Gǔjiàn Hé Gǔqín

In the vastness of the crumbling world there was a man and a sword. He spoke little and knew no smile. He was burdened with the will of a higher power and the actions of the past that lay beyond his reach and redemption. A pain was set upon him on the nights of the waning moon that no word or reason would diminish.

He was bound to the last by a fate unwanted.

是的...

"What?" Naruto exclaimed. "No, you can't. Orochimaru, how can you say that?"

The elder turned with an irritatingly blank expression. "Words are simple to speak. That is why there is speech. As for the nature of this proposal, I do consider it to be correct. I understand that you believe differently but I did not ask it of you,"

He gritted his teeth. A low growling sound rumbled in the back of his throat. He clenched his fists but said no more. No word was sufficient to the anger boiling within him.

"And you!" he snapped. "How can you stand there and consider it? Don't you know what that would mean?"

Sasuke barely glanced at him. He didn't deign to respond.

Orochimaru responded simply. "I made a genuine proposition, Naruto. It would be foolish to not consider it,"

He whipped around, throwing his hands in the air. "If you bring back the dead you're playing with life! Life and death have to balanced! Don't you know that? Don't you know what you could do? Sasuke, you have to decline, you have to!"

Sasuke looked to the elder. "What makes you so sure that I want people to return?"

"It is for the same reason that I will give to Naruto's questions," he tried to appear kinder. "In your case, Sasuke, the acquisition of such a remedy need not be for yourself. If you so appreciate living solitary life you may use it to bargain with others. That, yes, Naruto, is something that comes with a great risk. However, I feel that I have no need to explain the perils that come of the Special Jade. If that article remains in this world, remains scattered to all creatures, there is a greater chance of suffering and death. One resurrection can save countless lives. How can you be opposed to that?"

The blond stammered. He opened his mouth as if to argue but no words came. The frustration was evident in his eyes. He clenched his fists and scowled at the ground.

"I…" Sasuke looked back at the centre piece of the chamber. "I will aid you in find the remnants of the article. However, I have not decided whether I will take your offer, nor have I decided to aid you in recovering all of the article."

Orochimaru bowed. "Thank you,"

Naruto tore at his hair with a sudden strangled outcry. He shook his head profusely but he knew that he had no argument to make. He let out a long sigh and slumped forward. Orochimaru turned to scold the youth.

Sasuke turned his back to them. He had no true concern about what he was going to do. His agreement was not truly made. If he changed his mind it wouldn't adversely affect him.

"Can you fight?" he asked suddenly.

The bickering was silenced.

Naruto responded first. "I won't fight if I don't have to,"

Orochimaru bowed. "I am afraid that I have little skill in such matters,"

Sasuke studied the great smoking object in the centre of the chamber. "We should search this place,"

Naruto straightened up. "I don't want to leave this guy here. You two can go ahead. I can manage on my own,"

Orochimaru frowned. "I fear that this is not a place where a person should be alone. Do you believe that you are strong enough?"

He nodded. "I understand the dangers. I understand the risks. You two can go ahead. I promise that I'll be fine on my own,"

Sasuke began to make his way around the great smoking object. His gaze fluttered between it and the walls. He struggled not to stumble or lose his footing in even the first few strides. Orochimaru easily came to walk at his side. His elder seemed to experience far less difficulty.

"I apologise for my friend," he sighed quietly. "I heard, not too long ago, of his father's death. His father was a Buddhist and he died doing what was right for the people. His death affected Naruto. The boy was unable to continue as he had done previously. That is why he has come to despise death against all creatures. As he is he could not become a Buddhist. There would be too many changes required of him. He does what he can, however, to follow devoutly in his father's steps."

Sasuke frowned faintly. His eyes narrowed slightly. They were almost at the opposite side of the chamber to Naruto and the entrance. The air remained suspicious but there had been not even the faintest shadow to arouse suspicion. His lips settled to a grim line. Orochimaru saw everything. He was distracted by thoughts of his father.

No matter how he tried he had no memory of the man; of there ever being such a man.

"Perhaps," Orochimaru frowned. "Perhaps I was incorrect. I see no demons."

Sasuke glanced at the elder. "Do you think they could have escaped?"

He shook his head. "It is more than possible for a demon to kill silently. However, I feel no presence here. I should have seen or heard something if there had been an escape. This may simply be a mistake on my part. Tsuki is not as she was, either. I fear that we may have wasted everyone's time. I apologise for that,"

The body was beginning to come in to view. He was still lying there, unmoving, and in the exact same position that he had been in when they had left. He wasn't twitching or trembling any more. Naruto appeared after that. He paced backwards and forwards, muttering to himself. He clenched and loosened his fists as his pacing began to turn erratic.

"Naruto,"

He looked up. "We were wrong,"

He appeared paler than before. The confidence had been drained away completely. He opened his mouth as if to speak but no sound would come. His eyes flickered back to the body at his feet. The man had ceased all movements.

"This…" Orochimaru frowned as he kneeled by the body. He pressed his fingers to the man's throat. "This must have been a miscalculation on my part. I admit my error."

Naruto's jaw clenched. "You miscalculated? Someone is dead! How can you miscalculate that?"

He raised his head. "That is a simple error. There were too many factors to consider, some that no human could consider reasonably. However, as this is the result, I find that the appropriate course of action now is to bury him. I believe that you have some understanding of burials,"

Sasuke glanced up at the chamber ceiling. The smoke created a thin mist that danced in and around the deeper shadows. Still there were none of the promised demons. He frowned. It was almost disappointing.

A slate stood tall though was terribly slanted. There were no words carved upon its ragged surface. Naruto stood with his hands pressed together as he uttered a funeral chant. There was a large, uneven mound where the body lay on a bed of hard desert sand and ancient layers of rock and stone. He tried to remain as composed as possible in the unfortunate circumstances of the man's burial.

Sasuke glanced back over his shoulder. He retreated around a sharp corner. Shō led the way with a series of muted chirps. His strong wings beat in the still air. His keen eyes scoured the different passages before diving down to the ground. He landed by a small box that was enclosed in the embrace of a metal chain. Shō chirped loudly.

Sasuke's confident steps faltered. He peered at it for a long moment. Then, gradually, he drew out some of a strange power that had come to his possession. He extended his hand out and it materialised leisurely. He pushed his hand away, turning his palm first to the sky and then in the opposite direction from himself. It drifted from his palm.

The shape that, once apart from him, it began to take was queer. It was a dark oval shape as though a giant egg too big to fit solely on his palm. There were green lumps that covered its back. It hovered above the earth. A long strand, like a tail, flicked out. The whole creature then began to fade from sight entirely.

"Do you dislike death?"

Sasuke turned. Shō squawked as though in warning. He already knew who it would be. There was no surprise at all on his face when he met the Orochimaru's strangely, continuously calm gaze.

The elder almost laughed. "Is there a reason that you left the burial? There are questions being asked. I don't suppose that you care for such trivial matters. I am merely warning you of any suspicion that may come at a later time. It would be wiser not to arouse any suspicion at all,"

Sasuke inclined his head lightly. "Thank you for the advice,"

Orochimaru allowed a shallow smile. "I see you have found a little gift. I recognise it from a book that I had read once, long ago. It has strength to be borrowed, if so required,"

Shō flapped his wings in what seemed to be impatience.

The elder bowed. "I see I am unwanted. I shall leave first,"

Sasuke soon turned back to the small box. Orochimaru paused, glanced back, and turned to a different passage. This one was unoccupied, save for the soft footfalls of Tsuki coming behind him. He strode on without pause, without slowing. The tall walls were enough there to conceal them and none of the others had shown enough skill to detect their presences otherwise.

He smiled at the sight of the end. "Do you intend to dissuade me, Tsuki?"

She shook her head, rasping hoarsely. "My Lord knows what is best. I merely stand by his side,"

He glanced at her. "Tell me truly think,"

"I…" she faltered. "I believe that my Lord is kind. I believe that my Lord is capable of many feats. I believe that my words will remain only as words in your ears, my Lord. I have no other words for you."

He looked ahead again. "That is wise,"

His left hand slid within the confines of his right sleeve. His fingers found contact with a rough surface almost at once. He smiled to himself and drew it out. The paper was rectangular in shape. A thin black border surrounded it. The paper was in the most favourite and treasured colour of the emperor – the one he coveted for himself – yellow.

He raised it slightly, murmuring in a voice only slightly different to his usual tone. The words that came were ancient and as quiet and solemn as a burial of a dearly beloved person. Tsuki strained to hear him. She could not. He had little to say to ensure that his will was enforced. The paper shimmered, morphing, drifting upwards and lengthening with grace.

It took the form of a gilded dragonfly but it maintained four wings. Each was set to a rounded shape. Its small face turned as it looked left and then right and then eventually looking up. It didn't cower at the sight of him. He was used to people behaving in that way towards him.

"Now," he murmured. "Listen to me. I have a task for you. I expect it to be accomplished in this one day…"

Author's Note: I am suffering with my terrible skills in reading Chinese. Firstly, I have not the faintest idea of whether it is stupidly Simplified or Traditional. Even if that were not the case I would have terrible trouble in translating it. My listening skills are terribly few as well. That is why, once again, this chapter was racing for the deadline. I have not the foggiest why it is always this one. I find that to be exceedingly unfair. However, it would be wrong of me to say that I am not enjoying it somewhat. I may even do something akin to this with the glorious sequel! I fear that none of you understand precisely how marvellous it is.