Chapter 8
Koni's Last Stand
Orochimaru, Kabuto, Umani and Rusuta had made it out of the area and were now travelling back to the Sound Village.
"Now what?" said Kabuto.
"Once we're back in the Sound Village Krysta won't be able to find us, and by the time she figures it all out Rusuta will be married to Umani and Krysta will never have her daughter back. So I haven't destroyed her, or even captured her, I have Rusuta and with her power the Sound Village will become the strongest of all the Ninja Villages," smiled Orochimaru triumphantly.
"Always looking on the positive," he smiled evilly.
"Umani, where are we going?" asked Rusuta confused.
"We're going home to the Sound Village, where no one can try to split us up again," he told her keeping a good look out for Koni, he was afraid that Koni wouldn't give up and without his flute he was unsure just how much control he truly had over Rusuta. Suddenly they came to a clearing and Kabuto and Orochimaru walked to the edge.
"The Sound Village isn't far," Orochimaru said to his daughter.
"I'm ready father," she told him.
"I know you are," he smiled evilly.
"Not so fast!" cried Koni leaping out of one of the trees, he'd followed them well.
"You again," growled Orochimaru.
"I won't let you take Rusuta away, I don't care what hold you have over her, I love her and will fight to the end for her," Koni said brandishing his blade.
"Koni," said Rusuta sadly.
"Rusuta, please don't go," he begged her and Rusuta walked over to him.
"Koni I have to go, it's where I belong," she told him calmly.
"She belongs there with me," said Umani walking over.
"No, no you don't you belong with me, and your mother, we love you more than anyone, please, just come home," he pleaded with her. Orochimaru smiled evilly before Koni saw him place is forefinger to a small area below his left wrist, the marriage rune. Rusuta's rune sparked and flashed and she cried out a little in pain.
"Stop it, you're hurting her!" cried Koni before Umani ambushed him from the side.
Koni pushed Umani off of him and the two started to fight, even though Koni had defeated him before Umani was suddenly showing a level of fighting ability he'd hidden before.
"Kabuto, go on ahead, once Krysta comes I'll finish this myself," Orochimaru told his cohort going over to Rusuta who was watching the fight numbly. Umani's mist ability allowed him to do more than just get out of Koni's holds, it also meant he could instantly disappear and attack again from another angle, it was as if Koni was facing several opponents at once, but Koni would still not back down even as Umani's shurukin sliced his arms and torso several times.
"Give up Koni, you can still live if you stop now," glared Umani holding him up by the neck going to slice his throat open.
"I'll never let you win," he struggled hatefully. Koni grabbed Umani's throat and cried,
"Rock Fist Jutsu!" Umani gasped for breath as the rock started to strangle him and he let go of Koni who than snapped the rock off at his wrist and braced to fight again.
"You're finished Umani!" cried Koni slashing his sword at Umani, however Umani simply dodged and in a few moves had crumbled the rock around his throat so he could breathe again. Umani unleashed his deadly shurukin ball and ran at Koni ruthlessly. Metal clinked and smashed together as the pair duelled and Rusuta continued to watch on.
"Koni, why are you fighting for me, I'm not worth you dying for," she thought to herself sadly. Rusuta's rune continued to glow but it wasn't hurting anymore, it was like a chain keeping her from moving away from him, Rusuta looked up at Orochimaru, he was enjoying this battle and was eager to see Koni slaughtered. Koni and Umani stopped for a moment, both were exhausted from the fight, Umani was becoming frustrated he couldn't just destroy Koni and was amazed Koni still would not give up.
"Give it up, you really think even if you kill me that Rusuta will love you! You're stupid and weak, you are nothing compared to me!" said Umani spitefully.
"You can't hold a candle to what Rusuta and I have been through, we were always there for each other through thick and thin, we saved our parents together, we trained together, all we wanted was to pass this exam together. The exam doesn't matter now, and neither does anything else, because as long as we're together, Rusuta and I will do anything we want to! No one can stand in our way! You might have found a way to control her thoughts and body but you'll never take her heart, and that's why I will defeat you Umani! I'll defeat you, because everything you two have done together is an illusion, you're nothing but an illusion, none of this is real, it never has been. I love Rusuta, now that's real!" shouted Koni going to attack with his sword again.
"Koni," thought Rusuta coming away from Orochimaru a little. Rusuta's rune sparked again and Rusuta stayed still. As she watched them she started to feel every cut they made into each other.
"Umani, Koni, please just stop," she thought to herself a small tear falling from her eyes.
"Rusuta you know I can't climb!" cried Koni's squeaky voice. Rusuta was up a tree laughing, Koni was merely eleven and his voice was breaking, Rusuta loved to tease him.
"You still got to catch me!" she teased.
"Rusuta come down, you're going way higher than normal!" worried Koni.
"Koni you worry about me too much," Rusuta giggled stepping onto another branch, unfortunately this one was far too thin for her and it snapped sending her hurtling to the ground.
"Koni!" she screamed falling and luckily Koni was able to brake her fall as she landed on him.
"Are you alright Rusuta?" he asked worried.
"Thanks to you, you really did catch me," she smiled embarrassed a little.
"It's no wonder I worry so much when you keep falling out of fifty foot trees, let's hope there never a time when you need me and I'm not there," worried Koni.
"That'll never happen Koni, you never let me out of your sight long enough," giggled Rusuta and Koni blushed.
"And I never will, you get into way too much trouble for me not to be there, yep you and me are sticking together forever," he said folding his arms. Rusuta giggled hugging him childishly.
"You'll always be my best friend Koni, I'm not going anywhere," she giggled kissing him on the forehead before bounding back up the tree.
"Catch me!" she called down as Koni stood up and sighed trying to follow her.
"You're my best friend Koni…" Rusuta thought to herself remembering everything they had done together.
"Koni…" she stuttered starting to cry, her rune sparked painfully but Rusuta didn't care and ran out onto the battlefield.
"Koni!" she screamed to him. Koni and Umani stopped to see Rusuta running up to them.
"Rusuta!" Koni called running over.
"I'm not losing her now," growled Orochimaru and Rusuta's rune flared angrily making her cry out stopping dead in her tracks.
"Stop it, stop it please!" she cried out in pain grabbing her wrist and Koni held onto her trying to help.
"You have to fight it Rusuta, please wake up! Don't let him take you again! Fight it!" he cried comfortingly.
"I want to, but, it's too painful," she sobbed painfully into him, "don't let me go, don't let me go!"
"Never, I'll never let you go again, I promise," he told her and she started to quieten.
"Get away from her! She's mine!" cried Umani angrily but Koni held on tightly and his rune started to react.
"My rune," he struggled in pain before remembering something, "every time my rune flares, Rusuta wakes up." Koni grabbed Rusuta's wrist and held it tightly to his rune, the sparks hurt him badly but it soon quietened and Rusuta looked up at him relieved.
"You, you stopped it," she said numbly.
"It's ok Rusuta, it's ok now. You don't have to be afraid, I'm not letting them take you away again, I love you Rusuta," he panted relieved. Rusuta smiled happily through her tears and replied,
"I love you too Koni." Koni was overjoyed and pulled her close to kiss her, the energy of the two runes flared all over the clearing stopping Orochimaru and Umani from getting to them and acted as a beacon to Krysta and the others who were amazed when they arrived at the sight they saw in front of them.
"Koni," sighed Jivana happily.
"He did it," smiled Varundo proudly.
"I can't believe it," said Krysta amazed.
"Oh yeah! The power of love conquers all!" cheered Jarriya.
"Oh Jarriya do you know how corny that line is," said Naruto exasperated. Koni let go of Rusuta and the glow dimmed, Rusuta smiled happily, her pain was gone and she felt so happy.
"Koni, I'm so sorry," she told him guiltily.
"It's ok," he laughed happily. However Umani was angry and was not about to let Rusuta be taken from him without a fight. He rushed up to them and grabbed Rusuta dragging her away from him and holding her firmly captive.
"Let me go Umani!" cried Rusuta.
"Let it end Umani, Rusuta's chosen, you've lost, you don't need to hurt her anymore!" glared Koni.
"Rusuta are you ok?" she heard Homaru say.
"Homaru? Where have you been?" she asked.
"I'll explain later, looks like you're back to normal, we better get out of this," said Homaru.
"You're telling me," giggled Rusuta, "Snake Skin Jutsu!" suddenly Umani couldn't hold onto her as the constitution of her skin changed and she writhed away from him.
"Sorry Umani I'm not listening to you anymore, I knew something was up these past few days, I'm just sorry I didn't see it sooner," said Rusuta unleashing her whip.
"Rusuta, come on," said Umani a little unnerved.
"Sorry Umani, nothing's breaking up this team, not even slimy Sound Village tricks," laughed Koni joining Rusuta.
"Don't forget about us," smiled Krysta leading her team into the clearing, "Orochimaru this is the end, you've hurt me and my family long enough!"
"Truly, I wish to end this fight once for all myself, I'm going to litter this clearing with you and take my daughter back to the Sound Village where she belongs!" laughed Orochimaru and suddenly a huge snake launched out of the ground and Orochimaru road its back as it lunged at Krysta and her friends.
"Oh no, not again," worried Rusuta looking at her mother fighting with the snake.
"They can handle it, let's take care of Umani," said Koni pinning Umani to a tree with his sword.
"It doesn't matter what you do, Rusuta's coming with us," laughed Umani evilly.
"Rusuta I don't think Krysta can handle a giant snake on her own," said Homaru.
"You're right, but what can I do, this is all my fault," she worried.
"I think it's time I shared a little secret with you, I can still turn into a snake," he chuckled.
"You mean it?" said Rusuta.
"Yep," replied Homaru giving Rusuta an idea.
"I'm going to help my mother, you take care of Umani!" called Rusuta running off to where Krysta, Jivana and Varundo were holding off Orochimaru's snake.
"What can we do," worried Jivana.
"Not even I can jump that high," said Varundo.
"My whip's not long enough," worried Krysta and suddenly the snake opened it's jaws wide and lunged forward to eat the three of them.
"Blood Creed Summoning! Snake God Homaru!" they heard a cry as Rusuta lunged her whip at the snake. Suddenly the whip grew skin and bulk and turned into huge light green hooded cobra. Rusuta stood upon it's head and Krysta and the others upon the tail.
"Homaru, this is amazing," said Rusuta amazed.
"How did she," said Jarriya.
"She didn't even need blood," said Naruto annoyed.
"You see Rusuta, every new power makes you more like me every day, you must see that you belong with me," smiled Orochimaru looking at the beautifully formed cobra she stood on.
"Please stop this father, enough. I don't want you and mother to fight," called Rusuta.
"Sorry but that's not really your call," he laughed attacking again.
"Homaru do something," said Rusuta and the cobra flicked it's tail up sending Krysta Jivana and Varundo towards Orochimaru's snake, they landed on it's head.
"You're finally where I want you Orochimaru!" glared Krysta and Orochimaru recognised the position she and her friends were getting into.
"Afraid not," he laughed jumping down to the ground. The snake disappeared and Krysta and her friends landed soon after he did. Meanwhile Umani and Koni were still fighting.
"You just don't give up," said Koni.
"I could say the same thing about you!" sneered Umani slamming Koni over the head with his shurukin ball knocking him to the ground.
"Koni! Homaru let's get down there," cried Rusuta and Homaru let her down before turning back into her whip.
"Koni are you ok," she said kneeling beside him to protect him.
"Ouch," he said dazed.
"Don't worry I won't let him get you, this is all going to end, right now," Rusuta glared at Umani.
"Rusuta come now, you don't want to hurt me?" said Umani but Rusuta wasn't in the mood.
"I don't know what's going on, I've been so happy these past days but I knew all the time something was wrong, now I find you trying to kill Koni? Koni and I have and always will be together so why should I not want to hurt you!" she snapped angrily.
"Because I brought you back to your father, come on, you know what a good time we've had, you want to throw it all away for that piece of dirt?" said Umani and Rusuta slashed her whip at him.
"You worm!" she shrieked, "I love my father! I'd have gone with him with or without you! I'm grateful you brought us together again but nothing you've done has made you worthy of me!" Rusuta held her whip over her head ready to strike Umani down but suddenly her rune sparked again and she dropped the handle in shock and pain.
"No!" cried Koni seeing.
"But, this shouldn't," cried Rusuta holding her wrist in pain.
"How? Koni cured her!" snapped Krysta and Orochimaru started laughing evilly.
"It doesn't matter how many times you break the connection, it's still there! It will always be there! My blood runs through her body, in more ways than one!" he laughed evilly.
"K, Koni, I can't," struggled Rusuta.
"Rusuta, don't let him win, please!" cried Koni standing.
"Don't you get it yet," laughed Umani, "that wasn't medicine your father gave you Rusuta, it was blood, his blood!" Rusuta looked back at him shocked but also scared, how could her father be doing this to her?
"Krysta can he really do this?" worried Jivana.
"I can't understand this, how could he have learned so much about Yukusha's most complex Jutsu, even be able to carry them out. Loopholes and weaknesses, everything Rusuta's gone through because of what she is and now the thirst she needs in order to live, it's all come to a head. With Orochimaru's power to speak to even me in my mind, he doesn't even need the marriage rune, but that, his power and now it seems his blood. He's closed off every escape route for Rusuta, I, I don't know what to do," worried Krysta overwhelmed by the whole complexity.
"You mean as long as Rusuta has Orochimaru's blood, he can control her!" cried Varundo.
"Here how about I show you," sneered Orochimaru, "Rusuta my little flower, get rid of Koni and then we can leave for the village."
"Rusuta, Rusuta no!" cried Koni seeing her blank over again.
"I'm sorry," she gasped before leaping at him with her whip.
"Orochimaru stop this!" cried Krysta slashing her whip at him.
"You can if you want. You and Rusuta come to the Sound Village with me and I'll stop Rusuta from killing that little wimp of a Ninja," he glared evilly.
"You know I'll never join you! Let her go!" screamed Krysta starting to fight with Orochimaru again.
"We don't have a choice," said Varundo.
"Varundo no," worried Jivana.
"He's our son Jivana, even if it is Rusuta, we have to stop her," replied Varundo and he engaged his sword suddenly Krysta landed just in front of them, Umani had come to help Orochimaru and together they had managed to blow her back.
"You ok?" worried Jivana and Krysta got up.
"I'm fine, guys, I know you're worried about Koni, but there's only one way to end this, and it's going to take all three of us!" she said and all her runes began to glow.
"That old trick Krysta? You know you're yet to fully complete a seal without killing yourself," he taunted her.
"This time I've got no interruptions, no reasons to stop, no illnesses, this is it, this time the seal will work and it's going to take you and that punk Umani with you!" said Krysta and within moments Jivana and Varundo were in position.
"I wouldn't Krysta, how quickly do you think I could get Rusuta to jump in to protect me, you'll take her too," he laughed evilly.
"He's right," said Jivana.
"Not if we're fast, it's the last resort," said Krysta determined. Suddenly they heard a painful cry, Koni was completely laid out and Rusuta stood over him powerfully.
"Koni!" cried Jivana.
"Damn this we have to stop her!" growled Varundo.
"Koni, I, I don't want to do this," said Rusuta quietly, no one else could see but Rusuta was crying.
"Then please, stop," gasped Koni.
"I can't, my hunger, now I understand the pain mother's always in, why she has to do things she doesn't want to, I'm sorry Koni," she sobbed grabbing Koni by the neck and pulling him up again. Jivana and Varundo couldn't take it anymore and went to run to them to save their son when suddenly Krysta barred their path.
"Krysta get out of the way!" yelled Varundo.
"We have to save Koni!" yelled Jivana.
"Jivana, Varundo," she tried to reason with them but they heard Orochimaru laughing again.
"You can never defeat me Krysta I even have you three fighting amongst yourselves!" he laughed, "Rusuta finish him!"
"Rusuta," struggled Koni but Rusuta shook her head and closed her eyes.
"I won't look at you, while I do this," she told him and the clearing was suddenly filled with screaming as Rusuta bit hard into Koni's neck.
"Koni!" cried Jivana but Krysta still would not let her pass.
"She's going to poison him! Get out of the way!" cried Varundo trying to slam Krysta out of the way but she stood her ground.
The clearing glowed red as Koni's rune started to react again and his screaming began to die out.
"No, no Koni!" worried Jivana. Rusuta's rune started to react with Koni's energy and a shattering noise could be heard as it burst open with a fountain of blood. Rusuta let go of Koni completely and he slumped to the ground in pain but then looked up holding his neck in shock.
"Rusuta?" he wondered and Krysta and the others looked on in awe. Rusuta panted and then slumped down too.
"Thank, you, Koni, I knew, that, would work," she said fainting.
"Koni!" cried Varundo finally able to pass, Jivana came too.
"Mom, dad," he said trying to make sure Rusuta was ok but Krysta was there too and she helped make Rusuta comfortable on the grass.
"Is she ok," worried Koni.
"Her! What about you! Her venom!" worried Jivana.
"It's ok, Velia can cure me," said Koni watching Krysta stand from Rusuta and leave her on the ground.
"Koni, sit out of this, Jivana, Varundo, this ends now," she told them going back over to Orochimaru and Umani. Koni told his parents he was ok and reluctantly they left him to rejoin Krysta.
"What just happened?" worried Umani but Orochimaru wasn't laughing anymore, his wrist was bleeding badly, something had gone wrong and he was panting angrily.
"No matter what you do, what you learn, who you trick, where you try and hide, you will never hurt my family again, I'm making sure of that right now! Rusuta might be your daughter by blood but you have never earned the right for her to call you father! You know as well as I she has just undone all your hard work, work that's taken you ten years! Gone in ten minuets! You've lost your ace Orochimaru, now you're going to lose your life!" cried Krysta angrily her runes flaring up again.
"What do we do now sir?" said Umani.
"We? You little insect! You are going to fight them, and if you don't destroy them, don't ever come back to the Sound Village!" yelled Orochimaru in pain before disappearing into the trees.
"You're all alone now!" said Krysta evilly as Jivana and Varundo circled Umani.
"So, I won't let you beet me," glared Umani unleashing his Shurukin ball.
"Don't be a fool child, nothing you do can defeat us, surrender or die," said Varundo slashing his sword at him.
"Never, Orochimaru is counting on me, once I've destroyed you I'll take Rusuta where she belongs, you haven't won, I'll never let you win!" cried Umani before leaping at Krysta. Krysta blocked and the two went into a fight, however it wasn't long before Krysta had him tied up in her whip tightly, Krysta was angry and he was just far too weak compared to her skills.
"Let me go!" he cried painfully but Krysta only pulled tighter, she was too angry to let him live another moment. Suddenly Umani laughed and turned into mist to escape her whip, only when he appeared the group could see he was severally wounded by her blades.
"You're finished," glared Jivana but Umani continued to laugh before taking out some more shurukin and throwing them into the air. His hand emitted a powerful energy and he cried out,
"You think you've beaten me, but you're wrong, this is the end for you, killed by the stars you love, so ironic! Falling Star Jutsu!"
Krysta Jivana and Varundo looked up and could see several bright lights falling towards them. These were the shurukin Umani had thrown; they'd reacted with his energy and were now falling towards them like powerful comets.
"Those things will blow a creator in this whole forest!" cried Jivana.
"You fool! You'll kill us all!" cried Varundo.
"Orochimaru, I've done it," laughed Umani falling to the ground too injured to fight anymore.
"Krysta what do we do!" cried Jivana.
"Alana? Any ideas?" worried Krysta.
"Koni, get Rusuta out of here, run!" cried Varundo.
"But Dad, what about you!" worried Koni.
"Save yourself, if these comets hit, we're all dead, at least you'll survive if you run now," said Jivana bravely.
"Mom," sighed Koni picking up Rusuta and running away out of the clearing, Rusuta's sash came undone and fell away but Koni didn't stop.
Rusuta's sash suddenly turned into a snake and slithered over to Krysta and the others.
"Homaru?" wondered Krysta.
"I'll grow, climb on my back, then use the Plasma Seal, it's the only thing that can stop those stars," he told them.
"But Homaru, won't you…" worried Krysta worried that the seal would hurt him but Homaru had made up his mind and started to grow. Krysta, Jivana and Varundo climbed on and he thrust them up high into the sky where the stars were falling into view.
"We have to time this just right," said Jivana.
"You can do it, I know you can," said Homaru and Krysta's runes began to glow beginning the ritual. Jivana and Varundo got into position and the rune seal began to form.
"Enemy of the Creed, now thy shall bleed, blood of the just seal away the dry dust, I cast these stars into the Void of their name, send them back from whence they came!" cried Krysta and the whole rune started to flare and glow as the stars fell closer and closer, until finally.
"Krysta now!" cried Homaru drawing his head away leaving them still with the seal about to enact in mid air.
"Plasma Seal Jutsu!" cried Krysta just as the stars fell into the rune they stood around. The power was immense as the blood of Krysta and her friends wrapped around the stars and disintegrated them as they all fell back to the ground. Suddenly the explosion shook trees and scorched the canopy as it blew the three friends towards the ground with an incredible force. Thankfully the fateful stars had been stopped and the forest was saved.
Krysta opened her eyes and found herself tangled in the smashed roots of a tree. She looked around and Homaru came over to her smiling kindly.
"You did it," he smiled and Krysta was able to stand.
"Jivana, Varundo?" she worried looking around the clearing, a few trees had fallen but there was little real damage, Varundo and Jivana soon appeared having been buried under the foliage by the force of the explosion.
"Krysta, you're ok," said Jivana as they all met up in the clearing.
"No, no it can't be, you stopped the cataclysm, how could you stop it," they heard Umani say painfully where he lay now with his own legs trapped under a tree.
"This is not the death you deserve worm, if I had the strength I'd seal you too!" cried Krysta angrily, but now weakened by the seal.
"I'll survive this, I'll be back, you just…" said Umani before flinching in pain. Jivana gasped seeing that Homaru was attached to Umani's arm. Homaru hissed hatefully and returned to Krysta as Rusuta's sash.
"No, no!" coughed Umani in pain suddenly bringing up blood.
"Poison," sighed Jivana.
"Too bad it cannot be from Rusuta's own fangs," said Varundo.
"Koni, Rusuta, we should find them, no telling how far Koni could run with that venom in his veins again, come on, let's leave this piece of dirt to his fate," said Krysta walking off into the trees. Jivana and Varundo followed closely, worried for their son.
"Rusuta, Rusuta, please, remember me, I really did, love you, Ru…" gasped Umani finally dying from his injuries and the poison.