Chapter 20: Waking the Demon

She trees whipped her face and slashed at her skin, threatening to cut her as she ran through the forest. She had been able to request a mission until just this evening and she feared it may have already been too late. It wasn't a difficult mission; it would have no great effect if it wasn't completed, but that wasn't the reason she was running. No distance would ever be safe, no obstacle providing a big enough barrier. Katana was running for her life.

Although her instincts told her to continue running, to flee until she was across the world, her body was close to shutting down and she was forced to stop to catch her breath. Katana landed in a tree and fell against the truck, gasping for air that her lungs weren't able to gulp fast enough. She was shaking and her heart felt as if it was about to burst from her chest. Her pulse throbbed, but she knew her elevated heart rate wasn't just because of her sprinting; it was mostly from fear.

Looking up through leaf canopy, Katana searched desperately for the moon. Maybe she was wrong; maybe she had miscalculated. Maybe she would see a sliver of silver in the sky, the feeble light igniting the slightest flicker of hope in the terrified kunoichi. But it wasn't the case. The black orb hung in the sky, providing no light for the nocturnal world. It was a new moon and Katana was as good as dead.

Heart fluttering like an agitated bird locked in a cage, Katana forced herself to continue her flight deeper into the forest. She leaped off of the tree branch and moved as fast as her exhausted limbs could carry her, driven by instinct and fear. Paranoia kept her on high alert, making every small animal a potential threat, every snap of a twig from the wind being turned into an approaching predator, and every suspicious shadow transformed into the monster that was out for her blood.

She was so distracted by the scenery that she didn't notice the other chakra flare until it was practically upon her. Finally identifying the flare, Katana could do nothing as something crashed into her, sending her spiraling through the trees to the ground. Emitting chakra at the last moment, she was able to break her fall and quickly rolled to a crouch, drawing a sword and getting ready for anything. Her attacker hit the ground in front of her and she jumped onto its chest, pressing her blade to its throat. It sputtered weakly and it was only then that she saw a flash of green from its eyes.

"Riki?"

"Ouch, why didn't you move? This would have been a much easier landing if I hadn't run into you."

Katana slowly pulled her shaking hand away from Riki's neck, removing her sword. "What are you doing here? Why aren't you in the Village? Why did you jump out at me?"

"I was on a mission and sensed your chakra. I was suspicious of the speed you were moving at and my team let me go. I wanted to make sure everything was okay. After what White-Eyes said the other night, I've been worried about you."

"Nothing is okay, Riki," Katana snapped, looked around wildly. "You have to get out of here. Now. Go back to the Village and stay there."

"What wrong? What's going on?"

"There's a new moon and I think my clan has sent one of them after me. One of the Rinji Seibutsu."

"You know this?"

"I haven't seen it yet, but I just have a feeling. A bad feeling. I just know that one has been set after me. You have to leave before it gets to me. If you intervene or get in the way, you'll be killed without a second thought. Please, get out of here."

"I would, but there's a problem."

"Don't be a wise ass. What could possibly be the problem of running like hell?"

"You're sitting on me."

Katana's cheeks acquired a gentle red dusting and she removed herself from Riki's chest, pretending to ignore the smug smirk on his face. It looked as it he wanted her to stay where she was. "There, now go."

"I can't do that," Riki said firmly. "I can't leave you here alone. I won't let that thing attack you and take you away. I remember when you were a part of you clan, and I never want to see you affected by their ways again."

"What do you know about my clan? You don't know the half of it. If you value your life, you'll run. I still need to get farther away from here. I don't want to see you get hurt."

"Nor do I want to see you hurt, Katana," Riki said quietly, resting his hands on her shoulders. Her breath caught in her throat as she stared into his deep green eyes. "I couldn't live with myself if I knew I could stay and protect you and I didn't. I have been meaning to tell you something for a while, and I think now is the time to do it."

"I think now is the time for you to run like your ass is on fire," Katana snapped, pushing his hands from her shoulders. "I can't stay here." She turned to continue running, but felt Riki catch her hand in his own, pulled her back towards him.

"Let me help you," he said, wrapping his arms around her, keeping her close to him. Katana struggled to push away, but was too captivated by the fact that Riki was hugging her to fight back at her full potential. "I don't want your clan to get a hold of you again. I really care for you, Katana. I realized my mistakes long ago, and I think that, from the first time I met you, I love you."

Katana froze. He had said it. The three words that were lethal to a shinobi. Nothing, no weapon, no jutsu, no poison, was more deadly than what he had just said. Katana came to her senses and roughly pulled away, breathing hard. Riki's face was entirely serious, and he still held her hand.

"I don't understand," she whispered.

"You don't have to," Riki said just as quietly, stroking her hand with his thumb. "I want to protect you."

"You can't! Just get out of here! If you mean what you say, then respect my wishes and run!" This clearly caught Riki off guard and he bit his lip. Katana glared at him harshly, tugging her hand from his grasp. "Do this for me."

Riki opened his mouth to speak, but a resounding crash came from somewhere nearby in the trees. Katana looked over and saw a hulking figure lumbering toward them and her mouth went dry. She took several involuntary steps backward, and Riki looked at her in confusion.

"Run," Katana whispered as the figure drew closer. "Run. RUN!" She turned and bolted into the forest, Riki at her heels. The fear returned and she knew that she was feeling the same way as a rabbit being chased by a wolf. She could hear branches snapping behind her as the Rinji Seibutsu bound through the trees after her, the branches unable to support its weight. She jinked and dove to the left, Riki struggling to catch her. Katana could hardly see anything and it was simple luck that kept her from colliding with a tree. She could hear Riki falling behind and the Rinji Seibutsu catching up, and she was distracted at just the wrong moment. Risking a glance behind her, Katana's foot connected with a stray twig and she slipped.

A cry left her lips as she fell, barely catching herself on a random branch below, her chakra-saturated hands just gaining purchase. Riki followed her and she slid to the ground, looked up as the Rinji Seibutsu slowed in the trees above. Riki stood in front of her, drawing his axe and holding it ready.

"No, Riki, get out of here," Katana said between gasps for breath. "You can't stay and fight. It will kill you."

"I won't run like a frightened animal. I will protect you." He jumped into the trees before she could respond. Katana watched as he scaled the tree, reaching the Rinji Seibutsu far to soon. His axe swung and the creature easily evaded with a simple side step. Riki didn't pause and used the momentum to continue his combination. But he couldn't land a hit.

The Rinji Seibutsu watched the axe with vacant, staring eyes, moving just enough to avoid the attacks. It ducked and stepped away as if Riki's attacks were the equivalent to those of an inexperienced genin. One blow, however, sunk into the creature's arm, blood spilling from the laceration. Riki attempted to free his axe, but the weapon was stiffly wedged into the other's flesh. The Rinji Seibutsu just stared at the wound without any expression on its blank face. It then looked at Riki and a chill ran up his spine.

"Obstacle," it rumbled, making Riki release his axe and step back. Faster than Katana could see, the creature grabbed Riki by the throat, lifting him into the air. Riki scrabbled at its massive hand, but it wouldn't let go. Slowly cutting off Riki's air supply, the Rinji Seibutsu lifted its other hand and laid it against Riki's chest, the skin beginning to swirl with a dark energy.

"NO!" Katana cried, recognizing the attack about to be performed. She had seen it used on one other person, and the result was worse than death. She reached for a kunai and the Rinji Seibutsu looked down at her.

"Target," it rumbled, but turned back to Riki. "Eliminate obstacle." Katana threw her projectiles, but it was too late. The creature's hand pulsed the dark energy and Riki's face contorted into a silent scream, the energy attacking his body. The kunai hit the creature and the attack stopped, Riki falling from its grasp. Katana wove a pattern of seals and leaped into the air as Riki fell, initiating the jutsu as she made contact with him in the air.

Her teleportation jutsu brought them farther into the forest and they rolled across the ground, Riki's limp body finally destroying their momentum. Katana sat up and looked at him, his vacant eyes staring blankly up at the sky. There was a mark on his shirt where the creature's hand had been, the energy seeming to still linger. He looked dead.

"Riki?" Katana whispered, but he didn't react in the slightest to her voice. She lowered her head and pressed her ear to his chest, hearing the faintest heartbeat. She pressed her fingers to his pulse to make sure she wasn't imagining the noise. He was alive, but only by a thread. Weaving seals frantically, Katana brought her hands down onto his chest over the mark on his shirt, her medical chakra flaring in the night.

He didn't stir as he was healed, and Katana wondered if she was actually reaching the true damage. The dark energy had entered his chakra system and clogged the channels, also altering his chakra to a darker nature. If she didn't heal him properly and he survived, Riki would never be a proper shinobi again. His chakra would be demonic and using too much would kill him. The dark energy was the only thing keeping the rest of his body functioning. Gritting her teeth, Katana pulled her hands away, biting her thumb and weaving another set of seals.

Slamming her hand into the ground, an enormous dragon stepped from the cloud of smoke. "What can I do for you, Katana-sama?"

"I need your chakra," she said curtly, resuming the medical ninjutsu. The dragon rested the end of its broad snout against her back, her eyes instantly flaring red. Her hands grew brighter and Riki's eyelids fluttered as he blinked jerkily. A trickle of blood ran out of the corner of his mouth and he took a raspy gulp of breath.

"Ka-t-ta-n-n-na," he stammered weakly. "I-I'm s-s-s-sor-ry. I c-c-could-dn't prot-t-tect you." He closed his eyes and his head lolled to one side, exhaling weakly.

The chakra died on Katana's hands and she stared in horror. "Riki?"

No answer.

"Riki, answer me."

He didn't stir.

"YOU CAN'T DIE! RIKI! WAKE UP!" Katana beat her fist against his chest, but unlike with Neji, he didn't spring back to life. He was motionless and still, face peaceful in sleep.

A resounding thud met Katana's ears and she looked behind her. The Rinji Seibutsu had caught up, its vacant eyes locked on her. Katana's expression turned cold and she let out a growl, glaring as her red eyes burned brighter.

"You did this," she hissed. The creature didn't seem to hear her. "You killed him."

"Target," the creature rumbled, taking a step forward.

"NO!" Katana snarled, rising to her feet and looking back at the dragon. "I need your chakra again."

"How much?"

"All of it," Katana said firmly as the creature continued to approach.

"Katana! You know what that will do to you! I won't—!"

"You will, Dragon. Give me your chakra and be gone." The dragon bowed its head regretfully to Katana and pressed its snout to the back of Katana's neck, pouring its chakra into her body in one burst. It disappeared and Katana cried out in pain.

Her legs buckled and she fell to her knees, clutching her stomach as the alien chakra focused at her center. She began to tremble and the chakra flowed through her system, burning her insides like fiery oil. It leeched out of her, enveloping her in a dragon-shaped cloak and conforming to her features. Katana lifted her head, her eyes burning scarlet and blood running from her mouth as her teeth grew. Her back-plate apparatus slipped from her body and her hair fell from its bun. A snarl ripped from her throat and she threw herself at the creature, tearing its chest open with a clawed hand. Sliding to a stop several feet away, she watched as the creature stumbled back, blood pouring from its wounds.

"You took what was mine, and now your demise is sealed!" Katana snarled in a growling voice. The creature looked blankly down at its chest and the four lacerations healed easily. It returned its gaze to Katana and she roared in anger. "I will avenge him!"

She ran at the creature, her speed greatly increased, and collided with its hulking form. She raked her claws across its body, the chakra around her burning it where they touched. Katana leaped away from it, standing ready but feeling light headed. She shook herself, watching the wounds she had inflicted on the Rinji Seibutsu heal as if nothing was done. Katana moved to run forward again, but stumbled and fell, her head feeling heavy. She went in and out of consciousness, realizing the effect the dragon's chakra was having on her. She was losing herself, the alien chakra slowly taking her over.

Fighting off the urge to give in, Katana wove several hand seals. "Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu! Fireball Technique!" The flame that burst from her mouth was much larger than she could normally produce and entirely engulfed the Rinji Seibutsu within a flaming globe. Katana stood ready as the flame died down, but the creature still stood. Its body was charred and blackened, but the wounds melted away and it stood unscathed. As long as the evil spirit remained sealed within it, the creature would never sustain any damage.

Katana moved to charge again, but something within her cracked and she fell to the ground, crying out. The chakra was changing her physical appearance and body structure, the crack the result of her bones trying to gain the ability to walk on four legs. The pain shattered her thoughts and she felt herself slipping. Pulling back, the pain grew stronger, breaking her focus. The ground spiraling in front of her eyes, a bright light flashed before her. She drifted to the light and the dragon's chakra consumed her mind.

:-:-:-:-:-:-:

The Rinji Seibutsu stepped up to its target as it slumped to the ground. It reached a hand out for the back of Katana's neck, unaware of the chakra burning its palm. Lifting her off the ground, it looked into her dull brown eyes, noticing the chakra begin to fade. But just as it was about to turn and begin its return to the Suterusu Clan, Katana's eyes burst with red light and she came to life.

Roaring in an animalistic way, she swiped her clawed hand over the Rinji Seibutsu's face, tearing away chunks of flesh. It released her and she dropped to the ground, landing on all fours. Her spine had changed and she sprang around on her hands and feet as easily as if she had been born as a quadruped. She ran back towards the creature, jaws open and her own blood running down her teeth and chin. She leaped and her large, sharp teeth clamped onto the Rinji Seibutsu's throat, her momentum bringing them to the ground.

Blood gushed from it jugular and Katana bit deeper, snarling and thrashing her head. In a swift movement, she had cracked the creature's neck and it fell limp against the ground. Katana backed away, growling and licking her teeth, tasting blood from both herself and the creature. But the broken neck didn't hamper the creature for long.

Katana's red eyes flashed as the Rinji Seibutsu sat up, its head lolling to one side grotesquely. With a snap, its skull jerked into the correct position as if it had never been harmed. Katana, still possessed by the dragon's chakra, let anger fuel her attacks, the chakra cloak surrounding her flaring brilliantly. Letting out a fearsome bellow, she charged forward with claws outstretched and jaws open. But the Rinji Seibutsu decided to take its turn on offense.

Just before she was at its throat again, the creature thrust its fist forward and made contact with Katana's chest. She gave a growling cry and fell to the ground, only to be roughly hauled to her feet by her hair. Taking her arm and ignoring the burning chakra, the creature threw her into a nearby tree, her head smashing into the bark. Sinking to the ground, Katana whined and curled into a ball. But her wounds were healed by the chakra and she rose again, ready to fight. But the creature moved toward her with inhuman speed and caught her by the throat, pinning her against the tree.

Feet dangling in the air, Katana scrabbled at the hand clasped around her throat, raking her claws over and down the creature's hand and wrist. It didn't release her, only squeezing tighter. Katana's eyes widened and she couldn't draw breath, her fighting growing weaker. But the Rinji Seibutsu paused and it seemed to have realization in its vacant eyes.

"Don't kill. Keep alive," it rumbled and its grip on Katana's throat slackened. She inhaled greatly, but still couldn't get a sufficient amount of oxygen. "Still functioning," the creature rumbled as if thoughtful, then looked to the ground where Katana's back-plate apparatus had fallen when she transformed. It bent and picked up one of the swords, holding it to Katana's stomach. "Alive." The wound wouldn't kill her, but would still leave her injured. She could feel herself growing weaker and weaker, her fighting proving futile. She would be taken back to her clan and never returned if she failed, but the possession could only take her over to a certain point. "Still functioning." The blade was pressing against her stomach when three figures burst from the trees. One rushed up to the Rinji Seibutsu, hand reared back. The creature turned around and looked around absently with its vacant eyes, keeping hold of Katana's throat.

"Jyuuken!" the one cried, thrusting his palm into the Rinji Seibutsu's stomach. It stood rigid for a moment, then let out a shrieking howl. Another figure leaped forward and landed a solid kick to the creature's head, making it stumble to the ground. The third opened a scroll and began weaving hand seals. It stood over the creature and slammed its palm into its chest. The howling stopped and the figure lifted its hand away, a dark mass hovering just below its palm. Slamming its palm into the scroll, the evil spirit was sealed away and the Rinji Seibutsu was destroyed.

"It's done," Tenten said, rolling up the scroll, preparing to dispose of it later.

"What an interesting creature," Lee commented. "I have never seen its like before." Just as he spoke, the empty body shriveled up and disintegrated. "Wha—?"

"It's from the Suterusu Clan, Lee," Neji said coldly. "It happens to them when they die. Remember Katana's sister?" Neji didn't wait for a response. He walked over to Katana's limp form, lying against the tree. The chakra still surrounded her, but it seemed dimmer than it had been. "Are you alright?"

She stared up at him blankly, her red eyes flickering. But in a split second, her face contorted into a snarl and she swiped a clawed hand at his face. Neji stepped back to avoid her swings, taken off guard. Katana snarled and leaped at him, the dragon's chakra not giving her control of her actions. She attacked him blindly, unable to register whom he was. Neji sprang backwards and Katana ran at him, jaws open and bleeding. Reacting with reflex, Neji ran forward to meet her, palm glowing. They collided, Neji's Jyuuken strike hitting Katana in the direct center of her chakra network.

She froze, eyes wide and shimmering. A gentle exhale passed her lips and her violent expression melted, the chakra cloak dissipated and her features returned to normal. Her spine cracked as she became bipedal again a quiet groan slipped from her mouth. She slid into Neji and he caught her, lifting her limp body into his arms. Her eyes stared blankly out into the night with the expression of a corpse.

"Neji, Riki's over here," Tenten said as she knelt next to the fallen shinobi. She pressed her fingers to his neck. "He's still alive."

"We have to get them back to the Village," Neji said firmly, looking down at Katana's flaccid features. She was dead weight in his arms and he shifted her so her head was resting against his chest. "Lee, get the other." He waited until Lee had Riki on his back. "Let's go." Team Gai shot off into the night towards the Village, attempting to save Katana and Riki from their half-dead slumber.

Author Note: chapter 20!!!!(or twenty one counting the prologue). I can't believe the story has come so far and I still have so much I want to write. If you like this story, thank you, and you won't have to worry about it ending soon XD I'm far from running out of ideas. For a visual of Katana with the dragon chakra, think of Naruto in one-tail form. Katana and Riki are not dead...yet. And the big reveal about Riki. It may not make sense, but isn't it said that if people act mean to you, it means they like you? I have evidence that proves that wrong, but it kinda works for the story. Anyway, Neji is holding her bridal style at the end and Lee is giving Riki a piggyback XD Sooo, I hope to update soon because spring break is soon! But softball is practically my life and I have a game or practice every day '-.- Thank you to my reviewers and readers (i'm eternally grateful ^_^). I don't own Naruto, just the Suterusu Clan 'n' such. Until next time, peace out.

-cagedbird361