Chapter 13

The rest of our journey melted away before I could prepare myself to face what I had been running from.

Dead ahead, sitting back on to us is a girl dressed in red with pink hair. We can clearly see that she is chained and her hands are bound behind her back. With a shocking jolt, I realise that this must be Sakura. But why would she be left out here like that? She's just sitting there for anyone to carry off.

I stop, throwing my arms out to stop the others as well. I motion for silence and retreat, pushing them with me. Quietly, we make our way back to what I deem a safe distance. When I allow them to speak again Naruto complains loudly. "Red, what the hell are you doing? We came all this way here to save her, and now you just want to leave her there?"

"I decided that you've all played your part in the mission. I go alone from here." I avoid their eyes as they all voice complaints.

"NO WAY!" Naruto's voice thunders above the others. "I'm not going to let you do this alone. You need us. You're not going out there all by yourself so they can kill you. I'm making sure you come home from this."

"I can make you stay." I threaten darkly. I clasp my hands into fists to stop them from shaking and giving away the fear I'm desperately trying to hide.

"Try it then." He challenges me insolently. He launches away, making a clean beeline for Sakura, with a whooping Kiba hot on his heels.

"Stop them!" I gasp, chasing them, not bothering to check and see if Saskue and Shickamaru are going to help me. Naruto's getting too close, so I leap at his back and tackle him to the ground, hissing in his ear. "Idiot. Can't you see that this is a trap?"

"Then don't leave us behind." He growls back at me. I glance over my shoulder to see Saskue dragging a kicking Kiba back. Shickamaru follows carrying a squirming Akamaru at arm's length.

Once we're gathered around more calmly, Shickamaru logically lays out an idea. "Red, can you hear who's around? If we know what's waiting ahead we can outsmart them easily."

"I can," I hedge. "It'll take all my concentration. If we're ambushed I won't be able to protect myself."

"That's why we're here." Saskue grumbles.

Kiba stands to his feet. "We'll stand around you, so you feel more secure." They all get to their feet and circle around me, back on, with weapons drawn.

I shove my sappy feelings away, crossing my legs, shutting my eyes, and pulling out all my hand seals, preparing for a gruesome test of my ability. I search with my ears, picking out every abnormality in the forest. I can hear the girl's heart. It's frantically pounding. Her breathing is muffled; they must have covered her mouth with something. I push harder and I can hear around her. I can hear twenty five strong hearts pounding. Twin's guards, lying in wait for us. I shudder, thinking about how easily we could have walked into that trap. They hide silently, watching her intently. Twin isn't among them though. I push harder, sweat beading on my forehead, but I can't get much farther. It appears he's out of my range. He's far enough away to stay invisible, but close enough to watch, I'd bet my soul on it.

"Twenty five guards surrounding Sakura. Twin is close but I can't hear him."

"How are we going to draw out twenty five men and still get Sakura away safe?" Naruto fumes, frustration colouring his voice.

Shickamaru rubs his hands together, grinning evilly. "Easy."

Our plan is quickly formulated and is just waiting to be executed. To my surprise, I learn Naruto has something called a sexy jitsu, which he's going to use to lure out the guards. Once they show, Naruto, Saskue and Kiba are going to attack them. Shickamaru has found a high post, where he can watch the whole thing, while I stay connected to him so I can send and receive message from him about what's going on.

I crouch under a bush, watching and waiting nervously until an army of naked beauties crash into view.

I'm stunned for a moment until I see the giggling girls' faces. They all look like Naruto! Blonde hair, blue eyes, even cheek markings. My hand flies to my mouth to stifle my laughs as twenty five stupid men flood out from their hiding places. I hear a war cry, as Naruto, Kiba and Saskue spring out attacking the men wildly.

I wrench my eyes off the battle, trying to focus on my task. I run out into the ensuing madness, dodging fists, weapons, claws, teeth, and naked clones. I can hear Shickamaru clearly as I run, but it's hard to concentrate on listening and running at the same time.

"Stop worrying about us, Go!" Shickamaru thinks irritably.

I run around to face Sakura, and free her mouth. Her bright eyes look up at me in fright as she flinches away from my hands while I free her mouth.

"Sakura?" I ask.

"Who are you?" She asks leaning away.

"A friend." I smile at her. "I bought Saskue here to rescue you. Let's go meet up with him before he gets tired of waiting for us. He's so impatient." I work on freeing her legs as I try and sooth her with my voice and words.

"Saskue? Saskue's here?" She whips her head around with searching eyes.

I feel a presence rise at my back as I get her feet free. I hear her gasp and watch her scramble away from the shadow behind me.

I face him, knowing who it is before I even look. "Twin." I say calmly, trying to force my heart to slow.

"Akako." His voice drips icily. He's taken his true form to meet us. Straight, lilac tinged hair brushes along his neck, while his wild red eyes hold mine. I notice that his nose is slightly crooked, and his face and skin are full of scars.

"Why do you look so disgusted? You've seen how I look before." He shrugs and I notice that he is all clad in poisonous green. "It's a testament to how many have tried to kill me." He switches his glare to Sakura. "Tried, and failed of course." He grins at her, showing pointy animalistic teeth. "Want to try your luck, little girl?" He pulls out a dagger with a green handle. "I even bought a special weapon. This is my favorite blade, Mandarinia." His voice flows like velvet over the horrible name. "I dipped it in a wicked poison. Unfortunately, there's not antidote for the poison I use, and one scratch will have you dead before sunrise." He laughs joyfully. "But there's always a chance you'll kill me before I can sink it into your smooth, soft, pretty skin." His eyes sweep over her again, and my skin crawls in sympathy.

"Leave her alone." I demand. "Diablo doesn't like his prizes damaged."

"Piss on Diablo," Twin declares proudly. "I stole from the Hidden Leaf Village and walked away unscathed. He's never been able to accomplish that. I should be the one sitting on his throne, commanding his army. In fact, when I get back I'm going to kill him, and make whatever his, mine. Oh by the way, I see your friends have killed off some of my men, no matter, I have more coming. A fresh set of another twenty five will surely be enough to get rid of those pests."

I look worriedly over Sakura to the battle behind us, to see that for once he tells the truth. Out of twenty five men, ten are left. Shickamaru has also joined the battle, but they look weary. They can defeat this ten, but won't survive another wave of fresh men.

"Please," I whisper, "Don't hurt them. Let them all go."

Twin smiles at me, tapping a finger to his chin, as if he is actually considering my ludicrous request. "I shall, but you must come back with me. Your power is rare and strong. I want it for my army."

My stomach turns and threatens to heave up what little I've eaten. "Oh god, no."

"Then they die."

Sakura bursts into tears as Twin drifts closer to us with a cold smile on his face. I stand in front of her protectively. "Alright, I'll come. But they must be left alone."

"You were a fool to turn down my first offer, now I want more for their freedom. I'll let them be, for your loyalty to me and your hand in marriage. You will rule beside me and force the unwilling to be my war dogs. We'll marry our power together, Akako."

My name on his lips revolts me. The way he says is lovingly sets my stomach churning again. I want to refuse with all that is in me. But Sakura's sobs are at my back. Kiba…Saskue…Shickamaru…Naruto… What are they worth to me? I feel my heart break. My life for theirs, truly it's a fair price. A pain throbs in my chest, and my hand clutches at it. "Okay." I force through my teeth.

"Bow before me, my Queen." He mockingly says.

I glance behind again to find Naruto close, watching the scene in wide eyed horror. "Stay back." I warn. I look at Sakura. "Get him home." She nods silently, tears hanging on her cheeks.

I reach a hand out to Naruto. "Be good. Goodbye. I love you."

I feel a hand on my throat, and Twin forces me to look him in his angry red eyes. "I said bow, you worthless sorry whore." He throws me back.

As I feel my body hit the ground, I hear Naruto's wordless cry of fury and see him leap at Twin. He connects punch after punch to Twin's already ruined face.

In slow motion, I watch as Twin pulls out his poison dagger, and stabs it through Naruto's hand. Naruto jerks back; his opposite hand holding his wrist, his face contorted in pain as the words "no antidote" swirl in my head.

I hear an outraged howl and feel my body launch at Twin. I see my own hands extended in front of me like claws. As I knock Twin down my hands snake around his ugly throat and squeeze. I let loose another rage filled howl and let the animal inside take over. I squeeze harder, watching as the white of his eyes flood to red, matching his pupils. "Damn you," I snarl. I lift his head and slam it back on the hard ground. "I'll never serve you." I smack his head down again.

His reply comes back strangled and unintelligible.

I lean down in his face. "All this time, I thought you were worthy of my nightmares." I spit in his purpling face. "You aren't even worth the air I breathe."

"Knife!" Sakura cries out.

My hand shoots out and grabs the wrist that he was feebly trying to raise. "You can't stick me with your pathetic little toys." Using just one hand, I snap his wrist listening to his screams of pain. When the dagger falls uselessly to the ground, I scoop it back up and examine it. "Remember this day, Twin, because I'm going to kill you again when I see you in hell." Without anymore ceremony, I jam his little dagger hard into one of his eyes, right up to the green hilt.

I stand up off his body, and give it a little kick, making sure he's dead. When that's done I turn to his guards. Five are left of the twenty five. The others have abandoned the battle to come see to Naruto and Sakura. I palm four throwing stars, use my ears to pinpoint their locations and let them fly, hitting my targets clean in the foreheads. "You!" I roar at the last man standing. "Go back to your idiot king," I hiss. "Tell him what you have witnessed here today. Tell him not to waste his time sending people after me, because I'm coming for him. GO!" As the man takes off, I collapse to my knees, shaking weakly.

"Red." A voice croaks behind me.

Naruto. It hits me like a speeding train. The dagger, Mandarinia. It pierced his hand.

"No!" I shriek, pushing Saskue and Kiba out of my way. "Naruto, no." I moan looking at his bleeding hand. "You pulled out the dagger, you fool."

"We won!" He says ignoring me.

Shickamaru wordlessly hands me his shirt, which I use to wrap up Naruto's hand. "We did, because you were right and wouldn't let me face it alone. Thank you." I choke out around tears.

"Now you're safe. You're free; you're free to stay with me."

Tears cascade down my cheeks. "Yes."

"I love you, you know that now."

"I knew it all along." I sob.

"Don't cry. It takes more than a little poison to kill me. It's getting kind cold though." His colour is bad. His skin has faded to snow white; even his blue eyes had faded. His skin is even cool to the touch. Kiba hands me his coat, which I wrap him in, grateful for Kiba's bigger size. I cuddle the shivering Naruto to my chest, sobbing harder.

"Please, no." I beg holding him tighter. "Not him, please. I need him." I beg brokenly. His eyes watch me, and he hums my lullaby as I rock him gently.

I hear a soft collective gasp behind me, and then I hear a voice. "Luna," it calls. I ignore it; ignore the fluttering in my chest, staring down at the precious boy in my arms who is fading fast.

"Luna," the voice repeats, more insistently this time demanding my attention. It's a nice voice, all silk and honey. I move my eyes to find the source, and find myself staring back at my own face.

She's tall, close to 5'10. Her red hair is piled neatly into a bun on top of her head. She has my face, even the freckles dancing lightly across her nose and shoulders. Her eyes are different though. They seem to be liquid and they never stay one colour for long. In the short moments I take to observe her, they shift from green, blue, gold, violet and grey.

"Mother?"

She embraces me. "My sweet Luna."

"Naruto," I manage.

Her changing eyes glance at his face. "Ah, yes, the boy who stole my daughter's heart before I ever had a chance to claim it. He's special, and strong. Like his father, like yours too." She turns back to me, smiling. "Not to worry, Luna. He'll be fine."

"But Twin said…"

She cuts me off my caressing my cheek with a fingerless gloved hand. "Darling, we both know Twin's a fool and an insufferable liar." She turns to Sakura. "Child, fetch me the dagger that did this."

As she turns to comply, I whisper. "Your eyes?"

"The eyes of an enchantress, Sweet."

"Why aren't mine like that?"

"It comes with time, and power."

"Are you coming home with me?"

"No my pet, not quite yet. Go home to your leaf village. I have made arrangements for you."
"Don't go!" I beg.

"I've never left you, not truly." She smiles at a private joke as Sakura hands over the cursed dagger. She sniffs it daintily. "Twin's beyond a fool. This poison is only too common."

I notice her outfit then, a shirt made of chains like Shickamaru's with a green bikini top underneath. She also wears black shorts with many colourful packs around her hips. In one of these packs she digs out a corked bottle. She deftly opens Naruto's mouth and pours the bottle's liquid in, rubbing his throat to make him swallow it. After returning the empty bottle, she gestures to Saskue. "Help my Luna bring this boy home safely. I can tell you are also very strong." Without complaint, Saskue obeys, gently lifting Naruto up.

She comes over and hugs me again, kissing my forehead. I then notice she has a piercing on her bellybutton, with a tiny sun dangling from it. "Bring him home. Nurse him back to full strength, I will visit soon. I want to meet this boy of yours. I can tell he is his father's child already."

She hugs each of my friends in turn and me one last time. "Thank you all for saving my daughter. I owe you more than I can ever pay. Luna," she calls to me. "Behave for your brother. Be good, see you soon. I love you."

"Love you, too." I manage. Before I can question her on her instructions, she's gone again.

"I told you moms were the greatest." Saskue smiles at me.