Good evening everyone. Or rather good morning. Early morning. What the hell are all of you doing up so late? (for those of you in MY time frame)

Yes, yes – I know, I know. "Why haven't you been updating?" "Are you dead?" "When are you going to update?" "PLEASE UPDATE!! WITHOUT YOUR STORIES THERE IS NO REASON FOR LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIFE!!"

Yes. That last one was a true story. Kit-chan, I love you.

But anyway, yes, yes – I know everyone, I know. Allow me to explain.

The Honors curriculum at my school and my bastard of an ex had both sucked all of the energy out of me. That and Yu-Gi-Oh Abrigded got me hooked on good ole Yugi and SEXYASHELL Yami, and it took everything in my power to continue writing Naruto again and NOT start a YGO story.

"You already have like, a bajillion Naruto stories still in the works, dammit! WORK ON THOSE!!"

And thus my muses screamed at me as such, angry and hurt at being neglected for so long. I'm sorry, my babies. –kisses muses-

Well… I have several other reasons for not updating when I SHOULD. –hits self- And the brunt of it has been laid upon my most recent update of Treacherous Heart. I'm so sorry, my darling. –smooches TH- But, let's face it, you're my online ranting place.

Enjoy, everyone!

Creation of Bloodlust

Chapter Six – Mermaid of Might

As Mila led the way, Shadow behind her and Kiba and Naruto trailing, the entity and the creature conversed.

"And what of my elder brother?" Shadow asked Mila as he glided along side her, her small legs strangely keeping up with her master's speed with ease. "What has become of him?"

"Still cocky as always, m'lord," she replied. "Your father speaks of stepping down and allowing your brother to take his position, though it doesn't look like it's going to happen anytime soon."

Shadow smirked knowingly.

"Let me guess – Mother's fighting tooth and nail against it, hm?"

Mila nodded.

"Yes. For a peace-loving entity, she surely knows how to battle."

Shadow laughed.

"I'm not surprised. Peacekeeper or not, she probably hates the idea of ruling alongside my brother."

"Yes," Mila replied. "Do not take her wrongly – she loves your elder brother as much as she loves you and all your siblings, but she does not believe he can rule the way your father does."

"Yes…" Shadow murmured in thought. "My brother has always been a little too…" he searched for the right word. "…radical."

Behind them, Kiba and Naruto could only say one thing to each other.

"We are in such deep SHIT!"

Finally, they arrived at a huge, swirling wall of water inside an archway, blocking their path to the next room. The smell in the air told Naruto it was sea water.

Mila turned to her master.

"My lord," she bowed respectfully to him. "This is where I stop. Please hurry inward. She is expecting you."

Shadow nodded to her.

"Yes, thank you Mila. I will see you again before I depart, yes?"

She nodded.

"Indeed my Lord. Until then." She bowed low again, her nose nearly touching the ground at Shadow's feet. "Farewell."

She turned and left without another word, passing Kiba and Naruto with merely a nod of her rich golden-black head and a menacing sparkle of her brilliant purple eyes.

Naruto mentally shuddered at the glance.

Note to self: NEVER underestimate that creature.

Shadow followed her for a moment with his eyes before turning back to the wall of water.

"Sister!" He cried, his mental voice echoing and causing a sharp pain in Naruto's skull. "I have awakened! Please, I ask audience with you!"

A softer, gentler mind-voice replied, immediately soothing the sudden ache in the blonde's mind.

"Elder brother, you need not ask."

The water-wall fell to the floor with a cascading splash, none of it getting on Shadow, though he was less than a foot away from it.

There was only minimal light in the room bared before them.

"Enter."

Without a moment's hesitation, Shadow stepped through the archway, Kiba and Naruto at his heels.

As they entered, light poured down from above, glowing stones in the ceiling mimicking the sun's rays.

The sound of waves echoed throughout the room, and the entire place was damp. Underneath Shadow's feet was nothing but water, the two humans standing on a block of stone behind him.

Floating stones were set in a path from all directions, all leading to the center of the far wall of the room.

"I am happy to see your safe return, brother."

More lights appeared, and Shadow went forward, unblocking the two men's views and revealing the most unbelievable thing the two have ever seen as they stepped forward, the stones floating in the water underneath their feet immobile as they stepped onto them, inching forward.

In the very center of the far wall, a square of stone had been laid out where all the stone paths met, the inside of that square cut out and then filled with water. At the center of that pool was another square of stone, but with a chair that resembled a throne, embedded with coral and gold and gems.

Sitting in that chair, tail treading water aimlessly, was a mermaid.

But this mermaid was legendary.

Tattooed swirls of red and white adorned her upper body and face. Flaming red hair fell in damp drapes, strings of white pearls woven into the strands. Black pearls were strung around her neck, resting alongside a necklace created only out of jagged shark teeth while pink pearls formed bracelets around her wrists. An emerald green tail took place of legs, and a large majority of the powerful limb rested in the water at the base of the chair, flapping aimlessly in the water with soft, quiet splashes, the veins of the fin colored bright luminescent shades of blue, pink and yellow. A silver ring pierced the left side of her fin, flashing in the dull light. Leaning against the throne back at her side was a golden trident, and – under her palm, swallowed in a little bubble of seawater, protected by nails painted striking, shimmering sea-blue and resting on arm of the throne – was a tiny baby cuttlefish, apparently sleeping in the protection of its master. Brilliantly-colored sea shells covered the mermaid's breasts, and sparkling blue eyes – so immense in their depth and mystery – gazed at them, the color of the sea.

Naruto and Kiba couldn't believe it. They knew this mermaid – prayed to her and worshiped her and trusted her – but they never imaged she looked like this – more brilliant than anything they could've ever imagined.

"Calypso…" they breathed in unison, drawing the mermaid's attention.

She smiled at them.

"Well well well, seems as if your human friends aren't as clueless as we've always thought, nay elder brother?"

Her voice was similar to his – low and breathy and seductive, but at the same time – deadly.

Shadow shook his head.

"Speak of them later. Speak of me now, speak of yourself – of our brothers and sisters and their worlds. What has happened to them?"

Calypso's eyes narrowed, and she absently stroked the sphere of seawater holding the cuttlefish. Sensing the motion, the creature awoke with a flash of movement, and Calypso took her hand from the sphere, watching her pet with an amused eye. The cuttlefish, looking around and seeing Shadow, changed colors and waved its tentacles frantically in delight, swimming over to greet the entity from its bubble of water. Shadow, in response, raised a finger to the cuttlefish, which poked a tentacle out from the bubble's walls and wrapped it around the appendage in greeting, changing colors in a brilliant array of patterns and textures.

Shadow smirked at the creature.

"A thousand years and you still haven't tired of these silly things, neh little sister?"

The cuttlefish withdrew its tentacle into its bubble and waved at Shadow once more before swimming back to its mistress, who gently accepted him back.

"I enjoy their company. So, elder brother…" She pushed back strands of hair behind her ear – the two seamen saw long, pointed ears pierced in multiple places with silver rings and dangling gold and bone earrings – before interlacing her fingers and gazing at Shadow as the cuttlefish floated around aimlessly for a moment before swimming over to Kiba and Naruto to investigate them. "You have finally been released. That means the Sword of Saving has awakened and chosen a master – the blonde behind you, correct?"

Shadow nodded.

"That's right. Why ask these things if you already know them, sister?"

Calypso shook her head.

"Father sent a message to me a few hundred years ago – 'When my second eldest should awaken, send him to me.' He already knows you have been released – you are required to go to him as quickly as possible. He also wants you to bring the ones that released you as well."

Shadow shrugged.

"That's simple enough," he replied. "But don't forget sister, I have just awoken. My powers haven't yet fully returned."

Calypso nodded, a small smile on her face.

"Yes, I am aware of that, elder brother. I have already arranged for transportation to take you to our father's realm – do not fear."

The other shook his head, a small smile on his face.

"I never do, Calypso. So how is your twin? Is she well?"

The deity nodded.

"Yes. There are wars happening on a large section of the earth, and it's wounding Molehju greatly. I managed to convince her to cause a drought that will harm both sides, possibly ending the war. It hurts her to do it, but there is no choice, because a fellow Guardian is suffering."

Shadow nodded knowingly.

"Yes."

"Madame Calypso?"

Both Shadow and his sister shifted their gazes to look at Naruto, who was gazing at the mermaid. The deity's voice was even.

"Yes, human?"

"May I ask you something?"

Calypso smiled.

"You already have, but feel free to ask again."

"You caused that maelstrom, didn't you?" The blonde asked. "The legendary one that has killed countless men – that killed my men, people who were dear to me – you created it?"

Calypso's expression didn't change.

"I did," she replied. "You are a captain of the seas, human – a so-called 'expert' of MY realm, revered by all who sail underneath you. You of ALL people know the dangers of the seas, the risks sailors take. Besides…" her gaze went to Shadow. "A few thousand human deaths is a small price to pay to the release of my elder brother. The world would've experienced countless more deaths if he wasn't freed soon. Aside from that, his family needed him – I needed him – and I will do anything for my elder brother." Her eyes flashed dangerously when her gaze went back to Naruto. "Anything."

Shadow nodded in gratitude.

"Thank you so much for your dedication, little sister," he replied. "But we must make haste – Father isn't one who likes to be kept waiting."

Calypso nodded.

"It is true. Very well. My servants will escort you to the surface, and Mila will take you to the vessel in which you will go to Father's realm. Safe tidings, elder brother, it brings me great joy to be the first of the family to see your safe return. May the waves be kind to you, and the winds strong."

That's the Sailor's Prayer! Kiba and Naruto thought in unison.

Shadow nodded to her.

"And may the shadows bite back their hold upon you," he replied warmly in response. "Farewell, sister."

She nodded to him.

"Farewell, brother."

She watched him turn his back and depart with the two humans with darkened eyes.

May our father be kind to you, brother. She thought. I wouldn't be able to stand it if I lost you again.

Her eyes narrowed.

No one could.

And thus the mermaid of might sat on her throne, heart heavy with worry and her cuttlefish fast asleep in her lap.

End Chapter Six – Mermaid of Might

Fucking love this story. Fucking love the crap out of this story like – RETARDEDLY love it. Wrote like, three chapters in four days. SO excited for it.

Inspiration from Calypso came from a brief glimpse of a mermaid I saw on DA. Not really like Calypso in my story (I only saw the back of the mermaid) but I got the idea of "RED. TONS AND TONS OF RED."from that artwork.

Well, school's out now and my inspiration's back in full swing, so expect (hopefully) some more frequent updates from my side!

But only if I get some frequent reviews from your side, yeah? Thankies!

And we went to VEGAS this weekend! 8D Oh, so hot… literally. It was like, 115 effing degrees out there during the day – OHMYGAWD.

And I got a new bird! :D :D His/Her name's Aki! Aki-chan! –heartheartheart- I ish in luff with him. XD

(/) her. XD XD XD

Review, yeah? Thank you for all of your support! You all are amazing! –heart-

Ja ne! It's so GOOD to be back!

DDB