A/N: Hi everyone! I know that it's been a really long time since I reviewed but besides being extremely busy with school work, I have also been suffering from writer's block. This chapter was meant to be longer but I decided that you people have been waiting long enough. Hopefully the next chapter will be done shortly but if not, please PLEASE forgive me!

I do NOT OWN ANY of the Naruto characters or the story itself. If I did, I would rewrite it to how I'm writing WWYDN,S. Thank you all who have been waiting so patiently and to have reviewed. I love each and every review and hope I have not lost your love for taking so long. Thank you and please enjoy!

Ch. 33: We're Hunters for a Reason

All Deidara can feel is the burning excruciating pain in his body. Everything just feels like it's on fire. Every muscle, every organ, every bone, every vein, every blood cell. They just burn as if every bit inside of him has turned into hot coal and he can't die. He wanted to die from this pain. He has no control over his body anymore. He couldn't speak, he couldn't scream, couldn't grab anything, couldn't stay still, couldn't think. His body is changing and it's doing it slowly. Inside his body right now, the vampire venom is rushing through his veins, making his bones stronger, his muscles tougher, and his heartbeat slowing down to a painful rhythm. From the pain, he would fidget, his body would bend in abnormal positions, he would grunt, he would moan, but he would not scream and the bounds on his ankles and wrists prevented him from rolling off the bed he's been strapped onto. Watching him like this, Itachi stands from the other side of the plastic window and just stands there, seeing his Akatsuki comrade in so much pain. It pains him to see that it's his venom that's putting through the blonde in so much agony but it had to be done. He had to protect his family and this is the natural process of becoming a vampire.

After the little fiasco drama in the dungeon, Madara told his son of Deidara being kept in the south tower of the castle. Since they started to allow humans to work for their opportunity to become vampires, they remodeled the tower to become a place similar to a paramedic center – but for patients who have been infected with vampire venom. Each room is completely white, almost like a mental institution room, with a white bed, white walls, white floors, and a white counter with a chair, Also each room has a window from the inside for those who wish to check on the 'patient' and their process to vampire-hood. When a human is bitten, they are assigned to a room and are strapped to a bed as their bodies are changing so they would not hurt themselves or hurt those who come to visit inside the room. Most likely when Kimimaro was bitten, Juugo never left his side and it's highly assumed that when Juugo and Suigetsu are bitten(whenever that may be), Kimimaro and Karin aren't going to leave their sides either. When Itachi was bitten, the venom was already changing his body so rapidly they didn't bring him to the South Tower. Only to his own room, where he was tied to his bed out of precaution he would attack Sasuke as soon as he saw him.

For Deidara now, Itachi does not enter the room. He feels like the blonde probably doesn't want to see him after the despicable thing he did, but he will not leave his comrade to deal with this alone. After telling Sasuke and his parents about the microscopic bombs, as well as his own infection from consuming Deidara's blood(which he also realized he infected Sasuke as well when he cleaned his body from his blood), Sasuke used his lightning to shock their bodies to disable the bombs incase Deidara, by chance, decides to blow them all up as he's changing. The likeliness of that is low but it was a precaution. Better to have inactive bombs in your system than active ones. While the younger prince decides to disable all of the bombs outside and get rid of them completely since Karin couldn't see past them, Mikoto and Madara will arrange a war meeting with the vampire council. The Akatsuki are coming and they doubt they can just talk this through and have tea in the garden to solve their problems. Itachi detests war but again, what else can he do about it now?

"Itachi."

Hearing his name, he looks to the side and sees Sasuke approaching him. Has he been so deep in thought that he didn't notice his mate coming?

"You can stop this guilt fizz you're going through. You said so yourself you had no choice," the younger prince says, walking besides him. When he reached his side, he grasps Itachi's hand as his own form of comfort. He appreciates it, but still.

"I know," he responds, holding Sasuke's hand back. Looking back at the blonde in his super white room, he knows that he shouldn't feel guilty about protecting his family but he feels guilty for another reason. "Are we clear?"

"Yes. All of the bomb particles have been disabled and destroyed. Karin will have an easier time seeing now. She'll be on the lookout for any early intruders. This hunter is the only one who can create bombs like that, right?"

Itachi doesn't answer right away. Looking at him, Sasuke can see that his brother's eyes are focused on the seizure-twitching blonde in the room and the guilt just wouldn't leave him. He didn't understand it and yet, he didn't say anything to push the issue. Still, he waits for an answer because this at least determines if Karin's sight is going to be blocked again or not.

"Yes and no," Itachi finally replies. "Deidara is Akatsuki's only bomber but there is someone else with an ability similar to his C4 bombs. I will write a report of each member, explaining their strengths and abilities."

Those reports will be very helpful. Nowadays, everything is in reports or files that they all need to read, however Sasuke doesn't say 'thank you' just yet. He leans against his brother's arm and that's when Itachi decides to turn his attention away from his comrade to the boy besides him, holding his arm and his hand in a strong yet gentle grip.

"Are you sure you can go through with this?" he asks. "Can you really betray an organization you started with people you've come to known for the past twenty years?"

He's worried about him. That's sweet.

Itachi raises his opposite hand to brush away the strands of hair blocking his little brother's face. When he sees Sasuke's sweet face looking back at him, he softly smiles at the boy. "I have made my decision, Sasuke. I'm not going to back down from it. I need to protect my home and you."

Twice today, the tender moment is ruined from Sasuke's point of view. He tells him, "I may be your uke but I'm not weak. I can take care of myself. But does this mean you're really going to kill them then? Kill every member of the Akatsuki just to protect your race?" Itachi's smile disappears when he heard that and his hand drops back to his side. That doesn't discourage Sasuke at all from what he thinks or his affection. In fact, he leans even more so against his brother's arm and says, "I know you're not that heartless. You care about them. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here right now."

Has Itachi suddenly become an open book to his younger brother, or has Sasuke always been this observant? Even now that they're mates. Staring down at the boy a little longer, Itachi knows that he can't keep it hidden for long. Soon, he will have to confess everything. He's not one to repeat himself but for Sasuke, he deserves to know first above anyone else. "I helped create Akatsuki. Every member in the organization became a vampire hunter for a reason. I know all of their stories; from how they've lived to how they've become hunters.

"Deidara's mother was a prostitute. His father is unknown but his mother stopped her old job and tried to make a better living for them after he was born. Then she met a vampire who instantly captured her heart. She didn't know what he was at first but Deidara knew. He just knew. Slowly, she started to change before his eyes. She grew short-tempered and violent. Instead of Deidara being her rock to reality, the vampire took his place. He sucked everything from her. Her money, her faith, her pride, her love, until eventually he sucked every drop of blood from her."

Sasuke listened intensely to what Itachi said. He is taken back that his brothe is telling him something so personal as Deidara's entire back story without the Akatsuki member's consent. But he understands that this is no time for worrying about other people's privacy. When Itachi paused, Sasuke takes the chance to ask, "Why did the vampire spare him?"

"Because that vampire was the first vampire Deidara ever killed. He killed him when he found the vampire draining his mother. After the vampire was miraculously extinguished by a child, his mother died in his arms. Her last words to him were 'Life would have been easier if you were never born.' She passed right after she said that to him."

Are all hunter stories start off like this? A sob story of what one vampire did to the other that would make every human want to take revenge against the entire race? It's vampires like that that give everyone else a bad name. However what happened to Deidara, what kind of mother would say that to their own child? Was she that in love with the vampire that she would deny the existence of her own son? Or did the vampire bring out the hidden, dark side of her that Deidara never dreamed she could possibly have?

It actually makes Sasuke wonder now. From the short time he knows the blonde, seen how protective he was when their mission failed the first time, did Deidara saw Itachi as a copy of his mother? Technically, they were both prostitutes, in some ways, and from the talk Itachi had with him in the garden that he saw, it wouldn't be surprising if it was his mother's incident all over again. Someone who was living on the 'right' path of the world and then when vampires come in without the intent to destroy them, they change into suckhead lovers.

Trying not to think too much about it, Sasuke asks, "When did you guys find him?" since he highly doubts they found Deidara right after that incident. Would have been perfect timing but no harm asking.

"Four years ago. We had a member name Orochimaru, whose interest wasn't in killing vampires but studying and experimenting them. He was one of the scientists who were successfully turned me human but he wanted to learn more. It got to the point when he believed full-heartedly that vampires are the superior beings and in order to kill them would be to become one of them. Our leader wasn't fond of that idea so he ordered me to eliminate him."

"Did you?"

"No. He escaped after I cut his hand off. When he left, we had a space open and we searched for Deidara. His talents for annihilating vampires in large numbers bestowed him a formidable reputation, one worthy of becoming one of the Akatsuki. At first, he wasn't interested in our offer. He'd believed his mission to destroy all vampires was a solo act because no one could fully understand his pain."

"What changed his mind?"

"I humiliated his bombs and he wanted to get back at me for it. He tries and his attempts would fail every time."

An interesting character, this Deidara person. Surely when he joined Akatsuki, the other members told him probably some terrifying stories of how Itachi kills a vampire when he's not acting like he's trying to bed them. If Sasuke was able to hear a few stories of how Itachi killed more than dozens of vampires in one night in a night raid when he was a hunter, most definitely Deidara heard his fair share when he was a solo act and even more when he joined. Definitely when he joined if the words of Itachi acting like a prostitute never reached the young prince's ears until some time ago. However, this blonde tried to out beat Itachi over and over? He has pride issues, but yet again who doesn't really?

But still, he has a good heart.

"When he tried to save you that night," Sasuke decides to tell his brother/mate – causing him to look back down at the boy from the corner of his eyes, "he looked like he really cared about you and wouldn't dare abandon you unless he absolutely needed to. He had a loyal heart but he was cocky. That's how he lost his arm."

Looking back at the blonde, Itachi's satin eyes land on Deidara's once-missing, now-reattached arm. Thankfully after Sasuke cut off his arm, he kept it instead of throwing it away or burning it. They wanted to try and extract information from the blood of the hand. But dead blood is very hard to work with. Hardly any memories are left in dead blood, depending on how recently the blood has been dead. Then after Madara put the blonde into this room, they reattached his arm; thinking that he might want it back. What's interesting is while the vampire venom is coursing throughout the body and for say if someone is missing a limp, then that missing limp can be reattached and while the venom is spreading, it will travel to the dead limp and reattach completely to the body as a working limp again. So long as the venom reaches the dead limp, it is possible. Otherwise, trying to reattach a human limp to a vampire body will not work – even if you bite the dead limp to give it venom.

"Thank you for reattaching it," Itachi thanks his little brother, knowing that it was also his doing that Deidara will have two hands again to mold his clay bombs.

Sasuke shrugs his shoulders. "I figure since he's become so weak to have been so easily bitten, he might need both of his hands to help us at least a little bit against the Akatsuki."

Looking at him again, turning his head this time, Itachi asks, "What makes you think he'll fight against Akatsuki so willingly?" Also when the older Uchiha knows that there is someone in the Akatsuki who the blonde really cares about. It would most likely kill Deidara if he has to fight against Sasori.

But his young mate simply says, "He'll be under your control as your vampire servant now. I know you're not going to let him touch a hair on Naruto's head and I know for a fact you're not going to let him kill himself."

Somehow, that didn't sound like a completely arrogant 'I know everything' statement. It sounded a little bit more light-hearted.

Turning to him fully, Itachi's lips curl up a bit as he wraps his arms around his little brother's waist and Sasuke, in turn, raises his arms up to circle Itachi's neck. Learning their foreheads together, he says, "You act like you know me so well."

"Don't I? I know how you feel because I know your heart."

"And it's all yours." Then he closes the gap between them, pressing his lips against Sasuke's; who gladly accepts it like all the other kisses they have shared before. Itachi planned on this kiss to only be a peck but he should have known that the second their lips meet, it can never only be a peck. If it is, then the next one needs to be a real kiss and it has to happen soon. No one else is here to watch them and neither of them are in any hurry to be anywhere besides right here in each other's arms. They can take as long as they want with this kiss.

They suck on the other's lips and in no time at all, Itachi licks Sasuke's lips for permission. It's granted and the second his tongue enters that hot canvas, the younger prince's lightly moans at the blessed feeling of that organ moving in his mouth and the taste that is his brother that comes with it. That irresistible taste that's sweeter than honey and more delicious and desirable than his blood. His tongue and his mouth are so exhilarating like lightning shooting through his entire body, and his touches are so hot like fire against his body. Sometimes it's hard to believe that what he has in his arms, touching him, and wanting him just as much as he wants him really belongs to him and him alone. He will never let it go. Ever again.

The two of them stop for air and a string of saliva still connects them for a moment longer before Sasuke dares himself to lick it away from his older brother's lips. He pulls away, his entire face red and a questionable look on his face like he's wondering if what he just did was okay. To Itachi, it was adorable. Just like a cat. His own little koneko-chan.

"Ne," Sasuke calls after a while. "What are the other back stories about the Akatsuki?"

Madara, behind them with Mikoto smiling at his side, suddenly says, "That he'll tell you later." Both princes didn't expect to suddenly hear their father's voice at that moment. In fact, Itachi is blinking surprise and he casually turns his head to see his parents not too far away from them while Sasuke tenses up completely, his entire body shaking with shock, and then he backs away from his older brother's arms as if he were the most degusting bug to have ever crawled on his food. Where the heck did they come from, and how long were they standing there?

Anyone can just see it in his eyes that Madara is enjoying this, having walked in on his children having a romantic moment together. But he tries to be serious enough to say, "We have a war meeting to go to, so you two can continue that later, kay?"

Though of course when he tries to say that seriously, it really just makes Sasuke want to punch his teeth out. They just walk in unannounced and he's acting like everything is all peachy! Doesn't he know that this is really embarrassing for him? That bastard… It's hard to believe really that he's the Vampire King and he's Sasuke's father.

When Itachi hears that they have to leave, he looks back into the patient room to Deidara's shaking and silent raging body. Seeing his distress, his mother walks up to him and tells him, "Don't worry, sweetheart. He'll still be here when you finish. I know it's hard but he's safe here. Kakashi is the commander of our army and so he has to attend the meeting. He won't be anywhere near that young man while you're away."

Really, that's not the problem.

But speaking about Kakashi, what happened in the dungeon did only happen today and only a few hours ago. It's really not something to be worried about but to Itachi, he's wondering what's going to happen between them now. He knows that Kakashi's bloodlust hasn't lessened at all, and the relationship between him and Sasuke is probably completely shattered, but he is a good warrior and he can be very useful in the war against the Akatsuki. Hopefully the issues between them will not do anything to change that. They don't have to be on talking terms. They just need to communicate just enough to work together to survive.

With a monotone voice, the older prince responds, "Right." Sasuke eases his nerves when he heard that voice. Looking at the vampire, he can see the trouble look in his eyes – even when he's trying to hide it.

But of course before he could try to comfort his mate, his father has to say with that same annoying cheery voice of his, "Also when we're done, you two are in big trouble."

Huh?

"What for?" Sasuke asks.

His mother replies, "For jumping the gun on us, dear. We're royalties. We have traditions to complete before we mate with our soul mate."

Itachi raises a brow to that while Sasuke has his mouth open in complete disbelief. His parents are really going to bring that up? Royal vampire traditions before one mates is a whole bunch of restrictions, planning, small time partying, and worst of all, the big bonding ceremony in front of the entire castle on the night of the actual mating process.

Quickly, Sasuke tries to say to her, "Mother, this is hardly the time to be worrying over-"

"Don't argue with us, Sasuke," Madara, of course, interrupts. "We take mating very seriously here and for the only two heirs to the throne, there are rules."

This cannot be happening. Can't these two actually be serious for once in their lives; especially about something as crucial as going into war!

As Sasuke is about ready to just go ahead and die at how ridiculous this is all becoming, Itachi decides to say his part. "Father, mother, please. Sasuke agreed to his engagement to Sakura-san. There was hardly time for such trivial things."

When he said that, he intended to make the issue easier for the two of them. But all he really did was make it a whole lot worst. Sasuke stiffens completely when he heard those words and when he remembers telling him that he agreed to Sakura's engagement in the situation they were in, however their parents are looking at their eldest son in confusion. Why are they looking at him like that?

"First off, they're not trivial," Madara corrects him. "And second, you had time. We canceled the engagement when we saw how close you two were becoming."

Wait, what?

Sasuke begins to turn to stone as now that truth comes out and his mother cheerfully adds, "We knew it would be cruel if we kept you two apart so love prevails. Sasuke tried to convince us otherwise but the funny thing about Uchihas is…"

Madara puts his arm around his queen's waist and finishes with just as much merriment. "We can be quite stubborn when we want to be. It's not just you boys." Then the two of them begin to laugh as Sasuke is having very eerie thoughts running through his head.

'If Kyuubi truly does answer prayers, kill me. Kill me now for the love of you!'

Then he feels something even more eerie than him right now. He doesn't have to look to know what it is. He knows and he knows for certain that he is in a world of pain now. Itachi's aura darkens the more he lets his parent's words sink into his brain. He turns towards the young vampire and asks, "You lied to me?" with a voice more monotone than ever. How can he make that even possible? Sasuke is now freaking out in his own skin with that guilt weighing down on his shoulders like a giant boulder. Before he could even react to try and defend himself, he feels Itachi roughly grab his hand and then pin him to the wall. The younger Uchiha ends up staring into the angry eyes of his elder brother – sensing how frustrated he is and knowing that he's going to feel the full meaning of those emotions. "I don't appreciate being lied to, otouto. You are in deep trouble once we're alone."

For some very strange reason, Sasuke actually feels scared for his life right now.

Then like the bucket of ice water they are in any fiery serious situation, Madara and Mikoto approaches their boys and they grab one each. The king tells them, "Not with him you're not, yet. We got a war meeting to go to. Come on." Together, they pull them away.

Ooh! Sasuke is in trou~ble! ^_^

Don't worry. It won't be anything too serious. The next chapter will be about the war meeting and I'm sure you're just going to lo~ove that one. Now let's just hope I can finish it soon!

But how was the chapter? Bad? Good? Should have kept going? Let me know! Till next time!