The Scarlet Arrow
Chapter 6
The Village Hidden by the Hail
Tayuya felt ill at ease but was happy at the moment. She was currently walking next to Kai. Since the fight the two just walked side by side talking about all the little nothings. Mostly they discussed previous missions and techniques. Tayuya even ended up playing a harmless little tune for Kai. It had to have been at least half a day since the fight and they were making quite slow progress towards their goal but neither one seemed to mind. The village could wait now that there were no pressing concerns and there was no way she wanted to try to start running yet. Her legs were still a little wobbly and ached already. Kai had offered to carry her several times already but Tayuya wanted to strengthen her legs a little and she didn't want to feel weak in front of Kai. Tayuya giggled a little audibly at the thought. Kai wouldn't see her as weak she was sure.
"What's that giggle for?" Kai asked throwing a questioningly look at her. Tayuya pretended not to notice him and observed her surroundings a little. Snow was lightly falling as it had been all day. A real slow calming snow. The landscape was flat and white for miles in all directions. There were no birds or anything. It really was a peaceful if cruel place. Tayuya could somewhat see why he would choose here to hide from Orochimaru. After all, it had worked out for him until she came along. Still, everything was alright now and she had met someone amazing. Her heart thumped quickly in her chest as she remembered the ten delicious kisses they had shared that day. In her eyes there was nothing quite like it and she couldn't wait until the next one.
"Carry me," Tayuya demanded holding her arms up. Kai swooped her from her feet bridal style in a way that made her heart flutter. As soon as she was held tightly in his arms she once again nuzzled her face into Kai's neck this time planting white hot kisses randomly on his neck sending warm fuzzy sensations racing up and down his spine. The cold had been forgotten to the pair and they both eagerly enjoyed each others company and touch. Finally Tayuya wanted her next kiss and pulled her face from Kai's neck and looked up into her face. Of course Kai looked down right at her. Tayuya just let her lip quiver a little and the next thing she knew Kai was planting a sweet little kiss on her lips. The kiss was long and innocent.
Kai didn't know what this feeling was himself. He couldn't get Tayuya out of his mind. Her lips were so soft. They had their own taste that he found himself instantly addicted to unlike anything else he had ever had before. Kai wanted to just lay there with her and never stop kissing. At the same time Kai relished the fact that every kiss felt like it was centuries of pleasure and when they broke their kisses off they were still wanting more. Tayuya slowly broke the current kiss and Kai snapped back to reality simply smiling and looking down into her face. Kai examined his surroundings briefly and something felt off. He thought for just a second her saw something flicker in the distance. Goosebumps spread across his skin as he scanned intently on the horizon.
Kai looked to Buster. The dog seemed to be just hopping along next to him quietly enjoying walking the slow easy pace. Buster too seemed lulled by the terrain. Kai blinked and the instant his eyelids closed Kai thought he saw the shimmer again and his eyes shot back open but the light was gone. Or had it ever even been there? Kai was getting really nervous and began scanning his whole horizons. Tayuya seemed to pick up on Kai's sudden animosity.
"What's wrong Kai?" Tayuya asked looking into searching his phase for any information that could lead her to an answer. Kai simply shook his head but his eyes darted back and forth. Tayuya's ill feeling wrenched her gut again and now Tayuya began to grow nervous and her eyes darted across the barren tundra scanning for anything that could possibly be a threat. Nothing could immediately be registered but the foreboding feeling in Tayuya's gut wrenched harder. Suddenly Kai stopped and set Tayuya down on her feet. Tayuya stared up into Kai's eyes. Kai did not meet her gaze and stared off into the distance for a second.
"There is something I gotta do Tayuya," Kai said kneeling down and whispering something in the bull dogs ear. The bull dog glanced around briefly before looking at Tayuya and then at Kai. The dog seemed to agree to whatever was being said.
"Hey shithead," Tayuya said grabbing Kai's shoulder, "What's the matter?"
Kai gave her a real big smile, "Nothing is wrong. Buster is going to go ahead and take you along to the village. I have something I have to do real quick and I will catch up with you guys in a little bit okay?" Kai gave Tayuya an extra long kiss, that tasted rather strange, which only twisted the dagger of fear that was stuck in her gut up to the hilt. She knew something bad was going to happen and that somehow she had to let Kai do what he needed to do and pray to Kami she got to see him again. If he didn't catch up she would find him and drag him back.
Tayuya looked to Buster who had pulled a scroll out of his pouch and laid it in the snow. Buster also started growing in size until he was as big as a tiger. "Hope on little one." Buster laid down for a second and Tayuya climbed on his back and off they went. The bull dog walked slowly at first before slowly increasing pace. The bull dog let out a roar. Suddenly there were multiple clones of the bull dog and Tayuya and they all split in different directions. Tayuya got really nervous but suddenly felt a little woozy. Something was lulling her to sleep. Tayuya remembered the kiss she had with Kai just a few minutes earlier and cursed. The bitter taste must have been some sort of a sedative.
1 Day Later:
Tayuya felt something wet sliding across her face and slowly awoke to the dog licking her face again. As soon as her mind registered and remembered her last few thoughts before drifting to sleep she grew angry.
"What the hell was that for stupid mutt?" Tayuya demanded angrily.
"Kai knew you couldn't leave if you knew the truth so he decided secrecy was the best option. Believe me this is the only way and I completely trust Kai. Now snap out of it. Were are just outside of the village. Kai has a friend here he wants us to meet up with," Buster said explaining. As Tayuya sat up and looked around she realized they were like fifteen minutes away from some village that seemed to have sprung up straight from the ice.
"What truth?" Tayuya asked her voice almost a whisper dreading to know the real answer to her question.
"I will catch you up when I find Itsuki," Buster explained before walking towards the village. Tayuya shouted a sting of obscenities following her only source of information to what Kai was up to into the village. The village was marvelous. On the outside the short walls were made from solid ice it seemed yet shinobi walked the walls just find. Tayuya marveled at the intricate designs carved into it's surface and awed by the sheer size of the many walls of ice. It almost didn't seem possible. The village was not very large. I mean after all who would want to live in such a place. Two shinobi came running from the gate to intercept Tayuya and Buster. As they got closer it seemed they recognized the pit bull and slowed their pace.
"Welcome back to Araregakure no Sato (Village Hidden by the Hail)!" The shinobi seemed quite friendly, "Is Kai not with you?" They seemed concerned and shared a glance between the two glancing at Tayuya occasionally. "We didn't know he was seeing someone so beautiful. Well you are both most welcome in our small humble village." They both bowed and returned to their positions at the gate. Tayuya through a questioning look at Buster.
"Kai does a lot of work for the village and they has provided himself and the village with quite a hefty sum of money. He is friends with the Shimokage (Frost Shadow) as well," Buster said moving towards the village at an easy pace. After all there was no sense in hurrying along at this point. It was just another round of hurry up and wait with Kai. As the two entered the village Tayuya was amazed. Every house seemed to be well kept and rather large. Every one seemed to be wealthy and Tayuya could spot no poor in the streets as they made their way down what she believed to be the main road. Small shops were here and there and a couple of places to eat. Tayuya's stomach grumbled.
"How long was I asleep asshole?" Tayuya looked around the village. People seemed to give her a nasty look until they saw Buster and then would smile and wave to them both. The smiles were genuine like she wasn't a stranger when she was identified by her company.
"About a day," Buster replied which was received by one hell of a death glare, "Just long enough to get you here quietly."
"You better hurry up and get us to this friend of Kai's before I kick you in the face dumb mutt." Tayuya was seething in anger. Buster did not respond and simply kept walking. Soon enough they turned down a luxurious side street lined with street lights made of some strange black ice that shadows seemed to surge through. The street has several statues of shinobi all made from the same black ice. The shadows seemed to take form a face on the expressionless statue and almost add a personality to it. Tayuya shuddered as she walked down the street. Ice seemed to have taken a life of its own. Tayuya saw a piece of ice moving out of the corner of her eye. Tayuya gasped at what she saw. It was her own shadow but it was ice instead of a regular shadow. Tayuya looked around and realized that all the shadows were ice and the ice looked more like a shadow.
Soon they found themselves at this huge mansion that seemed to be made of a shadow frosted over. Shadows coursed inside of the walls almost seeming to watch her. As they walked up to the door it opened by itself and Buster simply walked up to the door as if it were the most normal thing in the world. Tayuya clutched her flute and stopped at the doorway unsure whether she wanted to enter or not. Buster realized this and looked back at her.
"You want to know what's going on right?" Buster asked looking at her. The doorway was just a massive coursing shadow hands reached out and scratched behind Buster's ear and the bull dog walked right inside disappearing into the shadow. Tayuya clutched her flute tightly and stepped into the shadow. She stepped into a different world on the other side. She gasped at what she saw. It was a completely open space extending for miles. She could see no end. Black snow fell from the sky but it felt nice and warm on her skin. A man made of the strange black ice walked up to her.
"The master is expecting you. Right this way please." the shadow said walking on in the endless snowing landscape. Tayuya saw movement again from the corner of her eye. She saw her shadow but it was actually in physical form standing beside her.
"Come on sweetheart, let's go see what happened to our lovely Kai-kun," Tayuya's shadow said. Tayuya herself was frozen in place. She had never experienced anything quite like this. "Sweetheart you need to relax her shadow said stepping behind her and massaging her shoulders with impossibly warm hands. The shadow knew just the spots to hit and suddenly Tayuya felt at ease. Buster and his shadow began walking after the greeter. Tayuya decided to follow. Kai would never put her in danger especially after everything he did to help her. After a few steps Tayuya's right leg gave out but her shadow was holding her up before she could even begin to follow. The shadow helped Tayuya walk forward. They seemed to be traveling at an impossibly fast pace or maybe the terrain around them was what was moving. It was impossible to tell.
Suddenly a desk of ice appeared as well as the greeter. Behind the desk a man sat busy with some paperwork. The man stood and walked over to Buster scratching behind his ear. Both the shadow Buster and the bull dog himself shuddered in what seemed like pure joy like they were both feeling the pleasure of the scratching.
"Welcome to my palace Tayuya and Buster," The man said. The greeter held out drinks with coursing black fluid inside. "Care for something to drink?" Tayuya was about to shake her head know when she felt herself reach out and take the cup. The coursing black shadow transformed into her favorite beverage. Whiskey on the rocks. Tayuya was shocked but held it to her lips and took a sip. The liquor went down perfectly. It was the greatest thing she had ever tasted. Tayuya felt extremely at ease now.
"I am Itsuki and I am the Shimokage," The man said identifying himself, "I control this world and the shadows speak highly of your feelings for my friend. I thank you on his behalf. You have given him something he could never fathom before."
"Kai is delaying a containment squad," Buster said suddenly getting right down to business. Itsuki hook his head.
"No, his shadow spoke with me. He got in trouble but escaped and his on his way. It is way worse than he thought I fear. It's not a containment squad... It's a death squad," Itsuki seemed distraught. "I don't have the man power to stop them. Tayuya was frightened again. Orochimaru's death squads were infamous. They were composed of high strength individuals whose sole purpose was eliminating threats to Orochimaru. They killed all his rogue experiments and agents. After all Orochimaru couldn't have people knowing all his secrets. They would be the end of him.
"He is okay?" Tayuya's shadow blurted for Tayuya.
"He is on his way here but I am afraid he has a rather serious complication. You are tired, get some rest. I will have you woken when Kai arrives. Buster we need to plan a defense," Isuki said. Before Tayuya could object the terrain began moving again and suddenly she was in a room. The room was also in the wide open space. Calming flute tunes filled the great expanse. They were tunes her mother would play to comfort her. A bed of shadows beckoned her to lay in it. Tayuya tried to resist but her shadow lifted her from her feet and laid her in the bed. The bed was made of ice but was soft and warm to the touch. Tayuya quickly blacked out in the amazing comfort the tunes lulling her into a deep sleep. Worry eased from her mind trying to force Kai from her mind it seemed but it failed at this task and though Tayuya slept soundly her face was creased with worry for her new and only friend.
1 Day Later
Tayuya awoke suddenly her shadow nudging her shoulder. Tayuya no longer felt hungry.
"I ate for us," the shadow replied knowing her thoughts as they were her own because in fact they were. Another thought instantly crossed Tayuya's mind. "Yes he is just about to arrive here. Look Tayuya, I have spent a long time watching from the shadows and our life is one of pain and loneliness. Like you I don't know if I can fully trust Kai-kun but you need to open up to him. I don't think he will open to us if we don't open up to him. Only then can we know him and him know us." Her shadow didn't speak complete sense but Tayuya knew the meaning because it was something that crossed her mind previously and that is why her shadow knew it. Tayuya rose from the bed and suddenly the terrain was moving again and she found herself standing at the shadow door again. Tayuya quickly stepped through and found herself on the street again her shadow vanished. The statues and lamps were all gone and the street was dark. Night had fallen over the village.
Tayuya walked down the street until she hit the main road and there a frost shadow statue stood in the middle of the road. It suddenly moved towards Tayuya.
"Come with me Tayuya-san," the statue beckoned. No it did not speak verbally. It seemed to send the thoughts straight into her mind. Tayuya had felt enough strange occurrences already that it did not seem to shock her and she followed the statue back down the road she had traveled in on. The streets were empty. Tayuya soon found herself at the gate she had walked in and there stood Itsuki and Buster both staring off into the space. All the frost shadow statues were there standing like statues wielding the poles for staffs. They seemed to all be standing in natural places on the sides of the road leading into the village the statue she traveled with stood in the empty place adding a perfect symmetry to the shadows standing on each side of the road. Itsuki pointed off into the distance and she saw a figure running towards her.
"I still think we will need your shinobi," Buster suddenly said to Itsuki.
"I will not send them to meaningless deaths. I have far too few. We will have to make due and hold them off. Trust me, my friend will arrive in time to help us, we just have to hold out." Itsuki responded. It was now that she truly notice the man. He stood wearing long black robes also made of shadows it seemed. In his hand a black ice sword was held resembling a scimitar. Long blue hair hung low on his back seeming to reach past his butt. The hair looked like ice as it hung loosely around his head. His face was hidden behind what seemed like a mask made of shadows but the shadows formed an expression of determination.
"I hope you are right." Buster replied staring at the approaching figure. Tayuya adjusted her sights to the incoming figure. Tayuya recognized it first by the bow it carried. It was Kai. He was running but seemed injured by the strange strides he took. Tayuya grew worried but Kai was fast approaching and it wouldn't be long before she could hold him in her arms. As he came closer Tayuya made out the familiar designs of a tattoo stretching across half his face and down his arms. His clothes were tattered as if he had just gotten out of a fierce struggle. The tattoo resembled the barbed wire that was his unique curse mark. Tayuya was scared, she knew the curse marks power and how Orochimaru controlled it. As soon as Kai came within earshot he began shouting towards the group.
"They are only a few minutes behind me. I was able to kill two but there were more than I thought. It is an entire death squad. There are still eighteen left," Kai replied. Soon he was standing by them as well facing them. He fell to his knees. "I will help if I can but I can feel Orochimaru's influence trying to control me." Tayuya fell to her knees next to Kai.
"Kai-kun," She whispered bringing him into an embrace. She felt her skin get punctured in a several places as she attempted to hug Kai and he pushed her away.
"I am sorry," Kai doubled over in intense pain for a couple of seconds clutching his hip where the curse mark originated before standing back on his knees. "My curse mark is also a protective mark. The barbed wire is very real and harms any who touch it." Tayuya was bleeding a little where she was pricked by the mark. The curse mark expanded another inch causing Kai to collapse in pain again. Tayuya's heart ached knowing the pain especially if Orochimaru was manipulating it himself. Suddenly more figures appeared on the horizon.
"So it begins," Itsuki said forming several hand seals. Soon clouds loomed over the approaching figures and black balls of hail fell from the sky on them slowing the figures. The real impact of what was happening Tayuya could not see but the hail was very large and pelted mercilessly on the approaching figures. More figures appeared approaching from all different directions converging on the gate. Itsuki formed the same hand seals and the storm expanded encompassing all the figures pelting them all. Tayuya clutched her flute and stood up and began playing her war tune.
A/N: This chapter was going to be longer but I broke it into two different chapters and am still working on finishing the chapter. I don't know if this village actually exists but I kind of let my ideas take a mind of their own on this one. I hope you enjoyed. : )