A/N: Aaand here comes chapter four! (grins) MAN, it was good to have practically finished chapters in my back-pocket; makes regular updates easy. (sighs happily)

BUT, before going on with the actual story… THANK YOU so much for your fantastic reviews! (beams, and GLOMPS) When first starting out I wasn't sure if anyone would read this story. It's so good to see that this lil' thing's managed to make friends! So thank you! (hugs once more)

Awkay, because I'm trying not to create a full page's worth of author's notes… Let's get on with the story! (gulps) I hope you'll have a good ride.

BITE FOUR: Valse Triste

"My uncle did it because I'm dying."

For several endlessly long moments those words filled all of Naruto's mind, blocked out everything else. He'd felt cold since having been turned, but it'd never been as bad as it was right then.

He swallowed thickly, then looked up at Sasuke with slightly widened eyes. "Dying…?" Then his thoughts began to spin around much too fast as determination filled him. "But… Now we can change that, right? I mean… If I turn you, you won't have to die." He was almost sure that was the soul purpose of sending Sasuke to Konoha.

At first Sasuke stared at him for the longest time, then snorted. "I'm not afraid of dying, idiot. At least not enough to become something less than human to avoid it."

Naruto frowned. Was Sasuke serious? "Why don't you let me save you?"

Sasuke's eyes filled with irritation and what can only be called disappointment. "If you have to ask, you'd never understand."

Naruto stared at the boy for several seconds, everything inside him in flames. He didn't remember ever feeling as helpless, not even before becoming a vampire. He couldn't understand it. Why was he…?

Just as he was about to figure out something Kiba emerged from the school, motioning them to follow. "Don't you know what time it is? Get back here before Orochimaru loses it."

Naruto nodded slowly, swallowing down something he couldn't name. "Yeah", he promised breathlessly. "We'll be there in a bit."

With a nod of his own Kiba disappeared, a look of curiosity in his eyes.

Sasuke moved to follow, but before he got the chance to go inside Naruto took his wrist so hard it almost hurt. He glanced towards the blond to meet a pair of flaming blue eyes. "What?" he half-spat out, feeling very uncomfortable with being touched by a vampire like this.

"I'm not going to give up just yet. You do get that, right?" Naruto's eyes hardened still. "I'm not letting you just… die."

For some reason Sasuke found it hard to resist a tiny smile. That idiot…! "Yeah", he murmured in the end. "I know."

Naruto nodded, so serious that in some other situation it might've looked comical. "Good." And that sealed the conversation for the time being.

They walked into the building in silence, neither noticing that Naruto didn't remember to let go of his wrist.

Two nights later, afer coming to a conclusion that he wouldn't be able to sleep, Sasuke sneaked out of Konoha once more. He was glad to notice that it looked like he'd, for once, managed to leave the building unnoticed.

It made the place feel a little less like a prison.

Not knowing what power led him Sasuke made his way through the nearby forest, ignoring how cold and uncomfortable it was to move through all the branches and plants.

I must be a masochist, he figured.

After about fifteen minutes later Sasuke stopped with a frown, almost sure that he could feel a presence. His body taking control over common sense he found himself moving towards a nearby opening. He blinked twice at the sight that met him.

Neji was stood in the middle of the opening with his back to him, appearing a lot stiffer than usual. Following the boy's downcast gaze, Sasuke arched an eyebrow when finding two unnamed white crosses.

Suddenly some things made sense.

At that moment Neji became aware of his presence. Faster than he could make a sound the Hyuuga had spun around and pulled out a long, slender knife that shone chilling beauty in the pale moonlight. Before Sasuke could pull in a breath the weapon had been placed to his throat, right against the most vulnerable spot.

Leaves danced around them as time stood still.

Sasuke's heart raced as he stared at the blade so very close to his neck, feeling foreign and disturbingly pleasant pulsating in his veins. It took long before he managed to lift his gaze to look at the other boy from under his eyelashes. "Are you planning on moving that away or using it?" It was surprising that his voice was perfectly even.

Neji's eyes flashed a little while the boy put the weapon away, those pale eyes never leaving his. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm a little bit too used to being on guard."

"Hn", was what he managed in the end.

They looked at each other for several moments, as though trying to determine whether the other was dangerous or not, breathing sharply. Then the tension vanished, and Sasuke found his gaze straying to the crosses once more. "Loved ones?" he inquired although he knew it was none of his business.

He wasn't expecting Neji to reply. That's why he was surprised when the boy spoke with hard, dangerous eyes. "My father, and my cousin." The voice was harsh, but not bitter. "The first people I lost to vampires."

Sasuke nodded. And somehow that moment was filled with mutual understanding. No further questions were needed.

All of a sudden Neji lifted his gaze, then nodded towards something. "Look."

Obeying the unclear request with some confusion Sasuke moved his gaze, and felt something inside himself shift.

He had no idea how he hadn't noticed it earlier, but out of nowhere what looked like a million fireflies had appeared. At the moment they they were dancing everywhere around them, making the dark night seem alive and full of light.

Sasuke didn't think he'd never seen anything as beautiful in his life.

It surprised them both that Neji spoke. "You know… You're the first one who's ever watched this with me."

Sasuke blinked once. And for a moment it was hard to hold back a tiny smile.

Peaceful silence lingered as they watched the fireflies, lost in their own thoughts. Neither noticed that the distance between their hands was dangerously small.

They also didn't notice that they weren't entirely alone.

From the branch of a nearby tree Naruto observed them, his once again red eyes narrowed dangerously with something incredibly human.

When Neji looked towards the trees after a moment, feeling that he was being watched, he spotted no one.

Since that night Neji and Sasuke's little midnight-meetings became a routine of some sort, although it was never requested or even voiced by either one of them. When spending his time in the school, with Naruto, and with Neji Sasuke felt like he'd been dangling between two worlds that didn't feel real. And from the start he had a sinking feeling that one day the hiding would have to end.

Two weeks later it finally happened. Because one night when he was coming home from meeting Neji Kiba was standing by the gates of Konoha, waiting for him.

The brunet gave him a rather sharp look, most likely attempting to appear dangerous while folding his arms. "I don't know what, exactly, you're doing. But you've been driving Naruto up the wall for two weeks."

Sasuke also folded his arms and lifted an eyebrow, feeling irritation bubbling inside him. "I don't see how any of that is your business."

"Naruto's my best friend – hell, my only friend! And you're his… chosen mate, or something like that." The brunet's words were actually vicisious. "You're the only person who's ever affected him this way – the only one he's let close enough. So if you hurt him, in any way, I swear…!"

"Kiba, zip it", a much too familiar voice snarled all of a sudden. Naruto's blue eyes were somewhat threatening while the blond emerged from the shadows, eyes fixed on him. "Go inside. I'll take care of this."

Appearing reluctant Kiba nodded, then turned and disappeared. As soon as they were alone all of Naruto's attention was on him. "He's a vampire slayer, Sasuke. One of their best." The blond's voice shook with wrath. "I know you don't want to be here. But of all people…!"

At that moment Sasuke's control broke. Rage filled all of him as he spoke through tightly grit teeth. "Let's make something very, very clear." He sucked in a tight breath. "You're right – this place wasn't my choice. I'd want to spend the time I have left home, in a safe and familiar place, not in a school that's infested with vampires. So don't you dare try to threaten me, because I'm sick and tired of being ordered around! I'm not anybody's possession, least of all yours. And I don't give a shit about what issues your kind have with others! I also believe I have every right to talk to whoever I please. I'm just trying to make the most out of the time I have left. If you can't respect me that much, fuck off!"

He took two steps – and felt Naruto grab him, hard. Faster than he could make a sound the vampire had spun him around and pulled him so close that he felt the warm air seeping through the blond's nose with sharp, angry breaths. Naruto's eyes were on flames, and for a while Sasuke expected the vampire to bite him or do something even nastier.

And then it was over, as rapidly as it'd started. Naruto let him go, nearly pushed him away, then left before he could do more than blink twice.

Air spun around Sasuke as he stared at the door Naruto slammed closed, wondering what exactly the feelings twirling inside him were.

After the disturbing encounter Sasuke went to his room and almost managed to fall asleep after tossing and turning in his bed for two hours. That was until there was a knock on his door.

Spewing out cusses he fought his way out of the surprisingly inviting bed and made his way to the door. A far from impressed look rose to his face when he found Naruto standing there. "What?" he spat out.

There was a nearly childish, displeased look on Naruto's face. "I hate how you keep making me apologize", the vampire muttered, then asked him to follow with a nearly angry gesture. "Now come on. I want to do this before I change my mind."

More out of curiosity than anything else Sasuke followed.

They walked for what felt like ages, ending up to the basement floor of the building. There Naruto opened a huge and clearly heavy metallic door, revealing a view to a dark and poorly decorated room.

"This used to be a ballroom", Naruto explained. "We haven't used this in ages."

Sasuke let his eyes scan through the layers of dust. "I figured as much."

Giving him a rather irritated look Naruto walked to a cd-player that'd clearly been brought into the room recently and pressed 'play'. In a moment amazingly beautiful violin-music filled the room.

Sasuke had to blink twice. "I didn't think you're the type that likes classical music", he confessed with genuine surprise.

Naruto grinned, apparently pleased by his expression, while walking towards him. "I'm full of surprises, Uchiha."

Something strange shifted between them as Naruto placed his arms around Sasuke's hips. At first the Uchiha glared and attempted to step further, but unexpectedly soon accepted the situation.

Sasuke frowned, appearing wary. "I haven't heard this before."

For some reason Naruto found himself grinning again, like a cat about to catch a mouse. "It's Liszt's Un Sospiro. Now shut up and let it move you."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed for a long moment, most likely as a instinctive objection to being ordered around. But the Uchiha nonetheless didn't resist as they took the first testing steps, then let the music fill them. At first nothing happened, but after about fifty seconds it was apparent that something was going on.

The music affected like a drug. Their hold on each other tightened, screamed for something neither could name.

Naruto didn't understand what was happening to him anymore, couldn't control what was spinning everywhere inside his body. He felt uncomfortably hot and dangerously weak as he pulled Sasuke much closer than would've been safe to either one of them. The Uchiha's scent filled his mind, every single part of him.

Sasuke shuddered, but surprisingly didn't try to pull away. It was like he'd thrown the boy a challenge the other couldn't back down from.

They swayed slowly, inventing patterns of their own. Naruto was vaguely aware of the fact that his hands were everywhere on Sasuke's body, and it was a real miracle the Uchiha didn't punch him or push him away. It looked like all rules were off for the night.

As the music intensified – electrified – so did the atmosphere around them. Realizing that just this once Sasuke wasn't resisting Naruto grew bold, as did his hands. Sasuke's whole body stiffened when one of his hands slipped underneath the dark-haired boy's shirt.

Stormy dark eyes met his, hissing a soundless demand although it was unclear to them both what the boy wanted. It looked like Naruto wasn't the only one of them left confused.

A teasing part of the musical piece followed, taunting them as they kept walzing around each other like two predators on the verge of attacking. Now every move, breath and look was carefully planned. The air around them was thick and heavy with something so primal and alluring that it brought chills to Naruto's skin.

Suddenly there was a pause that seemed to freeze everything as the music ended, so unexpectedly that they both shivered. They waited in loaded, hot stillness for a few moments.

And then, right before Naruto would've exploded with anticipation, the music continued with a new melody. This time the music was different, swirled and jumped around them as they kept moving like there'd been no pause at all. They followed the altered melody, still moving around each other as though they'd been pulled towards one another.

Liebestraum from Liszt wrapped them into its hold.

The rules also changed. Sasuke denied his request with a growl and loudly speaking glare when his eager hand brushed one of the Uchiha's most private parts, yearning for contact. He was being too bold – he was risking it.

And he couldn't stop himself.

They almost held their breaths as the music stopped once more, with Naruto's hand left lingering around the strictly forbidden place. And then Sasuke emitted a sharp, hiss-like gasp when the music began again, with another tune.

Franck's Piano Quintet filled the loaded air around them as movement resumed. All his self-control gone, Naruto emitted a rather loud growl before moving so that Sasuke was all but pushed against a wall. This time his greedy hand claimed what it'd been craving, and Sasuke didn't bother to try and stop him.

Their little game had changed its course, it seemed. And every single part of Naruto was delighted.

His lips tingled as he pressed against Sasuke's lips, shamelessly stealing the last of the Uchiha's breath before moving downwards. At first he kissed Sasuke's neck softly, then – as the beat under the other's pale skin filled his head – a lot harder, a different kind of need entirely filling his whole system. He withdrew with a faint growl to lick his lips, also letting his tongue brush his sharp fangs. His mouth, his whole body, tingled with anticipation.

Sasuke shivered but didn't pull away when he attacked the Uchiha's unprotected neck once more, almost harshly enough to break skin. The dark-haired boy gave a sound he couldn't identify when his teeth brushed the boy's skin. But still Sasuke didn't escape.

The Uchiha was playing a very dangerous game indeed.

The music seemed to grow faster and faster, sucking them into its bizarre world. Everything was starting to feel surreal to Naruto. Soon enough he wouldn't be able to contain himself at all.

Surprising them both it was Sasuke who unleashed a tiny, impatient moan, squirming under Naruto's constantly firming hold. It looked like the vampire wasn't the only one about to lose control.

And then, in a blink, the music died out. No new song followed, and the room was left quiet. But it wasn't quiet inside the two of them.

Naruto was struck paralyzed by shock when completely out of nowhere Sasuke grabbed his face between his hands and pressed a pair of hot, moist lips against his so hard that it was easy to imagine the other boy couldn't breathe. In a few moments Naruto finally gained the ability to respond, and his tongue slipped gratefully into Sasuke's mouth, exploring the unknown land with keen interest. The other boy's pulse was beating inside his head, so loudly that it was difficult to focus on anything else. The temptation such intensity brought was too much.

There was no telling where such a dangerous fooling around might've led them if Sasuke hadn't been struck by a flash of clarity.

With a somewhat harsh movement the Uchiha pushed Naruto away, then slipped from his hold and dashed out of the room before the vampire could produce a word. Leaving Naruto with a pulsation and heat that was almost enough to drive the blond insane.

Quite close to Konoha, on a strange, tiny black-sanded beach that was shielded by cliffs, a group of four humans had gathered around a body that'd been abandoned to the sand.

Danzou's voice didn't carry any emotions, but a storm lingered in his eyes as they locked to the tooth-marks on the victim's neck. "Have you identified her?"

Neji, who was stood beside him, nodded with a solemn expression. "She's Hotaru, commander's daughter. I already sent Shikamaru to inform him."

Danzou nodded, then let his eyes shift from the body to the vampire two of his strongest men were holding. Brown hair, scared and angry black eyes, the appearance of a teenage boy… This Kiba looked so human that it sickened him. "You violated the agreement", he all but hissed.

The vampire's eyes flashed red for a moment. "I already told you she was dead when I got here! I swear I didn't touch her!"

He shrugged, fed up with listening to the being. "Well, whether it was you or not one of your kind killed her. And now we've found you here. I'm sure you understand that in my position, it's rather hard to believe you."

Kiba responded with a barely human growl.

Neji felt chills of dread travel down his spine when Danzou's eyes found his. "Hyuuga, take him to the compound and dig out everything you can. Then make… an excample of him. And make sure all of his kind see it. That they understand we're not fooling around anymore."

He nodded stiffly, then gave the two hunters a signal to follow him with the prisoner. For one, dangreous moment his gaze locked with Kiba's. "Don't do this, please", the vampire whispered.

It was much harder than it should've been for Neji to turn his back on Kiba and start walking.

Danzou spoke just before he would've been out of earshot. "Oh, and Neji? Be sure that he's taken from here in a flashy manner. Because we have audience."

Yes, Neji was also aware that on top of the cliff stood two vampires, observing them.

He really wished he would've been able to block out the vampire's screams of protest. "You can't do this! I haven't even fucking done anything! You can't do this to me!"

Neji felt utterly cold as he walked away with the rest of the crew following, all the way feeling the eyes on him.

Tonight they were starting a allout war. And for some reason the thought unnerved him.

TBC, for a couple of more chapters.

A/N: Oooh boy… Talking about things getting hot, ne? (sweatdrops and grins cheekily)

PLEASE, leave a note to let me know your thoughts on this chapter and the story in general! It'd be overwhelmingly appreciated, especially since I'm just working to recharge my love and inspiration for Naruto. (gives HUGE puppy's eyes) Please…?

IN THE NEXT ONE we're nearing the story's end. Naruto has a lot on his mind when Sasuke grows weaker and hunters – Neji, in particular – seem to be breathing down his neck. Decisions must be made as fate keeps twisting things.

Until next time, folks! I really, REALLY hope I'll c ya all then!