"Come." The demon cradled Neji into his arms, lifting him up carefully. "Let us be off."
Like that Neji had been whisked away to the demon's home. They headed west, Haku flying over treetops with the ease of a bird. Haku lived near the coasts, his home atop a small crest overlooking the waves. It was secluded, no other homes were in sight. No other people. There were no mountains of gold and jewels either. Even though Neji expected some on the inside, there weren't.
It was by no means small, but it was quaint, as if living in the home of a nobleman. There was a sitting room which held a polished marble fireplace. An eating area with well crafted chairs and a table. Next, Haku introduced a kitchen with a similar fireplace, but much bigger than the one in the sitting room. From there the demon lured him up wooden stairs that did not creak. There was a hallway and three doors. One led to a spacious bedroom. The bed looked as if it belonged to a king, draped with a veil, spacious and covered with furs, pillows, the biggest Neji had ever seen, soft under his touch. The other room held a large porcelain tub for washing and bathing. The last room Haku warned him away from.
After seeing what the demon Gaara was capable of, he reasoned it best no to defy him.
A dinner similar to the previous night was made, and when Neji was full, Haku tucked him under the blankets in the bedroom. Unfortunately sleep did not come easy. Everytime he closed his eyes he saw fire. He could hear them screaming. Kabuto. Chouji. Hidan. Ino. Asuma. Iruka. Uncle Hiashi. Hanabi. Hinata. Hizashi. All of them writhing in agony. Everyone he knew so far were all blackened limbs reached for him, trying to drag him into the blaze, but a voice kept them a bay.
A whisper.
A faint but familiar whisper.
"Neji."
Startled Neji woke, heart thundering rapidly. He clutched his chest through the thin gown looking up at the demon who hovered over him. The demon's hair covered them in a second veil, the light of the sun streaking across both of their faces through the slivers.
That was when he noticed.
The demon's eyes were still amber in color.
"Your eyes…" Neji trailed off scooting backwards to sit up. "But they were darker…"
"Don't mind them. It is a mirage I use when revealing myself to humans." Haku brushed some hair behind his own ear before doing the same to Neji. "Can't risk anyone getting wise to what I really am."
"A demon." Neji answered dropping his hands to his lap. He still had yet to discover what Haku wanted with him. Back in the merchant's store, Gaara had said Haku wanted a Hyuuga. "Why help me? What do you want with me?"
"Over breakfast." Haku stood from the bed and held out his hand. "Come."
Wary Neji followed holding the demon's hand as he was taken to the eating area. A small meal had been prepared the plates and platters filled with foods Neji had not seen before. Haku pulled a chair out for him before serving him a portion from each platter.
"What? Are these?" Neji asked as he picked up what appeared to be a tube of meat.
"Sausage. It is salted and seasoned, then cooked over a fire." Haku sat next to him chin resting over his folded hands. "They yellow fluff is eggs. They are cracked open and cooked on a hot iron plate. These are foods they eat across the waves further west. And well you know what a spoon and fork is." Haku took a slice of bread and spread it with butter from a silver tray before setting it on the plate in front of Neji. "Eat."
"Across the sea to the west." Neji repeated using the polished spoon to scoop the yellow fluff into his mouth. "You have been there?"
"I visit during the spring."
"I see." The yellow fluff was delicious and so was the sausage. Interesting flavors he had never tasted before. "Will you tell me now?"
"Why you are here?"
"No." Neji set the spoon down hands trembling. "That time at the merchants store, Gaara said you wanted the Hyuuga's. That you wanted my sisters. I want to know why?"
Haku used a fork to take one of the sausages from Neji's plate, twirling it about. "I wanted all of you. Better three as opposed to one." He gave the fork to Neji watching as the Hyuuga chewed.
"But why?"
"Surely you know how special your family is."
"We are cursed. I do not see how that makes us special." Neji looked to his plate, his stomach beginning to turn. The delicious foods becoming sour on his tongue. "These eyes have caused us so much grief and death."
"It is unfortunate. I wish Gaara had brought you all to me when I asked. Your sisters might have lived if he did."
"What would you have done to us?"
"Well I would have given your sister a child. I required one but she is gone." Haku sighed leaning back in his seat. "Sure I can wait until you mate with another human to produce a female, but… It makes me envious to think of you with anyone else. Someone as beautiful as you."
Neji could feel his face heating, tingles leaving chills on his arms and legs. "That does not tell me why you think us special." To distract from Haku's gaze Neji stuffed a sausage into his mouth.
"Your eyes are proof of your blessing. No demon can claim the soul of a Hyuuga, it is too pure." Haku rested his hands on his chin. "The Hyuuga family is promised to the heavens."
"P-P-pure? Heavens?" Neji swallowed audibly. "I do not think I am pure. I…I seek revenge for the slaughter of my sisters Hinata and Hanabi."
"You are indeed."
"But I desire revenge."
"As do I. So I will do this for you." Haku took a linen and wiped Neji's mouth lingering on his bottom lip. "I can not have you tainting the purity of your soul by killing Orochimaru or those acquainted with him, so I will do it for you. In return I only ask one thing and when I ask, you must swear to say yes."
"Say yes?" Neji took the cup offered to him and drank the milk rich and cool on his tongue. "Say yes to what?"
"You will find out soon enough." Haku settled back into his chair gazing at the Hyuuga. "Swear to me Hyuuga."
"How soon will you slay Orochimaru?"
"Tonight if you should agree." Haku rose from the chair beckoning the Hyuuga with a finger to follow him into the sitting area. "He is holding a wedding ceremony. I will kill him then."
"If I should refuse?"
"Then I lock you in that room for me to have and to keep for the rest of your life." Haku smiled as he sat in a plump chaise in front of the empty fireplace. "I will not lay with you either."
The demon seemed delighted at the way Neji choked and turned away, giggling as he bristled with embarrassment.
"I do not wish for such a thing." Neji responded after some moments. His cheeks felt hot to the touch.
"If you are so against being by my side then," The demon crossed his legs. "Maybe I will give you back to Gaara."
Neji stood awkwardly within the threshold, gazing at the demons relaxed form. It was beautiful, even more so than Gaara. But just as cruel. However Gaara enjoyed laying brutish hands against him and Neji would rather die than return to such an demon.
"No tricks. You will kill Orochimaru?"
"I will."
"Then…" Neji took a step forward twiddling his fingers. "I will swear only if you do."
Haku cocked his head to one side eyes shifting to the empty fireplace. With a slow blink, a fire emerged shifting and waving as Haku peered into it. Then the demon sighed rising to stand before Neji. Neji watching trembling as the demon raised one finger before puncturing his palm. The demons blood was dark as it pooled in the center of his hand, and with the same finger Haku beckoned Neji to do the same.
"We will swear a blood oath." Haku stated when Neji backed away. "With this, I will slay Orochimaru. I will not dally. I will not substitute. I swear it."
Tmid Neji held out his hand, flinching when the nail pierced the skin of his palm. Blood bubbled from the wound and before it could trail the lines of his hand, Haku laid his own hand over it.
"Now swear to me."
Neji took a deep breath, the exhale shaking more than the intake.
"I swear, that once Orochimaru is slain, I will agree to whatever favor you may ask of me. But only one."
"And with this, a blood oath is formed." When Haku removed his hand, there was no blood, no wound to be had or wrapped. "See that was not so hard."
Neji stood there staring at his hand as a sudden warmth flooded his body, trailing down his legs before coming back up to rest within the core of his belly. He felt jittery and weak, his body cold but warm all over almost as if he had taken ill. Haku looked back toward the Hyuuga retaking his seat on the chaise.
"Don't worry, it will pass in a moment." Haku patted the spot next him. "Come sit. Relax a while, we have plenty of time before the wedding ceremony.
Cradling his stomach Neji moved to sit next to the demon. The demon was right, whatever it was that passed through his being, the odd feeling, was gone the moment he sat down. Despite the oddness, the oath seemed more promising than the nonsense Gaara wanted of him.
Speaking of whom, Neji could not shake the curiosity that gripped him everytime he thought of the red demon.
"Haku?" Neji called staring into the fires depth, watching as the wood split in places that glowered a bright crimson. "Do you know what Gaara intended to do with me? What he meant when he said I would bare him a child?"
"Hmmm." Haku pulled Neji closer, fingers combing through his hair. "He would have forced you to mate with him, and once entranced, forced you to mate with a human to birth another female Hyuuga. Perhaps as an apology for failing to bring me the female Hyuuga's."
"But he said I would bare him a child, why would he insist on that?"
"To frighten you. Is that not obvious?" Haku turned toward him, thumb caressing his cheek. "You fear the very mention of him."
Neji turned away trembling. He hated his own weakness. Surely if he had just run away like he intended. Even still, this demon found him and he allowed himself to be taken away like some soft spoken maiden. The horrid sadism of demons wrought with sin. If this demon does not slay Orochimaru, Neji will cast his soul to the hell, purity be damned, and kill the horrid man himself.
XXXXX
No one seemed to recognize him and Neji found the realization disturbing. The hall was filled with copious amounts of dancing and vibrant music, raucous, demented laughter. A long table was filled with various fruits, meats, and breads along with numerous pitchers of wine. It was disturbing, that the village of Konoha would be so happy with the murder of his entire family. In spite of, no one Neji remembered seemed to be here. He was glad for this. At the very least he could not picture Iruka lingering here in such a place now that the Hyuuga's were gone. Some of the faces Neji saw were vulgar, twisted in anger... bitter.
They sat at the furthest end of the table, and Neji stretched his neck for a glimpse of Orochimaru, but nothing so far. He doubted the man would be outside, just as they arrived, it began to pour torrents of rain. Thunder clapping with streaks of white across the dark gray clouds. Soon enough however, a door opened and Orochimaru appeared, his bride veiled in red with a gown of white and pearls. The ruckus died away as their footsteps became louder. His face was smug, eyes holding the same sardonic sneer he wore when he drove a blade through Hinata's neck.
The very sight of him made Neji's hands quiver, breath shaking with every exhale. He shuddered, rage clouding his eyes with angry tears.
"It is alright." Haku consoled placing an arm around him. "Be patient."
The two of them, Orochimaru and the veiled bride, stood in front of a man dressed in black robes. The robed man turned to an alter taking a red string, then turned to Orochimaru and the bride who held out their arms, and proceeded to wrap the string around their wrists. Then the robed man, Neji realised was a priest, began to recite words he had never heard before.
Konoha has a priest?
He began to wonder what became of Tsunade. Surely a priest would not approve of a tavern within the village of Konoha. Ignoring the boorish ceremony, Neji looked over the men and women of the long table. Eyes, all of them, squinting at the king of Konoha and their new queen, smiles frozen. The sight was unnerving and the urge to leave swelled within his gut. He wanted to leave, the need overbearing and sudden, pumping him with nausea.
"Do we have to stay for this?" Neji inquired words trembling. "It is sickening."
"It will be over in a moment." Haku returned pulling the Hyuuga closer. "They drink, and then the bride will be escorted to the bedchambers. When he follows so will we."
Neji bristled when the demon kissed his cheek, smiling as he blushed and writhe with embarrassment. He expected someone to say something, perhaps even the priest. Nothing was said almost as if they did not see. Haku spoke of deceptions. Perhaps this was one of them. Neji stared at the table as the priest droled, too bilious to eat or drink from the feast on the table. When the dull voiced ceased everyone rose from the table clapping and cheering. The bride was taken away and Orochimaru lingered as he toasted and boasted with three who sat the closest to him.
One was female, hair a dark pink, like dried rose petals, eyes a sharp honey color. She seemed frail but not sickly, not like the man across from her. He appeared ill, hair and skin an ashen white, eyes dark and ominous. Almost as if he would collapse any moment. But no such thing happened. A third with a striking sickly resemblance to the previous male convinced Neji that the two were twins. Like his father and uncle who passed seven years previous. Neji swallowed as horrible memories resurfaced. Killed at war by the traitorous efforts of Orochimaru. Prior the Hyuuga's were the best of the village, the most trusted, noble, respected.
Damn him.
The man ate and drank bragging about the Hyuuga's. Their deaths. His successes. Calling them animals, savages, put down like brutes. It incited so much anger, but sadness as well. Tears formed and no matter how much Neji tried to blink them away, they continued until his vision blurred. Before they could fall, Haku took his face into his hands, rubbing at his eyes.
"He's leaving. Come."
Haku lured him away through a hall as horns and flutes, drums and gondolas rose in tempo, laughter becoming ruckus again as Orochimaru left to consummate his union. Neji never saw the inside of the castle before now. The furthest he ever ventured was the festive hall, and that was back when he had been a child. Back when Sarutobi was king and the Hyuuga's kept the village safe from vulgar demons and traitorous enemies. The hall Haku led him through, was dull, draped in graying cloths, tables filled with cracked vases and dying flowers. The path chipped in corners and more so under windows.
Soon they reached a large painting, fresh and colorful but still dull. It was Orochimaru, grinning from ear to ear, wearing a jeweled crown of rubies and garnet. He was draped in a robe of rich purple, but even extravagant, he was too pale. Giving the overall painting a pale, dull appearance.
Haku pulled at the golden trimming of the painting, revealing a door and behind it was a winding staircase. The path led upwards, past small windows that told Neji they were far from the ground. Soon they reached another door, which also sat behind a painting. This one reflected the previous king, one before Sarutobi.
Senju?
Haku latched the door, and the painting over it, and moved quietly through the room. It was a room for bathing, the tub empty. Another door, opposite the painting, had been left open. Neji hesitated just at the threshold behind the demon, breathing erratic, worried at what he would see beyond the slab of wood. When Haku pushed it open, they came upon a large bed, draped in a thin canopy. There was a fire burning to their right, and a glass embedded door closed to an almost full, glowing moon. Clothing was scattered across the floor, the king and queen just beginning to consummate their marriage.
The woman let out a gasp, Orochimaru groaning above her, then he shifted, pushing to and fro the same way Haku did with the woman Ino. Neji teemed, blushing as he turned away. Haku only smiled and stepped closer, approaching a table with two goblets and a pitcher. With a wave if his hand the pitcher and cups clattered to the floor, startling the lovers from the bed. The woman cowered behind the blanket while Orochimaru ripped back the canopy. When he laid eyes upon Neji his snarl fell away, mouth gaping in surprise. Then he recovered eyes narrowing as he looked between the two.
"How?" He made to stand the covers slipping away baring his nudity. "I was told you died in that cave."
As Neji looked upon the man's form he noticed the man was much more gaunt, scrawny then he realized. There was some muscle but it was sinewy. His head seemed abnormally large compared to the rest of him. Like a serpent. A venomous snake.
How fitting…
"He is alive and well." Haku commented sashaying from the table to stand beside Neji. "There is work to be done. It is why we are here."
"Come to kill me child?" Orochimaru hissed shifting to the side.
But Neji paid him no mind, his gaze focused on the woman who stared back.
"Ten-Ten?"
The woman swallowed bottom lip quivering as her eyes brimmed with tears.
"I thought you had died." She echoed a sob choking her until she hiccupped. "Neji I thought you had died."
"Even if I had!" Neji spat his chest burning with uncontrollable anger. "He slaughtered them! And yet you found reason to marry him! To lay with him!" Neji under a panting fit, clutched at his thumping chest, but it did nothing for his roaring heartbeat. "You were my friend. My closest friend. But there is no surprise. When my father died I scarce saw you. Was it pretense?!"
"No!" Ten-Ten stepped from the bed, sheet held tightly to bosom. "No I swear it!"
"Then why?!" Neji screeched. "Did he force you?"
Orochimaru chuckled then turning to her with a leer.
"I-I…" She swallowed mouth moving without words. "I…"
Neji gasped turning away from them both feeling overwhelmed. He advanced upon the fireplace, eyes spotting an iron poker laid before the heart. He would suffer no more. No more betrayal by people he trusted. Ten-Ten would be the last. The last of those he knew to betray him.
" I have alway wanted you." Ten-Ten exclaimed finding her voice again. "Only you."
"Are you sure?" Orochimaru asked cutting her off. "Surely you would have fled the village. Instead you traded places with Karin."
She glowered at the man before turning to Neji who held the poker behind his back. He could not risk Haku seeing what he was eager to do.
Preparing to do.
Soul be damned.
"Neji you must believe me. I did what I had to, to survive." She held out her hand stepping closer to Neji's shaking form. "Believe me."
Fingertips caressed his cheek as her body touched closer. Hair that he was used to seeing in two identical buns was loose and mussed, slightly damp with sweat. There was a smell on her, a scent that made him nauseous.
Soul be damned…
Her neck snapped, head twisted sharply to the right side mouth frozen in shock. Neji had just managed to move the poker from behind his back.
He was too late.
Haku killed her, lip curled in disdain as the corpse fell to the floor with a heavy slump.
"No one touches what is mine." Haku stated taking the raised poker from the Hyuuga's hand. "You do not need this. We swore an oath, remember?"
Neji swallowed, hands and lips quivering as Haku fussed with the tip of the poker before approaching Orochimaru. He was holding something behind his back as well, and before Neji could warn the demon, the man drove a small blade into the demon's chest.
Neji gaped, knees weak as he quaked.
But the demon did not fall nor did he bleed.
"You will need more than a blade Orochimaru."
The demon kicked the startled man in the leg causing him to fall to the ground, kneeling. The demon then takes the blade from his chest and flicks it away. With an exhale, the poker glows red as if it had been left within the fire.
"No wait." Orochimaru held out his hand but it snapped, falling limp at his side. "Please!"
Haku looked at Neji who was leaning over the table eyes wide.
"Won't you do it yourself?" Orochimaru grovelled. "Coward!"
But Neji could not move. The desire lost on him with the death of Ten-Ten. For it to happen so quickly. Still, he wanted this, and he longed for this day. There was no turning back, and if Haku should dally, Neji would snatch that dagger up a drive it into the horrid mans neck.
"Are you ready Neji? There is no reneging. You must honor the blood oath."
With a gulp Neji nodded, hands gripping the tables edge. Haku raised the hot rod above his head before slamming it down. Orochimaru's head rolled face turned toward Neji just as the eyes glazed over. Blood pooled in copious amounts at the ragged, severed flesh of the neck.
"The deed is done." Haku dropped the rod, the residual heat burning the wood of the floor. He stepped over the writhing corpse to gather Neji in his arms. "How do you feel?"
Neji's mouth fell open but nothing came out.
He felt…
Nothing.
The man who caused him so much suffering lay beheaded at his feet and he did not feel relief or happiness. But a numbing sensation that stole the strength from his limbs. Like he promised, the demon killed Orochimaru and now he owed this demon a favor.
"What did you…?" Neji trailed off turning from Orochimaru to Ten-Ten, her head was facing her backside, which laid bare without the sheet.
"Are you sure you are ready to hear it?" Haku inquired pulling him from the visage to the glass embedded doors. The opened of their own accord revealing a clear sky and a waxing moon. In another night, the moon will be full.
"I… am." Neji replied nerves jittering. "What would you have of me?"
Haku smiled.
"Neji, will you marry me?"