Yo.

Before I say anything, I claim immunity. Do not kill me.

I'll make this short.

Life has been hectic, plain and simple. Social life has been the pits (with my fucking ex actually having the guts to APOLOGIZE for dumping me on my sixteenth birthday and saying that it was all a lie and that I was worthless and merely a pawn in his fucked up game) and absolutely amazing (with my third wife giving me the first REAL Valentine's Day gift outside of my family that I've ever gotten). I love my life, but my ex needs to die. A guy THAT screwed up doesn't deserve to live.

And my Internet has been screwy. I'm sorry. But to make it up, I've got a LOT of updates waiting for you.

Hope this makes up for it you guys.

Ah, it's Sunday, I feel fat and I still have homework to do at eight at night. Ugh. XP

Hope you guys enjoy them.

Creation of Bloodlust

Chapter Five – Demon of Darkness

The purplish black, formless essence rolled around Naruto and Kiba, threatening to swallow them whole at any moment. Naruto – shaking – lifted up the black crystal blade that suddenly seemed five times heavier.

Gotta protect Kiba –

He managed to lift it up in front of him just as the smoke – the smoke that pulsed with a wild, erratic heartbeat and issued a biting, blazing cold – seemed to reach for him, the jewel of amethyst in clear view. He felt Kiba – shaking with fear – press against his back, putting all trust in him.

I can't let him down –

Suddenly, the smoke stopped short. It rolled restlessly inside itself, withheld from pressing forward by some internal power. Naruto opened one eye fearfully, but saw nothing.

Nothing except the smoke and the remains of the brilliant crystal still embedded in the rock.

What the…?

Kiba seemed to become aware the threat had stopped, and he opened his eyes, peeking over Naruto's shoulder.

"Naruto…?" He breathed, surprising the blonde at how steady his voice was.

"Don't worry, Kiba," the blonde stated, a bit of his courage returning as the smoke endlessly folded upon itself and shifted, but didn't advance – like a predator that had been intimidated by the prey, now pacing restlessly back and forth while deciding what to do: attack and risk getting hurt, or stay back and lose the kill. "I'll protect you!"

You're the only one I have left –

Naruto gazed at the billowy folds of the dangerous essence, finding the courage of a seaman rise inside of him.

"Stay back!" He commanded, letting his captain voice take over. "Who are you, and what do you want with us?"

The cloudy fog swirled within itself more furiously – like an enemy restraining itself from attacking due to his opponent's taunts. It gave Naruto more courage.

Suddenly, it stopped moving, and Naruto – for a split second of pure panic – thought it would press forward. But then, slowly, it withdrew, gathering among and on top of itself, changing its own shape and pressing on itself as a voice – the same one as before – spoke.

"So YOU are the one that released me… YOU are the one the Sword of Saving chose…"

The smoke gathered into a pyramid, writhing and shifting like a mass of rats – except this mass carried an even greater aura of distain and danger, laid bare by the powerful essence of royalty and regal.

"But… you are just a human…"

Naruto swallowed.

"And who are you?" He asked, making sure his voice was steady.

The whirling mass slowed slightly – as if contemplating the blonde's words – but kept its shape.

"I see. You are afraid. Very well. I will take a form… that you can relate to…"

Before Naruto's very eyes, the smoke compressed, solidifying as it changed color, shape and texture in a smooth, creaseless motion.

Oh my God…

The base of the pyramid changed first, turning from rough, misshapen billows into the smooth, elegant folds of a silken purplish black robe, draping regally on the emerging frame. The form slimmed and became lithe beneath the cloth, and Naruto saw slender, elegant hands – nearly as pale as the moon – take shape, the nails long, sharp and wicked, painted the color of shadow. Naruto's gaze traveled upwards as the folds of a hood appeared around a graceful, newly-formed throat as pale as the hands. Long hair – equally as smooth and sleek as the robe and colored with the moonless night sky – fell down slim shoulders in thick, majestic drapes, reaching past the newcomer's thighs and vanishing as the incredibly long locks and the robe became one, the darkness of the hair and cloth mixing together in indistinguishable swirls and folds. The blonde's eyes kept going upwards, and he saw a delicate chin and firm jaw take shape. A nose formed, high cheek bones appeared – and in a swirl of shadow and fog, the rest of the head was formed: a proud forehead, dark eyelashes, perfectly sculpted eyebrows, and the eyes themselves hidden behind pale, relaxed lids.

Naruto and Kiba – who had peeked from behind his captain to watch – were in awe, both thinking the same thing.

That man is BEAUTIFUL.

They had no doubt it was a man – this commanding, daunting presence, the voice from earlier – what else could have the other been? The two – captain and first mate – had been stunned into silence as the last tendrils of smoke vanished onto the other's person, forming the last of the newcomer – a pure white tattoo of the crescent moon on the apple of his left cheek, lighter than his skin.

The other had the hints of a smirk on his face.

"Is this better?"

He opened his eyes.

Naruto had to fight down a gasp.

It seemed like his soul had been sucked out of him – the way his blood chilled and his body began to quake – the way every instinct in his body was screaming at him to run. Those eyes were evil – those eyes were dangerous – those eyes were the end.

And yet he couldn't move. Just as he quelled from that piercing, undeniable gaze, he felt drawn to those eyes – drawn to that overflowing emptiness (so full of knowledge and promise and power) that now stared him into the ground. His breath quickened along with his heart, and he felt all his heat rush downwards – as if those eyes were commanding it to go there.

Oh – my – GOD –!

He wondered if Kiba was experiencing the same thing.

The other smirked, his eyes – if possible – growing even colder.

"Are you afraid? There is no need."

The other blinked, and Naruto seemed to be released from the unbreakable grip that had held him, and he blinked as well, noticing how the other's mouth didn't move when he spoke.

His voice… tickles my mind. What a strange feeling.

Somehow, someway, he found his voice.

"Who are you?" He managed to ask again. The other merely surveyed him for a moment before closing his eyes – as if in thought.

"What a question…"

"Master."

The other's eyes opened, and he looked down to his left to see a small animal at his feet – except it wasn't anything like Naruto had ever seen.

The creature's first layer of fur was a deep gold, and that layer was covered by the swirling black tendrils of the second, the black fur creating an elaborate display of black on gold. It reminded Naruto of a small fox, except this one had three tails, each one having a line of black fur that spiraled up to the tip, painting it black. It was the same for each of the creature's legs, the paw black with the leg decked in spiraling black fur. The same was for the ears, but the black fur grew more elaborate on the creature's face. The nose was pink, and there was a baby blue jewel tied around its neck in red ribbon. Naruto was in shock – that gem would easily get him the largest ship known to man and have enough cash left over to pay all the workers on the ship for at least six months! NEVER had he seen such a treasure!

Upon closer inspection, Naruto saw the creature had striking purple eyes.

The newcomer's voice grew warmer ever so slightly.

"Ah… Mila. It is a joy to see you."

The creature sat on its haunches and gave the other a low bow.

"It fills me with joy to see you again as well, Master," she breathed softly, her voice having the same effect on Naruto's mind as it did the other's, but with a gentler touch. "A thousand years have past since your sealing."

The other blinked, his eyes lighting up in soft question.

"A thousand years? Hm…" His gaze swept the room. "Not much seems to have changed here."

The creature bowed low again.

"Of course not, Master. Change is forbidden here – as you know."

The other turned to the creature called Mila again.

"A thousand years… tell me, Mila," he breathed "What of the outside world? Are we still strong within its heart?"

Mila's eyes widened and she immediately bowed her head in shame, her tails wrapping protectively around her.

"…No," she breathed softly, making the other raise his chin in surprise. "I am so sorry, Master, but your family has long since vanished from the people's thoughts. Your brothers and sisters have tried in vain – your twin has continually wept, begging for your release. But your father would have nothing of it."

The other lowered his head, closing his eyes.

"Yes. He is a stubborn one. But now that I am released, he has no excuse. What of my mother?"

Mila's voice was quiet.

"She has been trying with every breath she has to convince your father to release you and allow you to reinstall the power of the Guardians, but to no avail. She – of all entities – will be happy to see your safe return. But, on another note, Master…" she raised her head to look up at the other. "Remember the laws…"

She turned her head to look at Naruto and Kiba, the sword shining in the blonde's hands. The other sighed.

"Very well – it is required, no way around it. Human!" He turned to face the two. "What are you known by?"

It took a moment for Naruto to realize the other was addressing him.

"Naruto…" he replied. "Naruto Uzumaki. I am a captain, and this is my first mate, Kiba Inuzuka."

The brunette nodded from over Naruto's shoulder. Mila resituated herself so that she was sitting at the other's feet, facing the two men.

"Yes," she replied. "Your ship was crushed in the maelstrom. You two had the greatest will, so you were taken here."

"So my comrades – my shipmates – you let them all drown?" Naruto said emotionlessly. For some reason, he wasn't surprised. Something about the creature named Mila – something in her eyes – told him that no matter how cute she was on the outside, there was something malevolent and wicked lingering behind the shadows of her regal purple eyes. Something told him that she hadn't once regretted sending all those sailors to their doom.

ANYTHING to free her master –

"Yes," Mila replied. "They had weak wills, and thus worthless to the cause of freeing my master. YOU were the only ones that had any chance of rescuing my lord – especially you, blonde one." Her attention went directly to him. "YOU were the one that caught my attention above all others. I knew you had the power to make the Sword of Saving reveal itself. The brunette behind you…" she nodded to Kiba, who blinked in surprise. "…helped to bring out that determination. And thus you see my master before you."

Naruto laughed grimly, shaking his head.

"I knew it," he breathed softly. Raising his head, he looked up at the one above him. "And what of you?" He asked. "What is YOUR name?"

The other merely looked down at him.

"I have no name that will be stated to you."

Naruto growled under his breath.

"Fine then!" He exclaimed. "Something to CALL you by!"

The deity's expression didn't change.

"Shadow," he replied simply. "You may call me Shadow, if you wish. That is good enough, is it not?"

"Shadow…" Naruto murmured in thought. He nodded. "Yes. That's fine."

Mila looked up over her shoulder at her lord.

"Master," she stated, drawing his attention. "Your sister is waiting in the throne room. She is anxious to see you."

Shadow gazed down at her before nodding.

"Yes. I'm sure she is. Very well." The robes gathered themselves up around him, and he glided down the stairs to be even with Naruto and Kiba, who scrambled to stand up. "Let us take leave of this dreadful place – lead on, Mila."

Before she could make a move towards an archway, Naruto spoke.

"Wait."

Both master and servant looked at him, their eyes equally blank and calculating – ever analyzing and judging. Naruto swallowed, fighting down the fear that seemed to swell at the force of their combined gazes.

"Who ARE you, exactly?" The blonde asked. "WHAT are you?"

Shadow merely looked at him for a moment before smirking.

"I am all that thrives in shadow. I am the ruler of the night and the master of the sinister. I see all without being seen, and I take life swiftly and silently like an owl slicing through the still midnight air. So do you see?"

The smirk widened into something diabolical, making chills run down Naruto's spine.

"I AM the Demon of Darkness."

End Chapter Five – Demon of Darkness

Once again, keeping this short.

Hope you liked it.

Review?

Ja ne.

DDB