Okay, I noticed this story got a lot of alerts and favorites and stuff, but no reviews. I would really, really appreciate it if my readers would review my stories. You know, give me some kind of feedback so I can get people's opinions on it. Whether it be praise or constructive criticism. No flames please!
Anyway...
On with the story!!
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For the past week or so, everyone had taken turns watching over the vampire; making sure he was behaving to the Fifth's liking. He usually just kept to himself, not talking further to anyone. He didn't even seem to acknowledge anyone else was even in the room. He slept all day and would be up all night. Sakura, who watched over him the previous night, told Naruto he seemed pained. Probably from his lack of blood as he explained before. But they couldn't risk him having anymore blood, that would mean sacrificing more villagers. And thatwas completely out of the question. Naruto gulped. It was his turn to watch the vampire tonight and his gut was telling him he would not be so passive an unresponsive as he was with the others.
During the rest of the day, he mostly slept, to prepare himself to stay awake the entire night. He was, unfortunately, unable to eat anything, even ramen. The intensity of past events still lingered in everyone's memories. He couldn't even go to Ichiraku's to cheer himself up with the delicious ramen and the smiling faces. The place was closed due to the owner mourning over the loss of his daughter. He sat at his kitchen table and stared into his untouched bowl of ramen, knowing he needed something in his stomach, but knowing better he wouldn't be able to hold it down.
That evening, right after sunset, he made his way to meet with Tsunade. She led him back down to where the vampire was located, giving him the necessary precautions in case something should happen along the way. When they walked in, Naruto saw Kakashi sitting in a chair, reading. He looked up and waved, getting up and walking over to them.
"He's been sleeping all day," the masked ninja spoke, "he woke up a couple of times, and when I tried to talk to him, he just bared his fangs at me and turned away. He's gonna be needing something though if you want him in good health. He's already starting to get really stiff. His muscles are cramping and his joints are cracking. Also, he's looking really pale. His skin is starting to look a bit translucent."
"Very well, we'll see what we can do about the subject later. We can't afford to sacrifice the lives of anymore villagers...," Tsunade mused, "anyway, Naruto, remember, you must be very, very careful with him. Don't take the barrier jutsu for granted. It could be possible for him to figure some way out. We don't really know what he's capable of. And he will be awake the entire night. Don't forget that. If he does talk to you, you may talk back to him, but don't let him manipulate you."
"Okay. I got it."
"Alright then. Kakashi, come with me please," they both turned to leave the blond. Tsunade looked back and said, "Naruto, if you need any help whatsoever, I'll be upstairs. I'll have someone relieve you at dawn, alright?"
"Yeah, Granny Tsunade."
Tsunade made a slightly annoyed face at the remark, but her face lightened at the down and worried look on the boy's face, "Don't worry Naruto. Everything will be fine."
The two left and locked the door, leaving Naruto alone with the sleeping vampire. He looked over and noticed the sleeping raven. He peered in and watched the sleeping figure facing toward him. It was hard to believe this guy could be such a monster. A death dealer, but, when Naruto thought about it, the vampire was right. Humans really weren't that different, maybe even worse when it came to some people...
"Its true."
Naruto snapped from his thoughts and looked up to see the raven staring back at him.
"W-what are you talking about?"
The raven sat up, a bit labored in his movements and mumbled, "Glad he's finally gone. I was really getting tired of his prying..."
He walked up to the glass to where he was right in front of Naruto and sat down, crossing his legs. He looked up to the blond and motioned of him to sit as well. Once Naruto was seated as he was, he spoke, "I was talking about how you were agreeing with me that humans are worse."
"B-but I was just thinking that!"
"I know. You think I can't read your mind?"
"That's not very fair."
"Well, how about I don't hide any of my thoughts from you. Deal?" he chuckled lightly.
"Deal," Naruto agreed. He still found it hard to believe this guy could be so evil. He was actually really good looking and he didn't seem to act that bad and-
"Thank you."
"What?"
"You said I was good looking. Thank you," he chuckled at Naruto's reddening cheeks, "but you know, I don't like to be considered evil. I'm not. I'm just doing what I have to in order to survive. The same as you. If you were to give me a chance, I think you'd notice I'm not really that bad at all."
"Oh, yeah?"
"I think so."
"You didn't talk to the others like this."
The raven looked down, "I don't really like them. I can just tell about people. Vices and personal sins I can sense in their hearts. It bothers me. But you didn't seem bad to me, Naruto-kun."
He looked up to see Naruto blushing again, "Hmm...wait, Sasuke, how do you know my name?"
The vampire smiled, showing his fangs, not threateningly, but in a sincere smile, "You think if I can read your mind, I wouldn't be able to figure out your name?" He looked at Naruto's still blushing face, "you're cute."
Naruto looked up suddenly at the remark, eyes wide, "w-what?"
"You heard me. You think I'm good looking, I think you're cute."
"But I thought you hated humans."
"I don't hate humans. I see them as food. Nothing really more. But," he paused to crack his neck, "I look at you and, well, I see you as being something more than all of the others. You're pure. I've only seen one other human like you before." His face saddened.
"What's wrong? Who was it?"
He looked up into Naruto's eyes, "His name was Deidara. He was, actually, a lot like you. Blond. Although, he was European."
"Did something happen to him?"
"Not really. Well, do you mind a story?"
"No. Go ahead."
"Heh, well, ever since Itachi...my older brother," he added at Naruto's confused expression at the name, "changed me, we've always been together. Even before then, we were inseparable. We lived for centuries together. Well, about 400 years ago, we were traveling through Europe when Itachi met Deidara." He paused again to twist, a stream of cracking sounds erupting from his stiffened back, "Itachi didn't kill him like he would have for his normal victims. He never hurt him. But he went back and met with him again and again. He fell in love with him. Eventually, he came out to Deidara as a vampire. And Deidara accepted him. So, he turned him, and Deidara joined us in immortality. That's when my relationship with Itachi started to become...estranged. He, as was to be expected, directed the vast majority of his attention and affection towards Deidara. They were happy together, and I became the third wheel. I felt outcasted. Finally, I told Itachi I would leave him to his beloved blond. I wouldn't be able to face them again until I found someone to love, just like Itachi." He stopped again, not to crack stiffened joints, but to wipe a tear running down his cheek, "congradulations, Naruto. You're witnessing the one downfall of the immortals. The realization of lonliness."
"Sasuke..."
Sasuke stood up and leaned back, cracking his back once again, Naruto standing up to meet him. The raven laid his hand against the glass and looked into Naruto's eyes. Naruto realized Kakashi was right about Sasuke's complexion. Naruto could see the veins tracing the raven's face and his eyes looked rather dull and slightly sunken in.
"Not looking my best...," Sasuke chuckled, Naruto stammered slightly, trying to think of something to say.
"You don't have to reassure me on my looks. I'm fine. I'm just..."
"Hungry?"
"Heh, a bit..."
"Do you...want my blood?"
"I usually only drink from people I'm indifferent to. I like you. I don't think I could bring myself to actually drink from you."
Naruto looked down, a bit saddened, "I...I like you too. Heh, its funny. I hated you at first, then I was scared of you. But now, after talking to you, I...I like you. And I want to help you somehow."
"You want to help me? Your friends wouldn't appreciate it. They'd probably hate you for it."
"You know what? I, I really don't care. You make me feel like I've never felt before. I think...I think I'd rather if you liked me over them."
"What if I didn't like you-"
"No, I-"
"-And I were to love you instead?"
Sasuke gave a sincere smile and inched his face towards the glass as Naruto did the same. Closing their eyes, they shared a would be kiss, with only the glass to come between them.
--
Over the next few days, Naruto surprised everyone by keeping himself occupied in the library. If anyone asked, he would say the vampire intrigued him and he wanted to learn more about him. In actuality, he was looking for a jutsu that he could learn that could possibly bring down a barrier.
Luckily, after a couple days and having gone through more books than he'd ever thought he'd touch in his life, Naruto found a jutsu to suit his needs. He memorized the hand signs and for the next few days, he practiced over and over, trying to master the new, and difficult, jutsu.
When it was his turn again to watch over Sasuke, he was ecstatic. However, he wouldn't dare express his emotions around the others. He went down into the lab and was shocked to find Sasuke, sitting in a corner against the glass, looking absolutely haggard.
"Sasuke!" Naruto yelled, running over to the vampire. He opened his eyes slowly. Looking over and giving a small smile toward the blond, "heh, hey Naruto-kun."
"What's wrong? They haven't fed you yet?!"
"No, and its been over two weeks now..."
"Here, Sasuke. I found a new jutsu and I've been practicing it...just a sec...," he made the hand signs and performed the jutsu on the glass wall. It ended up making a small hole, only big enough for someone's head to stick through.
"Heh, looks like you may need to practice a bit more, Naruto-kun."
"Sasuke, you need blood. Here take mine," the blond spoke while exposing his neck to the opening.
Sasuke looked up, "Naruto, I-"
"Please, Sasuke, you need this. Take it."
Sasuke, barely able to force himself to stand up, leaned up against the wall and stuck his head through the hole. He slowly opened his mouth, baring his fangs, yet he was hesitant to actually commit the deed.
"Go on, Sasuke. Its okay."
The raven looked up at the blond's warm, sincere smile. He smiled to himself before raising his face and kissing Naruto on the lips. They shared a deep kiss. Sasuke gently bit down on Naruto's lower lip, sucking on it, taking in the delicious blood. He couldn't really taste it that well, the blood mixing with his saliva, but the kiss itself was delectable. He brole the kiss and looked deep into Naruto's brilliant blue eyes. He'd regained some of his handsome looks thanks to the small amount of blood. Naruto smiled back softly. Sasuke moved down once Naruto exposed his neck yet again for the raven and he sank his fangs deep into Naruto's soft flesh. Sasuke didn't know whether it was due to the fact that he wasn't able to drink any blood for weeks, or whether it was just Naruto himself, but all he knew was that Naruto's blood was the most delicious he'd ever tasted. He sucked at the wound hungrily, taking in as much of the luscious red liquid as he could without really hurting Naruto.
"Naruto, I just wanted to- NARUTO!!"
Before Naruto could register what happened, he felt himself being grabbed and ripped away from Sasuke and thrown back. He looked up to see Sasuke slammed against the glass on the opposite side of the wall. His vision became hazy when he saw the blurred image of Tsunade in his face, pleading for him to say something.
"Kakashi! Take Naruto to the hospital wing! Now!"
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Kakashi gently picked Naruto up. "No...Sa...Sasu...ke..., " the blond was able to mumble out before passing out.
Sasuke shook his head, ridding himself of his slight daze from the blow. He looked up to see Naruto being rushed out of the room. In an instant, he was at the wall again calling out to the blond. He was ignored, however, as Kakashi rushed the unconscious boy out of the room. He looked over to glare at the blond woman receiving an even stronger glare in return that seemed to be drenched in poison. She resealed the hole, never taking her eyes off of the raven.
"How DARE you even touch Naruto! You will never see the outside again," she spat, venom lacing her words.
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Okay, that's it for this chapter! Anyway, the next one will be the last one. I said it was going to be short! Anyway, please review. I really appreciate it! Thanks!
