Chapter 40: The Demon's Request

When I rejoined Itachi and Kisame by the fire I decided to apologize to Kisame properly. "Uhm, Kisame...?" He looked up at me with a withdrawn expression, "uh, I just..." I bowed respectfully, "...wanted to apologize." I gave a weak smile. "I'm embarrassed to admit but I think I'm nervous and it came out badly." I looked up with a pleading smile. "Please forgive me!"

He eyed me, then gazed over to Itachi who was staring at us curiously. Kisame smirked before looking to me again. "Just sit down and keep your giddiness to yourself." I gave a quick nod and did as he said. I perched myself right between him and Itachi, trying to refrain from smiling, humming, or anything at all to give away said 'giddiness.'

As I focused on the fire, I felt eyes on me from both sides and I became nervous before looking from one to the other. I blinked. "Uh...is this not a good spot...? I can move..."

"It's not that..." Itachi said, still staring.

"You see it, too, Itachi?" Kisame asked.

Itachi gave a nod. "Shikara... your aura... not only can we see it... we can feel it."

I gasped, blushing before scrambling to stand and quickly made my way over to the opposite side of the fire. "S-sorry!" I hid my burning face in my arms which were now resting on my knees.

"How strange...I feel energized." Kisame noted.

Muffled words came from me, "I'm out of control..."

"What is that?" Kisame asked.

I picked my head up. "I've been searching for answers as well." Kisame was still eyeing me curiously wanting to know more. I sighed, "depending on my mood...and how severe it is... this happens." The aura started to fade. "If it's dark in coloration, it's not pleasant for those around me."

"That time you prayed...does that actually work?" Kisame had a grin.

"Well...I'm not religious or anything...but it helps me focus enough to calm the energy. If I don't...it explodes." I grimaced. "It usually results in a bloody mess..."

"You're like Yin and Yang...all in one." Kisame chuckled to himself.

My eyebrow raised. "That's a pleasant way to put it."

...

It was amusing that Shikara seemed to be getting along with Kisame well enough. He normally tells everyone he meets to watch their backs around him. Itachi stared at the two talking and concluded that Kisame probably wouldn't try to kill her as long as she didn't make any fish jokes and closed his eyes.

A few hours must have passed and Itachi opened his eyes, hearing a rustling noise. Kisame was sleeping with his back against a tree to Itachi's right and he peered forward to see Shikara standing several feet away with her back to him. She was in a defensive stance, sword drawn, shaking from head to toe. Itachi peered around her and saw something very ominously familiar and quickly got up and moved to protect her.

"Itachi-sama...stay back." Her voice was quiet and calm, despite the trembling as she put an arm back to keep him from coming any closer. Her eyes were intensely locked on the dark being which was watching her with a sinister grin. The eyes of the thing were red with yellow irises and white pupils. It was the only distinguishing features of it's shadowy form, aside from what appeared to be a set of dark, misty wings which were drawn back and the grin was filled with sharp teeth. It seemed to float just above the ground.

Shikara and the thing seemed to have a kind of silent connection. Itachi took another step to stand next to Shikara and the dark form turned its eyes to him. Itachi activated his sharingan and suddenly the thing vanished and then appeared right in front of them. Shikara went stiff, eyes wide and clutched Itachi's cloak with one hand. The thing mocked him by leaning a little closer to stare into his eyes. Itachi froze as a demonic voice rattled through his mind.

"...

Sleep..."

...

I gasped as Itachi fell to the ground and tried to catch him before his head hit. I cradled him protectively and glared at the darkness which had possessed me my whole life. It's grin widened and it's voice haunted my thoughts.

"

It's time...Shikara..."

I gently placed Itachi's head down and glanced back to see Kisame still out cold. The Darkness put him to sleep just as it did Itachi. I slowly stood and followed it into the forest. I would finally get my answers.

We came to a swamp area which was difficult to see due to a light mist lingering in the air. The darkness turned to me again. The horrifying voice took over my mind again.

"You've been searching for answers...without ever looking inside..."

What are you? Why do you present yourself now?

It's eyes narrowed.

"A demon, of another world, summoned by your clan to protect their precious heir."

My teeth clenched. Why do you face me now?!

It's menacing laughter caused the hair to rise on my arms.

"It's time to pay the price for my protection."

My eyes widened. Pay...the price...?

The Demon's white irises became thin slits. "

Yes...you've become a woman...and your life is the price to complete the ritual for my release."

I don't understand...

"You must abandon your physical self by the hands of your lover to release me...otherwise...your body will slowly decay...and I will be released upon this world, destroying everyone you care about...and more..until my payment is satisfied. Your body will not be able to hold my power for long...

"

I have to know...who was my clan? Why did they summon you to protect me?

"I'll only tell you if you swear to release me from your vessel...willingly."

I gave it a solemn nod. Is there another way aside from it having to be my lover?

"You must die at the hands of your lover...or willingly at the hands of your greatest enemy."

I sighed. I didn't want to die, however I was glad it didn't have to be by Itachi. I swear, I will release you...

"Good. Now...your clan...was called the Tenshi Clan. They come from the Village Hidden in the Heavens. Their existence was not known to any of these who live upon the ground. The only clan who could summon demons and share a vessel for an entire lifetime, or until the contract was complete.

Some who have witnessed them...call them angels...they only ever left their territories when the world was is great disarray, however your people experienced their own war. One side wanted to annihilate the people on the ground to prevent more blood shed and suffering...the other wished to provide further protection to them. There were no survivors...aside from you..."

I blinked in confusion. How is that possible? Why am I the only survivor?

The demon's grin widened again.

"There was one of your kind...so evil...and he chose to use a demon he couldn't control. Heheheheheh...that was the price he

payed

...for his insolence."

The demon's laughter was horrible but I held my ground.

"That demon chose to destroy all of your kind...for fun."

My eyes narrowed. And me...why me...why did I survive?

"You were a princess of sorts with special power. Your mother threw you from the Heavens before the great demon could find you and died making her summons for me...as a deposit...so to speak."

I felt myself grow angry and muttered. "We're done here..."

The demons laughter filled my mind again before charging and reentering my body.

"You have one year...Angel."

I gasped, the pain of the repossession nearly took my breath away. I fell to my knees to catch my breath. All of my questions had finally been answered but I only had one year to figure out who my greatest enemy was...

...

Itachi opened his eyes and quickly got to his feet. The morning rays were peeking through the treetops. Itachi looked over to see Shikara putting out the smoldering coals. He went to her and put a hand on her shoulder. She rose from her crouched position and looked to him with a blank expression.

"Itachi..." her sweet voice sounded hollow.

His eyebrows creased. "What happened? Where's the demon?"

She blinked then turned her gaze to the ground. "Back where it belongs." She then moved away to check on Kisame who was starting to stir. "Kisame...it's time to rise..." she called to him without emotion.

Kisame jolted awake and nearly took a swing at her with Samehada. "Where is that thing!?" He growled.

Shikara sighed and turned away from him before walking in the direction of the Hidden Sound.

"Hey! Are you going to answer me?" Kisame called after her but she made no reaction and kept walking. Kisame turned to Itachi. "Did you see that thing last night?"

Itachi gave a slight nod and started to follow after Shikara. "Give her time, Kisame...I have questions as well..."

Kisame followed Itachi's lead but kept staring at Shikara's back. "Does it have anything to do with that darkness she has?"

Itachi nearly showed how upset he really was and tilted his head down to hide it. He wasn't able to protect her from that thing and hated the helpless feeling he had. Whatever happened last night after being put down by the demon, caused Shikara to distance herself. She faced it alone. Remembering the way she was trembling caused Itachi's teeth to clench. He would find a way to release her from her internal prison.

...

Sasori and Deidara were waiting just outside the village when we arrived. "Were you waiting long...Sasori?" I asked. My hollow tone hadn't changed from when I spoke with Itachi.

"You made good time..." he replied. "Here's our plan..." Sasori made the plan short, sweet, and to the point. I liked it that way. I would cause a distraction, they would kill the Sannin, we would spread out to find the ring and then we could all move on with our lives.

Orochimaru's hideout was located just a few miles away from the Hidden Sound. We had some time so I set out to prepare myself. Itachi and Kisame followed me while Sasori and Deidara left to our next meetup point to go over the finer details right before our assault. The guys waited outside a store while I went in. When I came back out I handed Itachi and Kisame dango and bowed. "I'm sorry about my demonic counter part. He's touchy and doesn't like an audience while speaking with me." I looked both men in the eyes. "It won't happen again." I then turned away to walk back to the exit of the village so that we could make our way to the final meetup spot.

...

Before Shikara could make her escape, Itachi took her wrist into his free hand, holding the dango in the other. "Shikara...we need to talk before we meet up with the others..."

She didn't bother looking at him and gave a slight nod. As soon as we were outside the village again she turned to Itachi and stared emotionlessly into his eyes.

"What did the demon do to you?"

She blinked. "We talked...or rather communicated with our thoughts."

"What did it want?"

She paused, looking to the ground again. Itachi lifted her head by cupping her chin. She closed her eyes. "He wants payment...for his services." Her eyes slowly opened and met Itachi's. "It had information about where I came from as well." Shikara's eyes became dull and she turned her head away from Itachi's gentle hold.

Itachi sighed. "We will speak more later..." he looked to Kisame and gave a nod which was returned. They made their way out and met up with the other two for a final deliberation.

...

"Shikara...are you ready?" Sasori asked.

I gave a nod and without another word I made my move. There was no need to wait and talk about the plan any further. I understood my part. There were two people guarding the entrance. This signified that Orochimaru really was here. When they spotted me making my approach one called out to me.

"Hold it! Do not come any clos-"

I raised my hand and used the dark power to set them both ablaze with a black fire. Their screams would trigger the distraction I intended to create. Soon, the entrance was opened with more lackeys and they too got a taste of the raging black fire and their screams would create the second part to the distraction.

...

Deidara looked to Kisame. "She's more brutal than any of us, hn."

"Crazier...than most of us, too. I'd say Hidan is the only one who takes the cake over her..."

Itachi glared at Kisame before returning his watchful eyes to his angel. She wasn't batting an eye as she killed multiple people with the black flames. It was like his Amaterasu, without having to use the Mangekyo Sharingan.

He watched as she used a hand to signal to them that she would be moving in soon, then knelt down with a scroll to seal away the fire. Itachi and Kisame would follow after her to act as her backup while Sasori and Deidara found another way in.

...

After sealing the fire away, it was time for me to enter. Itachi and Kisame would be following behind as backup. The entrance came to a long dark hall, lit by torches on the walls. I carefully peeked into the rooms as I went by and each one was rather uneventful, I had to explore further. I was about to turn a corner when a raven haired boy with obsidian colored eyes came around and we stared at each other for a moment.

"S-Sasu-kun...?"

His eyes widened at me. "Shi-chan...you're...alive?"

A tear slipped from my eyes and a small smile that I couldn't control spread over my lips. "You're, so grown up." I gave a small laugh, "What are you doing...here...?"

His eyebrow raised. "I could ask you the same thing..."

...

Shikara was speaking to someone up ahead, Itachi and Kisame stayed back. She had walked all the way down the long hall and moved around the corner where they couldn't see her and whoever she was speaking to. He decided it was time to move up. He and Kisame quietly moved into a room near the end of the hall to listen to the conversation.

"What are you doing here, Shikara?" It was Sasuke's voice.

"I'm looking for something...something important. Maybe you could help?" She responded.

"...what are you looking for...?"

"A ring...it looks like this." Itachi could hear her movement as she held something up to show Sasuke.

Itachi and Kisame looked at each other, then peered down at their fingers. "That little..." Kisame murmured under his breath, showing Itachi his ring less finger.

Itachi softly sighed. This could get bad if his ring is lost as well...

"Im going to get it back..." Kisame said in a frustrated hushed tone.

Itachi shook his head. "Wait," he whispered.

...

Sasuke's voice was filled with amusement. "I've seen a similar ring, it belongs to Orochimaru. What do you want with it?"

"Actually it belongs to someone else...I'm on a mission to retrieve it. I was hoping to get in and out without being seen but I ran into you..." I giggled nervously.

"So that's the commotion I heard outside..."

"Hehe, sorry!" I was truly embarrassed now, wishing that I had known Sasuke was here. I tilted my head at him. "I'm sorry to ask you this favor but I could really use your help. If I had known you were here my plans would be different..."

Sasuke was looking at me curiously. "What plans?"

I put a hand behind my head nervously. "Uh, well...I'll tell you if you're willing to help, I'm assuming you're here...willingly...with the Sannin."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "He's not here right now..."

...Shit...I need to inform Sasori and Deidara...somehow. My hopes of this mission were starting to slip and my gaze dropped to the floor in thought.

"I'll help you...but you need to leave once you've gotten the ring."

I looked up with a spark of hope in my eyes. "It's here!?"

Sasuke gave a nod. "There's a room around the corner, wait there."

I smiled. "Thank you, Sasu-kun!"

He smirked. "Hmph, you owe me...Shi-chan."

I gave a nod. "Yes, I do, big time."

"Go hide...I'll be back." He turned away and I did what he said.

When I got into the room I was met with two sets of glares. I blushed holding Kisame's ring out to him. "Hehe...sorry...I needed it for reference..."

He snatched it and leaned towards me. "If you swipe something from me again...I'll find an end fitting for you."

"Noted." I replied. "I need you two to find Sasori and Deidara. The plans have changed."

Itachi was glaring at me. "You're trusting Sasuke to retrieve the ring for you...?"

"Why not? I didn't use a fucked up ability on him to make him hate me." I smirked and Kisame put a hand over his face. "Sorry." My smirk disappeared as Itachi's glare worsened. "I really do need you two to go find the others before Sasuke returns, though." I peeked out of the room to make sure it was clear before ushering them out. "Please be quick, I'll meet you outside."

Both gave me glares before disappearing back down the long hall. I quietly closed the door and waited patiently for Sasuke to return.