A rustle of clothing and the squeak of a floorboard woke Mitsuki. At first, he was confused. He didn't remember falling asleep. He could feel Boruto's warm body beside his as well as the presence of an intruder. He drew one of his long, silver daggers and rolled, slashing at the invader. Green light crackled to life and sprayed golden sparks as his weapon neared its target. The scene the light revealed made him freeze instantly.

A man was hunched beside the bed next to Boruto. His skin looked like it was tinged green and gold, though Mitsuki couldn't tell if that was from the light or if it was the man's natural skin color. His skin was lumpy and his wide, mad eyes were reddish-brown, bloodshot and ringed by square scales. Scruffy black eyebrows shot as one across his brow and matched his short, wild, greasy-looking black hair. He had no lips and his mouth was twisted into a wide smile, exposing his yellow teeth that were chipped and crooked.

The tip of Mitsuki's dagger was fixed at the intruder's scaly throat but he couldn't finish the slash. Long, knobbly fingers tipped with wicked black claws were wrapped around Boruto's neck.

"Hello, Mitsuki. Long have I wanted to speak with you." The thing stated without losing its twisted smile. He was slowly drumming his chipped claws on Boruto's vein and the skin was starting to turn read from irritation. Boruto looked like he was still sleeping peacefully except his body was limp in the monster's grasp like a rag doll. He must have been placed under a sleeping enchantment to keep him unconscious. Mitsuki felt his blood boil. No one laid their polluting fingers on his Sun and lived. His eyes glowed with his basilisk stare but the villain was ready. He squeezed Boruto's neck and sky blue eyes popped open.

"Mitsuki..." Boruto whispered, his eyes wide and staring

"Now, now. We wouldn't want any accidents." The stranger jeered. At the sight of blue, Mitsuki slammed his eyes shut. They burned from the aborted stare but he refused to show pain. He blinked his eyes back open and glared cold hatred but the beast's crooked smile only grew wider. "There we go. I knew we'd get to a point where you'd be agreeable." He cackled. Mitsuki hissed his anger.

"What do you want? I swear if you hurt Boruto-"

"I'm aware of that, love." The thing cut him off. He brought his left hand up and a short brass dagger glittered in the weak light. He was inching it towards Boruto's neck. Mitsuki pressed the tip of his dagger into the thing's neck in warning. Blood trickled from the new wound but the intruder ignored it. He hooked the blade's razor tip under the silver chain around Boruto's neck and lifted the crystal from his shirt. The stone tumbled out into the green tinged light. Something about it caught Mitsuki's eye. It was tiny, but he could just make out a spark of white light in the heart of the crystal.

"I also know what you are looking for." He said as he held the stone out to Mitsuki. "Handy little toy, don't you think? But it is not necessary. I know where it is." Mitsuki studied his face hard, looking for any sign of deceit but he found none. He wished he could just kill this thing and be done with it but he needed to know what this creature knew.

"Where is the key?" Mitsuki asked, not bothering to hide his hatred of the being before him. Despite his frigidness, the creature brightened.

"It is deep in the heart of the swamp, in the fields of poison gas. This one here..." He held Boruto up more for emphasis. It made Mitsuki see red but he forced himself to remain calm. He would make this thing pay later. "...He would never make it, but you...You are built much sturdier than this little one, I think. You are like me." The way the creature licked his teeth suggestively with his forked tongue was nauseating. Mitsuki's disgust must have shown because it decided to speak again, "Oh, I may not be pretty like you, but I think you'll be surprised at just how alike we are." Mitsuki fought the urge to just take its head off here and now.

The beast was disgusting and dangerous, there was no question about that but the creature was not lying. If he really knew where the key is, then he was useful. The creature must have sensed his thoughts. He pushed his face closer to Mitsuki's with open eagerness until he was close enough that Mitsuki could smell his rancid breath. More blood trickled down his scaly neck as the dagger's tip was driven deeper with his movement.

"I can show you where it is. I can take you there." The beast's voice rasped with his hunger. Mitsuki angled the tip of his blade so it dug into the collar bone and used it to push the thing away from his face. The monster allowed himself to be moved away but still showed no signs of pain. If anything, the creature seemed to be excited by Mitsuki's cruelty.

Everything inside Mitsuki told him to kill the beast and be done with it. He should ignore his silky promise and keep searching for the key by Boruto's side. They would find the key eventually. He had no doubt of that and shortcuts were always more trouble than they were worth. However, what if the beast told the truth? What if the fields were as lethal as he claimed? Then Boruto would be in terrible danger again. He remembered the time they had spent with Grandma. He recalled the hell he had endured waiting for Boruto to wake, not knowing if he even would. It had almost been too much for him.

Then there was the matter of the key guardian they would inevitably face. The strain from slaying the last one had taken a terrible toll on Boruto, forcing him to use his magic excessively which had accelerated the spread of the curse. There was no telling how powerful the next guardian would be. If Boruto were forced to fight, it would undoubtedly spread more and dangerously shorten their already limited time. In his anxiety, Mitsuki's eyes darted to Boruto's cursed hand. The monster saw.

"Oh, you're concerned about this?" He asked on a mocking voice. Quick as lightning, the bronze knife slit Boruto's sleeve, revealing his arm. Mitsuki's eyes landed on the curse marks and his eyes widened. The marks had spread further. They were over halfway to his elbow. Mitsuki didn't understand. When had this happened? Why had Boruto hidden it from him? He stared at the marks with cold horror pumping through his veins. There wasn't time. They had to collect the keys soon or everything would be for nothing.

Time was a commodity Mitsuki could not afford to waste. He turned his anger on the thing still clinging to his beloved Sun. The beast was hideous in both body and mind but it was little more than a feral animal. If all was as he said, then it would be faster to humor it. He could allow this beast to take him to the key. Then, he could kill this disgusting animal at his convenience and return to his beloved Sun.

It would be painful to leave Boruto, he knew that. He wouldn't be able to endure it at all except that it was for Boruto. The curse marks, clear and bold against warm peach skin were a bold reminder of what was at stake. He feared for his Sun's safety in his absence but the alternative was far too dangerous. Mitsuki had no choice but to rely on Sarada. If he hurried, he should be able to return to his side in three days time. The Swamps were not huge and two people could travel faster than four. Boruto would be upset. Mitsuki knew that. He looked regretfully on the face of his Sun. Yes, he would be angry but if Mitsuki was fast enough and brought back the key, along with this monster's head, Boruto might find it in his heart to forgive him.

As Mitsuki considered his actions, something was still bothering him. How did this thing know so much about them and why was he willing to guide him there? He was missing something.

"What do you want?" Mitsuki asked again. The hungry look in the beast's face doubled as he sensed that Mitsuki was considering his offer. He pushed against the dagger again, the tip scraping along his collar bone as he moved.

"I want you, Mitsuki." He said eagerly, nodding his head as he spoke.

"And if I refuse?" Mitsuki asked, venom literally dripping from his teeth as he spoke.

"Then I kill him." The creature laughed lowly as his fingers tightened around Boruto's neck. His fetid black claws started to bite into warm flesh. Mitsuki could feel the bile rising in his throat but he forced himself to say the words anyway. This was for Boruto.

"And in exchange?" Mitsuki managed to ask through his teeth.

"Come away with me and I will guide you to the key that you seek." The dagger tip chattered across bone as he pushed forward more in his excitement. It was getting very difficult not to kill this monster. The rolling blue eyes before him were the only reason he held back. Mitsuki had to go through with this. It was the only way to keep his Sun safe. He twisted the dagger and felt a satisfying crunch. The monster's eyes flickered ever so slightly but not from pain.

"I will go with you..." The creature's eyes lit up with triumph, "... On one condition." Mitsuki added. For the first time, its smile faltered. Mitsuki sat up, keeping the monster under control with his dagger. Mitsuki forced the creature backwards but he didn't release Boruto.

"Name it." The beast growled.

"Boruto and Sarada are not to be harmed in any way." The creature scowled and his eyes flashed dangerously but Mitsuki did not waver. He drove the point of his blade deeper between the splintered pieces of bone and sparked his lightning magic through it to emphasize his seriousness.

"Done." The beast said. He released Boruto, allowing him to flop onto the bed on his back. Boruto's eyes closed and a pained moan escaped his lips as his body made contact with the old bed but he did not wake. Mitsuki kept the thing at arm's length and kept a close eye on him as he moved to check Boruto. There were angry red marks on his neck but otherwise he seemed unharmed.

"Come. We go now." The creature said. He stowed his knife as he rose to his full unimpressive height and started for the door. Heavy clomping footsteps practically shook the cheap room as he walked in thick leather and metal boots. Mitsuki slid from the bed and stood but he hesitated. He looked sadly down at Boruto's form laying crumpled on the bed. He ran his fingers through Boruto's rich golden hair and caressed his cheek gently. He bent down and kissed Boruto's warm plush lips tenderly. He would be back, he vowed. No matter what, he would return to his Sun's side. The beast was impatient, but Mitsuki would not leave his Sun without a word.

"I'm sorry, Boruto." He whispered in his ear even though he knew Boruto couldn't hear him. "Please understand. I do this for you." Silently, he conjured a single small white snake. It slithered down his arm under his sleeve and passed from his wrist to Boruto's neck. It was all but invisible as it wriggled into Boruto's shirt and settled itself by his beating heart. With this snake, Mitsuki would be able to still be by his Sun. He could track him to the very ends of the earth and he could leave one message. Lastly, Mitsuki carefully removed the crystal necklace from Boruto's neck. He could use it to assure that the beast did not lead him astray and its absence should assure that Boruto would not be able to follow him.

Mitsuki stood straight again and indulged in one last look before he forced himself to turn and follow the beast through the door. His heart ached painfully as he left Boruto but the steady beating of his heart, constantly relayed to the back Mitsuki's mind by the little snake, comforted him. Three days. he thought to himself. He would return to his Sun in no more than three days.

Mitsuki followed the creature down the hallway in silence. As they passed Sarada's room, a second snake escaped from Mitsuki's clothing and slithered under the door. With it, he sent a short message to her to care for Boruto. Thankfully, the creature either didn't notice or didn't care.

They moved quickly through the glowing streets of Dorchas to a secluded dock. There, a black boat waited for them. It was rickety, full of holes and covered in green slime. The poor vessel looked as if it had been dragged from the lake's bottom only hours before. It sloshed dangerously in the inky water, threatening to capsize as Mitsuki stepped into its wet bottom.

The beast did not speak but watched him obsessively with those wide eyes and fixed smile. Mitsuki sat on the rotten remains of what had once been a bench and allowed the beast to ready them to make way, a task he performed with unmasked glee. Mitsuki stared back at the glowing city, ignoring the creature as much as safety would allow. He didn't remove his eyes from the city, even as it started to fade back into its black cloak of mist. Boruto was back there and Mitsuki's heart was tearing apart. He clung to the comfort of Boruto's steady heartbeat at the back of his mind as the crystal necklace hung heavily around his neck with the weight of his betrayal.