I have to say this in response to the last person who reviewed: I write my stories however long I want, because it FEELS the right length. How long or short it is does not matter, but what is INSIDE.

I intend to have this story done before the holidays really take place, and I also recently put up the first four chapters to a new chilling tale, "The Plague", if anyone is interested. I wanted to have that done last month, but I finally got down to it.

Chapter Eight

Lovely Day For an Exorcism

She was tempted to finally say this young man abandoned his true faith because of the loss of his father, but she bit her tongue on saying such a thing. Itachi was surely thinking the same thing.

However, when Nara was leaving their house, he turned back to them and asked, "Did Sarada know a priest was coming over?"

"No, she did not," Itachi answered, leaning to one side in the doorway.

"And you both heard my father died - but did SHE know?"

Izumi had a feeling he would ask that, and it scared her so much, but at the same time, it didn't, because demons always knew things man didn't, and could twist it against you. "She didn't at all," she said, wrapping her arms around herself. "Why do you ask?" Maybe he thinks he'll be able to help, after all...

But then he disappointed them both, or was that stalling? "Not important. Good night to you both. I'll be back as soon as possible."

So...there WAS hope yet, but it wasn't the same as him officially stating an exorcism would be in play. She and Itachi watched him go just as the wind slowed down, and above them, you could hear the fireworks. She looked up and saw the first few explode into the skies. She heard herself gasp a little at the beautiful sight, and a simple thing like that could warm and calm your heart in the most distressing of times.

She turned into her husband and wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning her head against his chest. And they'd just had another distressing conversation regarding their niece possessed and in dire need of help, their potential last hope claiming that he lost his true faith and believed only in psychology as the answer - but here they were when fireworks were starting to go off.

"Izumi."

Her name was all he could say before she raised herself up and kissed him then and there on the lips. Their personal sparks flew just as another work blew into the skies.

They were back upstairs and in bed in no time, disregarding anything else - including "Sarada" who had quieted down for the night - and dinner, for now. It had been weeks, but they lost track of how many exactly, since they'd done this. So much stress, so much of everything...and they'd earned this. She let him do the job first, and then she would have her turn. Just like they'd done on their wedding night, which had been so long ago, and after that, it was always late night summer loving on occasion, and during spring was soft clothes with no underwear to tear off, but during winter and autumn when temperatures were dropping, it was wait until you were warm in bed.

This time was different: taking it slowly and sweetly since their love and marriage was threatening to break apart after spending so much time focused on their niece they loved so much, and if their marriage survived, they would save her.

Lifting her arms for him, Izumi let him pull her blouse over her head, and she went to push down her skirt, leaving herself in her soft, black lace undergarments, and before she could reach behind her back, he grunted and stopped her. "Mm-mm, no doing my job."

She was naked in no time at all, and then turned around to rid him of his clothing. There was her man, lean and powerful, glistening with summer perspiration and stress relief. She reached up and ran her hands along his strong pectorals and ripped abdomen, his hands coming to caress her back before he pulled her close for a brief embrace and murmured into her hair that he waited so long for her again. He picked her up then, laying her down on the bed, manhood hard and pressed against her innermost treasured part, and dazzling her in a manner that took her to another place, far away from here...

This was one of the better nights they'd had in a long while, and Itachi finally spoke about the fact that Shikamaru would save their family, no matter how difficult or even impossible this was. Smiling, Izumi told him she loved him and thanked him for finally having faith.

~o~

Last night was without words, and between him and his wife, it was like a heavy emotional weight was lifted for the while. It had been a few weeks at most since last time, but it felt like it had been much longer than that. He sank into blissful oblivion with her, forgetting about everything else.

Perhaps there were pleasant dreams afterwards, but he had no recollection other than waking up in the morning to find they were still entwined, their wedding picture an additional reminder of the good times - but on the other side, which was her side, was one of their family portraits...when Sarada was still herself.

All was quiet that night, but the next day, it was back to the crisis.

He decided to not go up into that room, nor would Izumi, for both their sakes. Just this once. They spent that morning quietly close together, holding onto each other on the sofa, and enjoying a cup of tea she made. He wished that this nightmare was one they could all wake up from. But they couldn't remain like this, because this afternoon, Shikamaru Nara would return; this time, he had to instruct them to be away from the door, because it was for the best.

"I'll let you both know what happened, if it goes...well." And by "well", he meant if he wasn't killed or maimed in any way, should "Sarada" break loose from her restraints. So far, she hadn't.

Izumi was on the phone at this time while he tried to work in the office. He'd found a way to continue that and try not to let the living nightmare affect this aspect. She was talking to her agent, and it was then that he decided it best she got away for awhile after everything. He could take care of the rest with "Sarada" on his own, but with Nara in the picture. It would be easier for her, though he doubted she would agree easily.

While the young priest was still upstairs, he chose to wait until she was off the phone right after he had done so with a new client who wanted advice on retraining current employees for the new model, rather than letting them go. "Baby, we have to talk."

"You're right, we do," she agreed. "He says I should come back to work, and that means a week in Suna for a desert shoot. But I don't feel right leaving you here, with Sarada..."

He cut her off and went to embrace her. "No, you should go. I'll handle everything just fine. It's for the best that you get away from all of this until it is settled. I'm confident it will work out." Except he doubted his own words, because Nara made it clear that no matter his ideas, the Buddhist services had the final say about performing an exorcism, and if it had been done illegally, he would be in deep with the fishes.

"I wish I could get my hopes up," she said softly, lowering her eyes to the ground. She then leaned her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. "I want to know the answer before I leave..."

Hopefully it's today.

~o~

"What a lovely day for an exorcism."

He hissed through his teeth at the casual talk of this monster. He had never seen anything like this in his life, only heard in old stories and seen in movies, and his father had always said that there were demons everywhere, inside and outside no matter where you were from. The western world had little comprehension of these ways, often shoving aside the dangerous methods in favor of simpler ways that didn't risk lives.

Some people in Japan adopted those ways, but even that had no impression on the entire country - yet.

Back to what the demon-girl said to him as he set up the equipment, including ofuda seals for him to place around the bed. "You'd really like that, wouldn't you?" Shikamaru asked, thinking maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea after what "she" said last time about his father. Her aunt and uncle claimed that she had no idea of Shikaku Nara's death due to lung cancer, which gave cause for suspicion, though he doubted it because of his absence in his father's death while being away to perform a service. If only I was there...but they told me there was nothing I could have done either way.

The demon grinned nastily. "Intensely."

"But wouldn't it drive you out of Sarada?" Shikamaru asked, raising an eyebrow and earning a falling of the face.

"Ahhh...it would bring us together."

By the way it spoke, it sounded almost like a lewd suggestion - or perhaps it referred to itself and HIM, and he had to prevent himself from flinching. Shikamaru hid it well, but he set down the recorder to tape the events, and see if there was a chance that it could speak a different language, which was one of many signs of demonic possession.

He nearly jumped when the drawer of the bedside table slid out...all by itself. "Did you do that?!"

"Uh huh," the monster husked out, wagging its serpentine tongue.

Shikamaru hit the play button, and what transpired began with speaking in different languages, starting with their own and English. But then it came to him asking how long the fiend planned to live inside the poor girl who had her whole life ahead of her, thinking of the effect it was having on the only family she had left, now that both parents were gone. "Until the slut bag bitch lies stinking and rotting in the earth." He tried not to flinch at the blasphemous use of language.

Alright, you leave me no choice. If you're really a demon, I'm going to do what needs to be done. With that, he reached for the first paper seal from his suitcase that he opened up, and held it before the bound creature's now widened yellow eyes.

"What is that? Keep it away!" But he placed the seal at the right end post of the bed, and the reaction was as he expected if not directly touching the victim. "AAAARRRRGGGHHH IT BURNS!"

Quickly, Shikamaru picked up the recorder and brought it over to the thrashing and squirming figure who squeezed the eyes shut in midst of the pain. It was saying words, but none that he recognized. Frowning, Shikamaru demanded who the being was, and not to lie to him.

But it's in so much pain it won't be able to hide anything.

He couldn't make it out because the writhing beast was shrieking and cursing in tongues, but there were ways outside this house to decipher the meaning of the language - and he would have the demon's identity.

~o~

"You're at the airport?"

"I am, and I'll be getting on the plane soon. I'll call you as soon as I land, baby. I love you."

He smiled into the phone even though she couldn't see him. "Love you, too." He kissed the bottom and then turned it off before looking up to see Nara standing there, looking somber and exhausted as much as he was.

"Your wife's gone?"

Itachi nodded. "I convinced her to carry on with work while I take care of everything for her. Thought it for the best even though she wanted to stay," he said, leaning back and stretching, sighing when his spinal bones popped. "I could go for a drink. Would you like a sake?"

"Please." The Uchiha stood up and went to the cabinet where he kept the liquor, getting out the bottle and two cups. He then handed Nara his and sat beside the younger man with his own. "So, Itachi, I put sacred seals on the four posts of the bed, and one more near her head. She reacted...violently. I taped everything and will get the unclear message translated because it isn't a language that I'm familiar with," Shikamaru explained.

Something inside Itachi lit up then and there. One step closer. But it was also then that a crack inside him began to open, and the words were out of his mouth. "She...killed Sasuke."

"...what?"

"My brother - her father. She killed him. Or rather, that thing inside her. I never saw what happened, but it looks like he was pushed out her window." Now that he thought of it, the demon took advantage of whatever hatred Sarada had for her father over his treatment of her all her life, and look at her now.

The look that Nara gave him was one of shock and sympathy in one.

Finally able to do Shikamaru's POV while Izumi is away. Wonder why I didn't do it before? Let's just say it was simply because I couldn't think of anything at first, and also I was still doing some more research on exorcism in Japan and other cultures.

Review as always. :)