Author: I have something to say. -coughs- I did a Sasuke fan art on deviant art! It's my first successful one! Do go and have a look! My deviant art account is listed in my fan fiction profile page…
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Where is he now?
How is he doing?
What is he up to?
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Author: Check chapter 24 ;
"Okay, how about this…" Ino said doubtfully, observing her friend from angle to angle.
Sakura stared at her reflection in the mirror.
Dull. Tired. Worried. Anxious. Those were the words which came to her instantly when she saw herself.
Sakura took a deep breath to try and smother her jittery feelings out. Ever since the she'd met Naruto in the supermarket yesterday…
"Vampires…are swarming the town."
"I'll have to bring you home."
I know what he means.
"Go home. That's what you can do."
I KNOW!
Naruto pointed to the street. "Come on."
I know, and yet…
"That idiot will be okay." Naruto said, in a – wanting- to- assure- yet- somehow- annoyed tone.
Why can't I stop worrying, then?
Sakura's huge sigh, bowed head, slouched shoulders, fatigued expression and slacked jaw set off an impression that was common among overworked adults—The Ultimate Stress. The beautiful white gown she was wearing looked dull on her despite the top-grade pieces of pearl and fabric used.
"Sakura." Ino went, her voice louder than usual. The pink-haired schoolgirl jumped a little when she felt a hard thump on her shoulders and seeing her companion being reflected beside her. "To be honest, you look as if the grand fair is the end of the world to you."
Sakura responded mentally. Yeah, right, you expect me to put on a mask and dress up in grand evening gown when I've got an ex-vampire liking me so much that he almost bit me to death and feeding me blood out of supposed affection…You expect me to enjoy all this while all I can think of is how Sasuke's doing now…How very wonderful and nice life is for you, Ino.
Obviously, this unreasonable non-verbal argument was written all over the troubled girl's face as she looked skeptically at the virtual image of Ino in the mirror.
Ino's eyebrow twitched.
"OW!"
The blonde girl had given Sakura a punch on the head.
"I don't care anymore! You choose your own dresses! Here I am, trying to help you out, and Miss Sakura is spacing out!"
What are you saying? You're the one who dragged me out of my house by force to get the dress!
Nevertheless, Sakura blinked and looked carefully for the first time. "So which dress have you chosen, Ino?"
Ino blinked too. "I haven't."
Both girls sweatdropped.
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"Sakura's blood has anti-seal properties."
"Not anti-vampirism?"
Temari closed her portfolio, frowning. "Correct."
"I thought…" Shino was surprised.
"Like miracles will appear in this world. We were wrong after all." Temari said, trying not to look disappointed.
"So how did your grandfather manage to convert a vampire back to a human?" Kiba asked, yawning as he did.
Temari's frown deepened. "I have… no idea." She glared at the portfolio on the table.
"Sasuke's missing."
The three hunters turned to see a wary-looking Kakashi trudge into the room.
"I heard your conversation. So tell me everything. Now."
Temari got up. "Have you found him yet?"
"No."
Kiba took up a stake from his pocket. "If that girl's blood isn't anti-vampirism like what we'd hoped, then there's only one thing we can do now."
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The phone rang.
Naruto groaned, rolled over and fell down on the floor. He rubbed his bruised face, groaned again, and reached for the phone.
"Hello?"
"Greetings. This is Kakashi."
"Uh… Good…Good…um…" Naruto turned to the clock, looked at the time, and resumed his greeting. "Good morning."
"I'm going to tell you how Sakura had a hand in turning you back to a human. And your past."
Naruto stopped.
"What?"
Kakashi swallowed, trying to organize his memories in order. "You were mind-wiped."
"Mind-wiped…?"
Naruto's eyes widened. His fingers wrapped themselves over the phone tightly.
"Get out a piece of pen and paper." Kakashi said suddenly.
"What?" Naruto asked, astonished.
"Stop saying what all the time. Can't you use proper English for once?"
"Alright, alright! I get your point." Naruto took out writing materials from a nearby drawer and sat down comfortably on the sofa he'd fallen out from earlier.
On the other side of the line, Kakashi exhaled loudly. "This is going to be one long story to tell."
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"This is… kind of simple, isn't it?" Sakura said, smiling a little as she tugged the rose choker on her neck. "And the choker's kind of… exaggerating…"
"Purity! That's what girls are supposed to portray!" Ino said dramatically, her hands clasped together.
"Uh…Purity?" Sakura looked on blankly. "But you're wearing black."
"Black can also represent purity too." Ino looked at herself in the mirror, apparently satisfied with herself.
"Oh."
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"The reason why you were released from the First's seal was because of Sakura's blood—it forced the First out from your body. Why it didn't work on the first time is because—that's my and Temari's assumption— it had something to do with the amount. Sakura's blood seems to have the ability to release seals."
"So… her blood is not anti-vampirism?" Naruto whispered. So Sakura won't be involved in Sasuke's problem, after all. He took a deep breath, relieved.
"No." An image of Iruka flashed into Kakashi's mind. Maybe calling Naruto was a rash act.
There was silence on the other side of the line.
Naruto recalled the voices he heard in the room the exorcism of the First, and forced himself to take a deep breath before giving his loudest yell yet.
"I HEARD VOICES IN THE ROOM!"
Kakashi jumped as Naruto's loud tenor voice blasted into his ears. "What are you talking about?" He asked, irritated.
The ex-vampire swallowed. "I… heard voices. Screaming voices. And then… there was this… guy's voice."
Kakashi rubbed his now-throbbing ear, and placed the phone on his other ear. " Oh. Was it that time when you fainted?"
"I know that man. I've seen him before." Naruto said, straining to recall memories. "He had a... scar on his face."
The hunter stopped rubbing his ear, his lazy-looking eye now wide with astonishment. Could it be…?
"He was tanned… a ponytail…" The boy continued.
"Give Naruto a mind-wipe. Don't tell him anything. It's not his fault."
"Shut up!" Sakura's father tried in vain to stop the bleeding from Iruka's chest.
Iruka coughed, blood leaking from his mouth. "Got--- the lungs."
Kakashi picked Naruto up. "The seal isn't broken yet." He said shakily, looking at Iruka's worried face.
Relief spread over Iruka's tanned features. "At least it"— He coughed out more blood—"At least it was Naruto who got"—
"Shut up, you understand me?" Sakura's father stared in horror as red quickly took over the whiteness of the bandages used.
"I'm bringing him to the hospital!"
Iruka, hearing that, quickly shook his head and gripped onto both men.
"Listen. Give Naruto a mind-wipe." His sentence was clear and straightforward. A shaking, tanned hand patted Naruto's head gently.
Kakashi nodded his head, iron-hard teeth biting his lips hard under the blue mask he wore.
Iruka coughed again, smiled at his friends, and closed his eyes.
Kakashi shook his head. He remembered. He remembered it too well.
If only…If only I'd rushed him to the hospital instead of letting him…talk like that…
His grief rose to his chest, causing him to choke a little. Naruto blinked, startled.
Gloved hands shook slightly as they gripped the phone. "Listen, Naruto." Kakashi decided, and made a silent apology to his friend in heaven.
"He's… The man you said… He should be…Iruka."
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Sakura took the shopping bag in her hands, her mood lifting.
A little.
I wonder… If I'll see him at the grand fair…
Idiot. He'd never go.
…You're right… I suppose…
Ino pointed to the ice-cream stall. "Let's get something cold to eat."
Sakura looked at the stall and nodded.
"Let's go."