N/A: Wolf's Rain is a very recent anime that's come out in Japan and is one of the current animes that I've been watching lately. It's a fabulous anime (Kiba's so hot!) and kind yaoi-ish to my senses, but I'll let it pass. Who could use that reason to stop themselves from watching the hot guys in that show? ^^ Not only are the characters great, the story itself is really beautiful and I've really enjoyed it a lot. So I decided to write a fanfiction sort of based on the series. I wouldn't exactly call it a crossover but it is AU. So hope you all enjoy it, thx.
~*~*~*~
In a place like this, it's hard believing in what's worth it anymore.
The barren wasteland that once was a paradise of living things,
Has now become dead.
No one believes, that any one of us will survive anymore, and the world has now come close to an end.
With my people along with it.
With all these mourning voices surrounding me, telling me it's just no use. I wonder to myself, is what I believe in, actually real?
But it's not like I should waste my time wondering what's right from wrong. Because in my heart I know what is real. And what that little voice inside my head is whispering so that only my ears can hear is,
"Akiramenaide."
Never give up. Search for the Paradise.
~*~*~*~
RAKUEN
AN AU FANFICTION BASED ON STUDIO BONES "WOLF'S RAIN"
Laruku-to-Lolita-sama
~*~*~*~
It was a wet dreary night as the cold streets of the town was covered with an unpleasant chill. A nasty foul smell filled the air as the people passed by in utter silence. The dim streetlights illuminated to bare pathways. It really didn't seem much of a life anymore to anyone. Travelers passed in and out throughout the city walls as stray animals ran loose. Nothing really was much left to notice.
Except for a strange old man clothed in dark robes.
He moved silently but with haste. A strange sort of aura rose off of him leaving the last places of where his footsteps touched even colder than it was before. A huge black dog with an eye patch covering one of it's eyes walking right by his side accompanied him. He ignored to strange looks coming from the people curiously watching him as he passed by. The man finally entered a dark alleyway and turned as he opened a door to a small bar.
"Irrashai," a man behind the counter said tonelessly as the bell to his door rang.
"I'll take a Bloody Mary," the strange man replied as he tied his dog down next to him.
The bartender nodded and began preparing the drink. His strange customer said nothing as he took a seat and sat in silence. The bartender filled a glass and set it on the counter.
"So I see the great town of Konoha, has nothing great left to it," the man said as he lifted the glass to his lips, "It's been awhile since I last saw this place."
The bartender gave him a queer look, "I don't know what other places you've been to, but it's no good living anywhere anymore. Our people are better off than most I'd say. We get a whole lot of travelers and traders coming in through the village walls everyday."
"Any Shinobi?"
"Ha! Doubt it O-san," the bartender replied as he began lighting a cigarette, "But there aren't a whole lot of them anymore. You don't see any good ones left. Died out. Not everyone can be a Shinobi ya know. Not unless they're born with some kind of ability from what I hear around here."
"It's because they have chakra," the man replied as he set down his glass.
"Chakra?" the bartender said puzzled, "The old energy of the Ancients? It's said that the race of Chakra has long gone been extinct."
"They exist. But not many people have the eyes to see it."
"Eh?" the bartender said confused by the man's words, "Well come to think of it. I remember a legend that my old man used to tell me. Of how when this world ends, a new paradise will appear. Akahagara, a legendary place of which will save us. But only the Shinobi will be able to find it. They are the promised ones."
The man slammed down his glass onto to the table and glared at the bartender with vicious eyes.
"Shinobi are dangerous folk, feared of the special abilities that they're capable of. Having the strength wipe out villages with their powers. In old times they used to kill newborn babies if the found that they were born Shinobi. They'd execute people discovered to have chakra. Tricky elusive fellas, them Shinobi! Cursed I tell ya."
The bartender stepped back in surprise but said nothing.
"They bring nothing but death. And we must destroy them for once and for all." The man hissed in a menacing whisper.
~*~*~*~
"Well there's another one for the "success" list. Easy job eh? Got a lot out of that one. All this cash'll keep us going for awhile, eh Uchiha-san?"
"Yep, expect a good meal for tonight. Haven't had anything worth eating for ages! That job took us longer than we thought," a man agreed along with him.
"The next village we're heading for is Konoha," Sasuke replied as he continued to steer the wheel at the front of the truck, "You men better get some rest. Just been hired by some big shot saying that he wants the town's lord out of the way. The Daimyo from that village has just arrived back from an important meeting from another city so we'll get him once he reaches town. He's our next target. Ain't an easy job but the payout's hell worth it."
"Going after Konoha?" one of the men asked in surprise, "You're talking big, man. Ya really think we can handle that?"
"The Heart of the Greatest of the Five Great Countries," Sasuke replied, "If we pull that off, then think of all the possibilities. We'd be unstoppable."
His men gave a whooped up a cheer of agreement. Sasuke smiled. There wasn't a single thing that could stop them from getting what they wanted. They're gang of assassins was of the most elite. Konoha. That place meant trouble, and they'd be in for it if the law caught them. But if they managed this assassination then it was all good. They'd pull it off.
"I-I don't know you guys," an unsure voice stammered as the rest of them turn to face the one who spoke, "Security there is tight. Whole lot of nasty things going in and out of there. It might be too much for us."
"Shut up, Udon. You say that about every job we take on," one of the men spat at him, "Nah just don't worry about it. You just let us handle it. Besides with someone like Uchiha for our leader, who's says we're gonna fail?"
"Cause he's a jolly good fellow, eh boys?" said another patting Sasuke on the shoulder.
"I'm not so sure bout the "jolly" part," Sasuke smirked, "More like the one who kicks the most ass out of all of you guys. But we haven't failed a mission yet have we?"
"HELL NO!" they all shouted in unison.
The one called Udon said nothing as he sank into the corner of the truck. Sasuke looked back to see him fall silent. Youngest in his team of assassins, not fit to be one himself but was still part of their gang. He knew he might not last in this mission, Udon better be prepared for the worst. Possibly his own end.
"First we'd better do some spying first. Kabuto will lead his crew to investigate first. Bring back full reports on security status," Sasuke instructed, "We'll commence the operation in two nights from now. The assassination will be done in two squads. Oboro and Mubi will be the squad leaders of the second team that will take care of security first and all the minor guys clearing a pathway for us to safely reach in without being noticed. I'll lead the main force, we'll take care of the Daimyo. Understood?"
"Hai!" Everyone nodded in reply. Sasuke smiled as his men went back to their conversations. It had been awhile since he had last saw Konoha. Probably now in ruins because of how their pride had been taken away. The lost ones now gone forever. He was glad he had left that wretched place. It'd be strange going back now, but despite how much he hated that village,
It was still the place where he had been born.
This was his kind of mission. Once the Daimyo was gone, Konoha would be nothing. He couldn't wait for that moment to see that village fall. And with the sweet thoughts that he'd be the one to bring down the village to it's end.
The village that he had sworn revenge on since the day he had left it.
~*~*~*~*~
She opened her eyes. A strange presence was entering the city.
"What's the status on Hinata?"
"She's awakening. It's strange. She's never shown any reactions to anything else we've trying before, Yamanaka-san."
"Are you sure?" the doctor asked, "Did you change any of the composition levels?"
"No," one of the assistants replied, "It must be something else."
The doctor sighed as she stared up towards the tank where the young spirit girl Hinata was kept captive in their laboratory. There she and her team of scientists kept watch on her everyday, studying her strange actions. Usually she would be at rest, but today her eyes had changed. Her eyes were now wide open, white and pale yet pure as her soul.
"Do you remember when we first started studying Hinata," the doctor Yamanaka asked, "The documents that were left behind from the original study mentioned that Hinata reacts to the presence of a special energy."
"Was it Chakra?" one of the assisting scientists asked.
"Yes, the energy of which only Shinobi are blessed with. Hinata reacts to any sign of Chakra."
"Does that mean that, Hinata is one of the lost race?"
"Who knows," Yamanaka-san replied, "But she definitely isn't normal. Her connection to the Shinobi is strange. It could be quite possible that there is one in Konoha at this very moment."
"Masaka!" the scientist gasped, "They're supposed to be extinct!"
"If Shinobi didn't exist," Yamanaka said, "Then spirits like Hinata wouldn't be here for us to observe from."
Hinata raised her head and glanced from behind the watery tank down below at the queer people watching her unaware of what she was doing. She opened her eyes and shot them through the walls of the building searching throughout the city for the strange energy that was being projected in the air. Her eyes rest on the gaze of a young man limping towards the base of a lone tree. His blonde head resting on it for comfort. Hinata's senses didn't stop there. Her eyes left him and she searched around to find, that he wasn't the only one in the strange town, who possessed that same kind of power.
~*~*~*~
"Sakura-chan?" her father asked as she stared out absent-mindedly out of the window, "Would you like something to eat? It was a long trip back from the Grass village. You must be starving be now."
"Iie Papa," Sakura smiled as she left her gaze from the window to face her father, "Daijoubu. I'm not hungry."
"Alright," her father sighed as he gently wrapped his arms around her, "But don't come complaining to me afterwards. I've got a lot of work to do. Your daddy can't serve you and Konoha at the same time. Being Daimyo is a hard job."
"Hai, Hai. Wakatta!" Sakura laughed in her father's warm embrace, "You should worry more about yourself Otou-san. Too much work isn't good for either one of us."
"Ah, your old Jii-chan loves you though Sakura."
Sakura smiled as she placed a hand on his aged face and he gave a weary smile back.
"You're tired aren't you," Sakura frowned as she gently patted him on the cheek, "I'll make you some tea."
Her father chuckled, "I'm lucky to have a little girl like you taking care of her old man."
"Ah," Sakura gave a soft reply, "Your little Ojou-chan loves you Papa."
~*~*~*~
It was getting late; he needed a place to rest.
He laid his head on the tree's hard rough bark, At the bottom the roots formed a small cave-like shelter. The boy searched around seeing that the place was deserted. This tree was better than nothing. It was too cold to stay around out here. He didn't have any money to stay in an inn. And if he stayed out too long in public in a place like this,
He was sure to be caught right away.
But he wasn't going to run away. He wasn't going to hide. He'd face them head on, with no regrets. He swore to himself already that he'd never chicken out and back out like a coward. If he was going to live, he was going to do it this way. It was his nindo, the pride of his race inside of him.
His way of Shinobi.
But in a place like this, there wasn't any food. He was practically starving, but he had already been traveling for a month without food. He sighed as he crawled into the base of the tree and stared up towards to sky.
A full moon was out. The stars were beautiful.
It was a shame to watch the stars here, in such a filthy town. He really hated this place. Well then again he hated every town he had ventured through to get here. Everywhere was the same, he was a person who was unwanted by everyone else. Because deep inside his heart he knew that the only place that he had left to go was, Rakuen. The paradise in his heart. It was all that he knew, and nothing else. He didn't know the name of the place he was trying to get to, but in his dreams he'd always visualize beautiful red clovers. It was strange, they're crimson tiny leaves. He couldn't make heads or tails of it, but he knew it was a place where,
Wishes could come true.
"Oyasumi," he told the full moon as he closed his eyes, "I'll be seeing you tomorrow night."
~*~*~*~
"Oi! Sasuke!" a man yelled, "We finally found a bar in this dump! Care for some booze?"
Sasuke said nothing but nodded as he came to join the rest of his gang. Everyone was starting to find places to stay around town. They had all agreed to meet back up again on the eve of the night of the day before they started they're mission. Personally he thought it should have been done without so much noise. But then again these humans were so different from him.
It was hard being with them at times.
"Kinda small to my tastes," said one of the men as Sasuke approached them, "But it's still got beer! That's all I need to live!"
"Shut up and get in," said another as they opened the door to the entrance, "Damn, it's freezing out here! This village blows . . ."
The bell attached to the top of the door of the small pub rang as the company of men entered inside. The bartender looked up to see his new customers. A lively bunch, well at least there was plenty to go around. Not a lot of people came by these days. The old man sitting on one of the seats said nothing as the new quests filled up the rest of the empty stools.
"Booze old man!" shouted one of them, "Nothing but the good stuff!"
"Strong, not some weak shit," another added, "Today's we've got money to spare, and that's saying a lot for people like us."
"Shut yer yap will ya!" spat the bartender as he began pulling out bottles, "You'll get what you want, but do it without your talk!"
The rouse put up quite a racket in the small bar. Yet two remained silent. The old man turned to look at the one who was quiet. A dark young man with black bangs framing his face. Hard cold eyes, giving him an unpleasant feel to him. Emotionless and queer, he made the room feel strange just by sitting there.
He couldn't tell for sure, but there was something not right about this boy. Almost different from any other normal person.
The dog by the old man's feet had been sleeping all this time. It's large self not moved by any of the ruckus. It kept quiet when suddenly; the whiff of air that it had been breathing while it was asleep picked up a new scent.
The dog opened it's eyes wide awake and sniffed the air once more. A thick energy was present.
The dog glanced upwards to see a boy with spiky long black hair and a pair of dark eyes. It was for certain. The dog could tell by the aura coming from him.
Chakra.
The dog growled in anger lunging at the boy but pulled back by the leash harnessing him to his owner's seat. He barked in fury loud low barks that made everyone stop in surprise to see him be so angered all of a sudden. His owner the old man gasped, and quickly turned back towards the boy at which his dog had been barking at.
"Doushta no Komaru?!" The old man yelled as he tried to calm the big black beast down.
The old man glanced up and stared at the dark boy and suddenly realized why.
"YOU!" he pointed, "YOU'RE ONE OF THEM AREN'T YOU?!"
The boy said nothing as he slowly stepped down from his seat and stood before the old man. His emotionless face remained the same as he stared at the man as if nothing was unaware of what the man was talking about.
"KISAMA!" the old man hollered as he reached inside his coat and pulled out a vicious gun, "YOU CAN'T RUN!"
Sasuke smirked. How interesting. The brute dog had sensed his chakra field. Then that must mean this person was one of those hunters. Heh, but it wasn't like he could catch the likes of him.
Sasuke's men sat with their mouths wide open a little taken aback at what was going on. The looked to their leader for answers but saw as he gave all of them a nod in reply. They nodded back in acknowledgement.
It was now time for a plan to escape.
The old man not waiting any longer proceeded to pulling the trigger right at Sasuke when at that moment one of his men pushed him down to the floor sending the bullet flying off in a different direction. The old looked up in fury, but at that second Sasuke quickly took out an object from his pocket and threw it to the ground. It hit the floor with a loud bang as the smoke began filling up the room. Taken back in surprise the old man coughed as the smoke blurred his vision. He couldn't see anything at all.
When the smoke cleared. The old man quickly stood up and searched around in anxiety. But as he had thought,
They had already vanished without a trace.
"Damn that Shinobi," he muttered under his breath.
~*~*~*~
After five minutes of running, Sasuke led his men down a dark alleyway and halted letting them take a rest. He was sure that the old man hadn't followed them.
"Chikshou," one of the men panted behind him, "What the hell was that for? Are all the people 'round here all like that? Man, what is this place?"
"Sasuke," said another, "It seems like he knew who you were. Didn't seem too pleased by the sight of you. Looks like you've got some trouble on your hands. If that guy sees you again, you're gonna get shot."
"He's got a sweet gun though, did you see the size of that thing?"
"Old men freak me out anyway, I think it's the wrinkles."
Sasuke said nothing. That man knew who he was. It was that dog of his. Being able to sniff out his chakra, that dog was a beast used by the ninja of old. It was rare to find a dog like that anymore.
And that man had one.
It wasn't in the right hands by the way he was using that dog. If he lingered around this city to long, that man will have surely find him again. It wasn't safe roaming the streets here with that man on loose trying to track him down.
There wasn't much time.
"We're moving the operation to tomorrow night," he spoke.
"Eh?" the rest of them gasped.
"Tomorrow night?! We'll never be ready by then!" one of the shouted.
"Are you nuts? Preparation takes time. We still need to get new ammo, repair the vehicles, and get some knowledge about the situation first. Plus we need to think of a safe getaway plan. Without time to prepare we won't stand a chance!"
"Are you trying to kill us?"
"LOOK!" Sasuke hissed as he turned to face them, "We're moving the operation to tomorrow night and that's final!"
"That only leaves us the majority of the time to work in the daytime only. With our men moving around in the day to gather information will get the villagers suspicious. It's not safe!"
"The Daimyo just arrived back in town just this night," Sasuke replied, "Meaning that he still has quite a lot on his hands. I heard he's brought in imports with him as well. With that keeping the guy all busy, security and surveillance will be unorganized and poor. If we're gonna strike, now's the time to do it."
"That still doesn't mean we'll be ready! Why are you doing this all of a sudden anyway?"
"Spread the word to everyone else," Sasuke commanded, "Then go find places to rest. We'll meet back at sunrise."
The men said nothing as they watched Sasuke turn his back and retreat walking along the rest of the dark alleyway until he disappeared into the deep dark shadows. They sighed groaning at his sudden orders knowing that if they weren't ready by tomorrow he'd be greatly displeased.
~*~*~*~
Under the tree, the boy rubbing his sore aching head and trying to ignore the pain in his stomach along with the numbness in his toes. It was hopeless. It would be impossible for him to get any sleep at all. This just wasn't working.
He sighed as he jumped out of the tree and stood facing directly and the moon. Even with that keeping watch it wasn't like it was going to do any good. It was best if just starting searching for what he was looking for in this town and leave this wretched place.
He sat looking at the streets below. A couple of cars passed by with an occasional nighttime stroller. It was too quiet. This village was definitely no fun at all. Boring and dull, that's what it was.
He continued to stare at the quiet sidewalk when suddenly a new stranger wandered along it's path.
A boy, who looked roughly about his age, walked silently on it's path alone and quiet. His dark black bangs covering his face. He continued to walk when suddenly, as if sensing the other boy's gaze he paused and turned to face the blonde boy with spiky hair. The two locked eyes with each other, noticing each other's presence.
"All alone aren't you?" Sasuke asked the boy, "Think you can handle one night on your own?"
The boy gasped in surprise. He was just like him. He could sense his chakra reflecting off in a dark aura.
"You!" he shouted pointing a finger at him, "You're one of them aren't you?"
Sasuke furrowed his eyebrows and glared at him for hearing the exact same words once more.
"You're a Shinobi," he gasped, "Just like me!"
"What are doing here?" Sasuke asked with a cold tone in his voice, "Acting on your own like that will get people suspicious. If you're a real Shinobi you'd be hiding in stealth instead of out in the open."
The boy grit his teeth, it was his turn to be angered.
"Shinobi are proud beings!" he yelled in fury, "If I am caught, I'd fight with my pride of being Shinobi by my side. I'm not afraid of those bastards!"
"Baka," Sasuke laughed, "That kind of foolishness will get you nowhere. If you're caught then it's all over. If you're gonna try to keep alive, do it in ways that you won't be caught. Being born with chakra is a blessing, but if it's granted to people like you then it'd be all wasted."
"SHUT UP!" he shouted back angrily, "YOU KNOW NOTHING OF WHAT IT'S LIKE BEING SHINOBI!"
Sasuke stopped; his smirk grew into a frown as he glared up at the boy with a cold look in his eyes. Who did he think he was to speak to him like that?
"Don't think you're one to talk to me like that you punk," Sasuke hissed as he whipped out a kunai in his hand. The boy did the same as they both charged at each other running at full speed.
~*~*~*~
TBC?
Japanese Terms used: (listed in the order they are used)
Akiramenaide- Never give up (wondering if you guys found out already in the beginning but put this just in case :P)
Irrashai –Welcome
O-san – Sort of like short form for "Ojii-san" old man
Daimyo – Feudal Lord
Hai – Yes
Iie – No
Daijoubu – I'm alright
Wakatta – I got it
Otou-san – Father
Jii-chan – old man
Ojou-chan – daughter
Nindo – Ninja Way/Way of Ninja
Oyasumi – Good Night
Doushta no? – What's wrong?
Kisama – You! (sort of a rude term when you're referring to someone)
Chikshou – Dammit
Baka – Idiot
~*~*~*~
Err, I might have missed some of the terms I used. This really is turning out to be a crossover. ^^;;
