Don't own it!
Just so ya know it's 12:09am! But since I know a certain someone (lol) is very eager I'll type as fast as I can
Chapter Twenty Two: Within
Imako floated in darkness, seemingly just dosing until she heard a low, dangerous growl somewhere in the distance. Finding she could walk Imako headed towards the sound. The darkness suddenly parted and she stood in a featureless room with walls that weren't really there, just like the floor wasn't really there. But what caught here eye was a rusty gate with a rotting wooden sign. It said 'Soul Seal' in faded, yellowish-brown letters. A few chains reinforced the lock of the gate, but they looked very new in comparison to the poor shape of the gate. Something moved behind the gates and she took an automatic step back.
'Release me... let me out Imako,' said a low growling voice.
She realized it was the demon wolf behind those gates and crossed her arms, stepping up to the gate.
"What is this place, where am I?" she asked of it.
'That is of no importance; now open the gate,' snarled the demon ramming against the gate. 'Release me and welcome back my powers!'
"You wanted to kill Kakashi!" barked Imako defiantly.
Cruel laughter echoed all around her.
'And you didn't?' sneered the demon. 'Your desire to kill him remained long after I was sealed away!'
"They weren't my own and you know it!" snapped Imako faltering in her stance a little.
'Do tell, what makes you say that?' it rumbled mockingly.
Imako dropped her hands to her sides and clenched her fists.
"Kakashi said so," she said quietly for lack of a better reason.
As those words left her she realized how pathetic that sounded and her fists slackened. As fear and doubt crept under her skin the gate before her seemed to rust even more; the words on the sign now completely faded away. The demon laughed again and this time the shadows took on a shape that made Imako gasp.
"Iruka...!"
Standing behind the gate was a shadowy, six year old child; her twin brother as last she'd seen him. Her own body had changed as well; she too was six years of age.
"Because Hatake said so?" sneered the shadow Iruka; even his voice was as she'd remembered. "You're pathetic! You're letting your judgment be clouded by past emotions Imako! Please, don't tell me you think he really still cares about you!"
"But he-he..."
Imako was scared; what if she had just imagined all of it? The sign fell from the gate.
"Don't be foolish," said the shadow Iruka gently. "Don't be caught up in the past; you've buried that child love and nonsense under a mound of corpses years ago. You can't just turn good in the blink of an eye Imako. Your hands are forever stained with the blood of those you've mercilessly slaughtered!"
"No," cried Imako.
Her hands were dripping blood.
"Yes! No one will ever forgive you, much less care for you!" said the shadow Iruka with an insane gleam in his hollow eyes. "Open the gates and embrace my powers; submit yourself to me! Together we will show the world what it really means to fear us!"
The gate was close to crumbling as Imako shook with tears.
"But he... Kakashi said I-I—"
Imako looked at the gate and for the first time noticed the chains supporting the lock had stayed unchanged. They were still strong. A sudden feeling of warmth and strength filled her entire being and the blood on her hands disappeared. She wiped away her tears and stomped right up to the gate; as close to the shadow Iruka as she could.
"YOU LIAR! YOU LIE! IT WAS ALL YOU! YOU KILLED! YOU DID IT, NOT ME! I BELIEVE KAKASHI! HE TELLS THE TRUTH, NOT YOU! HE CARES ABOUT ME! HE BELIEVES IN ME AND I CARE ABOUT HIM! I LOVE HATAKE KAKASHI AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT!" she screamed with all her might.
The gate began to glow as the rust vanished to be replaced with the gleam of new metal. The sign flew to its place; repaired and glossy it held the words 'Soul Seal' in bright golden letters. Imako herself was back to her old self and the shadow Iruka glared at her with murderous intent.
"You'll see," it hissed. "You'll come running to release me soon enough and when you do I will destroy everything that is you. I will be the soul inhibitor of this body and when that day comes I will destroy every last human on this planet!"
Imako spat at its feet and turned her back on it, walking away into the nothingness.
"You will pay," were its last words to rumble forth.
Imako opened her eyes to the monotony white ceiling of the hospital room, gasping as though she hadn't been breathing. A few moments passed before her heart stopped trying to burst out of her ribcage and she sat up against the headboard. It seemed the fever was at its lowest right now. She smiled to herself.
"Yeah... I do love him, don't I," she whispered to herself.
Here ya go, I'm dead, but I made it lol. Yeah, I know I got the whole gate thing from Naruto's meeting with Kyuubi, but it seemed logical to have such a setting so I borrowed the gates. Short, but sweet, tell me what you thought of it. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and to those who just read (I never thanked you for just reading have I, sorry about that.). But this time I'm really done for tonight. No more chapters till tomorrow, not even if you beg with puppy dog eyes rofl!
Later days, Imako the Demon Wolf