It all started going downhill. I don't know if it was because the news about the human hostage part of survival here spread out or because of the advice my grandparents gave once. These grandparents of mine were from a different community and would visit us often, but they'd always give advice almost like riddles.

Grandma would start with something positive, "Enjoy what you have while you have it."

Grandpa would shed a bit of a darker side, "But remember that whenever there is a high point there will always be a low point. So be prepared."

Grandma would rebuttal, "But also remember if there is a low point there is also a high point in life. Life always bounces back."

They'd smile and agree and look at me for closure. I guess we had a high point and I'm just hoping we don't hit rock bottom. In the beginning people were still hanging with each other but not all at the same time. No more everyone playing together outside, or everyone working on the garden together. Everyone was doing something different and for awhile it felt like we were all getting into cliques of some kind. It switch around, but more and more people were separating and either going somewhere else for awhile or being alone. It didn't sound too bad, but I think it was the start. Eventually Neji won, that mold room became a nice sunbathing room as Ino calls it. There are these big curved windows and from the outside it looked like a dome or partial glass tower attached to the oak mansion. I also noticed the divide between Ino and Shika.

I can almost imagine it in a black and white TV series. He has his suit on with a cig in his mouth coming home from a game of poker, which I learned since the card game at the first motel. He is half drunk and broker than this morning. She has her fancy dress on and looking her best, waiting for him to come home. She fake greets him merrily and then rails on him about always wasting his money and going out to do nothing. He waves his hand passing it off and makes a comment about how she is always out with her friends, it's no different. They get into an argument, but eventually make up and make love. The next morning, they have the classical happy family breakfast where she made him pancakes and he is telling her how glowing she is the morning. He gets her all kinds of gifts the next few days trying to make up for it and she spends all her free time to be home with him. Then they get into another fight because Ino was spending too much time talking with the gardener the last night. He accuses her of an affair. She slaps him across the face for saying such nonsense and goes straight to bed. The next day he apologizes and it keeps going until they address the true issue directly. Eventually the dread is bestowed upon them, they finally pull each other's last strings. She finally tells him she is sick of his gambling habit and he calls her out on how he can't make enough money for her any other way. They get into the most heated conversation they ever could. He is accuses her of sticking her tongue down every throat, but his whenever she has the chance. She says if he is so worried about what she is doing maybe it's because he has been trying some stuff down in the old pub because she knows about the ladies of the night that work there. He tells her he'd never be as low as her. She huffs and he continues on about how she always wants him to bring something home. She replies about how she just likes nice things and that wasn't so bad. He emphasizes it's not about nice things it's about expensive things. He screams that if pork was the new lobster she'd be asking for pork every night. She asks him what made you love me if all you thought was I was some gold digger. They start to almost fall in love and maybe even make love one last time, but it was already too late. The flaws each other could never give up were the biggest thorns in their relationship's side, greed and lust.

I watch a lot of TV now and there is this one show that is like that scenario and I secretly name the husband Shika and the wife Ino. They closely resemble each other because Shika vapes and he is the one that taught me how to gamble. He seemed really good at it and I don't know if he has an addiction, but Ino has suddenly had issues gambling. One girl night, which is Thursday nights now, Tenten decided to challenge everyone with real money. Ino kind of opted herself out and I didn't even notice because I was admiring Tenten's confidence since even in little things she was strong and pushed herself forward. I couldn't even convince myself to really go for it when I had a full house in a game of poker. Later, when I did finally come out my daze and see Ino. I still shook it off thinking she must be saving up to buy something. But another time we were watching TV together, and the poker channel was showing, and she quickly grabbed the remote and changed the channel in a silent fury. Ino had similar actions to the wife besides having an issue with gambling. Ino does have an expensive taste, although; she does try to work on it because she understands that it's the thought not the item. Ino also has a tendency to flirt with everyone. I don't think she means anything by it, I think it's just her way of talking. But those flaws are what draw them apart and it's part of their personality so they can't just stop. I don't know if the real Ino and Shika will ever come together because the TV ones never did.

One time Naruto, Ino, and I were all in the glass dome just hanging out. Ino and Naruto are reluctantly getting along, and Naruto was making a joke about how he was in complete love with Ino. Sometimes he does things just to bother her. Ino was hanging out with us more, which was surprising because that meant Naruto, but I think she just needed me and was willing to deal with Naruto. I didn't even notice that Shika had entered and thought Ino was just giving Naruto a taste of his own medicine, so he'd realize that he better not push her or he might get what he is wishing for because she fake flirted with him. Naruto and I thought it was sarcastic, but when I finally realized Shika had entered and was now leaving I think she was fake flirting in a way so Shika would think she'd moved on. I think Shika is a great person from what I know of him and I honestly think it's more Ino's fault. I feel like Ino just isn't ready for a real relationship and Shika is. Maybe what Sasuke said, when we were on that long trip here, about sometimes soulmates just need a little time to mature and that being why these two loves birds weren't working out yet.

I wish it was just Shika and Ino that fulfills my statement about things going downhill. There was even a big fight. Lee had accused Shiba of stealing one of his training sticks. It was this long rod made from bamboo that Lee would use to practice combat skills. It was a heated discussion because Lee didn't just accuse him privately, but while during a lunch when we were all eating together. At first the royals just stepped in saying it doesn't matter, and they'd just get Lee a new one, but after a week even Sasuke and Neji got more involved. Lee couldn't forgive Shiba for taking it and said if he wanted to borrow it he could've asked and Shiba continued to deny possession. Neji sided with Lee because Kiba has a bit of a reputation. Kiba had stolen a globe from a human earlier I guess Kiba must of traveled outside the forest and taken it. Both Sasuke and Neji were angry that Kiba was drawing potential attention to us from the humans and especially those of authority, police. I don't know if Kiba just thought it was a small thing and didn't think much of it or if he was seeing if he could get away with it or what. Kiba also was known from like elementary for going outside the community to the big lot to see what things had fallen or what toys he'd just run by kids and snatch. He was truly a bad boy, but I also heard he'd try and give the toy back. The elders had told him not to do it again when they caught him and told everyone to be calm and not be so frustrated with him because they believed he was just trying to be friendly with the humans and didn't know how to interact with them. It was just harmless tag. Sasuke was also hounding on Shiba, but not because he thought Shiba had done it, but because he wanted to make sure it wasn't some human who somehow got it. Sasuke was really adamant about being careful around all humans. More presently, just a week ago the case was solved… Akamaru is the one who stole it. You'd think we'd all laugh it off, but that just made things worse because now Shiba was telling Lee how he told him so. Lee felt guilty and was trying to apologize for being so harsh on Shiba, but Shiba was having none of it and probably because Neji felt he had no fault for assuming based on evidence that suggest this kind of behavior from Shiba. It seems to be melting down, but only because they feel they have to tolerate each other and not because of forgiveness.

Also, Neji and Sasuke had a fight before the Shiba and Lee thing. I don't know what it was about, but they were shouting at each other one day and everyone was still and quiet, looking at each other for answers. It sounded like they were fighting about what money to spend where, but someone else said they thought they were fighting about human interactions. It didn't seem too bad because when they rejoined the group they were mildly getting along again and within the day were back to their normal selves, which wasn't quite friendly but respect. I think it was just shocking for us all because it was the first fight that had broken out.

Things just seemed a bit different. I can't say if things were just cooling down from the blissful happiness that started or if we were falling to a bigger problem. Neji and Sasuke made rules about how often we could venture outside the property limits and particularly human interactions. Mostly had to run by them and get approval before going out and just things to be extremely cautious about when talking with humans. They didn't make it a rule to never go out at night, but Neji had suggested that if they want to go in the night they would be safer to go with a royal on their side. It became more of a requirement because every time someone tried to ask for approval to go out past dark Neji would say sure and follow with them and Sasuke didn't like anyone going out at night in general, but he compromised by defending Neji with chaperoning those who went out. Kiba, Ino, and maybe a couple others have been sneaking out from time to time. I didn't say anything because Ino is my best friend and they said they weren't going that far just to a bar a couple blocks away. I felt uncomfortable about it, but I decided it wasn't my duty to interfere.

Tonight was a night where Ino had snuck out with her gang and I wasn't invited. Ino had invited me, but I could tell that it wasn't real since Ino knew I wouldn't go and it had this secret exclusive club feel. I was by the fireplace in the room where we kept all the board games. It was this nice, cozy, little hideout. I was drinking some hot chocolate with marshmallows. I didn't know where else to go on these kinds of nights. Kiba usually had a distraction he'd set up like tonight where Lee and Naruto were having a nunchuck duel on the top floor. Most people were watching and some had gone to sleep. I was just sitting, and Sasuke about killed me with fear because I didn't notice him entering.

"Oooh sorry! I didn't mean to frighten you."

"It's okay I just didn't see you come in."

"Yeah I came down to grab something to eat and noticed you sitting here so I thought I'd come in and say hey."

He sat next to me and I welcomed his company. I was shocked that he figured it out, "So Ino is off at the bar again, huh?"

"You know?"

"Yeah Neji and I realized people were sneaking out not too long ago, and we haven't decided what we are going to do about it. I'm a bit disappointed you didn't come tell me."

I was a bit surprised he'd think I'd rat Ino out. "Well… I don't see the harm. It's not that far away and they're just getting some drinks."

"Is that what they told you? Kiba has been sleeping with a human lately, thankfully using protection from what I learned, but dealing with humans is a very serious thing. Why do you think the elders have us live in a community separated from them in the first place? Not to mention that they aren't legally allowed to drink in the human world."

"Didn't the government say we weren't ready yet and that's why we don't leave?"

"The government hasn't decided on what they want to do with us yet. We barely get enough rations of blood to supply the community from them. That's why the elders don't tell them about the annual pack formation. Fortunately, the government is too preoccupied to check in on us often enough to realize the population is less than what we tell them, otherwise we'd all be starving."

"I guess I didn't know-"

"-yes, you did. You didn't know the details, but you knew what Shiba, Ino, and whoever else were doing was wrong. I expect better of you next time."

I was confused is Sasuke making me his inside man? I felt like I had no say. I tried to excuse myself, but he would cut me off saying he knows I'll do better and that I shouldn't make up excuses and just do the right thing. The frustration didn't last long because it felt like Sasuke was giving me a quick scold but wasn't truly angry. We moved on in topic.

"Sasuke, it's been a few months when is Hinata coming?"

"Soon. Sometime within this month."

"Will we be able to contact our families?"

"Neji and I agreed for the first year we shouldn't have any contact back home because it's important to be independent and to force you all to come to us with issues."

"But that means we will have contact, just in another six months from now?"

"Most likely if not a little later."

"Awesome! Speaking of family, what about Temari and Gaara's brother?"

"Kankuro? He will be joining another pack for the time being. If he gets along with that pack he'll stay with them."

"If not he'll come here?"

"Correct."

"Well the more the merrier right?"

"Something like that, but the pack he is joining… I'm afraid he won't really be leaving them if he comes and joins us."

"...Like a spy?"

"Hn."

I took that as a yes, "This other pack is bad? Why would the elders send him there then?"

"They aren't bad to the right people."

"So they are two-faced."

"No, they just don't like certain people."

"Us? Why us?"

"Sakura, I'm getting very tired. I need to go to bed now, but I hope to talk to you again later."

That was the end of that. After a few minutes I finished my hot chocolate and started heading to bed, too. I saw Ino and her gang sneaking in. They were all smiles and giggles. I wanted to scold them for some reason. I knew they were just trying to be happy and enjoy this new life, but something told me they were putting us in danger and being risky. They weren't thinking things through. What if the humans came here? What if we started another war? We couldn't just hide behind long lost "fairy tales" again if that happened. What if Shiba got a human pregnant? Then she'd have a werewolf baby. What if Ino and Shiba are sleeping together? What if Ino gets pregnant? She isn't ready to be that much of an adult. We'd also have a random chance of getting a werewolf or vampire baby because they aren't such things as hybrids and that might mean we'd have to go back to the community earlier. Vampire babies have historically been harder to take care of because they have a natural sense of independence unlike werewolf infants. What if Ino forgets the baby somewhere or accidentally kills it with her recklessness? I shook my head and went to bed. I don't know what overtook me. I just felt so angry at them for not thinking things through, but I don't know if they have or haven't. I never asked. Maybe they do know the risks and took it into consideration already. Maybe Shiba isn't really sleeping around. Maybe they been listening to Sasuke about keeping human interactions to a bare minimum and we won't have any conflicts. I don't know enough information to make a real judgement. I should've thought things through before being so irritated by them. I think I'm just tired. I'll ask Ino sometime if she and them have been careful. For now, it's not my place to judge.