DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Naruto or any of its characters. I do NOT gain any profit from this fan-fiction. It is strictly for my entertainment and anyone who enjoys reading it.
CLAIMER: I OWN my OMC Uchiha Yami.
WARNING: This is a SLASH / MALE x MALE / YAOI fan-fiction. If you do NOT like same-sex relationships, then this story is NOT for you. Slight AU. Angst. Attempted suicide.
BETA READER: None, so there will be some mistakes that I miss no matter how many times I proofread.
AUTHOR NOTE: Please read the warning as this chapter may include triggers. This chapter is dark, more so at the beginning … possibly throughout the entirety. It really all depends on what each of you consider dark. Everyone has different aspects of the meaning.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX
.:oOo:.
It was raining, but Yami paid the weather no mind as he stood at the edge of a steep cliff overlooking the Naka River. The deep ravine was flowing swiftly with storming waters as wind blew pelting rains over the lands. Azukiiro has since burrowed deep within the warmth protection of Yami's collar moments before the sky opened up and poured. Pitch orbs stared out at the horizon, visibility limited by the weather, but it was not nature that Yami stared at and pondered. A poof of a summoning was muffled behind him, but he knew if would not be long until one of his summons appeared.
"Uchiha Yami."
Yami tensed at the sound of the boss summons standing behind him, the feeling of rain no longer falling over him like the shadow that replaced it. Turning around, Yami stared resignedly up at gloss black cephalothorax and matte black abdomen. The most venomous of spiders stood over Yami, but it was not fear the Uchiha felt in that moment.
"Samayō-sama," Yami greeted as politely as his dull tone could accomplish.
"You have not summoned us since before the incident, not even Akumu has been called by you, Uchiha Yami," Samayō stated in his throaty voice. "Tell me why."
"I am not deserving," Yami admitted, the hard truth pulsing deep within his bones.
Azukiiro shifted beneath his clothes, growing restless from Yami's words.
"You are not."
A hiss followed Samayō's cold words, Azukiiro finally making an appearance with gleaming maroon orbs narrowed into dangerous slits.
"I would like to request that Sasuke be the protector of your scroll for now on," Yami told the large black mass.
One glossy leg rose until its tip was pushing Yami's head upwards by his chin, Samayō's upper body lowering until matte black orbs peered into Yami's dulling gaze.
"What makes you think I would allow the Arachnid contract to remain in a clan that turns its back on us?" Samayō inquired, his tone almost mocking.
"Sasuke is worthy," Yami whispered, what little fight that was inside Yami slowly leaving him.
"So were you once and look where we are now."
The words were bitter and harsh, much like the stinging winds as it picked up and carried the torrential rains.
"Yami will always be worthy, more worthy than you deserve, Pest," Azukiiro hissed, fangs glistening as venom curved to the sharp tip.
Something sizzled and Azukiiro's opal scaled form withered around Yami's shoulders before falling limp. Yami fumbled for a moment in catching the viper, dark eyes steadily growing wide as Azukiiro's beautiful scales darkened to black before crumbling. Samayō moved back until rain hit Yami and washed Azukiiro's remains away. The only thing remaining of the viper was the ring Yami had Azukiiro swallow. Yami's knees hit the soaked ground, his fingers digging into muddy soil as he squeezed his eyes shut in sorrow.
"You may not realize it right now, but you will come to thank me for my actions. Until then, no arachnid will come to your aid," Samayō voiced without remorse, before disappearing back into the summoning realm.
.:oOo:.
Determined obsidian watched as Yami stayed on his hands and knees, the elder Uchiha's form shaking in silent sobs as he mourned the loss of something that should not have been in the first place.
"Why did you do that, Sasuke?" Kakashi demanded in a pained tone, wanting nothing more than to go to Yami and comfort him but unsure if it would be welcomed, even after returning from his last-minute mission with Asuma and Gai.
"That snake belonged to Orochimaru. It had to die and the only one I could think of doing such was Samayō-sama," Sasuke answered back, his hands clenching into fists at his side.
"He may never forgive you for this," Kakashi murmured and Sasuke jerked his head over to glare at the silver-haired male.
"With the snake gone, Yami-Itoko can finally heal. Isn't that what you want as well, Kakashi?" Sasuke questioned, dropping any honorific he once applied to the jonin's name.
Kakashi grabbed the blue-hued raven by the front lapels of his uniform top.
"You know I do, but there are certain ways to go about doing things, Sasuke. I do not understand why you waited so long, if all you were going to do was kill the viper in the first place," Kakashi snapped, barely stopping himself from giving Sasuke a shake as if that would knock some sense into the younger male.
"You knew?" Sasuke whispered, surprised.
"Of course, I knew about Azukiiro," Kakashi whispered back. "Pakkun informed me the moment he smelled the snake on Yami."
"And you didn't say anything?" Sasuke inquired loudly, the rain muffling their arguing away from where Yami was left in the mud undisturbed.
A growl rumbled deep within Kakashi's throat, his aggravation flaring. Sensing more than hearing Yami climbing to his feet, Kakashi glanced over at his love and felt his fingers slacken in their grip on Sasuke's shirt.
"Yami don't!" Kakashi shouted, already rushing towards Yami tilting over the ledge.
Gravity hugged Yami, pulling him into its hold and towards the raging ravine below. Kakashi leaped off of the ledge after Yami without hesitation, wrapping his arms around the jet-haired male and holding him close.
"I've got you," Kakashi whispered, feeling Yami's arms return the embrace before both were engulfed by the rushing waters.
.:oOo:.
SMACK!
Sasuke flinched backwards, his hand coming up to cover his pulsing cheek from where Itachi slapped him. Pain reflected Itachi's pitch orbs even as he glared at his precious younger brother.
"Itachi—," Hana cut herself off as her husband turned on his heel and went back inside the hospital room that housed both unconscious forms of Hatake Kakashi and Uchiha Yami.
She turned back to Sasuke, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Please don't be mad at Itachi, Sasuke-kun. He witnessed his best friend do exactly what Yami attempted to do…," Hana voiced, glancing back at the door that was shut silently once Itachi entered. "Just give him time."
Sasuke frowned, swallowing the lump forming in his throat. He thought he was doing what was right by ridding Yami of that viper…to think that his actions caused his cousin to step off of the cliff without a thought of injury caused his heart to clench painfully.
"I almost killed my cousin," Sasuke whispered, also staring at the hospital door. "Nii-san has a right to hate me."
"He doesn't," Hana reassured her brother-in-law.
"He should."
.:oOo:.
Hoshigaki Kisame was a monster among men and right now he was outright vengeful against his traitorous ex-partner and his family. Stomping into the current hideout of for the Akatsuki with Samehada strapped to his back, Kisame fumed. His vision was slowly returning to him and if he were not as mad at being betrayed, he would be impressed the eldest Uchiha managed to injure him so much while being in bad condition himself. Too bad Orochimaru seemed to put a veil of protection over Uchiha Yami…no matter how disturbing that veil was.
"You're late, Kisame," The deep voice of Sasori sounded from the meeting room, even as Hiden stumbled around trying to get his partner to finish sewing his severed foot back on.
"Tsk—."
"Leave it and sit down. There is much to discuss regarding collecting the remaining tailed-beasts," Pein spoke from the front of the room, his tone leaving no further room for discussion. "We will discuss acquiring Itachi's ring at a later date when the opportunity better presents itself. I will leave that up to you, Kisame."
"With pleasure, Pein-sama."
.:oOo:.
Yami drifted into consciousness slowly, his body numb to everything around him except for the warmth engulfing his hands. He is laying on his side when he opens his eyes, meeting a half-lidded charcoal orb. Kakashi's mask is down, showing his frown with ease. Yami mirrored his expression.
"You can't do that again," Kakashi breathed, reaching a shaky hand up and cupping Yami's cheek. "If you do, know that I will follow."
Yami's mouth twitched on his otherwise motionless face.
"Samayō destroyed Azukiiro," Yami murmured, tone emotionless.
"I know," Kakashi whispered, brushing his thumb over the smooth flesh beneath Yami's eye.
"You were there," Yami stated.
Kakashi nodded.
"Was Samayō summoned on his own?" Yami inquired, getting his answer when Kakashi remained silent.
Yami exhaled sharply and pushed himself away from the silver-haired male. Sitting up, Yami turned and slid off of the hospital bed without pause.
"You should rest, Yami," Kakashi voiced and he followed Yami towards the door. "Where are you going?"
Yami stopped, his hand on the doorknob. Glancing over his shoulder, piecing black orbs locked onto charcoal. Without another word, Yami slid open the door and froze. Tsunade stood on the other side of the entrance and decided that was the best time as any to crack her knuckles.
"Good, you're awake. Now get back in that bed, before I make you," Tsunade ordered, her hazel orbs flashing dangerously. "And if you ever put us through that again, I will break every single one of your limbs."
Yami's nostrils flared, some of his pitch locks falling into his eyes as he narrowed them at the blonde Hokage.
"Don't make me repeat myself," Tsunade said through gritted teeth.
A firm grip wrapped around Yami's elbow and Kakashi nudged the raven back towards the bed. With everything going on, Yami was being considered by the council as a high risk of abandoning the village; either by death or becoming a missing nin. Kakashi planned on neither one of them happening, because if that was the case…Konoha would be short two shinobi instead of one.
.:oOo:.
Somewhere beneath Kaze no Kuni, Orochimaru froze mid-discussion with Kabuto about his apprentice's new experiment. A hiss slowly left the Snake Sanin's mouth as he pushed up the sleeve and exposed his left forearm. Two pairs of eyes watched as the detailed opal-esque tattoo inked into Orochimaru's flesh began to sizzle before turning black.
"Azukiiro is dead," Orochimaru hissed, biting back another curse as the stinging pain slowly faded.
"Without Azukiiro, any of Yami-sama's injuries the viper healed will return," Kabuto pointed out, pushing his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. "This will include the chakra seals."
Orochimaru did not say anything, his golden orbs darkening as he wondered who killed one of his best creations. He knew for a fact that Yami did not do so, the raven having grown attached to the viper. He wanted to go to Konoha and see for himself what exactly was going on, but he could not risk being around Yami without doing something he may end up regretting. Orochimaru had already given the raven the chance to kill him, and despite Yami hesitating and allowing Orochimaru and Kabuto both to flee, the Sanke Sanin doubts Yami would do so again.
"Orochimaru-sama?" Kabuto voiced with uncertainty.
"Azukiiro was special. I made him especially for Yami and someone destroyed him," Orochimaru seethed. "Kabuto, retrieve my specimen notes. I will need to start the process from the beginning."
Nodding, Kabuto hurried from the room. Biting the corner of his lip, Orochimaru swung his arm out and smashed vials of formula with an angry shout. Yami's chakra seals were not meant to be applied twice as they will be. Whoever destroyed Azukiiro will soon find out why they do not anger the Snake Sannin.