"What happened?"
"Sasuke's desk…"
"…I'll replace your desk, Sasuke." The teacher in charge said, looking at the smashed table warily. "Meanwhile, just share a table with someone else."
Share a table!
All girls in the classroom perked up immediately and looked at the raven-haired boy with shining eyes…
"That's fine, teacher. I'll just stand first. It shouldn't take a long time."
Sakura looked worriedly at the hand Sasuke was concealing in his pocket. Did he smash the table?
What are you thinking about? Him smashing a table?
Oh, yeah. I'm dumb. It's none of my business anyway.
But instinct told Sakura that something was going to happen. Something bad. And oddly enough— She clutched her neck nervously —concerning vampires.
-
Evening
Kiba cast a glance at Temari, who was buried in a mass of books. "…So it was her, huh? That was one hell of magic to have created a barrier like that yesterday. Akamaru sensed it immediately."
Shikamaru rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. "Well, it's a good thing, I guess." He flexed his shoulder muscles, and yawned loudly. "I'm going to sleep. School was tough today." He stretched, opened the door and closed it, generally whistling a song while strolling through the corridors.
Kiba raised an eyebrow. "School's tough?" He looked at Akamaru, who stared back at him. "Wasn't he sleeping in class today?"
-
Tap.
Whoosh.
"W-What?"
Hinata spun over anxiously, her hands clutching the straps of her school bag. Obviously, as all stories go, there was no one behind her.
The time was rather late. Hinata was walking back from school, as per usual. Her nerves had been on edge ever since the vampire incident. Not a single good night's sleep…
Nightmares.
Those white eyes, and fangs…
Fangs…
Hinata covered her face with her hands, dropping her school bag in the process.
I… I... have to go home.
Those fangs…
"No!" Hinata gasped, grabbing her bag from the ground, and started to run.
Why am I thinking about this anyway?
She stopped, panting, at the gate of her house. It was a rather huge house. A mansion, to be exact. Hinata's parents were overseas on assignment. So it was just her in the house. Daily calls from America were made to the mansion though. Her mother was worried about her shaky tone, but Hinata had just told her not to worry. She never did like people worrying about her.
I'm the one who worries the most.
Hinata sank down on the sofa, putting the back of her hand against her forehead.
There's no one.
Hinata lay down on the sofa. That hunter guy… with his dog… The girl's mouth slowly curved into an unintentional smile. I've never thanked him, did I?
"…Will I meet him again…?"
Eyes slowly closed, and soon the schoolgirl fell into a deep sleep.
A new-born flower
A bee, attracted by its colour
A schoolgirl's first feelings of love
-
Neji stood on the rooftop of the building where Temari and Gaara had last battled.
"..."
"Neji."
The vampire spun around, even though his nose had already picked up the scent. "Naruto." He muttered, his white eyes looking at the floor.
The blonde boy looked especially happy. The emotion was radiating from his every pore. Neji cringed, feeling somewhat disgusted. It was pure happiness. Not that of satisfaction after having a prey.
"Why do you look so happy? One of our comrades just died."
"Well, we'll have a new addition to the family soon." Naruto cracked his knuckles, grinning.
"Oh, really? Who?" Neji, in spite of himself, was curious. You don't get new vampires every day. And plus, thanks to those vampire hunters, the numbers were decreasing drastically. And though it was good news to humans, it wasn't good news for them. Their only hope was to covert humans into vampires, or through marriage. But the new generation of vampires is still pretty young, and the chances of humans marrying vampires are almost zero. A special, a vampire that had the ability to change a human into one of their kind, are rare. Extremely rare.
Neji himself had come from one of those respected vampire families, though not a special kind, but it comes close. He could mark his prey with his teeth marks, and they will not vanish until the victim dies, or turns into a vampire. Not even with the ritual those nasty hunters normally perform to the prey.
"A hunter."
White eyes blinked twice.
"What?"
"I said it. A hunter. He was probably bitten by a special, and now he cannot resist the vampirism in him anymore. There will be results soon."
"And you're happy about that? I don't believe it."
"I'm not, of course. I'm happy about…" Naruto clasped his hands together, his eyes shining. Neji got the message, and groaned.
"Naruto, you're nuts."
"Nuts?" The boy cocked his head innocently.
"She's a human being. You're a vampire. No deal. No go. Different."
"So?"
"You'll be sucking her blood as soon as you two get married, and then she'd die. It always happens." Neji said absentmindedly.
"Married? You mean Sakura and I could get married someday?" Naruto's happiness cracked up another notch.
It was too much for the other vampire to take.
"…I'm outta here."
-
Sakura slumped on her armchair, her eyes closed. The heavy feeling in her had not yet settled, like she hoped it would. In fact, it was getting worse.
"I'm worried about Sasuke." She said aloud, and then stopped.
"Shit. I'm losing it. Sakura, you're losing it." She murmured, supporting her forehead with both hands. I want to ask him. I want to…
You were just next to me
And yet
I missed you
I missed you so much
You'd forgotten
I wanted to leave
I'd wanted to forget too
Since my existence is not known to you
You'd completely forgotten.
Close
And far…
I ran, and I never caught up
Falling—
I see you walking away further
Is it time to say goodbye?
Is it really the time for me to let go?
To accept the fact that you weren't what you used to be?
Why can't I do it?
It hurts
It really hurts so much
Author: I'm… not going to make it… I'm back at school after the holidays… Homework… Exams… Stress… I'm sorry for this lousy chapter… I need a break… Arrgh! (collapses)