The Lineage

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.


The Lineage
By 11


Chapter 15
Lair of Beasts: Social Creatures

I feel like I’ve slept for centuries! Ah! But then I guess I have. Kit! Wake up!

Kit! Kit!! KIT!!

I’m awake. No need to shout.

You seem groggy.

I feel like I died yesterday.

Well you’re fine now. Get a move on.

“Awake?” comes the rumbling tones of my master. Feelign my mouth, I can still taste traces of the thick red wine he coated me with.

“Yes.” I answer easily. My voice and strength restored, though I can feel the beginnings of thirst in me anew. As if sensing this already, my master gestures to the bedside and a few blood packets at my disposal.

“How do you feel?” He asks when I’ve downed a few and begin to slow my pace.

I set the last of it down and sit back. “Fine.” My hands fist in velvet and fur blankets, a downy pillow sits at the head, a wooden bed and an irregularly shaped room adorned in curtains and lit by thousands of candles lining the walls and the counter and desktops.

“We are still in the mountains,” he answers my unasked question, “This is the interior. A specific section reserved for the clans head families and higher members of the order as well as the Sannin.”
“Right.” I nod, fixing him in my eyes, “Where’s Sasuke?”

“I don’t know, I noticed he wasn’t at your trial,” Jiraiya answers me evenly, “I find that strange, he seemed to like you before.”

I sigh and frown leaning back on the bed. This is his room then? Stupid Sasuke… did he think I’d die or something. Such faith…

“So I’m your apprentice now?” I ask idling, my fingers brushing the softness of the fur – I wonder what animal it is. Did Jiraiya kill it himself?

“That is correct.” He affirms, “the blood exchange is of course only a formality, and I’ve already drank from you many times.”

Though only when I was human, I don’t remind him of that. I’m not sure how I’d feel about him biting me now, if he decided to.

“The apprenticeship is largely just the choosing of an heir to replace me as sannin in the event of my death, that you would take my place, as Sannin, and in the Order.” He goes on, and I can’t help my grin.

“Are you planning to die soon, old man master?” I ask him turning to look on him with a grin, he is awfully old – it wouldn’t be that surprising.

“In your dreams, brat.” He tells me coolly, though a wry grin twists onto his face in reply, and the sharpness of crimson eyes softening ever so slightly.

“I would also normally train you as well, but there is a war going on,” he sighs, “and Sasuke covered enough of basic battle knowledge I think.”

“So what do I have to do?” I wonder.

“At this point, nothing.” Jiraiya answers easily, “Be grateful, you now have free reign here, far more so than if I left you at the bottom of this hill.”

I snort. “You wouldn’t have.”

“Why?”

Because you are my master… “Because I’m yours.”

His lips turn upward and he nods slightly. We know it to be true, I am his, I can never hurt or betray him. He too can never allow me to come to harm.

It’s a mutual devotion of master and minion. I’m completely at peace with him now; it’s odd to think that I used to feel fear in his presence.

I wonder if this is what it’s like to have a parent; to be able to lie still and sleep, and eat with the other just a short ways away and expect nothing from each other besides a mutual loyalty and devotion.

But I become restless and my mind turns quickly to Sasuke - head of his clan, and in the interior this is where the clan heads stay. I sit up. “I’m going to go look for Sasuke.”


My master’s eyes move back to my face and he watches me as I go, no ‘see ya’s necessary. Jiraiya would have made a great father or uncle.

The tunnels insides are adorned as well, painted and woven pictures decorate the walls. Pale figures dance among peachy colored ones, the sun as an object of passing adulthood.

The night scenes are more frequent, a hunt depicted, a gathering of some kind, and a strange pinkish colored idol at the center. The darkness of the black and white figures in the colorful world of the sun.

So many scenes and I don’t have time to view them all just now. The farther down I go, the older the stories seem to be.

Torches jut from the sides to light the paths, the floor carpeted with reds and purples, branches lead off with different colors. The entry to some alcoves marked with crests – no doubt for the different clans dwelling there.

I hear voices talking a farther distance away and hurry forward towards the sound. A little nearer and I can recognize easily the familiar dulcet tones that fall past darkeyes’ lips. The other is the easy flowing sound of a voice I heard only once before.

As I near I slow and listen, I can hear Sasuke and the tall gentleman, Orochimaru, conversing in lowered voices. This is farther from most of the clan houses, these alcoves have been empty for years.

“It’s not an issue! No one even noticed.”

“You were the executioner, dear boy, of course someone noticed.”

“I wore the cloak the whole time – no one would have known.” Sasuke snapped at Orochimaru impatiently. “Even if they did I have the eyes, and the Hyuuga clan was in the crowd, not trying to stare down the executioner tunnel.”

Orochimaru shakes his head and sighs, “I don’t know how you though you could have gotten away with kidnapping the boy in the even of a failed trial!”

“It was just a failsafe, he performed admirably.”

“Of course he did, but you still acted foolishly.” Orochimaru chides him, “And what if he had failed? It’s too early to try and spirit him away. You would have both been caught for sure!”

Sasuke smirks, “You wouldn’t have let them.”

“My powers only extend so far,” the gentleman reminds him coolly. “I would appreciate you not expected anything less than god-like from me.”

“Nothing happened,” Sasuke sighed in irritation. “I am already aware of all you’ve said. Can we just drop it now?”

“You should spend more time with him, you know.” Orochimaru notes idly, “Then he might not get himself into trouble like he did.”

Golden eyes wander down the hall and settle on me in some surprise.

“I was going to, but some things got in the way as you well know. I can’t spend time with him and train reg-!” Orochimaru’s hand clapped over his mouth suddenly, the small slap of skin deafening in the almost silence.

Hope I’m not interrupting anything. Don’t mind me – I’m furniture.

“Good morrow, Naruto. Looking for Sasuke?” Orochimaru asks me pleasantly. “We should head back to the regular tunnels perhaps, its no longer as early there are perhaps more of us up and about.”

He removes his hand and Sasuke watches me warily. “I’ll leave you be,” he excuses himself, “I hope to see more of you in the future then, Naruto.”

He smiles pleasantly as he breezes past. As genial as the guy is there’s something terribly vicious about him I think…

Sasuke’s eyes have not left me, and now it is my turn to watch him. He’s not wearing gloves today – didn’t intend to see me today then?

“So you were the executioner?” I ask him idly.

“Yes.” He answers, monosyllabic – impossible to start a conversation.

“You’d have died to try and save me?”

“Yes.”

This is the part where the girl tearfully rushes into my arms and we hold each other and kiss and stuff. But Sasuke has no tears, just a flat hard truth, he holds himself rigid still a distance from me. Something in his poise, like a cat about to run.

“You’re my friend,” he finally starts again when he apparently acknowledges that being so not conversational is a bit rude. “Of course I’d try to save you. That’s all.”

Your ‘friend’. ‘That’s all’. Wow Sasuke, you sure know how to make me know that today you don’t want my advances. How about tomorrow? Will you be more appreciative then? You usually are. Bloody mood swings…

He frowns at me, “You wouldn’t have even had to go thrugh that if you hadn’t been so foolish to start with.”

“Guess not.” I shrug, smiling slightly, so he can voice worries, even if he has a roundabout way of saying it. Say, if Sasuke was there then…

Wow I wouldn’t have first thought it that way. Jiraiya’s just so familial to me… it was just to share blood, but still. I guess it was sorta… in a way.

“Jiraiya kissed me,” Sasuke is totally unruffled, “did you know that?”

“He was sharing blood with you.” He tells me simply. Yes that was what it was, but not the point! No jealousy, no remote indicator that he’s phased at all; this is worse than when I flirted with Sakura. Geez – Sasuke is such an ice block!

He says that now, but Sasuke did the same thing. There had been more there hadn’t there?

“You kissed me too,” my face contorts in a cold fury as I spit the words at him, “or was that also just ‘sharing blood’.”

My coldness startles him and he stiffens, an odd expression crossing his face. Then he frowns, looking away. “It’s none of my business who you kiss.” He seems to choke a bit on the last word, and I latch onto that, stepping closer.

“I want to kiss you,” I insist, and his eyes snap back to me. I half expect him to jump back at my closeness when I stop only a few inches from him, but he stays completely still. “Again.”

He doesn’t move, and we just stare back at each other. I wonder what he sees in me, but I know what I see in him and it troubles me.

Sasuke isn’t moving away from me, but there is fear-- no, apprehension. He’s not afraid of me. It’s more like he’s expecting pain. As if he knows what this is and he knows that it will hurt him somehow. I don’t understand that.

My hand grips his arm, lightly, just to ensure he doesn’t run. I don’t want him to, but I also want it to be his choice. Sometimes I think he wants it and other times I just don’t know. No reaction, so I bring my other hand to his neck.

He starts at the fleshly contact and I can see the pale peach color that stems across once ivory skin as just that much contact. But surely this doesn’t hurt him?

My fingers move softly over his skin, but still it shudders and darkens wherever I touch. Dark eyes stare back at me, but they’re smoldering now. Those black abyss-like pools suddenly teem with something like life.

My other hand moves to his cold hand, and it twists to grasp my wrist. Ice burns through my skin, and his grip shakes. My hand on his neck moves higher to his hair, behind his ear and my thumb grazes his cheek. The pale skin burns pink and peach beneath the touch.

His grip on my hand is loose and shaky. He doesn’t stop me when my hand moves to his side, teasing up the edge of his shirt. A soft hiss falls past his lips as I press my palm to the cool skin of his side.

On the periphery of my vision I see his skin change color as my hand moves upward, drawing the garment with me. His skin is shivery and chilled beneath my touch, warming gradually. This pale body seems to swell against me involuntarily.

A light mewl drags up his throat and I feel his neck move with it, as my other hand brushes a nail over his chest encountering a hardened nub. I soothe the skin with my finger-tips and trail them back over his ribs.

“I thought you wanted a kiss.”

He sounds so calm and level in his voice, though his eyes are bright and glassy, his skin shaking so much his words should be difficult to get out. The fingers over his neck curl and uncurl, I stare through him at the invitation and lean in.

His eyes drop and he draws a shivering breath. My thumb turns to brush across his lips; the soft feather feel of them entrance me, as does the burning color extended to them at the touch.

That apprehension has not faded, in fact it seems to strengthen in the form of shudders. His eyes fall shut and his breath shudders out, ghosting warmth across my hand.

“Does it hurt you this much?”

I ask him, not pressing my lips to his. His breath turns shallow and a shiver runs through before his eyes open again. I can clearly make out the pupil from the iris this time – darkness, within deeper darkness.

Still he does not answer, this distresses me. My eyes drop to his lips for a moment, and my thumb leaves a stain of red across them, his face flushed a shade of pale pink conquering his porcelain face. Is he just that sensitive?

“NARUTO!!”

It’s not Haku, but an interruptor is an interruptor. I will show no mercy this time! Not even if that interruptor is-- !!

“Sakura…”

I barely get a glimpse of her face before her fist is large enough to block out my eyeballs – I think she tried too. DAMN she can HIT! She should play baseball or something.

“YOU STUPID JERK!!”

She practically drags me to the ground as her body plows into me. And-- wow, if I ever thought she didn’t have much of a chest, I was damn wrong.

Then her claws are stabbing through my shoulders as she shakes me continuously, all the while yelling over and over how I’m such a jerk, and an idiot, and a jerk; I think that covers it.

I think I might have wanted to clock her except that her eyes were so shiny like she was going to cry and she made this weird face like a grimace when she was trying to smile.

Eventually she stopped shaking me and just lay there breathing. “You jerk.” Then she just smiles into me hiccupping a little. She breathes, “I’m so glad you’re alive.”

“Me too.” I tell her, rubbing her back as a comforting gesture. Sakura, love her and all, but she has seriously whack ways of showing relief. …and she interrupted me before I could actually kiss/fuck/SOMETHING SEXUAL with Sasuke. That sucks.

She stands up wiping her eyes and offers me a hand up. “What are you doing back here anyway?” she asks and then suddenly frowns and her eyebrows knit in anger, “Only higher member of the clans are allowed in here!”

“What about you.”

“I’m Tsunade’s apprentice.”

“Well I’m now Jiraiya’s apprentice so it’s fine!” I explain to her, and her eyes widen somewhat before she looks past me and seems to give the impression she should have already known that.

“Oh,” she eventually shrugs and hmphs, “Well you should still come see the others – there’s a rumor going around that you’re dead.”

What?

That’s stupid. Tsunade publicly said I was in the green! Idiots. I bet it’s Haku who’s saying it, or that creep Kabuto.

She nods to Sasuke and heads out down the hall, Sasuke and I following a step behind. Glancing at him, I see the porcelain color has returned to his skin. No trace of that pink or peach color anywhere, in a way it’s disappointing.

I love his eyes as they are now, endless pools with no clear beginning or end, just ever deeper darkness. But when the colors separated there was an internal brightness to them… I want to touch him again. Maybe I’ll get the chance later.

“-seems to be all he does.”

“Lee takes forever to just leave.”

“I think it’s cause he needs a good fuck.”

Great, Shino, Haku, Kabuto all chatting trash about Lee. I’m standing right here. Pay attention to me. I make way better conversation.

“And who do you suggest?”

Shino pretends to think, “I got nothing.”

“Exactly.”

I’m still standing… right here. Should I say something?

Gee, you think?!

“Maybe one of these days we should rip him open like he says he wants to do.” Haku shrugs, “It’s not like it’d kill him.”

“He’d just complain more.”

“True but-- !!”

Oh, now they see me.

Haku scowls. “I can’t believe this.”

“Yay! You’re not dead!” Shino chirps.

Kabuto notes. “Not entirely anyway.”

Wow Haku, Shino, Kabuto… I can tell you guys really care about me. Thanks so much. Yes, I think Shino is the happiest to see me, and in his case happy is very loose term.

Haku turns to glare at Kabuto, “I thought you said there was a 94% possibility that they killed him anyway.”

“And this is that other 6% in effect.” Kabuto states calmly. Haku just glares, alternating between Kabuto – in throttling distance – and me – not quite within reach yet.

“This calls for a celebration of sorts! Who wants to go hunting!”

“Shino he just woke up probably, he’s in no shape to go hunting is my guess.” Kabuto states, “Not yet anyway.”

“Woah, Sakura – Sasuke’s here too?” Shino’s eyebrows seem to shoot up his forehead. “Prince?” a lofty bow that doesn’t suit him. Kabuto and Haku bow their heads in respect, then the brunette’s back to glaring at me.

“Where did you disappear to anyway?” he wonders.

“I found him in the inner chambers – he’s Jiraiya’s apprentice now.” Sakura explains for me, as if taking credit for my rescue. I haven’t said a word yet – that’s a bit annoying.

“The interior?” Kabuto seems a bit startled by that.

Shino’s face breaks into a huge toothy grin, “Can we party on the interior then?”

“I suppose I can, if it’s alright with Orochimaru.” Kabuto assents.

“Princess Hinata will vouch for me – I’m sure!”

“I’m not really allowed.” Haku scowls.

“Wow, that’s too bad. I’d love for all of us to go.” I say as sincerely as I can, staring down Haku with as much mock as I can keeping my voice ‘honest’.

Sasuke shifts beside me. “I’ll vouch for all three of you being there if you want.”

No Sasuke!! That’s not necessary!!

Maybe I should have been completely sarcastic…

“Might generous of you Sasuke.” Kabuto notes idly, “What prompted this show of philanthropy, I wonder?”

Shino snickers, as Kabuto’s eyes glance between me and Sasuke, and he can’t seem to completely stymie the turning of his mouth. Yeah yeah, laugh it up. If we keep getting out-of-place interruptions I don’t think we’ll ever have a decent make out session.

“If you’re all quiet we can go through the sannin corridor – there’s a part that opens up outside a little,” Sakura suggested in the same sentence as a potent threat to our silence.

“Let’s go then! I still say someone should kill a boar or get a couple blood-sacks!” Shino grinned wildly.

Kabuto hit him over the head, “Don’t call them that. Blood-sacks… such a vulgar term. They are sentient you know.”

Shino rubbed his head and screwed up his mouth like he bit a lemon. “Yeah but they’re stupid.” He muttered as we moved as a group to the interior.

“What are?” I wonder idly, they might be talking about regens.

“Humans.”

Of course.

On the interior the way is kept relatively clear, but outside the entrance to one of the houses – a symbol like a waterfall or flowing piece of paper – stands two figures conversing before we approach.

One I don’t know, the other… reminds me of Hinata. Her cousin perhaps? He’s got the same eyes as her, clear and pale. Long brown hair tied back and a stern icy look to him. Doesn’t smile much I’d guess.

And I get the impression he’s a socialist nazi of some kind – if the swastika on his forehead is any indication. I wouldn’t be surprised if he lived through that time, but he doesn’t look particularly Aryan or German. Hmph.

The other one is a girl, long brown hair, lighter in shade than the guy’s. Her eyes are also brown, a darker hazel color than Tsunade. She looks like she’d have soft lips…

With her black dress, hair down, and obvious make-up adorning her pale skin she looks like she was kidnapped from a cocktail party. But there’s a hardness to her eyes that kind of makes me on edge.

“You are Naruto,” she speaks as we pass, and stop when addressed. She looks over our party and her mouth turns slightly, as if to grimace – what? So we’re mixed company? What does that really mean anyway? Socially mixed? Gender mixed? Specie mixed?

“I saw your trial, you performed admirably. It was surprising to say the least.”

I’ll just… take that as a compliment and nod my head. “Thank you.” I say trying to smile, but not quite able to. Her blank – distasteful – expression kind of puts me off.

Hinata’s cousin – Neji? – narrows his eyes at me. “Lord Tsunade seems to favor your existence. You are commended,” He says it pretty dryly but I get the feeling he’s insulting me, “she does not often take to males, let alone insulting ones.” Ah, never mind, he is insulting me.

“I’d clock you, but I’m just not in the mood to go Agent Orange on you.” I sneer as best I can and intend to walk on by. He just looks confused – what don’t know what ‘clock you’ means? Or was it the reference to Agent Orange?

“What did he mean by that?” he turns to his companion.

She smiles slightly and turns her eyes to me, “Something neither you nor I are meant to understand.”

Smile still in place she slinks – that’s right this girl doesn’t walk, she slinks, like some sort of sexy cat with great legs – to my side, and I am sorely tempted to invite her to take my arm.

Hinata’s cousin falls into step behind us but like Haku, he doesn’t look particularly happy about it. Great, Haku won’t be lonely.

“I’m Tenten,” she introduces herself, as she slides her arm around mine. I don’t care to remove her. Her eyes turn to me that elegant serpentine smile still across her ruby painted lips. “I really was impressed by the show you made. You are a fast learner.”

I turn my eyes to her and smirk, “In many categories.” I look down her dress at her legs and back up, roaming at her chest – she’s well endowed, but not as much as Hinata I think. “I bet you’re fast too.”

Her eyes narrow as her smile turns wider more wry, less elegant. She looks away briefly, but doesn’t release my arm. “I am.” She breathes turning to my ear.

Woah! So not all vampire girls are like Sakura! I think this chick might actually do me! Oh wait… “What about your boyfriend?”

She glances back at Hinata’s relation and smirks, “Neji? We’re just casual.” She informs me in a low voice. “What about yours?”

“My what?”

“Your boyfriend?” she whispers, glancing back at Sasuke and I follow her eyes.

Where Sasuke was previously unconcerned with Sakura, with my comment about Jiraiya, about anything except where I was blatantly obvious with him, now, with Tenten, he’s glaring daggers.

He stares back at me, dark eyes burning coals determined to rip and tear ‘something’ to shreds. I can’t be too sure if it’s me he’s glaring at or Tenten…

I turn back and grin, a flare of pride flowing through me. “Is he jealous?” I wonder incredulous.
“I do believe he is.” She grins, “So? What do you think?”

“I think I like jealousy on him.”

She turns forward giggling ‘elegantly’ I don’t know how else to put it. Except that she releases my arms and steps away, still beside me, her painted finger nails trailing down my wrist. A smile still on her face as she continues to walk with us.

Then I stop short, startled as a face appears before my own. A cold hand trails down my cheek. Then the figure is in front of us. A whirl of dark brown hair before he-it?-turns to face us. I’m shocked! Tenten looks amused and I can’t see anyone else because they’re behind me.

I think it’s a she, she has a bit of a chest but not much. She looks a lot like Hinata and Neji too, part of their clan I imagine?

She grins toothily, more of a smirk as she looks up at me, tilting her head in a cocky manner. “So you’re that idiot Naruto!” she states in a surprisingly adult voice considering she’s at least a good head shorter than me. And super skinny – the kid’s a toothpick!

“I’m surprised no one killed you! You can’t keep your mouth shut!” she laughs at me, “So what’s all this? You’re going to get your balls cut off since they’re not yours anyway?”

Shino laughs loudly from behind, but someone clapped a hand over his mouth – Kabuto likely. I heard Haku snicker too. Tenten seems amused, and Neji pushes past me to confront tiny miss insulting-me-for-no-reason.

“Hanabi, what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be with your mother today?” Neji scowls at her.

She crosses her arms and pouts, her tiny thin arms look like bird bones and her wrist and hands… so tiny. She’s a doll – a freaking doll.

“No – I have no idea where we’re going. I just wound up in the front,” I tell her pointedly, wishing I could come up with some super-awesome comeback to make her jaw drop. But I doubt cursing at her would do the trick.

“And even if I was an idiot – you are a toothpick, and short. In fact you’re so short I didn’t even see you standing there – you’re so small a pea would be bigger!”

“You are an idiot!” Hanabi glares, “And I may be short…” she moves and I barely see her before she tries to hit me. I dodge to the side where Tenten isn’t, and she keeps coming. “But I’m fast! And hold still!!”

“Yeah right! Only an idiot would do that!” I tell her as she tries to hit me in the face again.

“You ARE an idiot!” she says angrily, falling through as she strikes air again and is about to pull back and strike to her side where I’ve moved.

But she was a tad slower this time, and she’s still tiny – I only hit her arm but it sends her flying. “No, you are!” I shout back.

“Naruto!” Sakura’s pissed. I don’t care. Neji’s going to help Hinabi up. Sakura hits me upside the head, but it’s not hard. Yeah she’s a kid and whatever – I don’t care. I’m probably, actually, younger than her!

“Can’t believe you don’t know where we’re going.” Sakura mutters shaking her head as she moves to the front and we move as a group behind her. Now I’m walking next to Sasuke with Tenten on my other side.

Sasuke’s staring straight ahead but the rigidity in his features tells me he’s pissed somehow. Geez if he’s jealous, we should go out and he should just say – yes I want you, let’s fuck.

That’s just a dream at this point.

No, it could be. I think he wants it.

Me too.

Glad we agree for once – now get in his pants!

I’m working on it.

Then sleep with the chick – she’ll put out.

How do you know?

I can’t smell it – do something though! – I’m horny.

Well yeah, so am I.

Not enough obviously.

“SASUKE!!”

A girl with red-hair darts out from one of the alcoves marked with another family crest. She has dark almost violet eyes and a really annoying squeal. And she’s dressed like a modern slut – white shirt open at the top and pulled to the side to reveal her stomach and pierced navel.

Sasuke hardly moves to acknowledge her as she latches onto his arm, resting her head on his shoulder. “Oh Sasuke! I missed you so much! You should have come to visit me! I’m so lonely without you!”

Is it legal to be so annoying?

“Staying long this time?” the girl wonders batting her stupid thick-lashed eyes up at him. “You’re not leaving me again are you?”

“For now, Karin. Seems the war condition has become worse.”

“Yes it has – I wanted to have a party in a few days!” she pouts sticking out her bottom lip, “They told me I couldn’t because ‘circumstances wouldn’t allow for it’! Ugh! Really?!”

Then she glances past her obsession at me – probably because I’ve been glaring at her since she attached her leech-self to darkeyes. This is a highly distasteful action in my very important and should-be-heeded opinion.

“He’s that guy who Tsunade ‘okay’ed?” Karin asked. “You got him?”

“He is the one from yesterday’s trial and Order meeting.” Sasuke confirmed, not looking at me. I sort of want him too, just to see if I can tell if he detests this annoying mini-skirted whore as much as I do.

“But is he ours?” she whispers lower and Sasuke turns to her moving her body farther from me.

I hear his voice rougher than usual, colder and edgier; it reminds me of when I overheard him speaking with Hinata. “Quiet now. We’ll discuss this later.”

Discuss what?! How he shouldn’t have that stupid girl hanging on his arm and acting like she wants to fuck him?!

Tenten’s arm slides around my own for a moment, and her voice whispers in my ear, distracting me from trying to rip apart this ‘Karin’ with my bare hands – rend her limb from limb.

“It’s not worth it, darling.” She whispers to me, “You shouldn’t worry anyway. It’s a purely one-sided affection. If you want I could fill you in as far as the who’s who around here.”

“Just her.” I nearly growl, still glaring at Karin while she and Sasuke purposely avoid my gaze. Does Sasuke have the barest hint of a smile there?

Tenten leans toward me, “Illigitimate child of one of the sannin – probability is in Jiraiya’s favor, but Orochimaru is the rumored one to have fertilized the egg since he’s the one that cut her open. Egg-bearer unknown.”

“Word seems to be that it’s that Anko woman. But who can know for sure?” Tenten shrugs slightly, a feminine graceful movement when accomplished by her. “She’s hopelessly in love with Sasuke, however he’s never given her the time of dark.”

Her eyes glance over again, “This is a bit unusual, he usually shoves her off before now – perhaps now he’s trying to provoke you.”

That thought makes me smile.

“Fine!” Hanabi bounds in front of me, squishing herself between me and Tenten for the moment as she looks up at me a wry smile on her snotty little face. “You’re okay. Not as good as me, but okay.”

“He’s more than okay.” Tenten tells her offhand, glancing at me again and I return to her look, unsure which particular I should pursue. Tenten seems ready to hop in the sack, but Sasuke is jealous and if I confront him about it it’s possible he’ll do something.

I dunno.

Just pick ONE, I’m not that picky at this point. Darkeyes is fuckable and we should still screw him, but damn I’m getting impatient.

Yeah… but if we pick the chick now, who’s to say darkeyes will give us another chance?

You know what – do whatever. Make a choice.

“You listening?!”

Brat. “Yes.” I answer.

“What did I just say?” the brat fireball asks me in skepticism. “Bet you weren’t listening. Bet you didn’t hear a word.”

“Some are just like that Hanabi, you’ll learn later, they’re good for other things.” Tenten told her, but Hanabi ignores her.

“I was asking if Jiraiya’s going to teach you any of his moves like Tsunade did for the trial deal thing.” She states. “So?”

“Not to my knowledge, how’d you know anyway?”

She grins, “Walls have ears, you know. Word travels fast, and no secret is safe from me!”

Tenten sighs like she wants to roll her eyes but won’t. “So you say, darling.”

“It’s true – I can name all of your lovers right now, shall I?” the girl asks, finally turning her attention to the brunette woman.

She sneers at the child, “Go ahead. I bet you don’t even know the right number.”

“Neji, Hakubi, Lee, Minato, and Keichin.”

“Hm. Too bad.” The beauty regarded the child with mock sympathy, “I was with Lee a year ago, we’re no longer seeing each other. Minato was recalled and killed just recently in the campaigns. I suppose your information really is slow, inaccurate and unreliable.”

“Is not!”

“Perhaps some of the time.” Tenten turned away, and Hanabi seemed to pout and grimace and eventually turned and walked out of our cluster – I’m sure someone her age would have better things to do. What do I have to do?

Figure out who we want to screw.

Right. On it.

“Well I think it’s pretty sweet.” Sakura states as the path slopes upward past one of the houses and we find ourselves on one of the mountain ledges. It is a clear mostly flat area – no rail – and a single dead tree with spidery branches reaching out and falling over.

Nice Sakura, this is cool.

There’s the barest hue of dark purple and blue on the horizon as dusk dies to night. The moon isn’t quite full but it sheds the whole world in dulled light. That stupid Karin girl is still hanging on Sasuke and looks like she’s going to orgasm on her own just by touching him.

Sickening.

Tenten at least has more grace, holding my arm like a lady. Not acting like she wants to melt into my side or puffing and cooing at my neck like the stupid redhead. What’s with her hair? Looks like her hairdresser is a lawnmower!

Haku and Neji are conferring – probably talking about how much they dislike me or whatever. Shino looks antsy for something to happen. Kabuto oh-so-calm and collected. Sakura sits on the nearest rock and crosses her legs, looking towards the horizon – says something to Kabuto about the hunters group but I don’t catch it.

And that Karin slut is still hanging on Sasuke and-- snuggling him?! What is she?! A Dog in Heat?!! Seriously?! Sasuke!! Why are you putting up with that! We had a moment just a while ago!

A pale and dark ghost catches my eyes at the entrance and I separate easily from Tenten as I turn to the phantom, a familiar girl creepy clear and pale eyes and dark hair. Her eyes move, calculating and studying everything around her.

“Hinata, hey, want to join us?”

She shakes her head her glance straying toward Neji a moment, “I just wanted to see what the noise was. Rumor says the Hunters are close.”

She’s about to step back, but I catch her arm, and she jumps slightly as my hand closes on her cold flesh. “Stay?”

She smiles and turns blatantly toward Neji and then back to me, “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Her voice is calm, whispy even, but there’s a sharp bite in it too. Like she’s trying to not shout or snarl. “I should get back to my lab.”

She moves to detach herself from me, I release her. “Please stay? I’ve never talked to you outside your lab.”

Then Neji is beside us and I turn to glare at him the same time that Hinata and he lock eyes in malice, and I can feel the icy hatred between them. “What are you doing here, Worthless?”

“I invited her turd-face,” I can’t help growling. Somehow it really pisses me off that he’s calling her worthless – Hinata’s awesome, even if she can be pretty darn creepy.

He turns his glare to me briefly and then he’s centered back on his apparent nemesis. “You shouldn’t be here. I suggest you leave.” He orders coldly, not so much a suggestion than a demand.

Hinata’s mouth curls into a sneer and her tongue moves to form cutting words but I speak before she gets the chance, “I ‘suggest’ you be the one to leave.” I snarl at him, throwing his own insult back to him, “Worthless.”

Clear eyes flare and veins in his forehead begin to show beneath the skin, Hinata’s hand grips my arm and her nails dig in sharply making me hiss. He clear eyes glaring past me at Neji; her words one continuous hiss, all eyes on the display. “I will fight my own battles.”

Neji’s eyes flare and within pale depths spider-thin veins start to stand out creating a web across the sclera and iris. His mouth curls in a threatening manner, pulling back to bare fangs.

“Shall we take this to the arena?”

He snorts at her. “I won’t waste my time on you, Worthless.” He tells her coldly. She just grins, smiling toothily.

“You’re a coward then.” She laughs, sneering, “How pathetic.” She gestures widely, “So scared that you can’t even best me? How will you ever face my father in battle? Oh wait! You never will – you’re too ‘scared’!”

He snarls at her and she steps back from his hand as it reaches for her, fingers curling into sharpened edges. “Shall we then?”

“Alright!! Duel!!” Shino cries cheerily, clapping his hands in excitement.

“Everyone move back,” Sakura barks as she leaps to a farther rock, “give them room!”

Obeying everyone edges to the perimeter, and I grudgingly leave Hinata’s side. Strength and determination ripple form her arms – I’m not worried about her. I just want to see her crush him, and she means to.

In a moment the two move and then there is but a dark blur assuaged only by the barest flash of white from porcelain skin or pale eyes. It’s like an intricate dance. Neither can touch each other. Lunge. Strike. Dodge. Recoil. Redouble and attack. Dodge again. It repeats over and over.

But I notice that, where Neji moves with ease, Hinata is relying on observation and reflex. Neji already knows exactly where her strikes will come from – she’s anticipating his. She’s a much better fighter.

They part an instant, rezising their opponent. “You can’t defeat me.” Neji hisses to her before he moves again. She dodges. Pulls back. Lashes backward with her arm, and he effortlessly slides away – already knowing where she’ll strike. How can he know?!

“I already know exactly where you’re going to try,” he tells her confidently.

She smiles, pulls back again to avoid his leg as it winds upward with enough force to snap her neck. “I know you cousin, and your attack scheme. I know too where you will choose to strike.”

He sneers at her. “You can’t use your eyes, you will tire of evasion eventually.” He lunges again and she falls to the side before he’s on her again and she moves behind to strike – he evades her once more.

“When you do – victory is mine. And I will win; that is my destiny.” Strike. Dodge. Part, lunge once more – feint to the above. But she’s already spun away, duck the strike from behind. “Just as it is your destiny to forever try to best me – and fail, every time.”

She laughs as she spins away from his next strike. “There is no destiny. There is no fate. It is proven – and I can win.” She glares in pointed determination and she stops an instant, staying completely still even as Neji rushes at her. “I will win.”

Neji digs his leg down to the ground and spins away as a swarm of tiny reflective creatures swarm from beneath her skirt. A buzzing fury flying toward Neji and following him as he darts away behind rocks and leaves a cloud of dust behind him as he leads the swarm.

Perhaps testing it’s capabilities and limits. I’d prefer to think he’s just running around like an idiot, but there is a method to his movements. Like when he rushes past Hinata, dodges her arm and they all move around Hinata, stopping just an instant before running into her and fall to the ground.

“Defeat that cousin!” she laughs at him, sitting back on a central rock and watching his progress with the swarm.

He stops and turns, his arm extended – and even in the second that it takes I can see his molecules detach and he vanishes into the swarm and the tiny robots – or whatever they are – cease movement at once.

In another moment the molecules condense around each ‘bug’ and the littly things sputter and blink out falling to the ground – Neji resolidifies, giving Hinata a very smug look.

I hear the slut speaking to Sasuke, and Tenten leans toward me, “Normally vampires don’t use our shapeshifting abilities during formal duel.” Tenten explains to me, in her sultry sexy voice like thick velvet sound. Aha!! So Neji’s cheating!!

She continues, “But Hinata is also the only vampire who fights using machines.”

Hinata looks furious and glares up at her cousin in unadulterated rage, standing immediately and stalking toward him. “That was a dirty trick! You cheated!!”

“You used machines.” He tells her smoothly.

“You have you’re eyes.” She hisses.

He grins, “So now we’re just nitpicking about what’s allowed and not? How about we just both fight normally from now on, and whoever wins that way wins – no machines, no misting. Just a regular duel.”

This is wonderful, Neji’s body is still vibrating from dashing around avoiding the swarm and the misting. Hinata! Keep calm – and strike when he opens up, and he will. Hinata can win this!! But Hinata’s rage intensifies.

I want to yell at her, tell her, but something tells me it’d make things worse for her if I did, it’s probably illegal to coach from the sidelines.

I watch as they throw themselves at each other once again. As I predicted, Neji isn’t quite as quick, but it’s minimal slippage and he keeps closing up the gaps he leaves open. He’s vulnerable in several places, but he’s getting better, and Hinata… she’s moving blindly it seems.

Neji’s almost hit her a few times already. She’s too angry, she can’t take advantage of his weakness when she’s being like this. I start as I realize my hand on my leg has tightened to the point of cutting off blood flow.

I can’t even watch this. Hinata… Hinata… you could have had him!

A whirling storm of claws and teeth, lashing arms and legs. Powerful rippling muscles and face contorted to the point of demonic character, pale eyes burning and skin mottling dark with the dirt as she darts in and out attacking and dodging.

But she’s making it easy for him… she’s just in a blind fury now. She won’t win, not like that. Ferocious as she is, Neji is calmer and he’s calculating every blow – he already knows where she’s going and he’s getting faster. Soon she’ll be too slow.

Hinata… Hinata…

She starts as she darts back a moment late and Neji’s hand closes on her wrist yanking her back harshly. She yelps as she’s thrust to the ground and her cousin twists her arm behind her back driving her deeper into the dirt.

She snarls and tries to flip around but Neji’s foot is now planted squarely on her back, and he’s giving her that oh-so-smug look, sneering down at her in contempt. “You really weren’t worth my time, Worthless.” He states coldly.

The rest of us sit back and uncoil – the fight is over. Hinata moves to push herself from the ground but Neji’s foot holds her in place, his grip on her arm still firm. That bastard – he’s won, he can fucking let her go now!

“Why won’t you just admit it?” he asks, his foot digging deeper against her spine and she growls in anger at the degrading motion. Everyone stills. “I want to hear you say it, Worthless. I am better than you, and you will always just be Worthless.”

She snarls and grits her teeth – pale eyes glaring up in defiance. Why are we all just sitting here? He’s just being an arrogant bastard now – someone should call him on it!

I glance at Tenten and she shakes her head imperceptibly. “Family blood, family feud, family issue.” She mouths to me, “it’s not for us to interfere in when it’s in another clan.”

His eyes narrow down at her, keeping her silence and he digs his foot deeper. “Say it Worthless.” He orders. I glare, I can’t watch this – I am so pissed at this bastard right now. She just grins up at him, not saying a word, he raises his leg-- and slams it down on her throat.

I hear the sound of the squish as her throat closes up and her eyes go wide, a horrible chocking grating sound as she attempts to inflate it again and blood spits out over the ground staining the earth black – shock in her eyes. And he raises his leg again-- “Admit it, Worthless worm!!”

Fuck clan issues!

Neji moves to swing his leg down on her throat again. It stops midway where it collides with my hand, catching his leg and tightening enough to bruise. He glares at me in implacable fury, “This is within our clan, outsider! Stand down!”

“No.” I snarl at him. And shove him backwards, he falls halfway before catching himself and landing in the dust a few feet away glaring at us, eyes ready to kill.

“You aren’t allowed!!” Neji howls at me, and the others stand up looking from one to the other in apparent confusion or awe. Sasuke seems slightly disturbed, as does Sakura, though I think Sasuke more so.

Neji glances to the others for support. “You’re not allowed to do this!!”

“So what?” I glare back at him, daring him to challenge me on this, as I kneel by Hinata. She heaves and another glop of blue-black blood streams up her throat and she grunts and groans as her throat opens enough for her to use it.

“You bastard shit-head!” she tries to shout at him, but her voice is hoarse and rasping slightly, and she touches the skin fingers digging lightly into the sides to inspect the damage. “SHITHEAD!! You could have damaged it for good!!”

“Then you’d be a mute, with no need to speak at all!” he retorts angrily, still focused on me. Haku turns to Kabuto a distance away and he shakes his head.

“I have no idea what to do in this case. It’s just… no one interfere with clan issues – so, no punishment or consequence has ever been devised.” Kabuto watches us with increasing incredulity. “You do know that this doesn’t concern you at all.”

“Of course it does.” I tell Kabuto, though my eyes are fixed in hate on Neji. “Hinata’s one of mine – you touch her and I have the right to kill you.”

Neji starts, obviously shocked by my declaration. It makes perfect sense to me though. I have no clan, no family; but I’ve made one. This includes, Sasuke – my fave. Jiraiya – my master. Sakura – hot bitch. And bitches rock, met very few I actually didn’t like.

Also includes Shino – creepy but awesome. Hinata – also creepy but in a cute way and very much awesome, and she builds stuff and has a pet werewolf, I mean come on! Tenten – recently added, very hot, love her legs.

Also on the list, but not quite making the list is Kabuto – pending membership as he is a well of useless and useful information therefore possibly a boon. And there’s my family… very small.

Don’t I count?

Until we get you a name – no. Not really.

Well at least you aren’t calling me ‘viral infection’ anymore.

You mean ‘parasite’.

Ugh…

You don’t remember your name do you.

Maybe we need to fuck someone before I’ll remember.

I like that idea, but I doubt that will help you with the name-crisis.

Maybe, maybe not.

How about we go with ‘Bob’ for now?

Hey! Asshole’s talking to you.

What? Oh!

“Sorry I wasn’t listening, I generally don’t listen to bastard shit heads.” I respond to whatever it was Neji said. Hinata snorts as she lifts herself to her feet and I follow, Shino falling in beside her, asking softly if she needs anything and she shakes her head.

“You can’t kill me,” Neji laughs at me, apparently recovering his permanent dickhood. “I’d challenge you, but I’d hate to be responsible for the death of Jiraiya’s apprentice.”

“Then we just fight until I rip your arm off – that simple.” I return. “I’ll fight you. Right here. Now.”

Neji frowns, he’s wearied from the last fight already and I’m fresh. I could probably tear every one of his limbs off and make him beg for mercy if we fought now.

“We’ll fight in the open grounds arena, third circle, in three hours – just before dawn. That will be our time limit.” Neji states. Of course he wants to give himself time to rest – I’ll still fuck him up; not in the way I want to fuck darkeyes up of course, but… ah whatever.

“Fine.” I agree immediately.

I catch the startled sound of Karin as Sasuke shoves her off of him and he steps between me and Neji and glares alternately at the two of us.

“No one will be fighting on the open grounds. There will be no fighting after this.” His voice is cold and commanding, both I and Neji can’t seem to help but shrink away before him.

“Why?” I venture.

He turns his eyes to me, dark pits turned darker and more dangerous than ever. The first time he’s fixed me with such a furious gaze and I feel the cold burning through my skin and chilling me till my bones turn to ice.

“Because I said so.” He hisses, “There is no need to assert your testosterone issues. Neither of you will fight – ever.” The last word echoing in my head like a lead marble spinning at 70 miles per hour. “Is that clear?”

Neji seems in the same state, “Y-yes.” He stammers, correcting himself immediately, his skin twitching at the surface agitated as he shies away from the raven-head.

“Yes.” I breathe quietly as I edge away.

Sasuke gives me one last hard look before he breezes past back into the mountain and the rest of us filter slowly out – the air changed to something unusually chilled and malicious.

“Three hours, third arena on the open grounds.” Neji whispers as he filters past me. I glare at him back – if he still intends to be there and fight I certainly will be.

“Just make sure that’s where you are, pansy.” I growl after him. He glances back with a hard angry look before turning away and vanishing inside the mountain.

“So you are fighting?” Sakura asks, standing beside me, the two last ones to head back inside still standing just outside. “Why? How is Hinata any of your business?” she seems genuinely confused at my behavior.

“I consider her my family.” I shrug in explanation and she wrinkles her brow at me in confusion, “I’d do the same for you.” I tell her.

Her face softens and she sighs. “Idiot.” The insult sounds kind though, almost like an affectionate term.

Her hand touches my arm, “Don’t do anything stupid.” She warns me before heading to the interior, leaving me to follow after.

`

One phone call from Shikamaru and three-four fantasies concerning Sasuke later – and three hours – I find myself at the third arena of the open grounds facing a certain bastard not worthy of name.

Something nags at the back of my mind that there’s some other reason this shouldn’t be happening, some other warning against fighting someone related to Hinata? I can’t remember, and I’m still too incensed to back down for a phantom memory warning.

I’m stronger than him, so it won’t matter even if I’m a hair slower. His eyes seem to darken and the spidery veins snake through his skin, his stance widens, muscles coiled to spring forward.

An unspoken, acknowledged signal. A single moment and we move. He falls into the pace with some confusion – to make up my lack of speed and grace demonstrated while fighting Hinata I follow through every blow as I lash out.

He dodges. I move to the other side, following through the strike – though I missed the target. Leap and strike. He dodges. I skid to the far right to dart in again. I’m expending more energy than he is, but I have more stamina to begin with.

Turn, dodge, crouch. Strike and miss – I’m already out of range. Every movement of his is robotic and stiff. He’s agitated, and his teeth grind against each other, his eyes spidery veins pulsing as he watches me, and every move I have to make.

He doesn’t know every move I’ll make, – his eyes can’t read me? – he’s having to anticipate my movement. But there’s something else that’s bothering him there.

“There’s something not right in your blood,” Neji barks at me, his agitation showing in his voice. But I don’t stop my attacks. “Did you know that?!”

I smirk and refuse to answer, aiming to snag his arm, my fingernails barely scraping up the top layer of skin along his forearm. He hisses and he bolts away from his current position – putting more distance between us. I didn’t even draw blood – stupid thick-skinned moron.

“You’re warm!” he starts shocked, and I note a similar peachy color fading from where my hand barely grazed his forearm. Spider-vein eyes turn back to me glaring harshly. “What is this, you dual-blooded devil?!”

Don’t know what that means – don’t care. He feints away, darting behind a large rock to avoid my strike that drives deep into the stone. He’s lucky I didn’t use that new technique Tsunade taught me – I could have reached him then.

Neji takes the initiative for once lunging towards me and attempting to drive me back – but I don’t take care where he tries to claw through me. My hands seek to capture his and force his retreat. He growls in rage! “What are you?!”

I jump towards him and he leaps away, I turn and follow, and he’s not even bothering to try and attack back – he’s on the run now. But he’s losing that stamina of his quickly. “You’re still yet 98 degrees!!”

I laugh, the soil roiling up from the burning center, my voice grated and ugly as it exhumes from my throat. “You think me human?!”

Neji’s eyes flare again and he turns in an attempt to catch and use my momentum against me. But I’ve already touched ground, and my leg collides heavily with his spine.

His body jerks forward and down as his legs give way. “Idiot – It doesn’t matter what I am,” I snarl, “I’m still taking you down.”

My hand closes on his nearest wrist and I twist the arm behind him, my foot still in place on his back. He hisses as his shoulder pops it’s socket with the harsh jerk I give it. I’m totally prepared to rip off his limb – just as harshly as he would have crushed Hinata’s throat.

A flicker of sanity makes me pause, just a moment. “If you want, we can decide the winner as for whoever draws first blood?” I offer, and he just growls in anger, attempting to push himself up and throw me off. I put more of my weight on his back and he snarls as he’s ground deeper to the earth.

“Suit yourself.” I smile happily, as I pull at his arm, and he yowls – just a taste of the ripping to come when his limb will tear straight off. “If you beg her, perhaps Hinata will reattach it for you.”

Then I prepare to yank – I can already see the sploosh of blood that will pour from his shoulder and arm, and I will deliver a final kick – then throw down the arm and walk from here – the black-blood-stained earth a testament to my victory.

But as I move to yank upward my arm won’t move and my hot blood boiling inside of me quails as an icy wind swoops through me and I register the hard cold hand gripping my wrist – ceasing my movement.

Dark eyes, empty never ending pools of darkness bear into me, empty and void of feeling, though a strange coil of rage swirls in the chill. “Release him.” That soft sultry voice growls, and my hand complies, and I step away.

Sasuke’s gaze does not leave me and then the dark cold turns to furious angry empty caverns bearing down on me, towering shadows closing in. “How dare you…”

That dark voice turns sharp and poignant, “I told you that you would not fight.” Each word a tiny shard of icicle lodged through my chest in a cold stormy fury.

“You are no better.” His eyes turn on Neji as he slowly rises from the ground, not meeting Sasuke’s eyes. “You are over 1000 years, I would have expected better from you-- you and your proud family, yet unable to keep that damnable pride of yours in check--!!”

“His blood is irregular.” Neji states tonelessly, turning away from the brunt of the furious gale of words. Sasuke’s mouth presses to a thin line, his eyes narrowing almost to the point of splinters. “His blood flow is easy, fast, and his bodily temperature matches that of a human.”

“You bloody think so?!” Sasuke demanded coldly, cutting him off. “Well I would think so – fool!” he spits.

“He has tasted the blood now of a great many of the higher clan members and elders of the Order.” It’s the short clipped tone that I recognize when Sasuke first lied to Jiraiya and then the guards. Sasuke has told many lies actually.

“Of course he is now privy to such abilities that distort your own when you attempt to apply them to him.” He scoffs.

Neji shifts and turns to stare back finally, his eyes show he’s not fully convinced. He moves as if to question, but Sasuke speaks first. “You’re saying I’m wrong?” he demands, a foreboding anger chilled and deadly like a viper snaking forth from him and Neji’s mouth shuts.

He turns away again and nods in agreement, “I will leave the Worthless one be, then.” He states, to me, referring to Hinata. “It doesn’t make what she is any less shameful for our clan.”

I narrow my eyes, but refuse to speak lest I attempt to fight and rip his arm off again – I doubt Sasuke would be thrilled. “A full blood vampire who can’t use her blood limit. Pathetic.”

I bite my tongue hard enough to draw blood to keep from speaking, or from moving to slash my hand through his damnable throat. Then dusting himself off, Neji heads for the inside of the mountain. Dawn is almost upon us.

Sasuke then breathes out and the cold recedes somewhat before he turns to me, with a cold energy that burns through me in a lesser version of the rage that held me silent and immobile moments ago.

“What were you thinking?!” he hisses, “You idiot!! You could have seriously hurt yourself! Worse – Neji could have tasted your blood! He could have tried to bring you before the Order council again!”

I eventually zone out what he’s saying. How do I deal with an angry Sasuke? It wasn’t a big deal -and I won! Nothing happened.

I suggest you shut him up.

How?

How else?

Good idea.

“—If that had happened do you have any idea the consequences?!” Dark eyes so bright with energy, and I’ll take him for mine. “You could be locked away! Sealed--!!”

I seal my lips over his, and the words die in his throat as my tongue moves through into him. My arms winding around his waist, his shoulder, pinning him against me.

He starts in my arms, muscles stiff and his skin shakes uncontrollably. He squirms in my hold, and moans into my mouth when I roll my hips back against his.

He groans and writhes as he tries to loosen my hold. I step forward, pushing him back until there’s a steady surface I can press him against. Immobile I assault his mouth and he yelps at the taste of my blood in his mouth.

He wriggles back against the stone, and I lean into him. His body trembles and his breath hisses past my cheek – hot and wet before my tongue and lips seek his once more.

I can feel his flesh here and there, and my hand worms under his shirt, drawing it up to his shoulders, his arms hands shakily clenched on my shoulders keeping me from drawing it over his head.

I toy with the idea of tearing the fabric so it just falls off – but he bucks suddenly as my knee slides up between his legs, and I forget that thought in favor of devouring his mouth – tasting sweet and winter as my knee rolls against a growing hardness.

This prompts a series of mewls and moans sent into my mouth. His skin burns pink where I touch, and I leave his mouth, my tongue laving his lips abused a cherry color, to move to his throat pressing my tongue and lips hard enough to mark crimson.

He yelps and his hips press away from my leg, still I roll it into him. His head thrown back against the stone and moans leaving his neck and nape open for any action my tongue wishes to take.

My hands roam the distance between his hip and chest. My thumb traces hard against a pebbled nub of skin. He graons and arches in response, his body bending like a sinewy bow – an instrument entirely made for me to draw sound and attention.

My tongue falling to his clavicle, my teeth resting hard against the bone – and he moans before I move away, the pressure not hard enough to break the skin.

My knee rolls against his crotch again and he bucks against me with a pleading mewl, his own leg pressing against my aching shaft.

His breath is short and hurried, his body shakes, his skin is burned pink and peach, darker crimson and red bruises surround his mouth, lips, and neck. His nipples are rubbed red and sore, body arched and splayed entirely for use.

His aching arousal swells against his pants, above my knee. His leg digs into my own. And for a moment I can swear that his skin feels warm beneath mine.

It is that moment of calm worship where I take the time to look all over his precious body and contemplate again just cutting all his clothes off. It is that moment that sanity makes it’s appearance in his many dark-ringed eyes.

That moment when those hands clenching my shoulders in weakness gain back their strength enough to shove me away. He falls to the side, and wards off my arms when I try to catch him. His legs are unsteady and he falls to his knees in the dust, breathing hard, shaking.

The pink color in his hands recedes and the shaking increases before finally his usually porcelain pallor reclaims it’s territory over Darkeyes’ flesh.

“Don’t… please don’t…”

I don’t understand.

“What’s wrong?” I ask him, more confused than ever. He wasn’t pushing me away earlier, he held perfectly still then – what happened here?! “What’s wrong! You didn’t do this earlier – what the hell, Sasuke?!”

“Please don’t…” he breathes, before his breath calms and the shaking stills. In a moment he rises, and stands erect, pale and beautiful, as if I never touched him. It bothers me, that the only part that remains is the uneasiness and apprehension in those abyss-like eyes of his.

“Why?” I ask eventually, careful to keep my voice level when frustration and anger wants to pour through. “Why do you draw away from me?”

He’s being such a bitch!! I don’t understand him!!

“Why won’t you touch me? Why can’t I touch you?!” I ask, losing the battle to my own frustration. The apprehension in his eyes only increases and I can see as his muscles wind beneath his skin poised to bolt, to run away – to run away from me.

“Why?”

I wait patiently and he watches me, steady, wary, uncertain. He’s contemplating not answering me, and I feel my anger swell again. But then, he does speak…

“Because you burn.”

Then he’s gone, barely a flash and he’s already run away. I roar into the night – tearing up my throat as I bellow out my anger and frustration!!

WHAT KIND OF ANSWER IS THAT?!!

Then he just ran away. Coward. Secretive bastard, tease, bitch!! I scream again and then let myself collapse to the ground to let my heated blood run colder once more.

I burn?

What the fuck does he mean by that?!

---

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