Chapter Six

Witching Hour


The floating whispers set on the slow rolling winds brought his eyes opening.

First moon high overhead, the motionless one was sluggishly loosing the brilliant light it usually shows. The second moon smaller then the sun moved to hide behind the larger. An hour or so before it fully disappears and returns with no light at all. The positioning of the world is as; the sun and second moon chase each other around the world. One going behind the first moon and the sun going in front of the first moon. Like a game. When the moons eclipse the sun is far on the other side of the world unable to touch them shedding any light on both sides, so it becomes a true blackness. The Witching Hour.

He blinked, lips parting slightly as he listened to the faint whispers that came back to his ears. But who cared about them… he was warm, and the mass laying atop of his body felt too comfortable to give any thought to anything else besides cuddling closer. Naruto groaned nudging into the weight, resting his face on the side of the others cheek who was far deeper in sleep. Peeking down the supple form of milky white he trailed the dip and slop of Sasuke's back noting that he had done well in fixing those nasty cuts and bruises. The skin in its healthy glow became more alluring then it had before.

Though as the blond discovered that he shouldn't really be thinking like that when they were sleeping together, the whispers caught up to his hearing again. Through the tired haze the fox-boy stifled a sigh so he could try and piece together what this meant.

It was the low cry of a hollow chest that brought Naruto's orbs shooting open again before he slipped away past the boundaries of dreams. His heart leaped, hair standing on end and muscles tensed hard under his rippling tanned complexion.

He smelt it now. The smell of rot and metal, the tangy taste of forbidden magic. His eyes slitted, red swirling inward consuming the blue as he spotted the corpse standing at the top of their incline, staring down at them with white eyes and the smoky white power floating from its mouth.

Lips peeled back and the blondes teeth elongated his own demon magic coursing through his veins in growing rage that something dare attack in his sleep. A thunderous growl came from himself the steadying hot glow from his mouth puffing the thin trail into the twisting air. He wrapped both arms tightly around the other.

Sasuke had been having the strangest of dreams. That he was in EldenKingdom! If that wasn't the funniest thing he ever imagined, it would be that his brother needed his help! All his life Itachi had looked out for him, there was no way his brother ever needed to be rescued. And by his own book! PFFT! Ah, dreams are something…

There was a sizzling crackle at the ravens ear and he moaned turning his head to the other side. That sound had been the trigger to pull him away from la-la land and now that he was coming to a more conscious state he began noticing things.

How warm his front was and breezy along his back. He must have left the window open in his room.

His stomach grumbled and for a moment he even thought it growled at him. Hunger laced at the bottom of his gut ready to coil and strike him if he didn't fill his belly soon. Then came the noticeable pulse just somewhat tickling him lower in his gut. A piss was in order. Probably at the top of his list for to-do. Though he didn't want to move at all! Come back sleep! Then the mind battle came. Should he stumble to the window or the bathroom to let out a stream of urine? Or just ignore it and hope he doesn't wet the sheets?

Sasuke's mouth twisted into a frown. Too old for pissing in bed. What if Itachi wakes him up like usual. The frown etched more as he gave a shuddering grief stricken sigh, he'd have to go to the toilet. Maybe he should brush his teeth too so he won't have to do that later. That's when he gulped down any excess saliva thinking about toothpaste…

He chocked. Coughed and tried to breath in, but something was wrong. A bitter tangy flavor of strong oily metal sank into his taste buds, his tonsils were on fire, dry and clinging to the back of his throat. The smell of something dead came invading his nostrils like he hadn't realized it before now. His muscles started to spasm and his lungs quivered. Sasuke sat up as quick as possible leaning forward and clutching his throat trying to cough out the horrid feeling. Locking eyes his insides squirmed as he gawked into a familiar face.

"N-Naruto." He was surprised at the rasping chord that was his own. What was happening?! Everything from earlier day came back full force. It was very similar to having someone dump ice-cold water on your head and slap you in the face till you were awake.

The addition to the current event, Sasuke, brought the previous stare down between Naruto and the undead to a halt. When the blondes attention was pulled to the panicking boy sitting on his chest the undead moved.

Unable to help his masters brother at the moment Naruto shoved him to the side digging his toes into the grass before he sprung forward meeting the object of rotting flesh.

He had the full intention of ripping out his own throat, but the terrifying image of the griffon spilling its own guts open came flashing through his head and Sasuke was only able to give a splitting yell that came out as a pitched shriek. Everything became instantly blurry as his voice snagged the air rising and expanding like a flooding wave washing over everything close to the dip of hills.

Naruto winced- a cry slipping from his lips, but it was nothing compared to the overpowering shrill wail of the Legends call. He fell to his knees, hands clutching not at his ears, but his chest. It was like the painful screech was piercing his soul. Suddenly like a click the blond knew what was happening. Why a scream could penetrate to attack someone's spirit. Sasuke hit a pitch high up on the unhearing scale, and with all the magic clinging to the area the Legend was able to energize the wasting particles and bring the excess magic back to life, pushing it away from himself which became a quick defense shattering through anyone's body. And even if the boy did it naturally on the split panic side, that was a feat only a necromancers bell could do.

It reverberated, the shriek. The magic swirled away from his own mouth and Naruto clamped his teeth shut concentrating on storing his powers away so it wouldn't be sucked up. He peered towards the living dead creature. It was having a much harder time. The dead corpse withered on the grass tearing at the dirt as its vassal soul was being ripped from its emptying shell.

With a horrified face Naruto watched as it spirit was sliced and diced into tiny bits moving in a windmill and joining the magic in the air soaring away to attack anything else in the area in the same fashion. All that power, destroyed!

The cry came to a complete halt. Sasuke sat, hands on the ground, trembling in relief as his throat stopped hurting and he could swallow again. Breath again.

The fox-boy was trembling too, but for a different reason. It was as simple as that for a God to kill. Not a command, not by a weapon, magic, or even words. Just a simple sound and the Will to make everything stop. And life stopped. Naruto continued to shake looking from the broken corpse, to the area. The grass was white… dead white, everything dry and turning to ash under the current of air. Just like that the blond knew that he would have been dead too by accident, if he hadn't collected his life-force and turn it into a shell to protect himself. He would be dead right now… him. After years and years of living under the sun. All the things that he had ever done. Things he had to do still. All of it would have been gone.

Tears came freely as he shook, bending over and clasping harder to the vest hide. Since the last time he saw his father die a displeasing death he was scared again. Scared for himself. Damn everything if he wasn't allowed to be selfish right this instant! He will be! Selfish for his life… and later he'll try to think about others once his mental was not shaking with fear!

"Naruto…"

Sasuke was on his feet. Pleased with his returning yet harsh voice. Spotting the blond bent and shivering brought him staggering to his new friend. Taking a piss could wait.

On kneecaps Sasuke gripped the boy into a gruff hug, pulling the weeping younger into a tight hold. He didn't comprehend that Naruto was crying until the blond was grasping him crazily and the tearing face hidden under his chin of wet paths touching him. Not understanding why the boy was acting like this Sasuke kept his mouth closed. He didn't know what to say. Hell, he didn't know where to start asking. But right now he knew what he had to do. So with a hesitant gesture he began rubbing the blondes back in smooth circles hoping to calm his partner down. It's something Itachi did to him every once in awhile.

It seemed to work.

Short fast breathing measured into long yawning sighs.

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah… just taken by surprise."

Snorting Sasuke looked around the cove and wrinkled his nose at the disgusting smell of ashy meat. The ground was covered in white dust swirling away with the winds, the grass gone… Taken by surprise is the right thing to say. "What happened?"

From side to side Naruto shook his head. He didn't want to talk about, the memory needed to die before he could bring it up again. The blond did want to bring something so terrifying to light right now. Not when he'd start crying from it. "Can't say, not now."

The dark haired boy stared at the moons massaging the others back. A blush came prickling at his cheeks, he kept his face from his friends sight choosing to gaze at the tiny moon who was beginning to hide behind the larger. He was about to make a comment on it when a steady roll came traveling to his ears. Jerking his head down he quirked a smirk at the lazy blond who was slumping against him. "You ARE purring!"

Startled Naruto stood shaking the ash from his knees and laughing embarrassed turning away to scratch the back of his head. "W-well this is awkward! But how about we get a move on? I'm sure we could find something to eat around here in nighttime!"

Sasuke growled from the change of topic. But before he could pursue or switch it back his stomach gurgled in appraisal of the blondes opinion. Then of course the faint pulse came to life once more and he cursed putting distance between himself and the blond boy so he could whiz somewhere relatively private. Struggling momentarily, then blissful release as a shudder traveled the length of his body.

Naruto sniffed once before wrinkling his nose, becoming himself once more. "AH! Your piss is so strong!"

"W-WHAT?!!" The blushing male shouted from the other side of the camp, struck stupid.

The blond pretended to choke as he got to his feet chuckling slightly at the ragging boy who spit curses at him. He didn't mind the attention as he nitpicked the immobile Sasuke, pinching the nape of his neck and smirking when the urine trail halted in midair, muscles spasming and the dark haired youth growled. He whistled. "Oops, didn't mean to interrupt!"

Ducking away quickly from the swing of an arm the fox-boy grinned watching the other boy grumble trying to get the contents spilling out of his system again.

"Can't piss near others." Sasuke seethed darkly. That had always been uncomfortable.

"Che…" Thankfully the ravens humiliation put Naruto into a good mood already forgetting the terrible ordeal he'd just been through. Tears wiped away he popped his head to the side and stretching. They might as well start moving again, the Witching Hour was approaching. "Let's start up again! Come on or I'm leaving you behind!"


-A small village in Fire Country-

Two silhouettes stood atop of the hill looking over the small village below. Their outlines of blackness in drawn cloaks seemed even darker then the Witching Hour itself. The moons high above, the larger blocking out the other, with no light at all. The figures watched for a moment longer, registering the tiny lights of the forgotten village.

This was just a small community on the outskirts of the Hyuuga Lands, near the empty forests of the Demon Territory. These people were the usual of their kind among the outlying developments. They were superstitious. Trusted no one but their own blood. Feared the unknown, feared what they did know. They shunned magic and mechanical things alike.

Their immediate existence was to live and die as overworked, enslaved serfs. Basic intelligent cattle that went about fulfilling orders placed onto them by the lands fiefs -the Nobles which ruled over them, collecting goods and taxes to trade in the main city Konoha far away.

The 'caw' of a crow caught both the travelers attention. They were similar in height, though the second was slightly smaller with green eyes that peeked out to shift onto the village. The owner of those pale eyes leaned forward, black hair slipping from the hood to rest between the slopes on her even chest. Next to her heart face stood the companion.

You could not make note of his features, though he stood rigid and hard. As if he was a living statue beside the younger girl.

There was a brief pause before his emotionless voice broke the silence. "I am ready."

The female smiled and in an instant he disappeared, parting from her. Casually she descended the hill taking to the dirt trail. The only light in the pitiful dark meadow coming from the village like a beacon for predators to prey on. She faltered at this thought only once, she remembered her own life and her steps became heavier with indifference towards these peasants. It was her will to survive which drove her to such measures.

Approaching the town, the smell of grime and dirt sifted to her nostrils. Her cloak opened to trail like a Nobles cape behind. The muddied boots reached high to her kneecaps pounding down on the earth, leather breaches tight upon her thighs, a thick belt near the top. Her shirt a lacy white button up, making the peach freshness of her skin more announced with the fake black hair dangling from her head. The wisps flew about her shoulders as she entered the front way of this village, her shadow stretching, proclaiming her arrival. Through the years she had done much to fashion this tasteful look, for her whispered title through these parts.

As the breeze slipped through the cottages, rotten wood squealed under the force, resisting the wind. Shutters sealed tight, rosemary and garlic heads strung together were nailed to the doors, warding off the undead. Torches lit, propped on long oak poles making a path along the road on either side, stretching to the Village Commerce in the center. It was just a large Inn, but there were two villagers standing outside with weapons, playing the part of rookie guards. Inside would be the overseer of these people and their treasure.

Her footsteps echoed along the path, raising both mens heads to catch sight of the intruder. One look at her and the long curved blade sheathed at her side they visibly flinched. Weariness passed over their features as one tensed and the other tried offering a weak smile. "Mistress… you are the Hunter?"

She only nodded. Let them believe what they wanted to. The man stepped forward gesturing towards her. "Our Leader is inside at the moment, pending for your arrival."

Sliding past the men easily she dipped through the doorway to enter the tavern. People were clustered all about in hushed whimpers. All the neighbors and farmers huddling in large masses afraid to go to their homes, waiting for someone to save them from the horror that plagues their peacefulness. The faces turned to her. Some gave her hopeful expressions, others looked away in fear.

"Ah! Move aside my vassals!"

A portly man dressed in fine britches and a purple tunic came wobbling through, fat fingers dressed with expensive rings. "Welcome Hunter! I'm so happy that you came when we need you the most!"

The warrior girl made note of his wealthy status and grotesque form. A true arrogant pig if she ever saw one. This was why she didn't care much about these peoples fate. Though, business is business. "I heard that you and your people where able to catch a monster, but you need help eliminating it for good."

A flash of fear crossed the mans face which was soon taking over by triumph. "Yes we have! It took all our men to rope it down and seal IT up!" He lent forward voice lowing to a whisper. "I believe IT to be a Vampire!"

"Oh?" Her eyebrows tilted as she remained trained to the situation. "And what makes you believe this My Lord?"

Scattered voices could be heard and some chords raised higher then the others.

"Pale white skin! Like the moon! IT's ghastly!"

"And IT's eyes were hidden behind a pair of dark tinted shades as if light itself would harm it!"

"QUIET!" The fat Lord huffed turning to glare at his vassals with a red tempered face. It seemed he would want all the glory for the capture of this so called 'Vampire'. The sneering continued as he made the others back down with his disgusting presence.

"Tell me. Where do you have IT now?"

Spinning about, those devious beady little eyes set on her. She had the keen sensation that he was molesting her figure and it took all she had not to gut the fool in that instant. "Mistress Hunter… that may hold off for a bit longer. I would like to discuss the cost of your payment for destroying it." His slippery hands clamped together as the greedy glow came to his face. "As you know I do want to keep my people safe and I would give anything, but the winter months are coming… you have an idea that we need to keep as much coin as possible to buy the necessary items to keep us alive."

"Ah yes…" A deep breath she calmed herself, letting only the back of her hand twitch before continuing. "That is why I shall acquire my 'payment' from your own personal fortune."

There came the sputtering sound from the Lord, but she had swept away towards the door again in a fluid motion ignoring the shout from the portly man which sounded similar to a squealing pig. She was out the door in seconds, gripping one of the guards with strong fingers. "Take me to this monster so I may take my leave."

"V-Very well Hunter."

No sooner then they had set out, the two guards and her, to the location containing the monster with torches and weapons drawn that they stopped before a metal shed far back from the village. The door was a sight to beheld. Covered in sloshed blood from a sacrificial animal, the pendant of the First Holly God hung from a rope. The charm was made from the base of a golden coin, the red stamp on it from a melted ruby. Chiseled into this stamp jewel was the name of the First Holly God, DreamWeaver.

It had been tradition that the two gods, DreamWeaver and SilverPen had their own purposes and ceremonies for protecting different things. The gold marked DreamWeaver's favorite metal, in the shape of a coin it symbolizes the two different chances DreamWeaver has to offer; to exist and to not exist, the path into Dreams. The red ruby from the Gods heart is pure but raw, melted into the stamp of DreamWeaver's name.

"It's a charm to keep the demon in place. Hopefully the beast will see IT's evil ways and pray for the coin to flip and for IT 'not to exist' any longer…" The man shuddered looking to his companion who wasn't faring any better.

On the other side she glanced at the younger male who had broken into a sweat, clutching desperately at the torch. He was breathing hard, eyes locked onto the handle of the door. This would be easier than expected. "Stay as far back as you can. I shall go in alone."

"M-Miss?" Startled the man gave her a look of desperation.

"I am no Miss, Sir, I am a Hunter and I can damn well take care of myself do you understand?"

"Of course." Backing away the two men seemed more relieved then before, taking several steps away from the shed.

Letting out a sigh the girl looked forward at the door staring at the charm intently. Such a powerful relic… for a moment she pondered how these starving peasants were able to get something so sacred. That moment passed without a future thought.

Calming her heart to a steady beat she reached out and touched the pendant. "Creator of my existence, the dreamer who brought me forth into awareness I humbly ask forgiveness for all that I have done… for all that I shall do. May you give me resting dreams away from the nightmares so that I can continue with this soiled life of mine. Dream of me."

Another breath filled her lungs and she opened her eyes noticing that they had closed of their own will. Chancing one last peer at the men far from view she cut the lock with her magic blade and slipped inside.

The first thing that came to her was the darkness. As if it was a living coat of black paint swallowing all colors. Second was the sound of skittering. Millions of tiny shelled bodies scuffling about in the room, a hive of bugs. There's no doubt about it, he is here. A light flared across from her, a lantern upon the floor. The tiny flame rose as white fingers moved away, the soft glow chasing shadows back to show a male sitting against the metal wall. His cloak disheveled, the only thing which seemed to be in a mess. A pair of shades rested on his brow as he peered up through his coal black hair.

"It took you long enough…" His voice smooth and calm, though laced with sarcasm. "I had begun thinking that you and Sai had forgotten the plan."

A smile stretched across her face. "Far from it." Moving to him she scanned the floor searching for the tiny insects that she had previously heard, but there was none. A movement caught her eye and the last of a shinning shell disappeared in the folds of the boy's sleeve. "You know we'd never leave you behind Shino, you're our partner."

Taking a kneeling position in front of him next to the lantern she heard the faint twitching of a beetle. A shiver ran up her spine and the sound of the bug itched her scalp horribly. Irritated with the long black hair she yanked it off letting the wig hit the floor. Running her nails through pink silky hair she exhaled in relief.

"So Sakura… let's go over the plan once more before we start."


It's been awhile. I'm sorry I joined a beautition school with my brother. -.o