Spectral Magnetism

Chapter I – The Escape from Darkness

"Speech"

"Jutsu/Specialized Technique"

"Flashback Comment"

'Thought'

"Now, child, focus on the metal of the cell door. Feel its nature, its unyielding state. Even though it appears unyielding, in truth, it is as fluid as anything, given the correct urging," Misheru heard Eric murmur in his mind. He stared at the door, focusing, unaware his irises were glowing a faint pale bluish white as a faint glow enshrouded his hand as he slowly moved it, the metallic clank warning him something had happened before the door slid open slowly."Well done," Eric praised."Enough chit-chat, brat. You gotta move before someone notices ya,"James grumbled in his head, making him grimace at the scent of cigar smoke. He darted through the six inch wide gap between the wall and door, unaware that it annoyed all three within his mind that he was thin enough for that to actually work. He darted quickly down the hall, his eyes narrowing as he felt a chill rushing through his body, partially from the metal within his body, and partially from the chakra rushing through his body. He pushed off, pressing one foot to the wall and instinctively darting along the wall, higher and higher until he'd reached a small eave that he clung to, not noticing how his nails lengthened and glittered silver as they sharpened into talons. Faint silvery 'veins' glittered over his skin as he took a very slow, almost silent breath.

His eyes narrowed as he shifted his grip so his sharpened nails barely brushed the concrete before he darted along, his bare feet making almost no sound. A very faint smirk crossed his face as he let James' predatory instincts take over, his gaze seemingly dulling as he inhaled, noting the scents of blood, paper, ink, snakes, oil, antiseptic, and an odder scent that made him think of spicy food. He pushed off the wall in mid-run, his bare feet brushing the wall for several rapid steps before he clung to the ceiling, his toenails sharpening as well as he completely cut his chakra use, making him effectively invisible to chakra sensors. He clung quietly to the ceiling, moving with near silence save for very slow, calm breaths. He took a slow, deep breath, his gaze sliding from the ceiling to where he saw a grate that led vertically. His eyes narrowed slightly before a smirk that most would have found deeply frightening on an eight year old child for its predatory and feral nature. He quietly crawled to it, slicing the grate up into makeshift makibishi spikes. He didn't really consider where the memories came from as he made his way into the ventilation shaft, soon smelling fresh air. He felt his stomach churn before a decidedly odd flatulent sound surged out. He felt something fall down the shaft that decidedly stunk before he sliced through the exterior grate and slipped out.

Below, nine and a half year old Yakushi Kabuto was walking down a hall, his grayish silver hair swaying slightly before he yelped, wincing as he felt pain stab his right foot. He lifted it, finding a jagged shard of metal that looked like it was from a tray in the sole of his sandal. Moments later, something that smelled horrible and was a deep shade of brown splattered over his head and the clipboard in his right hand, ruining the notes he'd been taking. He grimaced at the foul odor before he blinked, seeing what it was. "Who the hell took a shit on me?!" he yelled, killing intent surging through the hall. It never occurred to the burgeoning medical-nin that he should look up.

Misheru grimaced as he crouched in the bushes, thankful for the stream nearby. His eyes flickered around before he growled under his breath as his toenails and fingernails returned to normal, though with a slight metallic sheen to them. He was soaking wet as he'd dove into the stream, though he had no idea where to go. He looked around cautiously, frowning as his gaze scanned around cautiously. He yelped in surprise as he heard footfalls land behind him. He spun on the balls of his feet, spotting a youthful woman with long purple hair and a white ceramic mask with a stylized feline appearance. He blinked a few times, recognizing her as one of the Hokage's trusted ANBU. "There's…. a lab…. below… I climbed… out…. Orochimaru," he gasped, his exhaustion catching up to him. He slumped over, though he felt gentle hands grasp him before his awareness darkened to nothing.

He groaned, his head throbbing painfully before he coughed, the sound raspy. His eyes fluttered open before he winced, squeezing them tightly shut at the bright sunlight stabbing them. "Damn sun… too damn bright in the morning," he mumbled, burying his face in something very warm before he jolted fully awake, realizing that what he'd smelled, blade oil, leather, mint shampoo, peaches, and milk, came from whatever, or more precisely, whomever he lay against. He blinked blearily, looking up to see the compassionate ruby eyes of a young girl who, he gauged, couldn't have been more than thirteen or fourteen. Her wild, curly raven hair was quite beautiful, though he wondered why she was here before he felt gentle fingers running through his wild hair.

"Maybe you'd prefer a good hot bath. Do you need help?" she said softly. "Yes, since I probably smell worse than a dead horse," Misheru mumbled sleepily as he sighed, realizing his lower body was lying in the lap of the same female ANBU woman he'd seen before, though her mask was off, revealing her dark chocolate eyes and lightly bronzed skin. "Go on, Kurenai-chan. I'm sure he'd prefer your help more than mine," the ANBU remarked with an amused tone.

Misheru blinked as he felt his legs shift before his bare feet touched the cold floor. "What the hell, woman?" he barked, startled before he felt Kurenai take his hand and tug him after her. He blinked a few times, seeing the stool and shower head along with several varieties of body wash and shampoo. He noticed the fragrant hot spring bath nearby, but was a bit confused when she sat him down on one of the stools before she turned on the water, turning one of the dials until the water was steaming slightly. He yelped more in surprise than anything when she turned it on him, though he sighed, shivering as he felt the tense tightness of his muscles relaxing before he blinked, a bit startled at the sound of tearing fabric. He glanced down at himself before he realized the ragged, battered excuse of a hospital gown had given up its fight and fell apart. "Finally… that old snake thought it was funny to leave me in this damn thing," he mumbled. He gasped as he felt gentle hands massaging his muscles, glancing over to see Kurenai with a focused expression massaging his arms and hands before he blinked a few times, blushing as he realized she was completely bare, save for the short towel she wore that went from just beneath her arms to just above mid thigh. He blushed more deeply, realizing he wasn't exactly dressed. He did, however, notice she didn't seem to care. He felt her fingers massaging his shoulders and neck, well aware that his dirty dark red hair was wild, untamed and an utter mess where it fell to just below his shoulders. He frowned slightly, well aware he'd have to hide his natural hair color so Orochimaru didn't realize until it was too late he'd escaped, though he had the feeling the Hebi Sanin had other things on his mind presently.

He sighed softly as he felt his hair becoming saturated as she directed the water through it. He didn't realize that threads of crimson were leaking from his hair where those whirring needles had penetrated his scalp.

Fourteen year old Yuhi Kurenai blinked, seeing the blood trickling from the child's scalp. She'd never seen the odd dark red hair before, though the only one she knew of that had hair similar was Kushina Uzumaki, and it was too dark for hers, not to mention the child was too young to be hers. The blood stopped in a matter of seconds as she picked up the shampoo, satisfied that his hair was wet. She cocked her head, noticing the tiny pinprick scars dotting his skin in dozens of places, unsure of their source. She shrugged slightly, as she had the feeling the child knew, but wasn't going to tell. She had enough to focus on with getting him clean for now as she wasn't much older than he was and a new Chūnin at that. A small smirk crossed her face as she squirted a good amount of lavender scented shampoo into her hands before she rubbed it between them, working it into a good lather before she worked it into his hair. The first thing she noticed was how thick it was, yet it was also surprisingly silky to the touch. She sighed softly, liking how it felt. A shy blush darkened her cheeks, despite the fact she knew he wouldn't see her as any sort of romantic interest, she was certain. She had noticed how tense and uncomfortable he'd seemed when walking and had decided to try massaging his muscles to get them and him to relax some, which had, fortunately, seemed to work.

She giggled at how he shivered as she washed his hair thoroughly, massaging his scalp. She picked up the shower head and carefully tilted his head back a little, then rinsed it clean, noticing with interest it had lightened a few shades to a deep, almost ruby red with some darker red lowlights and auburn highlights.

Misheru exhaled softly as he felt Kurenai's hands running through his hair in a very, very relaxing way. He blinked as he heard her giggle, unaware he'd shivered. He cocked his head as he saw her lean across him, picking up a soft washcloth, though the water sprayed over her and the towel in the process, making him blush deeply. "What's wrong? You don't like how I look?" Kurenai teased with a small smile. "No... you're beautiful," he muttered honestly. His gaze dropped to the floor, his dark indigo irises holding a barely visible ring of metallic silver around the edges. He took a soft, slow breath as he'd seen more than he'd expected, as Kurenai was quite attractive, despite being only a little older than him, five or six years older at most.

Kurenai giggled a little at his shy tone as she squirted a ring of creamy sandalwood scented body wash around his shoulders before she rubbed the soft washcloth over it in small circles, amused at his sharp inhalation as she worked it patiently into a lather before washing his body gently and thoroughly. She knew it wasn't really common for civilians, especially ones who had survived what he had, to be invited to use the tower's bathing room. 'Come to think of it, I don't think anyone has escaped... intact,' she mused with a slight frown. She knew that the Hokage was suspicious of some disappearances and, more recently, disappearances of orphans. She was almost sure, however, that this young man was anything but an orphan.

She exhaled softly as she washed his body, amused as he twitched in places when she washed them before she blinked, noticing his manhood, which for his young age seemed fairly sized. She shrugged, washing that as well, before moving down to his legs before rinsing him off. She helped him to his feet and gently pushed him towards the soaking bath before she sat down.

Who knows what will follow? It seems Kurenai seems curious about the young Uchiha, though she doesn't know he is an Uchiha yet.

Stay TUNED

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