"You're just like me, aren't you… I do wonder when you're joining us soon."
For a moment, for just a moment, Sasuke remembered the most terrible scene he had ever witnessed in his life…
(Snapshots)
Blood. Itachi. Fangs.
Cold sweat ran down his face, and he dropped his stake. Gaara smirked, licking his lips once again. Sasuke dropped to his knees, his hand automatically moving towards his neck…
(Snapshots)
"Did you see your parents down there? They are dead."
More blood.
"…Enjoy immortal life, brother…"
The boy gasped, jolted, and his eyes widened. Gaara looked at the hunter with disdain, his green eyes narrowed. He'd actually made it this far…He thought silently, and leapt away. It was a rare act of compassion—for Gaara killed every enemy he encountered.
Naruto sensed the enemy coming closer. A certain sound was pounding in his ears, and it just wasn't Sakura's sobs.
You will not have her blood. She is mine.
He gasped, as pain pierced through his gums again, this time deeper and sharper. "No. Don't." He repeated the sentence to himself. White, gleaming fangs were starting to grow. The smell of blood was starting to overpower him. Shit. I have to get out of here before I bite her.
But what about Gaara?
Damn, damn, damn!
At that moment, Sakura turned. "I'm sorry. I-I have to go home…" She choked, still unaware, and started to walk. Naruto stopped, his hands clutching his head. That smell of Gaara's was coming closer.
YOU WILL NOT HAVE HER BLOOD!
Something seemed to take over his mind, and a hand shot out.
"W-What"—
Naruto turned Sakura around, and at once his blazing blue eyes bore into her jade ones. There was a pause. Then the life in her eyes vanished, turned dull, and she collapsed.
Patches of grey, black and white crowded my mind
I moaned
Stopped
And then turned
Where am I?
What am I doing?
Why is this happening?
I'm confused…
I'm confused!
Gaara landed quietly on the spot where Naruto and Sakura were a few minutes ago. He glared at the surroundings. "…They took off." He murmured, clenching and unclenching his fists. The vampire closed his eyes as a sudden night breeze took his red hair and tossed it gently.
-
"Hey Temari… How's it going?"
"Huh?" Dark green eyes looked up, startled, from brown, musty, old books.
A guy with lazy looking eyes and a pineapple-like ponytail stood at the door, grinning slightly. Temari found herself turning a little – just a little red in the face. Then she diverted her attention to her books again, and scanned the pages furiously. "What are you doing here?"
She hoped her voice sounded annoyed. The boy groaned and rubbed his head. "Nothing. I came here for no reason… I'm bored, that's all…" He yawned, and walked up to Temari. "Still looking through books, huh?"
"Shut it, Shikamaru."
Shikamaru yawned again, walked to a couch, and plopped himself on it. "Are you going to vampire-hunt today?" He asked.
"No." The blonde girl turned around, fixing him with a look of annoyance—genuine annoyance. "I should be the one asking that question. Are you going to ever vampire hunt in your life? You're supposed to be a hunter, and you keep slacking off."
"I do my duties, you know…I'm just giving others a chance to do the job for once." Shikamaru responded lazily. Then he looked around. "Where are Kiba and Sasuke?" He inquired.
"Kiba's out vampire hunting, and Sasuke's still at school. I don't know why he's so late today…" A frown went over Temari's face.
-
Sasuke looked up, panting. The mark that Itachi gave him was burning like crazy. Don't tell me that the vampire I just encountered was also a human-turned-vampire…
"AH DAMN!" He yelled angrily. The pain had taken him so much that he couldn't even move an inch. The only thing he could do was to crouch down, stay still, and wait for the pain to be over.
"Sasuke, if that mark hurts, try and control your emotions. I know it's hard, but you have to." The masked man smiled at the pale boy.
Sasuke frowned. "And what if I don't?"
"If not…The vampire-becoming process will speed up. Probably by the night of the next full moon, you've become a vampire yourself." The man said, his tone light.
Calm down. Calm down.
How the hell am I supposed to calm down! That vampire is going to get Sakura!
Who cares?
…What?
Sasuke closed his eyes, as his thoughts battled one another.
Why do you care so much anyway?
Are you crazy? I'm a hunter.
Yeah, you're pretty worried about Sakura, aren't you…
At that, Sasuke felt an even more intense pain in his neck. "SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP!" He shouted in frustration.
Author: Yes, new characters are coming up…