Hello true readers! It's me Caro N again! While college is demanding a lot more of my schedule, my inner strings have been tugging at me to release this new installment for some time now. So I've given in to them and here we go with my first of a trio of Naruto fics. Just to warn everyone, it's AU so everything is going to be revamped and changed around to fit the universe I have. Oh yes, and there will be yaoi in here (blinks...hehe) or shounenai...or whatever you call it due to that wriggling feeling waltzing along my spine to write one. First time doing something like this so bear with me okay?
Acknowledgements: Well…I thank my circle of friends for inspiring me to write a fanfic with them in it to begin with. Even though they'll still play second fiddle to the characters of Naruto. And I thank the absolutely amazing fanfic writers out there in the Naruto universe who've inspired me to turn to this fandom. You guys are the greatest!
Disclaimer: (because people will feel persuaded to sue if I don't add this) The characters and whatnot of the Naruto universe belong to Masashi Kishimoto (hooray for him!). I only own the characters Riaru, Jin, and any unfamiliar characters mentioned in this chapter. This goes for my own adaptations of yokai and ophan demons, as well as changes with Naruto's mother to fit the storyline. She goes by two names in this story (one which is the real canon name).
Rating: "T" for language and violence…for now.
THE PATHS WE WALK
Chapter 1: A Curse or a Blessing?
"The world is changed... I feel it in the water... I feel it in the earth... I smell it in the air... Much that once was, is lost... For none now live, who remember it…"—Galadriel, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
"Every story, new or ancient…bagatelle or work of art…all are tales of human failing…all are tales of love at heart,"—Amneris: Every Story is a Love Story, Aida
Every story has a beginning…
Every work of art has a first line…
Every journey has a starting point…
How did it all begin?
Some say it began with fire…an enormous fire that swept over the world and threatened to consume it, leaving behind scorched trees but a tiny hint of civilization.
Others say that the higher beings had always been there…always above the rest of the world…watching…waiting…selecting their next chess pieces…
So many stories passed from word of the mouth down each generation make it nearly impossible to believe every single tale is the very same. Perhaps if one were to piece a little bit of the thousand together…perhaps that would spin the thread of truth…
Angels and demons…what if they went by some other name? What if there were no angels, but instead those demons who resembled angels the most? What if not all demons were thought to be evil and bordering on malevolence?
The yokai and the ophanin are such examples. While both are of demonic descent, the ophanin are closer towards those ethereal beings called angels and humanity. The others, the yokai, resemble the darkness of old and the sensuality of death. A question of trust…is all it takes to take the safer side…
Did the story begin with fire? Or perhaps was it a game for the fates? No…it began with a doomed love…a scourge…and a deadly pact…
Blood.
The dark red liquid splashed against the ground, warm and sticky. Its sharp scent drifted through the city and tickled his nostrils. He smirked and inhaled, nostrils dilating a bit. The smell of carnage was intoxicating.
Screams.
People screamed long and loud into the starless night; music to his ears. It was like a symphony of sounds clashing together with the drop of cymbals, a cacophony of shouts, curses, prayers, and wails.
And it's only just begun.
"Jin."
A voice slowly whispered his name from behind, a hiss of a snake. Jin stirred from his little reverie and turned his sharp yellow eyes on the owner.
"What is it now? I thought your bloodlust wasn't sated yet Aniki."
"It's not," replied the other man casually. He silently slipped over to stand beside Jin. "I just have to tell you something."
Jin lifted an eyebrow. "And that is…?" Don't tell me my son is down there. He's too young to get involved.
"We have a problem." His older brother gave the ghost of an exasperated sigh. "The ophanin—"
"Is that all?"
"Shut up and let me finish. As you know, the ophanin have decided they've had enough of our little 'demonstration' on the people of Fire Country and they're not willing to let us go quietly."
"What's your point?"
Another sigh. "The ophanin head isn't even there. Something about his 'wife' being pregnant and him not doing a thing until the labor of the birth is over."
A colorful curse escaped Jin's lips. He was known for bearing a strong grudge against the head of the ophanin but this feeling bordered on hatred. People just don't respect the danger of demons like they used to. Maybe I should've sent out some oni…nah, too messy. The world's colorful enough as it is.
"Otouto?"
Jin straightened and a strange smile formed on his face. "He'll speak to me. Take me to him Orochimaru."
Kushina…I guess it's inevitable…old loves never die…
It can't have gone wrong. Please don't let it have gone wrong. Kami-sama, she'll die at this rate.
Minato closed his eyes, wincing as an unearthly scream cut through the caverns like a piercing knife in the dark. Oh please just end this already! He hadn't wanted to see the whole gruesome event; firmly finding women the stronger sex in that department. If they're fine with witnessing the pain and shrieking and labor then more power to them.
Another scream slashed through the air and the head of the ophanin closed his eyes and groaned. It was taking too long…what if…what if…the baby didn't make it?
Kami-sama, what if she doesn't make it?
Was this what normal fathers went through?
Then again, since when were demons considered normal?
"Oi Minato!" He could see his cousin Hatori coming towards him. "Man, you're a mess. How do you feel?"
Minato laughed weakly. "I feel like shit. What do you think?"
"Actually, you don't want to know what I think." Hatori scratched the back of his head. "Look I know you've got enough on your plate what with the birthing and Farah screaming to the fathoms below, but we've got a problem in Fire Country."
"Kami-sama, that place is always in something. Why should this time be any different?"
Hatori scowled a bit. "Well excuse me, but as we are the demons in charge of this infernal country, we should do our best to protect it from the enemy yokai right?"
Minato lifted his blond head warily at the mention of the other demonic race. "What do they want?"
"What don't they want?" Hatori snorted. "Apparently they took her running off with you worse than we believed so they're using it as an excuse to satiate their hunger for slaughter and blood on the people of Fire Country. The high orders of Fire Country as well as the other ophanin are standing by you for orders right now, but they can only take so much. Human casualties…animals…our personal conflict with the yokai is bad enough without bringing the rest of the world into it."
"So you're saying this is my fault?" Minato demanded. His golden hair seemed to crackle and, with the amount of power he had stored within his body, it very well could have. "Because if you're here to do what I think you're here to do then I'll kill you Hatori."
His cousin's eyes widened. "Minato, I'm merely here to inform you of what's going on out there in Fire Country, namely the city of Konoha. I'm not here to reprimand you on your choice of a partner. If I wanted to do that, I'm kinda nine months late ne?"
Minato shook his head as yet another wail echoed down the hall. He winced, hoping that his wife was being treated fairly. Even though the ophanin doctors were among the lesser prejudiced of Fire Country, he wasn't taking any chances. Farah didn't need to undergo any more pain than she had to.
"Oh and one more thing."
"What now?"
"There's someone here to see you."
I can't deal with visitors at this moment. "Didn't you say—?"
"He did actually," a smooth voice spoke from the large doorway. Though it had a sinful velvet quality that simply oozed of power and sensuality, it also bore an icy ring that reminded one of frost so cold it burned. "But I decided I didn't care and let myself in anyway."
Both Minato and Hatori eyed the figure standing in the doorway with wary eyes. The young man, a bit older than Minato, smirked wickedly. Saffron yellow eyes, dusted with smooth black eyelashes, flashed in the dim hallway and long dark hair draped around the man's alabaster face as if presenting a stage. A true yokai demon: beautiful and sensual to behold but pure poison within.
"Minato." The man bowed in mock acknowledgment of the other's high position in the ophanin.
"Jin." The name was forced out of a strangled throat but Minato had managed to keep everything in check. It wouldn't do any good to start yelling at the man.
Hatori shifted a nervous glance at his cousin and the yokai. "Anou…I'll be going now." Chuckling nervously, he scooted out of the hallway. Must escape the wrath of two angry demons!
No sooner had the sound of Hatori's footsteps died out; Jin was looming in front of Minato. No matter that the golden-haired ophan was an inch taller; the energy giving off from his body was more than enough to produce a pretty impressive display.
"Where is my kitsune?"
Minato glared back. She's not something you can just calmly call a creature. She has a name! "Why do you want to know?" His voice was like the slice of a deadly katana through a jugular vein. "You and the rest of your race abandoned her and you're killing off innocent people in Fire Country just to prove a point. Why should I tell you?"
The yokai resisted the urge to plow the blond man through the wall. "Your elders must really be feeding you some good stories because you're still swallowing them Minato-kun." Venom practically dripped from his mouth. "My brother says you got her pregnant. Something tells me the elders weren't too happy about that."
"Bastard."
"That I am." Jin clenched his fists. "But you're the one that implanted your infernal seed within a yokai."
"That's because you already used up yours," Minato spat. Kami-sama, I hate this guy! "You already have a child with someone of your own demonic background Jin. Unlike you, I don't believe that women are toys merely to screw around with."
Jin gritted his sharp teeth. "It was just a miscalculation. Kushina and I loved each other."
Minato shook his head. "What would YOU know about love? You have a black hole in your chest! And just so you know, she loved me willingly unlike you."
Another scream cut through the air and a flurry of silvery wings intercepted the two demons before they could leap at each other's throats. The white and gray mass folded back to reveal a very panicked ophan. "Minato-sama, you have to come quickly! We could be losing her!"
"What?"
Minato practically flew down the corridor, barely registering where he was going. He could feel Jin's presence hot on his heels but he didn't care. Not right now.
BANG!
The door to the room flew open and one could already catch the acrid aroma of the birth in the air. There was so much blood…so much sweat…flesh torn…
"Farah!" Minato dashed to his wife's side. She was panting heavily, back arched in pain. Her brilliant blue eyes were wide and stared up at the ceiling in obvious torture. Steaming tears were running like silver rivers down her cheeks, mingling with her sweat. Occasionally, between contractions, her lids would droop shut only to shoot open again as she was assaulted by another fresh bout of pain. "Are you okay?"
"Mina…to…?" A thin hand reached out and slipped into his. Her face and red hair were as wet as if they had been dunked into a pond. She gulped.
He nodded, squeezing her hand and ignoring the ophanin doctors that surrounded them. They were chanting under their breaths, doing their best to stave off the bleeding of her torn inner flesh. "Ssshh my love, I'm here."
"The baby…" Her words came out in gasps. "The baby…"
A quick glance with one of the doctors was all he needed. "The baby's fine. Made it through safe and sound." He leaned over and kissed her damp forehead. "It's all right. Breathe."
"Boy…or girl?"
"Boy," a doctor confirmed as a different wail filled the room; the tiny refreshing sound of a newborn infant. A small smile lifted the corners of his exhausted mouth as he placed the baby into its mother's weak arms. "Congratulations."
"Thank you." Minato nodded at him and he could feel his wife just faintly do the same before a soft gasp emitted from her throat. "What is it?"
Another gasp. "J-Jin." Oh Kami…oh Kami…
Damn it, that bastard is still here? Minato tore his eyes away from the doctor to the yokai standing in the doorway. "Leave. Now," he snapped coldly.
Had he been any angrier, the ophan would have failed to see the range of emotions playing across Jin's face. However, Minato did see them all: anger, shock, pain, and anguish. What the hell is wrong with him? Yokai never show their emotions so freely.
"Why?"
The question escaped from Jinn's smooth lips. His yellow eyes blazed as they locked onto Farah's cerulean blue ones. "WHY!"
All ophan doctors had rushed upon him but the demon released some of his energy, knocking them backwards into the opposite walls. CRACK! The only one left standing (and conscious) was a shaking young cleric in his early teens, not an ophan at all.
Get back Iruka…get back… He told himself quietly.
"ANSWER ME KITSUNE!"
"D-don't call me that…" she whispered weakly. "That's n-not my n-name."
Jin glared at her. "It's the name of your demon host Kushina! It's what you are!"
Kushina groaned and tore herself away from those eyes. "It's not…me." She shook her head as her whole body began to convulse again. Minato noticed and swore inwardly. She can't handle stress in this condition! Not so soon after the baby!
"Damn!" Forgetting his fear of the yokai, Iruka set out to help the female demon, hands glowing with healing aura. He had to save her!
"Do you realize what you've done?" Jin demanded angrily and there was lingering pain behind his words. He seemed not to have noticed the torment the woman was undergoing. "A yokai and an ophan hybrid…nothing good will come of it! You have the blood of a kitsune in you!" His voice was becoming hoarse and losing its sensual tone. "I was never good enough was I? Not for you, not for Aniki, and not for anyone!"
Minato bit his lip. I can't help but feel a little sorry for him. "Jin…" I didn't know.
"Why did you choose him Kushina? Over me? Why?"
The baby began to wail again. It was too loud. It was too much.
"L-love…" Kushina whispered even while she shuddered and moaned. "Something I…think…y-you'll…never (cough)…under…stand…" She coughed violently, blood trickling down her ashen chin.
"Farah, don't talk!" Minato urged. His wife was losing strength by the minute.
"That child is a STAIN on this world!" Jin roared and for a minute, he seemed more like a dragon than anything; a dragon set on devouring a certain baby.
Kushina bolted upright despite the pain. "How…DARE you! This (gasp) is my son! This…baby…you (cough) view…h-him…a-as a curse…I think he's…a…b-blessing…" She held the child close to her heart, a strange light in her crystalline blue eyes. "Y-you…I…won't…let you t-take…him…from me— (cough) you bastard." She doubled over, spasms wracking throughout her exhausted body.
"NO!" Finding Jin the lesser of two evils at the moment, Minato summoned up his strength and shoved Jin out the door. Iruka locked it quickly behind him.
The yokai struggled to speak as another cough registered a dribble of blood from her rosy lips. The infant in her arms began to wail louder and she tightened her hold on him. Her weak fingers brushed aside the thin fuzz of hair; blond like his father's. A beautiful baby conceived through a whirlpool of confusing emotions and betrayal of her own kind.
Whirlpool…that'll be your name… "Na…ruto…" She weakly kissed the infant on its tiny forehead. My little Naruto…my little kitsune…
"Farah, are you-?"
"M-Minato…" Kushina slowly smiled at her husband and a single tear trailed down her face. "C-call me...by my (gasp) r-real n-name...it's okay...now."
The blond ophan nodded shakily. "As you wish Kushina."
Her breath was coming out weaker than ever but she felt entirely at peace as she held the baby close to her breast. Her eyes were glazed with tears. "Our…protect…our kit…N-Naruto…"
He nodded, the horrifying feeling intensifying. "I will." Kami-sama, I can't lose her! Please! Please!
A small smile lifted her mouth. Oh death was so wonderful and merciful! She could drown in its embrace!
"I…l-love…you…"
A sea of black rushed before her clear blue eyes and the iron curtains came crashing down. Be strong…be safe my kit… Her heart emitted two weak beats…and no more.
"Farah...Kushina! KUSHINA!"
Iruka watched on in distress and sympathy as little Naruto continued to wail. He'd done all he could.
But it wasn't enough.
"Kushina my kitsune…who is this person that you've been seeing?"
A small laugh. "I'm not in my fox form, so there's no need to call me that name. And that's none of your business Neanderthal."
"I'll make it my business."
"My, my. Being a little possessive aren't we Jin?"
"We Neanderthals like to have our fun."
She shook her head and laughed again, radiant red hair fluttering around her like a sunburst. "I'm sure you do. It's nothing. Nothing that should concern you."
"FUCK!" Jin slammed his fists into a nearby wall. Orochimaru watched in silence, barely flinching at the sound of his younger brother's hands connecting painfully with the stone.
"Are you done yet?"
Jin panted and fixed a heated glare on the older yokai. Those stubborn saffron irises reflected his hatred and inner pain. Sweat beaded on his brow, illuminating his impossibly pale skin.
"You know she's dead right?" Orochimaru continued flatly, his own speech ending in a hiss.
"Shut up."
"And just what good would that do Otouto? It won't bring Kushina back now will it?"
"Just…shut up Aniki."
Orochimaru impatiently clacked his tongue against his sharp fangs. His brother's current behavior annoyed him immensely. For once, I don't blame the ophanin for anything. Kushina brought this on herself and us. A smirk appeared on his chiseled features. But I still think this could work in our favor.
"Mama?"
Jin blinked. Eh? That's not my brother's voice. "Aniki, what did you—?"
Orochimaru unfurled his wings, streaming purple and black, and revealed a small white bundle in his arms. Green hair, the lush color of a forest, spilled out from the top of the bundle.
"Aniki…" Jin's eyes dilated. "Is…that...a baby?"
"Indeed it is." Orochimaru chuckled quietly as he shifted the bundle in his arms. The white cloth slipped downward, revealing a childish face with a small pert nose and frightened sapphire eyes. He trailed one pale finger down the forehead and tapped the child's nose. She squirmed away from him. "It's not their child if that's what you're thinking Otouto. No, this is a girl that I snatched up from one of the ophanin we slaughtered down in Fire Country." His head undulated slightly. "Bad parents. They shouldn't have let their daughter wander off. She can actually walk you know."
Jin fixed his eyes on the little ophan before meeting his brother's face. "What are you going to do with it?" he asked.
"That's for you to decide Otouto." Orochimaru silently walked closer and passed the girl into his younger brother's arms. "Might I suggest you use this to your advantage?"
"Mama?"
Jin stared down at the girl, his mind flooding with possibilities. A smirk curled his lip and he nodded. Of course…
"Minato-san," Iruka whispered from his spot beside Farah...no Kushina's body. He was holding the baby, Naruto, in his arms. The child had stopped wailing and was now cuddled up against the cleric's chest. "Are you all right?"
Minato shakily got to his feet and wiped the tears away from his eyes with a trembling hand. "Yes Iruka …I'm okay." He shook his head, the mop of golden hair swishing. "Just…give me a minute." He lifted his eyes, trying not to look at the body of his dead wife. "I'm sorry you had to see that. T-the other ophanin…"
"I believe they've been informed of what's transpired Minato-san." Iruka glanced down at the baby and held him out to the head of the ophanin. "Your son?"
My son.
Minato reached over and took the child in his hands. Naruto had his tanned skin and shining blond hair, of that he could see. Despite the strange whisker marks etched on the sides of his face, three whisker scars just like Kushina had on her pale skin, he was a beautiful infant. Naruto yawned and opened his eyes. For a minute Minato felt his blood run cold.
Kushina's eyes.
BOOM!
The foundations of the building shook under the explosion outside. Minato straightened up. "Iruka come with me. I have to settle this and…if anything happens…" He swallowed. "I…I would like you to take care of Naruto for me when you're of age."
"O-of course."
Minato closed his eyes and lifted his head. Snow-white wings with golden tips unfurled from his shoulder blades and spread up until they brushed the low ceiling. He grabbed Iruka's hand, Naruto tucked in the alcove of his other arm.
In a swirling mass of white and gold, all three vanished from the room and re-appeared out in the wrecked city that was Konoha. Fires danced across the buildings and blood drenched the already reddened earth. The air was scorching.
It was hell on Earth.
With a quick nod of his head, Minato silently ordered Iruka to take cover behind one of the charred buildings. The teen cleric nodded and vanished into the growing darkness, flames leaping into the gathering twilight.
People were dying…his people…innocent people…
How could I have been so stupid? That our relationship…would have come to this? He shook his head. I couldn't have known. Kushina and I would never have done anything if we had known this would happen.
"MINATO!"
The ophan turned his gray-blue eyes upon the owner of the voice. Jin stood across from him, ignoring the chaos around him as yokai, ophanin, and humans clashed. He was holding a baby girl in his arms; an ophan.
"Let her go Jin!"
Jin smirked and wings unfurled from his back; the most glorious purple-black of a night sky. "Why should I?" He chuckled and lifted one of his hands. The nails grew razor-sharp. "She's not your baby is she?"
"LET HER GO!" The demonic aura surrounding the ophan's body crackled. "Why do you have her anyway? The children of ophanin mean nothing to the yokai!"
"No? I actually think she's the perfect bargaining chip," replied Jin smoothly. He flicked one sharp nail over the little girl's forehead. She squealed. "Hear me out Minato Namikaze! I could kill this little ophan in a second…much the same I could do with your son! He's the result of all of our disastrous problems ne?" The wind howled. "He's the result of Kushina's betrayal of the yokai along with your doomed relationship and the growing fear of the ophanin all rolled into one neat little package."
Minato protectively cradled Naruto in one hand. Bastard. "You're not laying a hand on my son!"
"I don't have to because the damage has already been done!" Jin laughed maliciously. "You may hold the spawn of an ophan and a yokai, but the yokai genes inside are dominant to the ophanin! Your son is more devil than angel! He has the essence of the kitsune inside him, the strongest yokai imaginable! You can thank your wife for that!"
Iruka felt his insides freeze. That couldn't be right. Kushina was a yokai true, but a kitsune?
Kami, we're in such deep shit right now.
"How would you feel if that demon were unleashed? Your son will soon surrender to the animal instincts of the fox." Jin smirked at his shocked enemy. "The amount of people the kitsune would kill and the malicious games it would play before the end result. This boy's power is stronger than you, stronger than even me and my older brother! That would ruin your reputation as a worthy leader but it'd also bring about Armageddon as well. Is that what you want Minato? Is that what Farah would have wanted?"
Minato narrowed his eyes but a flicker of fear passed through his eyes. "What do you want bastard?"
Jin tilted his head to one side, possibly enjoying the way his words were riling up the powerful ophan. "Nothing really…except for you to consider a proposal I have in mind. And the proposal is that there's only one way to contain a powerful essence of a yokai like the kitsune and that's with a special seal of an ophanin. The seal will lock away the powerful aura but it will keep your son alive. You know about it obviously since the very first head of the ophanin used it a long time ago against our own yokai leader." Minato nodded to show he understood. "But of course…every extremely powerful spell comes with a price." His eyes gleamed. "You know what the price to keep a seal that powerful is."
Iruka gasped and Minato glowered. "And just what makes you think I'll agree to that?"
The other demon shrugged. "It's either you conjure the seal upon the yokai genes inside your son or the whole world ends up destroyed when it's unleashed. And it doesn't matter what time that will be. He could be twenty; he could be two. And this little female—" Jin slid a sharp nail along the side of the young ophan's face, "—will be the first one to go." He smiled. "Should you perform this spell, there would be no witnesses as to what happened to ensure the end of our bloody feud except myself. And I will give my word that the yokai will never lay hand on any human nor ophan unless the seal on your son is broken. Because then…we would have to be involved."
Minato's eyes narrowed. "You hate me and my son. Why would you want to spare him?"
"Oh don't think of this as pity you fool," Jin hissed in reply. "Of course I want to kill your son. But…Kushina wouldn't want that and…" He paused, flinching at the memory of the beautiful yokai that had never been his. She had been stolen from him and that wretched baby in his enemy's arms served as a painful reminder. "I'd rather you weren't there to witness it."
"Damn you to hell," Minato muttered through gritted teeth. His eyes locked onto the little girl's frightened sapphire ones. She was so young, so innocent. She doesn't deserve to die. And…he looked at Naruto. Neither does my son.
It was a harsh choice. Trust Jin to do this to him. Minato closed his eyes in concentration. He racked the inner corners of his mind but nothing seemed to come up that would counter Jin's suggestion.
What would Kushina want?
He tightened his hold on the baby in his arms. He knew what she would want. Naruto can't go through this…I swear my son will live through this. He stared down into those brilliant cerulean eyes. They shone like the sunlight dancing on calm blue waves. They spoke of promise and light and hope. If he had to choose between the two of them to live…Minato raised his face to the eerily beautiful demon across from him. It would be Naruto.
Licking his dry lips, he extended a hand out to the yokai. "All right Jin. I'll perform the seal…as long as you add one more thing to the bargain." His eyes narrowed. "The girl…give me the girl."
Jin raised one perfect dark eyebrow. "And just what does she mean to you?"
"She's an ophan and an innocent at that," Minato replied firmly. He shifted Naruto slightly. "Since you obviously did something with her family, the girl will stay with Naruto as proof that you keep your promise not to harm anyone unless the seal breaks."
Hmmm…not bad. I could live with that. The yokai nodded once, wings fluttering in the breeze. "You have yourself a deal Minato-kun." He smirked and tossed the tiny girl into the air. "Whoops."
That asshole! Minato growled and managed to swoop forward and enfold the shaking ophan in his brilliant white wings before her skull could be smashed against the blood-soaked ground. With a small sigh, he turned towards the darkness where he knew Iruka was still standing. "Iruka…"
"Who are you calling out to?" Jin asked calmly even as a shriek tore through the eerie silence. The flames crackled and leaped higher.
Minato faced him again, praying that Iruka would not come out of hiding. Luckily, the cleric remained where he was. "You remember your promise Iruka?" He transmitted the message telepathically. Look after my son for me. He's all that'll be left…of Farah...Kushina…and myself. And look after this little girl too."
Behind the crumbling buildings, the young cleric felt cold dread seep into his stomach. Yet he nodded to himself. I will do as you ask Minato-san.
Minato gently set the young ophan on the ground before placing Naruto beside her. Naruto smiled sleepily before turning over and yawning into his blanket. The ophan, however, stared back into Minato's eyes with apprehension.
"P-papa?"
"What's your name kiddo?" he asked her softly. She stared back at him and he wondered fleetingly if she could understand him. Then, to his amazement, she shook her head.
"P-papa…" she whispered fretfully, soft chubby little hands reaching for him. She wanted to be held.
She thinks I'm her father. A low chuckle rumbled through his body as he reached out to stroke the girl's green hair away from her forehead. Through the fingers flowed healing warmth, warmth that brought light and freshness to the acrid-smelling air. The girl cooed and settled down into the blankets. Let her be the sister…that Naruto might have had.
"No matter what anyone tells you, what happened here was real. You're real and the love that binds us all together is real. 'Real'…Riaru."
"Can we hurry this up?" Jin asked lazily. He wrapped himself in his velvet wings. I'm getting hungry for human flesh and blood.
Minato shot him a fierce glare that would have burned all of Konoha to the ground in one swoop. He turned to Naruto and gently passed a hand over the baby's soft downy blond hair. Despite the darkened sky and dim lighting, the hair seemed to capture sunlight and hold it in.
I won't be able to see you grow up, he thought sadly. "My beautiful boy…neither of us…your mother and I…will be able to see you grow up to be the strong man I know you will be. Naruto, your mother died for you only to be brought into a world of fire and pain, but I will make sure you will live to see the sun." He picked up the baby and held him close. Tears began to fall from his eyes onto the tan skin and blond hair. "That little girl…Riaru…she'll be with you and Iruka…he promised he will be with you too. Be strong…have courage…and no matter what anyone says, you are no curse. You are a blessing." Placing Naruto down, he stood up and turned away. "Naruto Uzumaki…my son…I love you."
Two demons faced each other against the fiery backdrop of screams, death, and fire. One demon raised his hands to form the seal, words flowing from his mouth. Strange words that no human could ever hope to decipher. The other demon raised one hand as a signal to instruct his followers to cease attacking when the spell was complete.
Naruto…
"Uchiha-san, you must get your family to safety!"
"Do that if you wish! But I'm staying here to protect the city from these monsters!"
Fire raged and smoke rose along with the dying cries and animalistic snarls that filled the air. In the forest that surrounded the outskirts of the city, a family of warriors stood their ground as the sky seemed to swirl like a dark miasma. A serious little boy with intense eyes, clothing slightly charred and a few cuts on his face, stared up at the churning sky. His mother held a pale baby of similar features close to her chest. The baby's eyes, blacker than a raven's wing, were curious.
"Mikoto, take Itachi and Sasuke away! Go quickly!" A pause. "I'll see you when this is over."
"You better." Her hand caught her husband's. "Promise me you'll be careful."
The baby stared up into the sky, dark lashes fluttering with fear. Only an infant…and yet he knew something was terribly wrong.
Elsewhere, a family of magical descent struggled to fend off the many yokai in Konoha; blue, red, and white aura flaring everywhere. Corpses littered the ground like matchsticks.
A woman fell to the ground, her body mutilated and damaged beyond repair. Blood seeped slowly down from her pale pink lips as she chanted one last spell in hopes that it would save her daughter.
"Cassie…" she whispered weakly.
The girl, barely a year old, watched her mother fall with fear and tears in her dark blue eyes. Potent magical aura surrounded her body and seeped into her veins. The air smelled of blood and sweat.
"Mommy…" Cassie said tearfully. She choked and her tiny arms clung to her mother's dead body as the battle raged on around her. "M-mommy!"
The magical energy flared once and struck a few nearby yokai. The little girl continued to sob aloud as it rose above her in wafting clouds.
"Mommy!"
And then the world went silent. Every living creature seemed to freeze and the cries of both demon and human died out. The heavens ceased to churn and reflect the chaos down below. Only the flames and smoke continued to billow and crackle around the dying city.
As one, the yokai lifted up their massive wings and flew away into the distance. Their master had called them. The bargain was sealed.
However, in the middle of the former ferocity, the only living witness to the horrific turn of events knelt down beside the body of a once proud ophan. Two infants, demon blood running through their veins, lay beside the spread-eagled man. Trembling hands picked them up, brown eyes staring down at the person who was more angel than demon. A seal was tattooed across his little son's chest; the reminder of the price of the bargain.
"Minato-san!" Iruka cried out in anguish. "MINATO-SAN!"
And as tears ran down his face, the fresh sobs of the two babies held against his chest broke like the waves of an ocean crashing against the shore. Riaru and Naruto: two demon offspring crying for a world that had just left them terribly alone.
To Be Continued…
Whew! Who knew that chapter was actually pretty short compared to my normal standard. Oh well, review if you want. You could even tell me this was worse than "Barney books" if you feel inclined to; I won't mind. I know I still have a lot of work to do in this world. . Next chapter should be soon!
Explanations (just in case or unless you're bored):
Yokai: these are a class of demons in Japanese folklore that are considered more powerful than humans and are usually invulnerable to normal human attack. They range from evil oni to kitsune to hanyo (half-demons) to dead spirits that wander the earth. They are also referred to as "mononoke."
In this fic, the yokai are similar to their real folklore counterparts except they have both an animal host and a human form. The animal host is often more dominant to the human form as yokai despise mortals and prefer not to resemble them too much. Their wing colors are typically dark and they are of extremely pale complexion. They usually have one physical trait that distinguishes them from normal humans and acts as a sign of what animal host they take the shape of (Ex: Orochimaru's long snake tongue though his eyes could be another indicator). The yokai encourage such emotions as power and lust, but they are often unable to understand human emotions such as love. They have no last names because last names are a sign of binding to another person, which is seen as a weakness.
Ophan (plural: ophanin)this is actually one of the celestial classes of angels along with Cherubim and Seraphim that guard over the throne of God. Also known as "thrones" they are the third hierarchy of angels, known to be covered in eyes and have six wings. They are also being of tremendous power and movement, creating channels of energy to maintain connections to all of the realms and establish divine justice. They are also known for being immensely humble and without ambition despite their greatness.
In this fic, only demons control the world so there are no angels. However, the ophanin are similar to their angelic background in terms of divine judgment and amount of energy. Unlike yokai, they do not have an animal host and retain an appearance more related to the humans they swear to protect. Their complexion ranges from golden to pale (though not as pale as the yokai) and their wings range from shades of white with tints of other colors. Note: at a certain age, ophanin are able to hide their wings completely so they can appear completely human.
Both demonic races are known for their mysterious power and/or ethereal beauty. However, the yokai are prone to being more sensuous and effiminent-looking (with some exceptions) while the ophanin are slightly more realistic in appearance.
Farah (pronounced "Fair-ah") Uzumaki: is the false name Naruto's mother took while living with the ophanin as Minato's wife (to avoid suspicion that she was a yokai). The name Farah has two meanings. It means "joy" and "beautiful." The latter is more fitting for the tragic yokai actually. The last name Uzumaki means "spiral."
Kushina: the revealed name of Naruto's mother, this means "sheaf." Like my adaptation of her, she also had red hair and a very protective, determined demeanor. In this AU, Kushina will be her REAL name.
Minato Namikaze: the name of the Fourth Hokage has finally been revealed in the Naruto universe so I have now changed his name from "Arashi" to go along with Kishimoto's canon material. The name "Minato" means "harbor" such as someone in a sort of trade or specific talent. "Namikaze" means "wind and waves" (so...fitting).
Jin: believe it or not, this name means "tenderness." The name was based on the idea of devil Jin from Tekken.
Riaru (pronounced "Ree-aru"): based on my friend Inuko (and explained earlier by Minato), this means "real."
Aniki: older brother
Otouto: little brother
Kami/Kami-sama: God or gods in this story's case
