((A/N: Meh… next chappy! Yay! Random stuff! Yay!
…
…so I'm really, really bored, sue me!
…no I didn't mean literally, I really would rather avoid being brought to court…
Which is why I tell you all right now that I don't own NARUTO! Shockers! I know, I know, som of you couldn't see that one coming, but I'm completely serious, I own zilch.
Back to things that actually matter… anyone else notice how much dark stuff I've been writing recently? I mean really, where the hells my comedy edge? Did it run away?
…no! Come back plot bunnies! Come back humorous edge!
…I need to update 'Stop The Madness'… that's sure to get me into the humorous mood that I so adore.
Muse-chan out!!))
Darkness
Run While You Can
Two weeks.
Two weeks he had spent in frustration.
After leaving the neighborhood that night, he promptly headed to the hotel he had checked into earlier the evening.
When he searched for the neighborhood that the girl's house resided in the next morning, he found that he couldn't find it. For two weeks searched fruitlessly, determined to find the prey that had intrigued him so… he found nothing, not a hint, nor a clue…
He knew where her house was; countless times he went down the path he had taken that night, every time he landed somewhere different, as if he had taken a wrong turn.
He wasn't a professional, nor was he highly experienced in the matter, but he knew it was a spell that kept him out.
But who? The girl? Was that why she showed no fear, because she could easily send him for a loop? He didn't think so… she seemed comfortable with his presence, along with the others…
…and for some reason, he didn't think she could see them.
Perhaps somewhere subconsciously she sensed something, but… how did that explain the 'good night' she bid him and the others?
He was confused and angry.
The sound of the city at night only proved to irritate him further, walking calmly down the streets he grumbled lightly and shoved his hands into his pockets, wishing desperately to find somewhere silent.
As if granting his wish, the noise around him seemed to die down, he looked up from the ground where he had been giving his avid attention.
He could recognize the oddly dead area easily.
Had he truly found the neighborhood once more? His face scrunched up in confusion, perhaps because he wished for somewhere silent…? No, he had made that same wish practically every night since the loss.
A shift to his left could be seen and he whirled around, eyes zeroing in on whoever wondered outside so late at night.
Wide lavender eyes stared into his.
He blinked in confusion at the pre-teen standing in front of him, she almost looked like…
…no, his current target was younger.
"…who a-are you…?"
More confusion spread across his features, her voice was soft, but almost a croak, as if she hadn't spoken for ages.
Her voice was eerily similar to the younger girl's, the one that had bid him good night.
He smirked, covering the emotions that had splayed across his face for a few moments, "No one of consequence…"
The girl flinched, "I-I… I don't like being lied to."
He raced an eyebrow, "I wasn't lying."
"…in the grand scheme of things, p-perhaps not… demo…—" he'd had enough of her babble.
"You wouldn't happen to have a younger sibling, would you?"
Her eyes darkened with two things, he noted, sadness being one, and wariness being another.
"…no. She died a long time ago…"
She was giving him too much information, his own eyes narrowed in suspicion. She was either lying or honestly didn't realize the dangers of informing random strangers of such personal information.
"Really? Would two weeks happen to be a 'long time ago'?"
She didn't respond.
"I don't like being lied to either you know, I know she isn't dead."
Her gaze whirled to him and he felt as if he had been stabbed by the intensity of her glare. "My sister is dead. Have you come to mock my loss? You know nothing about me or her and yet you claim to know she lives… you speak cruelty, knew to have spoken such an oath that you couldn't have been a kind person but you have proven to be that you are beyond unkind, you are scum." Her voice was cold, precise and terrifying. He had obviously said something beyond taboo.
He glared straight back, though inwardly he could not deny how intimidating she could be, the bloodlust and anger that surrounded her… "I know she's alive because I saw her two weeks ago."
Her eyes widened and she shook her head, chuckling softly.
He couldn't help but be curious of her reaction, before he could question though a question came from the small girl.
"What color was her hair?"
He didn't care much for the pointless question and growled in annoyance, "The same as yours, that's beside the point—"
She cut him off, "That is the point. That was not my little sister."
He closed his eyes, another headache was coming… he didn't give a shit anymore, little or older he'd kill one of them, they both made his head hurt.
He was in front of her in an instant and she let out a gasp when she found herself pinned to a nearby fence.
"You make my head hurt in irritation, I'll kill you and then your sister and live happily ever after." He growled darkly down at her, fear shown in her pearl eyes… wait, fear? He looked closer, face scrunching in confusion. There was no fear, she was startled, maybe a bit mortified, but not scared.
"…you're the one I saw…"
She looked away, her jaw clenched.
"…w-why are you here?"
"To make you my prey."
'Prey…' her faced scrunched in distaste, "I don't intend to play your games."
"You have no choice." He found himself semi amused once more, even at what very well could have been her death bed she remained apathetic.
She still wasn't looking at him but he didn't care, leaning forward he brought his lips near her left ear, "Any last words…?"
He really couldn't have predicted what she did next.
"H-hai…" she trailed off before continuing once more, "Perfume."
That was all the warning he had before a stinging substance was sprayed in his eyes and a knee brought up to his privates.
No one was really confused as to how she managed to run away after that.
"Son of a—" she didn't even use pepper spray! No! She used perfume! He had been defeated by perfume!
It was indeed a humiliating defeat.
---
'Run…' it wasn't an option, but she wanted to.
Slamming the front door shut behind her she melted to the ground, sighing in relief that he hadn't followed her. If he managed to get inside… she'd be stuck with him.
No one just 'left' this house…
The stench of blood reached her nostrils and she sighed, Gaara was probably crucifying rats again…
Why is it that he seemed to find such joy in that hobby? It never ceased to amaze her how some of the occupants found entertainment…
She heard a shifting to her left and knew she was being stalked again… who was it this time? She never could quite tell…
Walking down the empty halls she made her way to her bedroom in the dark, having spent her entire life in the confines of the house she knew how to get about…
Someone chuckled off to her left and she couldn't resist the exasperation that grew, Zaku was trying to scare her… again.
She was sure no one followed her when she slammed her bedroom door shut(on Zaku's face, she noted with a wince).
This new one, the one that cornered her this evening… she sighed again, she didn't like him in the least. He was different than the ones she was used to, he had sworn the oath.
…that cursed oath…
He was curious; he wanted to know who she was. She rolled her eyes; she wasn't even sure who she was anymore.
In the confusing confinement of the house, she was losing herself… but that was nothing new.
She felt a presence and knew someone had entered her room. Sitting on her couch she decided to ignore the new presence, it was likely Kin or Naruto… those two had no respect for her privacy.
A dry laugh erupted from her chest, 'Kin'? 'Naruto'? She didn't even know their names, but after years of spending time with them all in the house she couldn't help but dub them something. Simply thinking 'that's that one guy… the one that did such and such and acts such and such' grew irritating, so she named them.
Her imaginary friends in a way, though they were far from friends. Sure some were fonder of her than others, some didn't avidly hate her, but none of them could really be called her 'friends'.
"Gomen…" she said while lying back on the couch, "But could you l-leave me be for now? I-I'm really tired…"
No response.
What did she expect? They never talked to her. She talked at them a few times but that was the most. They did talk though… she could hear the whispers and giggles when they thought she wasn't listening. The screams, the conversations, the laughter…
"Don't go out tomorrow night." She jumped straight up, a small shriek escaping her. Whirling her eyes to the source of the voice she backed farther into the couch.
There, before her very eyes, was Kyuubi no Naruto, a serious expression on his jubilant face.
Never, in all her time in this terrifying trap of a house, had Naruto presented himself before her. Sure, she had seen him plenty, she'd seen them all once her twice, but those times they hadn't meant for her to see them. Now… he was presenting himself right in front of her.
…at least she thought it was a he, the bare, flat, muscular chest he owned sort of gave that impression.
…hm, she'd always thought Naruto was a girl…
"W-why?" it was sometime before she managed to squeak out anything and when she did she didn't think it expressed her complete confusion at all, 'why not leave?' 'why are you here?' 'why are you telling me this?'
She didn't think he'd answer those questions though.
He opened his mouth, but paused before he answered, "…You know about vampires, right Hinata?"
It was odd to hear one of them say her name.
It was even more confusing for him to ask something like that; of course she knew of them, she lived with at least three!
Slowly she nodded.
Naruto sighed, "Not them, they're vampires too, but… a different type."
Comprehension suddenly dawned on her, she knew what he was trying to explain, "I know that, th-they came straight from hell. I know about the d-different type too, you know. 'The oath of the damned' is no real secret; i-it wasn't hard to find out about."
He seemed mildly surprised, "You know of the oath?"
She nodded; she could have sworn she'd just made that obvious…
"There's someone hunting you, Hinata."
She resisted rolling her eyes, "I-I already know that… he cornered me th-this evening, said I was supposed to be his new 'prey'…" despite how unlike her it was to scoff, she felt the unexplained need to.
Naruto looked serious, "Hinata… this is no laughing matter, if he attacks you…"
She gave him a droll look, "Then I spray him with perfume again."
Naruto seemed confused by her defense, but didn't question, "Listen… you don't get it! If your blood spills the houses seal is destroyed!"
Even though she knew how dire that was, she couldn't resist retorting, "And that's a bad thing? How long, Naruto? How long have we all been trapped here?"
Naruto glared darkly at her, "I have been here longer than you."
She knew the meaning of her statement and immediately regretted her retort, "…I know, I'm sorry."
Even though, she'd never truly left the house in her life, even though, she'd hardly ever interacted with anyone, even though this house was her prison that she would spend the rest of her lifetime in…
…she would only live out a human lifetime.
Naruto had been trapped here long before she was even born and would likely be trapped her for lifetimes after she escaped with death.
Naruto would continue to sit here.
Naruto shook his head, signaling that it was alright, he wasn't too offended.
"Don't worry… I won't get hurt, you should know by now that I can defend myself."
"Hanabi thought she could defend herself as well."
Hinata froze, so it was Naruto's turn to say something taboo.
"Listen, Hinata, I don't want to see another one of you die…"
Hinata looked down, she didn't want to hear this, and she didn't want to hear about Hanabi, she didn't want to think about Hanabi's death.
"Pl-please, Naruto don't…"
"Hinata, if you leave again he will kill you, if you die all Hanabi died for is gone. Don't leave, I'm warning you. Don't let Hanabi's death be a wast—"
"What do you know about Hanabi?! I was her older sister; you think I don't know how she died?! What happened to her?! And what did you do? Did you try to save her?! Were you eve—" she froze; a dark look had spread across Naruto's face.
"…you think it didn't hurt me as well?"
As if a wave had been washed over her, she knew by the tone of his voice.
"…how w-well did you know her…?"
He looked away; hurt was spread on his face.
"Naruto…" she wanted to question farther, she wanted to know as much as she could, but…
The hurt on his face, the way he clenched his fists, his tail swishing from side to side as a sign of immense agitation…
She lay back down and gripped the blanket she kept on her couch; covering her body she hid her face into the couch pillows.
After a few more minutes Naruto's presence dispersed.
((Ending Notes: Confusing, ne? It is? Excellent…
No, this was not a NaruHina moment… ick, if anything, if you read between the lines a lil, you might say there were hints of NaruHana… but I would never… wait, I so would.
X3 The plot! She thickens!
I hope you all are enjoying it so far. You'd better review, otherwise I probably won't be updating this fic for a long time… I have plenty of other fics I could be updating and you need to make it worth my while to write another chapter for ya!
In other news, I would like to ask a question to all the readers out there, no, not the writers, the readers. Now, before I could write squat, I still had plenty of idea's that swirled in my head and threatened to break loose.
And I always wished someone would write them out.
If there is anyone having a similar problem, I would love to assist in any way possible X3.
-Muse-chan eating some pizza and trying to relax.))