Title; Fading
Disclaimer; Nope I don't own any of the Naruto characters.
FallenRaindrops- Not sure I'd worry too much about that, one of his closest friends is a prostitute after all.
Justsomenobody- Thank you for the kind words I'm happy you're enjoying the tale thus far.
Chapter - 18;
In the northern first district lies the Protected Temple, the primogenital building of Naru.
According to legends passed down through the generations the building was once nothing but an obscure religious temple lying on the outskirts of the ancient sprawling settlement of Konoha. That was until the arrival of the Daemon plague, it's desolation of the Konoha forces and its spread throughout the country.
The Temple supposedly became the last refuge of Naru's ancestors as they attempted to flee north- the Daemons having originally assaulted primarily from the south. The refugees were amazed and relieved to discover that the Daemons could not or would not pass the threshold of the temple.
Three days passed with the Daemons snarling and snapping at the doors as the citizens cowered and wasted away their rations with little hope. That is all except for a single Mage whom developed a fascination with whatever under lying magic held the monsters at bay.
Here the story split into two distinctly different tales, in the common form Pretail Akame weaved a spell based on the same magick's bringing the Rains to drive off the Daemon plague. In the scarcely heard second variant it was reported that Pretail had a Greater Gift of Light not Naru's Protection, thus he could never have performed the spell, instead they said he performed a variant on soul stealing magic harvesting the soul of a fellow Mage to power his saviour magic.
The Temple was also well known for providing the images of the Divine, two in fact for most as given the Divines nature as sexless they were given both a male and female form- though most were still more associated with one or the other.
Domos Miasma or Death was better known by its male form; a stooped hooded figure wearing nothing but loose appearing clothe and gripping two curved blades in his gaudy wrapped hands, the choice of weapons were adopted by some warriors forming a little known style in Naru deemed Death's Twist. Its second statue was of a naked strikingly beautiful pale woman, smirking and holding a knife behind her back.
Illum Baecom or the Light was also better known for its opal male form; clad in heavy bright armour with slicked back hair and handsomely crafted features it held only a single long-sword aloft in the air and gave birth to the mostly bravado orientated fencing style of Baecom. The female statue was of a maternal figure wrapped in robes and smiling gently out at the world.
Blaac Deavorr, Darkness surprisingly was known instead for its ebony female statue perhaps hinting that even before the Raiders there was a romantic image of the God. The stones features were carved into a tragic resolute expression, she wore cracked armour but held no weapons- or at least none that were apparent now, there were however markings on the statues hands that suggested the model had been modified. Her counterpart was of an old man sitting bent and crippled by age in a crumpling throne, crackling to himself in maddness.
Raig Inferno, the feared God of Fire was less surprisingly known by its male image; a powerful figure with fierce features clad in heavy armour holding twin straight swords, again this God's depiction led to the creation or a rare fighting style called Raig's Spears- an admittedly peculiar name for a sword style. Its female form was of a maiden, dressed provocatively and smiling bemusedly as flames flickered by her ankles.
Deapt Hydras master of the Oceans was better known for its feminine form, the rather bizarre form of a woman without legs but instead the tail of a fish. The male form in contrast was simple, a young man wearing light armour and bearing a curved blade and medium round shield- in spite of being less famed the male statue did however inspire a popular school of fighting named for him as Deapt's Rave.
Cassom Quiken, Earth, was known for its male form. A gargantuan bare-chested man gripping an enormous hammer with an equally massive bastard sword slung over his back- impressively the statue gave birth to two popular combat types, Earth's Hammer and the Giants Knife. The female statue was damaged and the second that held suspicions that it may have once been armed.
Froesm Raets, Nature, was known for neither statue in particular though perhaps the feminine if a favourite had to be chosen. It was the only female representation that carried a weapon- a long modestly elegant bow. The male form held the most popular weapon combination in Naru a simple straight sword and square shield, a mix and style known as Raets Form.
Squell Torrnos the Wind did not have a complete statue set, only it's female half. A wild looking woman in billowing clothes with wild cropped hair, the statue did not have hands and born no signs of editing.
Omlan Cistus- the Shadow the Defiler the Assassin- was known by the only statue of it that remained. A man dressed in tattered robes and leather armour clutching a knife and smiling maliciously, it gained the God the position of the patron of Assassins in Naru.
Wadren Naru the patron of the city was also only known by its single remaining monument. A young woman dressed plainly with a loving expression carved into her features- it's left hand though bore trace marks of another sculptures touch, an important editing.
Siccus Dia and Deeis Palgis, Decay and Disease both had similar unassuming statues- perhaps a joke on the authors part given the siblings preference for subterfuge and deception over open battle- between all four of their shared statues there was not a single weapon to be found.
Guidas Proest the Wandering God was known as masculine though neither statue gained much acclaim due to their simple design as a wandering pair sitting together by a camp fire a pair of simple unassuming swords lying on the ground between them.
Embass Loews the God of Lesser Fire was also known as Fires daughter commonly seen as its female statue of a proud woman dressed in armour similar to Raig's own. It's male variant carried a straight sword and round shield in a mix of its parents advertised apparel, few though practiced its school of Dancing Embers.
Worrs Tredior, the War monger was quite naturally held by most as male, remembered for his striking statue of a nude man covered in scars and weapons. A shield and spear hung on his back, a bow was slung over a shoulder and two swords- one straight and one curved- hung loose in either hand. The statue had no eyes, simply hollowed out sockets. The Lady of War was gruesome too and perhaps avoided for that very reason, a young woman disembowelled with her insides spilling out in a truly bloody display of craftsmanship.
Torent Hason, the Storm, was known for its female form of a young child- possibly indicating that the God had been the first of the second generation of new Gods. The male variant wore nothing more than a cloth around his waist and carried a weapon no one chose to try and imitate, a wicked looking chain and sickle combination.
Our time in the farm lands- specifically the noble Thores family's farm- was a dull though not unpleasant couple of weeks. I spent the time in recovery, there was a Mystic healer on hand but upon examining my wound he found no damage present that wouldn't heal naturally, while Sasuke worked the occasional guard shift and did some day labour.
The Guards on shift at the farm rotated every two months returning to the citadel after the fresh troops arrived, just capable of walking once more it was with the returning soldiers we made our way back to Naru- compared to Raiders the men made surprisingly lacklustre company, it didn't help that they treated Sasuke like either a divine warrior or some monstrous abomination. They weren't exactly wrong but it still seemed impolite.
The trip was thankfully uneventful as the Guards allowed us to stay out of the fighting, myself due to my still quite fresh injury and Sasuke because…well I think the commanding officer was just to cowardly to suggest otherwise.
After we reported in at the barracks we left the castle in search of lodgings for the foreseeable future, Sasuke had been fine with the idea of staying in the barracks but I was less so- there seemed something rattling about staying in the quarters your former comrades had shared. I still continued to see flashes of what I'd witnessed above the ruins tower weeks ago.
Of course the added bonus of privacy held a certain allure.
"So where should we go?" I asked the silent Uchiha, we'd loaded up our possessions and I'd been surprised to see how scant little the Uchiha owned outside of his weapons and armour; a change of clothes, some maps of areas outside Naru (written I suspect in his own amateur hand) and some books, two weapon manuals titled 'Death's Manifesto' and 'Raig's Form', three on history and Mages, the journal we'd found in Shadow's keep and the books he'd taken from our latest raid.
Of course I didn't have much more than a change of clothes myself outside of my equipment.
"I don't know, I usually stayed with Sakura when I was outside the barracks…" The Uchiha trailed off grimacing slightly, I decided to ignore the possible accidental allusion to his and Sakura's history.
"There are lodgings around there, it seems as good a place as any to try." I offered, I couldn't say there wasn't a spark of something when I considered the situation- jealousy, resentment or more likely a new found possessiveness of Sasuke. I'd have to come to terms with it eventually though and I supposed the sooner the better.
The rains had been heavier since we returned and despite the relief of knowing Naru's safety wasn't as precarious as the light rains had made it seem I found myself shooting a glare upward as a rebel raindrop managed to trail its way down my back.
We clambered into Sakura's workplace wet and in hindsight tense.
A familiar figure sat at one of the tables sipping the bars foul drink with a somewhat dozy expression on his features, the pinkette we had expected to find though was strangely absent from her usual position working the counter.
"Hiya Sasuke." Croaked the Guard Captain as we passed, he hiccupped as he spoke and I was a little shocked to see Kakashi the Lout in person, Sasuke seemed less shocked and more disgusted at the sight more or less ignoring the Hatake and making his way directly to the bar.
"Where's Sakura?" asked the Uchiha leaning his elbows on the counter, the ratty haired brunette simply snorted and ignored him.
"Deana, where's Sakura tonight?" asked the Raider again, I was silently impressed that Sasuke knew the woman's name.
"Deana's my sister you son of a bitch, and she doesn't work here no more." Answered the woman with a snarl and a snare, so much for knowing her name.
"Right, where is she then?" he asked his voice dipping slightly in threat.
"Out there idiot, stinking bitch was a what-ya-call it, corrupt something. So you don't be coming around here expecting anymore freebies." Snarled the still unknown woman gesturing vaguely to her left, both Sasuke and I knew absolutely what she meant though. Sakura was no longer in Naru, she'd been discovered as bearing a corrupted Gift and exiled.
My breath caught for a moment before a more pressing worry entered my mind, I glanced toward Sasuke taking in his profile. He stood still eyes empty but riveted on the barmaid as she continued to sprout insult after insult about Sakura, I hissed for her to shut up but that seemed only to fuel the rant as she mixed in insults aimed at me too.
I glanced back at Kakashi to see if he intended to help me, the airs of a drunk had fallen away for a moment and his red rimmed eyes watched the Uchiha miserably. He wouldn't step in, I could see that.
Sasuke finally moved after the woman spat at him in a finish to her rant, she shrieked and backed away as the Raider propelled himself over the counter top with the aid of a hand. Two intoxicated men of considerable bravery- given Sasuke's particular reputation in this neighbourhood- tried to come to the woman's aid, the first drunk crumbled to the floor as after he grabbed the Uchiha's shoulder, the warrior drove his elbow first into the man's solar plexus then his nose breaking it with a wet audible crunch. The second man threw a clumsy punch easily blocked by the veteran Raider whom used the arm as a lever to first hammer the man against the bar and then into a shelf of drinks with a heavy clash.
A third man rose to take part as well but I caught him before-hand kicking out his legs and sending him toppling into a thankfully empty table, my wound stung at the movement but only enough to be mildly uncomfortable.
The woman continued to shriek and in a bold move gripped a bottle and swung at the Uchiha like a raving banshee, Sasuke easily took the bottle from her giving her a forceful push that sent her tumbling away from him and the other bottles. With a glint in his eyes I thought a little too close to madness for my liking he uncorked the bottle and slowly poured the contents onto the counter top.
Most of the bars patrons rose at this point, mind you not to try and stop the pyromaniac Raider, they raced quickly from the bar and I was surprised to see several men helping- dragging- the unconscious men with them.
Three bottles later only Sasuke, Kakashi and I remained in the brothel.
"Would you pass me a bottle of the good stuff first?" asked Kakashi drawing a look from Sasuke, not a bad look or even a good one just one of attention as a curious beast may give. I was a little surprised when Sasuke grabbed and threw a bottle to the silver haired man, more surprised when he threw another to me and not surprised at all when he opened a bottle for himself.
"You've earned quite the reputation you know." Dawdled Kakashi sipping from his bottle with a hum of approval, I wasn't sure what to do with mine- I could use a drink for my nerves but not at the cost of aggravating my wound.
"Is that supposed to matter to me." Snapped Sasuke swigging back a mouthful from his own bottle.
"I'm building my position, to contest Orochimaru for Rule. I'd like your support." Returned the Guard Captain, I thought he was leaving out the important point of Lord Akame's continued health.
"The act of exiling the corrupted is barbarous and rather foolish, an outpost of district could easily be secured for them and research put into curing the illness. It's the first of many changes I would make." Continued Kakashi a quiet moral outrage lurking just beneath his calm tone.
"And how does that change what's already occurred?" questioned Sasuke, it was an important note about the Uchiha, apathy was an emotion he only understood in regards to his friends. Kakashi actually grinned as he withdrew two familiar items from a pouch on his belt, Sakura's pain charms.
They were however a little different; enchanted items always held a glitter of their mystical endowment. These items held no glitter but Sasuke's eyes lit in a pained recognition.
"Those aren't enchanted Sasuke." I spoke quickly as I saw the Uchiha reach towards the lightning imbued dagger on his belt, a single spark from it would light the building on fire. I was guessing as a Wraith he couldn't distinguish between the items on sight and I appeared to be right as he paused.
"Did you know Naruto has vanished, disappeared with nothing but his equipment and some supplies pilfered from the Guard house he'd been stationed at." Kakashi seemed to muse aloud, Sasuke blinked with an almost hopeful gleam in his eyes- I didn't doubt my own reflected such hope.
"Kakashi are you saying…" whispered Sasuke, my thoughts echoed his words.
"Normally I wouldn't expect two alone to do well out there but given your latest escapades, I hold some hope. They head southward, toward Molrra." Answered the warrior leaning backward in his seat for a moment before he pulled up his scarf to obscure his features and lifted himself from his seat. He poured the remained of his drink over the table in front of him, apparently his blessing to the burning of the brothel.
"He does that to hide the drink on his breath you know." Muttered the Uchiha plainly flinging his own bottle against the still half full shelf behind the counter, the glass shattered itself and several more covering the bar in more alcohol still.
"Hanabi, an idea takes form." Announced Sasuke using my true name and drawing his dagger from his belt, I raised an eyebrow as it sparked to life- the older Raider had discovered a trait of the weapon during our stay in the farm lands, the tighter the handle was squeezed the brighter the lightning flared.
"I'd noticed." I answered throwing my bottle aside limply, I could understand the man's desire to burn the place- if I discovered Hinata in a similar position to the one Sakura had been in for so long I would likely consider fire as my first if not only response too.
"We free your sister, we leave this place and head south." He surprised me with his words. I knew it was Sasuke's belief that his brother lay to the north, he seemed to read the question in my eyes.
"I had always believed that the day I abandoned Naru and pursued Itachi would be the same, I see now that they are not." He voiced answering my confusion, that he still seemed intent on fighting his brother didn't bother me.
"And after Hinata and Sakura are somewhere safe we begin your pursuit." I added, he shot me an odd look- I imagined considering asserting his intention to go alone in that pursuit- but he didn't comment.
Softly he tapped the blazing weapon against the bar top and hot flames streaked along it in an instant; we stepped back out into the rains intent on finding ourselves accommodation for several nights far from this place.
I took a hearty swig of the offered wine- cheap as it was- thankful that it washed away the former taste lingering in my mouth.
"I don't know why you're so insistent on getting those brats out." Muttered the soft voice of my companion as he rewrapped the belt of his robes, I took another drink of the bitter wine anxious as all Darkness for the pleasant numbness that came with drinking to begin.
"Does it matter, are the pendants complete?" I asked, unlike Riggs whom got easily offended at being remained that this was purely a business arrangement the Alchemist Knocks simply chuckled at the mention of my price. I wasn't sure which man disgusted me more, I tried not to think about these things once they were completed.
"They near completion. I'm curious, a third escapee wouldn't exactly have cost you further." He pressed apparently not happy to let the matter rest, I didn't allow the my expression to darken but kept the vacant pretty smile these meetings required plastered on my lips.
"Three would be too many, the kids will be easier lost in the Mystic structure alone." I answered, my Gift would not be one easily hidden nor my appearance simply obscured or forgotten- I'd been here too long to be overlooked by any of the guards even at a glance.
"Perhaps if you saw what became of the sacrifices, you may attempt it anyway." Answered the Alchemist with a shiver at the thought he summoned within his own mind, again I forced my expression to remain a plain stupid smile.
"Then you'd best keep their fate a secret." I told him because Naru be damned I hadn't went through all of this to put the children at risk in a moment of cowardice.
"If you insist." He returned, I finished my wine and considered asking for another cup before Knocks regained himself for another round.
He smiled greasily allowing his eyes to drag over my body.
I asked for more wine.
I sat upon the steps watching the Uchiha pace absently, it had been several days since the Raider had torched the brothel in rage and we'd been laying low in a small loft in the northern most district.
We- well actually just Sasuke- had been summoned to the temple for a meeting, the note however had not said whom sot his company and we'd came armed. We had not yet gained new armour but I wore a new leather vest similar to Sasukes own, my shield strapped to my forearm and my sword upon my hip. Sasuke's blades hung on his hips too and the miserable dagger I still associated with my near-murderer lay clipped to the back of his belt.
"I've heard these statues represent fighting styles, which do you use?" I asked hoping to lighten the warriors mood somewhat with small talk, he paused in his stride and offered me a look of contemplation.
"That's a tricky question actually, I've used this sword since…well, for a time now. I began with the Giant's Knife like Kakashi, then Deapt's Rave after I grew enough that the sword fit only a single hand, after that I practiced Death's Twist for a time and then finally I fought as I do now- a combination of the Knife, the Rave, the Twist and Raig's Spears." Answered the Uchiha pointing in turn to Earths, Oceans, Deaths and then Fires statues as he listed the styles. The desired effect had been had though and the Wraith warrior had calmed down somewhat, he strode over to me and took a seat to my right.
"I started teaching you Giant's Knife but began to mix it with Dancing Embers after you gained your shield." Added Sasuke pointing to the God of Lesser Fire as he mentioned the new style I apparently had some knowledge of.
"Seems like forever since I practiced." I mused aloud, I knew before my injury I had ranked around the same skill level as the more experienced guards. I wondered how I would compare now and how long I would need to shake off the rust and begin to improve once more.
"Some say an injury like yours weakens a warrior, gives them a fear and dampens their skill with forced rest. Others say stepping into Death's realm and returning is a step necessary before one can even make claim as a warrior." Commented the Uchiha. I pondered the meaning of his words as the temples door swung open.
Two silver haired man entered in front with a column of guards behind them, one of the men was easily recognisable as the slimy Mage Kabuto the other was unfamiliar bearing a pair of long thin ivory blades on his belt.
"Dear Sasuke so happy you could make it." Commented the Lesser Mage of Decay, the smile that stretched out on his features gave me a distinct feeling of revulsion.
"Seems we've wasted our time Gin." Commented the warrior, it took me a moment before I realised he was in fact speaking to me. We rised together I supposed intent on finding another way to pass the day- I had to finish my letter to Hinata so it seemed a better use of time.
"Not at all dear Sasuke, the graceful Lord Akame himself blessed this exhibition match." Continued Kabuto unperturbed, the other silver haired man marched forward drawing his blades with something of a flourish. Sasuke gestured me backward toward the statues as he copied the sentiment drawing his weapons smoothly.
"Have you met Saint Commander Kimimaro, he's quite the swordsman. Given the similarities in your styles I wonder whom is better." As Kabuto spoke the guards he'd brought circled the two forming a ring, if either cared about being surrounded they didn't show it.
As Sasuke circled around and I saw his eyes I realised that a familiar light shun within them, like the Wyvern, the other Wraith and another hundred little times similar the swordsman's eyes flared with a pleasure. He saw a challenge to be overcome, a chance to transcend what he was now to gain a new level.
This was the Killer Kimimaro, a man famed as a competitor the Master Swordsman of Naru, a man said to have slain over a hundred men with his variation of Raig's Spears.
And that is chapter 18, not too much action but I think some important shifts in circumstance. The next chapter of course will contain some fighting.
I'm trying to match the mixed elements of the Gods sexless nature in Naru's less than progressive society, naturally the statues and the editing to them have little to do with the God's actual apperances and such.
Anyway let me know what you make of the recent developments and if you've any questions I shall be happy to hear them.
R&R