Chapter One

"The Demon"

Okay, so this is Kitsune/Mate and also AU. Major Pairing Naru/Sasu, & Minor Pairing Sakura/Hinata

It was the dead of night when Uchiha Sasuke was startled awake by a hand being placed over his mouth with enough force to suffocate him. He saw familiar wide green pools hovering above his own This individual was unmistakably being his teammate Haruno Sakura placed a finger to her lips as a way to tell him to be quiet. Once they had an understanding was when she removed her hand and Sasuke could breathe again. He slid out from underneath the bottom bunk he was in a dorm room with other young shinobi men. Cautiously, the pair tip-toed their way out of the dorm of the Chūnin academy careful not to wake their sleeping classmates. As soon as they were at a comfortable distance from the academy structure was when Sasuke decided to speak first.

"What's this all about Sakura? You know damn well if we get caught passed curfew, we could lose our spot in the Chūnin exams!" The last thing he wanted to do was repeat his year over again.

"You remember the Demon that killed all those seasoned Jonin and leveled that small village about a month ago?" He could only hope she wasn't trying to go out there and fight that thing now that would be suicide, they were surely outmatched and outclassed.

"I know what you're thinking but Sasu' we are the best in our year if we can capture this demon, we will surely raise amongst the ranks." He shook his head.

"No, absolutely not... Good night, Sakura." He waved over his shoulder as he turned to leave.

"They won't let me see her!" She cried, making him pause mid-step.

"The Hyūga clan sees me as inferior. I know it's because I'm a woman. They have been keeping her away from me." She buried her face in her hands dropping to her knees as all hope left her body, she pleaded with him crawling onto her knees and taking a hold of his hand. "Please Sasu' you're all I have no one else will help me-"

"Because it's suicide!" He retaliated.

"Not when we have this," while she talked, she reached into her kimono pulling out a leather-bound bidden scroll used for demons and Oni.

"What the hell! Where did you... did you steal this?" He glared; just great he was an accomplice now. In all the years he had known Sakura she never would willingly put herself in danger without some sort of contingency plan.

"Okay, so what the other jonin and I have noticed is that this demon has a pattern, it attacks only during a full moon, only at night, and in one particular portion of the area." Once again, she reached into the flap of her kimono and pulled out a map. She rolled the map flat out between them; it was a map of all the countries and scribble in red ink were all the areas this demon had attacked over the past year and a half. It only attack a fair portion of land between fire and earth country right where both borders collided the killing also connected in a large circle.

"This must be its haunting ground." She pressed her index right in the center of the circle. "We have two nights before the next full moon. I say we set up traps that way we can ambush the demon."

"It would be a decent enough plan if it wasn't done already. Don't you think they tried that and look how well that turned out?"

"I know! That's why we have to figure out a way so that our plan will be foolproof. I still want to go with the ambush method it's the only way of capturing and killing this thing we just got to get close enough to place the bidding scroll." There was only one problem and that was getting close enough without getting ripped to shreds or decapitated.

That instant a thought popped into his head. Sasuke reached out grabbing the bidding scroll. "I think we can recreate the incantation and crave it into a patch of trees and lore the demon into that section of forest. It might slow the creature down long enough to place the scroll."

Her head shot up. "Do you think it'll work?"

"It has too for our sakes." He couldn't believe he was agreeing to this.

"So, this means you're in?" She smiled at him. He was her partner in crime, after all, hopefully, this would be proof enough for Hinata's hand. He sighed, "You're lucky I care." with his pointer and middle finger he poked the crown of her forehead playfully. He received a death glare directed at him.

"Okay with the details settled. I'll pack the sleeping bags and you can pack the food and drink. We have a long two days ahead of us. We'll meet back here same time. You better not leave me hanging either!" With those parting words, she waved running back to the female side of the dorms.

The Following Night

Both Genin were clad in all black excluding their forest green flak vest that Sakura oh so graciously borrowed for their journey.

"I gotta say... black suits you Sasu'," She winked giving him a thumbs up.

"Shut it," He shook his head crossing his arms they were already in a whole lot of trouble, and if they wind up miraculously surviving this and manage to kill the demon. He was sure they would have some kind of punishment coming with that victory.

"Let's go before we get caught!" They both took to the rooftops outside their dorms.

"Would you have still gone if I said no?" Sakura visibly cringe as they were now running side by side hopping from one rooftop to the next. They paused once they reached the giant wall that surround their village Konohakure, dropping their heavy packs both pulled out a four-prong hook they began to spin the hooks until they had enough force to toss the hooks in the air so that it would hook in the nook of the other side of the great wall. They yanked on their ropes before climbing up and over the wall and leaping down to the forest floor below she chose that moment to answer.

"Yes."

"Hm?"

"Yes, I would have still gone. They forbid her from seeing me." Her expression was gloomy as they landed on a large branch. Her head shot up like a needle her eyes narrowed with determination. "I refuse to give up."

"C'mon we have a demon to slay." He stated encouragingly.

"Thank you..." She smiled at him.

"Don't thank me just yet." The Genin only stopped to make camp when they covered enough ground. They were now in a part of the forest that was not familiar to them Konoha was now a distant memory they had no sensei to protect or guide them. They were alone and far away from home. They paused at a clearing in the forest deciding to make camp. They spent the majority of the day traveling so it was night when they made camp. The pair sat around the fire. "Sasuke?"

"Hm?" The raven was laying on his back staring up at the night sky he was using his palms as a pillow.

"Why haven't you found love yet? All you do is train and study I haven't seen a smile from you in a long time. It's like you're a ghost; I'm starting to worry about you." She rolled on her side to look at him. He did not miss a beat when he spoke. "I need to love myself before I start loving others."

She snorted not convinced though she rolled on her back joining him in the stargazing.

"What's not to love." She teased and added, "Ino likes you."

He scoffed, "I'd rather eat snails." She laughed at that. "I just don't want you to die before you've even lived."

"Who's to say I haven't?"

"You haven't experienced sex." She retorted. At that, he shot up on his elbows to shoot her a dirty look.

"That's what I thought virgin boy," She stuck her tongue out at him.

"You kiss Hinata with that flow mouth." The mood seemed to darken.

"I miss her. I haven't seen her in two whole months." She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

"Sorry..." He laid back down and stare up at the stars.

"We'll get your demon Sakura." They remained quiet the rest of the night until they fell asleep or at least tried to sleep. The following morning the pair set out only referring to the map when the forest became denser. "This is it Sasu' once we continue there is no turning back." A single bead of sweat started cascading down his forehead.

"I'm ready." He grabbed her hand as they continued deeper into the forest. They were in the spot that Sakura drew on the map. The two Genin paused when they came across torn clothing and that unmistakable thick metallic scent of copper as the forest floor was painted in dry blood and sprinkled with bleached bones. They stumbled by a few trees split all the way deep down to the root the earth cracked and splintered outwards like veins.

"Oh, gawds! Sasuke." Her eyes were wide with the realization they were way over their heads. This was a massacre.

"No chickening out now give me the forbidden scroll." Her hands were visibly shaking as she handed him the forbidden scroll. He pulled a kunai out and started craving the same incantation into the base of the surrounding trees.

"If something happens or if this doesn't work. I want you to run and don't look back."

"Sasuke!" She locked eyes with deep murky ones. "Promise me or we are leaving!"

"I.." She broke eye contact fighting back tears as her fist clenched. "I promise." Once he was satisfied, he continued his craving, as Sakura began to grab small branches and sharpen them once Sasuke was done craving and began to dig a hole right in the center of the surrounding forest and when the hole was waist deep. They placed the sharpened sticks in the hole and covered the trap with branches and leaves. Their hearts raced as the sun began to set. They made sure they were close to the ambush spot but far enough to give the demon a case. They watched in horror as the last bit of sunlight disappeared behind the trees the last bit of light piercing through the thick brush as a final goodbye.

As soon as the light died an ominous dense fog crept its way through blanketing the forest floor. The pair was back-to-back in the quiet it was eerie there was not even the sound of crickets just silence. That was when they heard it... that faint chime on small bells in the distance before they knew it, they peered up and saw and porcelain fox mask peering down at them from a nearby branch. The humanoid figure was crouched on all fours.

This demon in the kitsune mask was perched on all four on top of the branch just watching them. Instinctively, Sasuke had stepped in front of Sakura so that his body was blocking her from view. He held both kunai above his chest ready to block or counter any incoming attack. There the demon remained still as a statue, just observing the pair until his head tilted to the side curiously the demon jumped down from its perch, his landing barely making a sound. This demon was tall he towered over the pair as he sauntered over to them. He heard Sakura gasp as three other clones started to approach from each angle. It only took one blink and the cocky figure as well as its clones were gone. He was playing with them!

"Sakura run!" Shouted Sasuke they both started to make a beeline to the incantations, but Sasuke's feet were kicked out from under him he was knocked on his back. And barely dodged having his throat slit open by claw-like nails.

"Hey, you!" Sakura called trying to lore the demon off her teammate. The fox stood grabbing Sasuke by his vest collar and lifting him off the ground his feet dangling as he was tossed at his teammate barreled into Sakura's back. They both tumbled forward. And swiftly sprung to their feet and continued to break for the ambush area. They made sure to avoid the spike pit in the middle as the demon paused at first before sauntering through. He approached the pair his sandals-clad feet stepping onto the trap, however, he did not fall through he stood on top of the trap unbothered.

"Awww, how cute... but you're gonna need more than cheap tricks..." wait a minute, the demon sniffed the air between them. "Ah ha ... nice one." He teased and pointed to the trees, "but you missed one thing little ones I am no mere low-class demon."

"H-how.." Sakura managed to stutter out.

"Oh, you must mean the trap... heh I could see that coming from a mile away." He said this as he approached, Sasuke tried to toss several shurikens at the ANBU which he knocked out of the way with a wave of his hand.

"Sakura run now!" Sasuke stepped in front of the demon's path and activated his bloodline his eyes turning that distinctive Sharingan- red and that unique pinwheel shape.

"I never thought your Hokage would stoop so low as to send kids after me." He growled and slashed at the raven who blocked each swing with his kunai each block causing him to slide back it was hard keeping up and damn near impossible to predict his next move. Sakura had stood there frozen the entire time. "Run!" Sasuke's words seemed to snap her out of her daze. She turned to flee but instead she decided to stay and fight. "I'm not leaving!" She tried stabbing the demon with her kunai but it was knocked out of her hand and in one fluid motion he sent an uppercut to her abdomen it was enough to put her out of commission she coughed up blood before collapsing face first on the ground.

"Sakura!" Shit shit shit shit! He was seized by his throat and body slammed twice on the ground below with enough force to knock the wind out of him and bruise some ribs. The ANBU had straddled Sasuke's waist clasping a hand around his throat and began to squeeze.

"Any last words?" He watched as the porcelain kitsune mask tilted to the side in a way that reminded Sasuke of a curious child.

"Who...uh... who are you." He managed to those words slip through gritted teeth as shaky digits reached out for the porcelain mask the pads of his index and middle finger brushed the bottom of the mask before the host rolled his head back from those prying digits.

"Ah Ah Ah, not yet you'll ruin all the fun." Just then the pale moonlight broke through the tree top shining down on the pair giving them a clearer view of one another. He noticed the kitsune mask jerk back in shock he saw the demon lift his mask until just his mouth and the tip of his nose slightly peeked from underneath. He leaned in sniffing the raven, "fresh linen and scandal wood." In his distraction, the hand on Sasuke's throat loosened the demon appear almost conflicted. "Oi, not now..." He said to himself as realization set in.

"What are you waiting for, kill me!" Sasuke was by no means ready for death but he didn't want to be tortured either that same hand on his throat began to shake as an internal struggle began and then...

Sakura had woken to lift her upper body with a quivering arm just in time to see the demon bend down his mouth connecting with her shocked teammate's lips. The kiss was deep followed by a short and gentler one. She saw her friend's ebony brows come together in confusion. She rubbed her eyes was she seeing this correctly or was this an illusion? She soon realized that this was no illusion when the demon moved to bite her teammate on his shoulder causing him to shout those teeth penetrated right through his vest and clothing drawing blood. The demon rose to wipe the blood from his mouth, and with that, he was gone.

Sakura began to drag herself to her teammate, as Sasuke remained laying on his back staring at the tree tops. He was alive, they both were.

"I think that demon likes you." she joked and plopped on her back beside him.

So, what do you think, should I continue?