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Prologue
'The grass parts and darkness consumes; an endless shower is forthwith. When crystal falls, retribution is at hand. The rain shall end and so end yours.'
"Prince Sasuke?"
His chin nearly slid off the hand supporting his head. He blinked in his surroundings before noticing the brown-haired man clad in green and black robes kneeling before his grand mahogany desk. It took a moment for the Prince to register he had nodded off in the face of the vast paperwork sitting before him. He raked a hand through his raven black hair and recomposed himself before glaring at the intruder. "Ahem," he coughed. "This better be important, Iruka."
"Your highness," Iruka nodded. "It relates to the recent infestation."
The prince sat up straighter and motioned for the brown-haired man to stand. "Report." His usually calm and collected voice held a tiny edge of concern that seem to echo in his gray-walled study. Outside, a storm had been raging for three days straight as fierce winds and merciless rain threatened to tear apart the palace walls.
With a grim expression on his face Iruka began his report. "It's strange, Prince Sasuke. The three shinobi division you sent to exterminate the reptile infestation surrounding the kingdom has reported more than half of their shinobis falling ill."
"Poisoned?"
Iruka shook his head solemnly, looking over his written report. "I'm afraid not. They just became catatonic upon contact with the snakes. What's more is there's been an influx of patients checking into the medical facilities, reportedly with the same symptoms. Our healers are unsure of what to make of it, but ironically, the number of snakes seemed to have dwindled some."
Sighing loudly, Prince Sasuke brought a hand to his temple. The recent infestation of snakes combined with the raging storm outside his window, all pointed to his dream. A prophecy made nearly 17 years ago when his father, Fire Lord Kousuke, consulted a prophet on the future of the royal clan. But for the life of him, he couldn't figure out what 'crystal falls' was referring to.
He turned his attention to the storm. At least it was still raining, so he still had time to decipher it's meaning. How much time...was the question.
"If I may be so bold, Prince Sasuke...do...you suppose—"
"No," the prince bit off, standing with so much force it knocked his chair back and caused Iruka to cringe. "I witnessed the execution of the Serpent King, myself, ten years ago. He's dead and gone now. My father saw to that." Just then, something moved in the corner of his eye. He snatched a kunai from under his desk and threw it at the slithering snake. The weapon made such an impact with it's scaly flesh that it severed the snake's head right off causing it to wiggle some before expiring. "Shit! They're in the palace now," the prince seethed before he could stop himself. He clenched a hand at having lost his cool in front of Iruka, who now moved to inspect the dead snake.
The prince frowned. Lately, he felt as though invisible hands were jerking him around. The actions he had took to combat the prophecy all proved fruitless. He even felt he was playing right into someone else's hands. A certain Hyuuga once spouted something of fate and destiny and now the prince was wondering if the fates were conspiring against him after all. It certainly seemed so with the current state of the once glorious Kingdom of Fire.
Lost in his thoughts, he did not register that Iruka was speaking to him. "...stopped."
"What?"
"It's not raining, but..."
The prince narrowed his eyes. It stopped? Impossible! It's not supposed to stop before... Clenching and unclenching his fists, he hurriedly strode to his grand balcony window.
Indeed, the rain was not falling anymore. Instead, it morphed into small crystal-like substances that kept assaulting his palace. It was ice.
It was hailing.
"Ku Ku Ku Ku."
His blood ran cold.
That voice.
That laugh.
It haunted his dreams for many years...but his father had saw an end to it. He, himself, had witnessed its demise. Yet here it was, laughing at him once again.
Not willing to believe his ears, he carefully turned towards the sound; Iruka poised for attack beside him. He didn't want to believe his eyes either yet there he stood—the Serpent King—subject of many folktales still told throughout the land.
Prince Sasuke's lips set into a thin line. How could he fathom this? After all, the frighteningly gray-skinned Serpent King was supposed to be dead. The word 'dead' in his dictionary meant 'not living, not breathing, and definitely not standing in his study, smiling mockingly at him.' No, apparently, the Reaper had a different meaning in his lexicon. No matter. If the demon wasn't dead then he was going to see to its demise tonight. "Shouldn't you be rotting in your grave?" said the prince, managing to keep his voice cool and even. "Dead people should stay dead...human or otherwise."
"Ku Ku Ku Ku," the demon laughed more heartily now. "I agree," he rasped. "Worthless human lives deserve death...but not I. As you can see..." He drew both hands and with one finger poised, slowly slit his palm, marveling at the blood that spilled forth. He smiled at the sight of their expression as he licked his bloody hand clean. "...I am far from death. And... I suppose I owe your family a bit of thanks. I would not be standing here otherwise..."
"What do you mean?" The prince was growing angry now. Iruka didn't understand it as well.
"Kukuku," he laughed. "No, I won't be the one to answer you. She's waiting for you to turn around."
No sooner than those words left the Serpent King's mouth, the prince felt a body knocking him to the ground. Iruka had pushed him to safety as a mighty gale wind crashed through the balcony window. Broken glass and splinters piled into the room. "Iruka!"
The brown-haired man held up a hand. "I'm fine Prince Sasuke. Please stay back." His eyes were trained on the shadow entering from the storm. The prince's eyes followed.
Standing in the debris of his window was a woman of milky-white skin to contrast her long dark hair. She smiled at the sight of him but it was more sinister than lovely. "Greetings, Sasuke-kun," came her voice, a mixture of heavenly bells and tainted venom. She gave his advisor a once-over before casually tossing her hand in the air.
Propelled by an unseen force, Iruka found the wind knocked out of him as he crashed into a bookcase. The prince narrowed his eyes and jumped back to retrieve a katana on the mantle. He could now hear the distinct sounds of clashing weapons and running footsteps, but it was all coming from outside. It was as if a war was being waged just beyond his balcony. His kingdom was under attack. And he noticed it now. The rain had finally stopped. The storm was over.
'...when crystal falls, retribution is at hand...'
"As I understand it. You have all the Hyuugas locked up in prison. Bet you thought it was them, ne?" She breezed conversationally. "How foolish you are." She lithely walked to him as her nails grew to tremendous length. "But, I should thank you for that. It saves me the trouble of hunting them down." She laughed. Her gray-blue eyes looked absolutely crazed at that moment.
'...the rain shall end...'
"Who are you?" the prince gritted, shifting into a fighting stance. The Serpent King looked on with interest as Iruka began to stir.
She smiled again. "Oh I've been rude. My name is Yukino, I'll be your murderer tonight." Abruptly her smile was gone and a chilled air resonated from her being. Her nails began to move with a life of their own as her cold eyes stared into him. "Now, here I come."
'...and so end yours.'
To be continued...
Next Chapter Preview:
"Is the bed invisible?"
"I-I'm sorry. This is all there is. I...don't have any other rooms."
The raven-haired teen sighed. "You expect me to sleep in a tool shed? What about your room?"
"Huh?" She blinked repeatedly. Her cheeks growing redder by the minute. "Uh, yes. There is a bed in there..."
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