Ownage… lalal… okay… blahblah. Sorry I haven't updated, I'm getting ready for my final exams… blahblah… okay let's begin.
PS: Thanks Achillea.
: x :
A single finger of light shined through a small window. It was day time and everything was unusually quiet. Neji opened his eyes wearily and glanced around the room he was in. A rough woolen blanket covered his body. The blanket irritated his bares skin and he threw it off impatiently. He found that long white bandages covered his legs and stomach, and his arms were already covered with his own.
He sat up at the edge of the bed. The room he was in was quite small compared to his at the Hyuuga Mansion. It only had a single bed in it and a small worn out carpet. There was a samurai sword and a large tapestry that covered the walls. Neji had a feeling that, though the room was small, the house belonged to a very important person.
A boy, maybe eleven years old, entered the room with a bunch of cleaning supplies and two loaves of bread. "Excuse me?" Neji asked politely, "Can you tell me where I am?"
The boy said nothing but looked solemnly at Neji's blank white eyes with his big blue tearful ones. He gazed at him for a mere second and continued with his work; he finished and knelt in front of the young Hyuuga holding up a plate with the two loaves of bread.
"It's alright. I'm not that hungry, you can have it." Neji mumbled a bit when he said this because he was ashamed of all the attention he was getting. The boy continued to push the plate of food in Neji's face, "No. I'm fine." The boy pursued, "I-"
"Tommy Sloane! What do you think you're doing?" An old man had appeared in the door way and was spitting and yelling at the young boy. The young boy dropped the plate and it shattered into pieces he hurried to the elder man and spoke something in his ear. The man answered back, though quietly, "You're family left you! I was kind enough to take you in after I found you in that car wreck! Now you can't even treat a simple guest correctly. This comes off your wages. I need some way to pay for all the plates you smash!"
He paused briefly and faced Neji, smiling warmly, "Welcome! It is wonderful that you are finally awake. Please come this way, we can visit the rest of your… friends." He smiled again and excited the room, expecting the Hyuuga to follow. Neji thought about it a bit, using his genius and quick shinobi mind, and quickly caught up with the old man.
He walked stiffly and briskly for an elder and his back was kept straight. Every person they passed bowed low and hushed their voices. Neji wondered what kind of man this was.
They stopped by a room and Neji found out that it was Aki's. She was surrounded still by two nurses who wouldn't stop fussing over her. Though her eyes were closed as if she was asleep, Neji sensed in his mind that she was awake and annoyed. Neji wasn't surprised when one of nurse's coats suddenly was in flames. Aki's eyes snapped open and she yelled out at the nurses to leave her alone.
Neji and the old man kept walking. They visited Kev and Ryou too, they didn't have bad wounds and were lucky to leave with just minor battle scars. They all seemed well.
: x :
After all of them were checked over and over and were fresh out of bed, the elder called them to dinner. It started out as any normal dinner, much like the ones at the Hyuuga mansion. They all say around a large rectangular table on swan feathered cushions. They spoke in hushed voices and a chef sporting a large white classic hat came around to talk to the old one. The old one nodded and the doors were breached with loads of people carrying many dishes. The Shinobi and company were wondering whether they would be able to eat all of that. There were dishes with fish, vegetable and meat. There was sushi, tofu and rice cakes. There were also roast pig, lamb and duck and there was a big three layered cake. The centre piece of all the food was a large chicken. It seemed like it was still alive and its eyes seemed to dart back and forth like it was frozen into place.
The old man snickered, "Dig in!" The team's questions were immediately answered when the old man started to eat. In fact, they were so surprised they didn't eat a thing and the whole meal was gone in a flash. "Ah. That was wonderful. Now I'd like you to meet my granddaughter, Setsuna. I am Lord Sakurazaki, the head elder of this village. My granddaughter, Setsuna, was the one who saved you from her," The old man's expression changed, "… that bird."
A young girl stepped into the room. She had entered as quietly as fog. She wore a school uniform and on her back was a long samurai sword. Her hair was pulled to the left side of her head and her eye brows seemed short. Her eyes were cold and emotionless but somehow she still felt. They were framed by a pale, pale face. Her build was strong but willowy. She knelt beside her grandfather and spoke a bit.
"Good afternoon guests. My name is Setsuna. I understand that you are Aki, Neji, Ryou and Kevin." She nodded at each of them, a sort of half bow, as she spoke their names. They each bowed back, "I hope your stay is enjoyable." She said all this like she had rehearsed it several times, it sounded almost robotic. After that she said nothing more.
"Ah, Setsuna-chan. Welcome home. How was your trip?" Lord Sakurazaki asked. Setsuna answered in a string of an unknown language, half Japanese and half Chinese.
The elder nodded every now and then and then stopped. Setsuna also did. They faced the foursome. "I need you to tell me what you are looking for."
Neji and Aki were taken aback. The bird monster never even spoke of what they were looking for, the Biju, but somehow these people knew.
"Ah. You look for the legendary creatures. The Spiritual, the Mystic, the Biju." The room suddenly became sober, "These creatures… I remember when they were first made. An evil sorceress by the name of Sayo made them hundreds of years ago. Many things had happened that caused great effects to her close and loved ones. Effects that even last to this day…" Setsuna's face hardened, "She first created a demon called Shukaku. Legend said she was not content and that led to the creation of the two-tailed beast, Nibi, the cat demon. With ever tail, the creatures' power doubled. The shameness was said to have never been content, she was able to create up to nine demons before a bird creature killed her. The witch's name was Sayo, Sakurazaki Sayo." The old man closed his eyes, a large greenish glowing circle appeared around him, "And I was the one who killed her."
"You four aren't hunting for the Biju, but seek to help them. They were encased in nine different human beings. I can tell you where they are. There is one more here, in this country. I know who this person is. But I shall not tell. There are two in Thunder, and one in Earth. The others, I am afraid that you are too late. They have been caught by an outside force. I do not know this force… but they seek power. When the Biju are extracted, their encasings will die." The old man's circle disappeared and he opened his eyes, which were faintly glowing green, "You can't let that happen. Fortunately, they cannot fulfill their plans until they have captured all nine Biju. You must find them before hand!" The old man stopped.
"Wait. There was a long legend, years ago. Sayo, my sister, she said right before she died, she would return. Return as ten in two. I am not sure what it means. But she did say one thing else, she said a poem:
Two and Ten. The numbers of hell. I will come back brother.
You have killed me now, but wait for me, I'll get my revenge.
Dear brother, these children to be born shall lose their father.
The first will always seek avenge for his deceased father.
Hating everything. My dark side.
The second, to be caught and put to death,
Only to be saved – Optimistic, and kind – a half.
For them two I control, their souls, the minds,
Their hearts
forever.
"Aki, Neji I am not sure what it means. But I must ask, is your father quite well?" Aki and Neji trembled in their shinobi sandals. Each and every word spoken in Sayo, the magician's poem spoke of their past; their late father, and Aki's capture when she was four. Neji spoke first, "Our father… he's… he's fine!"
"I see. You two… are twins, are you not? Yes… two… Aki you are second born?" Aki nodded, "When you were four… you were captured… may I know by whom?"
"I wasn't captured." Aki lied. She didn't enjoy it but her older brother told her to, and she trusted him.
"Ah. Well, I must be mistaken." He gave a wry, but somehow all-knowing, smile.
Aki and Neji's mouths twitched to a small smile.
"Well. Now that we have all that clear… there's nothing much else for us to do…" The elder stamped his hands on the table as he said this, "Setsuna! Why don't you show them around?"
"Hai, Grandfather." Setsuna was sitting so quietly, the rest of them had forgotten she was even there. They filed out of the room, Setsuna in the lead.
: x :
"Phew!" Setsuna wiped her forehead, "I hate it when he's around. I have to be all formal!" The gang was appalled at her sudden change of attitude. "Well, I am Setsuna, you can call me Se-chan or Setsuna, I don't mind. Just don't call me Setsuna-san or Sakurazaki-san! I hate that too."
"Se-chan?" Aki asked inquiringly.
"Yes!" Setsuna jumped a bit at the question. Even as she was pretending to be happy go-lucky, Aki could tell it was all surreal.
Aki walked over to the girl and whispered as she passed by, "Don't worry, justbe yourself." Setsuna stopped walking and the others walked past her. This girl, that she didn't even know, was already telling her to be herself. How can she be herself, when she is a monster? Who would be friends with a monster? Just like her father.
Setsuna glanced up from her feet. Aki was walking alongside her friends. She smiled and laughed, having fun, as if everything was normal. She even glanced back at Setsuna and grinned. Setsuna ran to catch up with them. She knew she couldn't have friends, ever, but what's to stop you from trying?
"This is my favorite spot." Setsuna stopped in the middle of a large field and collapsed on the ground. She sniffed the air and smiled, "When I was young I always came here to play. I came here to escape all my worries." She lost her happy tone, "Right when I was born, my parents hated me. They sent me… to live here, with my grandfather. They couldn't accept me for who I am."
"Why?" Neji asked. He actually sometimes felt the same, but he knew someone who felt even worse. That someone was his cousin, Hinata.
"Because." Setsuna rolled over and faced the side, "They like black… and I am white."
"Isn't that sort of racist?" Ryou asked with a dumbfound face.
Setsuna sighed heavily, "You don't understand." She blinked at the lone bumble bee flying in front of her. It had a broken wing and flew all alone amongst the flowers. Its buzzing noise seemed saddening, or maybe it was just her imagination. Just like the sound of birds flying awkwardly away was, and just like she had an imaginary bad feeling in her gut.
Neji stared at the girl lying on the flowerbeds, "I am going for a walk." Aki spoke softly, Be safe. Neji smiled a bit and continued to walk towards the wooded area.
Aki clapped her hands, "Let's have a picnic!"
"How? We didn't bring anything." Setsuna replied sadly.
Aki smiled, Ryou smiled, and Kevin smiled. Aki clapped once and thrust her hands on the ground. The earth split into a roughly sized rectangle; lights came from the cracks flashing, white, green, and blue. An earth-made picnic table rose slowly from the ground. Aki lifted her hands from the top of the table and sighed, "Voila."
Setsuna looked over her shoulder, somehow oblivious to the noise of the rising table, "Whoa! How'd you do that?"
Aki smiled mischievously, "It's a secret." She put her finger to her lips. She motioned to Kevin and Ryou, "You two, go get food somewhere." She added in a small whisper carried by the wind, Look in the red birch tree to your left. There'll be a family of squirrels, and under their den there is food. Kevin and Ryou departed.
"Ah finally… some girl time." Aki lounged on her new made table, "So… you're a bird."
Setsuna gaped, "H-How'd you know?"
"That's a secret too." Aki beamed, "Why did they exile you? Your parents, I mean."
Setsuna got up and sighed. A few moments and a light show later some bright, feathery wings appeared on her back. "This is why. My tribe… they all have black wings. We're all born as birds. My father was born a crow, my mother a raven, but me? I was born a dove. They believed that this was an omen of bad luck, that white wings were bad luck. So they sent me away before I could wreak havoc on my own tribe."
Aki searched Setsuna's face quizzically, she's telling the truth, she thought to herself. She looked up at the sky. "When I was four I was captured by a criminal organization called the Akatsuki…"
"Why, I know that name."
Aki's gaze shot towards the voice. It wasn't anyone she knew, it simply sounded evil. She stared at the man whose eyes stared at her back. His tongue lolled from side to side like a snake. His long black hair looked oily and greasy hanging of his head like a black rag. His eyes, you can't even describe them with the right words except for evil. Standing beside him was a boy younger than Aki. He wore a dark blue shirt with a logo on its back and beige shorts with the classic shinobi pouch. His forehead protector was of Konoha.
"You! You're an Uchiha! I remember that sign. You have a brother named Itatchi!" Aki half yelled this remembering the experiences she had had with the elder Uchiha. Sasuke didn't speak.
"You recognize my pupil? Amazing! Soon, though we are going to attack your precious village. We were supposed to during the Chunin exams but we were… delayed." Orochimaru flashed his pointy, white teeth.
"Se-chan, I want you to go." Aki muttered at her friend.
"Why? I can fight." Setsuna took on a fighting stance and unsheathed her sword.
"Feel free to leave when you wish." Aki sighed and stood in front of Sasuke and his teacher. "Sasuke," Aki directed her gaze towards the boy, "Why are you on his side?"
Sasuke spoke nothing, his dark eyes penetrating Aki's fierce glare. "It is because I require power." Orochimaru patted his back and signaled. Sasuke attacked Setsuna.
Setsuna immediately whipped outher samurai sword quick as light and parried his kunai blades and shruiken. She could fight after all.
Aki glared again at Orochimaru. The snakeflashed his slimy smile, "I see that you are a Hyuuga, bearer of the great Byakuugan." He tapped his chin thoughtfully, his black-lined eyes narrowing, "I studied a Hyuuga from afar once. His name was Neji. Do you know him?"
Aki's brow furrowed as he mentioned her family.
"Oh? You do then?" Orochimaru replied sourly, "Then you are part of the branch house?"
Aki spoke, "Yes, I know Neji. He is related to me, and I am part of the Branch Family." She glowered at the snake, "What are you getting at? What's that to you!"
Before anything, or anyone, moved an inch, a slimy pink tongue shot out from the snake Orochimaru's mouth. It swiftly wrapped itself around Aki's right arm and pulled her towards him. Aki stumbled closer. "I see no mark, no cursed seal like your relation Neji. Why is that?" A strong hand swiped Aki's bangs away from her forehead. Aki struggled to get free from the wet, wet tongue, but it held on fast. The tongue somehow grew longer and pushed Aki's right shirt sleeve up. "Oh. I see something here. What is it?" The tongue pulled Aki off the ground and she was carried almost beside Orochimaru.
"Unseal." A faint light glowed from his hand. He thrust his hand forward onto Aki's right arm.
"UUhhgh!" Aki cringed. A dark symbol started to appear on her upper arm near her shoulder. There was a black circle that surrounded a star that was black and red. Two stars orbited the large one. It appeared slowly, barely an imprint at first but then it burned brightly into Aki's skin. "Ughmmh… mmmhh…hhmm…!" Aki felt much pain and fought to keep herself from passing out. Orochimaru studied the mark closely as Aki grew limp.
"This mark… there should be another." Orochimaru focused his chakra into the mark and a dark red line appeared beside it tracking down Aki's arm. It ended up on Aki's back. Orochimaru did his unseal jutsu again.
"AH!" Aki's body wilted off the snake's tongue. She was feeling so much pain she could hardly move. On Aki's back a star constellation appeared; it was the constellation of Gemini, the twins.
The tongue dropped Aki onto the ground. A dark chakra illuminated her body. She stood up slowly, eyes closed. Black chakra surrounded her body and then split into ten different sections. Each 'tail' was like a shadow clone, and destroyed anything in its path.
"WHOA!" Setsuna jumped away from the out-of-control chakra. Her sword shattered into a million pieces as it passed through the dark tail of Aki.
There were ten tails. She was the ten-tailed Biju.