Poison Snow
Prologue
By
Phoenix Firestorm
9 year old Haku wiggled his way past the rocks and tree roots that blocked the entrance to his hideout, holding his precious findings close to his thin chest. Once inside the natural cave, the orphan boy hurried to the very back and entered another cave which had been made into something like living quarters. The small room didn't have much, a thin sleeping bag he scavenged and a few other bits'n'pieces gathered over time. A small fresh water stream flowed down one side of the cave floor, disappearing under the wall at the opposite side of the small cave.
The child paid no attention to that stuff right now, his sole concern is the other occupant of the cave…other than the guard snakes that keep their home safe for them. Haku didn't know how or why, he just knew that the reptiles always appeared wherever his roommate was and stayed for some reason of their own.
Haku sat down on the sleeping bag and put the bundle of stuff he scavenged down beside him, the child then reached out a hand and carefully took his patients temperature. A frown creased Haku's brow as he realized that his 'little brother's' fever isn't going down nor is it raising any higher either, Haku didn't know what else to do as he had been using everything his parents taught him about healing and medical care.
Haku gazed down at the child he took in after the serpents dragged the little boy ashore for him to find months ago, the older child had to admit that his foundling look a whole lot better since being in his care. The child didn't look more dead than alive now, nor did he look as if he had been beaten within an inch of his life then thrown away.
The only thing that puzzled him and also made Haku believe the little boy is much like him, is the fact that everything around his foundling died except himself and the serpents. Nor was he kidding about that either, Haku had seen it happen as he brought the child to his hideout. Everything that came into contact with his 'little brother' died, everything that otouto breathed on died…all the most excruciating deaths possible. Which is what made Haku decide that the child is much like him in that he has a bloodline.
Haku turned his attention to mix up the childs next dose of herbal medicine then got to work on supper, he foraged good healthy food from the land around him for his 'little brother' while he scavenged what he could from garbage in town for himself.
"Iss the child going to recover?" One of the guard serpents asked carefully, surprising Haku enough to make him jump a little.
Haku had forgotten that some of the serpents could talk, they just chose not to for some reason. He pulled himself back together and replied thoughtfully "I'm not sure, I've done all I can with what knowledge I have. He needs proper medical care now, something I can't afford or take the risk in getting for him. If he does have a bloodline gift like me then they will just as soon let him die than help him in any way, shape or form!"
The head serpent as Haku came to call the deadly creature, nodded his head slightly at that. Humans were strange that way, which is one reason why their queen chose Haku as caretaker/guard for the child. The head serpent thoughtfully watched Haku work as he prepared a healthy soup for the child to sip at, the reptile didn't like that Haku refuse to have some good food for himself and gave it all to the child instead. So he had the other serpents help out with the hunting, bringing back what they kill after seeing to their own hunger.
Haku smiled down at the child when he saw him weakly open his eyes, the child never stayed awake long but it seemed that he tried a little longer each time. Haku helped his little brother sit up some to make it easier to eat, then slowly fed him some of the fish soup he made. Pleased to see that the child ate nearly a whole bowlful, knowing that this meant his little brothers appetite is coming back.
The child smiled back at Haku tiredly, then closed his eyes to sleep more. Waking up again when it came time to take his medicine, causing Haku to chuckle when his little nose wrinkled at the taste and smell of it. Haku ate his own little supper once he got otouto looked after, then did what clean-up there is to be done within the cave. He would deal with the trash and refuge they didn't have a use for next time he went out to scavenge, always making sure he was never followed back to the cave.
Once done everything, Haku got comfortable on the sleeping bag and thought about his foundling, he really didn't know a lot about the child other than what he found out during caring for him. The older boy glanced at the head serpent and asked curiously "What can you tell me about the child, he hasn't spoken much outside of feverish dreams and event then it is hard to understand."
The large serpent thought for a moment then said "Not much unfortunately, our queen knows more. Sssshe isss the one who chossse you to be the childsss new family, I can tell you thisss much though."
"The child isss an orphan like you, hisss parentsss were killed by a Dark Lord who didn't want any threatsss to hisss planssss. The child isss very distantly related to him but vastly different, basically sssame ancesstor but ssseperate branch. He wanted to be the only desscendent of hisss ancessstor, ssso went around killing hiss relativess. Both immediate, extended and etc. No matter if they were full-blood, half-blood, quarter and etc."
"Thisss way, no one would be able to contesst hisss claim asss sssole heir, allowing him to inherit everything of hisss rather notable ancessstor. Unfortunately he didn't take into consssideration the childsss connection to the ssserpentsss, he thought the whole family worked with sssnakesss but he isss wrong."
"Hisss ancesstorss grandsonssss got into a fight and separated in anger, one grandson followed hisss grandfathersss belief about certain people while the other did not. One grandson developed a gift for snakessss, his brother a gift for water snakesss…serpents specifically."
"Thisss grandson left and never returned, changing hisss name and everything. He wasss never ssseen or heard of again, no matter what hisss family did to try and find him. Surprisssingly, hisss grandfather didn't bother to try and locate him though but did manage to sstay in touch with the grandssson via the ssnakesss. Both snakessss and sserpentsss responded to him, he never learned of hisss grandsonss new identity and didn't bother to find it."
"The childsss ancesstor made sssure to hid thingsss away for hisss absent grandsson to receive once he died, hiding them ssso only that grandsson or hisss descendentss would be able to find them. Asss far asss I know, thosse itemsss are still hidden away. Our queen would know for ssure, but it iss hard to be possitive. Sshe hasss a tendency to keep certain thingsss to herself and only releasse some thingsss a bit at a time, mosst timesss in the form of a riddle or something of similar nature."
The lead serpent paused for a moment then offered "If you don't mind, I can ssee if ssshe will grant you the necessary assistance to get the child medical aide he needsss. I have to go report to her every sso often on how thingss are going, sshe doesssn't like not being able to help thosse sshe caress a great deal about. The child may not be blood related to usss, but he iss our child jusst the ssame." Now this surprised Haku and it showed, it also took some time for the older boy to make up his mind, finally he asked "This is an offer I never expected, but how would she be able to help? Why didn't she help the child before this?"
"Ssshe did," The head serpent answered, "our queen iss the one who rescued him from drowning after being thrown from the top of a very high cliff by the man who killed his parentss. Sshe took him to her home and cared for the child the besst sshe could, but he could not sstay with her unfortunately. Ssso our queen started the long tassk of finding a suitable fosster family for him, something we all were very particular about."
"After all, not jusst anyone would do for the child of Serpentsss. He iss ass much oursss ass we are hisss, the Serpentss bonded with hisss family jussst like Snakesss bonded with the family of the man who killed hiss birth family." "Not only that, but ssshe needed to find a place where he would sstay ssafe and hidden from thossse who want him dead. It'sss not nice but the chance of the child having amnesia would be a blessing in dissguisse, it will be much harder to find him when he doesn't remember anything of hiss passt."
Haku nodded to show he understood but also had a thoughtful expression on his young face, the child couldn't stay hidden here for the rest of his life. He needed more medical care than Haku knew how to give, the problem is that they needed to get out of Mist Country which is something Haku just did not know how to accomplish.
The older boy yawned tiredly and decided to put the subject on the mental back burner for now, something is bound to come up that will get them safely out of here. For now Haku needed to focus on keeping both of them alive. So he concentrated on getting ready for bed, banking the small fire for the night. Filling a small clay pot with water from the stream and placing it on the coals to heat up, he would be able to scrub out the few serviceable dishes they had and set them to one side to dry overnight.
"What are we going to do about the unusual ability the child has that kills everything he comes into contact with, we won't be able to go anywhere or do anything until something is done?" Haku suddenly asked worriedly.
"Do not worry, that ability iss something our queen gave him to better protect himself. He will be able to control who isss affected by the toxic poisonsss within hiss body asss he growsss older and practicesss, he will never be able to sshut it completely off but he will eventually be able to control the lethalnesss of the poisonsss hisss body producesss. Sssome like yourself will be granted immunity to the poisonsss, only becaussse you were choossen by the queen to be hiss new family. Anyone elsse who joinsss the two of you later will have to go through a trial period to ssee if they mean any harm to either of you, the new membersss to the family will be granted a sslight immunity to the poisonsss which will increase the longer thosse personsss prove themselves to the queen that both of you will not be harmed."
"Of course the immunity only lastsss ass long asss thosse people do not betray, harm needlessly and etc, etc, etc. The ssame thingsss everyone goesss through, nothing new there. I can also ssse if the queen hass anything that will protect the childsss surroundingss until he doesss learn complete control, it might not be much but it will at least help. The child will also have to be blindfolded asss hisss gaze iss like that of a Medusasss, meaning anyone who looks at him in the eyesss will either be turned to stone or killed. At least until we can find a pair of glassesss or goggless that will keep him from making ssstatuesss accidentally."
This new information gave Haku more to think about…like why this Dark Lord is after his new otouto to begin with, wanting to be the sole heir of their ancestor wasn't enough in his book. It had to be something more but what, Haku wasn't sure. He also had to come up with some way for his foundling to survive, this new bloodline gift the Serpent Queen gave him won't be enough.
What the Head Serpent said about the child not remembering his past didn't bother Haku too much, it will come back to him eventually or won't. this mattered little in the long run, the child will have simply started over with his new life. It would be a shame that his otouto will never remember his birth family, but Haku just became more determined to create a new family for the two of them.
Haku sighed tiredly "The child is alone in the world just like I am, we both lost our families but for different reasons. It will be okay though, I've always anted a little brother but it never happened, so this child can be my new otouto. All I have to do now is come up with a name for him, I can't continue calling him 'the child'?"
The Head Serpent chuckled "True, it really isn't a proper name for a child. Although hisss memoriesss and birth name may or may not return to him in later yearsss. We ssshall sssee what the future bringsss!" Haku smiled at that then frowned thoughtfully as he tried to think of a suitable name. Toru sounded good and it meant 'sea', which would suit since he found the child washed up on the beach not far from here. Haku also liked the names Toshiyuki and Yasushi as well, Yasushi meant 'calm and quiet' while Toshiyuki meant 'clever and happy'.
Haku gave the names more thought then decided to go with Yasushi for now to see how it sounded, besides the name suited the child best. He could always add another name onto that one later on, making it Yasushi Toshiyuki or vise versa or something totally different.
The Head Serpent got Haku's attention when he said "You know Haku, there isss a way for the child to become your kyoodai for real."
Haku looked at him curiously then asked "Really, what does it involve and how is it done?" The Head Serpent calmly explained what a blood adoption is and how it was done, then answered whatever questions Haku had…which were quite a few. After that, the boy thought the offer through as he got ready for bed. Finally deciding to go through with it in the end, this way they will really truly be siblings.
~*~
Zabuza frowned thoughtfully as he followed his newest ward to the childs hideout, curious about this otouto Haku mentioned. His eyes widen slightly when Haku knelt down and started to wiggle through a small crack in the stone bank of a creek, he would have never seen the crack with all the tree roots and etc covering it. Zabuza snorted, heck….the trees which grew on top of the bank were almost ancient and the type that always appeared near water.
"I can't follow you kid," Zabuza called into the crack after he knelt down to peer through, "I won't fit."
"Alright sir, I'll get Yasu and his stuff ready then hand them out to you." came Haku's muffled answer.
While Zabuza waited, he took the time to examine the area and was pretty impressed by what he found. The kid picked a pretty good hideout, it was next to impossible to reach even with Shinobi skills not to mention how well it was hidden by nature.
Nor was he too surprised to hear Haku push a somewhat large bundle through the crack, only for Zabuza to catch it before it could tumble into the creek. The swordsman couldn't help but wonder what all was in the bundle, it felt rather heavy for someone of Haku's size to carry.
Zabuza's attention was then caught by Haku carefully backing out of the stone crack, apparently pulling something behind him. His eyebrows rose some when he saw it was an old ratty sleeping bag with a small child laying within it, the child also could not be seen clearly because he was nearly hidden by the bedding.
The part that got him curious is why the child is wearing a thick blindfold securely over his eyes, but didn't take the time to ask as Zabuza wanted to get his charges back to Headquarters before night fell. If they didn't then they would have to make camp for the night and continue on the next morning, he knew that as long as nothing went wrong.. they would make it back sometime tomorrow. Once Haku had gotten his brother out of the cave, he then got to his feet and bent down to carefully lift Yasu into his arms with the excess sleeping bag dragging on the ground some.
"You need some help with him kid?" Zabuza asked curiously as it did look like a lot for a child Haku's size to be carrying.
"No thanks Zabuza-sama," Haku answered calmly as he turn to follow the man who is taking them away from here, "I don't want you to be hurt by Yasu's bloodline." Zabuza paused at that and asked "Bloodline?"
"I'll explain more once we get to a safe place to camp for the night sir." Haku replied in determination and worry.
Zabuza nodded in agreement and headed through the woods, moving away from the children's clever hideout and everything else in the groups lives. They moved quickly and efficiently, although Zabuza was surprised at how well Haku kept up with his burden.
In fact, the only times they had to pause for any length of time was to give Yasu his medicine and grab a bite to eat, Zabuza also saw just how small and vulnerable Yasu is. Guessing that the child had to be no older than 4-5 at the most. Again, Zabuza held back his questions until they had to stop and make camp for the night.
~*~
Yasu lay in ani's arms, resting his head against Haku's shoulder. He knew that he is safe and no one would hurt him with ani and the serpents around, he could sense the various serpents around them by using his bond with the reptiles. The child didn't know how he got this bond or where it came from, just that it is important and a part of the past he can't remember.
Yasu wasn't exactly sure where he was, just that he is with ani and going someplace safe with that strange but powerful man. The child couldn't remember much except great pain, fear, danger with vague broken images which flashed to the surface at times. His head hurt too much when he actually tried to remember his past, so Yasu stopped and just let it return when it was ready too.
While he rested, Yasu quietly listened to everything going on around them. Being content to play the listening game that ani and the serpents taught him to compensate for his eyesight. The child knew how important the blindfolds are, but that didn't mean he had to like the stupid uncomfortable things! Yasu knew the dangers his eyesight had for anyone other than ani, who got caught in his gaze and wasn't immune to the effects so he kept quiet about the blindfolds. Focusing his attention on developing his other senses to replace his eyesight, it wasn't easy but ani and the serpents made it fun.
Right now Yasu was concentrating on learning more about the strange man that ani said is taking them away from Mist Country and danger. A faint frown on his face as he tried to track the man with his hearing, it wasn't easy s the stranger is really good at not being heard but that just made it an interesting challenge and fun as well.
By the time they stopped for the night and began to set up camp, Yasu was quite pleased to say that he is now able to pinpoint the strangers exact location 50-70% of the time!
~*~
Haku glanced down at his otouto and asked anxiously after he lay the bundle down gently on the ground "How are you feeling Yasu?"
"Better ani," Yasu replied softly as he turned his head toward Haku, "are you alright too ani?"
"I'm fine otouto, now rest and save your strength." Haku reassured Yasu calmly and would have gone to help Zabuza but stopped when Yasu spoke again.
"Ani, is that man going to be our new Chichi?" Yasu asked curiously, his voice would have been totally innocent except for the hint of amusement hidden within the tone but Haku had gotten to know his otouto quite well by now.
A yelp and faint grumbling could be heard from Zabuza who had been listening in on their conversation…what little of it that could be heard, he hadn't been paying close enough attention to what he was doing and burnt his fingertips while lighting the small fire they were risking.
Haku giggled at the older mans reaction, covering his mouth slightly with one hand before he answer Yasu's hopeful question. Which it was, the 2 of them had been doing okay on their own before but it got to the point now where they needed help if they were to survive.
"I don't know otouto," Haku replied, "I honestly can't say for sure if Zabuza-sama would like that but don't worry. I'll make sure everything is going to be okay, you just focus on getting better."
Yasu smiled back at Haku and nodded then relaxed back into sleep again until supper, Haku on the other hand got up and went out to forage for food. Eventually returning with what wild greens, vegetables, berries and nuts he could find. While Haku sorted through what he found, Zabuza went looking for meat and came back with several good size fish which he took the time to clean after he had caught them then got rid of the remains once done.
Zabuza was a little surprised and curious to see the large pack of Haku's open with some stuff pulled out, the child himself was busy making some kind of vegetable soup by the smells of it. Although the older man wasn't too impressed by the condition of the pots and pans that Haku had to use, but that could be changed once they got back to Headquarters.
He brought the fish over and set them down on several clean wide leaves he had picked, then went to get some slender sticks to put the fish on so they could be cooked over the fire. Stopping when his eyes slid by Yasu's bedroll and caught sight of the large snake coiled up next to the little boy, he thought about doing something about it but wasn't sure it was a summons or not.
"Haku," Zabuza asked warily, "why is there a snake with your brother?"
"Serpent." Haku answered absently.
"What?" Zabuza replied curiously.
"He's a serpent, not a snake." Haku paused to explain.
"Is there a difference?" Zabuza asked in puzzlement.
Haku just stopped what he was doing and gave him a look that said 'please tell me you that you honestly didn't ask that?!?!?!' then explained "I'm not totally sure myself, except that serpents are generally snakes that live in water…like sea serpents. Some types of dragons also fall under that category as well, there may be more reptiles that come under the title of Serpents but I don't know all of them. The serpents with Yasu are real, not a summons as they refuse to lower themselves to the level of servitude to humans. At least, that is what they told me and how I understand things."
"Instead, they have bonded with Yasu's birth family as companions and friends. To put it in simple words, they belong to Yasu and he belongs to them!" Haku turned his attention back to supper and left it at that.
Zabuza blinked several times as he absorbed the information Haku gave him but all that did is create more questions, the older man sighed and continued toward the trees to collect the sticks needed to cook the fish. Knowing that once supper was done, he would be able to get the answers to his questions and then some. At least, what answers Haku is able to tell him.
~*~
Zabuza frowned as he replayed everything Haku told him about his little brother, having had a little talk after supper and the clean-up was done. On one hand he felt sorry for the child for having a Kekkei Genkai that deadly and never being able to touch another person other than Haku because of it, while on the other hand, the Shinobi in him couldn't help but be excited and try to figure out how best to put it to good use.
The same reactions appeared for Yasu's Doujutsu , except this time he was a bit more guarded and wary of that dangerous gift. One of the things he would have to do is train Yasu in the uses of his other senses since he can not use his eyesight for normal use, he also needed to figure out a way to train Yasu's bloodline and Doujutsu without causing too much harm to himself or their surroundings.
Another thing that puzzled him is this 'blood adoption' ritual or jutsu or whatever it is called, he had never heard of such a thing before. Haku said that he wasn't Yasu brother by birth, they only became brothers by blood after the adoption jutsu was done.
Did each of the boys bloodlines get passed over as well or were they nonnegotiable even with this new jutsu. This was something that he would have to study further to be sure, Haku's bloodline may not show up in Yasu until some time had pass and the same went for Yasu's bloodline showing up in Haku.
The Demon of the Mists was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't notice what was going on around him until he looked up and froze, eyes widening slightly at what now surround him.
Serpents of all types, sizes, colors and lethalness. They were up in the trees, bushes and scattered over the ground. Many were up and poised to attack, striking with deadly accuracy. Directly in front of him, body coiled up neatly with upper portion raised and eyes focus on him was the large serpent he saw with Yasu.
The serpent and Zabuza gazed at each other intently for several moments then the older man nearly dropped his precious sword when the large serpent spoke calmly "Zabuza Momochi, Demon of the Misstsss and ssswordsssman of sssseven….. What are your intentssss toward our boyssss?!?!"
The older man only had one thought in his head and that was "OH SHIT!!!! Think fast Zabuza, how do you get yourself out of this one? I'm good but not even I can avoid that many snakes/serpents and walk away intact!!!"
~*~
Back in Yasu's homeland, in a magnificent stone castle by a lake of unknown depths. Changes occurred in a special book that registered all those with magical talents in that part of the world, changes that no one would notice until several years had gone past.
'Haku Jinhai Momochi'
With
'Lachlan Xaviero Calvados'
Changing to
'Yasushi Toshiyuki Momochi!'
~*~
Vocabulary:
Ani - big brother
Chichi - father
Otouto - little brother
Kyoodai - siblings
Bloodlines:
Yasushi's two bloodline gifts are still being developed, but any ideas for attacks and etc are welcomed.
The Doujutsu I have somewhat named 'Medusa Gaze' but it may change if I find something better. It is basically what it means, anyone Yasu looks at full on will 1) become paralyzed or 2) turn to stone. A short glance will not be enough for the stone effect to occur, but will still be deadly.
The Kekkei Genkai or bloodline is also exactly what it means, Yasu's body is poisonous…every part of it from internal to external. Of course as time goes by he will be able to control the level of lethalness, but it won't be easy for him. He will have to wear a protective body suit (over his head as well) under his clothes in order to protect everyone and his surroundings around him, although he will eventually be able to 'push' whatever poison he gets his body to produce for him, through his bodysuit so it can affect whoever is threatening him and his precious people.
As for those who are adopted into Yasu's family via the blood adoption ritual/jutsu, yes they will also acquire his bloodlines but they won't be as strong or powerful in them as they are in Yasu and his descendents.
For example: Haku's eyes will be able to paralize anyone he looks at but he won't be able to turn them to stone like Yasu can. The same for the poisons within the body, but it will be the opposite in Haku's case. Instead of lethal poisons, his body will be immune to the millions of poisons his otouto's body produces and produces the cures needed for those poisons or at least the beginning of them.
Haku will also be Yasu's personal medic-nin, which means any descendents he has will have the same variation and be personal medic-nin to any descendents Yasu has. This way the bloodline will hopefully be balanced out, but like I said..the bloodline is still in the formation stages and may change as the story is being written.
Each member adopted into Yasu's family/clan will also be affected differently by the ritual, meaning that the bloodlines that they get from him will also change slightly but again…they won't be as dangerous as the original.
The same for any bloodlines that Yasu gets via the blood adoption ritual from new members, they won't be as strong as the original in the person who was born with it.
I think that is all, I do have a fighting style for Yasu to use but that will be introduced in later chapters. It still needs some more work first.