Sasuke ran. Sandals slapping against the ground in a way that showed an attempt to minimized sound.
He could feel his heart pounding. While above, the moon shone crimson upon the Uchiha district.
He couldn't find anyone.
The entire locale was... empty of life.
In the silence of the night, he could only hear his harsh breathing.
Where was everyone?
In the distance, he could hear a drop of... liquid hitting the ground, like that of a pin falling and striking the ground like that the crack of thunder that accompanied lightning.
Fear.
Worry.
Horror. Uncoiling in his guts made him run in the direction of the sound of liquid dropping into a small puddle.
Left.
Right.
Right.
Left.
He kept running and running under an unchanging moon that shone balefully upon him.
Before... finding himself running in a wooden corridor. The shine of the polished wooden floor spoke of great care taken to maintain it.
The polished ivory white walls was soothingly uniform. Oil lamps in little alcoves cast islands of flickering orange light in the hallway.
An eternity later, Sasuke stood before an ornate doorway that swung inwards silently at a touch.
Entering the study, Sasuke's eyes widened at the sweet scents that swirled around him. The sources were easy enough for him to find, he wasn't a student in a ninja academy for nothing, incense burners.
There was also the fact that the sweet medley scent of foxgloves, lavender, cloves and sandalwood was how 'kaasan smelled when she returned from her missions.
The quiet ticking of a clock in the background soothed his nerves as he wandered amongst shelves of books, while oil lamps shed tiny islands of light in the study.
"Hello there," the soft lilting voice of the lady that waited at the center of the tiny maze of bookshelves drew Sasuke further into the clearing, where sat a lady upon a rug reading from a small scroll that she placed down on the table by her side.
Clad in a kimono of darkest crimson (of blood, his mind whispered), upon which blossoms of orange (of fire, his mind whispered once more), the lady surely had to be a noble. Still, a fox mask rested on her face (just like the one 'kaasan wore when she worked), she was from ANBU.
"Hello, I didn't mean to intrude," Sasuke coughed and bowed, half forgotten memories of the manners taught to him rising up.
"I don't mind the distraction, please... do come in and sit, it is rare for me to have visitors here in my den," She waved a hand delicately, the familiarity of the gesture was enough to draw him into sit on the other side of the table.
"You must be Sasuke," the manner she spoke made it more a statement than a question. Her manner of speaking befitted the achingly lush beauty that he could see concealed by her kimono, much like that of a sword in its sheath. "I've heard much about you."
"Yes... how?" Sasuke blinked. He hadn't known that he was that famous. But then... he was the Last Uchiha, was he not?
Crimson eyes peered out from behind the fox mask. "You must be wandering what is going on, don't you?"
"Yes... I was dreaming... but," the young shinobi frowned at her. "Where am I and who are you?"
"You may call me Daji. As for where you are, this..." the lady gestured around at the study, her hair rustled behind her, an ebon river that shimmered crimson in the lamp light. "This... is but my humble den, my home."
"How did I get here," Sasuke frowned as he looked about the study, before focussing on the lady seated before him.
"You came here on your own... wandering the myriad paths of dreams. It was inevitable that you would find the center of the web of dreams. Of the nine, you are perhaps the only one who could have found me," she smiled at his nod. "I can give you what you want, you know."
Sasuke froze, paused before snorting. "Oh? And you do this out of generosity?"
"Oh... it wouldn't be free. Nothing ever is. But I speak of your true dream, your deepest desire," She paused to take up a copper pipe to inhale deeply from it, a flickering fox fire burning on its end.
"You. You could..."
Exhaling a puff of smoke to the side, she shook her head but continued. "Oh, I don't speak of your vengeance. what I speak of would be something else. You know what I speak of."
"So... you... you could."
"Yes, I could," her voice implied a warm smile behind the expressionless mask. "I wouldn't be able to do it in the waking world, but here. I could and can give you what you desire. Truly."
"Why?" Sasuke's reply was less a question, and more a demand to know.
"Because," Daji tilted her face, before continuing after a moment. "I see the potential in you and your need is... strong."
"I see. And... what would you have of me for this?" He looked down as if admitting defeat or perhaps thinking.
"A favor for a favor. You shall know in due time what I desire. And it will be one you shall be glad to pay for this favor."
"Will... will she know of... of..." Sasuke dry-swallowed before looking up as the lamp-lights faded one by one.
Looked up to see the stylized fox mask pushed up to reveal the face of...
"... 'kaasan."
"Always..."
The last lamp flicked before going out, leaving the young Uchiha in darkness, surrounded by the soft sweet scent of foxgloves as cloth rustled before gentle arms cradled him from behind.
"Shhh.... Sasuke, you're home now."
Author's notes -
Hmm... I don't know where this came from... but it just seems to work for Sasuke in dream land ala Nightmare on Elm Street.