where the dark meets the light…

(chapter 5)

He had followed the old monk for several hours; his guess was that the trip wouldn't have taken nearly as long as it did had the man not been in recovery as he had said. When they did reach the outskirts of the village, it was nearly nightfall, the sky emblazoned in bold oranges, reds and, yellows as the sun receded to the west. All around, he could hear faint banging, and when he looked out to whence the sound came, he could see a few people on scaffolds hammering away at various homes and buildings with many other people walking about, gathering up materials to retire for the evening.

He could hear giggling nearby as a few small children darted in between the work areas, the scolding of the adults going unfazed on their smiling faces. One small group, who looked to be playing some type of "tag and capture" game, stopped abruptly and crowded around a sullen faced child with dark locks. They stood before the small steps of the stoop he was sitting on; his knees drawn up to his chest and, his face partially covered by the folded arms that hugged his knees.

"Naota, come play with us!" one brunette girl piped.

"He won't play. He never does." chided another.

"He used to…" the little girl stepped away, tugging on a near-by friend. "I don't think Naota likes to do things like this anymore, 'cause his parents are gone." Sasuke stopped mid-stride and looked at the small boy, who by now had pressed himself deeper into his arms after hearing the girl's words. He could see his eyes gleaning and knew the boy had given into crying as he shifted his head, covering his eyes completely from view.

"Momma! Father! No…..Momma….Dad…wake-up…please, wake-up! Ahh! No! Let go of me! Stop!"

"It's that kid."

"Hm?" Isao had turned on his heels and looked back at his young companion and the direction in which he was looking.

"I saw him that night, the night of the attack. The night that vagrant attacked this place. He…his parents were killed…"

"Oh…yes; young Naota. His parents' lives were taken that night. Since then he has become somewhat of a mute. We monks at the monastery have taken him in and have been caring for him ever since then. We do all we can for him, but I fear the damage may be irreparable." Isao raised an arm and called out in the boy's direction. "Naota! It is time to go in now. Why don't you join my friend and I on the stroll home?" His eyes crinkled in that knowing smile and Sasuke could see the boy wiping vigorously across his eyes with the sleeve of his arm before he arose and walked over to the awaiting pair. He kept his head down, his eyes fixed on the road beneath him. Isao ruffled the lad's hair as they resumed walking, reporting to Sasuke that they would take a small detour to the town's makeshift orphanage before retiring for the evening to the temples. The trip was leisurely through the center of the village, and with people gradually moving indoors, he noticed the calming silence the place radiated as the night crept in.

"Chiyo, forgive us for being late. I fear my injuries are trying to become a disability." Isao chuckled at his own joke as the trio approached a shoddy two-story building where the monk gently pushed the young boy up the stairs to an awaiting attendant, who stood smiling by the door when they walked up. Sasuke watched the child slowly climb the stairs, his head still down, with not so much as a wave goodbye to the two men as he was ushered inside…

***

He was tired, and the cold water from the basin felt good upon his face. He could feel the relaxing cool of the porcelain beneath his palms as he leaned forward and gripped the sides of the sink, his eyes closing, feeling the sensation of the droplets rolling down his face and eyelashes. They had barely been at this cabin five minutes before the monk headed to the kitchenette to make tea after showing Sasuke the washroom where he should clean-up, promising to show him the bathhouse in the morning, as if he knew the young man would still be around. His mind was swirling with thoughts, though. He knew Team Eagle was clamoring for his where abouts, particularly Karin and Jugo, knowing Suigetsu would use his absence to find another interest to entertain him until he returned. And him; he knew that no matter where he was presently, that man was probably watching him. If what he says is true, my mission isn't done yet…I still…

He squeezed his eyelids tighter before running his right hand through his hair, straightening his stance, his eyes grazing over the faint imprint of a shape he could barely make out in the crease of the inside of his wrist. What is…? As he stared down, his mind flashed to that night in the sky where the two apparitions had appeared shortly after the swords Naruto and he wielded had clashed during their fight. He had felt the enormous pressure of power, a source he was unfamiliar with, as it didn't resemble the aura of any chakra he was used to. It felt odd…strange, almost as if his presence was disturbing it,as the sword he had been given was ripped away from his hand, leaving a strange mark that looked similar to the same icon he had seen near the hilt…

"A crescent moon?" His eyes stared intently for a few moments at the imprint, running his other hand over where he suspected he would feel a groove, but the skin was smooth where the print was. He closed his eyes once more and rubbed a hand over his temple, but his head jerked up when he heard a pair of voices in the main room.

"Where have you been all day? Those monks of yours kept saying you here at the temples but I hadn't seen a glimpse of you!" Naruto?

"I do apologize, but I had an urgent matter to attend to some place else…" The monk obviously had company besides him in the cabin. Drying his hands on a small towel on the counter, he turned the knob and exited the small room, stepping out from the corner and into the openness of the living area.

"…Ah, it seems that our other guest is now ready to join us." He could hear Isao's cheery voice as his eyes locked onto a face he hadn't seen in a little over a month, but as of late, so much more frequently.

"Sa-Sasuke?" Shocking blue eyes burrowed into his dark ones and held the gaze a moment before he looked towards the monk's face. Those smiling eyes were becoming increasingly annoying to him as he studied the old monk a bit, who was sitting a few feet away from the staring blond, sipping from a stout ceramic cup.

"Sasuke…why are you…"

"Please, young one, won't you join us here on the floor. I've made tea for all of us."

He could hear Naruto sputtering as he rose to his feet, his face darting between the two as if he was at a surprise tennis match.

"Old man…Sasuke-"

"Look, I have more important things to get back to than to drink tea with my past…" he allowed his gaze to cross over to Naruto. "I'm not sure why you wanted me here monk, but I have no ties to you or your country. If it's retribution you're after, because of my stint with that Yuu guy, I think I've paid my debt." He started across the floor, breezing past Naruto's frozen frame, refusing to acknowledge his slack-jawed expression as he headed towards the front door.

He never saw him move from his place on the floor. He barely felt the air shift around him as he drew closer to the door, his arm lifting, reaching out a hand to grip the handle to slide it open, but instead squeezing his hand around his sword's hilt after seeing four white slips with bold characters printed down the middle whiz past and stick to the door he was just reaching for. He pivoted to face the pair behind him, noticing that Naruto was now facing Isao.

"Hey old man! What are you doing? What did you throw on the door just now? What are those?" One of his arms was jutting out behind him in the direction of where Sasuke stood.

"They're seals; Strong ones." Sasuke answered and Naruto swung around and gave him a confused look. He remained near the door, his hand never loosening the handle of his chokuto. "Just who are you? Why'd you want me here?"

Isao was still sitting on the floor, but his tea cup was now set off to his right. His arms were neatly tucked into the sleeves of his robes, the cheery look no longer on his face. His eyes were closed, but he looked far from peaceful. Naruto dropped his arm back to his side, straightening his stance to face the man upon the floor. A few seconds of silence hung within the air before Naruto's voice broke the silence again.

"Isao-san…wh-what's going on? Why are you locking us in? I thought…I thought I was here to help your village? How do you know Sasuke?" Naruto watched Isao closely, not wanting to admit the twinge of fear that was starting to creep over him. He had not felt like this before around the man and he couldn't quite place what he was feeling now. His ears had perked up at a small clinking sound and his eyes shot back to where his ex-teammate stood; seeing his hand wrapped around the weapon at his side. He could feel his heart rate increasing, not sure if he should prepare for a fight or try to stop what was about to go down. His mind felt jumbled and he couldn't focus on any one particular thing. He knew it wouldn't be long before Sasuke made his mind up for him. Maybe he should say something…? Maybe he should make a joke to ease the tension…? Maybe he should-

"Please, the two of you, sit down. I need to speak to you and I can not permit either of you to leave this place." Even though his voice sounded normal, there was nothing "normal" about the request he made, to Naruto's ears. He felt his body ease back down to his place on the mat, seemingly of his body's own will, and he looked back over to where Sasuke stood. He appeared to be searching for something, though Naruto was not sure of what. He could see the intensity in the young man's eyes as he faced the monk and Naruto wasn't sure if it was relief he felt or anxiety as he watched Sasuke start back across the room and settle on a part of the mat to the far left of the blonde. He glanced at Sasuke briefly before his eyes were pulled back over to the man sitting before them.

"I must apologize to the both of you…I have not been as forthcoming as I should." The boys could hear the monk heave a sigh before proceeding. "There is a more pressing matter that begged me to call the both of you; a matter that will not be ignored." Isao raised his eyes, looking into each of the young men's faces. "When we met that night in the woods, Naruto, it was no accident." He could feel his face contort to that of confusion as he absorbed Isao's words. No accident? Just what does the old man mean by that? How'd he know I'd be traipsing through the woods at that time? He's not making any sense…

"Our village…was established shortly after the civil dispute that occurred during the early formations of our land, when military forces were becoming more prominent amongst leaderships. This civil dispute was the direct result of the fight that occurred between Tasogare and Akemi. Emperor Osamu issued many guards after the men when no agreement could be made between the two for the emperor's request of using them to invade other lands. He had one of the largest known armies, seeing as so much territory was endowed to him after his father's death. The soldiers became divided, these same men having served under the very two they were chasing. It is not clear of the events involving their fight, only the resulting carnage afterwards. The emperor was furious when he discovered that both Tasogare and Akemi were missing, with no physical bodies to show him that they were dead. He was convinced that they had become deserters and Osamu had many killed or imprisoned when they attempted to recount what happened on the battlefield, that the men had disappeared in a blaze of light, never to be seen again. A few that were able to escape Osamu's punishments kept a secrete chronicle of what had occurred and sealed it away. Shortly, the country fell to ruin, after surrounding countries learned of the corrupted and crumbling empire that was Osamu's, and wasted no time invading the land and stripping the once great nation away from him. He was murdered a month after the invasions started.

When the first sword was discovered, it was a year after the once large nation had become several smaller ones. It was discovered by an old tea farmer, imbedded on a hillside. He had brought the treasure back to his home in the small village near the fields. It was said that it was his wife who convinced the farmer to take the weapon to the local sanctuary for purification, noting that she felt a strange aura from the steel the moment he brought it into their home…

Those monks at the temple cleaned the weapon thoroughly and discovered that there was a symbol imprinted on the hilt; a symbol of a sun rise, just like the one that was said to have been embedded on the sword the legendary warrior, Nakamura Akemi, was known to wield.

The monks were ecstatic to discover that something of such importance was still found on earth, and for the briefest of times, thought that the two men were still alive somewhere. But after the discovery of the second sword almost six months later in a marsh off the coast of the main lands, several hundred meters away from the small country of where the first was discovered, people started to believe the stories that had begun to re-circulate: the men really had disappeared. Afterwards, it became the monks' responsibility to care for the weapons after their popularity arose wherever the monks traveled. People who came for spiritual cleansing or guidance from the monks claimed bouts of euphoria, from even being near the swords and many rumors spurred that perhaps the spirits of the warriors was still tied to them…

Eventually, the monks returned to the site of the historical battle; it was a bit of open land off the edge corners of what are now the countries of Fire and Sound. The enormous palace that once stood in the field had long been burned to dust and rubble and the monks decided to build a temple there, where they could permanently house the weapons as a dedication to the legendary men of old and where people could visit the shrine as often as they pleased. It was named the Benjiro Temple because of the overwhelming peace that overcame anyone who entered the grounds and got close to the swords…anyone, that is, who did not have a stronghold of darkness in their hearts…

Over the years, the monks have dealt with many who attempted to take the swords, and those who succeeded with taking them out of the temple in pursuit of destruction, were usually found dead by their own accord,days later. The monks weren't quite sure of what happed to the individuals who stole the weapons, but it was certain that deep spiritual energies were tied to them and that they needed protecting. That is when the secret temples here, were created. It was a way for the monks to train so that they could protect the treasures from those seeking them and keep more people from befalling similar fates as previous thieves had.

For years, the swords remained housed within that temple, and with the monks now well skilled with their chosen martial arts, attempts to steal the weapons had diminished. Even the surrounding countries had become somewhat harmonious once more; with new trade agreements being established and peace treaties negotiated. Many believed that all this good fortune and peace was a direct result of the positive spiritual energies radiating from the swords of Tasogare and Akemi. It was as if, according to the people of the times, the lands had returned to the era of when the warriors protected the lands of old."

"But those people where just fooling themselves. It was those monks and their skilled arts that maintained the order during those times. Why would anybody believe it was spirits or those swords?" Sasuke's voice startled Naruto a bit when he interjected Isao's last statement and he fought his jumpy feeling. Naruto looked over at his estranged friend, who now held a look of skepticism. Isao gave a soft smile and proceeded.

"True, the monks played a huge part in the order, but the strength one has in their faith is a hard bond to break; very much like friendship." His smiling eyes returned briefly as he looked at both the young men before him, noting their downcast eyes. "The truths surrounding the two may have evolved into more of a fable of sorts, but the important things about them remain true: they were strong in heart; they were fierce warriors, and they were inseparable friends." Isao picked up his tea cup and brought it to his lips for a lingering sip, enjoying the warmth the flavorful liquid provided to his taste buds.

The glow from the small lamp upon Naruto's bowed head hid his eyes perfectly from the view of the others, though he wasn't sure if they were even paying any attention to him…well certainly not Sasuke. The monk's words struck a serious cord: Inseparable. What if what Monk Isao believed about them were true? That they were these warriors, reborn…did that mean that he and Sasuke were inseparable? What was holding them apart now? They were barely speaking! He couldn't help the wave of depression flooding over him at that moment.

"So what about the two swords? You said that Tasogare and Akemi were able to pull out some sort of power from them?" Sasuke was looking straight at the old man. His hands were folded in his lap and no longer on the hilt of his sword.

"Indeed. They were able to extract phenomenal power from those weapons."

"How?" Naruto's voice rushed in. He scrunched his face as he thought back to when he had first learned about the warriors. "You told me the emperor had them made from some special material…" For the first time since he'd been in the cabin, Sasuke looked over at Naruto as he recounted the bit of the story he had heard from the old man some time back. Special materials? Sasuke turned again to face the old monk who by now had his head slightly bowed with a slight smile across his lips.

"That, young one, isn't quite known."

"Huh?"

"Since the only documents that could have possibly held that knowledge was burned along with the palace centuries ago. There was so much mystery behind the weapons, although a faint trace of how they came to be might still exist. The only ones who could answer that are no longer with us…or can no longer make the connection…"

Although it was Naruto who audible voiced his confusion, Sasuke couldn't help the raised eyebrow that shifted on his face. Before either of them could question further, Isao pressed on.

"I can not explain the core of the two steels, but I am all too familiar with what shines as their essence. For decades, the monks have tried to draw out the power that Akemi and Tasogare were able to produce, but with no success…they were merely finely crafted swords, nothing more than what any skilled blacksmith could forge. But not since their era…have eyes been able to witness what burst forth from the two of you that night. Truly, the spirits of the most powerful warriors in history had found their way back to us that night…" His eyes lifted and viewed the young faces in front of him. They were both so visibly different, yet so much alike. He could sense the suppressed tension between the two and though he longed to discover the root, time would not permit deviations from why he had gathered the two of them. But patience, as always, would tell him all he needed to know in due time.

"They were destroyed." Sasuke was looking down at his hand. "That night…the swords were destroyed… they appeared and took them away…from us…they destroyed them. You said that you think we are incarnates of these two, then why did they take the swords-how could they?…why were they destroyed?"

"I fear I fail at providing an answer for you. I do not know why that decision was made, though I feel the answers lie within both of you." He arose from his place on the floor and nodded slightly before the young men. "Unfortunately, we have no more time tonight to discuss this, it will have to wait until the morning; forgive me. There is so much I have to explain to you and so much we must complete before these events are done playing out." His head raised and those eyes were back to their signature "smile". "I trust the two of you will get a good night's sleep." And before the boys had a moment to voice any difference, Isao had two hands up by his face and in a soft pfft, he was gone from the room.