III

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As Sakura fell into a painful darkness, a darkness where pain was all there was, Kamui quickly picked her up and hurried back to the tribe. Suki was a wreck, he blamed himself and his depression sent a grim cloud over the tribe. Not once did Suki leave her side, he sated his thirst with blood tablets instead. Once in a while a member of the tribe would come into the room to check up on them, and to leave a rose on the bedside table. Kamui, like Suki, never left Sakura's side. During the three days that Sakura transformed, Suki sat firmly next to her bed, and Kamui stood guard outside the door, even though there was no need.

Slowly, but surely, Sakura was changing. Every single blemish on her skin disappeared leaving her skin smooth and flawless. As a beating heart became unnecessary, Sakura's skin grew pale. Even though vampires did not need to breath, or have a beating heart to live, most just did it due to habit. Her body was changing as well. Suki watched in silent awe, as her face became one to rival a goddess. Sakura's form didn't change very much considering the fact that because she was a konochi, her body was already very beautiful.

Her chakra became endless and her speed, strength, sight, smell, hearing, and just everything about her rose at an alarming rate. As Suki saw this, his eyes grew wide with shock. "Kamui!" he yelled.

Kamui immediately rushed into the room fearing something bad had befallen Sakura or Suki. What he saw when he came in was a wide-eyed Suki standing over Sakura's form. Confusion written on his face, Kamui gave Suki a questioning look.

Suki's eyes met Kamui's, "She's going to be a royal…"

Kamui's eyes widened in shock at what Suki said.

"A royal? Sakura-san is becoming a royal? Are you sure it is a royal Suki-sama, and not a noble or a knight?" Asked Kamui.

Suki nodded his head. "I'm positive, it's a royal."

The two of them quickly turned when Sakura's paints of pain suddenly stopped. What they saw made Kamui fall to his knees and for Suki to feel slightly awed for once in his life. There in front of them was Sakura. Fully changed into a vampire. Her pale pink hair had grown longer, and silkier. It framed her lovely heart shaped face. Sakura's slim, curvy, petite form was enough to make even other female vampire jealous, and not that any would dare because surrounding her was a terribly powerful aura. An aura that only a newborn royal, or an angry royal had.

"Sakura-chan?" Suki whispered softly.

"Suki…please, I need blood." Sakura begged in a beautiful, alluring voice. Her once bright green eyes were blood red, signifying her thirst.

Do to the overwhelming presence of Sakura, Kamui had to use all his will power not to go out and bring Sakura fresh human blood. There was no doubt; Sakura was a royal, and a powerful one at that. Suki remembered what Sakura had told him before falling into the painful coma like state.

Flashback:

"Suki-san…please, don't let me drink human blood…please, I would never be able to forgive myself if I did."

Remembering this, he quickly grabbed his own supply of blood tablets, and spilling out a few, quickly handed them to her. Luckily, Sakura's will to be a, "vegetarian", was stronger then her blood lust, but only by a little. She quickly swallowed the pills, and collapsed on to the bed in a heap.

Suki and Kamui quickly rushed over.

"Sakura-sama! Are you alright?" Asked Kamui, his voice filled with fear and worry.

"Ah…I'm fine." She rasped out.

Sakura's blood lust had dulled, but it wasn't enough. Suki saw this and quickly ordered, "Kamui, get the emergency blood supply."

Kamui was out of the room in milliseconds. The tribe, for situations like these kept an emergency supply of deer blood. Kamui quickly returned and handed her the large bottle of blood. Sakura hurriedly opened it with shaking hands, and drank the sweet red liquid.

As her thirst got sated, Suki sighed in relief. Her aura was now less intimidating, and her eyes were green again.

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At the Konoha gate, two Jounins were standing watch. They became suddenly alert as they felt a presence coming near Konoha. As their hands strayed toward their weapons, a hooded figure came into view.

Sakura was wearing the same outfit that she wore when leaving Konoha. The only difference was that she had a white hooded cloak on. The hood was up because Sakura knew with it down, her pink hair, green eyes and her impossible beauty would draw too much attention.

It had been three months since she had become a vampire, and not just any vampire, a royal. As Sakura gazed at Konoha, she realized that she hadn't been home for a whole year. She wondered how her everyone would react when they saw her.

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The tribe had left after their yearlong stay, and they had begged Sakura to come with them, but she had declined. Many had offered to stay with her, to be her personal servant, but once again, Sakura had declined, saying that she would be fine by herself. It never ceased to amaze her how loyal vampires were to their royals. It had taken a few weeks for her to grow accustomed to being adored.

Sakura, like the rest of the tribe, was a "vegetarian". Not once, did she, or will she, drink human blood. It was amazing how much control she had. No vampire in history had the control that Sakura displayed. She could go to a hospital full of human blood and not even be tempted. Heck! Sakura even helped a woman give birth, and bandaged bloody patients.

You're probably wondering why she was at a hospital in the first place. After a month of being a vampire, Sakura decided to go to the hospital and help out there. She was a medic, how pathetic of a medic would she be if she couldn't even handle a little blood.

Now, after a whole year of being with vampires, Sakura was back.

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"Freeze! Who are you?" The Jounins barked. Eyeing her warily.

"Please calm down. I'm a ANBU here." Sakura calmly replied.

The Jonin's eyes widened in surprise when they heard her voice, it was so beautiful, like a sirens.

Still not putting her hood down, Sakura calmly handed them her headband, her mission scroll and with a quick flash, showed them her ANBU tattoo. They nodded unsurely, after checking her papers, letting her in. Sakura effortlessly jumped up on to the roof and slowly, for her, headed off towards the Hokage tower.

When she arrived, Sakura calmly walked up to Tsunade's door lightly knocked. Hearing a curt, "come in" Sakura carefully opened the door and walked in.

Dèjá vu!!!!!! Inner shouted.

Sighing, Sakura had to agree. There, like before was Tsunade, surrounded by undone paper work, drinking sake.

Tsunade looked up from and eyed her warily. "Who are you?" she barked.

Sakura gave a small smile and pulled down her hood. She watched in amusement when Tsunade stared at her, her bottle of sake forgotten in her hand.

"Sakura? Sakura, is that you?" Tsunade asked in a hushed whisper.

"Hai…" She answered back.

Tsunade stared at her in shock. She had changed so much. Then she realized the truth, and her eyes widened in horror.

"Sakura! They changed you?!!!" Tsunade screamed, her eyes wide.

"One of them made a mistake…But Tunade-sama, please don't worry, I'm a "vegetarian". I can even work at the hospital without any trouble." Sakura reassured.

Tsunade dropped her head into her hands. Her whole body trembled. "I'm so sorry, it's my fault, I shouldn't have sent you on that mission." She whispered.

Sakura smiled sadly. "Tsunade-sama. Please look at me."

When Tsunade looked up and gazed into her glowing green eyes, she saw no regret.

"Tsunade-sama, I'm glad that I became a vampire. I love the strength, the power and the respect."

At the respect part, Tsunade raised her eyebrow in question. Sakura smiled and calmly explained. "I'm sure you know that vampires have groups. Normal, Knight, Nobel, or Royal, well, I'm a royal."

Tsunade's eyes widened in surprise, "A royal? That's amazing!!!"

Sakura sweatdropped at Tsunade's enthusiasm, suddenly, she became serious. "Are you sure you can work at the hospital, you know that because of the shinobi patients, there's going to be a lot of blood."

Sakura smiled happily. "I have the best control in vampire history. I don't get tempted at all." Sakura boasted proudly.

Tsunade smiled and murmured. "I'll take your word for it."

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When Sakura arrived at Ino's family flower shop, Sakura frowned, and wondered how Ino would react. With a shrug, Sakura coolly pushed open the door, causing the silver bells to tinkle.

Man! We're getting a lot of Dèjá vu today!!!!

Sakura sweatdropped at her Inner's yelling/observation…

Ah… she mentally replied.

Sakura saw with a faint feeling of relief that Ino hadn't changed at all. Heck! She was still reading the same medical book. Actually, Sakura was slightly worried about that.

She's still reading that book? It's been a year…

Sakura sweatdropped again, but she had to agree.

Ino looked up from her book and putting on one of her fake smiles she asked, "Yes, how may I help you?"

Sakura pulled down her hood, and gave Ino a smirk. Ino's eyes grew as wide as saucers. "Sakura?!!!!!!"

"Ah…" Sakura answered, her face growing slightly cold. She felt awkward now that she was here. When Ino rushed over to embrace her, Sakura flinched and smoothly sidestepped her. Ino blinked in surprise. Why did she dodge? She wondered. Ino for the first time, noticed how much she had changed. Her beauty and the strength that was being emitted from Sakura made her feel small, weak and insignificant.

Sakura didn't know what was wrong with herself; why did I suddenly flinch and dodge Ino's hug? What Sakura didn't know was that newborns, like herself, were very wary and distrusting of people. It was a small surviving instinct that newborns had. Sakura had felt it slightly with Tsunade as well, but she had pushed it away into the back of her mind. It also helped that Tsunade didn't try to hug her or anything.

As Sakura pondered on why she did what she did, Ino was staring at her in shock.

"Sakura?" Ino whispered softly.

Sakura turned to look at Ino straight in the eye, making the blonde flinch slightly. "Ah?"

"Um…how long have you been back?" Asked Ino

"A hour or two." Sakura replied.

Ino frowned slightly, a crease appearing between her brows. Then she looked up and cautiously asked, "Have you met them yet?"

When Sakura gave Ino a confused look, Ino realized with surprise that Sakura didn't know yet. How could she have not known? It had been the topic of everyone in Fire Country, yet Sakura didn't seem to know. Had she really gone to such an isolated place that she didn't even hear the news?

"Um…never mind…" Ino nervously stuttered as she saw Sakura's eyes slightly narrow suspiciously.

In a warning tone she asked, "Ino. What are you hiding from me?"

"Nothing!!! Nothing of course!!" Ino frantically tried to deny. Sakura wasn't fooled. Giving Ino a glare, that clearly said that she was going to give her five seconds to spill the beans, Sakura carefully picked out a bouquet of lilies.

Sighing in defeat, Ino warily decided to tell her. Praying to Kami-sama for Sakura to not destroy her flower shop, Ino started.

"Um…well you see…two months ago, your team returned…"

Sakura blinked, her face passive. For some reason, Sakura's calm face terrified Ino. It was so unlike her. Usually, Sakura would blow up, smile, or disappear to meet her team, but at the moment, Sakura was acting as if Ino had just told her that Tsunade was drinking sake again. No reaction.

"Um…Sakura?" Ino tentatively called.

"Hmm?"

Her voice was so uncaring, so relaxed. Ino was freaking out.

"Well you see…they didn't come back alone…"

This time, Ino did get a response. One which Ino hated, the kind that Shikamaru gave her, a bored look of faint surprise and curiosity.

Finally Sakura opened her mouth to speak, "Sasuke is back." It was not a question.

When Ino gave her a nervous nod, Sakura smiled softly, paid, and walked out with her bouquet of lilies.

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"Mother, father, I'm back…"

Sakura was in front of her parent's graves. Sighing, she crouched down and ran her pale, perfect hand over the tombstone lovingly. Blinking blankly, her face emotionless and cold, Sakura stood up, and in a blur of white, black and pink, disappeared…

Naruto, Sai, Kakashi…Sasuke…Man, I am so coming to kick your ass to Texas… wherever that is…

You got to ask Kamui and Suki where that is when they come to visit.

Yeah…

Let's go scare the shit out of them!!!