The thickening of the cold dark air stung the lungs within her chest. Yue peered through the abyss unsure if she was in the real world or trapped in her mind again. She wanted to call out for someone, but the air felt suffocating. Her small breaths were her only life source.
Growl...
Instantly, the weight was lifted in the room. Her eyes followed her ears to the sound. It was close. The sinister blue eyes opened just inches from her face as well as the shimmer of saliva on its barred teeth. It was that creature again. The heat fogged the space, what little there was, between them. It continued to show dominance in its height snarling down at her fragile frame. The beast caused her fear to burst throughout her senses. Yue felt the urge to run, but wasn't able to move her body. It felt frozen.
It's fur had to be very dark around the body because only white streaked around the eyes all the way down the back. This wasn't any animal though, just its form. Somewhere was a woman laughing from what she recollected. But where? Could it be the badger itself?
"W-Who are you?" She shakily asked the creature. "What do you want?"
The spirit circled around its prey on its sharp claws. Yue had no clue if this was going to be the beginning or the end, but it was clear to her that she was stuck in her head if she was meeting this thing again. Is it possible that she became possessed? No, it couldn't be. The Korishi merc only knocked her unconscious. Still, they only met before on training day, not ever in her dreams...Was this a dream?
Soon, it stopped sniffing around her and sat upright. It became apparent of its height being face to face. It was intimidating.
"Yue. It's time we met." The creature spoke in a voice that was exotic and unexpectedly calm. It was a woman. It was *her*.
"Who are you?" She asked again.
"I go by many names, but I am known formerly as Tsuki Ona, the Ice Elemental." She began "This is my true spiritual form. The Ice Badger."
"Badger?" Yue repeated dumbly.
"Do I frighten you child?"
The question silenced her immediately. What would happen if she said 'yes'? The badger closed its eyes already knowing the answer and turned away. She reopened her eyes to a bright glowing blue and chakra poured out of every crevice of her body. Yue covered her blind eyes from the light.
Suddenly it vanished and she revealed her sight to see the beautiful form of a young woman. Her skin was paler than the moon, her white hair loosely swaying down past her waist, and her body cloaked in a white kimono with a black obi. Tsuki Ona opened her human blue eyes and curled a smile with her pale pink lips. Yue was blown away at the transformation. She no longer looked as if she would bite her head off.
"Does this form appeal you?" She asked. Yue nodded. "Good...I've been watching you from inside, Yue. I've been there throughout your whole life and your father's and so on back three centuries ago. But I have existed since the chakra tree was alive."
"Chakra tree?"
"The chakra tree is what links all Elementals and tailed beasts together. All living things that possess chakra are forever linked to it and each other. It is where I was born. I was made alongside other Elementals after the formation of the tailed beasts."
"I've never known this...So why meet me now?" Yue asked.
"I was beginning to get offended that you refused to use my powers since you've gotten away from the Korishi. You should've trained to fight them off, but you've started a life in this awful Sand Village! You are miles away from mastering the gift I have given you...I understand that you were young and obeying your master, the one you called Nanna, but you are grown now and I need to finish the job."
"What do you mean?"
"The Korishi Clan..."
"What do you know of them?"
Her smile turned into a frown at the question. Yue felt afraid, but her curiosity surpassed her common senses. She stood her ground to brace for the worst.
"In the beginning, the tailed beasts and Elementals were divided among the nations. What started as a peaceful union only soured over the years. Humans have become morally corrupt with power and they started to divide themselves. They fought endlessly over possession of the beasts for their chakra, same for Elementals. War broke out and tailed beasts were sealed away into jinchurikis, hidden from the world. My purpose was chosen the moment life was given to me - to recover the world from destruction. I was mistaken for one of the powerful tailed beasts and went face to face with tribes of bloodthirsty humans. The Mist nation wanted my power to weaponize against their enemies. I refused. One after another, they challenged me." Tsuki Ona paused for a moment.
"What happened to you?" Yue asked.
"The ruthless clan of all the Mist was after me, the Korishi they called themselves. After murdering my second-hand Elemental partner, Tsunishi, I fought against their leader. He managed to take Tsunishi's power for his own in order to defeat me. The battle nearly cost me my life. Your grandmother many generations ago saved my life by sealing me away inside her husband. I became one with his body, giving my power to my host to keep me safe. For that I am grateful, but merely watching the world through host eyes doesn't change my opinion of it. I wish to leave the body for good. Unfortunately, there is no way I can escape with the Korishi still around after all this time..."
"But why tell me this now?"
"I know everything you know and more. Your eyes are my windows to the outside world. I know that you need me. You have been taken by the pawns of the clan. If they are still around, it's likely that the old bastard is still alive using Tsunishi's power. If they absorb my power, neither of us will survive. And the clan will seize dominance over all the Mist. I fear it will begin another shinobi war."
"Can't you unseal yourself from my body?" Yue asked.
"No." She began. "Only a skilled ninja can break the seal to release me from you. For the time being, I will be inside you. Together we will go and destroy the Korishi once and for all."
"But I have no training. I don't stand a chance!"
"You let me handle that...I also need you to stay away from Gaara."
"Gaara? Why?" Yue questioned. That was out of the blue.
"The Shukaku spirit no longer resides inside him, but they are still linked. They are both a threat to me."
"I don't understand...But if you see what I see, then you know that Gaara isn't like that. He would never harm us."
"You cannot trust him." Tsuki Ona was beginning to get annoyed. She couldn't risk that boy getting close and compromising her plan.
"That's absurd!"
"Insolent girl!" She spat at her.
The air whipped as her eyes glowed blue with anger. Yue began to tremble in fear.
"Your feelings for him are futile! Anyone possessed by Shukaku is incapable of love! He will never feel the same way!"
"You're wrong!" Yue retaliated back.
Frustrated at this arrogant girl, Tsuki Ona held out her hand and wrapped a lock of ice around her mouth. She also took the liberty to restrain her power of will from growing. The host was in command of the mind, not her, but that had to be beyond Yue's reasoning. The clueless girl knew absolutely nothing of her origins.
"Now you listen and listen good. I won't lie dormant for another decade if you get close to him. If you care for him, let him go...If you don't I will do away with him just as I did the last one!" Tsuki threatened, instantly making Yue's eyes pop with surprise.
"You bitch! You killed Reo!" She attempted to yell through the ice mask. Only muffled screams escaped, but Tsuki was smart enough to know what she meant.
"Yue...I did what I had to do. Humans are worthless to me. I would happily wipe them off the face of the Earth if I could, but my main priority is the Korishi. They will not stop unless I make it stop. They need to pay for what they did. Be grateful I pity you enough to give you the choice to spare his life..." Tsuki Ona waved her hands through the sky in strokes of silver and clasped Yue's forehead. "Now awaken!"
Yue jolted up from the ground to face the real world from her slumber. Taking in a deep breath, she lightly touched her mouth. The ice was gone, but something wet fell from her cheek. The stream followed up to her eyes. A tear. She went to wipe it off when she took notice of the hourglass charm still chained around her wrist. The sand settled in the bottom made her heart drop to her stomach. It was like a dark cloud enveloped her body when she looked at it. She wanted to cry even more. Because she still had it, she knew Gaara would come after her and it didn't matter where. He promised.
She clenched the charm angrily in her palm. How could Tsuki Ona tell her to leave Gaara? Further more, how could she do something so cruel as to murder Reo? All this time Yue lived her life full of guilt for that accident, but now it was admittedly not her fault. Tsuki Ona wanted him dead, and now she wants Gaara gone now too. But why?
'What did she mean that she didn't want to wait another decade? What did she mean if I got close to him?' She thought to herself. The task was so selfish. Seeing the world behind blue eyes and still not able to forgive humans. If Tsuki Ona could have experienced the same affection and care from Reo and Gaara as Yue did, perhaps it would change things, but that cause was lost. Her heart was full of too much hate and they both only came off as threats. Why?
Yue gazed at the charm once again. Reo's incident was more than enough confirmation that she was serious about Gaara. Chances are he is already on his way. She had to destroy the charm, but found herself unable to do it. She wished more than anything to have given Gaara a better goodbye and an apology for how she reacted when they last saw each other. He was only looking out for her, but she was so stubborn to prove her worthiness that they fought. If she had known that was going to be the last time they see each other, Yue would have perked up the courage to tell Gaara how she felt. Even so... she doubted that he would end it there. Now looking at the charm, the only thing left to remember him by, she couldn't destroy it.
Tsuki Ona saw through this last remaining trace of him and decided to act on it anyways. She took control of Yue's hand and formed a glowing grey cloud around the charm. Yue became enraged and fought against Tsuki's control.
"No! This is all I have of him!" Yue yelled to her. Tsuki powered through and lifted the charm from her hand. The ice surrounded the necklace, cracking the glass. Yue couldn't let her win. With all her might, she threw the hourglass away from her grasp. It fell silently on the sandy ground, but it was too dark to tell where. She was relieved knowing it was safe and she could retrieve it later.
'You horrible troublesome girl!'
She gasped hearing her voice. Immediately, she checked her surroundings. There was no way she could be out here in the open, but it sounded so real. Looking around she realized she was inside a cavern. Judging by the sand they had to be somewhere out in the desert. That could only mean that they were near the borders of the rock village. How long had she been out?
Yue's questions suddenly halted when she saw an ankle just a few feet to her right. Her eyes followed up the body and she realized it was Yumi. She was passed out on the ground in a fetal position with her clothes tattered and bloody. So that is where the blood on the carpet came from. She hated to find that out, but now couldn't waste any more time. Yue crawled over to her and rolled her on her back to get a better view of her injuries. The blue kimono shirt had several cuts exposing her gashed skin. It wasn't looking good. Quickly she felt for her pulse in her neck. It was low.
"Yumi!" She yelled in hopes of waking her up. Nothing. "Yumi. Wake up!" She shook her body, but no response. Fear knotted up her insides with each passing second.
"You can't die Yumi! Please just wake up!"
Yumi's eyes twitched as her chest rose with air. She coughed violently, but Yue held her steady. Soon they were reunited eye contact. Yue was overcome with joy and couldn't help but pull her in a tight hug.
"Oh thank God! You're alive!"
Yumi squealed in pain of the massive pressure in her hug. She tapped Yue's shoulder. "Yue... please let go..." she muttered under her breath. She immediately obliged.
"I'm sorry, are you okay? How do you feel?"
"Sore as hell..."
"What happened?"
"I was about to leave...when these two guys came wanting tea. They looked like regular sand shinobi, but it was a disguise. The Korishi pinned me down and tortured me to tell them where you were..."
"You shouldn't have fought." Yue said, to which Yumi gave her a dumbfuck look.
"Are you kidding me?..." she began "You're my best friend...I would never give you up to them..."
"But look at you." Yue felt herself on the brink of tears as she held her bruised cheek. Yumi could see her pain.
"It doesn't matter now... You're still okay..." Yumi began "Where are we?"
"In a cavern. The Korishi kidnapped us. It looks as though they are heading back to the Mist Village. If I remember correctly, back when we moved to the sand, these caverns are along the borders of the Rock Village."
Her eyebrows rose in surprise but eventually slumped into depression. The news was far worse than she'd imagined. Yumi remembered bits of the fight, but she had hoped the clan would give up and leave, but it seems they did wait for Yue. They succeeded in their obsessiveness to finally get her and they did. But what struck her the most was why did they take her too?
"Yumi, no matter what happens, I'm going to get you out of here."
"Yue the best thing we can do is stick together."
"You're in no condition to fight against them."
"Relax already. Look." Yumi revealed the large gash on her abdomen. The flesh was no longer cut. It disintegrated away leaving behind a small scar of tissue. Yue was dumbfounded. The bruises had faded and there was no swelling.
"How did you do that?" Yue asked.
"It takes rest and a decent amount of chakra. This is part of my power. I can move the water within me to heal the wounds. Luckily I got to them before it became fatal."
"That was really close. Your pulse was almost gone!"
"Chill Yue...Oops! I didn't mean that."
"Chill? Really?" Yue's eyes narrowed in distaste. Her friend let out a small chuckle.
"The point is I'm fine now. We need to find a way out of here so we can get to Gaara."
The mention of his name saddened her. Tsuki could see the same things as Yue, but could she hear? Fighting over the necklace he gave her made it apparent of her control on Yue's body, but what else? The desire to know annoyed her to the point where in the end she just wanted Tsuki Ona out.
"What is it Yue?"
"I know who my spirit is."
"You do?!" She nodded.
"We talked in my dreams. Her name is Tsuki Ona. She said that she has been around for a long time, hundreds of years, with many evil people after her power. The Korishi has been after her ever since their leader killed and absorbed the power of her closest Elemental friend. Because of what they did in the past it made her despise human beings. She said she would kill Gaara if I got close to him. He can't come..."
"What? That's ridiculous! Why?" Yumi asked taking the words right out of her mouth. It was almost unbelievable that Yue was able to come into contact with her spirit so soon. All this information was overwhelming, but they couldn't figure out about Gaara.
"I don't know. She said that she wouldn't wait another decade to hide from the Korishi. And that even with Shukaku absent from his body, they are still linked together and pose a threat to her." Yue paused thinking about her confession. "She was the one who killed Reo..."
"What?" Yumi couldn't believe it.
"Tsuki Ona admitted to murdering Reo because we got too close to each other. If she did that, then I know she will do it to Gaara too. I can't let anyone else in my life die..."
"That's horrible! I'm so sorry Yue." She placed a hand on her shoulder in comfort. "I knew you could never do such a terrible thing."
"I fear what will happen if I see him."
"He is probably on his way here already." Yumi pointed out. "Either way, we need to find a way out of here."
"Let's split up and see if this cavern has another way out. The two Korishi pawns are probably guarding the front entrance. I'll go check if they are." Yue explained getting up from the ground. Yumi grabbed her hand to stop her.
"No, you go find a way out. I'll keep watch. If you find a path, come back for me."
"But Yumi, you're still healing yourself."
"I won't fight. I'll just be a lookout. If they come for us, I'll throw a rock against the wall. The echo should travel to you. Besides, you have more energy than I do. If we are that close to the Rock Village, you could send a signal for help."
With a bit of thought required, Yue agreed and nodded. She helped Yumi up and watched her disappear one way. Taking the other path, Yue concentrated her chakra to emit a glowing light from her right hand and walked.
More rocks, sand, and darkness. It was much like her dream, but this had to be reality if there was actual ground. With her free hand she felt along the jagged rock wall. It was cold and rough to the touch. It felt soothing to her to be able to feel a piece of the Earth given their situation. It reminded her of the garden back in her original home, which led to reminiscing the small garden in Gaara's greenhouse. All those cacti that they cared for...she was going to miss that. The sand crunched under each step she took. It only made her think of Gaara more. She will especially miss giving him hugs for all the good deeds he did.
'Why did I have to leave us like that?...Gaara if I ever get to see you again, I'll tell you...'
Eventually she met the end of the cave with her big toe. It tapped the wall and quietly echoed throughout the tunnel. Using her light she waved as high as she could to find a hole that led outside. Nothing. She searched all around the ground feeling every crevice. Still nothing.
"Fuck..." she cursed under her breath. There was only one way out now.
Bam! Suddenly, her ears perked at the sound of a giant rock clacking against the walls. It faded away causing her stomach to drop. They were coming. She wanted to curl up in a ball and hide in the corner at the back, but that would be futile. It may be a long walk, but those two were relentless. They had proven that for all her life.
"Yumi." She gasped remembering why she needed to go back. Yue ran towards the direction she came from.
"Ahhh! Yue!" Yumi screamed. The sound was still far away, but hearing her frantic cry for help fueled Yue to move faster than she ever did before. They must have found her spying on them. Sweat perforated from her glands not because of the run but because of the adrenaline. Her best friend needed her and there was no way that she could fight in a place like this. There's not enough water around for her to weaponize.
Yue formed a ice kunai in each hand since she lacked the training to create something better. It was all she had to use. Light formed in her sight. It blinked fast taking the color of aquatic blue. Yumi must be using her powers, what little there was in her recovery. In an instant, it vanished into darkness leaving behind another piercing scream that caused Yue to cringe, it was painful. Yue bolted until she was able to see the entrance to the outside and three figures. Yumi lay passed out in the sand with the two Korishi standing over her.
'Yue, use your ultimate power.' Tsuki Ona ordered from inside her head.
"No Tsuki. I don't need you." Yue whispered.
'Don't be a fool you ignorant girl!'
"You're not taking over me."
'Your stubbornness will cost you her life. The next time I come out, YOU will be the one trapped inside!'
"Just stop it already!" Yue yelled as she lunged towards the men. Using her kunai she swung her arms trying to stab a fatal point in the neck. Oishi excitedly dodged the attack while Genzo jumped back and watched.
"Now this is more like it." Oishi stated. "Show me what you got!"
"Oishi, the master wants her alive."
"I'm not going to kill her. I want to see what she's made of after all this time."
He punched her sternum sending her flying across the cave. She hit the wall so hard it knocked the air out of her lungs. The maniacal man laughed as she fell to the ground. So weak, he thought. Quickly, she recovered and threw the kunai at her opponent. It was a pitiful attempt as Oishi unsheathed his sword and without breaking a sweat, he nonchalantly cut the ice in half.
"Is that the best you can do?" He provoked.
She concentrated the chakra to her hands and forced a whirlwind of ice, trying to be careful not to dip too much into her power. This wasn't going to be easy. If Tsuki Ona got out, everyone, including Yumi, was sure to be killed. She couldn't let that happen. The ice burst towards Oishi at full blast so much so that he couldn't escape. He tried block with his sword but it was no use.
'Good. Now finish him with your ultimate power.' Tsuki said.
She cursed under her breath from the lack of training. Her chakra began to put a strain on her body. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, the blizzard died down. She exclaimed when she realized she could no longer hold it. Oishi saw the opportunity and seized it. He broke free from her trap and as quick as a flash, he made his way to her blind side and plunged the tip of the sword in her right shoulder. Yue cried out in pain as the metal slid through her skin just behind her collar bone towards her lungs. Blood squirted out around the edges of the blade. After so many years of searching and this was all she had to show for it.
"I'm very disappointed in you." Oishi stated digging his weapon deeper. "It's almost like you're holding out on me. I won't even need to use my chakra to defeat you."
"Oishi! Stop!" Genzo demanded. Just before it reached the lung, he pulled the sword out. Yue screamed as he did so and clenched the wound to suppress the pain. It didn't help.
'Yue, you're at the end of your rope. You need to let me out!'
She tried to find the words to deny her, but the pain was taking its toll. She was slowly starting to consider it. Oishi sheathed his sword and stood over Yumi's body staring her down.
"I know what to do...I'll get a fight out of you one way or another!"
Genzo became irritated at the carelessness of his partner. Not only did they have a long way to go, but they had no way to treat her wound by themselves. The Master would be displeased if she was dead before they came to the Mist Village. Oishi's stupidity will be sure to cause a mess if the Shura came out. Genzo watched as he knelt over Yumi and placed his hands under her blue shirt. Yue ignored the pain immediately and yelled "Don't touch her!"
Oishi paused and curled a sinister smile behind his mask.
"Why? What did you think we brought her for?"
He lifted her shirt with one hand and began licking her neck. Yumi was as stiff as a board, unable to defend herself. Yue felt a fire ignite within her growing fast and burning bright. Tsuki Ona watching from within became infuriated.
"You inhuman fucks!" Yue screamed.
'Yue...' Tsuki called. The sadistic man crawled on top of her best friend. He decided to go against the real reason they brought the Hashigumi girl. There was no way he was going to go on a long journey without having some fun. Yue had it.
"Do it!" She yelled.
Tsuki released her chakra and emerged from the back of Yue's mind into reality. The ground began to shake as wind steadily picked up its pace. Oishi stopped his actions to watch the results of his provoking. This is what he was waiting for. Genzo grew more annoyed at the actions of his partner unfolding before them. The temperature dropped to a freezing point causing the wind to bite their exposed skin. Frost cascaded across the cavern walls in a glittery white coat.
With great anticipation Oishi stood to face his opponent. He drew his sword once again ready to go. Yue felt herself sinking back into the darkness of her mind. There was no escape this time. Tsuki had control, and as she said before, she was not going to let her back out. Possession would be permanent. In the abyss of nothingness framed a mirror like portal to reality. Yue could only watch through Tsuki's new eyes what was going on. Yumi was still there and fortunately she was untouched before that sick bastard could get his hands on her. Even if Tsuki Ona hates all humans, letting her, a master of ice, take over her powers to destroy the common enemy was all she needed. As long as Yumi stayed alive.
Her skin became paler as the blood was slowing to the chilled air and her hair was no longer black but straight white. The transformation was complete. Tsuki moved her arms around, feeling her new body. It was fitting nicely just as she imagined, but it was nothing compared to her original form. That task would be completed later. The pain in the stabbed shoulder agitated her. It's a shame Yue didn't move in time to prevent it, but all the more reason she needed to end them.
"Look what you've done, Oishi! You've awakened Tsuki Ona!" Genzo yelled, to which his partner only laughed.
"Now we can finish what we started."