The Path of Destruction
Chapter 2
By: Aireonna
Disclaimer: Yes, so I still don't own Naruto or any other anime for that matter. But, plot is mine.
A/N: So, I'm hoping with this chapter I'll actually get some responses. I enjoy writing this, and have a lot of ideas in store for this fic. I just hope I'll have more time for it along with all my others.
"I said, are you alright?"
His voice chimed in my ears once more. I could feel my brain processing the words, but the part that came up with a response didn't seem to be working at this moment in time.
Great, I don't even know the guy but I'm already making myself look like a total coward.
Clearing my throat, I forced a few blinks trying to recompose myself.
"I am…" I squeaked. My voice didn't come out quit as I wanted, but it was better than nothing.
He held out his large, pale hand towards me in a friendly gesture to help me up. My eyes fell to the offered appendage and yet I still didn't move from my small patch of earth that had broken my fall. If you could call it that, might I add?
I could feel that I would have bruises, if I didn't already, by tomorrow morning. And my wrist held a dull ache, as if I had fallen on it wrong. That will be fun to work with tomorrow.
"May I help you up miss?"
His tone almost sounded annoyed and harsh. Like he wasn't used to saying such words.
I squared my eyes on him and scoffed.
I didn't enjoy help from others. I've always been the independent type. My aunt and uncle called it ignorance. I called it strength. Not relying on anyone else saves me from a lot of unwanted moments.
Pushing the ground with the palms of my hands, I somehow accomplished standing on my own without falling back down.
When I stood fully, I at last allowed my eyes and brain to take in the man before me. Which by the way, I should have done before such actions.
He was taller than I, standing a good two heads above me. His hair was dark as the night and cascaded down his back, falling just above his waistline. It was tied back, to not get in the way, but a few strands strayed here and there. His robes were white, tied tightly to hug his full upper body. I could just make out definite muscle lines. His bottom half covered by cloth dark as his hair.
My eyes widened at the rather large sword that he held still loosely in his hand. The moonlight glinted off of the metal like stars in the sky.
I finally allowed my line of sight to find his face. Those pools of moonlight that had caused my body to remain still stared back at me quizzically. Those eyes that I should recognize anywhere. Those eyes that could see right through me.
"You're a Hyuuga?" I coughed.
I suddenly felt more impudent than I must look. I had tears and rips randomly upon my yukata. Dirt covered most of it, tainting it now the color of soil in most parts.
A small smile flashed across his perfect face. His features were soft yet hard. Like a god that had no compassion, but deep down had a heart.
"Of course, what are you doing out this far? You should know the rules." His eyes glanced me up and down, summing up my small and delicate form.
I ground my teeth angrily. I hated when men sized me up. I may be small but I am not one to reckon with.
"I know the rules Sempai, and I do apologize. I got lost tracking something…" I stopped before saying anything else. He had seen the creature that was the source of my fear. He had to of, right?
His large gems widened.
"Why would you risk such ignorance?" His tone was switched to something harsher.
I knew this should anger me, but right now it didn't. I began feeling weaker and weaker each moment. I tried to think of the cause and it only made me smile. I had not eaten once this day. I had slept the sun away. Nothing was in my system. A body cannot run off nothing.
My eyesight began to blur slightly.
"I apologize…" My words dimmed, my voice fading. I felt like any second the darkness would welcome me once more.
"Food…" I managed to whimper before I fell forward, darkness welcoming me. I didn't last long enough to see or feel if the ground would ravage my already sore body once more, nor was I conscious enough to feel strong arms catch me and save me from my assaulter once again.
When I opened my eyes, I felt a weird sense of déjà vu. They stung harshly as if they hadn't been used in a very long time.
My throat was dry and I knew if I attempted to speak, not a word would make it through the desert dryness.
I could faintly feel the tenderness of my limbs, but oddly it wasn't as strong as earlier. Like already my body had begun an intense healing process.
"Tenten-chan?"
I knew that voice. That voice had only been waking me for the past almost thirteen years now.
I turned to catch a glimpse of Shizune kneeling beside me. Her face was pale as always. Her dark hair kept short out of her face and her eyes sharp upon me, watching to see if I remained of this world.
I couldn't answer; I could only blink in response.
I felt another presence before my eyes sent any image to my brain. The man from earlier was behind Shizune, his intense stare bearing into my very soul.
"She's awake. I will see myself out." His words remained in the harsh tone he had spoken to me in earlier.
"Thank you for bringing her home safely Hyuuga-san. We are greatly appreciative."
Shizune always had a way with words.
"Yes, our youthful Tenten-chan has a knack for running into bad luck." Gai chuckled to himself.
"There is no need. I will return tomorrow to check on her. Please keep more of an eye on her."
Before any other words were said, he glanced once more at me, his eyes softening only slightly. If I hadn't of been staring already into those depths, I wouldn't have noticed. And with that he disappeared through our doorway.
"What were you thinking young lady?!" It wasn't very often that Shizune used that tone with me.
I closed my eyes, still feeling weak. I felt as if I hadn't slept or eaten in days.
"Shizune…" Gai's tone was unfamiliar to me. It sounded concerned and full of mystery.
"We could have lost her Gai."
I pushed myself from my resting place slowly, sitting up to face my guardians.
"I'm sorry." My voice rasped.
My eyes met theirs and the anger that had been there a few moments previous disappeared.
"I fell asleep in the clearing and woke when the moon was already high in the sky. I do not know why I slept for so long. And yet even now I feel sleep deprived and weakened." My voice was slowly returning, but I needed liquid fast.
"Here Tenten-chan, you are parched." Gai handed me a small bowl of water to drink.
I bowed my head in respect, and drank its contents quickly.
I felt both of my guardians' hands upon my shoulders in a caring manner, which lightened my mood slightly.
"Don't worry us like that again please." Shizune kissed my forehead softly and patted the top of my head causing my brown buns to bounce.
"I did not mean to worry you Oba-san, Oji-san. I do not know what happened…"
I decided that they did not need to know what happened after I woke in my clearing. Making me sound crazy at this point didn't sound very smart. A large black wolf, larger than any wolf I have ever seen, didn't exist. Right?
Shizune handed me a small piece of bread, but as I tore a piece and chewed, the taste of it wasn't what I was used to.
I suddenly lost my appetite.
My stomach argued against such rulings, but I couldn't bring myself to finish.
"Maybe you just need to rest dear."
I nodded in response to them both, even though resting is all I seemed to be doing today.
I stood slowly, my legs feeling like jelly beneath me, wobbling as I headed towards my small room.
I barely had time to get comfortable, laying my head down against the warmth of my blankets.
My eyes fell shut and once more darkness called my name, lulling me back into its embrace.
What welcomed me were not the colors of night, but the dark colors of red that blurred my vision.
My heartbeat intensified within my chest as I could feel ground beneath my feet. I had to be still sleeping because this nightmare was not within my room where I had just laid.
Screams echoed in my ears. I heard swords clashing, ringing loudly in the vast area and I could see fire blazing across the sky. Howling of a sort reverberated within my bones, catching my breath in my chest. My eyes could not make out anything that surrounded me. It was as if the garnet that covered my sight blinded me. I could smell iron in the air, could almost taste it on my tongue. My throat burned, and my stomach churned.
"Save her!" I could hear a woman's voice rain over all other sounds.
I did not know what was happening, but I was scared. I have never felt such fear in my life. I felt arms wrap around my torso, hauling me up from where I stood. My heart ceased its beating, and a wetness ran down my pale cheeks.
"Heike…"
The word was strangely familiar to me, yet I have never heard it.
The world sped; flashing by me so fast I could not keep up. And then there was darkness.
I jolted from my slumber with a scream. Falling from where I lay, my head hit the hard ground in turn bringing my sharp teeth down on my tongue. A second scream escaped my mouth, and I could still feel a wetness streaming down my blushed cheeks.
My body felt damp, my skin glistening in the moonlight from the moisture.
Moonlight?
I had not been sleeping for long.
My nightmare was one that I have not had. I've had flashes relating to such before, but nothing like this. I oddly felt like the dark creature from hours previous played a strong part.
My head pounded, a knot forming from my fall.
Glancing down, I noticed I hadn't even bothered to change out of my yukata from the day. I felt dirty, savaged, scared.
This was new to me. I do not know these feelings well. What was that?
Nightmares are just that, nightmares. So sleeping once more was out of the question.
It seemed odd to me that Shizune did not run to see what had happened, but I'm sure both Gai and her were exhausted from my disappearance.
Bathing.
Getting cleaned sounded like heaven at this moment.
Grabbing clean bed clothing, I headed to bathe.
This time of night was normally not recommended to be out, but I could not sleep, would not sleep.
Reaching the hot spring, I removed the filthy clothing, and slowly stepped into the hot water. It burned at first, reddening my pale skin instantly. My body flushed in the heat, but I didn't care. Walking deeper in so the water now covered my body, I sat so nothing but my head remained untouched.
The water felt like a breath of fresh air upon my battered form. The cuts from earlier sang to me, the water cleansing them of the dirt and grim. I felt as if I have never truly been clean. The water washed away all my fears, the nightmare fading in my mind.
I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against a rock.
"We need to stop meeting like this."
I screamed.
My head fell under the water, my body sinking down and water filling my lungs. Touching my feet to the bottom of the spring, I pushed myself upwards.
When my head broke the surface, I took in a deep breath of air, pushing the water from my lungs.
Remembering that the reason for all this was a voice, I remained beneath the water allowing it to cover me from my intruder.
"I wish you no harm." The voice sounded nervous and unsure.
When my eyes cleared of the water, my hands pushing my long brown hair from my face, dripping water into my mouth, I found the figure of the man from earlier.
He had turned away, his back facing me.
Wow, a gentleman?
"Then what do you wish Sempai? Intruding on someone while bathing isn't very proper." I coughed a little, the rest of the water pushing itself from my airway.
Hugging myself, to cover my form from onlookers, I waited for his answer.
I could almost hear him growl lowly.
"I did not know someone bathed. It is past an hour of such duties. I was doing my rounds and seen someone occupied this spring, so I came to check." His head turned slightly so I could hear his words, but still not enough to see me.
"I could not sleep…" My voice was soft and innocent. I titled my head downwards to look into the darkness of the water that rippled around me as my hair dripped onto its surface.
The moonlight reflected off the surface and it brought clarity to my mind. It had always been something refreshing to me, like a childhood fondness to a toy.
Inhaling deeply and exhaling, I returned my stare to the man before me.
I could feel his uneasiness. It almost made me laugh that I, a mere woman was causing such a man to falter before me.
"I did not mean to intrude. But these hours are not meant for such things, please finish and return to the safety of your home."
I laughed at his words that in turn caused him to turn towards me. His eyes widened at my girlishness.
"Safety…a word that this village believes in." I spoke not to him, but to myself.
I heard him step forward, but not too close. He was keeping his distance.
I felt more naked now, the proximity growing smaller. Pulling my arms tighter around me, I dropped further into the water, the wetness now touching my chin.
He faltered once more, stopping instantly.
"Ahem, pardon me…"
"A Hyuuga to protect me. How wondrous." My words stopped his.
"My name is Neji, Neji Hyuuga." His voice remained harsh even now.
"Tenten." The word formed on my lips without knowledge. My voice betraying me, speaking of own will.
I turned away from him, feeling brave in the moonlight, and began walking out of the hot spring and towards where my dry clothing lay on a rock near by. As I resurfaced, I could feel the chill of the night's air on my skin, but it did not bother me. The night was something I loved. All aspects of it.
Wrapping a clean yukata around my form, and tying it tightly at my waist I turned to meet him. My long, wet brown hair fell down my back, touching the back of my thighs, dripping down my legs.
His eyes were wide, but when they met mine they lost all emotion and remained empty. I could get lost in the depths of such moonlight irises.
"I bid thee goodnight, Hyuuga-sempai." I flashed him a toothy grin, and turned back towards my home.
I could feel him behind me, following me.
His footsteps were dim, almost silent to the ear, but they echoed in my chest.
What was getting into me?
"Tenten-san."
His deep voice halted me.
"The night is something to be cautious of." His words were softer than normal. His voice traced with concern.
My shoulders slouched, and I turned my head slightly to speak.
"The night is the only thing that I am unafraid of."
I didn't wait to see if he had anything else to say. I swiftly made it to my home, into my room, and back into my bed. I knew sleep was not going to welcome me.
Every time I closed my eyes, instead of red, I now saw pools of moonlight.
What could be so bad about the night, when it is the only thing I have ever related to?
Closing my eyes to try and sleep once more, as if to answer my question, blinding white, sharp teeth engulfed my minds eye.
A/N: End of chapter 2. So what do you think so far? Is it worth continuing?