Ten days till Christmas. :D I'm hyped up and can't wait to see what I got - and I also can't wait for the family to see what I got them.

Chapter Ten

Power of Blood

She denied what Orochimaru said at first because of logic in the modern world, but he'd also seen and done things few could comprehend to prove it. She knew he was telling the truth, because she'd seen two supposedly dead men briefly, crystal clear.

Orochimaru and Kabuto watched Manami's resting place with the priest until daybreak, but when the priest was heading home, he was attacked by masked men, and when they got back...she came back to life. She fit the description of Itachi and Matsuda's brother.

The crystal pulsed hotter this time, telling her she should believe them no matter her words of denial. She wasn't a strong believer in the supernatural, but Orochimaru was hardly ever wrong. And she was glad she wasn't there to be traumatized any more than she was, only she couldn't say the same for Kabuto watching what happened to his own sister. But still, for her head to be cut off before his eyes like that...

Her heart broke when she saw him the way she did, when she tended to him as he slept, and when he catapulted to awareness after having that nightmare - of the dead rising from their graves.

Hanaru knew she should say they oughtta get out of this horrible place, out of this village of the undead, if you could call it that. People who were supposed to be dead were being seen by their loved ones, but no one else in Oto reported such things that she knew of.

Someone here is practicing black magic, but what use of the zombies?

From what she remembered, zombies raised from the dead were typically used as slaves or something - far different than the gory, fast-moving tropes since America's 1960s with Night of the Living Dead. Such other known horror movies like White Zombie provided an example. But to think that her husband and that man at the mills...and Manami almost...

Who could be behind this abomination?!

Orochimaru went out again, leaving her with Kabuto and Ren. As always, her son was playing his game, but this time with Uncle Kabuto joining him. And during that time while she thought to get lunch ready, she watched the scene with a much warmer sensation than she ever remembered - especially when Kabuto sometimes lifted his eyes and smiled at her.

It was then that she finally recognized that look in his eye, during this very moment: not only was that admiration and simple adoration, but something much deeper than she ever cared to notice, which made her feel confused as well.

Kabuto is in love with me.

How long had he been? And why didn't he ever say a word before? She could only think that he respected his best friend and her wishes, willing to let them be happy even if it meant keeping his own heart locked away.

She didn't know how to approach him, but before she could do that, she needed to think about this. Itachi was revived in the most unholy way possible, and others like him, so that was more important, and he must have known that. She appreciated it -

Her thoughts were broken off when she heard the door open, and her name was called. "Orochimaru?" Hanaru called back, confused at the desperation she heard in his voice. "What's going on?" Kabuto and Ren stopped what they were doing and looked up to see what was happening.

He looked grave and haggard, as if whatever happened put more strain on him than ever before. Though he couldn't say it in front of Ren who was still too young to understand - or experience it enough to want to talk to other kids at school about it. "Oh, nothing that you should worry about. But let's say I am closer than expected," he said simply with a smile, though she saw the tension in his eyes. He was hiding something from her. "And tonight, the sergeant and I are going to handle it all once and for all. Kabuto, there's no need for you to be involved."

You know who is behind the deaths and revival of the dead, but you won't tell me. Hanaru had no idea whether to be relieved or mad that he couldn't trust her with the perpetrator - unless there wasn't real proof he had yet and was going to find it with the help of the sergeant like he said.

And by telling Kabuto to stay here, it seemed like he hinted SHE was in danger...and now she had a name to herself, unless she was wrong. Looking at her bandaged finger was proof.

~o~

He couldn't tell her everything because he didn't want to scare her.

But tonight, he swore, it would end because they'd come too far.

It hadn't been easy to explain the story to Sergeant Sano and his senior officer. Much less bring up voodoo magic and the dead...

"If what you say is true, then that must mean my son..." The sergeant had trailed off, unable to finish his sentence. He didn't have to finish, but Orochimaru did it in his mind: your son is among them, and so is young Matsuda like his brother.

In other words, there wasn't much time left before Hanaru could end up in those ranks. Which was why he spent that afternoon coming up with a plan before he went back home to her and the boys. And as soon as he had Kabuto alone, he told the younger man everything...even his suspicions.

"So, it IS him," Kabuto hissed, then corrected himself. "Or might be. But it all points to him..."

"Exactly. The sergeant and I have plans to go to his house. The greater the odds, the better - and I haven't forgotten those ruffians under his thumb," Orochimaru added with a sly lick of the lips. Though in his mind, he knew he could not underestimate them because of their numbers against the three of them. It could mean a shootout if it came to that.

When evening was falling, he and the sergeant were on their way to the Hashimoto Estate to settle this madness once and for all. Thus he entrusted Kabuto to watch over Hanaru and her son. But dark magic like that can draw you even halfway around the world. Just like it did to Manami that terrible night. He felt his lip curl as he thought of how the man could do this to her, as means to keep her under his thumb and not rebel - which meant why he chose to turn all fourteen into slaves.

For the mines, why else? That would explain everything.

This was his theory, and he wasn't afraid to speak his mind, because he was armed beneath his jacket: Hideo Hashimoto was behind everything. Behind what happened to Itachi Uchiha and the other young men, to Manami. For his blasted mines and free labor rather than going through all the trouble of hiring the living who could only form unions, based on what happened down there many years ago.

"It does make sense, Orochimaru," Sano said gravely, though his eyes were misted as he thought of his own son in this position. "And to imagine that Mrs. Uchiha could become one of them..." He stopped himself from finishing that sentence, which the doctor was pleased with. "So, what do you wish us to do while you speak to him?"

It was simple: he and Chiba wait outside, while he managed to open a window from inside to let them listen in and then come if something went awry. That proved without error as the sergeant knew which one, given he'd been at the bailiff's manor before. "As soon as you are in, make sure to unlock it from inside before you meet the master of the house," Sano insisted, and Orochimaru left them both outside to walk up the flora-lined pathway, where there were lights inside. Ah, good, someone is in. I wouldn't be surprised if one of those hooligans answer...

And just like that, indeed one of them did, and it was that dark-haired leader who threatened Hanaru. "What can I do for you?" he asked unpleasantly, clearly recognizing him. Orochimaru forced a smile.

"Well, young man, we met before," he said as he walked inside, past the fool, "under somewhat disturbing circumstances. However, I don't hold it against you." He took in the surroundings which bordered on tradition combined with some modern elements, fancying this side of the man his daughter married but scantly spoke of other than "great love more than anything else". "Is Mr. Hashimoto in?"

"He's in, but he's busy."

Perfect. "Good, then you can tell him I want to see him. I happen to be a busy man myself, yet I made the time to come all the way out here to talk to him, so you can do the honor of telling him to come out."

The man scowled at him but said nothing, and did exactly as he asked. This was Orochimaru's time to make the move, having seen the window Sergeant Sano spoke of, and rushed over to unlock it and open it ajar enough to hiss out to the two men that he got it. He then backed away to step back to where he was before, waiting and taking a few breaths to calm down so he didn't appear suspicious.

"Well?"

The voice who called out to him was loud and rude, demanding without too many words as to why he was interrupted from "important work" to converse with an uninvited guest. "Yes, thank you," Orochimaru answered kindly, disguising disgust at the sight of the man who married Manami and was hiding his true self far too well. But I can't blame myself for not seeing anything sooner, or bothering to look into his background.

Hashimoto narrowed his eyes. "Are you making fun of me, Orochimaru?" he asked.

"No, I'm not being funny. Just trying to remember my manners, and I wish I could say the same to you. It's a shame we never had to...talk to get to know each other," Orochimaru said, dropping the pretenses and showing the ice. "I understand you were busy, so I 'apologize' for interrupting. As to why I am here - I'd rather privately discuss this, so would you please dismiss your hand man?" He glared at the other until his master ordered him to leave, before returning his attention to the "guest". "Now, this is about Manami Yakushi - my daughter, your wife whose funeral you never attended - young Matsuda, even Hanaru Uchiha..." He felt his lip curl upwards while the other continued to eye him stoically.

"...and many others who are supposed to be at rest now - in their graves. You wouldn't by any chance know anything of that, would you, Hideo, my boy?"

"How should I know?" That abrupt turn away and making head for the cabinet for a glass of alcohol was enough to make him loosen his tongue even further.

"Well, I don't know how, but you DO know. I happen to have suspicions of my own based on my own experiences. I have heard enough talk around town which is vague for the most part. Am I right in that you spent the better part of your life abroad, in the Caribbean...in Haiti? And that while you were there, you happened upon something very interesting and likewise forbidden which solved the answer to your issue with the mines your father had no choice but to shut down due to miners' deaths and others' protests?" he challenged, which earned a shattering of glass after the drink was downed.

"Get...out," Hashimoto snarled, face red as a tomato as he knew he was being caught. "Or I'll call the others to finish you off."

No doubt those words had merit, so Orochimaru had no choice but to respect the demand. Bitterly and sarcastically, he bade the man good night.

Time to strike.

But as soon as he was outside, hiding with the sergeant and senior officer, of course Sano was uneasy perhaps more than Chiba. "That was quite too far, sir, but he didn't deny it, either."

"Agreed," the senior officer responded, trying his hardest not to flinch. Sighing, Orochimaru returned his attention to the house, and for some time, they waited until they saw the lights go out. Hashimoto must have gone back inside to attend to whatever business it was, and he suspected it was wherever the mines were led from this place. Given the distance wasn't so great, there had to be a secret passageway or something.

He went up first, going through the window, followed by the sergeant and then the senior officer. The window was left unlocked but closed so that it wouldn't appear out of the ordinary and that HE would be caught. But whatever evidence had to be inside this house...

...and after a few times of ducking and hiding, they heard someone coming, and peeked out from behind a wall to see the man of the house himself coming down the stairs and going through an archway, which was their cue. They hid for another while, seeing light on again, and they could not go in as long as Hashimoto was inside, and any of those dogs could be present or just waiting to strike. That was for the policemen to draw out their arms - pleasing Orochimaru they had modernized weapons in hand - and they went in together.

But if all three of them were killed, hope was lost. Which was what they could NOT afford.

The door was opened, so Orochimaru's sensitive ears heard the words that were being spoken - or rather, chanted.

"Chi wa chikaradesu...Chi wa chikaradesu..."

"Blood is the power"...that's what he is saying.

And then this was heard: "Come to me."

His blood turned to ice immediately. He couldn't speak it aloud to his companions, but he hoped their thoughts matched his: he's calling to her...oh, God, Hanaru!

But if they moved soon, they might be able to save her, and he hoped Kabuto did as he instructed. And chance came when the light went out.

After some time of searching, Orochimaru was perusing through the books - oh, you sly fox, you do have the books which give away enough - when Officer Chiba announced quietly but clearly that he found something beneath the desk. He'd been opening drawers and found the middle one in the left couldn't be pried...until he accidentally pressed a button on the inside which let it pop out, and that was when they were greeted with a simple but bone-chilling sight.

Fourteen of them...fourteen coffin-shaped creations held by hand.

And inside: dolls made of gray clay, the eyes and mouths poked in by finger pads, finished with sticks for arms and legs. All appeared to be male, but the fourteenth one was broken beyond repair. If he could have it identified with his personal equipment, he would know that one was Itachi's.

Because when he recognized the bright red but dried substance on each human figurine, he would know it was blood, and everything was confirmed.

Hashimoto was controlling the undead via the use of dolls - and with their individual blood. Mortified, Sergeant Sano couldn't find any words to speak, but then he finally croaked, "My God, so it's true!"

Yes, we have to get out of here, and control those poor souls so they turn on their master. Then we can set them free.

~o~

What had...what had happened?

Everything was such a haze. She recalled sitting on the mat with her son, meditating as they always did, and then something fuzzy came over her head. And then Kabuto left her to go get water, while Ren said nature was calling, and then she was left alone - until something spoke to her which wasn't present as her men had been.

"Come to me."

Someone was calling her, and her body must have been moving on its own, for the next thing she knew, she was standing on the grounds of the Hashimoto mines - and before her was the form of Toshio Matsuda, who was gray and in a worn robe, just like she recalled seeing her supposedly dead husband, but he said nothing as he blankly looked her over without moving his eyes.

He's...he's dead.

But Hanaru had no will to speak even though she was frightened internally, just as her body gave in after becoming aware of its long walk. Was she going to die the same way Manami had? She had no will to fight, even though she should have. She thought of her little boy who was no doubt wondering where she was, and Kabuto who was going to be looking for her as soon as he saw she was missing.

After that, her mind blurred with her vision, and she had no idea what happened next other than falling forward.

The burning crystal had all but faded from her body's sensations.

Someone had picked her up and carried her - must have been HIM - for she found she lay down on a great slab of stone, and she was held in place by hemp rope, at her wrists and ankles.

The face of Hideo Hashimoto loomed over her, calm and caring, but something that made her heart pump with warning bells...except she couldn't break free from the control he had over her.

Her hand was taken into his, as a silent message that her fate was in his hands. And his face was near hers enough for what seemed like a...

"White Zombie" starring Bela Lugosi is a masterful, atmospheric classic which depicts zombies being the traditional sense explained throughout this story - and "Plague of the Zombies" pays homage. :D

The end is near, so stay tuned and please review since I got nothing so far except one. :(