Konnichi wa!

KYAH! –dodges sharp objects- OKAY! OKAY! I KNOW I KNOW!

-sigh- Yeah – I know I haven't updated in forever – what can I say? My muses didn't want to poke my forehead and I was too lazy to update. -.-

I'm sorry. :(

But, to make it up, I've updated nearly all of my stories. I won't be updating as often as I did – school's almost over and it's being a bitch with all the projects and the papers and – UGH!

So… yeah. I'm not dead. Yet. My fate is in your dear hands, my lovely reviewers.

Oh crap. I'm gonna die. –starts writing will-

But, here's the next chapter. You had no idea how hard I had to squeeze my brain in order to get so many updates out. Yeah – sorry! –bows-

I hope you like it!

Wingless Flight

Chapter Twelve – Frightening Demonstration

Suzaku and Neji raced through the trees, the phoenix on the lookout for any celestial warrior.

His senses were alerted, and he immediately switched directions.

"This way!" He exclaimed, disappearing into the leaves. Neji cursed under his breath and followed.

They emerged on a flat training ground to see Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru, and Kiba, and Ino in the clearing.

Suzaku excitedly glanced between the five.

"Excellent!" He chirped as Neji appeared by his side and the others looked his way. "At least one warrior from all three bodies is here! And oh! There are two of mine!"

"Good afternoon Sasuke, Neji-kun," Sakura greeted them.

Suzaku blinked.

"Sasuke?" He repeated softly. Then at Neji's glare, his eyes widened in realization and he inclined his head, raising a hand to hide his embarrassed smile. "Right." He raised his head and refused to meet Neji's eyes. "I knew that."

"What's up, Uchiha?" Kiba asked. Suzaku surveyed him for a moment, arm crossed over his chest and the other hand thoughtfully to his chin as he studied the dog master. He nodded, and motioned to Kiba.

"He's one of them," he told Neji, who hadn't moved from his side. He glanced at Suzaku, whose eyes were still on Kiba. Kiba raised an eyebrow.

"Huh?" He asked. "Waddya mean, 'one of them'?"

Suzaku and Neji exchanged glances. The phoenix then looked to Naruto.

"Uzumaki," he purred, hand to his cheek. Naruto blinked at him.

"Huh?" He asked this time. "Why are you calling me that, Sasuke?"

"None of your concern," Suzaku replied smoothly, surveying the blonde with sinister, narrowed eyes from behind black lashes. "Now, Uzumaki…" he took his hand from his face and lowered it Naruto's way. "I need you to do something for me."

"Like what?" Naruto was getting suspicious now – they all were. Neji prayed Suzaku knew what he was doing.

"Can the Kyuubi come out and play?" Suzaku asked sweetly.

Everyone's eyes widened. Naruto merely looked at Suzaku for a moment, who had curled that same hand to his face again, gazing at him through amused, half-closed and lazy eyes. A small smirk was on his lips, unseen by his hand.

"Why?" Naruto managed to ask, his voice shaking. "Why do you want to see her?"

Suzaku took his arms from his chest and rolled his shoulders in a luxurious shrug, giving Naruto a playful smile and wink.

"She'll find out if you'll allow me to speak with her, and if she deems you worthy, she'll tell you," he replied. "Relax, alright, Uzumaki? She and I are good friends – we go way back."

Neji's eyes widened.

Oh my God you CAN'T be serious –

"I knew it."

Shikamaru had fallen into a crouch, hands at his kunai pouch. Suzaku looked at him – lazily and intently all at once.

"You AREN'T Sasuke Uchiha, are you?" Shikamaru continued. "Those eyes – they're not the Sharingan, even though that body is a damn good replica of the Uchiha's. Only really powerful ninja could create such a good clone. Who are you?"

Suzaku was quiet for a moment, but then a small smirk formed on his lips. He raised one hand to his face, holding his cheek as the other hand slid into the crease of his bent elbow. He closed his eyes, still with that half-smirk.

"Impressive – very good insight. However, this isn't a clone." He opened his eyes and surveyed Shikamaru. "Very good, however – it takes someone very observant to be so confident in that very skill. You're the shirker, right? The lazy one with the high I.Q.? Heh – of course." His smirk widened, and his eyes narrowed as something flashed across their blood red orbs. "You ARE Genbu's Child."

Two explosions of smoke erupted on either side of Suzaku and Neji, and the Hyuuga shielded his eyes, pressing closer to the phoenix.

The smoke cleared in whirlwinds to reveal Byakkou in his human form – with the all white apparel that seemed to move like the wind, white hair, and deeply slanted eyes that were as white as his hair – and another that Neji hadn't seen before. This man had dark brown hair that was the same length as Byakkou's, and Neji would realize later that he had deep, round brown eyes. He was clothed in a simple kimono of earthen tones with a turtle shell design on the back, and that led Neji to believe this was Genbu's human form.

Suzaku surveyed the five with a confident air, not moving an inch from where he had been as the other two straightened, pressing closer to him and slipping their hands into their long, open kimono sleeves. Genbu – being gracious – didn't try to push Neji away from Suzaku's side.

"My name is Suzaku," the phoenix stated proudly, red eyes flashing in excitement. "I am one of the four celestial bodies that rule this earth. The two by my side are Byakkou," he raised his hand and motioned to the one on his left, who curtly nodded, his long white bangs waving slightly, "the body of wind. And this is Genbu," he nodded to the man on his right, "the body of earth. Normally, we wouldn't have made ourselves known in such a straight forward sense, but please try to understand that we had no choice."

"And why is that?" Naruto asked. Suzaku shot him a look that made him shudder.

Learn your place, BOY. The look seemed to say.

"I'm getting to that, thank ye," Suzaku snapped curtly. Allowing the glare to leave his eyes, he continued speaking. "You may find this a bit hard to swallow, but every two thousand years, there is a war between the four celestial bodies to check if our powers are even with one another's. This war features celestial warriors – what we bodies call our 'sons and daughters'. They fight the war for our sakes."

"And?" Kiba asked. Suzaku glared at him.

"If you stop interrupting you'll find out!" He snapped. "Anyway, during this time, a huge war between all thirty-two celestial warriors erupts, killing any innocent bystander caught in the crossfire. Ever since we have been alive, this war has killed thousands of innocent people. We have decided to do anything possible to stop the next oncoming war, which can happen any day now."

As Suzaku took in a breath to begin speaking again, his eyes grew dark and sharp.

"However, there is one organization that threatens our plans of peace. They are known as the Akiada, and they're moving towards this village as we speak."

"Wait – why are they coming here?" Ino exclaimed. "Why target Konoha?"

"Because most of the celestial warriors are centered in this village," Suzaku replied crisply. "They're seeking – by attacking the village – to destroy as many celestial warriors as possible. They seek to overtake us celestial bodies."

"They sound like a solid threat," Shikamaru commented. Byakkou nodded.

"That's because they are," he answered, crossing his elegant arms. "They've managed to steal little inklings of our power and magnify it to extravagant proportions. They know nothing but bloodlust and they have the power to get what they want. To ninja they would prove a significant threat, but to us celestial bodies…"

"They're dead meat, right?" Kiba asked. Neji was beginning to think the initial shock was over. Genbu nodded this time.

"That's right," he replied, voice deep. "However, we celestial bodies are not allowed to directly attack and kill the Akiada – as was the decree by the Emperor of the Heavens."

"So what do we do?" Sakura asked.

Suzaku grinned toothily.

"That's why you're lucky I'm in one of my celestial warriors' bodies. In this body, I'm excluded from the Emperor's decree – I can destroy as many Akiada as I see fit."

"When will they come?" Shikmaru asked. Suzaku shrugged, glancing off into the direction of the forests.

"No idea – all I know is that they'll be here by this time three days from now."

"Then we should have sensed them by now!" Sakura exclaimed. Byakkou shook his head daintily.

"No – not necessarily. All of them are very good at masking their presence. I'm sure you can't sense them because they don't want you to."

"But YOU can sense them, right?" Kiba asked Genbu. He nodded.

"That's correct."

"Che – I don't believe any of this!" Everyone looked to Naruto, whose eyes were narrowed. "You can't honestly expect for me to believe that a monstrously powerful organization is headed this way! The Akatsuki was more than enough!"

"Leave it to the yellow-headed blonde to not believe the truth," Suzaku commented. Naruto glared at him.

"WHAT WAS THAT –?"

"So you need a demonstration, I presume?" Suzaku interrupted calmly, hands on his hips. He rolled his eyes.

"Tsk – fine! If it makes you shut up!" He glanced at the two at his side. "You two know what to do."

The other two exchanged glances and nodded, looking back to Suzaku.

"I don't see why we need to," Byakkou pouted. Suzaku gazed at him evenly.

"It's the fastest way to convince them – hurry love. Genbu is already getting prepared."

After giving Suzaku a troubled look, Byakkou turned away from him and raised his hands upwards towards the heavens.

"Very well then," Suzaku breathed, turning his head towards the heavens as well. Grinning he thrust up a fist to the sky. "Let the frightening demonstration begin!"

End Chapter Twelve – Frightening Demonstration

Ow. My brain hurts. –rubs brain-

And for those of you who live in the United States – have you seen the third Pirates of the Carribean movie?

Hot DAMN that movie rocks! I LUV JOHNNY DEPP! –heart- He plays Captain Jack Sparrow so WELL:D

But yeah – I'm really sorry for not updating in forever! Hopefully this many updates will make up for it, yeah:D

And I have a new story out! I'm killing myself slowly but surely! XD

It's called, Creation of Bloodlust – please go read!

And I have an account at I would really appreciate if you guys read the two stories I've posted! They're the starting chapters of two books that I've written! My Penname is Raining-Flames-and-Roses and the stories are called Dungeon Master's Beast and From Here to Hell, I Stand Tall

You can find the links on my profile, if I'm not mistaken.

Review?

Ja ne!

DDB