Ok, just for the record, I'm only going to update during the breaks, I need to concentrate on School. So only on the Christmas and Summer breaks, spring and Thanksgiving if I can swing it. But I WILL finish this story, no worries!!
BTW, if anyone draws the first half of this chapter, I will write them their own one-shot. Their choice of anime or game or whatever, I just wanna see Shukaku tied up like a hog for the spit.
Disclaimer: I own nothing~!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Chapter Ten: Rained Leaves
Clashing metal rang through the clearing as the boys practiced behind the house. Gaara and Naruto were enjoying the new weapons they had stolen, and were practicing their accuracy, using some of Shukaku's porn as the targets. Say goodbye to the books and blow-up doll you pervert!
On the porch, Shukaku growled as the boys giggled, another hole being ripped into his newest book, the first of the Icha Icha series. Kyuubi smirked as he pulled the rope tighter, hog-tying the Tanuki. The younger demon had his arms tied to his sides at the upper arms and the elbows, and then his forearms together behind his back. His legs were tied together at the thighs, knees and calves, with his ankles pulled up to connect them to his wrists. "This is for your own good, Shukaku. Porno is a perversion against nature, and you know it. It draws away from the beauty of the real thing."
"Mrrthrrtphr ffcx."
"Now now, no talking with the ball gag in your mouth. Nasty habit that," Kyuubi chided absently before instructing Naruto to keep his elbow up. Obeying, the boy threw another kunai, to have it go right between the eyes of the blow-up doll. With a pathetic whine, the doll deflated, hanging limply by the knife through her head.
"Nice shot Naruto-kun!" Gaara chirped as he threw a shuriken at an erotic poster. The sharp metal ripped through the woman's chest, taking off half of it, much to Shukaku's dismay. Gold eyes turned pleadingly up at the fox, who just smirked as he motioned for the boys to pause.
"It's time for fresh targets boys!" he chirped sadistically, suppressing a laugh as Shukaku moaned in anguish as more books and a few adult 'toys' were propped up; a whip, some toys, and a few others that REALLY do not bare repeating.
Looking at one, Naruto turned his gaze up to Kyuubi as he pulled the kunai from the blow-up doll. The plastic fell to the ground with a pathetic flop. "Tousan, please don't let Gaara and I grow up to be like Shukaku-san," he pleaded.
The fox grinned as he approached one of the afor-mentioned items. "I will tell you what Naruto-kun, if you can put a kunai right through the X," he started, scratching an X through the toy, "then I can promise you won't be like Shukaku-san, alright?"
"Ok!" And with that happy note, Naruto and Gaara went back to their practice, happily slinging away, trying to be the first to hit the X, and therefore, the first to be safe from perversion.
"Mm gnrr kll yrr ffcx!"
"You can try Shukaku, and I will defeat you as easily as I did the first time. No sand here for you to use this time, Tanuki," Kyuubi smirked as he sat down on Shukaku's shoulders, crossing his ankles as he watched the boys. A Hitodama drifted up with a dish of Sake, and the fox grinned as he took it delicately, sipping from it as he watched the boys destroy the Tanuki's porn collection.
"Very mature, Kyuubi-sama."
At the new voice, Naruto grinned as he dropped the last kunai. "Ni-obasan!" he yelled, racing up to the cat. Smiling, the woman crouched to accept the hug, squeezing him to her as he jumped into her arms. "It's been forever Ni-obasan!"
The cat laughed as she stood up, balancing Naruto on her hip as Gaara joined them. "It's only been a few months Naruto-kun!" she teased, offering her free arm to Gaara. She had met the sand-child a few months after he'd joined the two bachelor demons, and had taken him in as another nephew.
"It still feels like forever!" Gaara chirped as he hugged the cats' arm.
The Nibi laughed at this as she walked up to the porch, Naruto sliding down to his feet. Seeing the Tanuki, the woman slowly smirked. "My Shukaku, are we a little busy? You look a little, tied-up at the moment."
"Fcck yrr"
"Not if you were the last male in the Elemental Countries," she primmed, turning her nose up into the air. At her side, the boys giggled at the murderous look on the Tanuki's face.
Smirking, the fox slowly eased himself off of the younger demon's shoulders, passing the empty sake dish to a Hitodama. "Have we learned our lesson Shukaku?" he asked, hand on the ropes around his ankles. Grinding his teeth against the gag, the young raccoon nevertheless nodded, wanting out of the bindings. For cryin' out loud, he couldn't feel his thighs anymore!
Red eyes were mocking as all the fox did was unclasp the ball gag. Gagging, the Tanuki spat it out, working his jaws to loosen the sore muscles. "Release me you son of a bi-" he stopped as the gag was shoved back in, locked into place by his fangs sinking into the rubber.
"I see you've yet to learn how to respect your betters, 'coon-dog," Nibi chirped as she viciously dug her clawed toes into his back, shredding the back of his monk robes. Snarling around the rubber ball, the youngest demon thrashed as best as he could, trying to get his teeth out of the toy.
Kyuubi grinned as he pulled the demon up, releasing his ankles so he could balance. "Boys, it's time to practice illusions!" he called, pulling the Ichibi to the post where the boys had been target practicing. With the swift fluid motions that spoke of much practice, he secured the younger man to the post, giving the boys free rein over the resilient demon. When they had protested, saying they didn't want to hurt the younger demon, the fox just assured them it would prevent them from falling into perversion later in life. Of course, this convinced them. Nodding, the fox gestured for the cat to follow him, kicking his sandals off as they entered the house.
"You're early this time Ni-san. I didn't expect you for at least another month," Kyuubi mentioned as he sat down, the cat taking a plush rug in front of him.
"Yeah, well, I heard a few disturbing rumors that I had to talk to you about." she offered, rubbing her arms.
Red eyes flicked up at the cat. By now, the information on Akatsuki should have been passed to all the other Bijuu. That was one of the reasons he had the nine Hitodama, so that he could spread word to the others fast. "What is it Nibi?"
She looked away, suddenly nervous. "I've heard that, HE is back."
Kyuubi flinched, understanding why the cat was so nervous. HE was to the Bijuu, what the Bijuu were to humans! A man who had the power to control the demons, to force them to bend to his will. He shook his head, remembering his own encounter with the demon of a man. He was easily put under the man's control, and if it hadn't been for his Hitodama, he would have been forced to do what the man wanted.
That had been about eight, almost nine years ago. It had taken the sacrifice of his youngest Hitodama to shake the control over him.
Kyuubi shook his head as he looked up at the Neko. "If He was back, I'd be the first he'd come after. Remember what happened last time? He'll want revenge." A rare smile tweaked across his face as the pair ignored the screams for mercy from outside. He may not be the most loving of demons, but the fox understood why the cat was so nervous. He patted her hand gingerly as he looked her in the eyes. "Even if he IS back, I doubt he'll come after you," he tried to comfort.
The cat suddenly puffed up. "What? AM I not GOOD enough for Him?! Am I not POWERFUL enough to tempt him?!" She hissed, hair bristling at the fox.
At once, the man backed off, ears pulling back. You don't vex a cat, and a woman even less so. "No nothing like that! He'll just be wanting to go for a heavy hitter! Six-tails and up!"
"Oh?!? So I'm not STRONG enough to count? Me, a Nekomata?! The Queen of the Manipulators of the Dead?! I'm not GOOD enough?!!"
"If I see this guy, I'll tell him to go after you instead."
The cat froze for a second, her tails puffing under the illusion before turning around, only to see the now-very-ragged Shukaku, with his sleeve around his legs, his sandals still on, and his pants missing.
Kyuubi smirked at the youngest demon. "Well I see you got out of the restraints faster this time," he smirked.
"Kill. You."
"As I said, you can try."
The Tanuki's eye twitched as he pointed at the cat. "I, am going to go put some pants on, before I have to deal with you!"
Nibi giggled as she looked at him, holding her fingers close to each other over her mouth. "A bit cold, Shukaku?" she teased, eyeballing the human-style boxers the demon preferred. Shukaku did nothing, only flipped the cat the bird as he shuffled on past, his tattered sleeve dragging on the floor, sandals tapping as he retreated.
The fox sighed as his Hitodama fluttered about, already cleaning the mud and dirt left by the rude house guest. "I swear, I need to neuter him, we'd all be so much happier after wards," he muttered, rubbing his forehead.
"I'll hold him down, and you can use the knife."
As the two argued, they never noticed the boys racing into the house, or the flash of orange out in the trees...
It was a few days later, in the pouring rain, that a stranger came to the clearing.
Dark hair draped over red eyes, plastered down by the rain fall, and a thin mouth was pulled in an evil grin as he pulled an orange mask away from his face, revealing flawless pale skin. Dark armor glistened in the rain, and dark eyes were steady as he approached the villa. Dark spiky hair was lying flat from the rain, and as he came to the door, a pair of the Hitodama swirled around his head for a second before disappearing back into the house.
"It's been a long time, Kyuubi."
Red eyes flicked up, but never went past the man's neck as the fox glared from the shoji door. "Not long enough, Madara."
Black eyes were filled with dark amusement as the man cocked a head to the side. "Now now, I'd think you're not pleased to see me. After all, it's been nine years since we last talked."
Kyuubi swallowed back a growl as he gracefully eased himself to his feet, dark red flame-patterned robes trailing on the floor. The demon markings on his cheeks darkened in his anger, and the Hitodama retreated farther into the house."I'm not pleased to see you. Last we crossed, you attempted to force me to bend to your will."
A negligent shrug. "All in the name of good business, you understand that right?" Water flew as he shook his head, still out in the rain. He didn't attempt to enter the house; the fox was on a hair-trigger at the moment, so if he even tried he'd be attacked. "But ancient history isn't why I'm here now. The time is coming."
"It will never happen. I will kill myself before allowing you to control me again."
"Oh, naive little demon. You are not the only one I want. I'll need all nine of you before the end."
The growl wasn't held back anymore. "But if your goal is what I believe it is, you DO need all nine of us in order to summon your creature. I will take myself out of the equation before giving you a chance."
"But you have weaknesses. Ways to manipulate even the strongest of wills. I have heard rumors about a mononoke in the forest. One that attacks the road near here, and looks like a small child...?"
Red eyes were steady, but that immortal heart squeezed at the mention of his adopted son. Seems Naruto wasn't being as careful as he should. A casual shrug of the shoulder. "I have also heard of a well-endowed woman doing the same. Doesn't mean anything."
"What is surprising is that a spirit is doing this on your territory, and you have yet to kill it. Either it is you, which I truly doubt, or you know the spirit itself."
"Leave my territory."
"Attempt to kill yourself, and I will find this, 'spirit,' and kill him myself."
"You will not touch him."
"Oh, so it IS true."
"You will NOT touch him!"
"You know my terms."
"Swear it. On your eyes, that you will not touch him, and I will stay here. I will not run, hide, or take myself out." Kyuubi dared to look he man in the eyes, which were still black as coal. "Do it, and leave."
Madara smirked as the rain began to lift, a mist rising from the ground. "On my eyes, I will not harm anyone as long as you are still here when I come again."
Deeper in the mansion, the Nibi, who had yet to leave, sat shivering in fear at the sound of the Uchiha's voice. Despite all the bug talk of a few days ago, she was truly terrified of the man out there. A cat prides herself on her control over herself and her enviroment, and being under the Ninja's control just once was enough to shake her world.
That had been many years ago, and Kumogakure still had legends about her attack...
It was sheer luck that Shukaku wasn't on the property. The Tanuki had left earlier in the day to steal cigarettes from a nearby post. The youngest demon was the only one who hadn't been under Madara's control before, and knowing him, he would have attacked the Uchiha, and learned the folly of his ways the hard way.
She cowered as Madara's voice floated through the air again, part of her ashamed of her weakness, but the rest of her subconcious was begging for mercy. A whimper tried to force its way from her throat, but her pride managed to hold it back.
The soft patter of feet caught her ears, and she looked up to see Naruto and Gaara peeking out from around a corner. At once, they rushed to her, Gaara nervous about the Uchiha himself, and Naruto scared about how his father-figure was acting around the ninja. The blonde looked up at her from her embrace, "What's happening?" he asked with all the worry and fear of an eight-year old boy. Next to him, Gaara shivered as he buried his head in the Nibi's embrace as Madara gave a sharp retort. He didn't even need to see the man, his growing powers as a priest told him that this man was not to be trusted in the least.
The cat took a shuddering breath as she clutched the boys closer to her. "That man, is all that we fear, more of a demon than we demons ourselves. He represents all that we fear, because he is the only one who can control us." She pulled back a little as she looked the boys in the eyes. "You must never go against a member of this man's family, never fight an Uchiha!"
Earnest green eyes looked up at the amber eyes of the cat. "How can we tell if they're an Uchiha?"
"The eyes. If their eyes are red with black circles and marks, they're members of the Uchiha Clan. As soon as you know they are, never ever look them in the eyes. Look anywhere else, but the eyes."
A serious nod. "We promise, Ni-obasan."
Outside, Madara and Kyuubi were staring each other down, Kyuubi the only one who could hear the conversation in the house. Smirking, the Shinobi blinked first, conceding this time. "You just remember that I WILL be back soon."
The fox glared as the ninja turned away, walking out of the clearing. "Just remember YOUR promise, and I'll keep mine," he snarled as the man melted into the trees, eyes glowing red and a rumbling chuckle drifting in the wind.