Witnessing the Royal Army march towards the sun-kissed horizon is a blessing in itself. They look like angels ready to smite the wicked with holy-fire as they raise their swords to the sky.
I wish I was among them…
But dear-old-dad insisted I stay back and protect the Shard Of Light. Just incase some stupid Witch decides to sneak into the city and steal is. As if they would get that far. It's rather insulting, really. To give the laments job to one of the coolest ass-kicking warriors in Konohagakure.
After the last flag of the Konohagakure empire disappears into the mountains. I leave the castle and embark towards the mountain. One guard, hardly past the age of thirteen is manning the stone door. When he sees me approaching, he bows.
"P- prince Naruto!"
"I've been issued an order to protect the shard of life. Lame right? I'd wayyyy rather be kicking major ass on the battlefield against those stupid Witches. Talk about missing out on a piece of history."
The nameless guard sits in thought for a moment.
"Actually your majesty, I think you have the coolest job of them all. Technically, if anybody took the shard of light our kingdom would lose its beauty. You've been given a really important job."
I chuckle as I walk past the now open door.
"Sure, tell that to my dad."
I enter the well lit cavern and traverse the staircase that swirls up to the highest chambre. AS I enter the room, my heart quickens in pace. Being in the presence of one of the shards from the crystal of life is a moving thing.
The shard is whiter than anything I have ever seen. It glows so bright no other light sources are needed in the fifteen foot circular chamber. Floats several feet off the floor perched atop an altar.
"So begins my watch…"
I sit cross legged on the floor and begin meditating. Over the last ten years, I have been trained in the art of Sageism. It's an ancient close-combat fighting style that relies on a mix of physical capabilities and mental strength. Meditating and drawing power from nature is one of my main powers. Just taking in a deep breath of air fills my muscles with strength.
My eyes remain closed. Hopefully, the war will be over within the next hour…
Step...step...step…
I furrow my brows. My eyes creep open.
Standing in the corridor is a figure draped in shadow. He takes a bold step forward and his full features come into view.
He's a Witch. No doubt about it. But not any Witch. He is dressed in a black crop top and shorts that are lined with tattered crow feathers. His skin is paler than the life crystal. His eyes are redder than blood and his hair is spiked in the back. His lips are curled into a wicked grin. He has scars and cuts all over his body that twist and mare the otherwise flawless complexions.
He licks his lips and proceeds to wink like a whore seducing a virgin into a bedroom.
"Hey, blondie."
"So, Fugaku really was stupid enough to send a servant to try and steal the shard. How did you get in here anyway?"
He curls his fingers and sparks of dark-magic erupt.
"That guard at the front-entrance wasn't that tough...actually, anybody would fall prey to their life being drained from their bodies."
That's when my eyes widen in memory.
"Wait...I know you…"
"Does it matter?"
He laughs.
"Better start saying your prayers, Naruto Uzumaki. You're a dead man walking!"
I draw my sword and charge towards him before he can make a move. He fires five rounds of dark-magic and I dodge every one. As I get closer he is forced to draw his daggers and slice at my face. A cut opens across my jaw and warm blood trickles down my neck.
We engage in a twisted dance of clashing weapons and sparks of dark-magic. Every attack he tries to land, I manage to skitter out of the way. Eventually, I land a kick into his gut and he falls over. His sweep kicks me and we both end up tangled on the floor.
That's when he bites me in the throat.
"GaHG! Ngh!"
I knee him in the crotch and he lets go. His hands hastily cover his junk moving up to his stomach. He tries to fire a blast of magic but I chop at his neck and elbow his arms to the side. He wraps his legs around my body and flips me onto my back.
"If I wasn't trying to kill you, I'd say this is turning me on."
"Bad last words. Bitch!"
I headbutt him in the nose and blood spurts into the air. I rise to my feet and throw him halfway across the arena. He skitters to a halt and licks the blood from his lips.
"Looks like King Minato taught his son the art of Sagism. My father trained me too. In fact, he left me with one hell of a parting gift!"
He throws his daggers to the ground and charges once again. He tackles my middle and I hold him firm...but his palm presses against my six-pack and a shudder works up my body.
The skin underneath my clothes is blackening. It's painful beyond anything I have ever felt before. I stumble away and he takes the opportunity to punch me in the face so hard that I fall onto my side. He is relentless. He kicks me in the gut and forces his heel into my temple. My world is spinning...he lifts his hands and weaves a black vine out of magic. He fires it. The ropes wrap around my body and lift me onto my knees. My sword clatters to the floor.
He looks insane. Bloodthirsty. Twisted and wrong. Strangely, behind his eyes I can see regret and sadness.
"You're name…"
I choke as the ropes of magic wrap tighter around my jugular.
"...is Sasuke Uchiha. You refused to kill me when we were kids. Why would you change your mind?"
This makes him hesitate.
"I've...grown older. Less naïve."
"Mercy isn't naïve. You don't have to kill me, Sasuke!"
He grinds his teeth together. His chest tightens and he lowers his hands ever so slightly...it looks like he is battling with something. Or somebody. Internally. Has his father done something to traumatize him? Perhaps, this is a Stockholm syndrome situation? Afterall, I assume Sasuke has had no choice but to listen to the will of his family. His captors.
"Sasuke...please…"
He lowers his hands until the magic between his digits are nothing but slight flickers.
"You are the only Witch I've ever seen who has demonstrated empathy. Please, please don't kill me. I, in turn, won't kill you. Promise. Maybe. We can even be friends."
His red eyes fade into a dull back hue. All of a sudden. He looks tired. Like an old man with one foot in the grave.
"You don't understand."
Sasuke whispers.
"My father is in my head now. He gave me his magic...and now…"
His eyes flash back into a red hue. He chuckles while a tear rolls down his face.
"I want to kill you! Really, really I do!"
For some reason. Seeing him like this is breaking my heart. He fires a blast of magic at me and I prepare for death.
The force slams me right in the chest and I scream in agony. The skin all around my heart fades to nothing but dull flesh and wrinkles as I fly across the room and land in a heap on the floor.
"N- no…"
My voice is a hushed whisper. Sasuke walks across the room and approaches the shard of life.
"...Finally. After all this time. The shard will belong to the Witches. We will eventually be reborn and…"
He trails off. His eyes are flashing from red to black rapidly.
"...and what? Nothing."
He falters before his body jolts and he grasps the shard with all his might. An explosion of light shatters my blurry vision. Within the mess of sound and sight I crawl towards Sasuke. He's screaming at the top of his lungs as the shard infects him with light.
Inside of his pocket is the shard of darkness. It flies out of his possession at it's own will and collides with the shard of light. Suddenly. A crystal forms in a yin-yang pattern.
The dust settles and the floor vibrates. For a brief second. I am standing over Sasuke as he stays crouched on his knees.
He's crying. Holding the combined shards like they are his last life-line, or a precious child. He smiles and clenches it closer to his chest.
"I get it...I get it now…"
He smiles. The red from his eyes fade.
"I missed this. Light. Oh god...it's so beautiful."
Gingerly. I reach out and pat him on the shoulder.
"Have you never felt light before? Or love?"
He shakes his head. Grasping his own hand over my own.
"What am I living for?"
I furrow my brows.
"I...don't know. But, let's collect the rest of the shards together. And re-form the Crystal Of Life! Maybe, we can save the world once and for all."
He doesn't reply to my request.
We remain entranced by each other's eyes. We are so distracted, we don't notice the ground crumbling around us.
By the time the mountain collapses we are too late. The two of us tumble into darkness. Large boulders cloud my vision. The last thing I remember is falling deep into the center of the earth. Sasuke, close by.
Sasuke.
Why do I trust you?