Sakura tentatively walked in and peered over at every corner of the classroom. Empty desk, empty desk, empty teacher's desk. Nope, no one was in here.

Am I hallucinating again?

"We're in the library," spoke a voice from behind her. She gasped, knowing exactly who it was. The delicate fabric of her sanity morphed his words into a haunting remark:

"I'm going to kill you."

She turned around, startled. "What?"

"We're in the library, Sakura," he announced.

"I'm going to kill you, Sakura."

She stuttered, again unsure of what she heard. "…W-What?"

"Are you deaf?" Sasuke rolled his aloof and unreachable eyes. He stood in a grey button-up shirt and a pair of dark-washed, straight-legged jeans. And yet, she saw sporadic flashes of him in his sleek, black suit, complete with a rivulet of blood seeping from his lips. But it wasn't real.

It could've been. They were alone. He had a clear shot at her. He could lock the door, rush at her, gnaw at her neck. She could helplessly struggle, but ultimately die on the floor. That's how it's supposed to go down.

He was the hunter, she was the hunted.

She looked at the clock.

7:01AM

I'm still alive?

[14] The Ultimatum

There was a war raging inside of him.

There was a simple truth that even he could not deny: He was interested in her. Not that he was in love with her, no need to get carried away, but after some careful evaluation, feelings changed. He had come to not completely dislike her, but that was all he would ever admit to. She was no longer a burden – she may potentially become useful.

To him, she was alluring in more ways than one. He had a taste of her and an epiphany shattered the meaning of his existence. After nearly 100 years of walking this earth, he finally experienced what it was like to live – to feel something truly satisfying, something besides empty feelings like loathing and hatred. It was not an experience he was willing to just throw away.

He used to get personal exaltation from overindulging on the blood of the living, but once Sakura entered this world, his covetous hunger started to spiral out of control. He needed something new, something special. His kills became gruesome and disturbing, straight out of the world's most petrifying nightmares to make up for the missing piece. A new high, his inexorable greed would take over his mind as he searched for something to fill the sudden void. Nothing sufficed.

Then, he had her and he felt complete. He thought the bliss would last…

Until she woke up.

Then, the angst-filled mood swings started all over again. He was furious, enraged, and ready to obliterate her without batting an eye. But he realized this was his chance. He generated an ingenious idea; hours and hours of sitting in a hospital bathroom had that kind of effect. He could stop his inner demons with her blood. By keeping her alive, she could be his cure. She could save him from himself…

But his sinister passenger still lurked inside of him. He wanted her in the darkest, sickest way possible: to ruin her innocence and the purity inside of her. Sasuke wanted to destroy her humanity to suck it up for himself.

The battle was between his will to live and his urge to kill.

A part of him wanted her alive. Another part of him wanted her dead.

He was conflicted beyond belief.

When he saw her face when she awoke at the hospital, he wasn't sure how to feel. The new understanding was present in her face, it was clear as day: she knew his secret. Whether she heard it from those around her or she reached an epiphany of her own, Sakura knew of his curse. If she was good at keeping secrets, he figured it could work to his advantage. He could finally live. So he left, trying to keep formulate a plan worthy of his regenesis.

When he left the hospital on Sunday, he paid a visit to Sakura's bodyguards. He knocked on the impressively crafted door and met with the half-breed. At first, she was timid.

"Ne-Neji isn't here…if y-you're looking for h-"

"I'm not," he had cut her off. Her speech impediment was annoying. "What did you do with Sakura?"

"Why don't you just leave her alone? W-We know what you did." Well, most of the stuttering stopped. Apparently, when her friend came into the picture, a small spurt of confidence appeared.

"Circumstantial evidence. Now, answer my question," he threatened. Her confidence declined, but she stood her ground with semi-trembling feet. Following the lines of useless conversation and a few threats here and there, Hinata told Sasuke about Sakura's instantaneous recovery. No blood transfusion. No injections. No vampire interference whatsoever. It seemed the Hyuugas were officially off the hook, but it was still so…

Intriguing.

Sakura Haruno was such a mystery.

Sakura kept a good distance between them as they walked towards the school's library. According to Sasuke, they had a substitute today, but Kakashi didn't leave lesson plans, so they managed to reserve the library for the period. Sakura visualized herself lost in the shelves and shelves of manuscript, safely far, far away from him.

With his long strides, Sasuke made it to the library doors first and held one open, figuring it wouldn't kill him to be a gentleman. He earned a suspicious look from Sakura. She dramatically avoided brushing up against him to get inside and he smirked to himself; her antics were so amusing. He then walked towards Naruto and Shikamaru meeting at the very last table, while Sakura hesitated, deciding on where to sit.

"Quiet down!" ordered Mr. Asuma, the history teacher. "We're in the library for a reason."

The volume seemed to lower down, but there was always that one kid who ruined it.

"SAKURA, OVER HERE!"

"Really Naruto! What the hell did I just say?"

The hyperactive teenager ignored the substitute and signaled her over. Sakura winced at the discomfiture and Naruto's disruptive behavior. Sure, he was a nice guy, but damn it all, she really didn't want to be anywhere close to Sasuke right now. Nevertheless, she made her way over and dropped her books on the table. Naruto beamed in delight.

"Hey, grab a seat. Aren't cha glad Kakashi's not here today?"

She was just glad she wasn't dead.

"Sure... Sorry, but can I just leave my stuff here? I need to go look for a book," she excused herself, never actually sitting down. She piled her binders, folder, and planner and placed her black purse on top.

"A book for what?" inquired Shikamaru, sporting his typical ennui. Sakura nearly fumbled on her words trying for an excuse.

"O-Oh, the AC History paper. You didn't start it, yet?"

"It's due in two months…"

"I know, but it wouldn't hurt to start it early," she laughed nervously and glanced over at the object of her impending doom. The intent look he was giving her indicated that he could plainly see through the bullshit. His pleased grin was taunting her. And she didn't know how much more she could take before spiraling out of control.

Now in the other section of the library, Sakura dived behind the nearest shelf and scanned the books for anything remotely interesting. Whatever it was had to occupy her for the next hour because she'd rather rot behind dusty literature than in Sasuke's damp, moldy basement. The books were ancient references and encyclopedias about the "Most Influential Writers since the Dawn of Time" who wrote with dreary prose and 15th century terminology. Yawn.

She followed along the aisles and after a few minutes of searching, she came across a book that piqued her interest and one that could potentially save her life.

The Paranormal Archives: Vampires, Werewolves, and Other Mysteries

Eureka. She pulled out the oversized hardback and searched the index, organized by various topics. She sat on the carpet and dust leapt into the air as she turned the pages; she fanned her hand to keep herself from suffocating. In elegant script, the title ran across the top:

Vampires: Creatures of the Night

She caught the first word before her stomach dropped and a chilling voice called out to her.

"A book on history in the horror section…," the subject of her research said, facing away and reviewing another vampire encyclopedia for himself. He casually slipped it back into the shelf and raised his head to look at her.

Something dangerous flickered behind his eyes.

"Did you find what you were looking for?"

Sakura scurried to her feet, leaving The Paranormal Archives on the floor. The vampire stalked forward, taking the book and eyeing the open page. Sakura stood completely still as Sasuke quietly read. After an eternity of seconds, he scoffed and without looking up, he said:

"That's not true."

And that was NOT what she had imagined him saying in her final moments. Something along the lines of "Any last words?" or "Prepare to meet your maker" seemed more appropriate, no matter how dreadfully cliché the sayings were. She was speechless. Maybe under the brooding persona and infinite misery, he had some ironic sense of humor.

"'Garlic easily repels vampires'? Tch..." He snapped the book closed and held it out in front of him. "This is a very inaccurate source… Here," he joked with a straight face, but she didn't seem to find it funny. She quickly grabbed the book and pulled it to her chest in a defensive stance. Her frightened eyes turned into saucers and he belted out a sardonic laugh with his fantastically white teeth gleaming against the florescent lighting.

"Afraid?"

His candor was unnerving.

"A little," she announced honestly. He stepped forward, and she was frozen in place. The air inched towards a menacing atmosphere.

"I can smell it," he whispered as the distance closed with a foot left in between them.

Oh GOD, he's going to kill me.

"I'm not going to kill you," he declared, as if reading her mind by chance. It took Sakura a second to register what miracle had left his mouth.

"…What?"

"You really need to get your hearing checked."

"No, I just don't understand. I mean, you're a…," her voice trailed off, leaving the statement lingering in the air.

"A… what, Sakura?" Her name just rolled off his tongue so perfectly, but he was mocking her to the extreme. Sakura was clearly uncomfortable, hiding behind that oversized pile of lies and being put on the spot. He liked watching her squirm and she was conscious of it. The bastard.

The wretched word was forming in her mouth when she noticed Sasuke discreetly glance over his shoulder, as if someone was coming. And sure enough, Mr. Asuma walked by, checking aisle by aisle for students gone astray.

"There you are, Sakura," the man said, scribbling onto a gridded piece of paper. "I was taking attendance and I thought I saw you coming in. So, what's going on? Why are you two hiding back here?" He pulled an unlit cigarette from the back of his ear, and twirled it around his fingers, itching to light it.

"History paper," declared Sasuke simply and Sakura slowly nodded her head.

"That's not due for a while. Getting started on it already?" His tone hinted at his skepticism.

"It wouldn't hurt," Sakura answered this time, recycling her excuse from five minutes ago. He was the history teacher after all, maybe he would buy it. "By the way, do you know where Mr. Kakashi is?" She didn't forget the detention Kakashi slapped on her permanent record and she definitely couldn't forget who got her in detention in the first place…

"I couldn't tell you. I saw him this morning in the teacher's lounge. He pulled me aside, asked me to cover his class, and then he ran off. That guy…" he said, feeling the cancer stick in his hand. "…always has some hidden agenda."

"…Okay, thanks." Sakura assumed their sub meant to keep that last part to himself, so she ignored it and stuffed The Paranormal Archives onto the loaded bookshelf. Sasuke, on the other hand, took note; there was something off about that Mr. Kakashi, if that was even his real name.

"So, I'll let you kids get back to your research." Mr. Asuma made air quotes with his fingers, and leaned in to whisper, "Just a heads up, the history section is on the other side of the library if you actually get interested in starting that paper." A pinkish hue painted Sakura's cheeks at her teacher's insinuation. He laughed to himself as he walked away, carrying his pack of cigarettes and attendance book with him.

They both listened for the footsteps to fade before attending to the blood-sucking elephant in the room. Then, they exchanged looks.

"I said I wasn't going to kill you…," Sasuke started. "…yet."

Mellow tunes hummed through the static radio as Kakashi drove down the streets of downtown Konoha. His cup of teacher's lounge coffee swished in the cheap styrofoam sitting in a plastic cup holder. He took a sip as he waited for a red light. The coffee was quite good today considering it was made from the best the school could afford, which wasn't much to being with, but the only regret he had was leaving campus without getting more. It was the only substance keeping him awake, but he was in a hurry.

At least he was responsible enough to leave the students with someone remotely dependable.

Looks like I owe you one, Asuma….

Kakashi parked his compact car down the street from his destination and fed the meter some change before starting down the sidewalk. With hands in his pockets, he kept his head down and made a sharp turn into a dank alleyway. At its end, he saw a workbench covered in sawdust and little chunks of wood. He knew he was in the right place.

By the workbench, a decrepit, white-painted door greeted him. As he turned the brass knob, chips of paint tumbled to the ground and a small, golden bell rang above him when he entered. The store was a forest's graveyard that smelled like fresh pine and cedar. He welcomed himself to Wood Release, a modest furniture store run by an old friend who was in need of a visit.

It slipped his mind that he entered through the covert back entrance, and he found himself behind the counter. The man he was trying to find had his feet up, engrossed in the morning news and his herbal tea. The tiny television buzzed when the antennas shifted out of place.

"How inconvenient…," the man grumbled out loud. Kakashi watched on as the brown-haired storeowner slammed the top of his TV. The picture and sound crackled again before returning to the local news. The brunette sighed nosily before noticing the masked man behind him. "Aah…" Recognition transformed his face. "It's been a long time."

Kakashi smiled despite the mask covering his face. "Yo."

"You should've called. I would have made more tea if I knew."

"I lost your number." The silver-haired visitor rubbed the back of his head. "Apologies, Yamato."

"Of course, I should've known," Yamato remarked with the tiniest implication of sarcasm. "But I can imagine you're not here to just have some tea for old time's sake."

"We have some catching up to do…"

The two men took a seat at a display table by the storefront and Yamato brought out another cup of his earthy and slightly bitter tea. Kakashi gladly accepted another caffeine boost. Another brass bell chimed, this time from the entrance of the store and an elderly woman shuffled inside. Yamato excused himself to meet with the costumer while Kakashi took his time to admire the expertly polished chairs, cabinets, and bed frames exhibited throughout the shop. It was an art form and a talent that deserved the respect it rarely received, for Yamato Tenzo was a quiet and precariously calm man. He wasn't a showman who required the spotlight or the finishing number; he was an artist who was carefully stationed in the background.

Kakashi was watching his old friend at work, doing what he did best. Despite the skill, it wasn't just his craftsmanship that Kakashi was after; it was the man's deceivingly stoic demeanor that made him perfect for the job. Stressful situations never fazed him and dealing with grouchy old women or finicky shoppers was no exception. He used all the right hand gestures and he had a public-relations smile plastered on his plain face. The woman smiled in return, but waved him off nonetheless. It appeared that the woman wanted to wander around on her own, leaving Yamato to retreat back to the table. He sighed, but he kept a pleasant appearance.

Kakashi spun the teaspoon in the porcelain cup. "You're falling on hard times…"

"People tend to forget that this is a store and not a museum."

"I'd like to change that." Kakashi wasted no time getting to the point. "I want to place a special…order."

Yamato smiled to himself, picking up on Kakashi's intonation and use of code. "That's funny, I thought we were strictly retired from that sort of business."

"It seems that new costumers come into town when you least expect it."

"What kind of costumers are we talking about here?"

"The blood-sucking kind."

The practiced woodworker sat back in his hand-made chair and crossed his arms. "Sounds risky."

"It sounds like something you'd be good at," Kakashi countered, drinking his fill.

"Ten years ago, maybe, when we were at our prime."

"30 is not past our prime, Yamato. It is our prime. You, of all people, should understand the meaning of experience."

"A ten-year long hiatus is a long one to come back from. Look at us, you're a teacher and I'm a woodworker. What can we possibly do?" he reasoned. "And if you fail, are you willing to face a homicidal clan waiting to tear you limb from limb?"

"I've done it before," Kakashi shrugged with a nonchalant coolness. "And I lived."

"We can't always be lucky."

"I'm not asking for luck," he stated solemnly. "I'm asking for a favor from a man who has been hiding his skills for years. Why are you so willing to spend the rest of your life making tables and chairs and watching mindless people walk in and out of this store without even appreciating your trade? It's a waste."

The bell chimed as the woman exits the store. Another would-be costumer walking out empty-handed. Another reminder of his failing years. Yamato stared at the table and eyed the design etched into the stained, birch wood. All the hard work he has done remained neglected and ignored, left to rot in this rented space for infinity.

'Maybe it didn't have to be like that anymore,' he thought. Maybe this job could finally get him out of this downward spiral.

Yamato stood and the seat skidded across the floor. He pulled a key from his pocket, locked the store's entrance, and officially closed the shop to get down to some real, money-making business.

"Since we're on the topic, I have something to show you." Yamato motioned Kakashi over and they arrive behind the counter, standing near an antique rug that Kakashi failed to notice when he first came. Yamato yanked it out of the way and revealed a trapdoor-like opening in the middle of the floor. After turning the key, the door creaked open and they descended down a flight of stairs into an underground cavern.

The wooden stairs screeched terribly and every step felt like it could crack from its weakened and decayed nature. "How long has this place been here?"

"It always has been. Where do you think I get my work done?"

They entered the secret room, and the event of a woodland massacre was evident. Every square inch was covered in wood shavings and unfinished table legs and slabs. Tools were scattered carelessly in some freeing manner. But it was the wall opposite the staircase that caught Kakashi's attention.

A very tall cross hung in the middle of the display. Then, a mass of wooden crossbows, carved with endless perfection. Countless jars of wooden bullets, arranged by penetration ability. And a massive amount of pointed stakes, sharpened and shaped from every type of wood on earth.

A vampire hunter's paradise.

"Ten years…" Kakashi spoke with awe. "You've been busy."

"…and she was being a little tramp again, but what else is new? And I told her, 'you know what? He is MY date, so back off' and Ami kept bitching and bitching…"

Saying it was hard to concentration would be the understatement of the century. Sakura wanted to listen to Ino's weekly gossip – really, she did – but right now, she was facing a life or death situation. Besides, multi-tasking was never her strong point, but she had to manage avoiding hallway traffic, keeping up with conversation, and figuring out a way to survive, all while trying to navigate her way to the lunchroom. Her friend's high-pitched voice turned hazy and blurred as a deep, ominous one took over Sakura's thoughts.

"I said I wasn't going to kill you…yet."

"So…there's a catch…?"

"Isn't there always?"

"I don't normally make deals with murderers, so I wouldn't know," Sakura retorted with a surprising amount of sass. Sasuke would be lying through his razor-sharp teeth if he said he wasn't enjoying her audacity.

"Then I'll keep this simple." He closed the space between them, but the adrenaline running through her veins was keeping her from feeling afraid. On the bright side, toying with death was certainly exhilarating.

"If you give me what I want, I'll let you live."

"Okay, simple enough. What do you want then?"

"Do you really have to ask?"

"Do you really have to answer my questions with more questions?" Sakura raised her voice. Then, she mentally slapped herself. Did she just yell at a vampire?

"Because your questions are pointless. Don't ask questions when you already know the answer," he snapped with countering fury. Sakura grumbled nonsense to herself. She finally remembered that this was SASUKE she was dealing with, vampire or not. He was still the narcissistic ass with a short fuse she met a month ago and just when she thought she had him pinned as a rich, pompous pretty boy, he turned out to be a monster.

Fabulous.

"Fine, but I have a real question that I REALLY don't know the answer to…"

Sasuke waited.

"Why me?"

"…then I was like, 'I was going to go as YOU for Halloween, but I couldn't fit three dicks in my mouth,' and I swear to God, she was going to flip OUT!… Sakura?"

At the sound of her name, Sakura fell out of her daydream. She glanced at Ino who was waiting for a response.

"Oh… cool…?"

"That's all you have to say? Oh, cool?" Ino sounded annoyed. She flipped her ponytail over her shoulder and everyone knows when Ino Yamanaka does her signature hair flip, real shit goes down. "Ami fucking Slutface is a complete bitch to me at the party, and all you say is 'Oh, cool'?"

Sakura looked bewildered because to her, that party seemed like a million years ago. She had other things to worry about. She was going to apologize profusely for not listening but Ino already started up a storm. Maybe she just liked hearing her own voice way too much.

"Ugh, whatever! If you don't want to listen, fine. But God, I swear, Ami needs to drop dead. The world would be a bazillion times better without her."

They approach the lunchroom. The blaring mishmash of limitless conversations escaped from the cafeteria and into the hall. Ino went ahead, but noticed Sakura was glued to her spot.

"Ohhh, I'm not really mad at you. C'mon, Hinata's going to be waiting by herself," Ino said, ready to jump on the lunch line for her daily salad.

"Uhh…Go ahead without me! I really need to go to the bathroom."

"I can go with you! Maybe I can fix my mascara… Hinata can wait. What's five more minutes going to do?"

"N-No, it's fine, really! I'll just see you guys later!"

I hope.

Sakura turned on her heel and started into a sprint when the school bell rang, signaling the start of her lunch period. Her mind raced and memories of this morning resurface once again.

"Why me?"

"You're going to have to work for that answer."

"Oh my god. Nothing is ever easy with you," she grumbled loud enough for him to catch.

"I can say the same for you…" His eyes show a flicker of malevolence and Sakura did not fail to catch it.

In what seemed like a random act of affection, he reached up to feel a lock of her pretty cherry-colored hair and she doesn't know what to do. The moment was almost intimate, in a twisted sort of manner that only he can produce. Sakura was about to touch him in return, but he let the pink strands fall from his hand before she can get any closer. She could still feel the missed opportunity in the palm of her hand.

And then she realized there was a part of him that she could never really understand.

"All you have to do is cooperate with me. Decide by lunchtime today… or I'll decide for you."

'I don't have to decide if I'm not in lunch, right Sasuke?' she cleverly thought to herself as she pushed the door to the girl's bathroom. It was empty, which worked to her advantage. She didn't need people probing and wondering why she would ever want to spend lunch alone, in the bathroom of all places.

It was time to come up with a strategy. Sasuke was giving her an ultimatum that didn't exactly provide the best of choices. Either she gives up her blood for the rest of her life and feels dead every single time he feeds on her fragile human body or she can give her blood once and just actually be dead and get it over with. After sitting on a toilet for half an hour, she came to a conclusion:

Shit, they both suck.

Only a measly half hour before lunch ends. What am I supposed to do?

.

"1 year of community service?" asked Naruto, rubbing his chin.

"Nope." Kiba shook his head and tossed a golden-brown tatter tot into his mouth.

"5 to 10 years in prison?"

"For underaged possession? Hell nooo. Guess again."

"LIFE SENTENCE?"

"Life sentence for a misdemeanor?" Neji questioned with an eyebrow raised. "That's absurd, why would you even guess that?"

"Iunno, I couldn't think of any more punishments."

"Even worse than a life sentence," Kiba moaned like a dying animal. "The feds called…the 'rents."

A group "Ah" could be heard.

"That's rough…," Shikamaru commented on the side and Neji agreed.

"Whaaat? They're your parents, dude. Can't be that bad, right?" asked Naruto, looking perplexed.

"Ha! I forgot, Naruto. You're kinda new around here. Let me fill you in: My parents are baaad news," Kiba spoke, being quite the storyteller. "Alright so, everyone's all partying, having a good time, you know what's up. Then, BAM, cops come in, everyone scrambles. Turning shit over, throwing bottles, cans, you name it. It was like a riot up in there. And lady luck takes a humongous dump on my face and I see Choji's dad, the chief of motha fuckin' police."

"The police department bothered to send the head of their department to a teenager's Halloween party?" Neji asked rhetorically. "What a waste of taxpayer's money…"

"That goes to show you that NOTHING EVER HAPPENS IN KONOHA!" Kiba exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. Sasuke, who has been sitting at the table without a word, would beg to differ. He sat with his fingers intertwined and his eyes peering over them until he took a quick glance at his watch and turned in his seat. He zeroed in at a lunch table further down the line and noticed obnoxious-blonde and twitchy-Hyuuga girl eating lunch.

Without Sakura.

"He has nothing else to do, so he showed up!" Kiba continued on. "So yeah, he sees Choji and me running around like chickens with our heads cut off and he takes us into the cruiser and I'm already shitting my pants. So, he's said to me 'I know you're a good kid, Kiba, so I'll let you off with a warning. But I'll need to call your folks,' and I'm like 'Fuuuck.' "

Naruto belted out a cackling laugh. "Hahaha, I can imagine the look on your face!"

"At least you weren't arrested," reasoned Shikamaru.

"But I was. I was put on house arrest and house arrest IS being arrested. My mom is bat-shit crazy. She was screaming in my face, and was like 'Where did I go wrong with you? Your sister NEVER did anything like this!' and that was because she's like, the poster child for all things good. Now, I'm caged in my room until I'm 50. No phone, no games, no–"

"Where are you going?" interrupted Neji as he watched Sasuke slowly rise from the table.

"Yeah, c'mon Sasuke, I'm in the middle of a story."

Naruto immediately detected the hostile aura emitting from him and it was anything but pretty.

"I'm hungry."

.

There were a few minutes left before the end of sixth period and her last two classes were Sasuke-free. She was in the clear… for today. Even if he planned on taking her life tomorrow or the day after that, she just needed to buy as much time as she could. She needed to find a way to defend herself.

If only I knew what worked against vampires…

The only thing she knew for sure was that garlic was definitely crossed off the list.

She jumped out of her skin as the bathroom door unexpectedly swung open and two underclassman girls walked in. False alarm. Sakura quickly turned on the sink and pretended to wash her hands. The rushing water served as a backdrop to the girls' conversation.

"You know that Junior everyone's talking about? I heard she's been missing for a while now," said the girl who entered a stall. Her friend was standing at the mirror, leaving a sink in between her and Sakura. She started fiddling with her oversized purse and pulled out some mascara. That seemed familiar.

"Two days isn't a while. She's probably off with some guy! I would've done the same if I was her. The boys in this school are so boring." It really wasn't any of her business, but Sakura rolled her eyes anyway. This girl was a mini-Ino. A gossip and a make-up fanatic.

The toilet flushed and her friend emerged from the stall. "I know, but wouldn't your folks get worried? I heard hers were going to start search party."

"Search party? Exaggeration, much? She's 16, I'm sure she can take care of herself."

A 16-year old Junior who's been missing for a few days…?

'Sounds like my future,' Sakura remarked to herself, grabbing paper towels and dabbing her hands. 'Except, I won't be missing. I'll be straight up dead.'

"You think she can take care of herself? You don't even know her name. How would you–"

Three heads turned to the bathroom entrance and the door slammed open, revealing a very annoyed vampire. The two girls nearly squealed, apparently recognizing the heartthrob instantly. Sakura, on the other hand, felt her heart throb for a completely different reason. All the color drained from her face.

Fuck my short, disposable life.

The mini-Ino waved frantically. "Hi! I see you all the time and I think you are the cutest guy I've ever seen ever! My name's–"

"Get out."

The insult present on mini-Ino's face would have been priceless if Sakura wasn't too busy trying to think of an escape plan. She watched as the other underclassman courageously steps forward.

What an idiot.

"This is the girl's bathroom, you're not allowed in here!"

"Get the fuck out."

The girls scrambled to the door retreated with tails between their legs. The door shut behind him, but Sasuke paid no attention to them – his glared daggers were aimed right at his runaway prey. She backed up into the wall and swallowed hard.

"H-How did you know I was here?"

"You don't get to ask questions anymore."

Not even a second passed and he's already in front of her, towering ominously and pinning her to the wall. The pressure in the room was crushing her lungs. Or maybe it was just his perfect body pressed up against hers…

"I tried being nice to you," he growled dangerously. "And I was being patient, but I don't have all fucking day, Sakura…"

The school bell rang.

"…and you're out of time."

His insatiable desires were getting the best of him again and his patience was wearing thin. His palms that were at the side of her face turned into clenched fists. He reached down and his lips gently grazed her earlobe as he whispered to her.

"I'm starving."

She could hear his fangs extend from his jaw and it sent chills through her entire being. He inhaled sharply before striking her neck. Then, his slender fangs made contact with her ivory skin and proceed to rip through.

The pain was excruciating.

It hurts. It hurts. IT HURTS.

The pain made her want to scream but he kept a hand firmly over her lips. Her failed screams turned into muffled whimpers. She thrashed against him with all her might as a provocative, yet satisfied moan erupted from deep within his throat. In a few minutes, she could feel herself weaken.

I'm dying…

This was it. The final countdown. Not only was her whole body feeling limp, her head was starting to droop and sway in the most rhythmic motion. It was almost therapeutic… in a sickening sort of way.

Please. Let this be over. Kill me now.

Sasuke…

She could feel her lids growing heavy and slowly blockading the light from the outside world.

"SASUKE!" yelled an enraged voice, followed by the bathroom door crashing open. A yellow flash appeared before her eyes and she felt the fangs prematurely rip out of her skin, sending blood spewing across the mirrors. She struggled to see and her voice was barely audible.

"Na-Naru…to…"

It was Naruto, violently yanking Sasuke by the collar and slamming him against the tile walls. The ceramic crunched and fell apart behind the incredible force. Naruto recognized this. It was the state Sasuke would be in when he would disappear for a while, leaving a trail of shredded, distorted bodies along the way. Naruto would ignore it and turn a blind eye, but that was before Sakura ended up next on Sasuke's hit list. At this point, the Uchiha was a completely different person – he was something sent directly from hell.

"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?" Naruto searched for any shred of humanity left in his eyes.

Nothing.

But the crooked smirk forming on his face.

"Sakura's your FRIEND. Doesn't that mean ANYTHING TO YOU?" roared Naruto, who had his own fangs bared at this point. Her dying eyes, the tear-streaked face… Sakura's never done anything to him. She was innocent, one of the good ones. She didn't deserve this.

No response.

He tightened his grip on Sasuke's shirt and shook him before slamming him into the wall for the second time. The fractures along the tiles deepened and elongated as more pieces crumble to the floor. "Say something, you BASTARD."

He responded with no words. Just sick, demented laughter.

"He's not himself, Naruto," spoke another voice coming up behind her. Gentle, but icy hands held onto Sakura before she dropped to the floor. She turned her head, despite the raging sting from her neck. It was Neji. "This is a new low for you, Uchiha."

…Naruto? …Neji?

Why are they here?

Everything was so chaotic.

Voices all around her seemed to die out as she felt her grip on reality delicately slip away from the tip of her fingers…

Naruto landed a solid punch aimed at Sasuke's right cheek. His head whipped to the side, taking the full blow to his face. The sound of his bones breaking filled the room. But behind his bangs, Sasuke looked right at her. It was the last thing she saw before her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

The last thing she heard was his voice.

"Sakura…" he whispered so perfectly, for only her ears to hear.

Please…!

The pain was slowly fading…ever so slowly.

And everything went black.

The Ultimatum

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