Part One of the complete final chapter, "Summer's End" has been posted. It'll have a happy ending as promised. But fair warning; this is an intense chapter. I hope you enjoy it because this is the chapter I worked the longest and the hardest on. Be sure to add this to your favorites list and let me know what you think. Pinkboy Naberrie.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Summer's End Part I
Saturday September 22, 2000
53 Days after Project Blood-Moon
Tsunade's Beach-House, Destin Florida
"Ugh, I'm exhausted Menma," Sakura groaned. She cast aside her pink hair tie and sat down on her bed beside her cousin. Heat and annoyance were getting the better of her. "If I have to help lift one more fucking box, I swear I'm going to choke that dumb Indian. I can't believe how much shit we're taking back with us to the mansion."
"W-well, at least we know...Iruka takes his tribal heritage seriously," Menma panted with a grin, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. "Me and Naruto have never been in his room before. Even you have to admit it's pretty cool."
Sakura glared at him. "It's gross it what it is," she said. "I've never seen so many smelly old ski masks in my life. It was like something from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. There was dried blood smeared on almost all of them."
"Don't you think you're overreacting a bit?" Menma smirked; doing a crude imitation of Iruka. "Besides Sakura, they're not ski masks. They're sacred Native-American relics used to ward off evil spirits. Lord Hashirama had rooms stuffed with them when he was the Varcolac. You'll appreciate them one day. I'll give you one when you're older."
Sakura rolled her eyes. "That's the stupidest shit I've ever heard," she said. "If those masks really are for repelling evil, we should both wear one from now on. It'll keep my Dad and your Mom away."
Menma's eyes widened at Sakura's joke. She always seemed to say the funniest things when she was agitated. The two lovers looked at each-other for a second or so, and then burst out laughing. Then Menma changed the subject.
"Well, at least there's a bright side to all of this," the Uzumaki said. "We'll be living in your parents' awesome mansion in Beverly Hills together. We can chill in the pool and hang out in the jacuzzi to our hearts content. Not only that - but everyone's sticking around longer to help with the move. I know Konohamaru's happy about it."
Sakura fell silent. She didn't seem as irritated anymore, but there was a despondent look in her eyes that made Menma wonder if she was worrying about their relationship again.
"Sakura; if you're worrying about us again, don't. Like I said before..."
"It's not that," Sakura said, looking at him with sadness in her face. The edges of her blonde hair were tinted orange in the setting sun. Menma thought she looked prettier than ever. It made him want to pull the girl into his arms and tell her everything would be okay.
"I'm too in love with you now to worry about what other people think about us."
"Then what is it then? Do you still think I've got a hundred hot chicks waiting for me back home?"
Sakura didn't laugh. She wasn't even looking at Menma anymore. Her face was hidden behind her bangs and she was cradling her knees.
"I know your going to think I'm being selfish, and that I'm a spoiled little girl for feeling this way. But now that your dad's back, there really isn't any reason for you guys to stay with us anymore. So it's probably only a matter of time before you and your family go back to Michigan."
Menma didn't say anything. He'd been afraid of the same thing, but he'd pushed it from his mind. He was happier than ever to have Minato back, but he didn't want to leave Sakura either.
"You know I'm right Menma. If you guys left, Sasuke would go along so he could be with Naruto. But I'd have to stay behind. The only reason my dad's tolerated us until now is because of my mom and your dad, but I know he'd never let me go with you. That's where he'd draw the line; and I'm sure your mom would agree with him.
"Not only that; but after the move, everyone else will leave too. Kazumi and his friends have decided to go to Romania to be with the werewolves, and Deidara and Sasori are planning on going to France.
"And Shizune..." Sakura's voice craked. "Menma, I'm not going to have anyone. I'll be all alone."
She was trembling immensely now. The girl had hardly ever talked about Shizune since she was revealed to be the legendary vampire, Princess Bathory and then killed.
But Menma knew she'd taken it hard. The two had been like sisters. Now she was gone.
"Menma, I know Shizune said she never felt anything for us, and that the time we spent with her was nothing but a lie. But that night, she didn't once look me in the eyes. Was it because...Maybe she...Do you think maybe she did feel something for me?"
Tears were streaming down Sakura's cheeks. Menma slid his arms around her and rested his chin on her shoulder. "Don't Fear the Reaper" by Gus had begun playing on her boom-box. It gave Menma the same giddy feeling he'd had the first time he'd ever come to see Sakura in her room.
"Hey, do you hear that?" He asked her gently, breathing in the sweet cherry-blossom scent of her hair. "It's our song. The one that played the first time we ever kissed."
"M-Menma...I..."
"Sakura, listen to me. None of us will ever know how Shizune really felt about us. But I want to believe that the time we spent together was real."
"B-but..." She choked. "If there was good in her...Do you think...Do you think we could've saved her?"
Menma looked at her fiercely. "I really don't know Sakura. I mean that. That's the truth."
He leaned in to kiss her, but stopped when he saw the eerie red color of the setting sun.
"M-Menma...What's wrong?"
"Dad...Is this what you...?"
Night of September 21, 2000
Tsunade's Kitchen, Destin Florida
Iruka spread lit vanilla-scented candles throughout the shadowy kitchen as Minato sat down at the table with his wife and sons. He was wearing his signature white haori and he had a mysterious stare in his eyes. It was the first time they'd been together as a family since Minato had returned, so neither Kushina nor the boys knew what to expect.
Naruto and Menma had no idea why their father had chosen to interrupt them while they were hanging out with their friends and cousins, but they doubted it had anything to do with why the man had run out on them for so long. The twins had been badgering him for answers ever since he'd been back, but their questions were always deflected.
For the first several minutes or so, no one said anything, until at last, Naruto lost patience and broke the silence.
"Alright Dad, spill it," Naruto said plainly; an annoyed look on his face. "What's so important that you'd interrupt us in the middle of Zelda? This had better not be bullshit."
"Yeah, seriously Dad," Menma agreed. "Link was just about to collect the last Spiritual Stone so he could enter the Sacred Realm. Couldn't this have waited until morning?"
Minato didn't reply. His chin was resting on his back of his hands and he looked deep in thought, as though deciding if he should divulge something very grave and unknown.
But Naruto had had enough. He and Menma deserved answers, even if it meant he had to get rough; and that was exactly what he would to do. It wouldn't be the first time.
"Enough horseshit!" Naruto thundered, kicking the pinewood stool he was on out from under himself and pounding his fists down on the table. "You owe us some answers!
"What sort of asshole just runs out on his family for a year, doesn't tell them where he's gone or when he'll be back, and then shows up assuming shit will be all good and well?! You may not know it old man, but that's not the way relationships work! Either you tell us what you've been doing for all this time, or you're as good as dead to us!"
Kushina and Menma, who'd usually scold Naruto for his foul mouth and nasty temper had nothing to say. They wanted answers just as badly as he did.
Minato knew his son was right. His family deserved to know why he'd left and where he'd been for so long. He couldn't protect them from the truth forever.
"You're right Naruto; you three deserve answers. I thought that if I kept you in the dark about my travels, I'd be protecting you. But I see now that secrets aren't always the best way to keep the people you love safe. I realized that when you boys told me about what happened while I was away. Perhaps if your Mom and I had just been honest...
He paused. "You'll all find out about Kurama soon enough anyway, I'm sure. Nothing can stop that now. He wants revenge, and also..." He diverted his gaze; looking vexed.
"Dad?" Naruto asked; calming down slightly. "Who's Kurama, and what do you mean when you say he wants revenge?"
Minato had a troubled look in his eyes. "Kushina," he said; not looking at his wife. "I'm sorry. I promised your parents I'd never tell you...But there's no other way..."
Kushina went very pale; not liking what she was hearing. "Minato...Honey...? What couldn't you tell me? What does this have to do with why you were away so long?"
"It has everything to do with why I was away," Minato explained. "It's also for that reason I might never have come back; until I learned of Princess Bathory's scheme from Lady Biwako. At that point, I had no choice but to return. Honestly; I'd planned on staying away as long as I could, no matter how painful it was, if that'd keep you all safe.
"But you told us you didn't mean to be away so long! What was so dangerous that you couldn't come back?!" Naruto demanded; tearfully. "Me and Menma were scared Dad. We didn't even know if you were alive or dead. Then we almost got ourselves murdered trying to figure things out on our own. We just..." A lump in his throat stopped him.
Minato looked conflicted. So Menma, who'd managed to keep his composure better than his Mom and brother said gently, "what is it Dad? What are you trying to tell us?"
"You'll have to forgive me for not telling you Kushina," Minato said. "A promise is a promise, and like we've always taught our sons; being honorable means never going back on your word. But I know for certain Lord Saito and Lady Akane would never want a situation to arise in which their daughter would be in even more danger by not knowing.
Minato inhaled sharply. "It all goes back to the days of the first Varcolac; Hashirama Senju and his wife, Lady Mito. I was only a teen when the Chinese Werewolves came to Romania. My clan were indebted to Lord Hashirama; so it was agreed by Lord Saito and my father Chief Haruto, that I would one day wed Saito's newborn daughter Kushina.
Kushina was shocked; but Minato continued anyway. "On the night of my sixteenth birthday, I was taken to the Bathory Castle to meet the girl I would one day marry. But I never got to see her, because she'd been abducted by a rogue Werewolf who resented the Senju Clan; a vermin named Kurama and his servant; a Werecat named Matatabi.
"I expected Lord Saito to take action immediately to save his daughter; but he and the other Werewolves were too caught up in debate to do anything about it.
"Being young as I was and feeling personally responsible for my betrothed, I lead a group of my friends and allies from the Senju and Namikaze clans to rescue her.
"Among us were Mei Terumi; the girl who'd become the seventh Varcolac, Kawarama and Itami Senju; Lord Saito's nephews, Orochimaru; Tsunade's betrothed, and Hiruzen and Biwako; the only adults who'd listen to us. In the end, we were successful; and Kurama and Matatabi were sealed in lava-rock. We were certain they could never escape.
"We were wrong. Everything I tried to forget about that night came back a year ago when word came from the Varcolac Council that Kurama and Matatabi had escaped from their imprisonment with the aid of someone I believe had to be Princess Bathory. The council informed me they had stolen the Talisman of Ahrimanes and were on the run.
"Dan, Nawaki and I tracked the two fiends across the globe but they always managed to elude us. It was months later when we finally caught up with them, on China's Zhangjiajile Glass Bridge. It was on a cool summer night like this one; only the sky was an eerie crimson, even more so than it was on the night of Project Blood-Moon..."
...
Night of July 21, 2000
Zhangjiajile Glass Bridge, China
"Give it up Kurama; you don't have anywhere left to run," Minato called; watching his foe guardedly from the other end of the bridge. Dan and Nawaki were perched atop the railing on either side of him. "Give up the Talisman of Ahrimanes and surrender yourself to the Varcolac Council. You're only making things worse for yourself by evading us."
The large red Werewolf was beginning to panic. He could easily speed past Minato and his companions; but that would lead him into vampire territory. The path behind him was worse, and its terrain was too hostile; even for him. He would never make it through the lava-catacombs in one piece. He had made that mistake once; but never again.
"Don't underestimate me Namikaze," Kurama grumbled; his big yellow eyes glaring nastily at his enemies. "I was bested by you long ago; but I'm stronger than I was then."
Minato stepped forward; but stopped when Matatabi the Werecat appeared from out of nowhere and shot past him like a bullet. She grabbed onto Kurama and dug her claws into the bridge; shattering it. The duo howled into the night as they plunged straight into the shadowy canyon below. Minato had to grab onto the railing to keep from falling.
Regaining his footing; Minato heard Kurama's voice in his head. "Beware Namikaze; there is one just as powerful as me. With her at my side; we'll conquer the entire world."
No one at the table talked when Minato was done speaking. Kushina was still pale; and Naruto and Menma were wordless. It took a minute before Naruto broke the silence.
"Dad?" Naruto said quietly. "What exactly is the Talisman of Ahrimanes?"
Minato gazed at the moon through the kitchen window; looking pensive. "No one knows," he answered mysteriously. "But it's supposed to possess supernatural powers."
"Perhaps I can be of some assistance then," a slimy voice said. Minato and his family turned to find Orochimaru standing in the threshold; his red eyes blazing in the dark. Kabuto was nearby; rummaging through cooking ingredients. "Forgive us," the vampire hissed. "We don't sleep; and this is the time we usually start preparing breakfast."
Silence followed; so Orochimaru continued. "According to legend; Ancient Egypt once had a Pharaoh named Ahrimanes who was in love with his handmaiden, Nefertiti. He wanted more than anything to make her his Queen. However, since she was not of royal lineage; Ahrimanes' relatives invited Nefertiti to dinner where they poisoned her.
"Devastated and incensed; Ahrimanes carried the body of his beloved to the Great Pyramid where he pleaded with the Gods to save her and punish his traitorous relatives. Moved by his cries of passion and vengeance, the Gods bestowed upon Ahrimanes a golden talisman with the ability to resurrect Nefertiti and wreak havoc upon his kin.
"It's said that soon after Nefertiti was brought back to life; Ahrimanes tortured his relatives to death, only to have them resurrected and tortured to death in more extreme ways...Again and again. However, the powers of the talisman drove him mad; and he tried to destroy it in a fit of passion. If Kurama has it; we can only assume he failed."
Naruto and Menma exchanged doubtful looks and the latter said, "I hate to sound too much like Shikamaru; but that's a bit much Orochimaru, even for a vampire like you."
"Well; I suppose it is rather fantastical," Orochimaru mused; his eyes gleaming mischievously. "But if the legends are true; it's not something man was meant to have."
Naruto found Sasuke in the patio watching the sunset. He was sitting on storage boxes with his face turned to the window, leaving the blonde unable to see his expression.
Kurenai and Konohamaru were playing catch on the beach with Nawaki; Ino and Kazumi were laying on their backs listening to music; Deidara and Sasori were creating a lewd sand-sculpture; Minato and Kushina were by the seashore snuggling; Tsunade was drinking Sake with Hiruzen and Biwako; and Shikamaru was reading a dreary book.
Besides Orochimaru and Kabuto who were watering the Ivy and tropical-greenery, everyone was doing their best to relax and unwind after a day of preparing for the move.
Still, this did little to alleviate the sinking feeling Naruto had that something wasn't right. Sasuke had seemed distant all day and they hadn't spoken much since breakfast.
"You weren't in our room," Naruto said. "So I thought you must be out here. Don't you want to go outside with everybody else? I bet we could build a monster sandcastle."
Sasuke didn't reply at first. When he turned to face Naruto, there were tears in his eyes. The blonde wanted to ask him what was wrong, but he already knew the answer.
"Naruto," Sasuke said in a low voice. "I overheard the talk you and Menma had with you Dad - about why he'd been away for so long."
Naruto averted his gaze. The only words he could bring himself to say were, "You did? I was hoping you hadn't."
Several long seconds passed in which neither boy said anything. Then Sasuke said, "just answer me one thing Naruto. If you could bring Sai back to life, would you do it?"
Naruto froze. He knew what the other teen was getting at and it terrified him. Sasuke went on anyway, crying as he did. "Because...I miss Sarada and Itachi so much..."
He didn't finish what he was going to say because Naruto rushed forward to kiss him. He hated seeing Sasuke in so much pain, but he wouldn't listen to nonsense either.
Once they'd broken apart, Naruto stared fiercely into Sasuke eyes and said, "Sasuke listen to me. There's nothing that can bring back the dead. Nothing. I would know."
"But Naruto," Sasuke pleaded. "If there was even a small chance." Naruto put a finger to his lips. "That's enough. It's just you and me now Sasuke. We'll make it. I kn..."
Naruto's eyes widened; only to shut as Sasuke pulled him against his chest and kissed him. Their kisses grew so intense that it didn't matter to them who happened to see.
However, it didn't take either boy long to realize that something was badly wrong. The sky had turned an awful shade of red and the air reeked of death and rotten corpses.
Naruto stepped back when he saw Sasuke's red eyes and fangs. There was no mistaking it. Naruto knew a vampire when he saw one. But how? He wondered. They'd killed Shizune and burned her remains. There should be no more vampires. Unless... Naruto turned to his reflection in the window and found no comfort in what he saw...
His face had been split by rotting lesions leaking with puss and his eyes had gone even redder than Sasuke's. Outside, everyone stopped what they were doing and stared.
The sky had gotten even eerier and the wind had picked up to such a degree that it knocked off Kurenai's jacket and sent Biwako's beaded shawl hurling across the beach.
Ton-Ton nudged Tsunade's shoulder with an uneasy "Oink." It was just like that day they were at Nascar with Shizune. She stopped to consider this and it all became clear.
Hiruzen seemed to be having similar thoughts because he bit down on his lip and cussed. "Damn that Princess Bathory," he growled. "That bloodsucker just won't rot in hell."
Minato's eyes were blazing gold with fury. Kushina didn't have to ask what was happening. Deep down she knew. Kurama and Matatabi had come. And they weren't alone...
Gaara rushed through the upstairs hallway like a man possessed. His bangs were matted to his sweating forehead and his breathing was unbalanced. His siblings feared he was on the verge of another one of his psychotic breaks.
Temari and Konkuro had no idea what had triggered it. They had all been having dinner with their Dad and Uncle when Gaara suddenly went berserk, flipping the table over and screaming about Kurama. He was convinced that Kurama was going to raise Princess Bathory from the grave so they could join forces and wreak havoc upon the world.
"Gaara wait! This is insane!" Konkuro shouted, chasing after his brother. "Princess Bathory is dead! The Werewolves wasted her! Why would anyone want to resurrect her?!"
"Yeah...Seriously Gaara...Wait, " Temari panted. "Besides, no one knows where Kurama is, or if the legends of the Talisman of Ahrimanes are even true! You're overreacting!"
But there was no getting through to him. The redhead destroyed the padlock on the door at the end of the hall with his lancer and stormed into Yashamaru's old bedroom.
"Shit, there's no reasoning with him," Konkuro said. "Do it Temari, before he does something nuts."
Temari was just about to activate the pentagram her father had placed on her hand to pacify Gaara when she and Konkuro were momentarily blinded by a flash of red light.
The two collapsed onto the floor, holding their eyes and writhing in pain. Gaara had no doubt it was light from the Talisman of Ahrimanes. He took advantage of his siblings' paralysis and snatched an ax off of the bedside table. He used it to break the glass on Yashamaru's curio cabinets, smashing them to smithereens.
By the time Temari and Konkuro came to, Gaara was loading three glowing silver bullets into an old-fashioned rifle.
"I'm sorry Yashamaru," Gaara said. "But I have to use them."
The second part of the chapter will be up by the end of the year and will end with an epilogue that takes place at Tsunade's manor in Beverly Hills. Enjoy, Pinkboy Naberrie.
