This is Dedicated to Lillady2736 because I caused her to have a heartattack... hehe sorry about that ;D

this song on the side fits the chapter well :)

†

The next day I started to panic when my hair didn’t grow at all throughout the whole day, neither did my height, nor did I gain or lose any weight. Something was off and totally wrong about me. Sasuke watched me from behind as I fretted about my hair and such.

“You’ll be fine, I’m sure that you’re just imagining things.” Sasuke tried to comfort me and I shot him a look, telling him to shut up. A crazy idea suddenly popped in my head and I whipped around.

“Try my blood.” I ordered and his eyes widened slightly, almost unnoticeably. But then he shrugged and waited for me to cut my finger for him. What a baby he is about using his teeth to drink off of me. I slit my fingertip with my thumb nail and put the bloodied finger to Sasukes lips. “Go on.” I ushered him and he opened his mouth and let his fangs extrude. When a little drip of my blood touched his tongue, he jerked away and looked at me with disgust.

“That was nasty!” he said. “It tasted like rusted copper.” I felt myself pale as my theory was confirmed, but I still couldn’t let myself believe it. Where was the human blood in me? It should have tasted delicious to him!

Have I lost the human in me?

I tried to calm myself some, knowing that me being panicked wouldn’t help the situation at all and turned to Sasuke.

“Go back in your ‘room’. I’ll be back when I can.” I ordered and he nodded, he knew that there was no use arguing with me. When he safely retreated into the large closet I bolted downstairs using my vampire speed.

Mom looked at me alarmed when she looked up and saw it was me that came into the kitchen.

“Mom..” I said in barely a whisper. “I’m scared.”

“Honey?!” she shouted to Dad panicked. Dad and Hidan ran into the room and Mom looked up and I saw fear written all over her face.

“She doesn’t have a heartbeat!” She exclaimed and we all froze.

Where was my humanity?

“Get her to the hospital!” Dad ordered sternly and Mom picked me up and flew out of the door and ended up in the hospital in seconds. People around us gasped when we appeared out of nowhere and Mom rushed to the front desk.

“I need Tsunade-Sama immediately! This is an emergency!” her voice rose the more she spoke and then I thought how stupid I must have looked in my mothers’ arms; I do look fifteen.

The nurse ran into an office and yelled to get the Fifth Hokage, then she led us to an empty room and Mom laid me on the white hospital bed and sat at my feet.

“Mom,” I said and she looked up to me. Her face was filled with worry and she seemed a hundred years older. “I have no human blood in me.” I stated and she inhaled deeply. She slowly nodded, indicating I was correct.

Where was my blood?

That was when the pain started. I screamed out in agony and clenched the bed sheets as hard as I could. The pain started at my heart, and then had spread to my lungs, then to my throat. I continued screaming as Tsu-Sama came running in with Sakura at her side.

I couldn’t hear anything, couldn’t smell nor could I see, but I could taste the sweet liquid of blood running down my throat… it tasted like Shikamaru’s yet different. Was it human blood? Was it my blood?

Suddenly everything seemed to be in slow motion. I saw blackness then I was staring at my own body from afar and everybody was screaming at me, yet I couldn’t hear them.

I looked at my body and noticed that I looked like I was in a deep sleep, like I was peaceful.

Like I was dead.

As realization set in, tears poured down my cheeks. I was dead.

I saw Tsu-sama trying to shock my body with those two square things but I felt nothing.

“Constantine Hatake…” A deep velvety voice said from behind me. I jerked my body around and saw a man in a black cloak and hood covering their face.

“Are you..?” I started but he cut me off.

“Death. I am Death.” He stated and I felt my blood run cold. Was this the end, the end of my two month life?

Five discrete stages, a process by which people cope and deal with grief and tragedy, especially when diagnosed with a terminal illness or experience a catastrophic loss. Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance.

The Five Stages of Grief.

I backed away and shook my head. “I can’t be dead, I’m half vampire!” I yelled and he shook his head slowly.

“You may be a half vampire but what happens when the human side of you dies?” he retorted, cocking his head to the side. I paused to think about that. Have I not treated my human side of me correctly? I felt a wave of anger pass through me.

“This is not fair! Why did this even happen to me? How could this happen to me?!” I yelled, voice wavering. “What made my human side die?!” I demanded answers and he only shrugged.

“I’m simply doing my job, don’t blame me; blame yourself.” He said calmly yet his voice was harsh. I had to get out of this, but how could I fool Death himself?

“I promise I won’t drink human blood if I can have another chance.” I could just feel him raise an eyebrow even if I couldn’t see his face. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.

“Who said you were dying all the way?” he asked and I anime fell.

“Didn’t you?!” I said while throwing my arms in the air.

“Look kid, I only said that the human side of you died. So don’t get all sassy on me.” My jaw dropped slightly. Death just told me up! What the… Frick?! I think Death and I can be real good friends one day.

“I like you Mr. Reaper Dude.” I said simply and he tilted his head surprised, then the atmosphere darkened around him drastically. Just got to keep calm and blow whatever he says off.

“I’m not a Reaper, I am Death. Get it right.” I laughed and walked towards him, and I saw that he backed up a small step. Was he afraid of me? Thee Death?

“Can we be friends? Can I see your face? Aren’t vampires supposed to befriend Death?” I asked all in one sentence practically.

“I’m sorry, we cannot be what you’d call ‘friends’ and you’d be scared of my face. And to the last question… I’m not really sure. There isn’t a whole lot of vampires around these days.” He answered each of my questions in order, and let me say that I was impressed.

“I wouldn’t be scared of your face, I can bet on that.” I said sincerely and shook his head.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He muttered and tore off his hood for me to see…

…a plain old white dumb skull? I anime fell; you are so original Mr. Reaper Dude… not.

“I actually saw that one coming.” I said at last and he smirked.

“I guess you are a tad different from others if you aren’t running right now.” He observed and I rolled my eyes. He had no eyes, just pits of darkness where they should be, but I didn’t mind. I knew he was looking at me.

“Well duh, I am a half vampire. I have to be different. So how about it, Death? Friends?” I stuck my hand out and he stared at it for a while. “You are supposed to shake…” I said slowly and he glared at me.

“I know that, stupid. I’m just not sure if I CAN befriend you.” He said and I pursed my lips and furrowed my brows. I was determined to befriend Death, and I was going to do it!

“Well, do you follow all of the rules your boss gives you?” he glared at me once again, and it almost made me laugh. This guy’s glares were funny looking.

“I have no boss, and I have no rules.” He said with a scowl playing on his face; or shall I say skull?

“Then there you go! It’s your choice if you want a friend, and let me suggest you to say yeeeesss.” I dragged out the ‘yes’ and I pumped my fists in the air. Being ‘dead’ gave me lots of energy for some reason, and it seems to be adding up. I glanced at my body to see my parents, the boys, Tsu-sama, Naruto, Sakura and Shikamaru looking at my body- Naruto and Tsu-sama crying. I knew my mom wasn’t able to cry and my dad probably let his pride get in the way from crying his heart out but everybody looked super depressed, and I couldn’t help but to feel guilty.

I turned back to find that Death was only a few feet away from me and his hand was stuck out.

“You must know that you may not ever see me again, it just depends if you have the power to summon me.” I looked at him confused and surprised. Did he mean like he could be a Summoning Jutsu?

“Whoa, Summon?!” he nodded.

“I can place a seal on you enabling you to summon me, but I’m not sure if you have enough power or not, it may just wind up and kill you trying to summon me.” He said solemnly. I crossed my arms.

“Where would you put the seal?” I asked and he pointed to my stomach. Well that’d be surely noticeable, hence the eye roll.

“Your stomach is the strongest point of the body; it’d have to be there. But it also lets you to see me when other people can’t. I may just pop up without the summoning.” That made me kind of smile when he said ‘pop’ because he made a little hand gesture of something popping.

“Well… okay!” I agreed and stuck my hand out. A skeletal hand appeared and slowly held onto my hand and shook.

“Friends…” he mused to himself and I nodded happily. I befriended Death… ha-ha, the irony. He cleared his throat awkwardly and let go of my hand. “Well, I need to place that seal on you quickly because your other body is going to wake soon. Wouldn’t want to keep your parents waiting.” He teased with a smirk. I grinned and held up my shirt for him.

“I need your blood to sign the contract, and this may be a bit painful.” I shrugged.

“I think I’ve been through worse if I just died.” We both chuckled and I bit into my fingertip. “Here” I held out my finger and he shook his head.

“Not yet.” He started to do dozens of hand signs and I felt the wind pick up around us. I took one last glance and the sorrowful people that were behind me and saw that Mom’s hair moved slightly. ‘She must’ve felt that.’

And she did, because she looked up and around. Of course she didn’t see me but still, that’s kind of weird knowing that your mom is looking for your dead spirit.

I saw that Death was done with the hand signs and a glowing light was starting to appear in his right hand. I decided to make small talk with the guy.

“What’s your name?” I asked and he looked up at me for a moment.

“Death, I already told you twice.” I rolled my eyes.

“Come on, you don’t have any other name? Like Frank or Billy or Bob?” I asked and he paused to look up at me again.

“If you really do desire me to have a name, then name me. But make sure you think it out before deciding my name.” I smiled at him then yelped in pain as he slammed his glowing hand into my stomach and twisting. I gasped and looked down to see symbols starting to form on my stomach, much similar to Naruto’s. Death slowly and carefully pulled his hand out and it came out as clean as it was going in; odd.

“It’s time for you to go back now Constantine, or shall I say Taintie? You were due back about five minutes ago.”  He said in a kind of sad way.

“What’s the matter?” I asked and rubbed my stomach. There was a slight burning sensation to it and it felt very sore, but what would you expect? He just shoved his hand into my stomach!

“I might actually miss your annoying little half-vampire presence.” He admitted and I laughed.

“Well duh, everybody misses me! I’m also very hard to forget.” He smiled at my cockiness and led me to my old body, passing through Shikamaru, who was just staring at me helplessly.

“Are you going to return or not?” he asked after a second and I glanced at him confused.

“How do I even do this?!” I asked and he chuckled.

“I forgot that you don’t know how. Touch your other body.” I raised an eyebrow at him.

“That’s it?” I asked and he nodded.

“That is it.” I shrugged and waved at him.

“Well, cya Mr. Reaper Dude.” He instantly glared at me.

“I’m not a Reaper!” he fumed and I laughed, my hand inching closer to my other body. “I’m serious; don’t call me a Reaper unless you want me to skin you alive.” I burst out laughing, seeing the irony in that.

“You would have to skin me dead, technically I am dead.” I said in between my fits of giggles. He groaned and face palmed.

“Just go away already, you’re already becoming a nuisance.” He said in an irritated tone.

“Oh you know you love me!” I sang and he started walking away.

“Hurry and leave before you die for good.” He muttered and vanished in thin air. That was rude, leaving before I go back to my body, I thought as I softly poked my bare hand.

With a short gasp, I jolted into a sitting position and my eyes flew wide open. Loud gasps echoed throughout the room.

“She’s awake!” Tsu-sama yelled and stood from where she sat to mourn. Mom zipped next to me and helped me, but I pushed her away. All she was doing was making my stomach hurt.

I looked around and my eyes widened to saucers. I could never see this clear, or that ant on that tree outside of the hospital. I could never hear the steady beating of Shikamaru’s heart, or everybody else’s. And what in the world is that dog smell?! Dad?!

I started to get it; this was my new vampire senses kicking into full gear. I was a full newborn vampire, but where did the human in me go? Oh that’s right, it died. I felt strange, like a chunk of my soul had been carved out. Death did not say anything about this feeling I’d get. Did he know?

“Taintie, oh Taintie I thought I lost you.” Mom cried and forced me into her arms. I pulled her away and looked straight into her eyes. I’ve never saw how beautiful Mom’s eyes were. I saw every speck of red and black in the iris and it seemed like I could see into her pupil.

“In a way Mom, you did.” I admitted quietly and she looked at me confused.

“What do you mean?” she asked and I looked to Sakura and almost smirked. She has so many split ends.

“Sakura can you please leave for a moment?” I asked and she slowly nodded and left. Shikamaru started to leave too, but I stopped him. “You can stay Shikamaru… you know enough already.” I flinched when Mom almost slapped me but stopped at the last second.

“You told him?!? Does Naruto know too?!” she hissed and I rubbed the back of my head.

“Uh, yeah, but that’s for another time.” She took a deep breath and nodded. I surpassed the urge to sigh and looked at everybody seriously.

“I did die.” I said and they all gave me surprised looks.

“The human part of you died… didn’t it?” Shikamaru said and I nodded. Tsu-sama was first to speak after a few moments of silence.

“Would you like some tests-“I cut her off.

“No tests, I refuse to be tested. But I know that I will not be aging after this.” Mom shot me a worried look but I ignored it. I suddenly felt a burning to my stomach and I silently moaned. The only person who caught it was surprisingly Naruto, but he didn’t say anything.

His blue eyes are so pretty.

Was I ever going to be human again?