I know, I know. It's been forever (or at least feels like it)! In a nutshell, I had to take a step back from fanfiction to focus on work and writing outside of the fanfiction realm. It hit me though that a part of my creative self needs to let the plot bunnies loose and finish or start new fanfiction stories when they come to mind. I came to the conclusion that I was robbing my imagination by letting my stories see the world (aka the internet). My overall goal to be able to be a writer full time, but that hasn't happened yet (and that's okay). I'm getting there but on God's unique terms. Thank you fanfiction family for being so good to me and encouraging me on this journey!
Disclaimer: Quite frankly, why would you think I own Naruto? I'm too broke for that!
"Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do."
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Writer
"Damn it…"
Naruto nibbled at the cuticle of his nails. More than an empty bowl of ramen, more than rain on a sunny day, he hated hangnails. Unfortunately, the dangling nail had become an obsession of his, by default, as they had trudged all night on the open road. Shikamaru had advised him to stick close and fall back into the shadows when it came to dealing with this elite team of vampires that he had been traveling with for the past two days. He had spent time pulling what information he could from his friend without sounding suspicious. He suspected he was a much smaller pawn in the bigger scheme that this body of vampires had in mind. The journey was a strained one for Naruto, struggling to balance between his curiosity and obscurity.
"You sure you don't want to ride on one our backs, Uzumaki?" He gave Shikamaru his infamous "Hell no" look. He didn't want to be treated like a girl.
"Suit, yourself."
He may have been the only human in the group, but he definitely didn't want to be the weakest link too. The shade of night was significantly less scary with Shikamaru and his troop of vampires walking alongside him. Even if the one who'd taken a bite out of him was leading the way. Spending the night walking instead of sleeping was wearing on him. Every so often he could feel Sai's dead gaze drift his way. He thought the land outside the walls would have been alive with life from the creatures crawling on the ground to the birds of the air, but the further he traveled the quieter the woodlands became. It didn't help either that the vampires spoke so softly Naruto had to strain to hear. The grey haired brute at the front was one of few words. The younger man that the leader addressed as Neji seemed to be the second in command. His gut told him to stay far away, the hate vibrating off in waves from him. In all their marching though, not once had he caught anyone feeding. Naruto found himself watching for it, waiting to see a bloodthirsty fangs sink their pincers into skin. He hadn't yet forgotten the feeling of sleepy dread as Sai had taken a bite out of him.
"Hey Shika...why haven't you, um…eaten yet?" The words felt foreign to Naruto; it was an unnatural question to his best friend. Surely, by the way he was clenching and unclenching his fists Shikamaru needed blood soon.
"It's possible to go days without sustenance if you've had a large amount of blood."
"So…you're telling me you had a big meal before you came?"
"I did, but the group we're in is better equipped than I am to handle such long periods without food. They are the king's guard after all."
"Oh, okay."
Naruto briefly thought he could offer his own blood, but the realization that he was scared to feel those sharp teeth again, the panic he'd felt when he was slipping under was still very real in his mind. He's still your friend. He's just undergone a change. A twisted thing took root in his chest. Guilt. Luckily, the choice to offer himself as a snack of sorts was stolen by the commander's raised hand. The muscular man spoke louder than the others. There was something sarcastic hidden in his words as he conversed with Neji.
"This is where I'll split off. The reconnaissance team will rendezvous with you back at the kingdom. Can you handle it from here?"
"Yes, Major Kakashi. Not to offend, but are you sure we cannot assist? Surely, only one of us is needed to escort the human back to the kingdom."
"No ifs or buts about it. It's what our King requested. My men are more than enough, and you need to relay the latest news from Suna. Do tell Sasuke I said to be patient."
"As you see best, Kakashi."
Neji slumped ever so slightly. It occurred to Naruto that somehow his glossy hair seemed to stay perfectly in place. Did becoming a vampire automatically make you handsome? Even Shikamaru has an ethereal sheen to him now. Shikamaru always had a rugged good-looking quality to him, but with his new adjustment his skin had lost its stubble and minor scars. He was a smoother version of himself.
As Kakashi and half their fellowship prepared to leave, Naruto wondered if their destination was the village.
"Are they going-"
His newly turned friend covered his lips with one hand, the universal sign for hush. He followed Shikamaru's line of sight and gasped as Kakashi seemingly dissipated into air, a slight breeze ruffling the trees as he and the other vampires departed. Like magic. It took Shikamaru nudging him along to swallow his surprise and curt shock at how quick and deadly these creatures were. Shikamaru was careful to not leave his side; which Naruto was secretly grateful for. In the distance, a warped shape like metal bleeding into a twisted cross caught his eye.
"Hey, Shika what's that?" Neji beat his best friend to the punch.
"Will you please shut that human up, Naru? We're about to enter our holy ground. You'd think he could keep his trap shut at least out of respect." Naruto had to bite back the urge to hurl a punch right at the stoic vampire's snotty disapproving expression. His chiseled nose was perfectly pointed down, like his resting expression was one of constant disgust.
"Oh, pardon me for wanting to know what sort of death trap I'm walking into."
"Tell me, human, do you usually tell your food what you're doing for the day?" It took Naruto a second to register the meaning behind his comment. He grit his teeth. So I'm just cattle to you and your lot? I'll be damned if I go to the slaughter without fighting. He didn't have to be told he was a prisoner, a mere food source to some of the vampire guard that he was accompanying. In this sea of perfect, cold creatures, he was a lone island of mortality. A fighting spirit was his way of defense.
"We can have it out right-" A stern hand on his shoulder quelled his rage. He looked back at Shikamaru. There was no sign of emotion on his face, but to Naruto, Shikamaru's thoughts spoke louder than his words ever could. He was telling him to relax, to be patient. He stomached his words, and slowed to a walk beside Shikamaru in the back of their formation. His friend kept his voice at a low whisper.
"That, Naruto, is the entrance to the Dark Kingdom." As they walked briskly towards to the gothic sculpture, he couldn't make out anything, civilization or vampire beyond the mold.
"But…there's nothing there."
"It's a sort of enchantment that King Sasuke had a witch to cast. Only full-blooded vampires can walk past and see the city. It's a means of protection." As he stared at the barbed points that connected the beautifully haunting entry, he scoffed. As if they would ever need protection.
"And why the hell would someone like you ever need a cover?" An echo from the front line interrupted their conversation.
"You'd be surprised." Even though it was softly spoken, Naruto could easily pinpoint the feather light voice as Sai's. He tried to suppress the goose bumps that to threatened pop up. His undead, inky creations left a shiver in his belly. Shikamaru continued without responding.
"Like Sai said…even we have enemies." As they approached the crux of the awning, Naruto could make out specks of red that seemed to glitter underneath the arch. It's too close to being the color of blood for my liking. Too much of a reminder of what might happen to me after meeting the king.
"Is this King going to bite me too?" It came out in a small breath, but his friend still heard it. Shikamaru rubbed his back gently.
"I'm sure he's going to want to run some tests on your blood. It's highly unlikely he's going to actually turn you into a vampire. It's more of an honor-a prestigious sort of act when one vampire sires another through a bite." He speaks so easily about it, like he's talking about the weather.
"How am I even going to be able to get into the kingdom if I'm not a vamp?" To Naruto's eyes, there were only more miles of naked trees and barren grounds passed the archway.
"All I have to do is touch you while we're passing through and you'll be able to enter the kingdom as well."
"If that's all it takes to get through, that's not much of a security system if you ask me." Shikamaru rolled his eyes. There was something of a snort from Sai. Naruto vaguely wondered if the entire lot was listening intently to his conversation with Shikamaru. He fidgeted nervously. They hadn't put him cuffs because who would be stupid enough to run from these demons?
"It's not that simple. Vampires are extremely loyal creatures. No one passes through here without the king's cabinet noticing."
As they paced closer, he briefly closed his eyes, as if pain might occur from the passing the entrance. Shikamaru placed an armored hand on his shoulder.
What he had expected, black towers, bats, maybe even crucified humans, was nothing close to what he saw. The vampires had disappeared. A gold castle-like structure, something that he'd only seen in the history books of the village, stood at the core of a town that was busy with people, no vampires, coming and going. It's all so grand. Some were laughing. A few were holding hands. He even caught two men kissing chastely on a nearby bench. It was the small details that reminded Naruto that he wasn't in a human realm. There were splits of jade that ran like little threads throughout the bustling town, and they were growing steadily more noticeable. He reached out to touch the image of a red haired woman talking rapidly with what looked like an affluent man donning a white cloak. His gut knew they were important. He just needed to touch the woman. Before he could grab a strand of her fire licked hair, a sharp prick in his belly brought him to his knees. When Naruto blinked blearily, eager to talk to the lady, he was greeted with a grimfaced Shikamaru and Sai's ghostly hand on his belly.
"I told you there was no need to worry. The baby can enter the kingdom just fine with the seal." Naruto scampered away from Sai, his stomach aching. He nearly knocked over the lone female member of the group. She mumbled a quite apology, for what Nartuo didn't know.
"Ah, it stings! What did you do to me? Shika?" He was fully aware of how much of a child he must have appeared to be, grappling to his best friend in the way a toddler would towards a parent, desperate to know everything was going to be okay. Shikamaru offered what comfort he could by way of explanation.
"It's a seal. Guests have to have one to enter the Dark Kingdom. If you don't you get stuck in the illusion until one of the King's guards detains you."
Naruto gingerly pulled up his tattered shirt. Scrawled on his abdomen was a swirling circle. It stung to the slightest touch.
"Couldn't you have told me this beforehand? I might not have had a heart attack," he spat. He knew in his heart Shikamaru was only looking out for him, but this all was getting to be too much, too quickly. He was just another pawn to be played with. His hands felt disconnected from his body, wobbly things that wouldn't stop shaking even with Shikamaru beside him.
"It's protocol to see what the guest's illusion is and if it's non threatening then you can receive the seal of entry."
"You mean there is no village?"
Neil gave a haughty laugh. To be so handsome, he has such a cruel laugh. His laughter was like rocks grinding beneath a steel boot. It made Naruto feel ashamed.
"Haha. Village! No, we live in a Kingdom, boy." Shikamaru looked up to the cloud streaked sky, embarrassed.
"What Neji means, Naruto, is that the illusion you see is a reflection of your deepest desire. Understandably so what you saw was a human village. You probably want…to go home."
Such a awful exploit, Naruto thought. To show someone what they long for only to trap them in their aspiration. His insides were chilled, heart raked over coals. Get it together, Naruto. Sai bent low until he was at eye level with Naruto. He dragged graceful fingers over the tattoo, his empty ember eyes never leaving Naruto's.
"Be grateful. I wanted to give you that nice tattoo elsewhere." With a wink, he dragged a quick tongue over the place where he had marked Naruto. Their cold leader gave a wayward glance of annoyance.
"That's enough, Sai. You can chew on him later if the King allows it."
"I'm not gay," he hissed, voice cracking. Sai languidly abided. He pulled back his long, sultry limbs like a cheetah ready to pounce. He flicked Shikamaru lightly on the shoulder in passing. Physical touch seemed to be as natural as nightfall to him; it was danger wrapped in sexuality to an outsider like Naruto.
He had no choice, but to move forward.
It was a black jewel embedded on the hillside, this so called "Kingdom." He trudged along, his mouth suddenly dry, as they entered the Dark Kingdom.
"Don't stop and don't speak to the King unless asked." murmured Shikamaru. He nodded and did his best to not look impressed by the sheer grandeur of the Dark Kingdom. True to its name, it was washed in various colors of grey and black. The streets were cat claws of glittering obsidian, adding to the glow of lurid artistry that encapsulated the city. He wasn't given the opportunity to observe as the flow of the soldiers forced him to keep pace. The residents he did see were as equal to in physical appearance to the crew he walked amongst, gangly beings that floated more than walked. It was almost like a competition between the vampires to see who could show the most skin. The women openly and unabashedly wore high cut tops with ripped pants or bottom hugging shorts. The men in turn gladly exposed their chest and thighs. This must be where Sai gets it from. The guards stood out in a sense simply by being fully clothed. The pedestrians they encountered would stop and bow or even curtsy as the guards walked by. He squirmed with each knowing glimpse from one of the kingdom's denizens. With his dark skin and fair hair, he must have been easily pegged as a human. Their path led them to a barbarous mansion that radiated power with its windows etched in garnet and hematite. A pair of sentinels parted their spears to make way for them to breeze past. Why would they need weapons was beyond Naruto. The vampires were dangerous by design.
The foyer of the mansion broke off into an empty room sewn from red velvet where the group finally came to a stop. He wasn't given a chance to catch his breath before Neji had him roughly by the collar.
"Let's see what kind of mood the king is in, shall we? Frankly, I'm hoping he's feeling a bit irritated tonight."
Naurto barely met Neji's chin, but he did his best to stand tall even with the vampire thrusting his dominance upon him.
"Sounds like he's irritated with you already since he barely trusts you enough to transport a human."
Neji squinted those crystalline orbs. If hatred could be summed up in one expression, he would have mastered it.
"Eh, funny. I hope you don't loose your humor in the face of the king..for my sake."
He snapped his fingers at Shikamaru.
"You too, Nara. Come along."
Neji dragged him by the collar through large, metallic plated doors to dimly lit study. Naruto had conjured the Dark Kingdom's Lord to be an old, dried up vampire with horrifying red eyes and blood dribbling down his chin. What he got was much different. The King was young or appeared to be at least. He was laid back in a leather chair with his eyes closed. Black locks curved with the chisel cut of his chin and his skin had angelic glow as if he was a heavenly creature caught on Earth and he had company.
A half-naked girl with pink hair was strewn across his shoulders, nipping occasionally at the bare skin of his neck. Are they feeding each other? Tiny red holes marked her neck and arms like little decorations. Naruto had to look away from their intimacy.
"…and what do I smell?"
His timber voice alone was enough to call enough Naruto to attention. It had a sultry quality to it that pulled you in.
"We have returned my King with the boy you requested." The king pushed the girl off him as if she were a piece of clothing. She tumbled to his feet, not in the least offended. The most stunning factor about the king were his red irises. They were pinwheels that gave the illusion of constant movement.
"And so you have. Well done, Neji."
The cloak he wore shimmered with each step and silver rings glittered on each pale finger. This it the oh feared Lord? This is the vampire who wants to kill the humans? He's a peach compared to Orochimaru. He didn't appear to be much older than himself. The vampire king was just as underwhelmed. He let loose a long, dry sigh to intentionally make his annoyance known to Naruto. He observed Naruto from a distance; picking him a apart with an analytical stare.
"You've brought me something useless. It smells weak."
"I'm not an 'it.' I am a person, a human. Naruto."
He was on him in an instant. Nose pressed against his cheek, the "Dark King" sniffed his neck, his laziness gone.
"Has Suna turned you into a spy or are you really as human, as potentially powerful as this half blood here says?"
He's pressed so hard against Naruto that he can feel the shape of the king's necklaces beneath the silk shirt.
"I'm not a spy! I'm a human." The tiny hairs on his neck stood still as the king dragged one long, shaved nail across his cheek.
"Your pulse speaks the truth." One hand was steadily suffocating Naruot. The desperation ran with the blood to his cheeks. I might die here without ever having done anything for the people I care about.
"I will do whatever I can to get back home. Please, help me. I'll do…what-whatever I can to help you even if that means giving you my blood," Naruto choked out. The hand on his throat released him. Those red eyes gleamed with intrigue and malice.
"You're not my prisoner. You're my next meal."
Thank you so much for reading! Please take the time to review. I would love your feedback both good and bad. If you want to keep up with me elsewhere, you can follow me on twitter lizajanepeeps or sub to my youtube channel (LizaJane Peeps) at: channel/UC5VGYnLwoBUHNoU2AqCKhJA