Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from Naruto. All credit goes to the author and illustrator Masashi Kishimoto, nor do I forge any of his work for monetary value. Warning: some language.
_-. _-. _-._-._-.Ink Of Honor-. _-._-._-._-._-._
y_ _ Me_ _ _...
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Chapter 6
At that moment, I remember my earlier conversation with Kiba. He had looked so concerned...so worried. As if he could have actually sensed that something bad was approaching Konoha in the midst. As if something was threatening the village...and maybe even the world.
The painful ringing that echoed off the transmitter stops along with the five-second headache.
Those voices that had seemed like they were coming closer then disappeared.
"Na..."
That voice again...it sounds like somebody familiar. But who?
"Nar...o"
But now that I think about it, it sorta sounds like me. Is it me?
"Naruto! -Hey! Wake up-"
A hard slap to the face woke me up and I bolted awake. Wildly, I looked around and met the gaze of a girl whose face was too close.
"Huh?" I groaned out.
"Heeeeey! Hey! Naruto's awake! Guys!" The brunette backed off and waved franticly in front of my face.
"Stop-". I heard myself grunt as I gently grabbed her hand and pushed it away from me.
"Look who's finally up..."
I peered to my left and noticed that the comment came from a guy who was reading a shogi magazine. His short black hair was pulled up in a tight ponytail while a bored grimace was set upon his lips.
"Hey Shikamaru..." My voice came out in a soft rasp and I then noticed it as a slight burn emanated from within my throat.
"Ooh! We were so worried about you! Lee was so torn- he's forcing himself to run five miles for every hour you stay unconscious. ...I guess somebody should go tell him before he ruptures something."
I found myself laughing at my friend's antics. "Sounds just like him..."
"TenTen, why don't you go check on Lee? Tell him the good news." Shikamaru suggested as I saw him place his magazine on the counter beside him.
The brunette known as TenTen nodded and before leaving placed a hand on my head and leaned forward. "…Do you remember anything?" She asked softly into my ear.
I was confused by what she meant. "...Remember what?" I found myself whispering back, now noticing the scowl that was forming on Shikamaru's approaching face.
"TenTen." It came out as a firm growl and I peered into the male brunette's wavering eyes. TenTen reluctantly stepped away from me with a slight smile and a hand to cover over her quivering mouth.
"Get better, okay Naruto?" With her words hanging from behind her, she exited out the room with a soft whimper. I stared in her wake and watched as the door slammed with unnecessary force.
The sound was all too familiar and I winced as if in pain.
"Naruto?" Shikamaru walked up to me and placed his hands on the railing of my bedside. "...You have a headache?"
"...No." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't altogether true. There was something pulling at me from the back of my mind. It didn't hurt, but at the same time, it felt like this invisible barrier was threatening to tear.
"Naruto...". Shikamaru sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He let go of the railing, but his eyes never left my face. I could feel it even when I wasn't looking at him.
"How did I get here?" I then found myself asking quietly. "Did I get caught?"
"...Caught by who?"
"The Akatsuki member. Hidan. And-...and Kiba."
"Naruto, I keep telling you this...over and over and over again. When are you going to start paying attention Uzumaki? Kiba's not real."
The words were harsh but his voice seemed to betrayed him.
"-And when are you going to start paying attention to -me-?" I shot back with the same level of volume and a little bit more hurt. "Kiba -is- real. If you would just stop yelling at me and listen for once-"
I knew that Shikamaru had never even started yelling, but I was annoyed at how he kept saying that Kiba wasn't real. Did he think of me as a sort of fool? Before I could yell some more of my own, he started arguing with me again.
"-Don't you understand that I'm trying to help you? I don't exactly know what goes on in your head...what battles you're fighting...but I tell you, you're in the real world now. Our real friends are -dead- in this world. You don't want to believe it and neither do I, but it's the painful truth."
I hadn't noticed it but Shikamaru was shaking; his hands grasping my bed sheets tightly.
'What's going on? …Why are you so delusional?'
"-It is the only truth."
==========
"Ever since Stunade has disappeared, the nations of our world have been clashing more often then necessary."
"Agreed. Her absence has left behind a path of destruction. Does nobody here know anything of her whereabouts?"
"If news were to surface upon the destination of our Lady Hokage, no doubt we would share the information Sir Chozua. Peace."
A dark haired woman intervened. "But what about the Silver Lining? What has become of him?"
"Don't be foolish Lady Mueny. Traitors of...'his' kind, have perished far more then three years ago."
"-And you say that -I- am the foolish one Sir Chozua?" Lady Mueny lit a cigarette and watched as the smoke danced from the burning tip.
"There are ways that in which he may once more return. Only the incompetents would believe that he has been defeated and I assure you sir, that I...am no fool"
"Pardon me, my leaders. But-"
The four persons who were situated at a round table, looked towards the door to see the young man who had interrupted their meeting.
"T-The boy. He has awakened."
==========
I strained to keep my temper under control, and to refrain from chucking my empty flower vase towards the door. The words that Shikamaru left behind had broken me, confused me, and most of all, hurt me.
I didn't understand what he meant by our friends being dead in 'this' world, let alone what 'this' world was supposed to mean.
He had said that I was once again in the real world. But then where was I before this?
I didn't have time to think about anything else though, because the door to my room burst open. I thought it was going to be Shikamaru again, but four adults came rushing in instead.
"Wh-...Who are you?"
A burly man wearing a dark red robe walked up to me and held my hand in a firm grasp. "My...My dear boy. You have finally returned to us."
"Calm, Sir Portrer. Let the boy recollect himself first.". A woman wearing identical clothing placed a slender hand on Sir Portrer's shoulder and guided the individual to his feet.
"Uzumaki, Naruto...Welcome back.". The same woman then said in a dignified voice.
"Yeah... okay. Thanks". I said in an uncomfortable manner. "Again... who are you? And what do you mean, 'Welcome Back'?"
"Bless the poor soul...he knows nothing!". Portrer buried himself in his large hands, his face becoming evidently red.
"Mueny, Loss. I truly am...-". The lady bowed to me and I once again shifted uncomfortably. "Pleased to be in your awakened presence."
"I, young lad, am Portrer Nevail. You may feel free to call me Sir Pete if you wish." The large man showed his face once more, the redness slowly fading.
"Haus, Chozua." Introduced a tall and gaunt looking individual. He had mossy black hair that stuck to his hollow face, and dark eyes that appeared to sink into its sockets.
"..."
I listened to three of the four adults introduce themselves but was confused when the fourth and slightly shorter one of the group said nothing.
"So...what's your name?" I asked uncertainly.
"-Do not waste your time with this one. He is a mute and will respond to nobody. Young Naruto, how old are you now?"
I turned to Portrer and nodded in understanding. "I-... I'm 14...Sir Pit."
The burly man stopped short when he heard the name and then burst out laughing. "Sir Pit, Huh? Why! What endeavor in such a young one!" His laughs echoed in the room and I saw Chozua sigh in exasperation to the other's antics.
"Why, this boy right here is 16. By far, he is the youngest out of us all and from those before him. He truly is a legend...a miracle I might add!". Sir Pit gave another hearty chuckle again and patted the hooded boy's shoulder good-naturedly.
As I examined the boy a bit closer I noticed that there was nothing really to observe. His dark red robe was embroidered with black lace at the hem of his hood and if I hadn't squinted to get a better look, I may have not noticed it was there at all. The piece of clothing hid the clothes he was wearing inside, and the hood draped loosely over his face, the shadows hiding it from view.
"I do believe we should skip the introduction and get on with the main reason for our being here." Chozua spoke up as Portrer was distracted with the mute person.
"Uzumaki, Naruto. You have just awakened from your two-week coma. In the time that you were unconscious, Lady Stunade has disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The Silver Lining has escaped from prison, your mother and father have been...taken, your partner has slipped into an illusionary disease, and you, yourself has suffered from damage taken to the brain. Do you happen to remember anything? Anything at all?"
'Well, ain't that a stupid question.'
Mueny placed a hand on Chozua's shoulder and forcibly pulled him back with a stern gaze before looking at me.
I didn't understand nearly half of the things he just said, and now, I was confused more then ever. "Wait...I've...I've been in a coma? A coma?" I touched my face tentatively and felt my fingers burn slightly at the touch.
Mueny just nodded slowly and with her eyes, urged me to continue.
"...Baa-Chan is …gone. The Silver-Whatever has escaped from prison...-". I didn't even know who the Silver Lining was.
"My parents...but they were already dead-". The three adults took a sharp intake of breath but didn't interrupt me as I did my analysis of the situation.
"...Uh, this 'partner' of mine. They're sick with something, and I've hurt my brain. That's all I got from what you told me."
"-And that is all you need to know. For now." Mueny nodded her hear in approval and once again gave Chozua a stern and reprimanding look.
"Ah, yes...I do apologize for laying all of this on your shoulders so suddenly. Believe that I only want you to know this for your own safety. In time you will understand it all, but for now, concentrate at your task at hand.". Chozua bowed slightly.
"...And what is this 'task'?". I asked.
"Why...your task is to remember who you are." Mueny said gently, in an incredulous voice that sounded as if she was surprised I didn't know it from the beginning.
"Don't you feel strange, boy? Don't you have any questions?" Portrer asked, taking caution in the choice of his words.
"Strange? Not really. Questions? I have just about a million. I still don't know who you are, what are you? Do you know Baa-Chan? Why were you here as soon as I woke up? How do you know about me? My parents have been dead for as long as I can remember so what are you talking about them being 'taken'? Who is my partner and what's this illusion disease they have? Is that supposed to be some sort of genjutsu thing going on? Who's Silver Minus-Linus-Or whatever and why should I care that he's escaped prison? And if he's got some sort of vendetta against me, then what did I even do to piss the guy off since you claim that I've been out cold for two weeks, and who-"
"Stop! Stop! My dear boy! Calm yourself, young one!" Portrer laughed again and patted my head in a rough but friendly manner. "In time, all the answers that you will need will present itself. But only of you ask the right questions and seek the right path."
"We must leave you now, Naruto. Now that you have awakened, and we have spoken, we must return to the Land of Time and take up our positions once more. You took quite your time in recovering and now our work back home has piled up immensely. We bid you farewell, and good luck." Chozua spoke in his high and mighty voice and turned for the door.
"Brethren? Lady Mueny?" He called over his shoulder to see if they were to follow.
"As much as I hate to admit when Sir Chozua's right...he's right." Portrer winked at me and followed in the other man's wake. "Good luck to you in finding the answers"
"The same for me. Time itself is on nobody's side, but with a little dedication and perspiration, it very well may guide you to your destiny. But then again, your destiny is inevitable." The lady known as Mueny lowered her head as a sign of respect and then the three adults were gone through the door. The fourth person didn't leave though; it was almost as if the others forgot about him.
"H-Hey...aren't you going to leave?". I asked, trying not to be rude about the situation, but wanting to know why he hadn't left as quickly as he had come.
The other guy shook his head slowly and approached me. Holding out a hand, I caught my first glimpse of him as a person. His skin was a slight ivory and incredibly smooth looking. His fingers were long and thin, not bony, but were similar to Mueny's. His pinky nail was painted a black color that sported a small ring, and his middle finger whose nail was painted a scarlet color.
He then moved his hand higher and that was when I noticed the chain dangling from between his fingers. It was silver in color and as I trailed to the end of it, I saw a gold ring with a black gem in the middle. It was pretty, but was an incredibly tiny charm for such a long necklace.
Was the ring meant to be for your pinky?
He held it out closer to me and I peered up at his covered face.
"Wait...You want me to...to hold it?"
The 16 year old didn't move a muscle but I just had to assume that the answer was 'yes'. I hesitatingly reached for it and gained courage to go forth when I noticed he hadn't pulled away in the slightest.
When my fingers closed around the ring, I could have sworn it vibrated. Something, this tiny little voice within my head, told me not to let go of it however, and I didn't. The male himself let go, and the chain fell past my hand and swung for a little before coming to a stop at where my arm bent.
"Thanks.". I said lamely, not really knowing what else to say. The guy just stood there like a statue and I felt uneasy.
"Y'know, you can have it back if you want it-". I held it out to him and was going to open my hand to present the ring when his hand closed around my wrist. I shuddered noticeably but was able to stop myself from pulling away in shock.
His hands were cold. Incredibly cold.
"Whoa, dude. You should get checked- I mean, you're skin is freezing." I winced, looking at his hand that was holding my wrist and then back up at him.
My eyes widened in surprise though and I felt my mouth drop open at that moment. The male had pushed back his hood in the time it took me to let my eyes waver away from him for just a split second.
He looked painfully familiar, and yet I couldn't grasp at who he may have been. "You...I-I know you...". I heard myself breathe out, as my heart rate somewhat sped up.
The skin on his face was just like the skin on his hand, ivory tinted and flawless. His eyes were a deep pool of apathy and his mouth was slightly pink and parted just enough to reveal a set of white teeth.
He was...good looking, and because of that, I scowled and looked away.
"You know, it'd be a hella lot easier to do whatever it is you want me to do with this damn necklace if you'd just talk to me." I grumbled, not noticing how the ring was still firmly planted in the palm of my hand, and how his hand was still firmly latched onto my wrist.
And then...just like that, the Ivory kid disappeared. The window by my bedside had been closed, but now, it slammed open so hard that the glass panes shattered into tiny pieces.
I got up and stuck nearly half of my body out the window but winced as a huge gust of cold wind nearly shoved me over. The blonde pieces of my hair stuck itself into my eyes and I rubbed them violently, feeling the pulse and warmness quicken and rush towards my eyelids. My eyes itself then throbbed as I pulled my hands away, and as I gazed out into the blissfully humid day.
Feeling something embed itself into my hand, I looked down and opened it to find the ring connected to it's chain.
'I guess...he wanted me to keep it after all'. I thought.
The day was hot and humid. Sweat formed at the corners of my brow and hadn't taken very long to drip down to the side of my face. I looked around for my friends, but found none; which was odd.
Sneak Peak at the 7'th Chapter: Blank Reality.
"He's been in this state for more than three years. We've done all we can to bring him back to us, but our attempts are nearly always fruitless."
"What do you mean nearly? Then you've had a little bit of success?"
"You could call it that. But he forgets everything that hhe's learned by the end of the day. It's as if he's a record player restarting at the beginning every time we press to listen to it."
"Okay…What about now? How's he doing?"
"Same. We've had no progress."
"This is the same thing that's happened to Sakura Chan. Why can't you do anything about it?"
"You must understand that we are trying our hardest. Give us time."
"I gave you three years."
A/N: HI. Okay. So school been real tough on me lately but I have a bit of good news to all my readers! Summer break just started last Thursday and now I have all the time in the world to start writing and uploading the story on a regular basis! (As promised from the beginning~) Thank you all for reading this horribly confusing story and thank you to all that reviewed~ Do believe that with your words, I get stronger on the inside. Y_Y. And again! To those who bother to read my author's note, please take just one more second to vote in the pairing poll! Remember; lol, please bear with me because I'm going to say it again; if you just take one moment out of your lives to vote for who you want to be paired up within the story, then you may just change the course of it entirely! Pleasssseeee help me out! And also, for those with questions, feel free to PM me them! I love interactive readers, and I may gain valuable information to make this story the best it can be! Until then~
-Ink.