Chapter 3 In Flames

I looked around me, it was only midnight, I was sitting on the roof and looking at the stars with a guitar in hand. My shadow tracker on Naruto's back still giving me a good reading... So bored. The main crummy thing about immortality. The many nights you spend wide awake wondering what to do besides eating people. There ARE some who party like humans and purposely neglect themselves so they can get high and "have fun"... sicko's.

I strummed the cords again, a dark tune rang out. I played it again, bouncing from things like E Minor and A Minor, not really a song, but something different to play. I closed my eyes and continued. I just let my fingers drift to different notes and played. Something dark, but... loving. It came with my images of Naruto from earlier. How he blushed, how he looked at me, and how I wished I could show him all my love.

I played more, considering the possibility of ACTUALLY writing a song.

I supposed something actually did touch my slow dead heart.

I continued to play the dark notes and twist, drawl and do whatever with them. Maybe I could, just for him. I smiled, what he is doing to me, might actually be a good thing.

The clouds above me rolled, and cracked. It was going to rain. A beam of fluorescent light illuminated the sky above me. I looked to my hands, playing again, thinking of works, any kind.

The rain pelted me fast, drenching my clothes, but never really bothering, I kept playing and thinking. I wouldn't let him know until I knew he was mine. But, to prepare could never be a sin.

My eyes opened wide as something clicked, I jumped off my spot on the roof and onto the balcony to my room. Deidara would be sleeping in my brother's arms, so neither would bother me. The night was mine.

I laid my guitar on my "bed", it fit as a disguise for my being.

I sat on a black iron chair, under the sheltered part of my balcony with a pen and paper writing to my hearts content. I would write, find something wrong, toss it, and start again. Over and over, once I was done, I had seen the sun rising, It really was magnificent. I guessed I really liked whatever it was Naruto was doing to me.

…

I walked into school to see Naruto looking for me. Once he saw me, he approached.

"So~" He began, "Last night really did happen?"

"Yes." If only I had the ability to say 'No'.

"You really won't eat me?"

"I don't want to." I said softly.

"Why?"

"I care." I said calmly.

"Hey! Naruto, you actually talking to Mr. Lector?"

"Kiba, be nice." Naruto scolded the dog-like boy. I never cared much for the mutt. He commonly refers to me as "Hannibal", "Hannibal the Cannibal", and "Mr. Lector". All references from works of Thomas Harris and the cannibal psyche patient/ex shrink.

I'm not a cannibal I am a vampire.

"Psh, whateve' Naruto, let's go." Kiba said and urged Naruto away and to their classes.

"Uh, Sasuke?" Naruto looked at me considerately.

"Go ahead." I smiled and watched Kiba drag him away. I was actively trying to NOT wish to drive railroad nails through the dog's head.

I turned and went to class, this day promised to be as boring as any other day.

…

The last, once again too loud, bell rang and I walked to the gates of the school. I looked to the road, but didn't see Naruto as usual.

"Sasuke!"

I looked back to see his beautiful blonde hair bouncing as he approached.

"Good afternoon, Naruto."

"Hi, Sasuke."

"May I walk you home?" I asked and bowed slightly.

Naruto flustered and looked away, "I would prefer it if you did."

"Hm?" I looked up and straightened. "What's wrong?"

"Well, I..." He stared at his feet. "I feel safer."

I nodded and we started walking.

"So, Sasuke, um, what else is there about you... Well, as a..."

"Vampire?" I inquired and turned towards him.

"Yeah." Naruto said tossing a glance at me.

"Well, what do you want to know?"

"What happens if you don't drink blood?" Naruto asked as he stepped over some sidewalk graffiti.

"We grow weak and can be effected by more humanly things." I said, I choked back some laughter at the thought. The 50's and 60's really was an interesting time for Itachi and I.

"How do you know?" Naruto asked.

"We abstained in the 50's and found some interesting neighbors in Brooklyn. If you really want to learn things like that, you can read my journal from over the years."

"You recorded everything?"

"I had nothing better to do, so writing and music were the last things that made me feel like a normal being."

"You play?"

"Guitar." I said. That song I wrote still itching on me. I really couldn't wait to play for him.

"Cool." Naruto smiled. "So, could I come over some time?"

"Huh?"

"I want to come over, meet Itachi and Deidara. You know." He smiled at me... That was something I never even considered... But, should I really take him home to meet my brother and his lover?

"Give me some time to think about that." I said looking to the sky.

"Okay." Naruto smiled and we continued to his house.

"Oi, love, I need you." A familiar British accent rang... fuck.

"WHAT THE?" Naruto exclaimed and looked to Damen.

"Uh! Meow..."

I slammed my palm to my face, exasperated and annoyed, Naruto was going to get more of a taste of how much of my life really is a freak show.

"Naruto, meet Damen, my friend who is a talking cat." Naruto waved to Damen.

"How can a cat talk?"

"I was once a vampire, blondie." Damen said low.

"Damen!" He shrugged down. "Naruto, he was ONCE a vampire who had the gift of body-jumping. But one day he got careless and lost his original body and has been stuck as an immortal cat ever since."

"...O-Okay?"

"He has been my friend since 1896."

"Wow, old farts."

Damen and I both casted a light-hearted glare. "Really?" We scoffed in unison.

"What?" Naruto blurted out, "I am only pointing out a fact."

"Uh huh." I sounded and looked to Damen.

"So, is this the lovely human you are-" I grabbed Damen and dropped-kicked him into the next neighborhood.

"KITTY!" Naruto cried out.

"He's fine." I deadpanned.

"That's animal abuse." Naruto scrutinized.

"He isn't a normal animal." I defended.

"Poor kitty." Naruto looked down.

"No worries love, I am well." Damen said limping back and twisting his spine for it to set back in place.

Naruto cringed at the sound of bones cracking back together, but smiled at Damen. "Hello, pretty kitty."

Damen purred. "Thanks love."

"Can I take you home?" I felt my chest tighten. He was edgy with me? And yet, perfectly fine with the cat? Fuck you, Damen.

"Sure, love." Damen purred and jumped into Naruto's arms.

"So, what is your curse?"

"I don't have one any more my dear, since I lost my body, I don't live as a vampire any more." Which was true, Damen for now on is a cat that can jump bodies at will.

"So, do you still have your gift?"

"Yes I do, love." Damen cooed. "And without a cost."

"Cost?"

"Payment, to be exact." I added, "Most vampires do have these abilities, and we learned there are gifts, curses, and payments or homage."

"Homage?" Naruto asked curiously.

"To pay in honor or respect too. Also used as the word payment when referring to idols or a higher power, love." Damen informed. Props to Damen for being a four-legged, furry, walking dictionary.

"So, what is your payment, Sasuke?" Naruto looked at me oddly.

"I rather not say." I said and looked down.

"Damen?" Naruto inquired.

"Love, if he doesn't want to say, I won't say." Thanks for being a loyal friend Damen.

"Okay..." Naruto murmured and looked down.

"I should go." I said quickly.

"Again?" Naruto whined.

"We're at your door." I motioned to the modest brown house we stood before.

"I know but-"

"Naruto, I need too."

"But, love, we didn't even talk!" Damen interjected.

"Another time, otherwise you know where to find me." I said and vanished.

…

I sat on the railing of the balcony with my guitar in hand. I was practicing the song, singing in my head but playing aloud. Deidara was at my computer desk listening. He always enjoyed hearing me play.

"I like, hm." He smiled and rubbed my shoulder. "So, are you still confused about this boy?"

"Yeah," I admitted and let him walk over to pull my head to his chest in a loving hug.

"You'll figure it out. You may be older than me, but you act like a normal teenage boy, hm." I smiled at Deidara. Sure, words are easy to say, but to have him teat me and see me as a person was satisfying. I never felt like a monster around him.

"Again, I love the song, hm." He smiled.

I smiled back.

"But, I would also love to hear you sing the words, hm." He said and nudged me.

"Some day. But he has to be the first."

"Okay, okay, hm, I get it, hm." Deidara said, beginning to leave. "Seems as though Hidan will be here by tomorrow." Thank goodness for cell phones.

"Okay."

"I don't suggest letting him meet Naruto until you decide what to do with him, hm," Deidara advised and left. He had a good reason to say so, Hidan almost killed him when they first met. Maybe it would be safer to wait.

…

"My prince!" The silver haired THING yelled as he ran to hug me...

What really makes this day terrible is, I'm still at school... It's lunch, he and Itachi are both here... And even worse is... Everyone, (+ Naruto) is staring...

"I missed you, I missed you, I missed you!" He chimed and squeezed me tight. "You haven't changed a day."

"I can't." I murmured quietly to his chest.

"You even act the same as always, Mr. Grumpy-pants."

"I'll kill you in your sleep." I growled quietly.

"And you haven't even grown an inch."

"I'm a V.A.M.P.I.R.E I can't." I whispered.

"I know, I know, I know, I know!" He chimed, ever since he and Sasori (AKA Daddy) got together he has been like this.

"Let me go." I said, annoyed.

"No." He said and squeezed me tightly. Well, if any of you could hear the cracking in my body over his annoying and ranting voice, that was my bones breaking. Mind you all, it did hurt, a lot.

"Un-hand me."

"No!" Hidan (AKA Mommy) chirped. "I'll never, ever, ever, ever, let you go again, my prince."

"I disown you." I growled low.

"Harsh!" He cried and released me.

"Can you two goons leave, you are creeping everyone out." I hissed out. I don't like a lot of attention, hence, I spent those few years pushing away the nosy humans... And Itachi just HAD to drive up in a 2010 Boss Mustang with Hidan... Both dressed in classy suits too... So, one could figure my distress at two fairly handsome men (vampires) dressed in suits and pulling up in a nice car can do... For those who can't put two and two together, that particular situation brings angsty bastard who likes to be alone, a lot of attention... Too much attention.

…

Sasori looked around our home, "You haven't done a damn thing."

"Nope." Itachi said calmly.

These monstrosities have been here for three days now, and won't leave. I want to talk to Itachi about bringing Naruto over... But, it seems to be out of the question.

"So my prince, what is on your mind."

"You don't need to know." I murmured.

"It's Naruto."

"Itachi, shut up!" I growled, damn annoying brother... I glared, he really could get on my nerves, and fast too.

"Who is Naruto?"

"A human?"

"Itachi, who is Naruto?" Hidan demanded.

"Fuck!... He's Sasuke's possible mate." Poor Itachi and his curse to obey any order given to him.

"Ah~!, I see, so when do I get to meet him?"

"Never." I frowned, I really didn't want Hidan meeting Naruto at all.

"Can't be too bad." My "mommy" whined.

"Hell no, Hidan."

"Please." He begged.

"Hello no."

"Why not?" Not you too Sasori, I used to think you were cool.

"You'll all eat him." I said plainly.

"How about we spare, then?" Hidan suggested. "If I win, he comes over Thursday for dinner." He smiled.

"And if I win, you never consider seeing him ever again."

"Okay!" Hidan smiled, "But, we fight tomorrow. I want to give you time to prepare for fighting your elder."

"Hope you have you new cane ready for yourself tomorrow." I snorted, "You'll be needing it to haul your ass back home."

…

I walked through the forest by the mountains surrounding Konoha. I was pissed. Really pissed... Flames were spouting out everywhere. Devouring the grass and destroying the trees in my fit of rage. How DARE he even consider having the RIGHT to even SEE Naruto. I should have killed him when Itachi and I ran away from him in 1888. I should have damn it! And now he has returned to ruin my life again.

Calling him "Mommy" is a show so he stays "cool" with me. But damn it if he isn't annoying.

…

Black flames were every where, by the time my head got back together. "SHIT!"

"Sasuke!"

I turned and to my horror Naruto was running to me with Damen beside him. "The fuck are you doing here?!"

I looked up too late a burning branch dropped down and hit Naruto. The flames, MY flames, were burning him.

I pulled water from the plant-life around me and pushed it to the fire growing on Naruto's shoulder. He held it after the fire was gone and looked at me terrified. I froze.

He terrified of me...

I hurt him.

Naruto turned to run, Damen standing where he was. He took one glance at me and ran after Naruto.

The flames around me crashed down on me, my clothes, my shoes, it was burning.

I was burning, but it was nothing in comparison to the possibility my life was going down in flames only I could see.

Thanks to all who reviewed and love this lovely little story. I also want to acknowledge an awesome band called "Ghost Town", check them out on YouTube they are fantastic if you like a mix of scream/techno/rock. Their song "In Flames" inspired this chapter.

"Don't make me, don't make me go down like this in flames~!"

So awesome.

Sasuke: "Yes, they are pretty cool."

Itachi: "Eh"

Me and Sasuke: "Shut up Aniki."

Itachi: O.O

Me: "Good boy."

Sasuke: "I know, I was that couldn't deny/disobey and order thing was true."

Me: LOL "Kinky~."

Sasuke: O/O "Tears! No!"

Me: " Uh huh."

Itachi: "What happened between you and Deidara?"

Me: "We chilled."

Sasuke: "Cool." Wraps an arm around me. "We should go to a concert."

Me: Smiles "Name it, I'll look, we'll go." ;)

Sasuke: "No wonder all your friends practically worship you."

Me: "Why do you say that?"

Sasuke: "Think about it. They give you whatever you want, they let you snag their shit, and you can pretty much do anything to them and they forgive you."

Me: "One, I got awesome-sauce friends who support me. Two, I support and help the best I can. Three, I give them their stuff back, or hold onto it until they say I can keep it." :) "And four, my friends a very chill people who have some thick skin, words are nothing."

Sasuke: "You call your lover 'pathetic' and tell them to 'shut up' after they say 'I love you'."

Me: "It's how I say 'I love you, too.' Only with more flavor."

Sasuke: "Psycho."

Me: "Review, favorite, follow, read, or I'll do terrible things to Sasuke."

Sasuke: "You already burned a Ninja with FIRE nature."

Me and Itachi: "Later~!"