I have revised Chapter Eleven, Red Terror and will be updating Madara's Labyrinth 2000 again soon. Be sure to Follow, Fav and Review. Pinkboy Naberrie.
Chapter Eleven
Red Terror
"Hey Sasuke…" Naruto said once he and the Raven were upstairs that night. "I'm really sorry about what my Cousin said earlier…About us being…You know…Monsters…
"…She doesn't mean anything by it…This is all still just really frightening for her…That's all…
"I doubt Ino or Shikamaru even knew that vampires or werewolves existed before this morning. But she…Well, all of my Cousins really…They're all super nice once you get to know them…Even Sakura…
"So you can relax and make yourself at home here for a while. My Aunt Tsunade is a touchy broad and she loves to smoke and hit the bottle…But she'd never turn her back on someone who doesn't have a place to stay…Even if that someone is a vampire…"
Naruto was still feeling guilty about how terribly his Cousins had reacted when they learned he and Sasuke were vampires and Hiruzen and Biwako were werewolves. It was no surprise though really, considering how badly his own brother had reacted when he learned the truth about their parents. It would just take some getting used to.
"Don't stress about it; I don't mind it so much…Anymore…"
Naruto raised an eyebrow; confused. "Huh…?"
"Being called a Monster…" Sasuke replied quietly. "It is…Sort of what we both are after all. There's no changing that now…"
Sasuke's pale lips had formed what could easily pass for a simper, but his eyes displayed his true feelings. There was nothing but sorrow brimming within them.
Naruto pushed a laugh and scratched the back of his hair nervously.
"Yeah…You're right about that I guess…But don't worry. Once we've wasted that Madara guy you told us about, we'll be back to normal in no time…"
But Sasuke wasn't listening to him anymore. He was lying on his side across the bed Naruto had shared with Menma since they'd arrived. The room was dark now. There was nothing but a few wax cinnamon candles illuminating the room.
Naruto assumed Shizune must've lit them while they were outside on the beach, watching the sunset. The light from the candles caused the tips of Sasuke's bangs and the edges of his dark t-shirt to take on a yellowish-orange tint in the darkness. It also added an iridescent glow to his already pale complexion.
The vampire was regarding Naruto with a sleepy expression which made him feel strangely guilty in a way…
"So Naruto…This is where you sleep then…?" Sasuke asked. There was a mysterious glint in his crimson eyes.
"Yes, well; Technically no," Naruto corrected. "This is just where I've been staying with Menma. He'll never admit it to anyone but me, but he's always hated being in the dark by himself. But since he's with Sakura now…"
Sasuke yawned. His sharp white fangs burned waxy orange in the candlelight.
"Em…" The Raven said as he finished his yawn. "Seems this brother of yours is a real handful…"
Naruto shrugged this off.
"Anyway Sasuke…I'm sure you're tired after everything you've been through over the last few days. So if you need anything, I'll be right across the…"
"Wait…" Sasuke said softly. "Stay…"
He gestured to the other end of the bed.
Naruto paused. He knew it probably wasn't a good idea, but he was already moving towards the bed. He laid down on the opposite side of the bedspread and Sasuke turned to face him. His cheek was resting along his pale fingers and he had a serene expression on his face, like he was grateful for the blonde's company. He was different from the Sasuke Naruto had seen so far. The blonde couldn't quite figure him out.
"Naruto," Sasuke whispered. He was tracing his fingers along the edges of Naruto's sweater. It made the blonde nervous, but he didn't stop him.
"Why are you…?" He paused. "So kind to me…? A vampire. It doesn't make sense. Any of it. I mean…We don't know anything about each-other, and I've caused you nothing but misery since we met…
"...Because of me…You're a Monster…And now…You're stuck with the burden of killing Madara when that responsibility should've been left to me…You should hate me…So why then…?"
"Well…It's just…"
Sasuke shifted nearer to him. He had a curious look in his eyes. The sadness from earlier had dissipated.
"What…? It's just what…?"
"You're so…"
"I'm so what…?" Sasuke murmured in little more than a whisper. He was running his fingers through Naruto's golden locks now.
"Because I'm so beautiful…?" The Raven smiled. He seemed to be poking fun at what Naruto had said to him the night they'd slept together.
"It isn't…It isn't just that at all. It's more so because you remind me of somebody I loved once…"
Sasuke's fingers stopped moving. He hadn't been expecting this. He'd assumed that the blonde's attraction to him was based entirely on his physical attributes and nothing more. That was why the members of his own coven had coveted him as a lover for so long after all…It was also the reason Sasuke had explicitly refused to mate with anyone before; because they only saw him for his appearance. His sleeping with Naruto was only because the blonde had happened to catch him in a moment of weakness…But this was unexpected…
Both boys were silent for a minute or so before Sasuke burst into a laughing fit. His laugh was far more natural than it'd been on the night he and Naruto had met.
"H-Hey; What's so fucking funny you teme…?" Naruto blushed; embarrassed.
It took a bit for Sasuke to finally stop laughing. Then he said,
"Nothing's funny. It's just…No one's ever said that to me before."
"W-Well…Is that bad or something…? I'm just being honest…"
"It's not bad at all; Just weird…" Sasuke answered. "I've never had someone tell me I reminded them of someone they loved."
Nothing but silence followed. Then, before the blonde could stop him, Sasuke leaned in and pressed their lips together softly.
"Goodnight…Dobe…"
Menma felt an eerie chill in the air when he reached the bottom of the pinewood stairs that night.
He wondered if it had anything to do with all of the supernatural beings that were staying in the house with them now.
The teen didn't particularly like the idea of having a Vampire like Sasuke around, but for his brother's sake he would bear it...Because after all, Naruto was one of them now too..
Menma shivered and pulled his indigo Zelda sweatshirt over his shoulders. He wanted to push Naruto as far out of his thoughts as possible. Tonight he had more pressing matters on his mind…Like how he was going to contend with his own new-found powers…For better or worse, he was a Werewolf now. There was no changing that…
So for that reason, he had no choice but to seek out the two people that probably knew more about his kind than anyone. He would prefer not to, but it was the only way he would find out more about himself. And it was the only way he'd be able to help his brother and protect Sakura and the rest of their family in the long-run…
When Menma entered the Sitting-Room, Kushina and Tsunade were sitting across from each-other at a card-table, playing some kind of childish drinking game. They were both guzzling Sake and looked extremely intoxicated. The teen had never seen his mother drinking before, so this would be a first for him.
Aunt Biwako and Uncle Hiruzen, the people Menma had come to see were sitting with them as well. Hiruzen was sipping a can of beer with an impish grin on his face and Biwako had her feet up on the edge of the table, exhaling smoke into the air from her cigar. Behind them, Jirayia was perched on a bar-stool watching the spectacle unfold. He was flanked by two large Siberian huskies that were asleep on the floor on either side of him.
Iruka was sitting in an arm-chair smoking a pipe that was emitting a sparkling blue vapor and Shizune was standing against the back-wall with Ton-Ton the Pig. She had a disapproving glower on her face, though she did look a tad cheerier when she saw Menma.
"…I wondered where you kids ran off to. I was beginning to think you'd all gone to bed," Uncle Hiruzen said when he saw Menma. "Pull up a chair nephew…"
Menma didn't argue. He pulled up a chair between his Uncle and Aunt who acknowledged him with a tip of her cigar. Kushina and Tsunade on the other hand paid him no mind. The pair were too mixed up in their drinking charade to bother with anything else.
"Uncle Hiruzen…?" Menma asked, bewildered. "What exactly…?"
Uncle Hiruzen leaned over and spoke to his nephew in a hushed voice. Nonetheless, he was grinning…
"It's simple nephew…" The man replied. "…Just pay close attention…"
Menma raised an eyebrow and took a closer look at Tsunade who was lowering an empty shot-glass onto the table. It was far from her first serving. She looked even drunker than Kushina.
"Hah…" The blonde woman tittered triumphantly. "Top that Kushi…"
Kushina reached for another glass of Sake and downed it in a single gulp. She shut her eyes for a moment as if in pain, and then she slammed her glass back down onto the table. Menma wondered if this slippery competition was really such a wise idea…
"Whatever T-Tsunade…" The Redhead grinned. "As if I'd lose to a no-good gambling chiseler like you…"
Tsunade bit her lip in restrained agitation. She hadn't been pushed so far since that time in Venice when she was challenged by the Varcolac.
"Enough talk Kushi…Let's just see whose better…"
Tsunade wolfed down another glass. However, this time there was no devilish smirk or sassy remark that followed. Shizune cried out as her Master collapsed onto the floor unconscious. She wouldn't be waking up anytime soon.
"Well Biwako baby…" Hiruzen beamed. "It looks like you're going to owe me some serious loving later."
"Don't push your luck Hiruzen…" Biwako answered, blowing a puff of smoke in her husband's face as Shizune and Iruka scurried over to help their Master.
"Thank you! Thank You!" Kushina chirped in a hammy manner, blowing kisses into the air. "The Werewolf Queen of Romania is no more! Make way for the Red-Hot Habanero! Who's next…?!"
"Ha…! You might've bested that amateur…But let's see how you fare against the Great Alaskan Wolf Sage of Mount Fairwhether…!" Jirayia declared, leaping into Tsunade's chair like a hooligan.
"Oh please…" Kushina said theatrically. "You won't last fifteen minutes against me womanizer."
"Kushina sweetheart…" Biwako interjected. "Are you sure this is smart…? You've already had…"
"Can it Bunny-Boiler!" Kushina barked. "I'll decide when I've had enough to drink…! You're just pissed because you lost a bet on that dumb bimbo Tsunade…You should've left the Manor to me instead…I'm way more trustworthy than that silly vixen…"
Biwako gnashed her teeth. "I can't believe you're still going on about that…! That wasn't just mine and Hiruzen's decision! It was decided by the Seventh Varcolac Council that Tsunade would head the werewolves after your Grandfather and Lady Mito's deaths!"
"Oh yeah Sea-Cow dotard…?" Kushina demanded drunkenly. "…And what has that gotten you besides ten-billion dollars in debt and a Beach-House akin to a shack…?"
Biwako looked like she wanted to put a silver-bullet in her niece, but she turned to listen when her husband spoke,
"So nephew…" Hiruzen said, placing his hand on Menma's shoulder receptively. "What did you want to ask us about…? I doubt you came down here just to watch a bunch of old Lycans bet on drinking games…"
"Well…" Menma paused. "I was wondering…How can I use powers to help my brother…?"
Hiruzen and Biwako were quiet for a moment before they burst out laughing.
"You know what nephew; I like you," Hiruzen grinned. "That's why I'm going to teach you how to be a werewolf. Lycan blood runs strong in you. I'm the one who taught your father how to use the Bronze Lightning Dash. In fact, I even trained your Mother and Tsunade…"
"Thats right Menma and he's a fucking Slave-Driver," Kushina commented, flipping her Uncle off from behind as she went for another glass of Sake.
Hiruzen waved his niece off and told Menma, "I'll meet you outside by the Gazebo in fifteen minutes…Dress Lightly…"
Menma was dumbstruck. "Y-You mean right now…?!"
"Of course nephew. Our powers are the strongest at night."
"But I…"
"Don't worry so much Cub. I'll have you back to Sakura by dawn…"
Menma's cheeks burned scarlet and he dashed towards the stairs to change.
Kazumi glowered up at the radiant midnight moon with an impatient look on his face. He was beginning to get tired of wandering around in circles.
"Can't you pick up the pace a little Cecilia…?" The big Vampire asked. "Sarada said you were an expert at snuffing out these fucking creatures…"
"Be patient Kazumi…" Cecilia said. "There are thousands of other Chi scattered throughout the coast. It's like finding a needle in a haystack."
"Ugh…" Kazumi groaned. "Where in the Hell are Itachi and Sarada when you need them…?"
"Why don't you try it then Kazumi if you think you can do better…?"
"You little…"
"Quiet both of you…I think I've pinpointed their location…"
"Wait…Dude are you serious…?"
"I'm pretty sure…"
"Nice going Sethi…Which way…?"
Thursday July 5th, 2000
Raja's Comic-Book Store, Henderson Beach
Twenty-Six Days Until Project Blood-Moon
Gaara's artificial right eye shifted slightly in its socket as he watched the sunrise through the large front window of his father's Comic-Book Store. He'd been up three nights in a row preparing for the coming job. He'd wanted to learn everything he possibly could about his clients the werewolves and his enemies the vampires before it began...
The Nightcrawlers' plan to drain the life force from ever man, woman and child in Destin still had the young Monster-Hunter rattled.
To make matters worse, he now had to contend with the werewolves as well. It'd been nearly four years since he'd last crossed paths with one of their kind; not since that incident in Arizona with Yashamaru. The teenager had truly landed himself back inside the belly of the beast. It'd be just like that time in Scottland when he fought the Loch-Ness Monster, only this time he wouldn't have Yashamaru to guide him. He was on his own…
"Gaara…?"
The teen was snapped out of his thoughts by his older sister of three years, Temari. The blonde girl looked all ready for their job but she was wearing an apprehensive expression that had little to with the supernatural.
"What is it Temari…?" Gaara asked her impassively. "You and Konkuro should've been gone by now. It's impolite to keep a client waiting. Isn't that what Yashamaru taught us as kids…?"
Temari shivered uncomfortably. She hated it when her brother shut down like this before a job.
"Is that what this is about; Yashamaru…? Gaara that wasn't your fault. Gremlins are dangerous creatures. He knew what he was getting himself…"
Gaara cut her off with an eerie hiss. "You're trying my patience Temari. Get going…"
"Yashamaru loved you Gaara. If you'd been older then I'm sure the two of you…"
"Temari…You're on thin ice…"
Terrified, Temari fell silent and left to find Konkuro without another word to her brother.
Tsunade and the rest of her family were in the sitting-room when Konkuro and Temari arrived to introduce themselves.
Aunt Biwako and Uncle Hiruzen who'd decided it would be for the best to appear in disguise in order to conceal their battle strength were sitting on the sofa in their elderly forms; doddering and looking senile. Iruka and Shizune were at their side, serving them Romanian-tea.
Tsunade was up against the wall with Kushina and Jirayia, smoking a cigarette with a foul look on her face. She still looked hungover and ill from a few nights before. Ino and Shikamaru were nearby, staring at Konkuro and Temari with awkward expressions. They were still adjusting to things as they stood now.
Sasuke was sitting in Naruto's lap in an armchair near the center of the room. The Raven was wearing casual clothing; jeans and a t-shirt and his hair was parted to the side. His eyes were emitting a faint reddish glow, even in the sunlight. Naruto's hair had grown slightly longer and his skin was paler than it'd been only a few days prior. The plain reality that the two were no longer human could no longer be kept hidden…
Menma and Sakura were both perched on a chair arm atop the seat where Naruto and Sasuke were sitting. Menma's hair had turned black; his eyes gold, and Sakura who'd not colored her hair pink since before the arrival of the Uzumakis had a natural dirty-blonde streak growing just above her forehead which Menma found attractive.
"…So as I was sayin' just a second ago; This right here is called a Lancer. It's a sort of cursed stake that Gremlins hate…But it can also be used against the bloodsuckers," Konkuro explained.
"That's right…" Temari added. "We also have a number of other methods for dealing with the Vampires…Stakes, Crosses and Garlic are only just a few most of you are familiar with…"
"…But there's somethin' you should all know also; Especially those of you who're new to this. Not a single Vamp ever goes out quietly…Most explode in a mess of green and black slime…But others burst into flames or get sucked into the ground…The world is a strange place once you find out what it's really like, but it's not so bad once you get used to it…The…"
It wasn't Konkuro that finished his sentence, but instead his younger brother Gaara,
"…The world you think you're living in isn't so different from the real one that actually exists…And you can read about it every day in the Supernatural Comics…"
Everyone fell silent at the sight of their new guest. The Red Terror stepped out from the shadows with a precarious look on his face. He was dressed in a vanilla-beige poncho and he was holding a silver case which made every Werewolf in the room shudder. Naruto's first impression of the boy was that he was handsome, but also terrifying and dangerous as well…
"Gaara…!" Konkuro scolded. "Try and show up a little earlier next time will ya'…? You're way better at this stuff than we are...!"
Before Gaara could respond or anyone say anything else, the front door of the Beach-House burst open and two vampires came dashing into the room. They flew straight past the Monster-Hunting Siblings and hurled themselves at Sasuke. They pulled the Raven off of Naruto and tackled him to the ground in a crushing hug.
"Sasuke…!" The pair cried dramatically. "We were so worried! Thank goodness you're alright…!"
"Cecilia…And Seth…? What the Hell are you two doing here…?"
"We came to find you!" Cecilia cried, hugging the Raven tighter; nearly suffocating him.
"Yeah…When we heard about Sarada and Itachi we came as quickly as we could…"
Menma and Sakura exchanged amused glances as Naruto watched the scene unfold open-mouthed. Gaara who'd been reaching for his crossbow the moment he'd caught whiff of the vampires had been stopped by his siblings. He was glowering down at the two new arrivals and his good eye was twitching maniacally.
"Sethi you fucking punk…!" Kazumi hollered. "If it wasn't for your shitty tracking abilities…"
The big vampire froze over the threshold when he saw Sasuke. Shisui came into the room next followed by overweight Kai who was panting and holding his fat chest. There were beads of sweat streaming down his stupid face which soon filled with relief at the sight of Sasuke.
"Kazumi…?" Sasuke asked; flabbergasted. "You came too…?"
"Are you kidding me Sasuke?! Of course I came. You'd think I'd let these guys come all by themselves?"
"Yeah…" Kai added stupidly. "…What Kazumi said. We're all in this together…"
"Good to see your safe little Uchiha…" Shisui added with a thumbs-up.
Tsunade looked as though she'd been struck by a speeding tractor.
"Shizune…" The woman breathed, turning to face her caretaker. "I'm going to need strong booze…Lots of it…"
Later on that afternoon, Naruto, Menma, Sasuke and Sakura were in the enclosed patio with Kazumi and the other Vampires.
Cecilia and Sethi were still fawning over Sasuke and telling him how relieved they were he was alright while Menma leaned against a side-wall, watching things unfold with a weary expression on his face. Shikamaru had been right. This was becoming more and more of a drag every day. More and more he wondered how different things might've been if he and Naruto had just stayed in Grand Rapids to wait on their father.
"So...?" Sakura asked curiously. "You guys are like Sasuke's Vampire friends then...?"
"We're the best of friends!" Cecilia insisted fanatically.
"Yeah..." Sethi chimed in. "We're his favorite members of the coven..."
Sasuke simply sighed and put his palm against his forehead.
"I have to apologize for how we showed up earlier..." Kazumi said with a humble bow. "But we've been searching for Sasuke for three days. We're all just a bit worn out...
"We're grateful that the Werewolf Princess was okay with us sticking around for a while. At least until we know Sasuke is safe..."
"Don't worry..." Naruto said cheerfully. "He's in good hands with us..."
Kazumi smiled graciously. "We are all grateful."
"You've finally found yourself a mate Sasuke!" Cecilia cried melodramatically, throwing her arms around Naruto's neck; almost strangling him. "I'm so glad...!"
"I'm Sethi Uchiha. But you can just call me Seth. Everyone else does except for Kazumi," Sethi told Naruto, reaching out to shake his hand. "Pleasure to meet you my friend.
"We're all relieved Sasuke decided to find himself a mate…"
"Yeah man…" Kai agreed in a buffoonish voice. "…Now he won't have to be ash…"
"Ash…?" Naruto and Sakura asked together.
Cecilia and Sethi both paused.
"Wait…" Kazumi said. "…You mean you haven't told them about the ritual curse Sasuke…?"
"Ritual curse…?" Naruto asked. "What ritual curse…?"
"None of that matters now Kazumi," Sasuke said. "I have no plans to stay like this…"
"What do you mean by that Sasuke…?" Cecilia asked; concerned. "Kazumi what does he mean…?"
Kazumi's face hardened seriously. "What he means is…We're going to have to kill Madara…"
It was nearing Midnight when Madara returned to the Golden Atrium in the Vampire Hideout.
Two of his most loyal servants, the Vampires Konan and Nagato were there waiting for him.
Nagato regarded his Master with a courteous bow, but the woman he was with appeared to regard herself as too important for such a gesture.
Konan tightened her capes and stared at Madara with haughty red eyes before giving him a faint grin and saying,
"So my Lord Madara..." She grinned smugly. "I heard from her that Sarada and Itachi roughed you up pretty badly..."
"I almost can't stomach it..." Nagato said in a humble voice. "I never thought those two would ever betray us..."
"Not only that..." Konan said. "...But Sasori and Deidara have been going around telling everyone Sasuke beat your ass before escaping..."
Madara felt his blood begin to boil, but his servants continued on anyway.
"Those two are known for their Tall-Tales, but still...Nothing like this has happened in almost three years; Not since that time with Cecilia..."
"That's right my Lord...Maybe you can give us an explanation..." Nagato agreed innocently. "It would put all the rumors about you being weak to rest..."
Konan frowned at Nagato warningly, but Madara shook his head and raised a gloved hand to silence them.
"I could care less what those two fools say...I assure you Sasuke will be dealt with in due time...
"What I'm concerned about now is Project Blood-Moon...Instruct Yahiko and the others to put a rush on our operation..."
The Loch-Ness Monster DOESN'T exist! Those Scottish Fishermen are mad I tell you! Mad! Pinkboy Naberrie.