Thanks for reviewing, koko and Akira Nishikawa!


Chapter 22


After two days of walking through forests and cities, Sasuke and his group finally arrived at the castle. He stopped at the end of the forest.

"So. How are we gonna get in?" He asked and looked at the rest.

"Just burst in?" Kiba asked.

"Best thing to do I guess. We can't sneak in, there are lots of guards inside." Shikamaru said. Sasuke nodded.

"Let's get going then." He said and tapped his horse so it would start walking again.

"Indeed." Kiba said and made Akamaru ready to run. Haku readied himself too, readying his sword. Deidara did the same and looked at Haku, then back at the castle. Ino already pulled out her bow and got it ready. Kiba nodded and then let out a battle cry and stormed forwards. Sasuke and Ino immediately followed, Shikamaru was right behind them. Deidara flew up and followed them in the sky. The battle would begin any second now. Haku followed Deidara too and at that moment several angry cries were being heard from the castle. It was silent for a few seconds and then more then fifteen vampires flew up above the castle, heading for them. Deidara looked at Haku.

"Ready?" He asked and then got ready to fight.

Haku nodded. "Ready." He said and at that moment Kiba grabbed his bow and arrows and started to aim for the vampires, together with Ino.

"We have to get Sasuke inside!" He yelled.

Itachi, who was on a horse too now, was gathering his energy together to attack.

"I know!" Sasuke yelled and pulled out one of his swords. "You guys just go inside! We'll deal with this!" Deidara yelled and then hit one of the vampires with his sword, before blocking another.

Haku grabbed his long sword now, attacking another vampire while Itachi got off his horse, brought up his arms in the air and then there was a huge amount of energy coming through his hands, red. It was fire. The vampires all backed away. This was too bright for them. Deidara and Haku closed their eyes too.

In the mean time, Sasuke had reached the door and blew his flames against it, burning through the door.

"We're in!" Sasuke yelled to the rest as he rode his horse inside the castle.

Kiba followed, together with Shikamaru behind him. Haku and Deidara stayed outside to fight, the rest followed inside.

As they got inside it seemed quiet. No one seemed to be around. But Sasuke was sure something would come up.

"Keep your eyes open." Sasuke said as he mounted of his horse and walked further into the room. Everyone nodded, looking around while moving into the chamber further. Kiba frowned.

"..Behind that door something's waiting for us." Kiba said softly.

"What?" Sasuke asked and already made himself ready to shoot fire. He had a feeling whatever was behind that door was gonna be more of a burden then any vampire. Suddenly the door burst open and then there stood one of those creatures from before again, clad in black, now tossing his head back into his neck and starting to scream.

"God damn it, not those again!" Kiba cursed while the creature was coming into the room, together with another two of them.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes and held his sword ready.

"Hit them in their mouths and they're dead!" Sasuke said and immediately hit the creature in his mouth. Shikamaru grabbed his dagger. The creature screamed and fell down onto the floor, which lead the other creatures to scream in anger.

"We have to go further before there come more!" Itachi yelled.

Sasuke saw some stairs behind the creatures and started to head for it, killing a couple creatures along the way. He was still the only one who didn't get painfully hurt by their screams.

"There are some stairs here!" He yelled. Kiba nodded and jumped off Akamaru.

"Good luck!" He yelled at him and Akamaru nodded, attacking the creatures. Kiba ran after Sasuke now, going upstairs the stairs now. Itachi followed too.

"Let's just do this Ino!" Shikamaru yelled at the girl and started attacking the monster. With a strategy in his head, he'd be able to hold up. Ino in the mean time attacked the monsters to with her bow, shooting arrows at them. When Sasuke, Kiba and Itachi got upstairs it was again quiet. But a figure was standing in the back of a huge ballroom.

"Who are you!?" Sasuke yelled angry.

"Calm down Sasuke." Itachi calmly said, walking forward.

"Turn around, red headed freak." Kiba growled. The redhead turned around, his face expressionless.

"Welcome, Kiba, Sasuke, Itachi." He said, no emotion heard in his voice. He started walking forwards.

"How do you know our names?!" Kiba yelled, reading his knuckle gloves and dagger, growling.

"Oh I've been around you for a very long time. Yes chosen one, it was me your boyfriend saw all the time." The redhead said as Sasuke wanted to say something. Sasuke kept his mouth shut and narrowed his eyes at the man. So Neji was right. How stupid he hadn't believed him.

"Has Neji been seeing him?" Kiba asked Sasuke.

"Yeah. He kept saying something about a guy who was following us but I didn't believe him. Where is Neji!?" Sasuke yelled. He had to get past this guy, get to Neji.

"Yeah where is he!" Kiba yelled.

"Two stairs up. Have fun with it." The redhead said and looked at the three before him, still emotionless.

"What do you mean?" Kiba growled, readying his knuckle gloves again. Itachi was already walking up the stairs now.

"Let's just go Kiba." Sasuke said and started running after Itachi. He had to find Neji.

"What I mean? I mean, you will not get him back. That low excuse for a priest has given up. He's useless. But wasn't he always? He was holding you all back. All he could do was heal and get into trouble. All he's good for is sex." The redhead said and the tiniest smile ever seen came onto Sasori's face. Sasuke gave out a grunt but walked up the stairs anyhow.

"How 'dare' you say something like that!" Kiba growled. "TAKE THAT BACK YOU ASSHOLE!" With that he jumped on the redhead, starting to fight him. What the hell was that figure talking about? Not getting him back?

"Come on Sasuke!" Itachi yelled, quickly running into the direction the redhead had pointed to. There were a lot of stairs.

Sasuke followed Itachi. "Kiba let it rest!" Sasuke yelled, Kiba couldn't stay behind. Even though what that asshole had said was intolerable. The redhead easily pushed Kiba off and dumped a few meters away from him.

"It's the truth." He said.

"What did you guys do to him?!" Kiba yelled, stomping the redhead into his face.

"Go after your friends and find out." The redhead answered calmly and grabbed Kiba's arm, throwing him towards a wall.

"YOU TELL ME NOW!" Kiba growled when he hit the wall, attacking him again.

"Sasuke let's go!" Itachi yelled.

Sasuke followed Itachi and they left the room.

"You will find out." The redhead said again and blocked Kiba's attack, then hit his arm, almost breaking it.

While Itachi and Sasuke ran further they could hear Kiba screaming in anger and pain. Itachi and Sasuke ran further, worried for Kiba and Neji. They kept running, now running on some stairs. When they arrived in a new room, there was another man standing there, with his back facing them. The room was very dark and everywhere bottles with a red substance were to be seen. Oh god.. this had to be a vampire. And a powerful one.

Itachi laid his finger to his lips and tried to walk past, because the vampire seemed to be in concentrating of meditation. But the vampire turned around with a growl, sending a huge black ball to Itachi, who just in time ducked.

"You will not go any further." The vampire growled, now licking off his lips.

"....Orochimaru." Itachi softly said, which lead the figure to smirk. "The Lord of the vampires."

"Where is Neji!?" Sasuke yelled angry. All these stupid creatures were just getting in the way. He had to reach Neji. Fast. Orochimaru smirked.

"I fear that he is.. busy at the moment." Orochimaru said and then blocked one of Itachi's attacks.

"Sasuke you go more upstairs and I'll stop him!" Itachi yelled and did one of his fire attacks again, leading Orochimaru to scream in terror.

"No! What do you mean he's busy! WHAT DO YOU MEAN!?" Sasuke yelled. If they had done anything to Neji he would kill them. Kill them all.

"You'll see little chosen one!" Orochimaru yelled, while hitting Itachi on the cheek.

Sasuke gave out a grunt and then turned around and ran up the next stairs. "You'd better not die Itachi!" He yelled, before he left the room.

"I won't!" Itachi yelled.

Sasuke ran further and entered the top room. It was big. He could hear his steps echo in the room. The walls were bright and it had large windows all over. Outside it was dark and so was it in the room. But most of all, it was empty. Empty except for one thing. There was a large throne at the end of the room. And there sat a large man, silver hair and a scythe in his hand. Next to him stood Neji. He was looking at the floor.

"Neji!" Sasuke yelled. He had found him. And he seemed OK. "Let him go!" Sasuke yelled to the man.

"Well, well, look who we have here." The silver haired man said and grinned. "The chosen one."

"...Who are you!? Let Neji go! Neji come here!" Sasuke yelled and started to walk towards them, his swords in place.

Neji raised his head to Sasuke and now Sasuke could see that he had a leather strap bound before his mouth and Neji's arms were tied behind his back, to a post next to Hidan's throne. He tried to say something through the gag but it wasn't hear able. The silver haired man stood now, slowly patting Neji's head, who turned away from him.

"I feel honored that you are here, chosen one." The silver haired man said and smirked evilly.

"Let Neji go you frigging bastard!" Sasuke yelled and pulled his sword as the man stood up. This must be him. The monster.

"Lower your sword." The monster said, gripping a handful of Neji's hair and pulling his head back, now pressing a simple knife against his throat. He smirked at seeing Sasuke's reaction. Neji meanwhile, was breathing very fast, knowing that he was in danger now. Sasuke grunted and then slowly put his sword away.

"Don't you dare hurt him. You want me right, not him." Sasuke said and narrowed his eyes at the monster.

"Lay down your sword." Hidan said, still smirking. Neji frowned and looked at Sasuke, shaking his head. Hidan gave a growl at Neji and then punched him in the face. "Stop moving, you." He snapped at Neji. "Else I won't be careful after this."

"Don't hurt him!" Sasuke yelled and then threw away his sword. He would do this with just magic. Anything to make sure Neji would be safe. The monster grinned. "Thank you." He said and then threw an energy ball towards Sasuke, smirking while Neji yelled at Sasuke through his gag. Hidan gave a wave of his hand, and Neji disappeared, he was teleported to another room.

Sasuke quickly concentrated magic in his hands and destroyed the energy ball with it, hitting it with his hands.

"Where did you put him!" Sasuke yelled as he started gathering his energy together.

"That's none of your business!" Hidan yelled and the whole room shook because of this powerful voice. It was echoing through the room a few times, and then the monster let out another yell of anger, tossing another energy ball towards Sasuke.

Sasuke blocked it with his arms again before shooting flames out of his mouth.

"It is my business you ass!" Sasuke yelled, raising his voice to immense power as it echoed through the room almost as hard as Hidan's voice.

Hidan quickly ducked, out of the way of those flames. He grunted, getting up and attacking Sasuke again, running towards him, his scythe raised in the air.

Sasuke started shooting flames at Hidan from everywhere now, trying to block him. This wasn't gonna be a fair fight. He had to get to his sword to win this now.

Hidan smirked and kept attacking Sasuke with his scythe.

"You know, you have a really good taste, chosen one!" He yelled at Sasuke, laughing evilly. "That whore priest really is good."

"WHAT!? What are you talking about!? What did you do to him you asshole!?" Sasuke screamed as he slowly led him and the monster to his sword. He kept the scythe away by flames and blocking it with magic.

"Ah you know exactly where I'm talking about!" Hidan yelled, still laughing. "Doesn't he, 'Neji'?" Hidan said, and while he said this he waved his hand again and Neji re-appeared, who was still bound. Hidan smirked and grabbed Neji from behind, who let out a small wince before starting to struggle.

"You'd better not grab that sword, oh chosen one." Hidan said, laughing at Sasuke, while stroking Neji's hair. "Keep still!" He yelled at Neji and Neji immediately stopped with struggling.

"Let him go! You want me right! Then have me! But leave him out of this!" Sasuke said and stopped grabbing for his sword. How dare this monster talk about Neji like this? How dare he hurt Neji? How dare he even touch Neji? He would NEVER get away with this.

"I have to leave him out of this?" Hidan said, smirking. "Ah well, why not hm?" With that he gave Neji a huge hit on the head, with the stem of his scythe and Neji fell down onto the ground hard, his temple hitting the ground first. He made no move anymore, but he moaned softly while more and more blood started to form around his head.

"NEJI!" Sasuke yelled. He gritted his teeth. This was it! No one would hurt Neji! No one would kill Neji! Anyone who even 'touched' Neji wrong would die! DIE! Sasuke would kill Hidan, rip him apart! He felt more and more energy floating through his body. He was gonna stop this once and for all. Neji could 'not' die! Neji would not die! And Hidan would pay for ever laying an eye on Neji! Neji looked at Sasuke with a tired expression on his eyes and felt him sinking away slowly. It was getting darker and darker.

"Don't you like that boy?" Hidan said, smirking. He was readying another energy ball in his hand.

"SHUT UP YOU FUCKING IGNORANT ASSHOLE! I PROMISE YOU YOU WILL DIE THIS INSTANT! RIGHT HERE AND NOW! YOU WILL DIE!" Sasuke yelled, louder then ever, his voice making the castle tremble and echoing through it. Blue energy was coming around him, his eyes were starting to get red from anger. This was it. Sasuke could feel it, this was it. The magic his family left him.

Hidan now looked at him in shock. He didn't said anything anymore but quickly started to put an energy field around him. Sasuke was going berserk now. He was screaming his lungs out just to get all the energy out. It surrounded him for at least five meters around him now. Blue energy and lightning was making it's way through the room.

"YOU WILL PAY!" Sasuke screamed and looked at the monster now.

Hidan actually was looking scared now. He didn't knew what to do anymore so he tried to teleport, but to his shock that didn't worked. Shit. He started to sprint towards the end of the room now.

"YOU'RE STAYING RIGHT HERE!" Sasuke screamed again, making the castle tremble even more. Then he lost control and gave out a loud battle scream before all his energy came out at once, destroying the windows first, then the walls, the ground, everything was going down. And so was Hidan.

Hidan screamed out in pain and terror and then, he was gone. Exploded. Everything was exploded or ruined.

Sasuke had crashed down together with the castle. He barely had any energy left, could barely get up a little. He was bleeding from his legs, arms and head now. But he couldn't rest. He had to find Neji. Itachi. The others...He had been so out of control he hadn't thought of them. If only they were safe.

"..N-Neji.." Sasuke said as he crawled out of the stones and looked around. It was all rubble. But he got no answer. Everything was deadly silent now. There was a lot of dust hanging around the remains of the castle.

"..N-Neji please..." Sasuke said and started to dig. His hands were being ripped open but he didn't care. He had to find Neji and the others. They had to be OK. He had been so reckless. But they 'had' to be alive. He needed them. He started digging even harder. The smell of blood was clearly some at Sasuke's right. Fresh blood. Sasuke started digging towards the smell. Neji couldn't have died. Not Neji. If anyone should've died it was him.

"...Neji.. N-Neji answer me...p-please.." Sasuke said and looked around again. He hoped everyone would just walk unto him. Unharmed. Safe. The smell of blood was becoming more and more noticeable now.

"..Sasuke..?" A voice behind him said. A whine from an animal was being heard too. Sasuke turned around and looked at a not severely injured Kiba and Akamaru. Thank god those two were OK. But where was the rest?

"...T-they're under here...K-Kiba help me.." Sasuke said desperate as he continued digging again.

"..We have everyone except you and Neji.. Where is Neji?" Kiba asked, kneeling down beside Sasuke and smelling into the air. He found his answer. "...Neji is here." Kiba said, starting to dig at one particular place, together with Akamaru.

Sasuke crawled over and started digging too. In the mean time, all the others walked towards them. Itachi was there. Shikamaru and Ino. Even Deidara and Haku. They were all there and OK. But Neji was still somewhere in there. Maybe even dead. No...no Neji couldn't be dead. He couldn't..

Kiba took a few stones away and then he saw Neji's face. "There he is!" He yelled and started to remove the other stones too. It didn't looked good. Neji was covered in blood and dust.

"...N-Neji.." Sasuke asked and dug out Neji's face, then took it in his hands. He started pulling Neji out now. "...Neji dammit..d-don't die.." Sasuke said and held Neji up, wiping of some blood and dust. Kiba frowned. It didn't look certain to him if Neji would survive this.. If he wasn't already dead.

Sasuke now pulled out Neji completely and held him close.

"..Don't d-die on me..D-don't Neji..You can't d-do that to me.." Sasuke said, trying to keep his composure. He couldn't lose Neji now. He had done it all for Neji in the end. Neji could not die.

"...I'm so sorry for you Sasuke.." Kiba softly said, while looking at Neji's dead pale face. "Does his heart still beat?"

"Don't say you're sorry! He's NOT dead! Neji's not dead!" Sasuke yelled and felt tears coming to his eyes. He hugged Neji closely. "Neji.. please..y-you're not dead..." Sasuke softly said and closed his eyes. Neji wasn't gone.. Neji was still there...even if there was no heart beat and Neji was cold, Sasuke would never admit he was gone. He was gonna stay there until Neji would react. Tears came out of his eyes, and he opened them again, softly cutting away the leather strap around Neji's mouth and freeing his hands. He then hugged Neji close again and clenched his eyes shut.

"...What are you doing?" Kiba asked when he saw little blue waves flying around Sasuke. There were some red ones too. What was Sasuke doing?

"...Hugging Neji.." Sasuke said and hugged Neji even tighter. Neji couldn't be dead. Not now...Not ever...Not Neji.. Sasuke felt tears streaming down his face as it started sinking it that Neji might be gone...after all the work...after everything...Neji was gone.. just.. gone..

"...What's he doing..?" Shikamaru asked Itachi as he looked at the blue and red waves around Sasuke and Neji. Itachi looked at it closely and then it hit him. "..He's healing..." He whispered in awe. All of sudden Neji shot up straight, gasping for air and then giving a yell out of pain, going limp again, but awake.

Sasuke looked at Neji with big eyes. Confusion was going through him. Neji had been dead. Gone. And now he was...back?

"...Neji..?" Sasuke asked as he held Neji in his arms.

Neji moaned in pain, tears springing into his eyes. What happened? It had been so dark, so cold... and now he was back all of sudden.

"...Hug him Sasuke." Itachi softly said.

Sasuke did as he was told. He hugged Neji tightly.

"..You're back...you're really back.. Neji I.. you're back.." Sasuke said over and over again. He just couldn't believe it. Neji wasn't gone. Neji was still there. Alive. In his arms. Neji didn't knew how Sasuke was doing this, but he felt himself getting better and better any second. He sighed and then he hugged back, and he felt his protection shield coming up again, this time with healing energy in it, which started to heal as well him as Sasuke. His healing mixed with Sasuke's healing, forming a silver shield around them, with blue waves of energy going through it, healing them both. Sasuke couldn't stop crying anymore.

"..I l-love you...Neji.. d-don't ever die..." Sasuke sobbed and pulled Neji closer. He felt the warmth of Neji's shield. He felt Neji's healing. But most of all, he felt Neji's love. And it was worth everything.

"..I love you t-too.. thank you.." Neji softly said, hugging Sasuke even closer, making the energy field so much stronger. He loved Sasuke so much. He could even feel it.

"..No.. t-thank you...for still being here...T-thank you.." Sasuke whispered and then grabbed Neji's head and kissed him, passionate and slowly. With love.

Neji laid his arms around Sasuke's neck slowly and kissed Sasuke softly back. He moaned a bit and opened his mouth now. Itachi was staring at them in amazement.

"...They fit together so nicely.." He muttered.

"Yeah.. they do. Meant to be right?" Deidara said and smiled.

"They're cute." Ino said.

Sasuke stopped kissing Neji now and laid his forehead on Neji's. He smiled.

"We did it.." He said softly.
Neji smiled back. "..You did it.." He answered, feeling the energy field fading now.

Kiba smiled and hugged Akamaru closely, who was wagging his tail happily.

Shikamaru ruffled Kiba's hair and smiled at him, then at Neji and Sasuke.

"..I couldn't have done it without you...all of you." Sasuke said and smiled at the others, looking thankful. He really couldn't have done it without them. They were right behind him. Fought for him. Risk their lives for him.

They all smiled back.

"You have the full right to be helped." Kiba said, winking. "You're one of the best persons I know Sasuke. I'm very thankful that I can call you my friend."

"Yeah same here Sasuke. Even though you could be a prick sometimes, we would've never gotten this far without you. It's good to know someone like you has got my back." Shikamaru said and grinned a little.

"I don't really know you Sasuke, but you're a great person. You really showed me the true value of what friendship and love should be. Besides I got to have fun on the road too." Ino said and smirked.

Sasuke smiled back at them all and got up.
Itachi let something come on his face which looked a tiny bit as a smile.

"You're the best Sasuke." He said. "I'm proud of you. You're the best brother I can wish for." He really looked proud, with love in his eyes. He was so proud of his little brother.

"Thank you all...But I really couldn't have done it without all of you.. Really.." Sasuke said and glowed from joy and relief. Never had so many people told him they were proud of him, thankful for him. To hear it from his new friends already was great, but to hear it from his brother and see him be proud of Sasuke, was the best thing that could've happened to him. He finally felt truly loved.

Neji smiled at him and hugged him again..

"..I love you so much Sasuke.." He softly said.

Sasuke hugged back and closed his eyes.

"...I love you too Neji.. I'll love you forever.." Sasuke whispered back. It all fell into place. Sasuke's life was complete. Neji smiled happily.

"Yo when are the two of you going to marry?" Kiba said, smirking but still looking at Sasuke and Neji, enjoying this romantic moment.

"Shut up. You have to get into a relationship with Shikamaru first." Sasuke said and smirked at Kiba, but kept holding onto Neji. Shikamaru laughed a bit.

"OK." Kiba said, grinning like an idiot and jumping on top of Shikamaru, starting to kiss him.

"Wanna be my boyfriend?" Kiba said, wriggling his eyebrows at Shikamaru.

Shikamaru laughed. "You idiot." He said and smirked. "Sure. Love to." He then answered and hit Kiba softly on the head. Haku in the meantime was smiling stupidly at Sasuke, not having said anything. Itachi looked at Sasuke. Would Sasuke really ask Neji to marry him? After knowing each other for such a short time? Sasuke was silent for a short while and then closed his eyes and smiled. He got on one knee before Neji.

"Hyuuga Neji. Will you marry me?" He asked and looked Neji in the eyes, hoping he would get the answer he wanted. Neji really was surprised at hearing this. Sasuke was actually asking him to marry him? He looked at him and then he smiled.

"Of course you idiot." He said and then laughed, almost jumping at Sasuke and hugging him close. Everyone stood there smiling happily, Kiba even starting to cheer.

"That's so romantic.." Haku sighed, having tears of happiness in his eyes.

"Don't worry Haku, you'll find someone too." Ino said and patted Haku on the head.

Shikamaru smiled contently at Neji and Sasuke as he ruffled Kiba's hair again.

"That's so sweet." Deidara whispered to Itachi, and gave him a wide smile.

Itachi nodded, looking at Sasuke and Neji, actually smiling now.

Deidara slowly grabbed Itachi's hand and smiled at him.

Itachi looked at the hand and then nodded at Deidara, smiling a bit.

Kiba sighed and kept laying in Shikamaru's arms.

Shikamaru softly kissed him on the head. "They really belong." He whispered.

Deidara's smile now grew even wider as Itachi had accepted him closer.

Kiba nodded, smiling.

Sasuke hugged Neji back and kissed him in the neck. "I'm so happy I met you..." Sasuke said and smiled more then he ever had. Neji was gonna marry him. Nothing could be better then that.

"I'm happy about that too... I love you. I will always love you." Neji said, sighing. He couldn't be happier then this. He was so happy.

"...I'll always love you too Neji...Forever.." Sasuke said and kissed Neji again. After everything, everyone could be happy now. And Neji and Sasuke would really stay together. Loving each other forever.


The end