Naruto's head hurt like hell. And all he could see was black. He cracked one eye open, too blurry, he managed to open the other eye, why was it still blurry. He gave his head a little shake. That seemed to do the trick. He looked around. Why was it so dark? He then froze as a voice rose from somewhere above him.

"Are we awake yet, Naruto?" it spoke

Cold sweat broke out upon him.

That Voice.

Memories were forcing themselves back into his line of thought.

FlashBack "Sasuke, Don't do this." Naruto was panting as he pleaded with his red-eyed (hopefully still) friend.

"The Queen will see you now, Naruto."

Panic overtaking him, a blow to the back of his head, falling through bloody darkness.

Present

Naruto's world froze as he lifted his head towards the sound of the voice.

Sitting on a throne decorated in carved demonic figures, was the newly anointed 'Queen of the Damned', His old team mate.

"Sakura" Naruto breathed.

Sakura Haruno, or the Queen of the Damned as she was now known, had changed a lot from the last time he saw her almost four months ago. For one thing she was now wearing an entirely black formal looking dress studded with numerous blood red gems and otherworldly patterns, for another her eyes had become blood red and her canines, which showed as she smiled maliciously at Naruto, had become long and pointed. The only thing that really proved that this was still Sakura was her bubblegum pink hair, which oddly enough seemed darker.

Viewing these numerous changes upon his old team mate, and the fact that he had been doing his best to keep away from her for the last few month, was causing Naruto to suffer numerous panic attacks, which isn't good if you are too sacred to move any muscles.

Queen Sakura was seemingly enjoying the terror that her very presence was inflicting upon Naruto.

"What's wrong Naruto-kun?" she spoke, malicious delight clear with every word she said even the 'kun'. "You don't look happy to see your old team mate again."

Naruto didn't speak, hell, he didn't breathe because he was so scared. He was going to die, he knew it, and because it had been on Sakura's orders that he was to be captured and brought to her, he knew it was hardly going to be quick and painless.

Naruto knelt there both listening for and dreading the next thing Sakura said. He dreaded that the next thing she said would be the order for this exucution. He sat there listening and then…

"No, Naruto, that isn't why I wanted you captured." Said Sakura. Naruto's head jerked up, Sakura was walking down the platform towards him, she laughed. "Did you forget? I can read minds, and while killing you would be justified by all the rebellious acts you've led against me in the last few months, it would break my promise to a close friend."

"I thought vampire's didn't have friends, just slaves and pawns." Naruto said finally managing to find his voice although he was in pain.

The evil radiating off Sakura was starting to make Naruto lose control of the bonds he had on Kyuubi. He could feel the demon fox starting to rear up. Thrashing around in both excitement and agony.

"We do have friends, Naruto." Sakura replied as she started to notice what was happening to Naruto. "And it looks like you'll have to become one of mine if you don't want to die when Kyuubi awakens.

She knelt down beside him while he clutched his stomach, the seal burning bright red.

"I can help you, Naruto." She whispered. "Just agree to becoming part of our clan, and I'll help you stay alive after Kyuubi's awakening, and think you'll be apart of something again."

Naruto's mind was bursting as he struggled to take in those words. His whole body felt like it was on fire. He needed it to stop, or he was going to die, breakdown or pain it didn't matter. NO, no he can't just give in like some helpless dog, he would never join Sakura he did not want to become one of the things that had been hunting him over the last few months, he would rather die than join the things that had taken his friends, his home, he would rather die.

But he didn't want to die.

He wanted to live; dieing had been something that he had miraculously staved off through his life and he didn't want to end that now.

"Please Naruto."

The voice of the Nine Tailed fox, Kyuubi, flooded his mind along with fresh waves of pain. It's sudden adaptation to begging a major shock to Naruto, even in his pain.

"Please let her help us, I need to be released and she is the only one who can save your life, both our lives."

Kyuubi's pleading was as moving as well as shocking and they sounded genuine but...

"I can't just give in can I?" Naruto thought. "I can't just give in."

"You need something to be apart of, we both do."

"Why?"

"Because we've been denied it all of our lives."

Those words struck home with Naruto. Ignoring the pain as much as he could he lifted his head up as far as he could towards Sakura, her face showing her impatience, he nodded.

Sakura, with a truly delighted look on her face, called to someone behind Naruto, he couldn't turn to see on account of the pain but he did have his awareness and that immediately told him that someone was walking up behind him, and then kneeling behind him.

At that point the pain took over, his whole body felt like it was being pierced by thousands of kunai at the same time. He couldn't see, he couldn't breath, the pain was too much.

"Quickly H…" Naruto barely made out Sakura voice over the pain. "Or we'll lose him.

Naruto thought he heard someone reply in a soft voice, a voice he also knew. At that point he felt someone's breath on his neck and then a quick stabbing pain. Naruto tried to call out but between Kyuubi roaring around inside him and the person at his neck, all he could do was let out a soft growl and then he was slipping back into darkness.