Sakura yawned. "I don't want to think about it anymore… Okay… That's it." She got up from her bed, and walked to her bookshelf. "I'll read a book. I'm going to read a book… And pretended that nothing had happened. Then… Huh?"

She stopped, her jade eyes widening in shock. "…What the hell…"

"101 facts about Vampires!" "All you need to know about vampires!" "Vampires: The supernatural creatures of the dark." "The blood-sucking creature—True or false?"

Sakura groaned and slapped her head as she looked at the books. The list went on and on. And they were all about…

Vampires.

"ARRGH! AM I REALLY THAT OBSESSED?"

Sasuke turned over on his bed, his eyes closed, and a frown on his face. He'd heard what was going on outside. Another new victim. Stupid, freaking vampires. If only they don't exist.

Naruto stood in the dark, old room, his eyes wide. It had been minutes since Gaara had left. But he didn't move. Not an inch. What… What had happened to all of his victims up to date?

Nothing came out. Blank. None. Think. Idiot. Think.

The latest. That lady on the ground. He clenched his fists.

All of his victims turn up…dead…

No! I have to go after him! I can't give her to him!
MORON! You know very well what's going to happen! You'll get killed by him! The fact that he is an unnatural means he has skills that far exceeds yours!

I…

Naruto closed his eyes, his whole body trembling. I don't believe… in killing others.

Every time he'd just watched… Just watched a victim die, and then feel guilty afterwards. Why hadn't I stopped him? No… His fists clenched even tighter. I…didn't dare to. I was…

Because you're too weak. Give it up. She's a lost cause. She's going to be dead. Move on. Forget it.

"…S-Sakura…" The time he'd spent with her wasn't a lot. But why? A hazy image came to his mind, and Naruto gasped, holding his head. It was a person.

Who… Who the hell is he? H-He's saying something. I can't remember… "I can't remember… Argh…ARRGH!"

The light brown skin fell silently into the waste bucket as Sakura peeled the potatoes. She'd decided to cook. Potato salad. That was the only thing she could think of, and she didn't want to go out.

"Right." Sakura muttered, dumping the last of the peeled potatoes into a bowl, and washed them. Then she filled a pot with water and put it on the stove. Her right hand turned on the gas switch, and blue flames clicked into life, heating up the water in the pot.

Dinner's settled. Now what am I supposed to do? The TV. Yeah, the TV…

Sakura walked to the living room, took the remote control and pressed the red button. "News." She thought, staring dully at the newscaster. Click. "It's…ART, KIDS!" Click. "At tonight's fashion show, we have…" Click. "Don't leave me, John!" Click.

"EEEEK!"

The girl jumped at the sound of the ear-piercing scream. A…horror show? Sakura took a deep breath, and looked at the screen. The main character, a boy, was looking a little sick as he edged away from the wall. He had dark hair and was quite good-looking.

Sasuke. She thought automatically. After that, she jumped a second time. Wait a minute. Sasuke? Why did I think of his name? On the screen, the boy was holding up what looked like a spear, and he was sweating all over. "W…What am I doing?" Sakura said aloud, and switched off the TV. "Geez… It's already over, Sakura! No more vampire business! No more Sasuke! That's it! Normal life!"
She got up from the couch and went to check on the water. It was boiling. Her hands clasped the bowl, and potatoes fell gently into the pot.

"…" Everything was silent for a few minutes.

RIIIIINNNNNGGG!

Sakura jumped a third time, cursed, and went to pick up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Sakura? It's me."

"Mom? What's wrong? You know"— She glanced at the clock. "You should be back by now."

"Yes, dear, but…"

"Don't tell me. Work again?"

Her mom was quiet for a moment. "Yes."

"Dad too?"

"Yes."

"Fine. When are you coming back, then?"

"We'll be doing the night shift. We won't be back till the next morning…"

"Okay. Bye."

"Sakura, wait"—

"Have a nice day."

"Wait--!"
Click. She had hung up.

Work, work, work. Always work. That's what matters. Work. Sakura thought, going back to the kitchen. Sigh…

Eight o'clock

Water poured from the taps, and mixed with the soap, creating foam. Sometimes I just wish we could eat dinner together, like what a real family does…Actually, it has been ages since we did that.

I wonder… If Sasuke-kun…

(Flashback of Sasuke's eyes)

His eyes…Why do I feel so disturbed about the way his eyes looked? There was… something in his eyes that I haven't seen before…

…In anyone else…What was that?

Sakura dried the plates and put them in the shelf neatly. "Never mind… Homework time." She said to herself glumly, and grabbed a file from her bag.

"If x equals to this… Then what equals to… Hmm…" A light and gentle breeze blew from her window. Minutes ticked by, and before she knew it, she was already falling asleep at her desk.

Rustle.

Sakura blinked groggily. Huh? There was a shadow…

"We're just going to let her go?" Kiba yelled at Temari. "What do you mean by that? She's going to die!"

Temari looked white, but she stood her ground. "Kiba, you know it. Once you are being hunted down by a special ability, you're finished. It's almost as bad as being bitten by a special."
"It's NOT! It's even WORSE than being bitten by a special! When you are bitten by a special, sure, you turn into some goddamn stinking vampire, but you still live! But in this case, being bitten by a special ability means death!" Kiba yelled.

Temari turned. "We can't do anything about it."

"WE CAN! WE CAN PROTECT HER"—

"Yes, you can protect her."

The pair turned. Sasuke.

Author: (Chants) I-need-feedback… I-need-feedback… Homework- sucks… Exams- suck… I- need –feedback…Sorry for not updating, because I've encountered problems submitting my documents. I don't know why, every time I try submitting them, there's either this time-out or error message. It's really frustrating. Anyone of you out there have this kind of document submitting problems? I hope I'm not the only one…