"Kashi..."

"Kazu... Kazuhiko… "

"Madara…"

Kakashi was curious to see what names would the vampire call out. Naruto found him outside, in the garden, near his window as the said Hokage paid him a visit every day after work. Although all three of his protégé, actually, ex-protégé, to be more exact, wanted to send this unconscious creature to Ibiki, he disagreed, when the pinkette, now the head of medic, claimed that strangely, peculiarly, the creature's charka signature was resembling of the Hatake.

In order to check out whether the young head of medic was correct, Kakashi had summoned his dogs. Pakkun popped out first, as always, followed by the rest of the pack. The old pug looked at the vampire without greeting Kakashi and the rest, in a way that Kakashi would have said in dismay. "Kakashi," he spoke lowly in his rough voice. "Where have you found this? Did you all actually know that it is dangerous to keep him here?"

"It's a vampire" the raven, Sasuke stated in annoyance. "Obviously when we examined him, we have found fangs."

"This is not just any vampire out of your imagination, and that have you ever heard of a real vampire? Not even Oorchiromaru would have known this. Only the Hatake would have reconised them. They were cloest human clans that the vampires have associated. Sakumo would have known, but obviously he did not passed on the material."

"So what now, Pakkun?" the blond Hokage asked, "We better transfer this vampire away, shouldn't we? I can't let him to hurt Kakashi, and we won't be able to be here 24-hours, even if I wish dattebyo."

"Tie it down, we will keep an eye for Kakashi," the pug answered as the rest of the pack nodded. "They would not hurt a Hatake, I remembered. They dislike drinking similar blood, though, I am not sure which type of blood this creature would preferred."

"Thanks, Pakkun, didn't know you are keen to spend time with me," the silver-haired man finally spoke, and grinned at the pug's grumpy face. "That would do," he told the rest of the humans in the room. "Since I have nothing much to do, in any field, at least I can still do something for the village." Before Naruto could say anything, he straightened his right index finger by his mouth. "I got bored, an interview with the vampire isn't a difficult job. In fact, it sounds interesting enough, just let me do it, Nanadaime."

Sakura smirked while Sasuke replaced his ANBU mask back on his face. Redness creeped up slowly on the blond's face. "If… if… you said so dattebyo! We won't be in the village tomorrow, so please take extra care, Kakashi."

"Dobe," Sssuke addressed, "he won't be alone with the dogs. I will call in an ANBU to station."

"Thanks, Sasuke."

Darkness slowly fade away as downy light shine through. Thirst lingered along his senses across his limbs. Familiar taste of the luke-warm blood filled his nostils. The smell of fur and four-legged mammals trickled his senses. His body felt light, lighter than usual. It didn't feel like it was his, but Tsuki's, his used-to-be only true companion.

Head felt extremely heavy as he opened his eyes slowly, blinked a few times, to get a clear vision, before he saw the white ceiling. It looked like hospital. In fact, he felt a hint of cleansing agent in the air now. The plain smooth white with a metal track bended into a "C" shape could not be anywhere in the Kitsune's building, but Kazuhiko would not have sent him to the hospital. He could not feel his assistant's presence either, as he blinked again, readjusted his focus. Hence, where was his assistant? He puzzled. He wanted to get up slowly and only realised that his limbs, as well as his neck were tied down by a fine silver chain. 'Silver,' he thought in half disgusted. It has been long time since he was tied down by silver, let alongside the small games that he has played with Madara.

"You're awake," Kakashi spoke as he watched the vampire waking up. "Although I cannot give you blood from a live human body, I can still offer you a bag of hospital blood. Which type you preferred?"

"The Namikaze," the vampire answered, as he noticed a familiar silver-haired man. He looked like his protégé, but some factors just indicating that the man in front of him was not the man that he knew of.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes. He might have retired for a long period of time, he might have been relatively sick and on his last stage of his life, but there were people that he still wanted to protect. He grabbed the kunai that he have sharpened yesterday, for the blond to take away on his next trip. He threw the kunai and pinned down one of the silver chain by the vampire's right knee, which was further way from his bed. "Mind your words, Vampire. I may have been old, but I also know full well what I am capable of."

"Ma… Apologise." The vampire said as he waved his arms softly, making the silver chain clashed together as he moved. " Type AB-, if I may."

Kakashi nodded softly at his ninken and Akino got up, slided the wand-door opened and made its way out. He then turned and studied the vampire carefully as the latter sat by the edge of the bed, with his feet hanging in the air, waving leisurely. "I am Hatake Kakashi, ex-shinobi of Konoha, and you are?"

"An, Sasaki An, the leader of the oldest vampire clan." The vampire finished with a soft bow, with his right hand by the abdomen.

They stared at each other until the dog came back with two packs of warmed blood. The dog dropped the bags next to the vampire on the bed. "Please drink," the ex-shinobi said. "Then we will talk."

Author's Note

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for staying with me in this story for 2 years as it was the day when I started to upload this story in FanFic. Arigatou!

I have enjoyed writing this and so hope you have enjoyed reading too! It's really my pleasure to write out An-kun's story and have entertained my fellow readers!

Prescripto13: That's why Kazuhiko managed to work as An's assistant for so long!