. It's just, a certain part of him likes it too much. He pushes Sai's body but that only sends his muzzle further into Itachi's ear. Sai thrusts his tongue in the shell of Itachi's ear, swiping sideways before licking up behind his ear. They aren't the usual playful licks either. His pink tongue slides roughly over Itachi's skin, teasingly. Itachi's breath hikes but his gasp is silent. He tries to push Sai away once more, less gently this time. Sai at least notices the pressure this time. His jaw opens and his tongue runs along Itachi's jawline. His teeth follow, scraping against the bone gently, before he licks at the pulse below Itachi's ear with his rough tongue.

He is braced against Itachi's shoulders. His back legs rise up, leaving Itachi's leg. Too late Itachi catches on to the shift in Sai's weight. Sai tackles him to the floor soundly. Sai's jaw touches down on Itachi's throat. He doesn't bite down, but Itachi can feel each point in his skin.

"Sai…"

Without releasing Itachi's throat Sai's body sinks down. His weight, his heat, lies atop Itachi's chest and hips. His tails swipe across the top of Itachi's thigh. There's a rough bumping motion going on over Itachi's groin and he hisses. Sai rumbles in response and the rocking grows stronger.

Itachi feels his cock harden. He throws Sai away in the next second.

Sai skitters, prancing a few hoppy steps to keep his balance.

Itachi throws his hand in the air. "Stay there."

Sai's tail flicks.

"This is why we have to talk."

Sai growls and shakes his head.

"Yes we do."

The big cat sighs. He paces a few steps in front of Itachi's bed before leaping up. He sits regally staring Itachi down before sighing once more, defeated. His head droops and slowly he morphs. He sits naked on Itachi's bed with his legs over the side and sporting a hard-on.

"Good," Itachi approves- not of his hard dick. Not verbally.

"I don't think you should talk," Sai says.

Itachi raises an eyebrow. Sai isn't usually so adamant. His confusion about his own emotions shows in his lack of conviction when he chooses the human form. Itachi licks his lips. "Why?"

"You make me confused." He looks at Itachi hopelessly before looking down at his pale hands. "I feel… edgy when I'm around you." Sai tastes the words, words Itachi taught him. "And I get hot and you smell so good. I don't know what to do. I like you. I don't want to leave."

Itachi approaches him and Sai looks up again. His eyes are frightened.

"Lie down," Itachi commands. "On your back." He props his knee on the bed and leans over Sai. His nose brushes against his pale collarbone and up his neck as the vampire breathes in the scent of arousal and cat. "I'll teach you one last thing," Itachi says. He picks Sai's hand up and draws it to his hard erection. His fingers force Sai's to curl, wrapping around tightly. Itachi inhales deeply, ruffling Sai's short hair, and moves their hands gently up and down. Sai flinches when his hot breath heats his ear and squirms at the feeling on his cock.

"Ahh-."

"This is what humans do to relieve that heat Sai. It'll burn it up and make it easier to ignore for a while," Itachi murmurs. He continues to talk to him, saying little things, in the same serene way he always teaches the werecat. Their hands grow moist and hot.

"Ah! Hah, aaa-."

"Shh, Sai," Itachi murmurs. Sai whines softly in his throat and turns his head to stare Itachi in the eyes. Itachi strokes harder, twisting. Sai opens his hips for the extra pressure but doesn't blink. His lips part and his neck cranes up towards Itachi.

Itachi breaks the eye contact, turning his head down. His grip tightens even more. Sai gasps and his hand pushes Itachi's off for a moment. He claws at Itachi's wrist, raking back and forth over his skin as he pants. Itachi moves forward, snaking his free hand around to pick up Sai around the waist. He twists Sai's body, picking him up and sliding underneath him so that Sai is seated on his lap. Itachi's chest presses into Sai's spine and he can feel his heavy breathing through his ribs.

He grasps Sai's wet cock again, stroking quickly. Itachi's hair falls down over their shoulders, tickling Sai's bare chest. Sai immediately twines his hand into the silk and tugs at it while Itachi pulls at his cock.

Itachi masks a shudder. Sai's scent is overwhelmingly delicious and the back of his neck is inches from Itachi's mouth. He steels himself and runs the tip of his tongue down the bumps of Sai's slender neck. A groaning, growling sound babbles from Sai's lips. Itachi swipes the flat of his tongue to Sai's skin, savoring the damp skin, before withdrawing.

Sai comes with a low roaring meow.

They both bask in Sai's orgasm for quiet minutes.

"Itachi," Sai says.

"Hm?"

Sai twists in Itachi's arms to face him. "You said it would make it go away, the heat."

"Didn't it?"

Sai shakes his head.

"Didn't you like it?"

"Yes. But you said-."

"I know," Itachi says. He can't hide a small smile and shakes his head. "Maybe it's different for the were."