Chapter 5

I concentrated on watching the flickering flames in the fireplace and tried to ignore the odd feel of cold marker ink on my skin. The time had come. Itachi had found a sealing jutsu that would properly imprison the Juubi's power. To be on the safe side he'd brought another shinobi along who knew sealing jutsus, Kakashi Hitake, to perform it.

I lay on my belly on the futon, my back bare, where the symbols for the jutsu were being marked. I wondered briefly if this was what getting a tattoo would be like. Obviously much more painful though. By what Kakashi had said, this jutsu would completely imprison the Juubi within me and bar its power from emerging without my conscious consent.

I lay on the futon naked but for pants. I lay on my belly to shield my front from view. Only my back showed bare. Itachi wanted to protect what virtue I had left, what Orochimaru had not already corrupted.

I shuddered at the next stroke of the marker.

Itachi looked over immediately. "Okay Keitara?" he asked.

I nodded. "The marker's just cold."

"This will be nothing compared to what's next," Kakashi grumbled from somewhere behind me. He drew the symbols that would banish Juubi. Itachi sat just off the futon in front of me.

"So it's painful," I remarked, gulping.

"Usually," Kakashi answered. "Depends on how hard the demon fights back. That's what Itachi's here for. He can push back the demon until the seal is complete. In terms of pain, act as a buffer to the creature's power. Although given legends of the Juubi, I'm afraid that isn't much comfort."

"You mentioned before this is risky?" I questioned Kakashi.

"For anyone else, yes. You've shown exceptional strength, Keitara. To be able to contain that monster's power for four years without a proper seal is quite a feat indeed, young Keitara. Let alone the fact you survived the ordeal at all. One could easily say a miracle."

"Anyway," he continued. "Symbols are finished. Are you ready Keitara?"

I nodded. "Just do it."

"Here, bite down on this. It might help release the pain, if even a little." Kakashi placed a wooden spoon in front of me. I took it without question.

"I'll be right here the whole time, Keitara. I won't let anything happen to you, okay?" Itachi assured.

I nodded as Kakashi began his chant. I braced hard for agony that certainly didn't disappoint. The pure shock and impact of it immediately wrenched me from awareness. I was still conscious, though I wished I wasn't. Blazing agony raced through my spine in jolts into every nerve like an electrocution. Every muscled seemed to try wrenching apart and twisting. But the worst was my chest. It burned like I'd swallowed acid, that was slowly burning and liquefying me from inside out. I could feel myself writhing, biting on the wood, but even that hurt like hell. I didn't dare let go of it, else I would scream like no other. I wouldn't let myself scream…I hoped.

As suddenly as pain had come it ceased, not that I wasn't glad for that. I felt nothing though but bliss. I smelled sweet grass and pine. I opened my eyes to a green world. A warm silvery mist wafted lazily over felt like grass and moss covered trees rose higher than one could see. A canopy of green spread above me filled with sounds of birds and other creatures. It was beautiful. I felt like dancing and flying at the same time.

'Where am I?' I thought.

'You're in Xingsuluas, a realm between worlds, young one. You are safe here.' The words entered my thoughts. They certainly weren't my thoughts. I looked around, finding before me, ten yards away an impressive creature. I knew it instantly, but no myth or legend did him justice. In truth I can't even describe the sense of power and majesty I felt then. The closest I can come is like looking into the face of a god.

A dragon, with deep green scales that shone like millions of emerald facets. Even sitting he had to be 200 feet long. He sat on his haunches, massive emerald wings folded neatly around his body. A pair of white horns extended from the top of his head to curve inward and then out again ending in sharp points. Four sets of white talons of course, though only two sets were visible. Despite what he was his large golden eyes looked kind and gentle.

'Though the place you see around you is my world, the dragon realm. This particular is my home, the Earth Kingdoms,' the dragon continued.

"Who are you?" I asked aloud.

'Speak to me with your mind, young one. Just think what you want to say and I will hear it.'

I tried. 'Who are you, great dragon?"

He laughed. 'You're flattery is appreciated, young Keitara, but not necessary. I consider you a friend. I am Gildenthanos the Third, Earth Prince of the dragon realm. "Gentle Flame" in your language.'

Itachi and the Kakashi… I thought. Did the sealing work…

'You worry over many things young Keitara, but you are strong. To the human world you sleep soundly while with me. To Juubi, not even power great as his, can best that of a dragon prince. He cannot touch you,' Gildenthanos explained.

'And the sealing?'

He looked down and back up with a twinkle in his golden eye. 'I may have lent a small talon to control the gruesome beast. I have seen how much it torments you.'

'How?' I wondered.

'I have been with you from your very first breath of life, Keitara Nakaryuu. The boy, Itachi, made it possible tonight to contact you. You were too young before and then the demon came. I still tried to help when I could.'

Nakaryuu…my clan name so long ago, a people of the dragon. The very name meant "of the dragon."

'I have so many questions…'

'There will be other times, young one. You can visit me as often as you like through dreams, just think my name. For now, you must go back to your world and Itachi. Trust him, he is good and pure.'