AUTHOR'S NOTE

Prescripto13: yes... I personally enjoyed the sensation that emptiness that could bring. But it is truly double -edged sword.

krito1389: thank you. But since 戈I am going to put Kakashi into the coffin soon, I will try my best to not write it too sad...

DREAMER1084: Naru-chan remembered some of the events, some were simply sealed, as you could see in one of the earliest chapter, Dreaming. He hopefully managed to gather most of his memories as I would feel too sorry if only Kakashi remembered.

Serpent in the Shadows: Thank you! I am thrilled to see the length of review. I valued your opinion and maybe I have put too much dattebyo in... haha... as I thought I was kind of lack of it... Nonetheless, I would see whether I have the time to do edition after I reach the end of the story. And for the Japanese words, I should have put the translation in the front, but somehow I kept forgetting that, I would do that next time when I pulled my dictionary out again. At last, but not least, I am still looking for a beta, to be honest, so I have to apologise in advance for my mistakes...

BlueBowTies: Thank you! I am thrilled to see the length of your review. I do understand your opinion and I valued them. I understood that sometimes readers could loss in the scenario that I was setting up as I did not explain in detail, but it's kind of my pleasure to reveal the settings later on, as I love to unwrap the truth behind it. But obviously, sometimes, as I was imaging things as I typed, I did not make myself clear... orz... well... I would see how I could improve on that as I typed new chapters. It's kind of the same for my grammars and typos... that's why I apologised in one of the chapters; I am really grateful that I have to put you guys, my dear readers though my brainstorm. Nonetheless, I am truly glad that you enjoyed reading it, and that's the most important thing, to me, after getting the story typed as I don't want to visit by either Kakashi or An-kun in my dreams.

As always, reviews please. Doumo.

Vii

p.s. LOOKING FOR A BETA FOR THIS STORY, OR OTHER STORIES, OR STORIES IN THE FUTURE ATM, ANYONE?

OooooO

An stretched his body as he tried to relax his muscle. The disagreement with Madara leaded to a rough sleep. He did not see the issue as how the man did. Even in some extend, he could figure out, he refused to understand. After all, he thought the man knew from the first day, when the latter decided to leave the Konoha. Maybe because of the fact that the Sasaki could be heartless, that was the reason that Kakashi could be loyal to his lover was rather unbelievable. An sometimes could not help, but agreed with some of the elders. He, himself was already a perfect example. Kazuhiko has been with him for all these 800 years. He might have sent hints to the man that he would convert him to a true Sasaki. However, he doubted that he would be doing that soon. He loved the doctor and that the man has been a brilliant companion. He liked to have the man around and that he was grateful, as the man has provided all the assistance that he could ever think off.

He sighed softly as he was getting dress. If he has not have the disagreement with Madara, he doubted that he would be in such emotional status. There was nothing much to do, as he was not going to teach. The usual annual meetings were over and so he has only one place that he needed to go.

He put on his cloak and walked toward the centre of the village, where the shops are. Once he passed the main shops, he turned and disappeared into the small path behind them.

He has been to his destination numerous time and it was simply unforgettable. It was not because of the fact that the narrow paths have never changed. It was the fact that he could always follow the fragrance, the smell that the owner loved to use in the shop in a daily basis. It really stood out from the unpleasant smell in the surrounding.

"Kaori-chan?" he called as he opened the torn, black wooden door.

"Hai hai... An-san, I know you will be coming today. The flowers have been informing me, of your presence."

"It's the same time every year. Without your skills, your crystal balls and flowers, it's hard to believe that you did not aware of my presence in the village, Kaori-chan." An grinned as he appoached the counter, leaning against it elegantly.

"Of course I know, An-san," the girl replied, pouting. "I am capable to identify my own work." She pulled out a white cup behind the counter and offered the vampire a cup of warm valarian tea. "How can I help you today?"

"Just my usuals," An drank the offered tea without haste. "I want something more musky this time."

Kaori opened the thick, black leather covered book that was lying at the far end of the counter, against the wall. "Why can't you act more like Kakashi-san? He has the same two perfume all these years."

"Kakashi-kun is... Different," An replied, as he pretend to observe the swirl in the tea cup, "he needed the same fragrance. He needed it to recall his lover's memories, which I obviously do not have the necessary."

Even though Kaori did not withdraw her smile, her sight was getting more serious. As the successor of the ancient perfumer, she has to learn almost everything that her family knew about the Sasaki. She obviously knew and has encountered the clan's fickle nature and it was shown clearly on their choice of perfume. "So..." she changed the topic, "how's Kazuhiko-san? And how's Madara-san then?"

"They are very well, doumo." He picked up the small glass tube that Kaori placed by his hand. He closed his eyes and took a small sniff. He closed his other senses, let his smell worked.

At the same time, Kaori grabbed one of the wooden boxes that were sitting at the shelf behind her. She placed it by An's left hand, and waited patiently for An's verdict.

"I have to say it was not the most stunning that I ever have encountered, but it does calm my senses."

"Glad to hear that," Kaori smiled brightly. She trapped the box softly, "this meant for Kakashi-san, could you take it to him?"

"Sure," An answered carefreely. He looked at the label and his face was then slightly darkened. "It's about time..." he murmured lowly.

"It is..." Kaori encountered, "I have found the blood lily of the valley last month, when I was collecting various plants in the mountains."

An did not speak but only sighed softly and tiredly. He has a long life, but he has only seen the blood lily of the valley six times and this was the seventh. Bad omen lured inside his heart. He obviously aware of how dangerous the relationship it would be, if his young otouto wanted to pursuit. He obviously did not want to see the unpleasant, heart broken events to take place again. But, as how he managed to persuade the Kyuubi, he wondered how they could stop the pair, without hurting them.

Hopefully, he has hoped, in a daily basis, that this time everything should be fine. The extraction of the ancient site was going smoothly. Soon or later, he would manage to find out the truth behind the prophecy that was inherited generation by generation in the Sasaki. He would not let the tragedy happened again within his life time. He would break the prevision, just like how he did when nobody has thought of him being the leader of the clan.

"Thinking is not the best tool in this situation, An-san," Kaori spoke after she studied the vampire's expression for a moment. "Don't let your emotion blind you, as my father always told me." She took out a small glass jar delicately. "Would you like to have one of the blood lilies?"

"Yes, please." He reached for the small red flower that the girl has pulled out. He pulled off one of the pedals and placed by his nose. His eyes were turning red, starting from the centre of his iris. "Do me a favour, Kaori-chan. I need the oil of these flowers. I have made up my mind."