So sorry it took forever for me to get this next chapter up! Hopefully there will be people out there who still read this. I'll try harder to upload chapters sooner. Please comment, and add input. If I take forever again, feel free to send a message, hurrying me for the next chapter =) Danke und Entschuldigung!


I tried saying something, but it was still sinking in. My brother joined the vampires? How could he be so stupid!

"What's up?" Naruto entered the kitchen, finally dressed and with a carefree expression on his face. He noticed the tension within the room though and stopped.

"Sasuke, you should sit down," said Kushina.

Naruto moved to stand shoulder to shoulder with me. He took my wrist and guided me to a chair. From underneath the table, he took my hand into his.

"They're working on finding him and potentially bringing him into custody," began Kushina, "but it's been impossible to find Akatsuki in the past, let alone capture a member."

That bastard. It wasn't enough he had to kill them, but now others too.

"Where's the last place they've spotted him?" I asked.

"Not far from here actually," answered Minato. What should I do? Should I go after him? Or let the Anbu handle this? "Akatsuki has already begun to feed on unwilling victims, and there has been talk of kidnappings."

I sat there unsure what to do. I haven't seen my brother for so long. Not after what he did, not after he killed them. And though I can't change the past, I do feel some responsibility for what he's doing now. I had the chance to kill him, I still do, and yet I do nothing. I wish I could forget about him completely, but another part wants revenge. I clutched my head. I'm such a coward! How could I sit here debating with myself? I have to make a choice, either revenge or forget about Itachi. But before I do, I want to see him. I need to see him and maybe I'll somehow know what to do next.

I stood up and abruptly left the room. There was no point in sitting there while others were trying to gauge my expression.

Naruto followed me. I was annoyed with this, I wanted to be alone for a while, but he climbed into my bed and sat next to me.

A hand placed itself on my shoulder.

"Don't worry, Sasuke. I'm sure this mess with Itachi will work out."

"Whatever happens, happens," I muttered.

He scooted himself closer and leaned over.

"I'd do anything for you, you know," he whispered.

"Yeah, thanks, Naruto."


The next morning passed with me being way too absorbed in my own thoughts. Class was boring, hardly worth listening. What was more important was my current situation. When it was lunch time finally, Sakura caught me right as I was about to leave the classroom.

"See you tonight then, Sasuke?" she asked hopefully.

What was tonight again? Oh, the date! I still haven't talked to Naruto about it either. He will definitely not be pleased.

"Of course, I promised you, didn't I?"

She nodded in affirmation. "So… is Naruto coming?" she asked hesitantly, as if embarrassed to ask.

"I don't know, I haven't talked to him yet."

"I have a feeling he's going to refuse," she added in a low voice.

Something sparked.

"Why don't you spend lunch with me and him?" I asked. "You know, just to get him used to you."

She smiled sweetly. "Sure, if he won't mind, of course."

I took her hand and guided her through the halls. Why was it that my heart beats just a little quicker when I'm with her? Even now as I hold her hand? Naruto does this to me also, but there are different feelings associated with him. Sakura is sweet and gentle, while he is rough and takes the initiative.

I guided her out the school and towards the park. She talked to me along the way. About school, life, friends. She has many friends, very social unlike Naruto and me. She's also decent student, better than Naruto, but still beneath me in scholarly intelligence. She was pretty average, but for the fact that she had pink hair and was relatively at the top of the class, yet she somehow drew my attention from my Partner. I wasn't mad at her for that, but what I was frustrated with was that it had to make my life more complicated that it already was.

Naruto was standing at the entrance to the park. He frowned very visibly as soon as we started to approach him.

He crossed his arms and asked, "What's she doing here?" he gestured to Sakura.

She took a half step behind me, almost as if she believed Naruto would lay a hand on her.

"I wanted you to meet her." I pushed Sakura in front of me and offered her to Naruto, where she hesistantly offered her best smile.

"Hi, Naruto. I've seen around school before, but I don't think we've ever had the chance to really talk."

"It's a shame it couldn't have lasted longer," he mumbled. I shoved my elbow into his ribs where he let out a small grunt.

"What?" he exclaimed looking at me.

"Why don't we take a walk around the park?" I proposed to ease the tension.

Everyone quickly agreed, and I walked in between the two of them, between two animals ready to spring to attack each other at any second.

"So, do you and Naruto take this path everyday? I've never seen you guys at lunch." asked Sakura.

"We enjoy the time alone to play soccer or eat lunch," answered Naruto angrily, "-alone," he added.

I was about to jab him in the ribs again, but I'd be doing that the whole lunch period then.

"Oh, what a nice idea –eating lunch at the park. Why don't we settle down under that tree there," she pointed to a spot with perfect grounds of grass.

Somehow, her statement didn't seem right.

"You stupid girl. We'd like privacy, if you don't mind," said Naruto.

Her pretty face wrinkled in slight anger. "Don't call me stupid. And privacy? Why would you need privacy to eat? Only Bloodsuckers need that."

"Well, duh."

"Naruto," I muttered.

For only a second there was silence. "Wait," she started, backing slightly away. "Bloodsuckers? You two are bloodsuckers?" her eyes were wide, trying to discern this situation. She turned to me. "You never told me."

"You made it seem like you knew," I answered poorly.

It was too good to be true! She'd leave, completely disgusted by me, never having given me a proper chance.

"I knew you guys were together, but I thought the other kind of 'together'. I never…" she trailed off, lost in her thoughts, she sat under the tree. I was about to go and comfort her, properly explain this, but a hand held me back.

"We're also that kind of 'together'," Naruto said pulling me close.

"Naruto," I protested, pushing against his chest. Hurting Sakura's feelings was what I wanted to do least of all. "Sakura, I-" I started.

Naruto was pulling me towards the ground. I attempted to push to the opposite direction, knowing what would happen if I succumbed but it was no use. I wrestled the whole way as he crawled on top of me, pining my limbs.

"Naruto, stop!" I really did not want to do this in front of Sakura.

He dipped down, smashing his lips with mine, and moving harshly. I leaned up and bit him. He backed off, but it didn't stop him. Instead, he moved to my neck. He gave a swift lick before biting in, sucking hungrily, but I could feel from the way his lips were positioned that he was purposely letting escape a steady stream of blood that pooled around my hairline, most likely to gross-out Sakura. I noticed Naruto's grasp had loosened as his area of interest had shifted. I took this opportunity to push him off.

I sat up and immediately locked my eyes with Sakura. Her face was expressionless; I couldn't tell what she was thinking. I reached out to her, but she didn't move.

"Sakura, I'm sorry," I said uselessly.

She shook her head finally, and gave the tiniest of smiles, a forced one. Did she finally hate me?

She shakily got onto her feet, stood there for a moment, just staring at the ground, and then finally she turned and walked away.

"Just give me a few minutes."

I watched her go, mostly as an excuse for what would come next, an argument between my Partner and me. I didn't feel like arguing though. Why couldn't he just respect my wishes? Why couldn't he just let me do what I needed to do. He has to be so oppressive! The bastard Naruto had to do that, had to go against my wishes, had to be selfish, hurtful even, but I probably hurt his feelings too when I pushed him off me. I was furious at him, but we both hurt each other.

Have I lost the both of them then?