Disclaimer: Still don't own…~

Warnings:Blood and lots of it, Yaoi Threesome - M/M/M, Incest/Uchihacest + Naruto (can you say... cha-ching!?), Cross-dressing, fluff, and definitely some angst.

Blood Thirsty and Hell-bent

Ch. 2

~matahari

Itachi moved ahead of me, that slight sway drawing my eyes back like magnets every so often until we reached a door. I raised my eyebrows expectantly.

"This isn't where you'll be staying, we have another room already arranged for you to stay in, but here we won't be bothered for as long as we wish to converse," he explained, hand on the knob, "There's also someone you've wanted to see here."

"Huh? How do you always know just what I'm going to say, Itachi? Like some freakin' mind re– SASUKE!!" I stopped mid step through the door upon looking into the room.

"Watch the volume, idiot." Sasuke was laying back into a mound of pillows stacked against a thick, wooden headboard. I noticed with some surprise that there were bandages circling his waist.

"Oh my god, Sasuke. What happened?" I indicated his stomach, as I stepped fully into the room. Itachi closed the door quietly behind me as I sat on the edge of the bed.

My best friend waved me away as if every day I asked him why he was wounded. Like I said, 'The Bastard'. I just needed to copyright that shit now. "It was just a small sparring accident."

"Small?" I squeaked.

"Yes," he said, exasperated.

I put my hands up in the universal 'alright, alright I'll drop it!' gesture, muttering something about 'clumsy, temperamental bastards' for good measure.

"So this is your room Sasuke?" I asked.

"Pretty cool," I mumbled, noticing all awesome stuff that lined the walls. It was exactly what I'd expect from the bastard and yet not.

The bookshelves were stacked neatly with comic books and manga volumes (some really good ones too, I noticed). A large corner of the room opposite the ancient looking four-poster bed we were on was devoted to one of the single most amazing entertainment systems I'd ever laid eyes on, with what I considered to be every game known to man and probably a few that weren't, not to mention a shit load of consoles and portable systems.

I mean sure, Sasuke came over to my apartment sometimes and we played video games and yeah, we'd been to the arcade in the mall our fair share, but to see that Sasuke was just as normal a guy as I was...well, weird.

Sasuke let out an, "Ah..." as I scanned the racks of movies held to the wall behind and to the sides of the monstrous television. I looked back at him to find him a bit flabbergasted and confused.

"Sasuke?"

He mumbled something under his breath, studiously inspecting his hands folded in his lap.

"Eh?"

Itachi's voice rang through the room, startling the crap out me incidentally (I'd forgot that the elder bastard was still in the room), answering my question for Sasuke. "What my little brother is trying so eloquently to say is that, this is both our room."

Itachi looked completely at ease, lounging on a fluffy and comfortable sofa pressed against the wall opposite the bed, flanked by more shelves. His legs were crossed, his back straight, and his hands placed neatly in his lap, yet he was the picture of nonchalance. Despite how huge the room was, I couldn't get over how warm their living space felt and now I was even more confused that Itachi hadn't left it barren and cold, but maybe Sasuke had done all the decorating?

I turned back to my best friend and was a little surprised by what I saw. He was glaring at his brother, the effect diminished greatly because his whole face was flushed a deep pink.

"Huh? Why do you share a room?" I asked, scratching my cheek. "I know there's got to be enough rooms in this big ass mansion."

Sasuke didn't look like he was going to answer any time soon - if ever - his lips pressed into a thin line resolutely. So I once again turned to Itachi. It was odd how I kept doing that. If I was honest, I may have kind of liked - an itsy bitsy teeny weenie little bit - to watch the older Uchiha because damn he was actually really attractive. What? No! Not gay, not gay, not gay, not gay... It seems I'm picking up my own mantra. Shit.

Itachi watched me, with those smoldering bedroom eyes, not quite checking me out, but I felt tingling in my spine nonetheless. "It's quite simple really," he stated, "You see, I am the one who was given the honor of siring Sasuke. Although it wasn't much of a problem for us in particular," he smirked and I heard Sasuke choke behind me but I couldn't seem to take my eyes off of Itachi to check if he was okay, "There are some negative effects to turning someone. After Sasuke underwent the transformation to vampire, it was required of him physically to stay close to me. Others have speculated that because our coven only sires those within our family, that we have caused this need for a bond, however the Hyuuga's have the same problem so it is hard to discern from that alone."

Something stuck out odd from those words. "Wait. Does that mean that Neji is..."

"Yes, he is."

"And Hinata, too?"

"Yes, however, because Neji belongs to the branch family, it was Hinata-san that was given the right to change Neji-san. He is, effectively, her servant and protector, a role which I must say he has taken on with some difficulty. Too headstrong," he explained.

"Whoa," I breathed, amazed at what appeared to be vampire politics. If I wasn't in awe right now, I might have laughed.

Questions were swimming wildly because of his explanation. "Does that mean Sasuke is like a servant to you or are the Uchiha different?"

"Of course not, idiot," Sasuke interjected, indignant fury erasing most of his blush.

"What my foolish brother means, Naruto-kun, is that the Uchiha are one family. We have not forced apart or divided our family as the Hyuuga's have. Most members are seen as equals, as Sasuke and I are," he looked pointedly past me to Sasuke, "With the exception of much elder vampires, like Father and our Uncle."

"Wow. Thanks, Itachi," I smiled genuinely at him. No one ever really gives me such straight answers, not ever my dads, and I feel happy that my bastard of a best friend was completely wrong about his brother. Itachi was very nice.

He smiled back at me, and I was astounded by just how beautiful he could be when his face wasn't carefully blank. I suppose if I had a family like his I'd be careful how I looked too though. I was tempted with the insatiable urge to try and get the handsome devil to smile more often.

A chuckle escaped then. "I think that's the most I've ever heard you say," I told him. "And just call me Naruto."

He inclined his head, "As you wish."

I remembered something that happened a few months back. It might have been a stupid question, but I was truly curious. "Wait. Is that why Sasuke was gone for like that week or so back in July?" I asked, eyebrows scrunched together in thought.

Itachi nodded. "Yes, it has become an unwritten decree among us that one must be of a certain age before being turned. By the laws of recent decades, the Elders have decided that it would indeed be beneficial to wait for a young one of the clan to reach twenty-one years of age before making the transformation. To do otherwise is seen as a betrayal," he said lazily, but his eyes were more than attentive.

Right. I nodded, making a small noise of understanding. Sasuke had turned twenty-one on July 23, so naturally this explained why he'd been gone. I and what few other close friends he had, had been told that he was sick - an awful and contagious virus or something of the sort, I couldn't really remember at the moment. Sasuke shifted beside me. "It also helps a great deal with retaining mannerisms that are . . . human," he explained reluctantly. It was interesting to glimpse into their life at all of the bizarre happenings. I'd never dreamed they led such complicated and odd ones. It was with a certain amount of dismay that I realized my life was definitely taking a turn for the strange, also. "The younger a person is, the more detrimental it can be to their mind."

Itachi uncrossed his legs, looking over to Sasuke. "I believe Mother was hoping you are still available to go out shopping with her for the banquet," Itachi's lips quirked, a devious glint in his eyes, "I'm sure, dear brother, that you will find something lovely to wear."

I watched bemused as Sasuke scowled angrily, grumbling out a, "Fine." as he uncovered his pajama clad legs and swung them over the edge of the bed.

The older brother stood finally, drawing my attention back to him. Boy, did Itachi command attention or what?

"Naruto-kun," he said softly, holding a hand out to me. I took it without conscious thought. "Mother would love, very much, for you to accompany her and Sasuke as well, perhaps find something dashing to wear for the gathering. It is in your honor, after all," he finished as he pulled me to my feet, standing a little closer than I deemed strictly necessary - or proper. Then he let go, saying, "Come, I'll show you where you'll be staying while Sasuke gets ready," even as he leaned over his younger brother, placing a gentle kiss on his forehead, before striding to the door.

Sasuke stood stock still, shock written all over his face, "Well, at least you didn't poke me," he said wryly, walking toward a door that I assumed was the bathroom as he absently rubbed his forehead. "Asshole," he added as an afterthought.

What the hell I had just witnessed I wasn't sure, but I did know one thing: I'd never seen the brothers' act that nicely or hell even civilly toward one another. Dare I say, the apocalypse was knocking on our door?

Itachi cleared his throat quietly, the sound reaching my ears perfectly, as he stood in the open door leading to the hall. Oh, right. Supposed to be following. (Duh.) I could hear a shower starting as I left their room and Itachi shut the door behind me with a soft 'click'. I expected another god awful trek through the sizeable house and was brought up short when Itachi just casually walked across the hall, producing a key from an inner pocket of his suit jacket, to open a door identical in appearance to the brother's room. Oh, and did I mention, directly across the hall from them?

As if the bastard (whom I was beginning to feel should be instead named 'The Devil' for various and sundry reasons) could read my fucking thoughts, he said, "Sasuke and I wish to be close at hand in case you have any problems with your new . . . abilities. It would be a tragic loss if you lived through all the hardship of the change only to die from ignorance."

Yeah, the Itachi-meter just went way down. No brownie points for being a dick, sorry. I was definitely beginning to see how the elder Uchiha could come to rub people the wrong way. Easily.

I huffed, crossed my arms over my chest in what my childhood therapist would have called a 'defensive' position, and followed good ol' Lucifer into my new room. Oh, goody, lucky me. The inside of the room was in many ways a lot alike the brothers' room: spacious, comfortable, nice hardware I added mentally. Definitely not as cool as theirs was, but with my own unique touch it could be a paradise - my home away from home, no thanks to my rotten fathers. I can't believe they didn't even put up a fight.

"Say, Itachi."

"Hhmm?"

"It's been months since Sasuke's birthday . . ." I wasn't really sure how to phrase this one. Luckily, Itachi was good at being a jerk and making my mouth move for me.

"Yes. And?"

"Is the bond thing you were talking about still causing him to stay close to you?"

"Not particularly, no."

Okay, that was real helpful. Maybe I should just be direct. It wasn't really my style to be pussyfooting around anyway. "Then why are you and Sasuke still sharing a room, bastard?" He was seriously starting to irritate me.

He raised an eyebrow, face still as blank as every other time I'd seen him and, just as I had wanted him to smile more, I had this outlandish urge to do something, anything to make him react. Maybe I should wave my arms around in the air or bock like a chicken. "Naruto-kun, you misunderstand, this isn't because of our bonding. Sasuke and I have always been quite close. We've never had separate rooms for as long as I can remember and I can assure you that my little brother has not once ever complained," he said, darkly beautiful voice rolling over me. With all the odd going-on's of the last twenty-four hours I'd almost forgot why I thought he made an amazing vocalist. How can anyone forget a voice like that? Was Itachi wilder on the inside than he showed? I swear, no one could sing like that and still have the emotional capacity of a rock. And still be that pretty. It just wasn't fair. (And I was ashamed to admit that I owned every CD his band had produced and way too much paraphernalia.)

"But, nobody knows who bit me. Am I going to have to stay close to anyone?" Please say yes, say I have to stay close to you and your brother. Come on, say it. Wait... where'd that come from? Oh man... seriously, I'm not gay, dammit! They've gotta be fucking with my head.

"Perhaps. Your case is unique," was his enigmatic answer. Damn.

"And?"

"And Sasuke and I will keep an eye on you. That is why you are across the hall," a small, but undoubtedly evil, smirk appeared on his face. "If you're so worried about it, why don't you share our bed tonight? I'm sure it's big enough for the three of us." Hmmm . . .

"Nani!?" I sputtered, but my mind said that definitely had possibilities.

I could see amusement in his eyes at my antics. "We will have to wait and see how you have changed. Try not to worry until then," he soothed. I swear to god it was like pulling my hair trying to get an answer out of them. Sasuke was just as bad, I could attest from experience, if not worse. Sure, Itachi was all willing to explain vampire politics and etiquette or whatever bullshit, but couldn't answer one goddamn question about my best friend and then was even more vague - if that was even possible! - about me.

And was he just pulling my leg with fucking innuendos or was he actually flirting with me? The concept of Uchiha Itachi flirting with me was undeniably a scary as hell (but kind of thrilling at the same time...in a dangerous way) concept and so I opted for the former. Besides, I had enough problems with the weird moments Sasuke and I seemed to be sharing lately. I was not attracted to my best friend, I told myself firmly. We'd been friends for far too long to ruin it with stupid hormones. Maybe it was just vampire pheromones or something. That would explain why I thought Itachi was hot, too.

Jeez. I covered my face with my hands and sat on the edge of the large bed, sighing to relieve the tension that had built over the knowledge that I was apparently a bloodsucking monster now. I felt a reassuring hand on my shoulder and didn't have to look up to know who it was.

I'm not gay; I'm not gay; I'm not gay. Maybe if I just kept telling myself it.

It seemed that Sasuke's father was never in a good mood, nor was he a particularly happy man, in any sense of the word. In fact, it seemed as though he held contempt on his face any time either of his sons' entered a room. What was his deal, seriously? Itachi and Sasuke were like amazing sons. Hell, I'd never seen kids who were more devoted to whatever their parents told them than these two so what was there to disapprove of? Maybe Itachi's music? I could see that was probably not the most respectable thing, but Itachi had run the family's business for a long while before he picked up music, from what he said and certainly Sasuke was a model son wasn't he?

So when Sasuke left me to go into the kitchen in search of his mother, where subsequently his father had just headed into, I could see the unease pouring out of him. A person who didn't know him might have said he just looked perfectly normal, but they didn't speak bastard. I'd know Sasuke since we were kids; if I hadn't been able to read him by now, I would have had to kick my own ass.

What the hell was I supposed to do anyway, twiddle my thumbs? With no small amount of exasperation, I voiced my complaints to Sasuke.

"I'll only be a second, idiot," he growled, "It would probably be best if you weren't around Father too much."

I frowned at him, showing my distaste. "Why not, bastard?"

If I didn't know better, I'd say that his eye was about to start twitching any moment, but that would be a very un-Uchiha like thing to do, so of course Sasuke would be a good little puppet and follow bastardish family traditions. I so just wanted to like poke him or something.

His face showing his consternation, he said, imperious as always, "Father isn't likely to approve of or even like you." Leaving no room for argument, he left me to go to the kitchen. "What with his two sons as failures, one can only imagine what goes through his head," Sasuke muttered with venom, almost out of sight, but it reached me nonetheless, and held even less promise of happy days ahead.

My heart sank. Poor Sasuke. I wondered what it was like to have a father that constantly belittled your efforts no matter what you tried. Hell, I tried to picture what it was like to have a father at all. Mine had died when I was too young to remember. My mother too, though I'd seen pictures of how beautiful she was. It really was a wonder I didn't have red hair.

On the other hand (and man there always seemed to be another hand didn't there?) I had Iruka and Kakashi, who had been like parents to me, but never fathers for some reason. They weren't so laid back that I thought strictly of them as friends or buds or whatever, but there was definitely some kind of laid back mutual understanding between the three of us. I could talk to them about anything and everything under the sun. (Which was very comforting growing up and yes, even now.) Maybe I should have a chat about vampirism with them?

That would go over well I bet. 'Hey, Iruka. Kakashi. So... now that I have this insatiable new urge to drink blood, and you guys practically saw me pawing at Itachi back at the hospital, what do you think I should do now?'

Smooth, Naruto, real smooth. All I'd have to do is crack some ill-conceived joke about the brothers 'daddy issues' after having stupidly fallen into bed with the both of them (that one planted itself thanks to Itachi's little joke) and proceed to tell Sasuke's father just where he could shove all of Sasuke's medals, awards, and trophy's if he didn't think his son was good enough, to complete my Day of Stupidity (as it was coming to be known) and make myself really worthy of the nickname my best friend had bestowed on me.

At least it couldn't get any worse, right?

A/n: It's sad, but I think I'm losing interest in Naruto. Lately, Kishi's been pullin' some bullshit. I just don't know…

--M