Last bit of Chapter 8:
Sasuke's breathing slowed.
Naruto looked down at the chain. He could see Sasuke's hand frozen in its attempt to save them. Blond hair fell over his eyes. When he looked up through the strands he saw the world strangely – it was a sharper, clearer, more fragile place.
Through gritted teeth he replied, 'I do not understand. I will stop you.' The world seemed to burn and he saw slanted eyes above a mouth pulled back in a grin, revealing sharp, enormous teeth. Whatever creature had appeared laughed.
Power flowed into every part of Naruto's body, flowed out of it and thrust itself into the world in aching intensity from the depths of him.
Naruto could not resist laughing with it.
Chapter 9: Bandages and a midnight stranger . . .
They left the inn five days later. A broken bathroom door, a cracked sink, torn curtains, one door off its hinge, three broken bar stools and half their clothing in and amongst the mess of bedding and cushions and plates which littered the floor were left behind in their wake. Hickies, carpet burns, bruises, cuts and scratches were felt with each movement. Hiro had rope burns around his wrists and wore a sometimes-disgruntled, sometimes-bemused look.
They had been told by the innkeeper that they were not allowed back, as the noises had frightened off most of the customers.
There was a short trip to the air harbour. They both slept like the dead, relaxed and prone to grinning. Passers-by were likely to think they were -
FWAAAAAAHHHHH . . .
Kakashi cocked an eyebrow.
KA-DUNK.
He winced. That would probably split another mast. And hurt. The captain slid the book into his pouch, standing up as he did so. He finally had to admit to himself that he should start protecting his ship. The brats really were ripping it apart now.
But the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. A wave of magic flew past him, swirled round him, and encompassed the entire airship. It drove into his skull – pure, alien wrong.
His head shot upwards. He had to forget the ship – now he had to concentrate on getting his crew off on the life-balloons. (1)
The silver-haired man had no doubt now – he had found him.
xXx
The masked girl flew backwards in an explosion of steam.
There was no more ice in the mast, over the chain, or around Naruto and Sasuke. Naruto had wanted it gone and, before he finished the thought, the gas it turned into was propelling the pirate through sail after sail until he grabbed onto a rope strong enough to withstand the force.
The blond boy's skin burned, but it didn't register as pain – nothing could. He couldn't pause on any sensation for long enough, on any thought for long enough for it to mean anything to him. He wanted to hurt. Nothing else mattered.
Naruto took one step forward, and as his other foot landed after a blur, his face ten centimetres from the pirate's. He leant back and brought a clawed hand round before the needle bastard could blink.
The pirate's body slammed into the mast, his limbs swinging back before he dropped – catching himself weakly on a sail.
The mask cracked under the pressure, the power of Naruto's fist. One side fell, revealing a wide dark eye, with blood trickling out of the corner of thin lips.
Whatever was right in front of Naruto was clear. His head moved and his eyes barely caught up – the world echoing around the edges of his vision. His mind focused on one thing at a time, but so rapidly that everything around him was swept in – and he could only think of what he registered afterward. Realisations shuddered in after his movement, but all he wanted to do was move.
No.
Heat.
Naruto burnt the needles into the priate's flesh the moment they were about to be thrown. They were dropped with a suppressed gasp. White-hot metal burned the wood it fell onto, hissing.
Naruto blinked. He had the stranger's arm against wood – in wood – buried painfully beneath his iron grip. He clenched his hand, feeling his nails splinter wood and make blood well out of the pirate's wrist.
When had he moved?
No matter.
He wanted the bastard to feel pain.
He brought his other hand up and around the stranger's neck. In front of him the face grew pale, he squeezed harder. There was a tug on his wrist.
Annoyance flared into anger. He would burn it off.
'Naruto!'
Naruto wanted to hear him scream. Why wasn't he making a noise?
'Naruto!'
A sharp cry entered his ears, urgency in its voice. It had come from below. He looked down.
Attached to the mast. With magic.
Should he kill it?
The person looked up. Dark eyes.
Naruto breathed in. He smelt burning flesh.
He saw a look of agony and confusion in those eyes below him.
Who is that?
Naruto was shaking. Someone was in front of him. His eyes widened, blue creeping back into them. Someone was dying in front of him. He flung his arms back. Had he done that? His nails retracted.
Eyes shot down again.
Sasuke.
He heard a body slump down in front of him. The pirate lay in a crumpled heap. Naruto stared. His skull throbbed.
A ragged breath was taken in by the pirate and immediately Naruto dropped down. Sasuke was leaning heavily against the broken mast.
Sasuke.
The blond began to feel the heat of the chain around his own wrist. Part of his flesh was burnt black.
What the hell?
The blond's energy was leaving him.
Dark eyes scrutinised him for a moment.
He was going to black out, but he heard a whisper.
'What?' he asked.
'Bells,' the dark-haired boy before him murmured again.
Naruto looked up. It was a short way to the crow's nest. Sasuke cradled one arm and his features were drawn in pain.
'Can you jump?' the blond boy asked.
A nod was all that was needed.
He remembered landing on the highest point of the ship. His vision darkened the moment he had leapt. Sasuke's head rested on his shoulder. With the last of his energy he brought one hand up to the small brass bells. He was too exhausted to smile, but they were going to Kinsgora.
He leant into the body next to him – into the warmth so present – and his head lolled forward the moment he relaxed, losing himself in darkness.
xXx
Cries flew out over the steep slope of the mountain, dropping down sheer sides or propelling over the narrow, crescent plateau which held an entire city.
Sharp cliffs seemed to beat against buildings which rose out of stone, and jagged peaks held sway over the entrance to a deep hollow in the rock – Hathyr: an air harbour famous for its trade and – amongst those in the know – for its pirate dens.
A deckhand looked out – unable to see the world so far below because of the thick greyness that seeped into the streets themselves. He narrowed his eyes as a dark shadow appeared and clouds parted. An enormous shape broke through the mist.
His eyes widened and for a second he thought the ship itself made mist, but soon he saw the flames and knew it was smoke that billowed over the deck and down the sides of the vessel.
With a gust of wind, smoke cleared enough for him to read the ship's name. His jaw dropped and his eyes found a splash of white hair on the prow – hands raised, glowing, guiding the dirigible into the harbour.
Above the famous captain, only two masts still stood – and those half broken. Charred sails lay over the deck and fires still smouldered.
The deckhand stared. As the ship came closer, he saw that half of the deck was black and dotted with holes.
Icha Icha Paradise limped into port. News blazed through the city - no battle had ever reduced this ship to such a state. Had a war started?
xXx
Naruto woke up. He groaned. It seemed to be what he did when he woke up these days. Was it possible fore even his eyelids to feel exhausted? Apparently it was. He felt a pleasant tugging on his wrist. As he thought about that part of his body, his wrist began to itch, then throb. He gathered all of his resolve and snapped his eyes open. They rolled to the side lazily. He saw boots, slightly charred. Now fingers touched his skin.
He made a hmm noise.
Sasuke.
'Finally awake, baka?'
'Hmmm . . . ?' He like this feeling of fingers.
An amused chuckle entered Naruto's ears and he woke up completely, trying to sit up. 'What did you call me?' His vision blacked over and he decided lying down was the better option.
'Nothing.'
'Teme.' The touch was gone. Why? He looked at his wrist – it was covered in fresh bandages. He raised narrow eyes to Sasuke. 'Did we get the bells?'
The smart-arse frowned down at him. 'Don't you remember?'
Naruto shook his head slowly. He carried on moving his head from side to side because it created such a weird feeling. Sasuke caught Naruto's jaw in one hand, his frown intensifying, 'We got the bells. Are you feeling all right?'
Naruto didn't move his face. Sasuke didn't move his hand.
'What happened to that noodle, um, I mean, needle . . . person?'
'Don't you remember . . . any of it?'
There was a knock at that door. Sasuke dropped his hand. As the stow-away turned, Naruto's expression showed disgruntlement. His cheeks were red.
'Can I come in?' came a soft voice.
A flicker of memory sparked in Naruto's brain. It was short-lived.
'Yes,' replied Sasuke. Naruto liked the way he said it. He started shaking his head again. Hehe – it was almost like dizziness.
This time a beautiful girl stopped its movement.
'Who are you?' the blond boy blurted out, a blush appearing on his cheeks.
The stranger shot a glance back at Sasuke, who shrugged. The girl turned back to Naruto.
Why's Sasuke glaring at her?
'I'm Haku.' After a moment's hesitation, she added, 'You fought me yesterday.'
Naruto remembered a flash of red and white.
'That… was you?' he asked as he sat up again. 'You almost killed me!' he clutched his side and was pushed down again.
The calm girl carried on tending to his wounds. Her face was sad. 'Yes. I am sorry.' She glanced at Naruto – at his frowning face. It was ridiculous. 'Don't worry. I will not . . . try to harm you now.'
The blond's frown didn't go away. He scratched the back of his head. 'Ano . . .' He grinned sheepishly. 'Are you a guy or a girl?'
Sasuke snorted and the corner of the pirate's mouth rose in a quick smile.
'He is a guy. Dobe.' (2)
Naruto glared. 'I . . . can see that!' He sighed. Sasuke had obviously gotten the bells while he'd been stupidly unconscious. The world was cruel. 'So what happened?'
Haku opened his mouth but Sasuke cut him off. 'There was a fire. We had to stop, and the ship's been damaged. We're in Port Hathyr now for repairs.'
'How badly was the ship damaged?'
Sasuke stepped forward off the wall. 'It was quite a fire.' Naruto didn't notice his eyes lock onto Haku's.
Naruto's head rolled to the side.
xXx
Haku saw the boy fall asleep in front of him. 'He'll sleep until tomorrow at least. He heals very quickly. I hardly had to do anything.'
The noble approached and looked down at the sleeping blond. Haku glanced at Sasuke's wrist.
'I can't say the same for you. I healed it as much as I could, but you'll have a scar for the rest of your life.' He looked away. 'The healing would be easier without the chain still on.'
'I can't take it off.'
Haku's face darkened. Kakashi. 'Do you know how it happened? Has Naruto ever become like that before?'
'I've seen it once, but only slightly.'
Haku shuddered at the memory of Sasuke's charred skin. It seemed that being chained to this Naruto was dangerous. 'Did Naruto simply heat the metal?' he asked quietly.
Sasuke still watched the even breathing, making not a sound, but giving a small nod in reply.
xXx
The full moon cast defined shadows across the deck. Kakashi sat up, awake, his eye moving over the harbour. Loud voices and laughter came from the pubs, the inns and the streets which made up the harbour-front.
Over the din, Kakashi heard the barest footfall behind him. He turned.
'I got your signal.'
A large man had landed on the deck – Kakashi noticed that none of his guards had picked up on the arrival. He gave a tired sigh. Typical.
The man turned. 'If you're not going to tell me what's important enough for you to bother me, I'll return to my research, Kakashi.'
They both heard women's laughter coming from the streets.
Behind his mask, Kakashi grinned. 'Research, Jiraiya-sama?'
He got a scowl in reply. 'Be quick about it, pirate.'
Kakashi sat back and said slowly. 'I've found a boy.'
'Lucky you.'
'You'd be interested in him.'
'I like girls.'
'He's on my ship.'
'And?'
Kakashi smiled. 'And he's chained to the heir to the Uchiren empire.'
'I thought you had nothing to do with the Uchiha's now.'
'This little one fell into my lap, along with the strange boy.'
'I'm involved with neither emperors nor pirate's now. I'm off-'
'Jiraiya,' Kakashi leant forward, 'he's the one you've been looking for for all these years.'
The old man's countenance changed in barely a second. His eyes swung into focus, hard. 'You're certain?'
The captain's visible eyebrow rose. 'Look at my ship.'
xXx
(1)
wooh – life balloons!
There was discussion as to what the life-boats would be on an air-ship, and finally (big-pirate's odd dream involving mad scrooge-like hermits being the decisive factor) they agreed that air-balloons were, of course, the most logical :)
(2)
'waly waly!'
big pirate's boyfriend just knocked over an entire bottle of vvvvvv cool vodka – it broke :( and spilled everywhere :(
spiritus mundi . . . what a week
xXx
all rright – we've been gooood and have written a next chapter very snappily . . . :)
be amazed!
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There's a rather beeeeg surprise next chappie - hehe