Pairings:
SasuNaru/ Magnet Shipping
Mentioned!ItaDei/Black & White Shipping
FugaMiko/Persona Shipping
KyuuMina/Seal Shipping (Melmel Phase had requested it and s/he is the only person to say anything on it, so I'm doing it)
It's here! It's here! The sequel is here and I hope it was worth it because this story looks to be "heavy-duty".
So, this is the edited version of the first two chapters. Hopefully, with these up to date with whatever new stuff Half Moon revisions brought as well as the given fixes of grammar/spelling/narrative issues, I'll be more inspired to write for this story and finish it. :D
Summary:
The Half Moon Christmas Celebration is over and done with, but Orochimaru isn't. However, with Naruto struggling to regain his powers and fit in the modern world and the lack of communication from the Celestial Gods, Sasuke will need the help of the past to keep the world at peace and unknowing of the chaos that could descend upon it.
Warnings: This story cannot be read as a stand-alone from Half Moon because it picks up just two or three weeks after the events of Half Moon which explains a lot of why the writing style will change in the middle as well as a lot of concepts that are explored in this sequel. So seriously. Read it.
Also, language and this chapter switches a little between Sasuke and Naruto's POV.
The top italic sections will switch POV between two characters throughout the story.
Edited & Revised: 12/29/15
The forest was silent except for my heavy breathing my footfalls that were getting a little slower with each step, but I have to keep running. That beautiful moon that Minato-sama had raised into the sky what only seemed to be a while ago lit my path through the forest with its eerie light.
I slowed myself to a stop and desperately gripped the bark of a tree with my left hand, gasping for breath and crouching close to the earth. I could barely see my toes from my dizziness of my run, but I knew that they hadn't managed to come through a long run through the forest without any protection unscathed. In fact, I was barely wearing any proper clothing. A pair of tough, yet soft shorts protects my thighs, but everything else surely had some sort of scratch or ache. The slight sting I felt whenever I twitched or turned my head even the slightest was proof of that.
Using the tree for support, I pulled myself up, cringing as my spine straightened. Up above, the moon glowed brightly, almost wishing me well on this terrible journey that I must take. I don't want to do this, but I have to.
Because if I didn't, he would catch me.
Early Dawn
My eyes snapped open, staring into my blue-tinted hotel room. It was still late at night, maybe four in the morning. I brought my hand up to rub my eyes when I felt the bed shift slightly a bit further down. Curious, I quietly pulled myself into a position where I was leaning on both my hands for support while leaning back on them.
Further down the huge bed was the one I usually shared it with, Naruto. He was sitting in front of the window, one hand pressed towards the glass. His expression was a longing one. The moonlight shone on him, making his appearance seem almost enchanting if not surreal. My eyes drifted off to his fox ears and tail, appendages that no normal human should have. Both served to remind me that Naruto is very much "enchanting".
Naruto is the son of the Celestial God of the Sky, Minato, and has his own unique power to light up the night and banish the coldness that came with it. He had used this gift to help the people of Konohagakure, a village up here on the mountain that refuses to modernize, with their harvests. However, about three weeks ago, he lost all of those powers.
I let out the breath I've been holding in from just remembering that moment, causing Naruto to stare at me, his eyes downcast and sad. I pushed myself against the headboard of my bed and opened my arms out to him. His eyes lit up with gratitude as he crawled into my embrace. Silently, he rested his head on my shirt-covered chest and let out a loud sigh.
Along with his power of foxfire, he had lost his ability to communicate with his father. I could tell that it was slowly getting to him. This habit of waking up in the middle of the night to stare at the window had started only a week ago and with each night, Naruto became more and more downtrodden as the days passed on.
It's a bit unbelievable and sometimes I found myself annoyed with the behavior, but I guess that if I had lost contact with Mother or Itachi with no warning and no idea of how to get them back, I would be feeling the despair that seemed plagued Naruto these last couple days.
As time passed, I succumbed to sleep, having heard Naruto's breathing even out.
Much later on that day, my brother approached me in the living room. Naruto had left for Konoha to help with re-construction a little over an hour ago. It was a good thing – he got to spend time with the villagers and he stayed out of sight of my family.
"Sasuke." My hand stopped drawing the oval shape of an eye and I turned my head to the side to see him sitting next to me. Itachi's troubled expression made me quickly straighten up.
"Did something happen?" Itachi shrugged and put his elbows on his knees and leaned his face against hands.
"More like something that happened is not happening anymore. Mother's almost fully recovered from being sick and is feeling well enough to travel." I felt my fingers go lax and my sketchbook almost fall out of my hands from my shock. Thankfully, I tightened my grip soon after.
Don't get me wrong, I love my mother. I had been worried about her being sick when she's already so tired from keeping our mansion running smoothly, as well as keeping up with the stress of her job and her responsibilities as the lady of the Uchiha. She had come from a relaxed town in the rural part of our country, so suddenly being thrust into a large and judgmental spotlight has made her cautious about everything, afraid of doing something wrong and have the people around her be disappointed by her mistakes.
So yes, hearing her recover is great. But it also meant-
"When are we leaving Konoha?" Itachi's upper lip twitched before his expression became plain once more. I'm not sure if it was going into a smile or a frown.
"Tomorrow at noon." Scowling deeply, I set my sketchbook down next to me.
"Is it because Father wants to get back to running the company personally?" Itachi didn't react, as I knew he would, but I knew that he was bothered by the mention of our Father. Neither my brother nor I enjoyed our Father's presence, if only because he insisted that we follow his every order and the traditional law. Perhaps, I wouldn't mind too much if one of his orders wasn't 'not be to be homosexual'. Not sorry to disappoint, but I'll gladly call myself a flaming homo who'll ride a dick for all my worth any day.
"That and you've been gone from school for too long. Winter break ended four days ago." I would've rolled my eyes if not for my high respect for my brother. My cousin, Neji had been emailing me his notes for the last several days and it's not like I can't catch up considering all we're doing is review.
"I won't fall behind from being absent for a couple more days. Neji'll make sure of that."
"It's not just him who wants you back in school. Mother is also worried for your grades." Like an aging stone wall hit with a tornado, I can feel my resolve break. I always tried to make myself scarce so my mother doesn't have to worry about me when she already has so many things to concern herself over.
Seeing my expression fall, Itachi tilted his head to the side, a sympathetic pose, before standing up and walking to his room. He was most likely to call Deidara, his fiancé, and tell them of our eventual arrival back in Oto. Frowning at the spot my brother occupied, I closed my sketchbook and stalked to my room.
I didn't really feel like drawing anymore.
~Naruto~
He waved to his people, smiling happily when they waved back with enthusiasm. It has been a while, but Konoha has fully recovered from the ordeal of loud thunder and flashy lightning. At times, it was sort of strange to be in the village. After finally realizing that his friends were long gone, he had become hesitant around those who reminded him of them. The cautious act he had made those around him cautious, turning the air into one of awkwardness at the worst of times.
He sighed loudly before beginning the trek into the forest, his short-cut back to the large cave that E-Sasuke dwelled when he was stopped by the call of his name. "Lord Naruto!"
Turning his head, He saw a small, flame-haired little child approach him with a huge smile and holding something preciously in her hands. Smiling, He knelt down and pressed his forehead and against hers, his smile growing when she began to giggle. He leaned back, smile still in place. "What can He do for you?"
Instead of answering, she stretched out her arms towards him and opened her clenched fists, revealing a small rock. He raised an eyebrow, confused. "What is this?"
She pouted; most likely annoyed he did not get it, before her face brightening at the prospect of teaching her deity something. "My friend Konohamaru told me that it's a heart. It means love!"
He looked between her joyful face and the strange object - the heart. Is that not... what humans consider the most important... uh... organism in their body?
His posture relaxed. He knew about love, a strong emotion humans felt when with someone they are close to. The Celestial Gods are capable of love, as shown from the many interactions between Papa and Lord Kurama.
Though… it would appear that Papa was more occupied with sharing his love with He in a familial way.
He knew of one of the most strongest... romantic love, only rivaled by its partner known as platonic love. A love so strong and filling that it could give humans the power of a Celestial, Lord Kurama often boasted when visiting his Papa in the Celestial Realm. A feeling he had once felt for… no, no thinking of such thoughts.
However, he wondered as he reached his hand out to take the small rock. The girl grinned before place the stone in his hand. He poked and prodded at it, somewhat in admiration of nature's craftsmanship.
How does such a shape connect with love? It seems so small... surely not big enough to hold more than what it was looks to hold.
"Do you like it?" He looked up to see the girl fiddling with her fingers, a little embarrassed. He grinned widely at her, finding the strange trinket quite adorable.
"Of course. It came from you, did it not?" Her face flushed red, but she seemed really grateful.
"Moegi! C'mon! It's time for dinner." A woman's voice called from the distance, a voice he instantly placed to Koharu, the village's healer. He breathed in sharply. Once more, he had to adamantly remind himself that it was not the same person. Moegi looked surprised at the sudden outburst, but nodded in the direction of the shout.
"Coming, grandma!" Moegi turned around to quickly hug his legs, smiling once more, before dashing off to her cave. He watched her go, holding the small, hard rock against his clothed chest, above where his own heart was.
Love, huh?
It wasn't a long walk back to the large cave, but due to the recent memory of pain in his leg from walking through the forest, it took longer with him being cautious of where he stepped. His new treasure was in the pocket of the clothing that 'Achi had called 'jeans'.
As his Papa slowly lowered the sun, He had finally broken free from the leafy tangle that was his home on Earth. He marched to below the strange, small portal that E-Sasuke had in his room and would leave open for him to leave and come in through. Digging his claws into cave, He climbed up the side of it, making sure to hide in the ivy whenever a human or monster approached. His one tail and ears were present on his form.
Finally, he climbed through the portal and landed on the 'bed' as Es-Sasuke had called it. He relished in the soft feeling and comforting smell the black-haired one brought. He had come to realize the differences in Sasuke that kept him from being Esuka's twin.
For one, his scent was far sourer. He was not sure why. Another was that Esuka was such a soft-spoken young man. It had surprised him that Esuka had been the one to free him (it made him no less grateful). As a child, the young man had been sickly which made his personality quite demure and cautious. Sasuke was… in the simple terms, unafraid. He said and did what he wanted with little hesitation which he found to be refreshing with how much the villagers tended to tip toe around him. Whereas Esuka would back down if he riled him and apologize, Sasuke would butt his head against his, not backing down the slightest. It was a thrilling feeling that Naruto, while abhorred the situation the encounters were surrounded by, was captivated with.
Getting up, he was surprised by the gentle chilling wind on his back. He let out a laugh; was this one of Papa's games? Often, the wind would tug a leaf from its place of a tree and it would be a game of chase between him and his Papa. While it would not replace memories of the past, they did well to bond them together and past the time.
Seeing as it would be a little while longer before Sasuke returned, there would be no harm in indulging his Papa. He turned to sit on his bottom, a wide smile on his face expecting to see the faint outlines of his Papa's face. He blinked confusedly when all he saw was the portal and the forest outside. A moment past before a depressing clarity passed over him.
His face fell, remembering the destruction of his crystal at the hands of Orochimaru. How could He have been so careless to forget about such a priceless item? Especially when around that vicious snake?
The cold breeze started up again, this time circling around his being as he stared out through the portal. The softest feel of hands on the sides of his face was almost enough to make his eyes water.
When the crystal had broken, everything was lost.
His connection with earth and sky.
His only way back to the Celestial Realm.
His sight and hearing.
His powers.
His Papa...
He tried to reach upwards the right side of his face, knowing full and well that all he would grasp is air and his own flesh. Not the warmth his Papa always had when the days grew short and the air cold.
He could look up and see the setting sky. Not the blue eyes and blond hair that he had copied from his Papa.
He could try to hear the comforting words his Papa would try to whisper into his air as the breeze circled around him faster, blowing the fabrics framing the window. All he would hear was rustling and high-pitched howling.
Orochimaru may not have captured him, but he had taken away someone who Naruto couldn't bear to lose. No matter what, he would always feel his Papa's presence by his side. It was comforting, welcoming, and helped to lull him to relax him even when he left for the mortal realm. Now all of it, everything was gone, leaving him alone and cold.
"Naruto?" His head snapped up and he turned around to see Sasuke staring at him with a strange array of emotions in his eyes. Warm fingers dabbed underneath his eyes causing him to recoil slightly at the strange gesture. "You're crying. Did… something happen?"
He did not respond; words could not explain the despondence he felt within himself as his mind recalled memories better left behind. Instead, he leaned forward to bury his face in the neck of the other. Almost instinctively, Sasuke's arms wrapped around him and Naruto felt himself relax.
The same way words could not accurately describe how he felt about his disconnection with anything regarding the Celestial Plain, words could not begin to detail what he felt for Sasuke and his presence.
~Kurama~
We were on the edge of our realm – a small distance from the edge of his personal pocket he called a home. When not in his realm or in my castle for meetings, private and communal, Arashi can always be found here. It was his self-designated area to raise and lower the moon and sun as his realm was a little too far from the edge to properly do it from there.
While the other spirits preferred to give Arashi his space, as his Consort I find no reason as to not spend as much time as the God will allow me. Even though he often ignored me and my ramblings of the day's topics and events, I like to pretend he enjoys my presence as much as I enjoy his.
He is taking his time with lowering the sun for the day. His hand motions were slow and deliberate, making sure the sun didn't set too fast or too slow. As per usual, Arashi would say nothing to me, preferring to drown his attentions in his work. Even still, Arashi has been acting strangely lately. His attention, while always divided between the Celestial Realm and that of the mortals, was now almost completely devoted to the mortals.
He no longer even pushed away my affections, merely nodding or ignoring them without effort. Arashi has never done that simply because I get into his skin deeper than he is willing to admit with just my presence.
I shook my head. No, he's done it before. He's done it quite often before now and they all usually had to do with the same being.
Naruto.
Sighing, I pulled myself up from my spot to stand next to him above his personal rift in the walls between our realm and the mortals. He ignored me, as I expected, but he will not continue to do so if I have anything to say about it. "Arashi."
There was a slight crease between his eyebrows, but it relaxed soon afterwards. Undeterred, I pressed myself to his back and whispered into his ear, "Wake up."
A shudder ran down his spine. He looked upwards with annoyance burning in his blue eyes and his arms lowered to a tense stance below his head. "For the love of the stars, will you leave me to my work?"
Inwardly, I was elated by us interacting after who knows how long. Unfortunately, it would be a negative conversation – as always. Regardless, I tried to lighten the mood by grinning slyly. "Oh, but, Arashi. You just looked so adorable with your face in that concentrated glare at the realm below."
He narrowed his eyes before stepping away from me and raising his arms again. "Leave."
My face twitched and the grin fell. It would seem I have to be firm. "I am afraid not, Arashi. You have been stressing yourself over your job and worrying to death over your son. Just because we are Gods does not mean we are completely invincible. You should know most of all, with Naruto-"
I was cut off by a violent punch to my cheek. My body was thrown back onto the ground, causing me to wince from the jagged edges of rock that were sticking up. I steadied myself up into a sitting position, glaring at Arashi who stared angrily back at me. "In all of the - why did you do that, Minato?!"
He bristled at being called his true name; he refused to be addressed as such by anyone. "Do not ever consider yourself as worthy enough to utter my name, Kyuubi! And do not ever think that you can understand what Naruto's loss means to me!"
I growled at the use of such a crude name. Yes, I do allow myself to be addressed as such, but never by him. Arashi, once realizing that he was acting out of control, quickly sobered up and turned his back on me, once more performing his duty as the Celestial God of the Sky. I picked myself up, holding my bruised cheek that was already healing. My crimson eyes looked over his tense back. He knew I was still here, but he would ignore me for as long as he could which wasn't for long. I was one of the two who could make him unwillingly lose his self-control. I knew it and he hated that.
Reluctantly, I started to leave this particular sector of the Celestial Realm for my own. Arashi needed time alone.
How's that guys?! :D
I know, I know, I started the drama like... early as fuck, but we did leave at a rather dramatic time. So basically what's happening is the whole 'everything is fine' feeling is starting to wear off of all the characters and reality is setting in. Some parts of this chapter were hard to re-write, especially Kurama's section. At the time when I first wrote this, I had no set rules for Kurama's characterization or what the Celestial Realm/Spirits were like or their customs.
Thank you guys for being so supportive with your reviews and favs~ Because of that Half Moon has over 6000 hits and this sequel is being made! Please support this sequel by doing what you did for the prequel! :,D
Bye~
~Kitsune-Ohime-Sama~