Caranril: This has been one hella crazy summer. On top of designing lights for one musical and playing a man in another (I had a beard and everything), I've been cursed with mono. For those readers who don't know, mononucleosis is a virus that gives me a perpetually swollen throat and makes me severely tired. And because I've been doing so much already instead of resting (as that is the only way to get rid of mono), I just keep catching just about every virus that floats around. Gross. So the musicals are over and as I'm on the road to healing I have a little time on my hands. Sorry it's been so long, but every spare moment I've had is typically devoted to sleeping. And after that somewhat-lengthy explanation, on to the story!

Legolas: (sprays Lysol) Yech. You're getting your germs everywhere.

Caranril: Shut up or I'll lick you.

Legolas: Yipe! (runs away) Oh yes! And thanks to: Meira Evenstar (Thanks for waiting so long! Here's a hefty dosage of chappie.), Xaras Uchiha (Good luck with my last final, eh? Well, I did pretty well, but this only makes me realize just how long ago I actually updated. GOMENASAI!), Grammatical Error (Uwaahh! Patience is not one of my virtues either, unfortunately. I'm afraid that you're dead from anticipation. Will this bring you back to life?)

disCLAIMER: While I do not own Naruto nor any affiliated subjects therein, Kishimoto-sama does and therefore he owns my soul.

Chapter 10: Juubi no Tokage

They lost several hours waiting for Kaori to recover, but the team couldn't continue the mission without her. Sasuke and Kakashi frequented the town and scoured the borders, using their Sharingan and other heightened senses to get a feel for the valley. They could sense beings far away, further into the mountain pass. Kakashi visited many of the public buildings to hear gossip and ask questions. Sakura kept a steady eye on Kaori's seal, which seemed fade and grow stronger with her health. Kakashi wore a headset should he need to be called back to reseal the mark.

Two days passed, along with many declines to attend a feast in their honour. Perhaps when they completed what they set out to do, but Sasuke refused to relax, and Kakashi felt it wouldn't be fair to leave Kaori in Sakura's care while he went out and partied. And there was that niggling in the back of his brain that told him something bizarre was happening in this town. It was too perfect, the people were too perfect. Sure, they lived humbly, but the weather was always pleasant and the food rich. The chocolate-glazed bread before him made him drool, but he wouldn't eat while on patrol. The young woman who presented it to him was pleasing to the eyes as well. She looked incredibly disappointed that he politely refused her offering, but he forgot her as Sakura's voice fuzzed in through his radio.

"Kakashi-sensei, she's awake."

Sakura must have radioed Sasuke too, for he was already back in the room when Kakashi arrived. Kaori smiled tiredly, looking strangely ghostly.

"Sorry to have cause so much trouble," she apologized.

"What did you see?"

She looked at Sasuke. "Excuse me?"

"Before you passed out, you saw something. And you said 'dead'." Sasuke interrogated.

"Ah..." Kaori thought hard. A few moments passed and the other three watched as she struggled to remember. "Sorry. My mind's filled with the weird dreams I had. Haven't had dreams like those in...long time."

"What kind of dreams?" Sakura prodded.

Kaori got a far-away look in her eyes. "When I used to live here, I'd dream about people. People I knew or didn't. But I always felt like it was a big secret that I shouldn't tell anyone. I'd have times when I'd space off for a minute, then when I came back someone was talking to me. And they were always like 'what?'. I didn't understand myself. Later, one of my fellow 'mates told me that what I'd told them a few days ago came true. They wanted to know how I did it. I didn't know what the heck they were talking about. I guess...I did it many times. That's how people started getting afraid that I'd curse them. Apparently what I said would happen, did. It's not like I even knew I was doing it." Kaori scratched her head. "I don't really remember what I dreamed, I just know I did."

"Remember that story Temujin-san told us about the Dragon granting wishes?" Sakura said suddenly. When they looked at her, a blush flooded her cheeks. "Maybe this bijuu in Kaori is like the Dragon, since she was born here and-" Her eyes widened. "Oh."

"What?" Kakashi and Sasuke said in unison.

"I can't believe I forgot about it." Sakura smacked her forhead. "That one time in Sunagakure when Kaori was talking in her sleep, the bijuu mentioned a Juubi."

"But that would go against everything we know about the 9-tailed demons," Sasuke pointed out.

"Ah, but Shizune and I discovered that there was a great battle and the nine lesser demons defeated the most powerful of all," Kakashi said, suddenly enlightened.

"And this thing has a powerful need for vengeance against Naruto and Kyuubi," Sakura continued.

"Could it be..."

"...a dragon with ten tails."

"Not a dragon," Sasuke spoke quietly. "Like a dragon but not quite. She always looks like a lizard when the bijuu takes over."

Kaori's eyes went wider with every bit of information presented.

"Juubi no Tokage," Sakura said in conclusion. They fell silent, and Kaori glanced around.

"Well," she laughed nervously, "it's good to know there's actually a name for what's wrong with me."

Sasuke smacked the back of her head. "No such diagnosis."

Kaori could only glare back. Then her face relaxed, her eyes frozen and suddenly flaring red. She leaned closer to him and whispered, "Loyalty or love."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "What did you say?" But even as the words left his lips the red faded and Kaori blinked stupidly.

"What just happened?" Kakashi asked. Kaori glanced at him blankly.

Sakura swallowed. "Tomi-san mentioned this. She said it was a curse. And Kaori-san, you said you predicted futures without even realizing it. Was that it just now?"

"Was what who?" she looked genuinely confused. Sasuke remained still, trying to decipher the meaning of her cryptic words. Did the "or" indicate he'd have to make a choice? If so, loyalty to whom and love to what?

"Ah!" Kaori said brightly, the colour coming back to her cheeks. "When do we go find my father?"

"Sakura's been tending to you since you've been ill," Kakashi began, "so perhaps she'd like to-"

"Let's go," she said firmly. "I'm perfectly fine."

Kakashi nodded. "Good. Prepare yourselves for the mission. I will talk to Kyouhei-sama before we leave." He caught a glance of Kaori's pleased expression as he left the room. The fact that she had a fortune or whatever that was for Sasuke made him curious as to whether she had one stored away for him, waiting to reveal itself at the right moment. "Loyalty or love"? How could either of those apply to Sasuke? Loyalty made some sense in that it had been a weakness in Sasuke's life. But love? Kakashi knew Sasuke fairly well, mostly because he reminded him so much of himself, but if he was anything like him...Kakashi almost stumbled. If Sasuke was anything like him, he'd be in love with Kaori too! His heart fluttered faster, recalling the situation he'd found them in just a few days ago. He tried to convince himself it was just the lust of young people, but his heart wouldn't stop pounding.

"Oh." Kakashi realized he was outside Kyouhei's office. He bit his tongue to summon saliva to his dry mouth and knocked on the door. A tired voice called him in.

"Ah, Hatake-san, good to see you again. I suppose it's too much to hope that you're here for pleasure?"

"Sorry, Kyouhei-sama. Business. We're preparing to leave, and I was wondering if you'd gathered any other information since we last spoke."

Kyouhei shook his head wearily. "The people who live in the mountains are there because they want to be left alone. So trying to see them is quite difficult. And many of them are alone for good reason: deformed, crazy, outcast, or simply anti-social. There's even word of a genius who sets up elaborate traps to keep people away. It's difficult to say whether or not that's true, for anyone who wanders that way never comes back, but then no one has even met the man. And the disappearing folk could have just fallen to the wills of the wild."

"I'm sure they did." Kakashi felt like the genius was exactly who they wanted to look for, although he wasn't sure why Kyouhei hadn't mentioned him before. Maybe he figured Kakashi would insist on meeting the man, and he didn't want any more casualties. Which meant the old man underestimated Shinobi. "I would like to see this man first."

Kyouhei sighed. "I knew you would say that. You seemed like the kind of man who'd try the hard way first."

"Not the hard way, just the most logical."

"If I tell you, I insist you take a guide with you. This man knows the valley better than anyone around, and if anything he'll keep you on the right path."

"I assure you it's not-"

"I insist." Kyouhei's tone expressed impatience and his eyes irritation.

"Hai. It would be an honour to receive your aid." Kakashi felt another twinge in the back of his mind as malevolence suddenly radiated from the kindly man. The face softened and yellow teeth smiled. But the eyes remained the same.

"Good then. Kaoru, please come in."

The name rung a distant bell in Kakashi's memory, but he dismissed it as being so similar to Kaori's name.

"Ready fo' me, Jiisan?" A man with long lavender hair and brown eyes entered the room. Kakashi kept his expression still, as did the other man. They clasped hands as Kyouhei introduced them to each other, but despite the formal gestures and politeness, eyes flashed back and forth. Kakashi's one filled wish resentment and wariness, while Kaoru's held lust and curiosity.

"Good luck on your mission, Hatake-san. I hope Kaoru-kun will service you well."

Kaoru gave Kakashi a look that said "I certainly will." A surreptitious shiver went down Kakashi's spine. What a creep. As soon as they left the building, Kaoru dropped all formalities.

"Well ma scarecrow, it's been a long time, huh?"

"Let me remind you, Kaoru-san, that you are here to help me and my team with our mission. There are certain rules you will be expected to follow."

Kaoru pouted. "But Kakashi-kun, the only one I can think 'bout since that night is..." He pointed a finger in Kakashi's face and with the other hand formed a circle and made a jerking motion. Kakashi waved him away.

"What exactly are you doing here, anyway?" he asked, irritated.

"This is where I'm from. Been meanin' to come back one day, and it jus' happened to be when ma scarecrow visited. Ryuu-sama must be smilin' at ma fortune."

"Ryuu-sama?"

"Ryuu-sama watches out fo' everyone. He made us, he takes care of us, punishes us fo' bad deeds and rewards us fo' good."

"You wouldn't happened to have heard of the Ryuu no Shou?" Sakura had told him of the information Tomi and Temujin had presented while he'd been off getting drunk.

Kaoru stopped suddenly. He beheld Kakashi suspiciously. "How have ya heard o' that?"

"Ah, just some rumours going around." Kakashi chuckled light-heartedly. "I was kinda hoping you'd be able to shed some light on the subject."

"Ryuu no Shou is an ancient order carried on by only tha most devoted o' servants." Kaoru continued walking, jabbing his thumb at himself proudly. "I've been a member fo' nearly fifteen years now. We keep Ryuu-sama happy, cause he's does lots for us. All he asks fo' is a sacrifice once ev'ry ten years."

"Why ten years?"

"It's ta allow him ta see the bad fortunes." Kaoru's eyes darkened and a creepy smile spread on his handsome face. "Without tha sacrifice, all Ryuu-sama can see is the good, but how can he take care o' his people when he can't see the bad that's comin' fo' them?"

"How long has it been since the last sacrifice?" Kakashi already knew the answer. Maybe this was why he'd been bothered since he came here.

"It's not ma job to keep track," Kaoru said off-handedly, but his eyes betrayed that the time for a new sacrifice was very near. "But ya needn't worry, Kakashi-kun, cause the sacrifice's gotta be a virgin. Pretty sure yo' not a virgin," he finished smugly. Kakashi glared at him, mostly indignant that the man had gotten the better of him. And he'd seen his face. Damn foreigner.

As they entered the pub, Kaoru mentioned that had he known Kakashi was staying here he would have paid him a nightly visit. Kakashi didn't answer, finding silence was the best way to deal with this man. When they reached the room, the rest of his team was up and ready to go. Kakashi was already irritated, and while seeing Sasuke's expression of dislike of their new guide, Kaori and Sakura made things worse by gaping at the beautiful samurai. Kaoru seemed extremely interested in Sakura.

"I've never met a woman with such lovely pink hair," he cooed, causing a hot blush to flood Sakura's cheeks. Kaori stifled a girlish giggle. Kakashi and Sasuke simultaneously suggested they begin.

Traveling in a group of five was incredibly awkward, especially since the one who wasn't a Shinobi was leading the rest of them forward. Sasuke and Kakashi didn't allow Kaoru to have complete control. They kept an awareness of everything around them, and Kakashi noted that the air had changed. It felt lighter, smelled fresher. Of course that could just be because they'd left town. But the mood changed too. It was like some great oppressor had taken a break and everyone could be more at ease. Which made Kakashi even more uneasy.

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Loyalty or love. Loyalty or love. Loyalty or love. Those three words would not let Sasuke rest. He refused to sleep even with someone on watch: that Kaoru character was suspicious. But his brain wouldn't stop furiously working over those words. Both were ambiguous to him, for loyalty meant nothing but that you were owned by someone else, and love only meant the obsession many had felt for him through his life. He'd found new meaning besides revenge, but he wasn't entirely sure what that meaning was just yet. He didn't want to be indentured to Kakashi the rest of his life, but he doubted ANBU would ever let him have the freedom he'd tasted as a Nukenin.

A rustling cause him to snap back to reality. He was aware of someone leaving the camp, and a quick peek showed him that Kaori's bed was empty. At least Kaoru was still there, keeping his hands to himself. Sakura slept peacefully, and Sasuke felt a pressing need to find Kaori. If she was wandering away under the influence of Juubi, who knows what might happen to her.

She moved silently through the grass, but Sasuke moved even more silently. Surprise may the only way to stop her, since direct contact wasn't an option if the Chakra field surrounded her. He froze when a voice spoke up.

"Kaori-san, you shouldn't be up, someone might think you're an intruder." Kakashi stepped forward.

"I know, but I couldn't sleep and Sasuke kept tossing around and it bugged me."

Sure, blame it all on me.

Kakashi smiled wearily. "I'm sure he's got a lot on his mind."

"I keep wondering if we do find my father, what would I say? 'Hi Dad'? I've never called anyone 'dad' in my entire life. Would he be willing to call me 'daughter'? Or is calling a monster 'daughter' too weird?"

"You're too hard on yourself. If we find your true father, all I can imagine is that he'll be surprised. I don't think he'll see a monster, but a woman who's done a lot with her life despite his absence. And perhaps that will make him want to be a part of it."

Kaori laughed bitterly. "You know, Konohagakure spoiled me. I was weirded out at first by the fact that nobody ran away screaming when seeing me, but now that I've adjusted to that, coming back here is like a bitch-slap. It's reality."

Sasuke mentally shook his head. Sometimes, Kaori really did need to be bitch-slapped.

"So what's Konoha? An illusion?"

"Perhaps. You believe that Shinobi are the protectors of the weak and serve those in need. But then you come here and you realize it's all a fairy tale."

"How do you know the people here aren't the ones stuck in an illusion? The illusion that cruelty and ignorance can prevent those who are different from existing? The belief that some great Dragon rules the land and grants great wishes. Whether or not everyone believes that, it influences everything the people here do. They just can't see that this belief doesn't help their lives. Whatever each Shinobi believes can vary, but there is only one truth: justice. Some use it, some don't, and others have an incredibly warped sense of it. But I see a sad lack of justice here, and I believe that Temujin's efforts may help change that. We just don't have enough Temujins in this world."

Kaori's face fell, obviously thinking about her last words with him. "'You people are the demons.' That's what I said to him. That...sucks. I'm a sucky friend."

"You were emotionally attacked. It only makes sense to defend yourself."

"Do you ever wish you could do that? I mean, most of the time you seem pretty chill, but do you ever just want to pummel someone for saying something horrible?"

"Plenty of times." Kakashi looked at the sky. The effect was dizzying, but he couldn't tear his eyes away. "But years and years of training and a superiorly strong will keeps me in check."

"I think you may have insulted me just now."

"Perhaps." Kakashi looked at her, his eye twinkling. Kaori was a bit taken-aback.

"Oh yeah well? Yeah." She crossed her arms and looked at the stars.

"Is that all you have to offer?" Kakashi tried not to chuckle.

"I'm trying to be calm and collected like you. So yeah, that's all I have to offer."

Kakashi allowed himself to laugh this time, and he could see a smile twitching at the corner of her mouth. In a moment of recklessness, stupidity, or just plain bravado, he slipped his mask down, gave her a peck on that corner of her mouth that tried so hard not to grin, then replaced the mask. Her hand flew to her face and she stared at him with such shock that he couldn't look directly into her eyes for fear of spilling his heart.

"Well, time for me to go back to patrolling. Get some rest." And he walked away.

Sasuke wasn't sure if what he'd witnessed was real or not. He did remember Kaori saying she'd kissed Kakashi, but hadn't thought much on it til now. It just seemed so unlike Kakashi. He was never seen without his pervy books, and lately he hardly went out. Of course, Kaoru's presence might have something to do with it. The man looked at Kakashi with such lust that it made Sasuke feel sick. He stayed hidden while Kaori passed, watching her expression carefully. She blushed furiously, but she was also pleased. Something stirred inside and Sasuke felt disappointed that he wasn't the one who cause her to look so happy. Shocked, he quickly quelled the feeling. He must maintain control. Last time he'd allowed himself some slack, he nearly had sex with Kaori. No more letting emotions get the best of him. That resolve was immediately lost when his heart raced as a frighteningly familiar scream arose from camp.

Sakura.