This is the fifth Dark Jewel story, woo! In this story Krysta and her friends leave Koni and Rusuta alone to try and find a way to stop Orochimaru meddling in their affairs any longer and hopefully save Rusuta from and further influence he may try to have on her. Meanwhile Rusuta's health deteriorates and in the quest to heal herself she learns some hobbile things and grows distant from her family.
Slight reader warning: Chapter 6 includes a slightly graphic birth scene. It's not gratuatos or anything i just thought i'd warn you.
Enjoy everyone!
Chapter 1
Re-Search
The Plasma Star. A rare and vibrant jewel, encasing the very soul and created by the blood of the noble warrior Alana Monolo, and sacred worshipped item of the mysterious Blood Creed. A jewel with its own will and power it destroyed the entirety of the Blood Creed in a fury of fire and blood. Now it is protected by a strong and righteous guardian, a descendant of the goddess and soul surviving Blood Creed Ninja left in the world. Once enslaved by the powerful gem, the guardian now works as equal partners with it on a mission to give the old lineage the rebirth its fallen warriors deserved. Now it seems there is only one obstacle left but the biggest secrets of both the Star and the Creed remain a mystery. The time has come to solve that mystery.
Barely a month had passed and even without Umani Yumo Sensei had managed to convince Tsunade and the other required elders that Rusuta and Koni should be allowed to take their rightful place at the final individual analysis section of the Chunin exams, and as such was training his prodigies fiercer than ever. Upon returning to the village Krysta had ensured a deal with Tsunade that special considerations were made by the Sensei and anyone else involved with the exams in regards to Rusuta's having inherited her frightening thirst and in return for this Krysta was to provide them with regular stock of Velia's new anti-venom in case something should go awry. Rusuta herself was trying hard to train herself not to give in to her thirst unless she absolutely had to but at the same time was finding the Chakra reserves needed to keep both of her runes active were becoming as though she was continuingly needing more Chakra. Koni however was seeming to thrive with the sudden influx of new power his connection to Rusuta was bringing. Despite their training Koni and Rusuta kept up an air of normality in public, within the Leaf Village it was still a secret that Rusuta was highly venomous and that she and Koni were now an item.
It was merely ten days before the start of the final exam and Krysta had taken Rusuta into the forest to hunt. Despite her need Rusuta was very reluctant to hunt and Krysta was noticing how worryingly reclusive her normally spritely and chirpy young daughter was becoming. Even with Orochimaru's latest defeat Sound and what was left of his rogue Shadow Ninja could be found still patrolling the forest, they were easy to pick off and doing so seemed to incur no consequences either to themselves or the Leaf Village. This night Krysta had found two Shadow Ninja and killed them mercifully quick. She sat with one by a tree and first filled her large flask from her draining victim before lapping up the remains. She looked up for a moment and sighed, Rusuta was sitting by another tree with the other victim but she was just looking at him letting the blood escape all over her legs and hands.
"Rusuta I've told you before, you have to start drinking before he bleeds out, humans dry up really quickly. Your venom can't hurt him that's why I do the killing," she told her exasperated; she'd never thought of having a hunting partner and this was really the reason.
"Mother I don't," she started but Krysta snapped partially from the rush.
"Don't start that again! Rusuta you know you need to do this to live," she said. Rusuta nodded and started to drink. Krysta watched her and felt a little sad before returning to her own meal.
When Rusuta returned she found Koni sat under a tree in the back yard, he was doing something with a kunai.
"What are you doing?" she asked numbly standing beside him. Koni looked up at her shocked for a moment then smiled embarrassed and got her to sit with him.
"I was just, well, carving our names here," he stuttered and Rusuta looked at where he'd carved into the bark.
"That's so sweet Koni," she said quietly sitting down. Rusuta's blood high still left her numb and lethargic; Kumico having studied her behaviour decided that for all those with the thirst the high after left them different to their natural personalities.
"Rusuta, you ok?" he asked.
"Yes," she sighed quietly, "I just fed with mother." Koni hugged her gently he knew how badly she still wanted to give up her thirst but he could do nothing to help.
Inside the house Krysta and her friends had met within her parents' old planning chambers under the house. This whole month they had been planning for one mission and one mission alone. The only way to find out how Orochimaru had come into contact with Blood Creed Jutsu and managed to learn them was to return to the ruins of Yukusha and search for the Scroll of Meaning.
"How is she?" asked Jivana seeing Krysta enter.
"She still won't hunt on her own, she says she's better, she says she's ok with it, I think what happened before affected her very badly, she still won't tell me, she just whines," Krysta replied sadly.
"That may be, but we can't wait much longer Krysta," said Kumico.
"You're right of course, there's only a few days left before the exam, if we don't leave we won't be able to protect Rusuta if Orochimaru has another Yukushan trick up his sleeve," she agreed. She was angry that Orochimaru had managed to use her own kind's powers against them, it shouldn't have been possible, it shouldn't have happened, she should have killed him when she had the chance all those years ago.
"I guess we'll be leaving soon then," said Varundo.
"We'll go to the ruins of Yukusha as we decided. If the Scroll is there even in pieces then we recover what is left so Orochimaru can never get his hands on it, perhaps then we can use what is left to protect ourselves from him," said Kumico.
"And if the Scroll is gone?" asked Jivana.
"Then we must either assume that it was destroyed in the second sealing, or, stolen by Orochimaru," replied Krysta.
"We know what must be done if that is the case," said Kumico firmly.
"Yes," nodded Varundo.
"Even if it costs our lives," agreed Jivana.
"We'll cast the entire Sound Village into the void with the Plasma Seal and thereby eradicate any threat he causes to our children," said Krysta and the four warriors agreed they would leave the next night under cover of the dark new moon that was forecast.
When they emerged Koni and Rusuta were inside and Rusuta appeared to have recovered from her high.
"Mother?" she asked worried but Krysta didn't stop to talk.
"She's never ignored me before?" wondered Rusuta as they watched the other adults come out of the secret room. Velia ran up to her parents and Jivana picked her up and hugged her before bringing her over to Koni and put her down.
"Koni, take care of your sister, ok," she said she looked as worried and determined as Krysta had.
"Of course mom, just, what's wrong?" asked Koni but Varundo came up then and took Jivana away before she could answer.
"Mama's sad, isn't she big brother?" asked Velia.
"They're hiding something," said Rusuta.
"Yeah. Something important, either that or bad," he replied.
"You don't think Alana's hurting my mother again, do you?" worried Rusuta.
"I don't think my parents would be as suspicious as this if that was happening, you know them, they'd be grabbing their kunai and looking for a way to save her like nothing else mattered in the world," he laughed a little.
"Is mommy and daddy going away brother? They wanted you to take care of me," Velia said confused.
"A dangerous mission?" wondered Koni.
"Mother would tell me, wouldn't she," worried Rusuta.
"You don't have to worry," said Kumico seeing them.
"Kumico, what's going on?" asked Rusuta.
"Nothing you need to worry about, I promise, you two should only be thinking about the exams," said Kumico.
"Kumico!" Rusuta tried hard not to yell.
"Look, there's only ten days left, Krysta's counting on you Rusuta," replied Kumico.
"But I don't understand why is everyone suddenly acting like there's something wrong," she snapped.
"Rusuta it's ok," said Koni trying to keep her calm.
"Why doesn't anyone tell me anything!" she suddenly cried going to look for her mother.
"Koni, take Velia training with you, if anything happens you three are going to have to act as a team, despite her age," said Kumico leaving them.
Krysta was in the back garden, Rusuta was going to just run in yelling but it looked like Krysta was practising. Rusuta watched her, she was standing in front of some trees her arms out in front of her like she was pushing against something. Krysta's runes started to spark, she was powering up for a new attack.
"Power of Stars, power of Blood, power of Chakra, connection!" she cried lowering her arms until her hands were in line with her pelvis. Rusuta saw her runes flash brightly and Krysta opened her eyes panting heavily before looking down. Her three runes had become connected with lines of energy and the triangle that formed was also filled with the red glowing energy.
"Stars, blood, chakra, chakra, blood, stars, stars, blood, chakra, chakra, blood stars!" Krysta chanted getting faster every time. The light flashes became brighter and brighter and a busy humming like the sound of flowing electricity filled the air, until suddenly…
"Plasma Laser Jutsu! Fire!" cried Krysta and Rusuta watched in horror as the trees before her were incinerated by a sudden blast of red light. As the smoke cleared Rusuta could hear her mother panting before she slumped to one knee, but she looked like she was trying to stand again.
"Mother!" cried Rusuta worried she was hurt.
"Rusuta, what are you doing," Krysta panted.
"Are you hurt? Are you ok? What was that?" worried Rusuta.
"It's none of your concern!" Krysta snapped still trying to struggle to her feet.
"Mother please," worried Rusuta seeing her stand before suddenly falling again.
"Damn it, it's no use!" she cried desperate to stand again.
"Mother, you'll hurt yourself," worried Rusuta.
"I've got to get stronger, that wasn't even a tenth the power of the Plasma Seal," she heard her mother mutter.
"The Seal?" asked Rusuta confused.
"Go inside Rusuta, I don't need your help," Krysta snapped lashing out at her. Rusuta looked at her mother frightened before running inside.
"Alana, I need more strength," she said breathless.
"You can barely handle that much, Krysta, you'll destroy yourself if you try to take on any more of my power," said Alana worried.
"I have to kill him, he has to die, I can't let him live, Alana he knows all my powers, I need this technique, he doesn't know it, he can't defend himself, I'll destroy him, but not without more power, that poor excuse for a beam couldn't kill a normal Sound Ninja, let alone him," she struggled. This mysterious technique was flashy and although there were now barely a tree left near her Krysta knew she wasn't strong enough to launch one that would kill Orochimaru. This technique had become her obsession rumoured to be more powerful than the Plasma Seal it was said to be an attack harnessed from the very cosmic energy of space, blood and human chakra and unlike the Seal it only required one participant.
The next morning Rusuta woke up early to go hunting with her mother, she'd hoped Krysta had calmed down from the previous night but it wasn't the case, Krysta was still in the same position, as if she'd been frozen.
"Mother?" she asked quietly.
"What is it," she replied tiredly.
"Do you want to go hunting, are you hungry mother?" she asked carefully.
"Can't you hunt on your own," Krysta snapped surprising her.
"Mother, what's wrong, why are you being like this!" snapped Rusuta and Krysta finally moved out of the position, she'd recovered enough. Krysta glared at Rusuta but Rusuta glared back and didn't back down. Ever since they'd come back from their last mission the relationship between them had been tense.
"Rusuta you can't expect me to keep killing for you, ever since you got that thirst you've been nothing but a child, grow up! You've got to start killing and feeding for yourself. I've done all I can to be comforting and motherly, I know what you went through was tough! But you can't let that traumatise you so much you'll half die before you'll even consider feeding, you'll never keep up your strength and you'll never get through the exams this way!" explained Krysta.
"I don't want to kill people mother! I don't even like doing it as part of our missions but I certainly don't like it to continue this stupid addiction!" she cried upset.
"I've told you before, it's not an addiction, it's not a need, it's not a diet it's not even a choice Rusuta. If you don't drink you'll get into the state you were in when Orochimaru found you, you know I'm sorry I didn't see the problem with you sooner but we can't change that. If you get like that again you'll be no use to anybody, you won't be able to defend yourself from him or the other exam competitors," she explained.
"Mother I, I used to love the feeling I got from it, but now I hate it, I get so dopey, how can that defend me any better?" said Rusuta.
"I don't know, I don't know anything about the thirst other than it's permanent and that it will kill us if we don't drink. Rusuta I just want you to be strong and fend for yourself," said Krysta calming down a bit.
"I am, aren't I? Besides, it's not like you're just going to up and disappear on me, I've always wanted to fight with you mother, Koni's wonderful but, don't you think you and I would make the best partners in the world?" said Rusuta.
"Rusuta, I don't want to discuss it, come on let's go before you need to get to training," sighed Krysta going off towards the forest.
"Why won't you ever tell me the truth," Rusuta sighed following her.
Later Rusuta found Koni and Velia training on a small hill in the village with Yumo Sensei. Velia had only just turned ten and Jivana had given her a fan for her birthday. It wasn't just any fan though, it was sharp metal and it was hoped Velia would learn to use it as a weapon just like Koni's sword and Rusuta's whip. Velia had already discovered that it was more like a boomerang than a fan, every time she threw it away it would spin and then come back to her, she'd had to practice catching it by the end of the handle but she was getting the hang of it. Koni was watching his sister whilst Yumo tried to gauge her strength with a little sparring match, he was amazed at her strength and skill level but it was not like he could be too surprised, after all she was Koni's sister.
"Velia's really good," smiled Rusuta greeting Koni.
"Yeah Yumo Sensei's having a hard time," he laughed standing with her, "have you fed yet?"
"Yes, but I lost the high on the walk back, I'm really up for some training, mother's being very difficult," she sighed.
"My mom and dad won't tell me what's going on either, mom's trying to pretend nothing's happening but she's not a very good lire," said Koni.
"It's so frustrating, even after everything they're still keeping secrets from us," Rusuta nearly snapped.
"They probably just want us concentrating on the exams, I'm sure it's nothing really," helped Koni.
"Maybe, come on, let's train," Rusuta giggled hugging him before running off onto the hill to start.
Krysta and Jivana were in the market buying as much blood, food and water as they could for the journey, they were going to be out in the Sand territory and unless they found the Scroll quick they were going to be in trouble if they were not rationed substantially.
"Our kids are smarter than you give them credit for Krysta," said Jivana as they walked.
"Koni is suspicious I see," said Krysta.
"Yes, I can tell Velia I'll be ok and she smiles and believes me, but Koni, Koni doesn't believe me in the slightest," said Jivana.
"Rusuta isn't really ready to be on her own yet, I'm still fearful she'll starve herself rather then feed, but we have no choice. Still she is asking questions of me too," sighed Krysta.
"Krysta, for her sake, don't leave tonight with her distrusting you, if the worst happens she'll never forgive herself, and then she might even blame you and then, well, you understand right," said Jivana.
"She'd hate me if I died without saying goodbye, that's why I don't intend to die, we shouldn't be worried Jivana, we haven't any reason too yet, if something happens I guess we worry then," smiled Krysta hopeful.
"I hope you're right, still I'm not scared, if this mission calls for sacrifice I'm ready to do what's needed, and so is Varundo. Ever since that day we were torn apart, we've always been willing to die if it meant your survival. Maybe it was just the Star's power at first but now it's through choice, you can count on it," smiled Jivana.
"I'll bring us all home safe, you'll see. Orochimaru will die, but I won't give his spirit the glee of even one drop of our blood. Once he's gone, then the Blood Creed can reform and we'll finally be safe," said Krysta.
With the coming of winter the days were shorter and Krysta and her family returned to the house earlier than normal for one last dinner together. Jivana had something special planned and Kumico had set up the dining room for such an occasion. For Rusuta the atmosphere was suspicious enough without suddenly seeing that she and her mother would be eating real food, though there was some blood in the glasses on the table.
"Mother what's going on, Velia's birthday was two weeks ago?" whispered Rusuta sitting next to her mother.
"We just wanted to do something nice tonight, Jivana got some salmon for you. If you pour some of the blood in your glass onto the plate it will make it easier to eat," said Krysta cheerfully. Rusuta looked around her warily, Koni looked worried too but Velia was happily sitting with Varundo not suspecting a thing. Then Jivana came out with food for everyone, she was smiling and cheerful, everything seemed normal except for the fact Rusuta could not believe her mother was actually eating real food. She did what Krysta had said and found she was able to eat her own dinner and at least a little bit enjoy it.
"Why didn't mother tell me before, I can eat again, I can eat again," she thought happily. Krysta watched Rusuta out of the corners of her eyes and felt better that Rusuta seemed to be happy again.
"Wow mom your cooking's amazing as ever," smiled Koni.
"Thanks Koni," smiled Jivana.
"It's nice to have us all together like this, we should do it more often," said Kumico.
"Yeah this is fun," cheered Velia happily.
"So Koni how's your training going?" asked Varundo.
"Rusuta and I are going to be so ready for the last exam no one will be able to touch us," said Koni confidently.
"Yep no problems at all," Rusuta joined in.
"I'm glad," smiled Krysta, "I know you guys can do it, cause we're going to be there cheering for you."
"You guys are going to come to the fights?" asked Rusuta.
"We wouldn't miss it, they're very entertaining and we want to see you do well," smiled Jivana.
"We're not missing it, no matter what," said Varundo.
"It's a promise," smiled Kumico.
"Gee thanks," said Koni nervous.
That night when they were sure their children were asleep Krysta and her friends met outside the house.
"This is it guys," said Krysta.
"Yep, let's go," said Kumico. The four looked back to their home for a moment and then headed off into the darkness to start their possibly most dangerous mission ever.
"Be safe Rusuta," thought Krysta.