I've been gone for ages, what can I say. Moving is finally done but I've got a huge amount of homework building up as I write so I'll try to make this quick – the fan-fic is not yet dead. I'll respond to reviews at a later date but for now this is gonna be short and sweet:
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing from the manga series 'Naruto'. I do not own any characters from the series 'Naruto' they were created by Misashi Kishimoto. I do not own any instruments or songs mentioned in this story. I DO, however, own any original characters, the story of this fan-fiction and the world I have set it in.
List of characters (I may have changed them slightly from the original creations but it's to go with the story.):
Sasuke: An Uchiha and long since lost from his family and all relations. He claims to play bass guitar and has enough sense to avoid trouble that would get someone around him killed. He tries to be thorough and hates constant nuisances. He is best friends with Naruto and they both got into trouble with a couple of different Mafia heads and are making their way north with the help of Jim Savage.
Naruto: The loud Uzumaki, often making mistakes and getting into trouble because of back talk and his loud attitude. He likes to fight for his friends and fights until the bitter end. He is best friends with Sasuke and they both got into trouble with two different Mafia leaders and they are now on the run up north with the help of Jim Savage.
Hinata: For reasons unknown she appears to have run away from the Hyūga family and met Naruto and Sasuke on a plane. After she tagged along with Naruto and Sasuke to Tsunade's, she was originally intended to be a bargaining chip but instead worked as a waitress for Tsunade. She has a slight stutter and easily gets embarrassed easily.
Sakura: She works under Tsunade and is ridiculously strong. Having lost her parents at a young age she has been haunted by memories in the past. Being taken under Tsunade's wing and with nothing much to do she was taught how to fight. She is currently travelling with Sasuke, Naruto, Hinata and Jim Savage under Tsunade's order.
Jim Savage: 'The Driver' is a servant, butler and a Jack-of-all-trades. He collected Naruto, Sasuke and Hinata from the airport and showed them where their first jobs would be. He is currently taking the four to a new location.
Band on the run: Chapter 7: Hard Work is Good Work: The Rooms
Sasuke kept looking out of the window as they drove along. It had been a few hours since they left the hell that was Tsunade's business but the three in the back had already fallen asleep. Sasuke saw the clouds in the grey sky - seemingly plains of grey that stretched as far as the eye can see – and the grim look of the green fields that covered the land beneath it.
"I'd keep my head away from the window if I were you." Sasuke looked at Savage.
"Why?" He asked. Savage smirked.
"Well as far as I know, this may just be an urban legend, but they say that up here and further north about this time of day" He said checking his watch which showed 10:07. "that everything in contact with glass and metal freezes to it for about an hour."
"So, your not from around here?" Sasuke inquired looking at Savage who let out a bellowing laughter.
"With this tan? Nah mate I'm from Eastern 3 – good place – sunny beaches, the wide open sea, a party every night of summer. Ah, takes me back." Savage grinned as he kept his eyes on the road. Sasuke decided to look back at the trio. Hinata was resting her head on Sakura's shoulder, Sakura's head was resting on Hinata's head and Naruto was resting his head against the window, drooling in his sleep and muttering about ramen. Sasuke turned back towards Savage.
"Should we tell him?" Savage looked in the rear-view mirror for a few seconds before smirking.
"And miss the chance to test the theory? Let's just keep this between you and me." Sasuke smirked and looked out the front window.
"So where are we headed?" He asked.
"We're going to lie low for a while, if anyone catches your scent a second time in this place then it's going to be an all out underground war. We lie low, get a couple of random people to look like you guys around the world, before they do anything they'll be on the wrong side of the world. You may not know this but it takes at least a month for the fastest delivery service to get anything anywhere that's not within the surrounding lands. Makes you realise how large the world is." Sasuke didn't look amused.
"So where are we headed right now?" Savage let out a small chuckled
"Boy you barely miss anything. We're going to a small village just before the wastes – Tsunade's orders – apparently there's some chef who owes her quite a few favours so she doesn't mind spending one on you guys." Sasuke relaxed a little, at least it's be quiet. "'Sides the guy will keep you in shape and teach you how to play properly – that playing last night was horrendous." Savage let out a haughty laugh. "I met the guy once, he'll teach you how to do justice to a song no doubt about that." Sasuke just scoffed and continued looking out the window as they drove along.
"Get this thing off me!" Naruto shouted while trying to push the glass from his face.
"Shut up Naruto!" Sasuke commanded sighing. He turned to one of the lone workers at the gas station. "Can we get him off the glass or do people have to see his mug from a million miles away?"
The attendant held his chin as he thought for a moment. He was an old man with a worn out dark green cap and a dark green gym suit and trainers. He suddenly spoke in a raspy voice. "There are a couple of ways: one: we could cut the glass from the window and start chiselling at his face."
"We need the window, keeps the breeze out." Sasuke said.
"Two: we could burn it off with a flame-thrower." The old an suggested.
"I like number two." Savage said to Sasuke who was nodding.
"Yeah me too." Sasuke replied. Hinata looked on.
"D-don't you think that's a bit h-harsh?" She asked.
"Maybe not harsh enough." Sakura suggested.
"Sakura-chan!" Hinata and Naruto shouted at the same time.
"Arg, fine what else is there?" Sakura asked.
The old man thought for a little longer muttering to himself. "Three is less humane but is sure to work." The old man said.
"We'll take it." Sasuke said.
"All right, let me get the form." The old man walked into the station and came out with a clipboard, form and pen.
"What's this for?" Sakura asked as they all crowded round.
"It's just technical legal stuff to say you approved of this treatment and I'm not to blame for anything – including physical and mental trauma." Sasuke scanned the form and assured the attendant was saying the truth. He signed and the others followed suit. All but Hinata stood and loomed over Naruto with menacing looks.
"Uh guys?" Naruto asked as they pushed the car along into a lone dark garage. After the door has closed, leaving only the attendant, Naruto and Savage in the garage, everyone looked on at the door. Then the heard Naruto's screams, their faces growing dimmer:
"Ouch! That hurt you bas- NO, NOT THAT! Wait, what is it- NOOOO! ARG HOW DOES THAT EVEN WORK? WAIT! A crowbar? NO NOT THERE! NOT THERE! ARGHHHHHHHHHH! WHY? WHAT DID I DO TO DESRVE THIS?"
After Naruto's screams had ended the garage door opened with a rusty tune. Naruto can rushing out and hugged the first person within proximity – Hinata. He cried as he knelt there hugging her.
"That was the saddest film I've ever seen!" He wailed with tears streaming out of his eyes.
"I-I-It's O-OK N-Na-Naruto-k-kun." Hinata said, bright red, while looking at the other two for help. Sakura said she'd help in a minute while taking pictures with her mobile and Sasuke had a look on his face of 'You will feel my pain. . .'
Savage and the attendant came out of the garage laughing their heads off. "You should've seen his face!" Savage said between fits of laughter.
"Your much more lax outside of work aren't you?" Sasuke said as Savage hung his arm around Sasuke's shoulders.
"Yeah but-" He burst into another fit of laughter.
"It's been quiet some time since I've seen someone cry like that over our production of 'The Murder at the Opera with puppies involved'." The attendant said as he walked out wiping his hands with an old oil rag. "I'll have the adjustments you wanted done by tomorrow Mr. Savage."
Savage finally got his laughter under control. "Thank you." He turned to the gang. "So should we go get lunch?" He got a couple of nods from the group.
They set off down the road after collecting their bags. The town was small, quiet and spread apart so that there was a constant, calming sense of space. The past a few buildings before coming to an old motel. Savage walked into the reception area, the others close behind. They looked about the dusty interior – the rays of light revealing the dust that floated elegantly through the air. The floor's carpet was worn and dull; the walls covered by ripped wallpaper with a simple flower design; the counter was made of splintered wood that bore only a rusted bell and a log book of those that stayed for the night with a broken spine. There were many hooks on the wall for holding the keys to the different rooms situated around the car park. Only were left, rusted and broken.
"Charming." Sakura commented as they walked up to the counter. :DING: Savage rung the bell.
"One minute!" A call came from a door behind the counter. The door swung open and a young woman appeared swiftly walking straight to the door, her shoulder-length chestnut hair hanging loosely hanging down to hear dark-green jumper and a pair of glasses sat upon her nose. "Can I help you?" She said sweetly.
"We need a few rooms for the night." Savage said bluntly. The woman opened the book with the broken spine and checked the register.
"There are about three rooms left right now." She said as she looked from one person to the other.
"We'll take them." Savage said handing money over in exchange for three sets of keys from under the counter. As they started to leave the hotel assistant called over:
"Excuse me sir, may I have a word?" Savage looked at the four teenagers. He threw a set of keys at Sasuke and a set at Sakura.
"Go ahead, I'll only be a minute." The four walked out. Savage turned to the assistant. "What do you wish to tell me?"
The four stepped out into the cool breeze and looked to their right to the near desolate car park – filled with only an old scrap heap of a car without wheels or windows and a plain blue 1976 AMC Pacer. They walked along the rows of doors around the square car park, counting the numbers off as they walked. One room – number 4 – was right next to the main building. Sakura started trying to force the key into the keyhole as the two boys continued counting the door numbers off until the reached number thirteen on the other side of the car park, the last room. As Sasuke opened the door, the door to room number seven opened. A tall thin man with a white vest and an equally plain unbuttoned shirt, baggy brown trousers, trainers, a cowboy hat and a bottle of whisky in his hand as he leaned against the door.
"Hi neighbours!" He called over to the two different points before taking a swig of whisky. "You sure you want to stay here?" He said as Sakura managed to open the door and Sasuke's struggling with pushing the door until the lock broke and the door flung open. Hinata and Sakura's room had two single beds, an old TV, a couple of chairs, a plain window and a small bathroom. Everything was coated with a pall of dust. Naruto and Sasuke's room was almost exactly the same – except for having a small couch instead of a couple of chairs and a king-sized bed in exchange for the singles. Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other and shook their hands up and down.
"Paper beats rock." Sasuke said as he walked into the room. The man called over again.
"Nice 'ain't it?" He said, his eyebrows going up and down before taking another swig of whisky.
"Beggars can't be choosers" Sakura called back as she followed Hinata into the room.
"Hit rock-bottom eh?"
"We've been in worse." Naruto said as he headed into the room.
"If it's a back-alley and a skip I've been there but if you want some advice about this place then come round in a bit." The man said as he closed his door. Sasuke just put his bags by the bed.
"What was that about?" Naruto asked as he put his by the sofa and lay down on it, feeling the springs push into his back.
"I don't know, but we should be out of here tomorrow and moving on north." Sasuke headed out of the room, taking the keys with him.
"Where are you going?" Naruto called. Sasuke held up a small bucket.
"Getting some ice." He called over as he walked through the car park, lazily, and headed for the main building.
"I suppose I'll go talk to the odd guy then." Naruto said as he left the room, closing the door behind him and heading to room number seven. He rapped on the door and was answered by the same strange man. "So what advise have you got?" Naruto asked.
The man smiled. Well let's just say that after dark, pretend you don't exist and fortify your room with whatever you've got." Naruto looked sceptical.
"Why?"
"What?" Savage asked. The assistant looked at her watch and headed for the door behind her. As she opened it, Sasuke walked in and headed for the ice machine to the side of the room.
"As I said, lock the door and barricade the window after dark. There's been some strange events lately and it's best to be cautious." She said as she walked through the doorway, to a staircase, and bent down after climbing a few stairs. "Enjoy your stay" She said with a sickly sweet smile and cute voice before closing the door and letting several resounding locks chime from behind it.
"Well that was weird." Sasuke bluntly said as ice clanged into the small plastic bucket. Savage looked about strangely before heading out. He paused. "Don't walk about alone, I've got a very bad feeling about this place."
"Gotcha." Sasuke said as he watched the last of the ice fall into the bucket and picked it up before leaving the lobby as desolate as before. . .
"There's rumours of some weird shit going down – and I'm not talking about chavs and graffiti – I'm talking about murders." Naruto took a step back.
"MURDER?" He shouted The man put his finger to his lips and shushed him.
"Keep it down!" He said, his voice now a whisper." Anyway, don't go about alone and definitely don't be seen outside after dark. Mind you" He checked a clock on his TV. "it's three pm. The sun will be going down in two hours, best get home." The man whistled. "Nice talking to you bud' but I'm not risking anything until I can get out of here – and I suggest you do the same." Naruto heard a couple of barks and jumped into the man's arms. He saw behind him two large dogs – German shepherds – panting and begging for food.
"These are my friends, Timothy and Louis. They stay in with me and we stay out of trouble." The man said as he put a shaking Naruto on the ground.
"Sorry, bad experience with a dog recently." Naruto said as he scratched the back of his head. The dogs walked into the room and the man drew the door close.
"Yeah, yeah, look get back and prepare for dark, I've got the worst of feeling for tonight and that doesn't happen often." The man drew the door until it was a centimetre away from being closed. "Take care of yourself friend, and warn those girls to barricade in themselves, though I doubt they'll be killed instead of trafficked."
"What's your name?" Naruto asked.
"Vince, Vince Peter-son."
"I'm Naruto." Naruto said. Vince smirked.
"Take care of yourself then Naruto." Vince closed the door and Naruto headed over to the girls' room. He knocked on their door as Sasuke and Savage walked up to the door.
"Did you hear?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah." Savage answered. Hinata opened the door, dressed messily and seemingly just out of the shower. Naruto took on his cheeking grin.
"What you been doing?" He asked cheekily.
"U-um Sa-Sakura-ch-chan really wanted a shower so u-um I-I was ki-kicked o-out." She said, slightly embarrassed.
"I glad that's all that's been going on." Savage said. Sasuke looked at him dully. He shrugged. "You never know, after you."
"What do you mean 'after'? It's never been." Sasuke countered.
"Uh guys," The two turned to Naruto. "this is weird coming from me but back to the subject at hand?" Naruto asked.
"Sure." Sasuke said.
"Um, Hinata, you need to be careful around here. . ."
:BANG::BANG::BANG: Sasuke kept hammering his trainer against the wooden shelves from the cupboard against the window sill. He wiped his brow as Naruto finished blocking the door with the sofa and bags. The light for the room was turned off and the light from the TV lit the room as a comedy show dragged on and repetitive laughter was heard.
"You done yet?" Sasuke asked as he checked the walls for any weaknesses.
"Yeah" Naruto said as he checked the bathroom. After they were down, tapping the walls and making sure the door and window were secured they sat down on the coach and looked at the TV. Still as statues.
:Bzzt: "You two there? Over" :Bzzt: Sasuke picked up a walkie-talkie.
:Bzzt: "We're here, we just finished boarding up. How about you guys? Over" :Bzzt:
:Bzzt: "We're fine right now. Sav. is in room no.9 and boarded. We've boarded with everything we could find. Over" :Bzzt:
:Bzzt: "OK. We'll keep in touch every half-hour and take shifts. Over.:Bzzt:
Sasuke put the talkie down and returned to watching the TV – it's blue light flashing into the far reaches of the room where only darkness dare roamed and where only the deadly silence could be found.
It had been many hours since Sakura and Hinata had boarded up. It was now well into the night, roughly 1 o'clock, and the moonlight and chilling air would be entering the small and unkempt room but the heavy boards and shelves prevented this ungodly disturbance. Hinata was sleeping peacefully on one of the beds – still dressed – while Sakura was waiting for the annual response from the walkie-talkie.
She looked at Hinata while waiting for everyone to respond. Then, she heard footsteps.
Naruto and Sasuke stared into the tv like junkies. The images mesmerised them in their tired state.
:Tap:
Sasuke jumped out of his chair and grabbed the walkie talkie. Naruto stood up from his chair and turned the sound of the tv to mute manually.
"Sakura, come in Sakura, this is Sasuke. Have you detected any disturbance? Over."
He waited in silence but no reply came.
:Tap::Tap:
He and Naruto started looking around their boarded shelter. They turned to a boarded window.
"Sakura, come in Sakura. Over." Sasuke pleaded into the talkie.
They heard load stomps from the wall behind them. They turned around and heard footfalls as if they fell onto the wall rather than the ground.
They heard more footfalls on that wall. Then they were on the roof and the floor beneath their feet.
:Tap::Tap::Tap:
They turned back to the boarded window, but the sound didn't come from there.
The tv's pale blue light flickered – their only source of vision. It died down slowly, painfully. It flickered once. Then twice. Then thrice. Then no more.
They remained without sight, without sense, without reason. They could only hear the footfalls slowly fade out.
"Hey, I think it's going to be okay." Naruto whispered. Sasuke turned to his voice.
"What was that?" He asked.
:Tap: :Tap: :Tap:
They both spun around relentlessly.
:Tap: :Tap: :Tap:
Naruto started whimpering and Sasuke shook with fear. Neither knew what to do. Neither knew what it was.
:Tap: :Tap: Tap:
The tv flickered on. At first not showing it's full light before resuming it's channel. Naruto and Sasuke turned to the tv.
"Hello everybody out there, this is uncle Bob's early morning show." The sound returned. Naruto jumped onto it and flicked it to mute.
It remained the same.
"Tonight, we have a very special show – newcomers in the town!" Uncle Bob continued.
"Turn it off!" Sasuke ordered.
"I'm trying!" Naruto complained. He flicked the on/off button rapidly. It broke off. Sasuke's eyes widened as Naruto scrambled in fear. They both jumped to pull out the power cable. It easily crumbled and tore into pieces. The tv remained on.
"Oh look at them go, their trying to stop the tv and failing! Ha ha ha!" Uncle Bob jeered. The two looked at the tv. "Well sorry boys, I'm here to stay. . ."
:Tap: :Tap: :Tap:
"As is he." Uncle Bob pointed straight between the two. There stood a figure engulfed in darkness. The only visible thing was a curved knife which tapped at the wall.
:Scratch: :Scratch: :Scratch:
The knife clawed at the plaster.
"Looks like he's in the mood." Said uncle Bob.
"In the mood for what?" Asked Naruto.
"In the mood for, watching the light leave your eyes – get 'em boy!" Uncle Bob cheered.
The figure with the knife jumped forward. The knife easily split the tv in half. Leaving nothing ut darkness. Naruto and Sasuke backed up against separate walls. They heard foot falls head for what they believed to be the doorway. They heard crashing as the boards for the window fell down. Little light entered, but they both realised they were alone. They panted heavily and the feeling of fear in their guts was companioned by blood burning round their hearts. Sasuke lifted his shaking hand to speak into the walkie-talkie.
"Sakura, come in Sakura." Sasuke said. He received static. "Sakura, come in Sakura." The static continued.
"AHHHHHHHHH!" They heard a high-pitched scream shake the foundations and shakle their souls. They stared out the window to see a door on the other side of the car park blocked by half a rusted, old broken car. A slit of light from the window told all that need be said as the boards behind it fell down and revealed the scene within.
No idea when next chappie is coming out.
Next chapter: 8: Hard Work is good work: Journey to the Other Side