18. Bonds of the Twins
Kocha stared down her sister with her silver tail flickering, much like a cat ready to pounce on her prey. As Keeta began to crouch down onto all fours, Kocha mimicked the same movement. The two charged at each other and fought in a fury of claws and teeth. When they reached a stale-mate they separated and charged in once more. This process repeated three times until Kocha landed back toward her group and fell to one side.
"You can't keep fighting her, Kocha!" said Sakura. "You're sister is as strong as you are."
"My sister is gone," said Kocha. "By the looks of it, she has been gone for quite some time."
"What do you mean?" asked Naruto.
Kocha looked down at the ground then said, "It began when we met Orochimaru soon after the Demon Fox's attack."
The two girls ran through the woods as fast as they could to get away from the growls of the demonic fox. Its growls could be heard from miles away and the twins had to dodge a few tail lashes from three of its giant tails. When the girls made it to a large hill they could see their village engulfed in flames as the Demon Fox stood over it. The beast howled in victory and began to proceed toward the south. The two twin girls sat and watched as the beast retreated. The black haired twin fell to the ground and began to cry. "Mommy!" she sobbed. "Daddy! Everyone is gone!!"
"Don't cry, Kocha." Little Kocha stared up at her red headed sister. "I'm here with you. Everything will be okay, you'll see. You just trust your big sister."
"You're only older than me by two minutes." Kocha managed to laugh.
"That means I have seniority!" Keeta laughed. She held out her hand and walked themselves through the woods. When they reached a dark section, Kocha hid behind Keeta scared for her life. "Where are we, sister?" she asked.
"I don't know," said Keeta. The two of them heard a creepy laugh coming from the darkness.
"Poor little things," said the hissing voice. "Having such a devastating monster tear through your village like that? My, such a terrible fate." The girls heard footsteps coming from straight ahead of them. There in the moonlight stood a pasty faced man with strange eyes. His hair was long, black, and flat. He wore a Konoha headband and the jounin attire for a Leave Village ninja.
"Who are you?" asked Kocha.
"I am your friend." The man said bowing. "I will help you both become stronger. I can help you avenge your village."
"Avenge our village?" Keeta repeated.
"Yes," said the man. "My name is Orochimaru, and I would gladly like to become your teacher. Give me the privilege to be your teacher, and I will bestow upon you unimaginable power. "
Throughout the many years of Orochimaru's tutelage, Kocha and Keeta grew up as powerful fighters. After their first few years, Orochimaru walked into their chambers and said, "You have both become fine ninja for my organization. Soon, you will be able to kill the boy that houses the fox's spirit."
"We live only to serve you, Lord Orochimaru," said the twins as they bowed.
"And I gladly welcome you both," Orochimaru smiled. "Now, it's time for the next part of your training." Orochimaru presented a potion formula and gave it to Keeta. "Keeta my dear, you have been blessed with an amazing ability to create potions. I would like you to put those skills to use by refining this potion to last for the drinker's lifetime."
"This is a transformation potion, My Lord," said Keeta. "By using a Tiger's whisker, one could transform into a beast of the same likeness."
"Yes," Orochimaru agreed. "I have the actual potion hiding in a cave elsewhere. I would like you to create one where the drinker will not have to worry about losing the abilities that the option grants. Will you do this for me?"
"At once, My Lord," bowed Keeta.
"That's my girl." Orochimaru smiled. "I'll be expecting results soon." He walked out of the room and shut the door.
"Do you think you can actually do that?" Kocha asked.
"If Lord Orochimaru thinks that I can do it, then I know I can," said Keeta. "Sorry, Kocha, but I'll have to be left alone until I get this done."
For four weeks, Keeta was locked in her own lab trying to refine the potion. Once she had, she managed to create a potion where the drinker could acquire reptilian features. Orochimaru ordered the two girls to drink the concoction and, as ordered, they did. Immediately, Kocha and Keeta felt as if they swallowed lava, it burned its way down their throats. The two of them screamed in pain as their new features were beginning to take root. When their transformations were complete curse marks appeared on their left breasts.
"Well done, Keeta," said Orochimaru. "You have done well. Now," He put a soft hand over Keeta and Kocha's faces saying, "There is one thing that you should know. Because of this new potion, you both have incredible power. However, if your enemy were to stab you in your mark area, I'm afraid that it would be a quick end. So, do yourselves a favor and defend that area at all costs, eh?" He looked at Kocha and noticed her wings. "I have something for you, youngling." Orochimaru threw a sword sheath at Kocha who caught it with one hand. She unsheathed the sword and found a shining silver blade with three blue opals with black shadows embedded into the blade. "Keeta tells me you are skilled with the sword." Orochimaru said. "Make better use of it than its last user."
"What happened to its last user?" Kocha asked.
"He failed me and paid the ultimate price," Orochimaru smiled. "Do not fail me."
For the next few years, he ordered the twins to take on extremely dangerous missions and had both use their forms to execute and complete the mission. One night, Kocha stared at herself in the mirror and threw a candle at it, breaking it. She packed her things and began to walk out of the compound when she ran into Keeta.
"Where are you going?" asked Keeta. "We haven't received any missions."
"I'm leaving, Keeta," said Kocha.
Keeta was taken aback. "Why? After all that Lord Orochimaru has done for us, you're going to abandon him?"
"He's the one who's abandoned us!" said Kocha. "He doesn't want to help us! If he did, we would have killed The Boy years ago! Now, we're just a couple of monstrous pets that he uses if he doesn't want to send his own! He's not going to help us, Keeta."
"You're wrong!" said Keeta. "He's just training us so that we have a chance for when we face the fox!"
"Think, Keeta!" Kocha yelled. "We're fine the way we are! We could even take down Konoha's White Fang! I'm not staying in a place where I'll only be used as some tool for war." Kocha began to walk past Keeta when Keeta turned and said, "Kocha, if you walk out now, I will tell Orochimaru." Kocha stopped dead in her tracks. She sighed and turned her smiling face back at Keeta and said, "The chase is on, then. Good-bye, Keeta." With the blink of an eye, Kocha was gone.
A few hours into the chase, Kocha was ambushed by a few of Orochimaru's men. They came at her with everything they had and she slaughtered them with her sword. Leaving her enemy's bodies behind Kocha managed to get away. By the time the sun rose, she had run into countless encounters and was on the verge of death when she came across a tiny village. As she walked into it, a small girl noticed her and ran to her just as she began to faint. The little girl called for her mother in a heavenly voice.
Kocha woke up three days later in a strange house. She looked around and saw a small girl playing with a black kitten on the floor. The girl noticed Kocha and jumped to her feet.
"Hi there!" the girl said. "I'm Yuki! You died for a while then came back to life!"
"Yuki!" called a more aged voice. "Yuki, don't bother our guest. Oh, and she fainted from her injuries, she didn't die. There's a difference."
"Whatever, mom!" said the little girl. "Hey, what's your name?" Yuki stared at Kocha with her big blue eyes.
"I'm Kocha," she replied.
"Can I ask you something, Kocha?" asked Yuki. "Can I see your sword?" She pointed toward the sheathed weapon leaning against the wall.
"Why would I let you play with a weapon?" asked Kocha. "You're just a kid."
"I'm not a kid!" The girl stood with her hands on her hips. "I'm a young lady! Mommy says so!"
"I hate to tell you this, kid, but you're just that: a kid."
"Tch! Fine, be that way!" The girl stomped off into the next room. A few seconds later Yuki's mother walked in with a cup of tea.
"Forgive her," she smiled warmly. "She's a spirited one. She takes after her father."
"Really?" Kocha asked.
"Yes," said the woman. "She's…special. The other children don't play with her because they're afraid of her."
"Why is that?"
"She has a gift," said the woman sadly. "It's a kekkei-genkai that is passed down through the females in my family." The woman stopped. "I don't know why I'm telling you all this but…I feel like I can trust you."
"Is that so?" Kocha turned away and watched little Yuki playing with her dolls.
"Poor thing," said Yuki's mother. "She has no friends, so she plays in her room and trains to be a ninja every day."
"A ninja, huh?" Kocha was suddenly struck with an idea. "I could train her."
"Would you?" asked the woman. "Oh, it would be so wonderful if you did."
"You bet. I know what it's like to be alone." Kocha stared at Yuki. "Hey, Yuki." Yuki looked up at her. "Let's go outside and practice some."
"Really?!" Yuki jumped up and grabbed her bag full of fake ninja gear. "I'll be outside!!"
"Thank you," said Yuki's mother. "In exchange for being my daughter's angel, I'll let you stay here for as long as you need."
"Thank you." Kocha bowed.
"I will also teach you about my family's special ability."
"Why me? Can't you teach her?"
"Yuki is too young and does not yet know how to awaken her power, let alone use it. You can teach her for me. That way, if something were to happen to me, Yuki can have someone to act as a mother figure in my stead."
Kocha got down on one knee and vowed, "I swear on my blade, Buru-yami, that I will protect your daughter with my life."
Kocha smiled as her memories continued to flood back to her. She had almost forgotten them completely but now that this battle was under way, she knew that it was fate that forced her and Keeta to fight each other. "Are you all ready?" she asked the group. Everyone looked at her puzzled. Almost feeling the puzzled looks on their faces, Kocha smiled saying, "I can't take her down by myself. This 'curse' only gives me so much time before it takes my body completely."
"What do you mean?" asked Kakashi, standing with the help of Sakura and Yuki.
"This curse mark grants us unimaginable power; however, it also eats away at our consciousness. If we are in them for too long, we become mindless monsters killing anything that moves."
"Are you serious?" asked Naruto.
"Yes," said Kocha. "I'm afraid that it is too late for Keeta. The form has taken its eternal hold. My sister is gone." Sakura, Naruto, and Yuki looked down at the muddy ground in sadness.
"We have no time to sulk," said Kakashi. "We have to help Kocha make her final resolve before time is up."
"Right!" said the four young ninja. As Keeta darted for the group in a roaring rampage, Kocha flew high into the air. Yuki and Gaara stayed in the back and tried to halt Keeta's charge by attacking her with streams of sand and tree roots. Keeta effortlessly blocked them and headed straight for Sakura. Naruto clones suddenly popped up all around Keeta and surrounded her. Due to her depleted consciousness, Keeta became confused and began to violently lash out at the clones.
Sakura jumped above the Naruto clones and threw a stream of shuriken at Keeta then hid behind the clones again. Keeta finally became so frustrated that she began to build up enough chakra to launch a dome of chakra energy around her perimeter. Naruto and Sakura were thrown back and landed in a muddy house frame. Keeta ran to her injured prey but was met with Yuki who deflected every one of Keeta's attacks with her kunai knife. Yuki could see the curse mark with her Soshigan but she could not reach it due to the continuous attacks from the enemy. To break them apart, Gaara ran to the side of the duel and summoned a sand wall in between them. Yuki jumped to dodge the sand while Keeta did the same but continued to slash through it. Gaara continued to make the sand flow so that Keeta could not break through.
Finally, Keeta decided to turn her rage on the Desert Nin. Keeta threw blades of chakra at Gaara but he was able to block them with another sand wall. He countered the attack by launching sand bullets. Keeta charged at him ignoring the bullets that grazed her shoulders and continued to dodge them. When she was close enough, Naruto ran in and used his Rasengan to send Keeta twirling back toward the center of the battlefield. Keeta maneuvered in the air so that she could land on her feet but as she moved she saw a familiar blue light. Kakashi jumped up from the ground and jabbed his lightning blade jutsu into Keeta's gut. While in the air, Naruto and Yuki rushed in to deliver their final blow. Yuki stopped to summon the wind around Naruto so that he could fly up to Keeta. Once he was to her level he made a fist with his left hand and punched Keeta in the face, forcing her to go rocketing to the muddy earth.
Once everyone had given Keeta their best shot, they were disappointed when they saw her get back up again. Kocha landed in front of the group with her wings giving off a white misty color. Keeta charged at the group once more while Kocha made a few hand signs. Once the signs were complete Kocha shouted, "Dragon Art: Lunar Dragon's Fire!" Kocha brought her wings to her back, aligned them horizontally, then brought them forward in a slashing motion releasing white blades of chakra that left an eerie trail, almost as if the blades where made of white fire. Keeta was hit dead on and launched back even more.
Kocha watched as her sister raised herself up once more and decided that now was the time. Kocha ran forward and pulled her sword from the ground as she ran. Keeta noticed her prey coming toward her and so she began to run on all fours for more speed. When Kocha was close enough, Keeta pounced with enough momentum to allow her to keep moving forward at the same rate as Kocha. With her claws outstretched Keeta reached for her sister's neck. Kocha, with her left arm, brought the sword to her side and quickly thrust the blade and jabbed it straight through Keeta's heart. Keeta's momentum caused her body to go all the way to the hilt of the blade.
Keeta roared in anguish as the cursed chakra left her body and dissipated in the rain-filled air. The rain suddenly died down a little to a small sprinkle as Kocha removed the blade from her sister's heart. Kakashi and the others ran to the twin sisters to witness their final moments.
"W-well done…Kocha," said Keeta. Kocha looked in her dying sister's eyes and noticed that they had their original glow back. "Y-you've gotten…a lot…stronger…I'm…happy for you." Keeta managed to make a smile as blood began to seep out of her mouth. She looked around and noticed the many different faces. She looked at Yuki and said, "Ah…you must be…the little…Snow Princess…that Kocha…is guarding."
"Pleased to meet you," Yuki snuffled. "My name is Yuki."
"You've grown up a lot." Keeta smiled. "I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused everyone. My greed for power began to control me and I couldn't stop it."
"It's alright, Keeta," said Kocha. "We know who's responsible."
"I know." Keeta managed to laugh. "You were always the smart one." Keeta noticed Kakashi behind Kocha's head. "Is he…" Kocha looked behind her then; she smiled saying, "Yes."
"He's cute." Keeta smiled. The others, besides Gaara, smiled as well. "Kakashi, isn't it?" Kakashi walked over to Keeta and kneeled down. "What is it?" he asked gently.
"I thank you for helping Kocha." She answered. "May I ask you to do me this one favor?"
"Anything," Kakashi vowed.
"Please, protect Kocha. Keep her smiling, always."
"Of course," Kakashi answered. "I will not fail you."
"Thank you." Keeta now moved her gaze to Naruto and Gaara who stood at her right. "You both are like twins too, aren't you?" Naruto looked at Gaara then back at Keeta confused. Keeta laughed a little saying, "You both lived the same childhood. Kocha and I know your pain as well. Please, look after each other and Naruto," Naruto crawled closer to Keeta. "Naruto, please forgive me for all of the pain and suffering I caused you. I know now that as long as the Fox rests within you, we are all safe. I know you can use it for good. With a heart like yours, I'm certain that you will find Sasuke in no time."
"Do you really think so?" asked Naruto.
"I'm positive." Keeta smiled.
Kocha suddenly flinched as she held her sister in her arms. Kakashi and the others swarmed around her trying to keep her from thrashing.
"What's happening?" asked Yuki.
"Kocha's been in her form for too long!" said Kakashi. "She's losing control!"
"Leave her be," said Keeta. "Gaara, please restrain her." Gaara nodded and summoned his sand to wrap up Kocha so that she would not attack her comrades. Naruto helped Keeta to her feet and walked her to Kocha. Keeta placed her hand on the wound on her heart and quickly placed it on Kocha's curse mark. After a short while, Kocha transformed back to normal and Keeta collapsed to the ground, regardless of Naruto's stability.
"What did you do?" asked Naruto.
"I was trained as a medical ninja." Keeta huffed. "I managed to absorb the dark chakra within the curse mark into my own body." Kocha opened her eyes as she watched her sister's skin color go pale. "Thank you, Kocha," said Keeta. "And all of you…You all…finally set….me….free…" Keeta closed her eyes and her head dropped back. Kocha quickly ran over to her sister and held her in her arms for the last time.
"Kocha," Keeta said with the last of her strength. "Live your life….as happily as you can…live…for me…for both of us."
"Keeta!" Kocha cried. "KEETA!!!" Kocha hugged her sister's body tightly and began to rock back and forth crying. The others just stood back and watched in silence. As Kocha cried, the moon shined its silver light on the wet terrain as Keeta breathed her last breath.