Author's Note: Hey guys! Sorry I didn't get this out sooner. I just got out for summer break and it has been a pain. The following fan girl jubilation is a major spoiler. Do not read unless you have read Naruto Manga Chapter 449.
SPOILER START: KAKASHI IS STILL ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU MASASHI KISHIMOTO!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SPOILER END.
Sorry. I had to get that off of my chest. Anyway I will be going to camp next week (6-12) and will not be able to write anything until Friday 12 when I get to my grandparents house. Don't worry. I'll make sure to pack my laptop. I can't think of anything else at the moment. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any other character. Except Kasumi and her pack.
Chapter 11: Darkness and Nightshade
"Surrender!" The cold edge of a knife pressed against my neck. C.K froze. Sniffing the air I realized that he had a kunai at his back. And also his sharingan eye was open.
"Surrender or die!" The voice hissed in my ear again.
"What if I don't want to do either?" I asked curiously.
"Die it is." At a silent signal the fighting began. Tala jumped an unsuspecting man and Kakashi turned the tables with his man with incredible speed. I pushed back with my legs, elbowing the stranger in the stomach while spinning him around so he landed on the ground with both hands held in the middle of his shoulder blades. I raised my fist and brought it down hard on the back of his neck snapping it clean. One down. I stood and whirled on another breaking his ribs and I think popped his ACL. He howled with pain and limped away. I let him go.
Once an enemy was injured and they howled for mercy you let them go. Another one fell under my claws. And another. And another. By now I had killed four and wounded two others. They kept coming. How many are there? Well, as many as there are I'll keep fighting until every last one of them drops dead. I jumped someone else who seemed very formidable and started to claw at him. I sank my fangs into his shoulder as he growled. He threw me down with as much force and ease as throwing off a kid. I think I took him for granted.
At that moment someone landed down on my back. My arms and legs gave out and the breath knocked out of me as my torso hit the floor. A hand pulled my head back by my hair and then my face slammed into the ground. Again and again he did this. I don't know how many times. The blood flooded my mouth where I had bitten myself. I heard the crack of my nose breaking and the little air I could get in was cut of. My head came up and I sucked in air desperetly. I was able to get in a mouthful before an overwhelming drowsiness overcame me. I opened my eyes but found I couldn't see anything. Confused, I was faintly aware of my head dropping to the floor and my eyes... my eyes were too heavy. Darkness closed in around me. I had to keep my eyes open. But they were so heavy. And I was so sleepy. Can't..keep...them.....
OOO
The enemy pulled back suddenly. Kakashi was fighting a thin man with a hooked nose. That is until the thin man vanished. Looking around Kakashi saw all of them retreating. Tala had killed two of them and had wounded three others. He himself had killed three and wounded four more. But more dead lay on the ground than what should have been. Kasumi must have killed four at least. Speak of Kasumi where was she? Kakashi could smell her scent. Faintly but surely. Tala looked up at him from where she had been sniffing a wound on her side. She glanced around unconcerned. That must mean that Kasumi was safe.
"Where's Kasumi?" Tala asked in a mildly curious voice. Those words sent a forbidding feeling into him. Kakashi looked at her sharply.
"You mean you don't know?" Tala now looked fully attentive.
"What do you mean 'you don't know'? If I knew where she was I wouldn't ask you. I have the mind link with her, not you!" By the end of her statement her voice had gone up an octave.
"Then use it! See where she's at!" Kakashi exclaimed.
"I can't. The connection has been cut off." Tala looked like she was starting to panic.
"What? How did that happen?"
"That sometimes happens if one or both of us gets knocked out cold."
"Well I can smell her. She must be close by." Tala raised her head and sniffed the air. Her head snapped towards the entrance and she leaped over the bodies to land at a particular spot. Kakashi followed with ease. Tala flung a body aside and stared at a red spot on the floor. With growing wariness Kakashi kneeled down and touched the spot. Bringing the fingers up he sniffed the blood. It was Kasumi's. Kakashi studied the dent in the earth and the tracks around it. His ANBU training kicked in.
"It looks like she was knocked down. Here in the middle the impression is deeper than the rest of the body. Someone must have been sitting on her midsection, pinning it down. And here where her head is a bigger impression than should be. Look around the edges. It's all different. Her head must have been smashed against the ground again and again. But Kasumi is no longer here. Why?" He glanced up at Tala. She stood rooted to the spot. It looked like she wasn't going to help anytime soon.
Let's see. Tala said the connection was broken only when one or both of them were unconscious. Or if they chose to. So either the enemy knocked her out and took her as prisoner or she was stalking them and didn't want to follow. Kasumi's head being smashed into the ground seemed to be the only wound she received. Miss Steel Nerves, backbone, kick-but warrior wouldn't pass out over a simple head smash.
"Nightshade." I looked up at the voice. Tala was staring off to the side. Kakashi followed her gaze and saw the herb lying on the ground not two feet from where we stood. He looked back down at the blood spot as it came together in his mind. Kasumi was knocked down on her stomach and pinned down by someone sitting on her back. They had grabbed her head and smashed it against the ground more than likely breaking her nose in doing so which explains the blood.
After a beating, they stuffed nightshade down her throat. A very powerful herb. It would make anyone fall into deep sleep. But you had to have the right amount. Too much would kill you. Too little and the herb will not work. Since she was no where in sight they must have taken her and retreated. So they were after Kasumi. The ones who attacked them may very well be the threat to her pack. And now they have the leader. Kakashi heard a strange noise and looked up. Tala was shaking uncontrollably and was having a hard time breathing. At first Kakashi thought she was sick. Her head lifted and he found himself staring into wild eyes full of wrath.
"I will kill those heathens. I will rip their entrails out and strangle them with it. Whoever dared to hurt Kasumi will feel my claws." Her voice had changed frighteningly to a creature beyond reason. Kakashi could feel her lust for blood; he could taste it in the air. He watched stunned as her eyes turned red. Kakashi lurched forward and grasped Tala by the shoulders. He brought his face close to her muzzle and stared into her eyes. This was exactly how Kasumi would act before changing. Kakashi was always there to stop her from going all out. That experience came in handy now.
"Tala, stay calm. You're no good to anyone if you get yourself killed. Breathe in, breathe out. Slowly. Calm. There you go." He continued in a firm but soothing voice. The red receded from Tala's eyes as her breathing returned to normal.
After a while she said, "Thank you Kakashi. I will kill them. Don't you dare touch them. They're mine." She growled and a dangerous glint in her eye told Kakashi not to argue. "Tell me. Are you the clone or the original? I couldn't see you at times throughout the battle."
"The clone." Kakashi answered. Tala nodded. Then she sniffed at him finding a long and deep cut on his arm. She began to lick it and growled when Kakashi tried to pull away. So he stayed there while a wolf licked his wound clean.
"Do you know who they were? The ones that attacked us?"
No. Kakashi jumped at the voice in his head and heard a chuckle at his reaction. Don't worry it's just me.
"Can't you talk?" Kakashi asked, irritated at having someone invade his personal thoughts.
No. I need to clean your arm. Don't worry. I won't go through any of your memories. I promise. Kakashi relaxed slightly although he was still a little bit uneasy.
"Do you have any idea who they are?"
No.
"None whatsoever?"
Well...they may be the Duma Clan.
"Who?"
Duma Clan. They are big, yellow cats with spots and run like lightning. They have mind abilities like us except they remove their souls completely from their bodies. They can wonder the land and enter any living body that is not trained to shield themselves from them.
"Like the Yamanaka clan's special mind techniques."
Yeah like them. Except when one of the Duma enters another body they still have control over their own body. Also they are completely aware of the surroundings of their body.
"How is that possible?"
I don't know. They are so advanced in their mind techniques. We are able to slip into one another's body but have no control over our own. Our bodies go limp as if we're unconscious.
"Why do you think it's them?"
Because only a Duma knows how to sneak up on a wolf. I didn't even sense them until they were right behind us and then it was too late. Also they are known for their exceptional knowledge of poisons and sleeping drafts.
"Why would they want Kasumi?"
"I don't know." Tala murmured aloud. Kakashi looked at her in surprise. He hadn't even noticed she had stopped licking his arm. He glanced at his arm and did a double take. The wound was completely gone.
"My saliva has healing powers. For Kasumi and the rest of the pack it only speeds recovery. For anyone else it heals their wounds immediately." She answered before he could ask. Kakashi sat a moment trying to keep up with everything that was happening. Things were happening too fast.
"What do we do now?" Kakashi asked looking up at Tala. The she-wolf stood so still for the longest time. Kakashi was beginning to think that she didn't hear him when she looked up at him.
"We will track them down and bide our time. When the time is right, we strike." With that she turned and loped to the waterfall. Kakashi stood, hesitated, put the fire out, then followed Tala. Tala stopped at the foot of the waterfall and inhaled the air around them. When Kakashi was close enough to her he heard her mutter, "I am coming. I will find you Kasumi. I swear." With a low growl Tala snapped her eyes open and whipped her head around towards the forest. She lunged forward and sped off at top speed leaving Kakashi slightly behind. Anger and a fierce killing intent flared unexpectedly in Kakashi's gut. He glanced back at Tala and realized it was coming from her a split second before he heard.
If you're there goddess help us now. With a glance up at the moon Kakashi found no answer.
OOO
Darkness. Black. Wet. Pain.
Drip. Drip.
Burning. Cold. Ache.
Drip. Drip.
That was all I knew of the world. And the world didn't make any sense. It was a mess of lights and darkness. Of faces and colors and sounds and voices. For a long time I slept then awoke to a swirl of nonsense only to sleep again. In those few moments of consciousness I could only think of one thing. Through the fog of my mind all I wanted was to wake up. Every time my eyes fluttered open I silently screamed. Get up. Yell. Talk. Do anything. Demand to know who took me. What they wanted. Where my pack was. And where the heck was I. But each time I got so sleepy. I just can't keep my eyes open. Just like at the fight.
Pain. Cold. Burning. Itching.
Wet...Darkness....
Drip......drip.......
The world came back again and I didn't want to open my eyes. I just couldn't take the confusion. It made me dizzy. So I stayed still and continued to breathe slowly and steadily as if I was still asleep. I waited for the darkness to take me again but it never came. Ugh. The pounding inside my head tells me that my attempts to avoid a headache were in vain.
But through the headache I began to realize something. I could distinguish the sounds from one another. I could tell what they were instead of them being a bunch of jumbled up noises. The fog disappeared from my mind and I could think clearly. Excited as I was, I kept my eyes closed so I could take in my surroundings without raising suspicions.
I lay on a hard, cold, bumpy floor. The temperature was quite warm yet it smelled slightly damp and earthy. The air felt close and it felt like it was slightly smothering me. I must be in a cave. The drip drip noise confirms it. I absolutely hate being underground. It feels like I'm about to be squished by tons and tons of earth. Enough with my whining.
My hands and feet are bound with an exceptionally strong rope. I have a creeping suspicion that is confirmed when I concentrate chacra to my hands to find I don't have any. This rope must be eating my chacra or something. My stomach feels like a hole in my midsection and other than my headache I felt light-headed. I must have been starved. Ow.
The headache's turning into a migraine. It feels like the one time I got drunk and had a bad hangover. I never touched alcohol since. Thinking over the times I woke up they must have kept drugging me. That's not good. All those drugs in my system with no food and no way to break it down is dangerous. Don't these people know what they're doing? Footsteps reach my ears and I watch my breathing and relaxed my body. They came closer and soon stopped beside me. I felt something nudge me.
"How long till she wakes up?" Asked a rough sounding voice.
"She should already be awake." The second voice sounded youngish.
"Do you think we gave her too much nightshade?" The first asked. Nightshade! These yahoos were giving me nightshade!? As in the poison nightshade!? They'll kill me! I gotta get out of here. Next they'll be feeding me a caffeine to keep me awake.
"Are you questioning my ability to give the right amount of nightshade?" A third voice frostily asked. I tuned in my hearing more and faintly picked up the sound of soft paw steps making their way towards me. A familiar scent reached my nose. Duma Clan! Well, that makes me feel slightly better. They know their potions.
"No Tikani! Of course not!" I heard the soft swish of clothes as the two yahoos (as I put it earlier) bowed.
"Get back into your bodies! No need for that useless human body anymore."
"Hai Tikani." they said in perfect unison. They sped out of the room and it was completely quiet save for our breathing and the drip of the cave water.
"I know you're awake. I want to talk with you alone Alpha Kasumi." I stiffened then chuckled. "Nothing gets by your eyes Tikani Adanna." I opened my eyes and sat up as best I could in my current tied up position. I looked at the Duma she-leader. Her slim golden body was covered with black spots in a unique pattern. Her underside was white fur that looked as soft as down feathers. But I mostly looked at her face. Adanna had an unusual black stripe that stretched from the top of her head all the way down to her nose. I glance down at the lithe small body and glanced down at my own dirty body. "I thought we had a deal Tikani Adanna." Adanna kept her green cat eyes on me unblinkingly and I stared at her with my navy eyes.
"I am sorry Alpha Kasumi. Something attacked my people and I had to take action. Apparently they wanted us to do something for them."
"Were you the ones that destroyed my home." I growled narrowing my eyes. Adanna shook her head. "No. The evil attacked your pack before coming to mine. They couldn't find what they wanted so they came to me."
"And what did they want?" I questioned though I thought I knew.
"You." Right again. I mean really. What would my pack have of value? We have no riches nor gold nor silver. If they had attacked my pack they would've seen the druid and if they had continued the attack all the way to the Duma Clan, then they weren't after the druid. The healer only knew the herbs and was an expert at healing wounds. No it had to be the Alpha they were after. But who were they? "Who attacked you?" I interrogated though I was in no position to interrogate anyone.
"I cannot tell you their names. I was told to capture and deliver you to them. That is all." I sighed then looked down to think for a bit. I had to choose my words carefully else Adanna may take offense. "Tikani Adanna. You and I became friends the moment we saw each, so many years ago. Do you remember?" I looked up and met her eyes. "I was five at the time and you were a cub. You were traveling through the Fire Country and just happened to pass by Konoha. We were innocent and didn't know better. I know that we cannot be friends now and I'm not asking you to be. But can you really look me in the eye and tell me that all those years meant nothing? You must protect your people. They trust you. Rely on you. Love you. And you love them. I understand completely. Am I not the Alpha of my pack? I would go through the seventh circle of Hades for them. I know exactly how you feel Adanna. Please tell me what has became of my pack.... if not for past friendships then from understandings of being the protector of your people. Please. I beg of you." I pleaded bowing my head to her without breaking eye contact. Her gaze wavered then melted to soft pools of sympathy and regret. She looked back towards the entrance then stepped forward until her whiskers brushed my ear.
"Listen carefully. I will say this only once." She breathed the words in my ear and I concentrated hard on her voice. "Three warriors, one mother, and four cubs were captured. All the rest have retreated to the tunnels. I cannot tell you the evils name but I will describe them to you and you may know their names. They are ninjas with lots of chacra. They are monstrous inhuman powerful beings. They wear black cloaks with red clouds on them." Realization hit me like a brick. Akatsuki.
. . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
WHY THE HECK WERE AKATSUKI ATTACKING MY PACK?!?!?!?!?!?!?
So far as I know we don't owe them any money. We are no value to them. This is just getting too weird. Adanna has to be lying to me. But when Adanna pulled back I can see the fear in her eyes and know that she isn't. She's telling the truth. Just then two more Duma come running into the cave.
"She's awake." one of them said sounding relieved. "Yes." Adanna replied before turning to them. "Take them to our...visitors." Adanna was always good at the masterful pause. They nodded then bit right through the ropes and hauled me to my feet with their teeth. One walked in front of me and one walked behind me. My legs felt like jelly and my head spun when I walked. I stumbled more than once and fell down twice causing slight annoyance with my captors. But they were patient because, as one of them explained, they had starved me and had given me lots of drugs. So this was to be expected. We made our way through tunnels that wound higher and higher.
We were getting closer to the surface. I couldn't wait until we got there. But instead of going up at a sharp turn we started going rapidly down. Finally we dropped into a curious place. It looked familiar before I realized it was hallway. This confused me even more. Weren't we just inside a cave?
We made our way down turned left, right, left, left, right, left, left, left... or was it a right? After awhile I lost track and just walked. We stopped at a room with an alarm at the top. The door was wide open and I was escorted inside. The Duma told me to sit on the only chair in the room and after I did tied my feet to each leg and my torso against the back of the chair. The two Duma guards walked out with Adanna following them. I suddenly thought of a question I needed answered. My head snapped up towards Adanna.
"Tikani!" I cried and she stopped to turn and look at me. "How long was I unconscious?" I could see that Adanna found no harm in this question.
"Two days." After answering my question Adanna turned and walked out closing the door behind her. Two days. Let's rewind a few days back. On the day that Kakashi gave the application forms to the genin he told them Chunin Exams started five days from then. And we saw the omen on that day. The next day we went to the Hokage. That's day one. We left that same day and around dusk were ambushed by the Duma and I was taken hostage. Add two days to that. I'm on the third day. Chunin Exams start in two days. I can't be separated from Tala when the real Kakashi comes. That is if he didn't come after the attack. I have to try to make contact.
I closed my eyes and concentrated. I stretched my mind out as far as it would go. Past the walls, the building, into the woods, and out. Soon it was stretched to its limits and I held it in place in hopes of something coming within range. I stayed like that for a few minutes and started sweating. After ten minutes I started to pant. I needed to get in touch with Tala but if she doesn't come I'll have to withdraw. Right before I did I brushed faintly against a mind that flared instantly at my touch and moved towards me so I could keep the connection longer. I couldn't hear thoughts but I could feel what this person was feeling.
Hope, desperation, relief, fear, a little anger, and most of all love. There was a slight adrenaline rush that I took to be them running like the wind. I took a wild guess at who it was and concentrated on the feelings of being in a cave. That smothering feeling. The warm, moist air. As soon as I got a good hold on it I shot it into the mind of the person who was responding. I felt confusion then recognition and my eyes started to sting as if the wind was blowing sharply into it.
I tried to keep connected to no avail. The link grew weaker and weaker even as the person came closer and closer. I couldn't hold it. The last of the drugs in my system started to kick in due to my racing heart. Darkness crept up on me again and I succumbed to it. I was almost asleep when a howl ripped through my mind.
KASUMI!!!! I blacked out.
Author's Note: Phew! Another cliff hanger. Sorry peoples but this was where I had to stop. Oh and those of you who have watched the movie Duma, Duma means cheetahs and if you haven't figured it out yet, they are cheetahs. Yeah I know. I'm original. Alright I hope you enjoyed this chapter. And faithful readers please please review. Last chapter I only got one review and that kinda sucked. Constructive criticism is appreciated. Thanks!
Wolfsong
