Chapter 9

A week passed and Sasori snuck me away every single day. My plan was working, just not quite as quickly as I needed it to. According to Kaguya's prediction, Ino only has three days to both give birth and live.

The odd Ame vampire has gotten more comfortable around me, for sure, but I still didn't feel like it was enough to ask him to betray both Kaguya and Amegakure for my sake. Not only would I be asking him to risk his life, but he admitted to me that he's never even befriended a human being.

He didn't come right out and say it, but I could almost guarantee he's never gotten physically close with one either, other than to feed on them. As I thought about it throughout the week, I realized it'd surprise me if he was even interested in something like sex. He doesn't appear to get much enjoyment from physical contact. Even after multiple days, he never touched any part of me but my arms and it seemed like he only did that to keep me in place where he wanted me to stand.

I learned a lot about his life as I gently coerced conversations out of him during our visits. At first, I was stunned to learn that he's a cousin of the Subaku siblings in Sunagakure, but immediately saw the resemblance between him and Gaara. Sure, their hair was almost the same color, but their bone structure and eye shape were also nearly identical.

It struck me as a dark kind of funny that both redheads from Suna were emotionally challenged and struggled to empathize with humans.

Kaguya visited a couple times and it made me a bit happy to see her visibly diminishing. Once bright red eyes were as dull as rust now and her skin was sickly pale. Whenever she was in my presence, I felt myself getting stronger. Before defending myself against Hidan, I hadn't noticed it, but it was almost hard to ignore these days.

Even if I hated her, I kept asking our captor to release us for her sake. My life wouldn't exist without her, seeing as she's the woman who began the Tanaka, or should I call it Otsutsuki, bloodline. It seems a shame, somehow, that something so ancient and sacred was dying because of me, but my pity ends there. Each time she showed her face, she'd demonstrate a different incredible power as though trying to prove to us that there's no way we'll survive.

Through Hidan, who was often the one to bring us meals, I learned that her blood can not only heal all who ingest it, human or vampire alike, but also sometimes grants them special powers of their own. He said in some cases the powers are permanent and sometimes they only last as long as the blood is in their system.

When I asked if he had any special powers, he said he can't die from blood loss, which is why he didn't react more harshly to having two holes put through his body when I fought him. Of course, the silver-haired vampire didn't give me any of this information easily. I had to withstand loads of insults and threats, as well.

Kaguya could also command anyone she wanted. That didn't come as much of a surprise because when she glows me, my body won't even try to fight. Despite all this, I was confident that if we escape and Sasuke finally turns me, I'll be able to defeat her if she ever tries to come after us.

The topic of me being turned kept coming up between Madara, Ino, and I, as well. They both wanted me to allow Madara to do it so I'll stand a better chance of surviving if things end up getting violent, but I just couldn't let it happen. Their logic made sense and I felt so selfish for refusing because the extra strength would aid in getting Ino out of here, but even the thought of someone other than Sasuke turning me made me want to be sick.

Not only that, but half-ling vampires often form an incredibly strong bond with their creators. Ino wasn't sure if she was affected by it because she was already head over heels for Sai by the time he turned her, so I'd run the risk of starting something inexcusable with Sasuke's uncle. It shouldn't and couldn't happen, for his, Madara's, and my sake. All parties involved would be affected.

"Are you afraid? Your heart is beating very quickly."

I blinked a few times as Sasori spoke against my neck and snapped me out of my thoughts. My back was against the wall as he drank from me in his room. Inwardly, I cursed at myself. After today, three days stand between life and death, yet I was zoning out when I should be focusing on getting the vampire before me to see me as someone worth saving.

"No, I'm sorry. I was just thinking about…" I trailed off. I wanted to say that I was worried about having three days to live, but if I did and he took it as me trying to guilt him into doing something then all the work I've put in over the past six days would be for nothing.

The redhead surprised me by speaking bluntly against my skin, licking at my blood after every other word so none of it would run down my skin and risk being wasted, "I imagine you are thinking about how Lady Kaguya will end your life."

My mouth went dry and I swallowed nervously, before trying not to sound as scared as I actually was, "Am I that easy to read?"

"I have never been talented at understanding human body language or facial expressions, but if I knew my death was so close, I do not see myself as being capable of thinking about anything else."

My brow furrowed and I responded naturally, genuinely confused, "I thought you were pretty good at reading people. You always look like you know exactly what everyone's intentions are."

"I cannot interpret your intentions, nor my own, currently."

My breath hitched in my throat as he spoke bluntly as though he wasn't saying something so open to interpretation. He pulled back and looked me in the eye, obviously curious about my response.

I searched his bright red eyes and felt something coming from him that I hadn't expected and definitely hadn't hoped for. It was time to make an incredibly difficult choice: shy away from kissing him in order to not betray Sasuke and risk losing the chance of escaping or go through with it no matter how disgusting of a person it made me feel like and likely increase my chances of turning Sasori onto my side.

Losing every bit of respect I had for myself in the process, I glanced down at his lips before meeting his eye again and didn't stop him when he leaned forward to kiss me firmly.

Ino and her baby need me more than I need to love and be loved. This isn't some game we're playing in this hideout. Three days from now, something's going to happen and what I do now may directly affect what that something is.

No matter what happens, if I somehow manage to make it out alive, I'm not going to try and lie to Sasuke. He's almost definitely already hurt that I'd gone behind his back and left Konoha, but lying about having to entertain another man's affection, whether I wanted to or not, was almost worse than the act itself. He deserves so much more than that. He deserves so much more than what I'm doing to him right now by letting Sasori slide his tongue into my mouth.

I wanted to be sick. There wasn't even a small part of me that enjoyed what was happening, but I couldn't stop it, for Ino's sake. My fingers trembled as I ran a hand up to caress his jaw. The metallic aftertaste of my blood was in his saliva and it made my stomach churn. A small sound rumbled from my chest when one of his hands left my arm and snaked up into my hair.

Tears rose in my eyes when he pressed against me, but I kept them closed and forced myself not to give up. His other hand suddenly shot up and wrapped tightly around my throat, making my eyes shoot open as he pulled his tongue from my mouth.

After pressing a couple more kisses against my lips, he pulled back to look me in the eyes, "Is it your intention to seduce me? You have already been claimed. Even if you die in three days, taking you would be a crime."

His tone, for once, wasn't empty. He sounded either hurt or offended, but I couldn't tell which. It told me that he'd either finally caught on to what I've been trying to do or knew all along and was waiting for the right moment to say something.

My tears overflowed, since I knew there wasn't a point in pretending anymore, "I want my sister and Madara rescued! I don't care what happens to me. Please, Sasori, go get her husband and bring him here so he can take her home." My desperation was obvious in my voice, but I didn't care.

"If I do that, I will make dozens of enemies. Many of which are much stronger than me."

He was completely right, but I couldn't give up no matter how small the odds of him agreeing were, "The Uchihas will protect you and I'm sure your family in Suna will, too! Please get her out of here. I'm begging you, Sasori."

Glowing red eyes searched mine in silence for what felt like multiple minutes before his grip around my neck finally lessened and he leaned down to close the bite wound there before coming back up, "Do not misunderstand what just happened. I do not plan on taking you by force or bargaining with you about mating."

My eyes widened as his eyes faded back down to their usual light brown and his expression became neutral again, "I will travel to Konoha and return with your allies if you agree to two conditions."

I perked up, "Of course! Whatever you want, it's yours!"

"First, you must allow me access to your blood once you have been made a vampire. You are undeniably here to replace Kaguya and I believe you will inherit her abilities."

I nodded, "Fine. What else?"

"You will assist me in being rid of Hidan."

My eyes widened in surprise, "Why?"

"He is the only other advisor from Amegakure here at present. The royal family may believe I did not betray them so long as he is not able to corroborate Sonokuni Village's claims."

I frowned, "He won't be as easy to kill as a regular vampire, Sasori."

The redhead's eyes stayed locked onto mine, "Which is why I require assistance. I believe I can overpower him if you can act as a distraction."

Fear washed through my body as I recalled how amusing the silver-haired vampire found it to rough me up, but I had to agree no matter what. "I accept, on one more condition."

"What is it?"

"If I die, promise me you'll still help her."

"How would that benefit me in any way?"

My eyes narrowed and I pleaded with him softly, "I know you struggle to understand humans, but please try ,just this once, to imagine what I'm feeling right now. I love my sister and I'll do anything to protect her. Promise me you'll do everything you can if it comes to it." He didn't respond, but I somehow understood that he'd reluctantly agreed to my desperate request.

After leading me back to my room, he paused to look at my sister sitting across the room with a distrustful look on her face before returning his gaze to me, "I am leaving immediately. It is best for you to prepare yourselves for when I return."

Tears rose in my eyes again and I nodded, "Thank you, Sasori. I'm forever going to be in your debt." He didn't hesitate to turn and leave the room.

Once the door was shut, I rushed over to them with tears streaming down my face as I whispered, "He's going to Konoha right now to get help."

Ino looked completely stunned for a moment before bursting into tears, covering her mouth with one hand and holding her massively pregnant stomach with the other. Madara grabbed my shoulder with a menacing look, "What did you do?"

My face paled as I recalled my betrayal of Sasuke and I shook my head, "I did what I had to do."

His eyes widened slightly and he looked like he didn't recognize who was sitting before him, "You didn't-"

I cut him off, wiping angrily at my eyes, "I didn't sleep with him, okay? I just kissed him, but that's bad enough! I-I don't care what either of you think of me. It worked, didn't it?"

Ino spoke through her heavy crying, "Sasuke will understand, Saku."

My gaze softened as I looked at her and I gently came over to hug her, letting my relief calm my self-hatred, "Let's not worry about anything except conserving our energy. If he's quick, Sasori will be back in two days or less, which means you need to be ready to travel so we can get home before you go into labor."

She hugged her arms around her belly with a small smile as she looked down at it, "Do you think Sai will be happy?"

I pulled back to give her a look of utter disbelief, "You've got to be kidding me, Ino. You're worried about that now?"

She blushed prettily, reaching up to fix her messy hair with one hand, "We haven't had the chance to talk about having kids yet, so I don't know how he feels. We're both so unprepared." The worried tone of her voice got heavier with each word.

I looked back at Madara and gave him a silent look asking for help. He glanced between me and my fretting sister before coming to sit on her other side with a sigh, "Having children is something every vampire wants. It's not easy to conceive, so you two are actually quite lucky."

She looked at him in surprise, "I thought it was only hard for humans and vampires to conceive."

He nodded, "That is more rare, but it's still ten times harder for a vampire couple to conceive than a human couple. Since we're immortal, our genes often reject conception because a child has to grow and age, something vampires don't do."

I gave him a stunned look, shocked he knew all of this off the top of his head, "I've never thought about it like that. When does a naturally-born vampire stop aging? Sasuke's over three hundred and he barely looks twenty."

Madara shrugged, "No one knows how it works. When you're given such a gift, you don't question it." Ino and I glanced at one another before smiling in amusement.

Two days passed, full of the three of us getting more anxious by the minute, and then it was the third and final day: the day Kaguya said she'll kill Ino. I was barely able to get any sleep the night before because I was too busy listening for any commotion outside our room.

It was mid-morning and I was helping Ino stretch her legs so she could walk around more easily when the door to our room suddenly burst open and Sasori came in with blood splattered about his skin and clothes, "We need to move now. Follow me."

As soon as the door opened when he entered, we heard clear sounds of fighting throughout the winding halls and even saw a couple militia soldiers run past in the hallway. I wrapped my arm around Ino's back to help her manage her extra weight as we hurried through a few hallways and yelled above the noise, "Where's Sai, Sasori?"

Madara and Sasori fought off a couple of Kaguya's guards here and there as we slowly made our way forward.

"He and Sasuke were not in Konoha, but Itachi and my cousin are here and said the princes will arrive shortly."

Ino let out a pained cry all of a sudden and came to a stop to hold her stomach, "He's not here? Sai's not here?"

I got her upright again as Madara wordlessly fought off another guard behind us, "He's coming, Ino. He's on his way. We need to keep moving."

Both in front and behind us, more and more of Kaguya's men suddenly started approaching. Sasori and Madara weren't necessarily struggling to hold them off, it's just that the hallway wasn't that wide so we weren't making much way toward the exit.

My sister let out another cry and I had to quickly wrap my arm around her front as well to keep her from falling to the ground, "I-Ino!"

She yelled over the sounds of fighting, "This can't be happening right now!" Madara glanced back at me as he blocked a couple hits and I gave him a panicked look as she let out another pained scream and shook in my arms.

"There is a room on the right. Take her there. We will try and keep them at bay until the princes arrive with reinforcements!" Sasori hollered as he slashed and tore at the weaker vampires attacking him.

Strengthening my resolve, I took a deep breath before helping Ino through the door he was talking about. It was a large storage area that only had a few wooden tables and chairs lined up on one side of the room. Other than that, it was empty with stone walls and floors.

My sister screamed so loud it startled me before she spoke through gasping breaths, "S-Sakura, it hurts! I'm scared!"

Ino had undoubtedly gone into labor.