Twilee - Hey everyone, I decided to rewrite this story, cause I felt it was too rushed. (Not to mention I got a PM from someone who alerted me of it)
Naruto - (Putting down manuscript) It looks good, really good... And so does that ramen...
Twilee - I hope you enjoy! Thanks, Kendansa!!
The branches of the surrounding forest tore through the rags I called my clothes. I just celebrated my seventh birthday with a small brownie not five days ago, and now I was being chased by ANBU of Tsukigakure through the forests covering the hills that surrounded the village. They called me 'demon spawn' and 'Hell's brat', and the worst part was that I knew why they hated me yet could do nothing to change it. Not that I wanted to.
FLASHBACK
It was October 10th, exactly 69 days after the birth of the Fox Princess's Daughter in the Kitsune clan, and Tsukigakure was finally signing a peace treaty with Konohagakure. The proud new mother was the only other Nine-Tailed Demon She-Fox and the sister to Kyuubi, the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox Lord. Her husband, though a mere mortal, was a compassionate man of Tsukigakure, and wielder to the most potent and destructive bloodline in all of the Elemental Countries followed by the Desu Decchi of the Meiyo, the Mokuton of the Senju, the Dead Bone Pulse of the Kaguya, the Iron Sand of the Chikoto, the Byakugan of the Hyuuga, the Hyoton of the Yukitsuru, the Quincy of the Rock, the White Chakra of the Hatake, and the Sharingan of the Uchiha. It was the Tenshi no Yuukan, wielders of the Heavenly Chakra and destined rivals to the Meiyo who wielded the Shinigami's Cursed Chakra.
Many people from Tsuki mingled with Konoha's citizens. If all went well with the signing then there would be partying in the streets, bars and restaurants alike would be full of celebrating ninjas and civilians. Sake would be ordered by the gallons to sate the thirst of hundreds, and no one thought about the hangover that would accompany them with the morning. For when the Yondaime Hokage of Konoha and the Sandaime Tsukikage of Tsuki announced together that the treaty was a success, all thoughts and doubts would be thrown aside, left to be dealt with when the sun rises in the morning dawn. The Kitsune clan, special diplomatic guests of both villages, would be there to retain neutral peace on both sides.
Because this Kitsune clan resided between Tsuki and Konoha, yet the Fox Princess, Kimiko, and Tsuki's ambassador, Daisuke, were wed and Kyuubi was the close friend of the current blond Hokage. This quite complicated things considering anything politic so the clan was dully brought only for neutrality. Politics were never very interesting for Kimiko, so excusing herself as politely as she could she escaped from her 'prison' after leaving her two month old kit with Daisuke. Her kit was obviously a Hanyou with two, teal-colored, silken fox tails with white tips, teal-colored fox-ears with white tips, bright moonlit silver hair, four elegant whisker marks stretched across her baby-fat cheeks, and wide innocent gold-slitted eyes that stared at everyone with childish curiosity. She was a prodigy of her clan to be born with a uniquely colored fur and already have two tails despite having a mortal man for a sire.
Kimiko had let down her guard, thinking no one would dare to attack her as she made her way to the unused training grounds nearby the Hokage Monument with a single Kitsune guard for company. Two sets of eyes watched from the shadows. Sickly amber and bloody crimson, eyes of a snake and eyes of an Uchiha. One man's freakishly long tongue licked his lips in anticipation, neither of them made a sound even as they breathed.
Stalking through the unlit parts of the city, they tracked her Youkai to the designated training ground. Unfortunately for her the direction she was heading in had a downwind, meaning that she wouldn't be able to sniff out their stench of snakes or age even if she could. The weakness of a demon giving birth was that for five months, their senses would dull to a civilian's, and the use of their Youkai would tear her apart. This is where her guard came in handy. The Uchiha knew that and also knew that the greatest threat right now would be the guard. No demon should be underestimated otherwise they might as well just be a pile of ashes or a bloody smear by now.
Back at the Hokage Tower, the Kages had come to a mutual verdict. Both stood on the balcony of the Hokage Tower, high enough for many people to see, but low enough to clearly see any and all expressions. Both thrust their right hands up into the sky, both holding a golden scroll, sealed with the traditional Hokage and Tsukikage seal, respectively. Silence followed before the sky split with a grand flash of thunder, drowned by the thankful and relieved cries of ninjas and civilians alike.
The single instant in which the roar of the crowd and a clap of thunder united to drown out any and every noise, was the moment the two men decided to pounce. The guard had been trying to convince his lady to return to the festivities when he had been silenced with deafening and very painful nose for his oversensitive ears. The Fox Princess merely flinched as her eyes flickered to her guard, writhing and clutching at his ears. The back of her neck began to tingle with the forbearance of danger and whirled around in time to catch a standard katana between the curve of a three-pronged kunai, a gift from the Yondaime. Scattered rain began to fall, steadying into an onslaught of ice-cold precipitation. Instantly noticing his red eyes she growled, "Uchiha… Madara? I should have known you would have abused the gift my brother blessed you and your sibling with."
The now recognized Madara said nothing, instead only focusing pressure onto the katana while remaining open to change his stance should the Kitsune guard manage to kill his 'business partner', Orochimaru. "I never would have thought you to sink as low as working with scum like him. Second-rate compared to you, wouldn't you say?" Madara knew what she was doing. Probing for information on the reason for their attack. Madara shifted the blade so that her weapon was locked in a standstill, if she pulled it away she risked losing her hand, but if she let go he would be free to spin and slice her from shoulder to hip. Yet if he drew back then he risked a stab to his chest, and if he let go he risked her throwing it through his neck. A high-staked standstill that Madara was willing to wait until either Orochimaru finished his prey, or the Kitsune guard killed Orochimaru, if the latter should happen he would flee and wait for another chance.
Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your view, Orochimaru was smart enough to know this was one of the times he would not, could not, play with his prey, taunting and goading. He had to finish this quickly and efficiently. The Kitsune knowing his lady was in danger staggered to his feet and flexed his claws. Orochimaru moved in a blur, his Kusanagi pulled out and its poisoned blade glistening in the rain. The guard grimaced, knowing that just a prick could end his life. Even the Youkai's healing abilities could not purge his body of Hachibi no Orochi's venom. Reluctantly pulling out a kunai, he held it in a defensive stance, waiting for the amber-eyed man to make the first move. And move he did. Striking with a forward thrust, the guard jumped to the side and, testing waters, tried a vertical slash.
Orochimaru flipped his head to the side, the snake carrying the Kusanagi from its maw swung with it. Barely able to escape from a nick on his arm he put a little distance between them before trying again, except this time using the kunai as a distraction while having his claws go for the kill. So focused on his left hand, claws ready to pierce through cloth and pale flesh, the guard didn't notice how dangerously close his kunai hand was to the Kusanagi's tip as he pulled it back, ready to use it to pirouette his balance and twist him to a safe distance away… That is until his felt a pin-prick of pain on his middle finger. Normally such a small amount of pain wouldn't have distracted him from his cause, but because of the weapon he was facing off against even a single prick meant death.
Spending his final moments in pain as the venom coursed its way to his heart he whispered, "I'm sorry… Kyuubi-sama…" His apology went unheard through the pounding of the rain, the ongoing cheers, and the random flashes of lightning and thunder. Dulling blue eyes rolled back into his head as he fell backwards, dead before his dark green hair touched the mud.
Feeling sudden silence from the swish of cut air and splatter of raindrops being thrown off-course, Madara knew that either they had been successful or they had failed. Then, Orochimaru spoke, "I've done my part Madara. You will let me within the Akatsuki as my part of our bargain is done." It took a moment before the Uchiha replied in a tone that relied a message entirely on its own, disobey-me-and-I-will-kill-you-and-scatter-your-bloody-remains-across-the-land, "You will be rewarded, now simply watch and wait. When I kill the Hime I will need you to take the blame. I cannot have my existence revealed just yet until they have all been gathered." Madara had been counting on the small window of opportunity that would or would not accompany the end of his statement. He found it, and as she faltered slightly, a shift of her ankle to throw her overall weight off-balance he pushed her back, her arms nearly pin-wheeling until he thrust his sword straight through her heart.
Without wasting a moment he pulled away and spun, bringing the katana into a diagonal slash, cutting through the bone of her shoulder to her ribs. Sheathing his still bloody sword he said, "Finish the third part of your Snake Dance Combo to make it look like this was done by you. Even though she has not yet died, the Kusanagi's poison will finish her off and they will not find out that we both were here." Orochimaru scowled, "There is still a flaw, the Kitsune have very sensitive smell, better then even the Inuzuka or their Nin-dogs. How will you be able to escape their nose?" "Do not question me. I will expect you in Ame for your first official Akatsuki mission." Madara faded into a thick black mist that eventually began to fade. Knowing it would be suicide to defy the nearly century-old Uchiha he finished his mission and splattered himself in her blood.
In truth, Madara had been basing most of this operation on uncertainty. Now he had to hope that Kyuubi would lose himself to his rage. If that should happen, everything else will fall into alignment like a line of dominoes. This was the first event, and what happens after this would all happen according to plan… 'But even so,' a small voice spoke, 'all it takes is for one miscalculation, and a domino will fall to the side. Useless in the chain of reactions needed for this to be accomplished.' This is why he had created Akatsuki. A group to make sure everything stayed according to plan and not a single mistake or he'll be dealt by Madara himself rather painfully and without mercy.
Back at the party, Kyuubi felt his neck prickle with dread. 'What cursed premonition is this?' Kyuubi had blocked his ears with chakra to drown out the migraine-causing noise. Looking around for his sister he quickly walked to the training ground near the Hokage Monument. That had always been her favorite spot to be whenever they visited. 'I like to be near the mountain. It helps me to feel calm' So she had told her skeptic brother. As he drew closer the feeling of dread increased, forcing his walk to a trot and then to a steady run. He stumbled onto the muddy grass to see his sister and her guard, dead and lying in pools of their blood, or in the case of the guard, looking unharmed but dead all the same. A single man stood over her lifeless body. Purple-rimmed, snake-slit eyes were the only feature he focused on. Eyes that burned with smugness and triumph.
White-hot rage flooded through his veins, mixed with the cold splash of horror that his last family, his own sibling had been slain by a mortal. A man that so easily used the sword of Orochi, his long-time enemy. He futilely tried to resist his urge to grow, to grow large and intimidating and let this man, the word thought with so much hatred and loathing, know what it truly means to be powerful. So powerful your bones turned to jelly and your only thought was to flee. To flee and escape the death that awaited you in the stomach of the Kyuubi, and crushed in massive jaws with teeth sharper than anything even the greatest of weapon-smiths could forge. He would kill not with man-made weapons or with his immense power, but with himself. With tooth and claw, rage and sorrow. Emotions fueling his desire to kill.
Kyuubi's self control snapped when the man goaded, "So you're the infamous Kyuubi. You Nine-Tails must not be that strong if a single technique could kill two high-level Kitsune. The guard especially, a simple prick to bring down one of the all-powerfulFox Demons." Kyuubi let loose a shuddering roar, letting loose the restraints that bound him to his human form. Growing tall and reforming his Tails of Youkai. Tails that could crumble mountains or create a Tsunami with a single swipe. This would be the strength he would use to wipe out the existence of his sister's killer. Kyuubi watched with satisfaction as the man's smug grin faltered. Orochimaru took a shaky step back as the mighty Kyuubi crushed the homes of the southern sector into powder. With a fleeting expression of terror, Orochimaru disguised himself as a Konoha Chuunin and ran between the Demon Lord's mighty paws. Unfortunately in his rage the Kyuubi forgot that while bigger he had more body weight to move and was thus not fast enough to crush the snake-man.
With a roar that would have shaken the heavens, he directed everyone in Konoha's attention to the now enraged Kyuubi as he gazed down at the maze of houses and began tearing them apart to look for the one responsible for his pain. Thankfully for most of the civilians, the Hokage Tower was more towards the Northern Sector, far from the Kyuubi. Orders began to fly and many began to counter-attack to what they thought was an act of betrayal. The only other Kitsune in Konoha, the two-month old kit's nurse, wisely covered her and her charge's demonic attributes for fear of their safety.
The bloody battle, if it could be called that, was a massacre. Families torn apart, whether they were from Tsuki or Konoha they were both obliterated by the massive Demon Lord. Kyuubi destroyed more and more of the South Sector, intent on finding the single human. Orochimaru however knew that the houses had been packed too close together, and with overhanging roofs and small alleys, the Kyuubi wouldn't know if he was still there until he ripped off the roofs. Orochimaru had escaped to the forest behind the Hokage Monument, intent on resting for just a few moments before beginning his trek to Ame. His breather was interrupted by a loud pop usually accompanied by a jutsu. Jumping from tree to tree he stopped at the edge and watched as the Yondaime Hokage stood above Gamabunta with a sorrowful expression, struggling to stay on as the Frog Boss lurched after his left eye being raked with a deadly claw.
A barely noticeable speck represented a baby strapped to the Hokage's chest. Bright blonde hair the only thing showing that it was not a part of the young Namikaze. Face becoming grim the Namikaze's voice echoed through the turmoil, "Hold him back while I prepare the sealing, Gamabunta!" The Frog Boss merely grunted before blocking a strike with his enormous dagger. For the Shinobi it felt like an eternity had passed until his voice once again rang out, full of apology at what he was about to do to his old friend, "Shiki Fujin!!" At first it seemed like nothing happened until they began to notice a distortion behind the Yondaime. It slowly began to take shape, like a white shadow upon a black canvas. The Death God did not smile, he did not frown, and his eyes showed nothing. The large gray kimono, covered by a pure white Uwagi and Hakama. A tanto held in his left hand, glowing with an inner silver light left many knowing that this, being, was very much ethereal. His hair was as white as his clothing, yet looked as silken as freshly spun silk weaved by the finest cloth-makers in Tsukigakure. A pair of gray geta covering his shimmering feet, they were not quite in this world, as if he needed an anchor to the heavens.
The Yondaime gave a slow nod, and then a sharp gasp as he felt the deathly cold hand pass through his back, through the child he carried on his chest, and stretched to the Kyuubi. The babe gave an ear-shattering shriek as it tried to get away from this inhuman feeling. "Hold on for a little while, child." Though he himself found it hard to stay standing and awake. Gamabunta had released the Kyuubi from a standstill and watched as the Shinigami's hand plunged into the demon's forehead. Writhing in pain he felt a momentary detachment before he looked back at himself. Once he was fully out, only connected by the thin red chain, was he then pulled into the sweet oblivion of the seal. Black runes shaped themselves and glowed red-hot before fading to black as the Shinigami shattered the chain with his tanto. The pieces brightened white before being absorbed into the still-glowing weapon. His wispy voice imposing in a way that was not loud and demanding, but it still echoed throughout the streets of Konoha and into the ears of everyone and anyone still alive. "… I have fulfilled my pact." And just as mysteriously as he came he just faded. Faded onto the winds of time.
Now with no soul to fill the vast void, the once-mighty Kyuubi's body let out a sigh before exploding in a brilliant flash of white dust before being pounded into the streets and soil of the Village Hidden in the Leaves by the relentless rain. Shielding the child's body with his own, the dying Hokage could feel his own life-force being sucked away. To be in the Shinigami's stomach locked in eternal combat. "I wish for you to be seen as a hero. It is my hope that you will be treated well. Gamabunta! Take me to the tower!" With a shuddering sigh, he curled into a ball around the babe. A human shield separating him from the rain.
Many hours later, the newly reinstated Sandaime released the news that the Kyuubi had been sealed, not defeated. Anybody that had not been so naïve and soft like Sarutobi would've known that the want for revenge of lost family and hatred for what they thought was betrayal from their ally, they rebelled. Acting upon the treaty both Kages thought it best if perhaps Hikari Taki of the Kitsune Clan was to stay in Tsuki in case her presence awoke or released Kyuubi's spirit. Taki's father was already the last of his clan before she was born which made her the sole survivor of the Hikari clan, niece to the Demon Lord, Kyuubi, and now her own people would dislike her because of her blood relation to the Kyuubi no Yoko. After all, Konoha hadn't been the only one with ninja and civilian casualties and they had lost the sole user of the Tenshi no Yuukan to the Demon Lord after all. They thought their hate justified… even when they killed her nursemaid for trying to protect her…
FLASHBACK END
When we returned back to Tsukigakure I was dumped at an orphanage where I was beaten, starved, and unjustly punished for any mistake. That was where I stayed for three years until the Tsukikage felt some sympathy for me and took me into his home, risking much rebelling from his ninjas. I was treated fairly for two years until the kind, old Tsukikage was assassinated by a guy from Kiri and I was blamed. The real criminal had already been caught, but a few ANBU thought they could kill me and get away with saying it was an accident. After all, who wouldn't believe the trusted ANBU over the little demon thing?
I hadn't completely unlocked my Hanyou abilities, but they might since I was running for my life. Full Hanyou Youkai skills could only be unlocked when you are in a life or death situation, much like some of the Top 10 of the most dangerous Kekkei Genkei of the Elemental Countries. I ran through some more branches, tears streaming down my cheeks as they tore at my face only to be healed moments later by my Youkai, but didn't notice the ANBU that had teleported in front of me until it was too late. My abnormal sized canines were revealed in a silent gasp, the ANBU in front of me brought his katana down, accompanied with the whistle of cut air. I stepped back, but the sword still cut from my left eyebrow to my cheekbone before stumbling backwards with a pained yelp to avoid the blade further though its tip caught my shin. A malnourished girl, stripped of all baby-fat from the harsh years of the orphanage had always tried to become a shadow. Something that she could be, but no one would pay her heed.
Always obedient, she pretended that everything that happened to her was somehow her fault. When the Tsukikage had taken her in she was given a taste of what it felt like to be free. Desperately clinging to the feeling of freedom like a lifeline to a drowning man, she unconsciously began pulling on her Youkai. Now, unlike chakra, Youkai is thicker and much more potent, and it is dangerous for it to be touched by a human as it acts like a poison and it will burn the flesh.
I lost my footing and tumbled down the side of a, thankfully, small hill, ramming into the harsh bark of a tree with a sharp cry.
The three ANBU confidently stalked closer, like creeping shadows as the glided over the shimmery dew that clung to the thick stalks of grass. I had lost my hold over my Youkai upon impact and now the wound healed slower than usual. Inhaling short gasping breaths that rose in a white mist every time I exhaled, I forced myself not to lose consciousness as I stared through the eyeholes of a black boar mask, the wearer being the farthest left. The center ANBU was wielding a katana, still glimmering with my blood, wore a purple frog mask, and the last beheld a blank mask signifying that he or she was still just an apprentice.
The amount of blood that covered my side and back covered up the fact that it was making progress healing itself. The moment it had fully healed, and the Shinobi had stopped several paces away, did my eyes snap open. 'When had they closed?' I wondered, looking out at the world through different eyes. It was almost as if time had slowed down. The ANBU, looking down at me through their masks, noticed their prey's eyes were no longer the same fear-filled golden they had been staring into. Now they were like pits of shadow with three thin streaks of white as an iris, the same amount as my tails that were matted with mud and blood. This would be their last thought...
Though they were discolored and bruised, the light of the growing dawn revealed the color to be a dark twilight with snow-white tips… or what could be seen of them… My hair was dull silver, having lost its vibrancy through the years of torture, and my ears were flushed flat against my head, a triangular nick through my left ear when I had avoided a stab at my forehead.
I cocked my head to the side and noticed a red dragonfly from the corner of my eye. Looking at it I felt something was out of place until I realized it was moving at snail's pace. I could see each individual beat of its wings. The ANBU looked as if they were slowly walking through water while wearing heavy weights. Standing up I noticed how the grass took forever just to spring back up. I took cautious steps to the Boar ANBU and shifted his cloak a bit so that I could steal a kunai. I knew the only way to get out of this alive was to kill the three, because even if I ran, I didn't know how long this state of time would last. Keeping my eyes on where I would strike, I hesitated. 'Oh, just hurry up!' I growled and stabbed the kunai through the man's throat before tearing it out with a spray of blood and running to the one with the frog mask.
With a short slice I had cut his throat before moving on to the last one left. By now tears were running down my face, highlighted red by the frozen dawn. The second my hand had finished it's slice across the blank-masked ANBU did time regain it's normal speed. The three crumbled to the ground in lifeless heaps, but before they could be covered in their own blood I tilted them so that their life's liquid would flow downhill and not cover their clothes. I left the masks on as I did not want to see the faces of the ones I killed, instead I took their cloaks, kunai and shuriken pouches, the katana and sheath, two shirts two pants and two pairs of Shinobi shoes, three first aid kits, one bandana, a backpack, and two small pouches one which held a small traveler's sewing kit. "This is some pretty useful stuff." I mumbled as I stuffed everything into the pack and pouches, "But for now I have to get away from here."
It was then I noticed that I seemed to be seeing things from two different perspectives. Closing my right eye and cupping my hand over it, time seemed slowed down, but not frozen. Closing my left eye and cupping my hand over it, it was like someone had turned on a switch, and I noticed there was no longer a steady drain on my Youkai. Keeping my left eye closed I had decided that energy was needed more than extra time.
Tossing the pack onto my back I hurried as fast as my little legs would carry me. I didn't get very far, but I managed to find water using my acute hearing. The stream was too small to bathe in so I walked along its bank until I came upon a small river bend where it became deep enough to bathe in and clean my new clothes. "I'm gonna have to use the sewing kit to remake these clothes. They're too big!" Luckily enough for her she had watched her surrogate father's maids sew enough clothes to understand how to do it herself, but just barely.
Taking off the dirty and torn purple tank top, I dropped it onto a flat rock before putting on the long-sleeve, black Shinobi shirt. The sleeves fell over my hands by at least three inches, the shoulders were too wide, and the bottom of the shirt dropped to my knees. "Oh boy. Best get started now or I'll never finish." Rolling up my floppy sleeves I dug out the sewing kit and took out scissors, needle and black thread. Measuring how much I'd need to cut off at the arms I used the scissors to cut straight through. I would've left it like that, but I knew that the hem would come undone if it weren't sewn shut.
Many curses and bloody fingers later I had finished the first shirt and it was almost about 9am maybe 9:30. Taking off the shirt, I folded it and set it on a separate flat rock before washing my hands. "Let's get this over with." By the time I had finished the last shirt and started on the pants, my poor fingers had gone numb and soaking them in cold stream water did not help very much. My hand shook as I forced myself to finish the hem of the left leg on my last pair of pants. Dropping the needle in relief I stripped myself of all clothes and began to bathe, but not after remembering to put away the kit. "I'm gonna have to learn how to sew without stabbing myself." The stitches were not perfect, but they would hold until I got better clothes, or they broke and I'd have to repair them.
After washing the clothes of blood from my fingers and hanging them out to dry, did I ponder on what to do with my old clothes. They had splatters of blood and were torn in various places, and just then I knew it reminded me of. One mission her 'father' had set for some Chuunin were to locate and kill missing-nin Aburkai, and bring back his summoning contract for the wolves. Their information was very minimal as he had evaded all spies they had sent out. Placing him at B-Rank, they allowed three of their Chuunin to complete the mission. Only one came back alive, but even he died two days after falling into a coma. Ripping the shirt in half it now had some semblance to the torn up shirt of the dead Shinobi. Doing the same with my pants I scattered them about and trapped a shred of shirt between some rocks in the stream.
It was already past noon, and I was starting to feel hungry. Looking around I noted two berry bushes, and scampered over. My new clothes were still damp so I left them on the tree branch and just used my tails to cover up my feminine bits. Pulling nearly every berry off of both bushes I ate a few and began going through what I had stolen. The shoes were too big so I planned on selling them when I reached the nearest village... Speaking of which; where was the nearest village?
Blinking several times I broke off a small stick from the tree branch above me and squatted down. Thinking back on my geographical lessons with 'father' I remade the map of the Elemental Countries. "So the village that's closest is Tanzaku Gai and then Konoha. So... I guess I'll just head towards there first... I hope there won't be any border guards for going to Fire Country..." Popping a few more berries in my mouth I finished going through the rest of my stuff. The bandana would be useful to cover up my ears when going into a village, and the cloaks, thank Kami, were adjustable to one size fits all. I only needed one kunai and shuriken pouch, so the rest would be back-up incase they rusted, broke or got lost. Two of the first aid kits could stay in the pack, but the last should probably stay around my waist.
The sewing kit would stay in its pouch, but what to do with the katana? "... I'll have to sell it. I don't know how to use it so it'll just end up getting me killed without proper training." Standing up, I walked over and made sure the clothes were dry before donning the black pants, black long-sleeve T-shirt, and the ANBU cloak. "Well... at least everything fits..." I felt my tails wiggle around, trapped under the fabric, "Or not." Taking out the scissors, and undressing, I cut three holes for the tails and shut the seam. "There, that should do it." Deciding not to wear the bandana over my hair just yet I chose instead to wear it slanted over my forehead and across my left eye, so that the perception wouldn't bother me, before arming myself with the kunai and shuriken pouches.
The spare clothes, the Shinobi shoes, the med kits, the spare pouches, the last two cloaks and the spare pair of clothing were packed into the pack. The next ten minutes were spent trying to figure out how to clip on the stupid katana sheath onto the pack so that the sword wouldn't fall out and it wouldn't get in my way.
Setting off at a brisk trot I began to head north, and with the sun at my right-hand side I began to feel a little better about all that's happened. Enough to set off on my journey with a small smile...
That smile was long gone by the time dinner rolled around. Finding only one scraggly bush of berries I realized how lucky I had been to find two bushes full of them. The hills were full of herbivores, but not many foxes or birds of prey. 'Probably because the hills give them such good hiding places.' Looking around as quietly as I could I spotted several squirrels chattering away. Some were holding nuts and others were holding berries. I subconsciously licked my lips and crept closer. I was about to pounce when once began to chatter lightning quick and they all scampered off, dropping their cache of food. Grabbing one by its tail was the dumbest thing I could've done.
Instead of trying to escape like I thought it would, it turned on me in a heartbeat and began chewing at my hand and scratching at my wrist. Yanking it away from my abused appendage provided momentary relief until it attached itself to my face and began scratching. "Aaahhhhhhh!!" Pulling it away before it could destroy my bandana, I quickly stabbed a kunai into it's body. "These little hellions are gonna be the death of me... So sad, a three-tailed fox demon outmatched by a squirrel? Yeah, right!"
It took a while to find out how I was supposed to cook it, so I just ended up cutting off the head, cutting of the fur, and burying them in the fertile dirt. Luckily there were plenty of branches to use for a fire, but unfortunately nothing I could use to start a fire with. "Oh great, now what?" Looking at the meat I had stabbed onto a sharp stick, I shuddered, "There's no way in hell I'm gonna eat that raw!"
With my scowl firmly in place I glared at the innocent little stack of wood, hoping that my glares would be enough for it to catch on fire. When it didn't I considered throwing a tantrum, but decided not to. The focus of my glare was interrupted by a growl from my midriff. "What am I going to do?" The piteous whine sounded pathetic in and of itself. Picking up the stick once more I stared at the meat impaled upon it, blandly licking my lips before tearing off a small chunk that didn't look covered in bones. Fully chewing, and swallowing with a gulp, I had to admit that it didn't taste as bad as I thought it would. The rest wasn't as pleasant as there were many small bones I needed to pick out that I spent most of the time cleaning it out than actually eating it. Once finished I stabbed the stick into the soil and began to eat the small cache of berries left behind.
I wasn't sure how to eat the acorns so I just left them there. "I gotta keep going." I managed to say through a yawn, "but why am I talking to myself? Ah, whatever." Keeping the sinking sun as my guide I continued northward.
Surprisingly for trotting non-stop since yesterday evening the effects were quite small. A bit of hunger and thirst, but nothing to keel over and die for. I figured it was side-effects of being a Hanyou along with the physical attributes. Now the terrain was beginning to flatten out into hill-less forest no less dense then the ones of Sky Country. Luckily there were no border guards, which I guessed was a part of the peace treaty signed between them.
Slowing down I began to enjoy the change of scenery around me. I sighed in a breathless whisper, "Wow, this is just beautiful." The forest edge held a strange sort of serenity. Blue, yellow, red, purple, and orange butterflies danced through the air, their wings fluttering on drafts of air. Walking under the canopy of leaves, the high noon sun made the rays of light look almost heavenly when they pierced through the gaps between each leaf, branch, and vine.
I spotted two sparrows dancing upon the wind through several branches. "How... magical..." A white weasel, about as long as my arm and thick as my waist, darted out from the underbrush, carrying a rather large scroll on its back. Pulling to a halt it cautiously came closer to my stiff body with a sniff. After a pregnant pause it finally spoke, "Are you the fox that we of the weasels have sniffed out in our territory?"
Knowing how important territories were to demons and summonings, I immediately became humble. "Forgive me Weasel-san. I did not know I had intruded upon your sacred grounds." The Weasel looked amused, if the twitch at its lips was any indication, and he snorted, "That is not the reason I was ordered to seek you out." Biting off the strap that held together the scroll it fell with a clatter and rolled to my feet. "My master, and the leader of the Weasels, Hitsugaya, was the closest friend of both Nine-Tailed Foxes. He wishes to extend the offer of being our summoner to the only surviving blood relative of the Kyuubi." Mouth gaping, I hurriedly composed myself and stuttered, "I-I-I don't know what to say!"
Now the Weasel's amusement was visible in a smirk, "Then just say 'yes'... By-the-way, my name is Kira." It took a while to sign the contract as my wounds healed too quickly to smear enough blood to be used as ink. "Congratulations, you are now unofficially one of us, but be warned that we have already accepted another summoner from Suna. If you come across her and fight her with your consent, we not hesitate to nullify your contract." Kira's voice had become cold and dangerous, and I felt my neck prickle with danger as I assured, "Don't worry, I would never cause unnecessary harm."
Kira's eyes were like ice-blue chips that saw through me, searching for any deceit. After several tense minutes he nodded, "Will you help me re-tie this? Then we must meet with Hitsugaya-sama and make official your debut into our race." My brow furrowed as I fastened the straps, "But Kira-sama-" "Kira. Just call me Kira." "Alright, Kira, I have to go to Tanzaku Gai. I must get some more useful clothing, and I have some stuff I need to sell."
"You cannot leave this forest until you have met with our leader." I gave a resigned sigh, "Alright, then... How long will this take?" Kira looked to the northwest, "It will take about six hours at your speed to reach our Haven, and the gathering of the elders will take only one day. Then it should take only about two days for the induction to finish. In exchange I'm sure we can arrange to have someone guide you to Tanzaku."
I thought about it all, but already knew my choice. "Don't think you can leave without me!" I smiled brightly, already regaining some of my vigor. Kira chuckled, "I wouldn't dream of it. Just try not to fall behind!" Kira began running down a hidden trail with me close at his heels, "Was that a challenge, fluffy?!" Kira hissed, his eyes flashing with good-humored anger, "I'm not fluffy, I'm a very dangerous Weasel Summons! Don't you dare call me 'fluffy'!!" I laughed, almost stumbling while trying to inhale and not suffocate to death. Once my breathing was under control I cackled, "Well, well, well I didn't know the big bad Weasel would be so easy to rile up! Aw, you're so cute I just want to huggle you, fluffy!"
Kira couldn't stop the constant twitch of his eye every time his new companion called him 'fluffy'. 'I'm not fluffy dammit! I'm very formidable and if she calls me fluffy one more time I'm gonna bite her!!'"You know, you're very kawaii... So kawaii I wonder why no one else has you on their cuteness radar..." Kira's face was the very avatar of 'evil enraged' as he brooded, 'THAT'S EVEN WORSE!! AAAUUUUGGGHHH!!'
Keeping his thoughts to himself, he swore he would challenge her to a spar when all this was over and get his revenge. 'I will get you soon. You better sleep with one eye open. ONE EYE OPEN!! MWAHAHAHA!!' Needless to say, I was more than a little worried when Kira began to cackle evilly. Was it just me or was there a black cloud of doom hanging over him? Ah, whatever, after all... Why would my fluffy think anything other than things of cuteness? (Insert blooms of flowers and rainbows around her head.)
Tell me what you think of the rewrite! Review!! (And don't forget to check out my poll on updating on my profile!!)
Twilight's Oblivion, signing out!