Itachi – HERE IT IS! The Joker FanFic I've wanted to write since some of you voted for it in 'From Summary to Story' Chapter 1! I know I said I'll start it when I was done with 'My Midget Little Brother', but I couldn't help it! So here it is! I hope you guys like it.
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Joker… Chapter 1
"Wander into the woods at night, and he will steal your heart." That had been told to wanderers to keep them from the surrounding wooded area, but, when a lone girl finds herself lost and in the midst of a storm, she stumbles upon an empty castle, staying for just the night, she soon learns the legend had been real…for the acceptation of his utter laziness.
…The Castle of the Night King…
Rain poured from the blacked sky. It was nighttime in the old country, I was walking out simply from a village not too far away from where I was now, and out of a sudden, it started to rain! "I could have sworn that the storm wasn't set for another two weeks! So why rain now?!" My slippers became increasingly soggy and wet as I ran through the now muddy and slippery streets; I needed to find somewhere to stay! I grabbed my shawl, and placed it over my hair, which was starting to stick to my face. Up ahead, I saw what looked like the Main Street, candled lights shone through windows of shops, and open stores, "There must be somewhere to wait out the storm here…" The dress I wore was becoming heavy as it sucked in the rain water – Other people had too been on the Main Street of the town, some running home.
By chance, though, had a bolt of lightning made its way across the skies, and I froze. My eyes had followed this quick, blue, flash…it lead my eyes to the forest areas outside of the small town, peaking above the tree's had been the tops of a castle shrouded in black. It was only visible due to the crack of lightning – as quickly as the flash showed to me the black castle, had it faded back into the darkness, becoming an almost perfect blend into the night.
Shaking myself out of the strange trance, I soon remembered the pouring rain, and sought after the nearest Inn I could find. I ran inside of one, grabbing the wooden door, then shutting in closed once I was inside. I took a deep breath, finally getting a chance to relax awhile. It was warm and inviting inside of the small Inn. Now all I need to do was hope that any room was vacant and pay – I reached my hand into my pocket. Nothing. Where had my money gone to?! "Oh no!" I wanted to scream to the heavens at the very moment, I must have dropped it while running!
"If you've got no money, then leave!" A young man with long, messy, white hair, who was most likely the owner, had yelled, while making his way towards me, "I ani't got no room neither! So get out!"
"Please!" I begged with the man, "I've got nowhere to stay, and…an…"
"No money, huh?" he sneered, then sighed, lowering his voice, "Listen, lady, I really don't have any rooms for ya ta stay in, most of the Inn's here are filled in by this time since the weathers so out of wack, sorry, but you're goanna have ta go-"
"But the storm outside is-"
"Yeah. Yeah, I getcha, okay? But I have no rooms! Plus you ani't got a cent on ya either! I gotta make a living here!" The man went to open the door, "Out 'cha go!"
"Wa – wait!" Out of the open door, I pointed to the forest area, where the tips of the black castle where barely seen in the shadowed, rainy, nightscape, "What about that place?! Tell me, is anyone living there? I'm sure they'd have space to let me stay for one nigh-"
"Yeah someone lives there… but I don't think you should go there…"
"And why not?" I responded, "Did you not say that practically every Inn here is filled?! So what reason do I not have to go there and ask for a room?"
"You're a wanderer, aren't you?" The white haired man asked.
"No, I'm actually just traveling some – exploring the old country-"
"Traveler, wanderer, there both the same!" The man said, crossing his arms, "Have you not heard the legend of the place? Lady?"
"Please stop calling me that," I spoke, "My name is Kagome."
"Okay then, Kagome," he said without a chance in his demeanor, "Mine's Inuyasha, now start listening," He cleared his throat, "Long ago, it was said that a Family of Demons lived in that black castle laying in the forest. They were a peaceful people, protecting the humans here in this village…or town. One day, the mother of the two children of the castle fell ill with a heart eating illness, the eldest son was naturally given the responsibility to care for the mother, and give her medicine every day at the strike of nine o'clock at night. The eldest son was said to be especially lazy though, and forgotten things very easily. He did do his duty, and take care of the mother, because of the reminder given to him by his father every morning, 'Remember to stop by your mother, tend to her, for she is ill'. That week, the father, and the youngest son had to leave to go on an important errand, but the father; thinking that the eldest son knew what to do, did not remained him, even though he would be gone for an entire week. And because of that, the eldest son had forgotten to give the mother her medicine every night – until the last day of the week, when he stumbled across her room, and remembered…but by then, it was already too late. The illness had eaten out the mother's heart, and she died. Greif stricken, the eldest son cried, and cried, knowing that his father and brother would never forgive him. When the brother had seen this, he left the castle, too angered to say a thing to the elder brother who sobbed and cried upon his lifeless mother. The father too found this out, and cried. Out of pure anger, he cursed his eldest son, telling him 'From now till the eternities of your lazy life, you will be cursed to living in this Black Castle alone! To atone for your mother, you must search out a perfect heart, form the ranks of the humans – and devour it every night the clock hits nine! Failure to do so will result in the death of the women whom you come to love!' And now, ever since, the eldest son has lived alone in that Black Castle – stealing hearts from the women of this town, and many others in the area, devouring them, for over 500 years, every night at nine…all in hopes that he keeps the woman he's destined to fall in love with alive…Its said that for his curse to be lifted, he would have to eat the heart of the one he loved, and that either way, his struggle was all useless."
Inuyasha had finished his story, and sighed, looking through the rainy night sky to the place where the tips of the Black Castle could be seen, he looked…sad while telling the story… "Wow…" I said, "That story's…harsh…"
"Well it's true," Inuyasha said while handing me an umbrella, and some cash, "Take it, look for somewhere to stay, and get somethin' ta eat while you're at it."
"Huh?!" He's giving me money, and an umbrella! "Oh thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" I said, giving the man a small hug, he gave a little wave and a smile.
"Just remember what I said though… Don't go to the Castle, the 'Night King' might be there n' waitin' ta eat your heart out…literally. Wander into those woods at night, and he might steal your heart, got that Kagome?!"
By the time that Inuyasha was speaking the last parts of his sentence, did I run into the rain, waving him a goodbye. And as my bad luck may take it, the storm only seemed to get intensely worse – and every other Inn was either full, or closed. I stood, shivering under my umbrella. Where was I to go now?! 'Just remember what I said though… Don't go to the Castle' I remembered what Inuyasha had said to me… but can a danger like that even exist? I've never heard of people eating people's hearts out before, 'a Family of Demons lived in that black castle' Okay, a demon eating a person's heart out – It was just a legend right? I bet it's just a story told to travelers so they don't go near the castle because the villagers are hiding something in there, plus, it's just one night! "I bet if I only sneak in, that this 'Night Walker' guy wouldn't even notice me!"
I started my trek through the forest, stepping over dead leaves, puddles and soaked braches, the wind had started to pick up a great deal, the outside was starting to get quite dangerous. I started to regret coming past this town. All the Inns were closed or packed, and now I'm stuck out here in this storm – the winds were slapping my face, and the umbrella, I had closed it, so it wouldn't break, Inuyasha might want it back, so I opted to keep it safe.
I thought I would never make it to the castle…but here I was. At the giant Black Castle. The front door was wide open.
Quickly, I ran inside, and pulled the giant black doors closed. I sighed in relief, taking in the surroundings around me. The inside of the castle was warmed nicely, and lit by candle lights which hung from the sides of the stone hallways and the ceiling above. The air smelt sweet, as if someone had been busy baking bread, and covering the floors had been soft carpet, red in color. I soon felt the urge to explore the place…just until I found a place to sleep of course. The first place I had discovered was the kitchen area, only then was I reminded of how hungry I was. On the table though, had been just what I had smelt upon walking inside, freshly baked bread. Taking in the notion that I was in a castle that wasn't mine, I took only a small piece, savoring it before sadly swallowing.
Leaving the bread alone, I started to waltz the giant castle aimlessly, until I had finally found bedroom. Be it the Master bedroom, or one for a guest – It didn't matter; all that mattered to me at the moment was having a place to sleep. Stripping myself of my soaked clothing, I left it on the floor, and looked to the grandfather clock that resided in the room, it was around eight o'clock or so. Getting under the bed sheets in nothing but my dry undergarments, I shut my eyes, and fell into a complete slumber.
It had only been an hour or so that had passed by when I was awoken by the sounds of the large entrance door opening, then slowly creaking to a close. I sat up in the bed, and took a sharp look around, "It must be the owner…I hope they aren't too mad at me for sneaking in." Just as I was about to get off of the bed and stand, so I could greet the owner – I found myself frozen in place starring into bright golden eyes. A pale face holding unknown markings, giving off a board, dull look – I jumped back onto the bed – surprised at the close proximity. I blinked for just a second, and he was gone.
"Young Lady, who has snuck into my castle…" I opened my eyes to find the same person standing in the corner – at one moment, then in a flash of a second, he was beside me once again – I found I couldn't speak, "Have you come here…to give me your heart..?"
Give him my heart?! Wait – oh no! This man couldn't be… he was -… the Night Walker! He couldn't be! There's no way that he'd actually exist!
Quietly, he stepped closer to my frozen form sitting up on the bed.
…There's no way… Someone from a Legend could be real?!
Joker… Chapter 1
End
T.B.C
Itachi – Soo? How'd you like it? It's not a one shot, so don't worry, the story's not going to be really long though. Maybe 5 or 6 chapters. I actually really liked making this one, it might be kinda rushed at the end, I'll revise it if you guys want me to, but please, go ahead and leave a review, tell me how I did, it makes me feel nice you know? Thanks for reading, and tune in for the next chapter!