I'm still amazed at the response to this story! So many people favourite it! I end up re-reading everyone's reviews while writing a new chapter as it gives me lots of motivation. In other news I found a bat living in my shed, it was tiny and so sweet, I hadn't realised we got bats in England. Life is one surprise after the other haha

Enjoy!

They stole through the darkness of the night. Struggling to keep up they clung to each other as they passed each mile, desperate to escape, scared of being caught. They couldn't loose. Not now they had gone so far. A sob escaped one of them, none of them could tell who. Lights spread out ahead of them. Finally safety was within there grasp.

They paused at the edge of the forest, yearning for the light yet unable to take that final step. Sakura shuddered as the memories of being caught last time tried to invade her mind. Ino clutched her hand.

It was TenTen who stared back the way they had come, who's body leaned unconsciously towards their former prison. She hadn't wanted to leave, yet she couldn't deny the longing she felt for her old life. For everything she'd been taken from.

But then, could they go back to the past?

Hinata moved forward slightly, her skin taking in a yellow tinge as it reflected the street light around her.

"We need to move." she whispered, not daring to look at the others. TenTen nodded and Ino swallowed before moving to stand beside Hinata, pulling Sakura with her. TenTen took a deep shuddering breath before moving with them.

Together they moved into the safety the city provided. Together they boarded a bus to take them to the next town, clutching their tickets for the train journey they would take once there. Together they would run.

The bus moved off, towards their new town.

Each felt the searing pain course through them from their bite marks. Their mates had discovered they were absent. Sakura felt tears spring to her eyes as she started to shake, Ino let out a gasping cry hunching over, one hand clasped her neck, TenTen felt her stomach roll in fear as she struggled to keep her breathing even, Hinata let her tears fall silently down her face as she held Ino to her.

But the bus was already turning onto the main road out of the city.

For now they were safe. But none voiced the confused thoughts swirling inside them…was this really what they wanted?

Sasuke walked down the hallway, his hands intertwined with Sakura's. He still hadn't told her where they were going but still she trusted him enough to allow him to lead her, that fact alone filled him with pride.

Something caught Sakura's eye. She tugged on Sasuke's hand to get his attention and paused. They were photographs. Photographs of Sasuke's family. She recognised Itachi, but she had never met Sasuke's parents.

"They're dead." came Sasuke's voice from her side,

Her head shot to meet his gaze, but found him staring at a photo of his parents together.

"Itachi killed them, when his mate was killed." The words were distant when he spoke them, as if he was telling a story about someone else's family, "When his mate was killed Itachi went mad, it is what happens to all who loose their mates, what would happen to us if we lost each other." he lifted his gaze to meet hers. Sakura squeezed his hand.

"I stopped Itachi, but not before it was too late. He massacred our entire family, my parents included, and now he carries that guilt, that loss."

"He hasn't been the same since, has he?" Sakura whispered.

Sasuke didn't answer, instead he pulled her to him holding her close, pressing his face to the top of her head. He was, Sakura realised as she wrapped her arms around him, seeking comfort. He had lost his family to a madness that he could one day loose himself to. A realisation struck, he had lost his family when she had run from him with the others, it was why he hadn't found her in so long and explained his possessiveness, he had had to stop looking for her in order to stop his brother. Shifting so she could lay her head on his shoulder she whispered,

"I promise, you won't loose me. Not again."

His grip tightened before he let go,

"Come. I have something to show you."

As the continued on their way a thought occurred to Sakura; There were no pictures of Itachi and Riko, it was like she had been wiped from memory.

"INO!" Sakura was on her best friend like a hurricane, hugging her as if she would never let go,

"Sakura!" Ino hugged back with equal force both laughing for joy. Both girls practically fell over as TenTen jumped on them with a huge force of relief,

"Your Ok!" the older girl sobbed as she was embraced by the two, "Your both ok…"

"Sakura? Ino? TenTen?" a timid voice came from behind them, "Your all…"

Hinata didn't get to finish as she was enfolded into the embrace of said girls.

Naruto couldn't help the grin forming on his face at the sight, while Sasuke leant contentedly against the door, Neji smirked in amusement and Shikamaru flopped into a seat lazily.

The shadows moved quickly and silently through the night, closing in on their target. Detaching themselves the began to scale the wall that separated them from their destination. Trees swayed in the breeze that took away any warmth from the night. One of the figures picked at the lock on a window while the other hung effortlessly keeping a look out.

The window slid open silently.

Slipping into the darkened room they drew a weapon each, nodding to each other they slipped down separate hallways. Checking each room and darkened hiding place their search was negative. Anger coursed through one and in an instant a mirror lay shattered on the ground. Kira let out a half growl half cry and moved back to their point of entry. Senji stood looking less happy than she felt, silently they left the way they had come, stealing into the night as they rejoined the shadows.

They would come back to kill Naruto and Hinata another night.

The girls had not stopped talking since they had been reunited, and despite the fact they had not paid any attention to their mates since entering the room, neither Sasuke, Naruto, Neji or Shikamaru seemed to care. They were content just watching and speaking amongst themselves it appeared.

It was TenTen who had bought up the fact that she had been fully claimed, and Hinata who had whispered her feelings of contentment. Sakura had hugged TenTen explaining everything that had happened to her since Sasuke had found her and all the girls had felt the understanding that this was their life sink in.

But…

They looked at their mates and then back at each other. They shared a secret smile and Ino laughed delightedly.

None found anything to complain about as the contented feeling of belonging washed over them.

They had left their mates together feeling that having them together would be safer that leaving them alone. They were, after all, still human still so fragile. But as vampires, Naruto and the others needed to hunt. They ran back, Naruto and Sasuke racing as usual, eager to reach their respective mates. Since they had started leaving their mates with each other they had started to become happier and stronger. Soon they would be able to take the final step towards completing the mating ritual. Sasuke's home came into view and they slowed down to a stop. Moving silently they walked to the door…and found two people already there.

Riko gasped as Itachi sucked on her neck with a scrap of fangs before moving his head up to allow her access to his mouth. His kisses left her breathless and she clung to his arms as he threatened to take this exchange to a whole new level. At this rate she was going to end up tearing his clothes off.

A polite cough was heard through the haze that had settled over her brain. Itachi took his time pulling away as she gave a quiet sound of protest, burying her face in his chest as he all but radiated smugness at her reaction.

Turning Itachi looked into the face of his brother and his friends.

"Can I help you?" his smooth tenor gave the impression that he wasn't fazed by the fact his little brother had come across him and his mate,

"Itachi? I thought you were inside?" Came Sasuke's answer, his brows furrowed together,

"We were, and were just heading out to hunt when you all came along here."

Riko shifted her head from his chest to look over at the other males,

"It's going to be my first hunting trip!" she smiled, unable to force down the feeling of excitement, moving her head she nuzzled Itachi's neck before pressing a kiss to it,

"Can we?" she trailed off as she looked back at the other males who moved aside to let them pass, Itachi released his grip on her before moving towards the forest,

"See you soon little brother."

Sasuke shook his head,

"They are polar opposites." he murmured, Neji nodded in agreement while Naruto laughed,

"Yup, Riko is way to free spirited for you monotone, stick up his ass, brother of yours!"

"Shut it dobe!"

Shikamaru yawned before pushing open the door and heading in the direction of their mates,

"Whatever, after what we just saw I'm glad he was at the other end of this house from Ino. She's already troublesome enough without bombarding me with questions."

The others following silently agreed.

Stopping outside a door it was Neji who spoke,

"Does it not seem quiet to you?" the others froze at the thought, eyes trained on the door before Naruto threw it open with a force that had it straining on its hinges.

The room was empty, the windows wide open and a tree branch easily within reach. Neji was there first checking the lock for any signs of forced entry.

There were none. Looking again he spotted a single needle like object similar to the ones TenTen sometimes wore in her hair, perfect for lock picking.

"They've gone," his voice was deadly quiet, "They picked the lock and ran from us."

"How? Why?" Sasuke hissed, "Sakura knows the consequences…"

Silence echoed as everything clicked,

"They've been planning it." Shikamaru stated carefully anger a controlled force in his voice, "All this time when they've been together, those whispered conversations… they've been planning and lying to us."

Naruto's eyes burned red,

"They must have left a while after we had! They knew Itachi and his mate wouldn't hear…DAMN IT!" he roared, anger was a living thing inside him as he threw a table into the wall splintering it.

They each moved. Out of the window and into the forest following the scent that was disappearing quickly. Anger and power radiated from them as they pursued their prey.

They reached the edge of the city, but even from here they could tell that finding their mates would be hard already their scents were being washed away by the scents of the city and the thousands of people that lived there.

Sasuke let out a snarl.

They would find them. They would bring them back. And he would make sure Sakura was reminded of the fact she could not run from him. He would see to that.

They had returned to their room at dawn. Sakura still thrumming with happiness at the fact she had seen her friends again. As they entered their room and she started to get ready to sleep as the sun rose she couldn't stop the grin from spreading on her face.

Moving towards Sasuke, she cupped his face and kissed him softly, his hands gripped her hips in response,

"Thank you," she smiled at him, before frowning at his expression, "Sasuke? What is it?"

"The last time you were all together like that was the day you ran away Sakura." he tightened his grip on her as she tried to move back, "I haven't forgotten."

Fear began to creep down her spine,

"But I promised. I said I wouldn't run again… I can't…" she stared at him desperately trying to ignore the growing panic inside her,

"You said that after your first escape attempt," his eyes bled red, "You still ran."

"Sasuke?" Sakura didn't know how to react, she hadn't thought that the surprise meeting with her friends would result in this, "What are you -"

His lips smashed against hers, as he pulled her against him harshly, this kiss unlike any others, it was harsh, demanding, raw.

Sasuke manoeuvred them to the bed making sure he was in the dominant position. Sakura sucked in a breath as he tore of her top, his mouth going to tease one breast while his fingers teased the other. She began to move her fingers to his hair, wanting to pull his head back to hers, wanting to kiss him.

Sakura found both her wrists pinned either side of her head, Sasuke's face above hers.

"This would be your punishment Sakura." Sasuke nipped her ear before moving to hover teasingly near her mouth, "I'm going to make you beg," he smirked as she tried to free her arms, "I'm going to make you want me so badly that you will beg me to take you,"

"Sasuke! Let me up-" his mouth was on hers again, silencing her,

"This is punishment for running from me. You tried to resist me, so now I'm going to make you crave me," his smirk turned wicked, "and maybe I'll give you the relief you'll seek, and maybe I'll let you suffer." His mouth sealed over hers, never releasing his grip on her wrists.

Then nothing verbal existed between them.

Naruto was seeing red again. He could smell the intruders, and the broken mirror was proof enough that someone had entered his home without his permission. Keeping Hinata behind him, and it enraged him that she was trembling no one was allowed to scare her! He moved them back out of the house before scooping her up and running as fast as he could to Neji's. Usually he would go to Sasuke, but Neji lived closer and Naruto wanted Hinata somewhere safe.

She held onto him as if her life depended on it, her head buried in his shoulder.

"Keep a hold of me Hinata, I want you safe right now."

Her response was to hold on tighter and a whisper of his name escaped her lips. His teeth clenched as he began to pound on Neji's door, he'd be damned if he let anyone hurt her!

Neji opened the door looking displeased, TenTen looking slightly dishevelled, her clothes rumpled behind him, but Neji's expression changed as soon as Naruto spoke the word that was both an explanation and a curse in one,

"Hunters."

And again Itachi and Riko make another appearance. I'm actually sad at Riko's fate, poor her and Itachi. See how the plot thickens? Soon it will be the big finale! Exciting!