Title; Fading
Disclaimer; Nope I don't own any of the Naruto characters.
Chapter - 20;
Lord Orochimaru of Naru has quite the legacy from his generations on the council. Elected at the young age of seventeen he has held his family's seat for more than fifty years now and has been rumoured to have been involved in almost every shady deal in the citadels history.
Without a doubt the majority of both the Mystics and the Noble Houses were allied with the powerful Mage, if he were elected to Akame's throne he would doubtlessly herald a new golden age for both parties. The expense of course would be the lower classes to pay, to suffer so that the rich may grow a little fatter.
There were other stranger rumours though, ones that coincided with the Lords rare sightings. Some claimed that he had discovered a technique to steal youth and in fact travelled the city with less fear of assassins in the guise of the youthful Kabuto. Others still thought he had found a way to bypass the Daemons and left Naru castle regularly for nefarious trade with the cities enemies. Some claimed the actual man had died years ago and was merely a conspiracy on the part of his followers.
Whether any of these whispers held true though was an object of much pub hall debate but wasn't believed by those not intoxicated or dangerously foolish.
"Is she always this late?" I asked more than the beginnings of impatience resonating in my tone. It's not that I wasn't the patient type, I truly believed myself to be one of the most patient people in this Citadel of self-interest and self-indulgence, but we had been waiting for over an hour now only half sheltered in the small cove of the alley path.
"No, but it's a good omen." Answered Sasuke brushing a clump of wet hair out of his eyes, with his larger frame the powerful Raider had been much less sheltered than I had and now bore a remarkable resemblance to a half drowned alley cat.
"What do you mean?" I asked grimacing as a sudden gust of wind chilled my damp legs and drew a shiver from the Uchiha, we'd both take ill if we didn't get out of the wet clothing soon.
"The later she arrives the better her mood, and prices." Explained the warrior taking a moment to once again scan either end of the alleyway for a sign of our elusive contact, his darkening glare suggested there was not.
"Quite the moody merchant huh?" I joked weakly, still the Uchiha smirked his wicked grin and his eyes flashed with something approaching humour.
"She insists she's whimsical." He returned. I wondered if that remark bore some tale, after all I can't imagine the storied woman had taken the comment well. We were here to meet the first woman warrior of Naru, the Weapon Maiden Tenten. She wasn't a part of the corps but had gained enough repute as a swordsman in her employment that she qualified. Tenten was the woman you searched for if you wanted contraband, Chaos magick's or to pawn off weapons and enchanted gear to pay gambling debts. I knew that Sasuke had gained his weapon manuals, maps and some other books from her but he also mentioned she possessed objects for learning basic Chao's magic, enchanted gear and other magical tools that he had no call to be interested in.
"Here she comes now." Declared the Uchiha brushing his drenched hair out of his face once more. I had expected a more flashy or impressive entrance from the famed woman, instead she simply strolled up to us and nodded to Sasuke tensely. It appeared to be a signal to follow as Sasuke joined in step with her, I trailed behind a little unsurely.
After a couple of minutes' walk we descended a slick flight of stone steps to the basement level rooms of some tenements, Tenten paused to unlock the last door on the right and invited us in to the pleasantly warm room. It was clearly a room set up to do her work not live as each wall and surface were fixed up to display various goods.
"I didn't take you as the type for keeping a pet Sasuke." Commented the black market merchant as she striped from her soaked cloak revealing the obscenely tight leather armour she wore beneath and her simple elegant short sword. Sasuke and I copied the action- a little pointlessly on his part- removing our wet outer wear and ignoring her jab.
"I still haven't gotten anything you would be interested in Uchiha, unless this is a social call?" teased the woman with an ease the Sasuke had a poor time reflecting, in fact the Uchiha looked distinctly uncomfortable at the prodding.
"I'm not here for me." Answered the stoic Raider glancing to me for a second. At the news that I would be her customer Tenten's dark eyes flickered with mirth as she approached me.
"Hi, I-" I was out off before I could finish my greeting the slightly taller woman holding up a surprisingly smooth looking hand- I'd been kind of been expecting some tough scars from her description.
"Save it, I don't need a fake name." she hissed glaring slightly as she gave me a long appraisal scanning down my body, I felt my breast tighten in apprehension. Maybe this was a bad idea. At this range I could see her pupils clearly and their appearance gave me pause, the left pupil had a vertical line bisecting it transforming it into two semicircles and the right was even stranger wrapped instead into the shape of a four pronged star.
"Revealing eye. She can foresee a lie once she makes eye contact." Muttered the Uchiha stepping closer to me in an almost protective manner, at the moment though I was worried enough to be grateful for it.
She hummed with a distinct tone of victory after a couple of minutes.
"He can learn Chaos. I assume that's why you're here." Stated the woman unknowingly putting my mind at ease, now I just had to avoid gender specific speech so as not to set off her alarm again. Once more I found myself envying Sasuke's Wraith legacy…an important question occurred to me.
"Can Chaos magic work on you?" I asked suspicious, from the little I understood of Wraith's they worked on the principle of sharing the blood of a God. Since God's couldn't assault one another their Gifts couldn't affect those with Divine blood. Chaos magic didn't come from the God's though.
"No." Sasuke answered as Tenten snared in agreement.
"When Chaos magic clashes with a Gift the victor depends on a lot of variables, the willpower of the casters, the flavours of the magic and overall the power of the spell. Sasuke's little quirk overpowers both on some principle level." Answer Tenten proving herself the more talkative of the two. I had a theory though on the 'principle level', wouldn't the blood of Orders Divine force Order onto the Chaos magic supplied by a mere mage.
"But you've got a nice body for Chaos work." The merchant almost purred at me, I resisted the urge to blush at the creepy tone and thanked her offhandedly.
"I'll need to see your wound." She stated again impressing me with her ability to glance at me and distil knowledge from some unknown source. I was reluctant and confused, I guess it was obvious which wound she meant but I still had plenty enough old scars to feign confusion.
"The one that almost stole your life…you are bashful for a Raider aren't you." She added emphasising the 'are' in a strange pitch. Her next move caught me off-guard. With no real care for modesty or decorum of any kind the brunette undid the straps of her armour, unzipped it and pulled it off revealing the pale flesh beneath. I was happy to note Sasuke had turned away as I got a view of the quite impressive bust her tight leather didn't do justice.
Admiration or jealous were not the first emotions I felt though, rather there was a likely unfair trill of disgust and pity moulded into one. She grasped one breast and angled herself for a clearer view of the ugly pulsing mark on the underside of her cleavage. The almost living 'X' scar glowed dully purple and green swirling and dancing within its boundaries.
"I hope it's the scar that's caught your attention, or I may have to charge." She joked I thought somewhat weakly, it was still enough to snap me from my ravine and prompt me to shut my mouth with an embarrassing clap as she redressed.
"That's my name stake, 'X' is an old symbol for ten you know. As for the magic, they were delivered by a blade of Disease- they need to be kept in constant check with Chaos." She explained stepping closer to me once she had finished, it would be my turn it seemed. I pulled my shirt loose and hiked it up enough to reveal my scar but nothing else.
"Do you have any preferences. An element, creation, manipulation, physical buffering…anything of that sort?" Questioned the woman running a cool appendage over my stomach in a too flirty manner for my likening.
"Fire and buffing." I answered easily, Embass Loews had charmed me with its benevolent nature and even if Chaos magic wouldn't be directly linked to Loews I preferred it even in symbolism. Physical buffering only made sense, I only knew close combat and it'd be easier to adapt it into my style.
"You're not really suited to either, far to slight a thing of it. But fuck that, the beauty of Chaos is you can force your way." Remarked the woman moving away for some supplies to give me my new abilities.
"How much you looking to spend kiddies?" she directed the question towards both of us. A Raider earned roughly thirty coppers per Raid- usually thirty per night out of the citadel- and went on two or three Raids a month, a Raider could earn about a thousand coppers in a year. I'd been earning more than was usual, we'd been working less regularly than most Raiders but that was migrated by our longer stays outside- the last one in particular had been a neat little sum, though they had been reluctant to pay out for it. Minus living expenses I had about two hundred, two hundred and fifty coppers- well most of it was in silvers, easier to carry that way and all.
"Six hundred give or take." Answered my companion before I could offer my more conservative one hundred estimate.
"My oh my that's quite a bit. You know I've got something else you might be interested in." mentioned the woman before disappearing into the back of the shop of a moment, I took the opportunity to give the Uchiha a significant glance.
"Consider it a gift, I won't exactly need the money once we leave." Remarked the Uchiha, I wondered what else exactly he had planned with his considerable sums. I knew Sasuke had been working constantly for the last five years and living a rather withdrawn lifestyle.
"Here we are, quite the beauty." My breath caught at the sight of the weapon she held, the blade was pure glittering ice and a cool mist hung around the weapon unnaturally.
"It's ice alchemy, the iron turned to ice. With a water source nearby you can manipulate the blade. It'll never dull." She bragged before offering the crystalline weapon to the older Raider. He grasped it and moments later the blade shifted and fell to the floor…a puddle.
"Probably should have expected that one. The blade shifts based on the users magical input." Sighed Tenten taking the handle back, I was amazed as she lowered the hilt to the puddle and seemed to draw the blade from the ground sucking back up the puddle.
"Seven hundred if you're interested." She made the offer to me for obvious reasons, what would Sasuke do with a portable puddle after all.
"I've already got a sword." I answered somewhat lamely, I liked my sword and I didn't want or need a new one.
"We do need some other items Tenten." Spoke the warrior, the brunettes eyes lit up with a particular pleasure, I guess today was going to be quite profitable for her.
"Firstly your silence about this trade. Now the items. A reusable torch, alchemic. A charm to hide a Greater Gifted. Travel clothing and flexible armour for us and one more…" The Uchiha continued his list of items some of which had to be switched for slightly different alternatives but for the most part we had what we needed, Tenten didn't comment on the third copy of various items.
The final price was, in my opinion, a bit ridiculous but the Uchiha paid it without complaint.
"How long will this take?" asked the Wraith folding his arms as Tenten gathered her supplies to empower me, the sight of the various vials and needles both excited me and enflamed me with a nervous energy.
"About an hour, maybe two." Asked Tenten instructing me to lie on a nearby table, I did so with a slight reluctance, Sasuke seemed contemplative for a moment.
"I'm going to see Victor then, check on the progress of my new blade. Unless you need me?" I wanted to protest and have him stay here and I very well may have had Tenten not been present. I reluctantly kept my silence as Tenten waved the warrior off.
"I've been allowing you to retain your life for so long on the merit of your abilities. But your cousin to foresight failed to prevent this mistake didn't it?" Ranted Akame so beyond himself in fury he had even risen to his feet, pacing back and forth and gritting his teeth audibly in the intervals of his speech.
Despite being asked a question I thought better than to speak, it would only worsen my position and I suspected anymore blood loss or trauma would steal me of my consciousness. A small part of me even feared for scars, the still bleeding whip marks on my back would heal I knew but they would forever leave their trace. In my mind I knew scars were the least of worries beyond the abysmal fates of Sara Orca and myself, but despite that my heart and the thought of a certain man still gave me concern.
"Did you really think your cunt enough to buy silence from my men? They'll have their fill of the retched thing in the coming days, the entire militia will have free reign of your thighs and tits." He spat spittle flying from his mouth and speckling my cheek as his language turned crude. I didn't care for the words one way or another a different thought pounding within my mind.
I had failed Sara and Orca.
"Do you think that to be wise Good Lord Light?" questioned a raspy voice from the fat Lords right. I glanced at the unfamiliar figure doubled over in old age, or perhaps he was weighed down by the heavy wrinkles lining his pale face. I expected the man to be punished harshly for speaking so boldly given Akame's dark mood, somehow instead Akame seemed to freeze at the words.
"Speak plainly Orochimaru." Akame ordered turning his gaze for the first time from my battered form to the ancient man instead.
"That Uchiha you fear so keenly, hasn't he an interest in this woman? You may pass off those bruises without reprisal but a death always invites a death in turn." As ever mention of Sasuke seemed to cut Akame's spine away from him, he seemed to visibly sag as thoughts occurred to him in rapid succession.
I wondered at the argument myself, would Sasuke seek vengeance for me? Would Hanabi? They had refused to leave me here in this cursed tower. If Akame made liars of them, broke their oath without permission, then would the Knight and Dragon descend on the keep in bloodlust.
I was afraid that might be the case.
"He wouldn't dare." Stated the Lord with less confidence than he'd likely intended. I almost wanted to laugh, I even may have had my jaw not been so painfully swollen.
"No? The Wyvern Slayer, a man whom appears for all intents and purposes untouchable to Magick's and Daemon's alike. Kimimaro still has not regained the use of his legs you know? He even taunts the Gods to no ill end if you believe Hatake's report. Would such a man fear confrontation with the High Lord Light." Listed the elderly man with a cruel grin, I got the impression ' the High Lord Light' title was meant to be heard as 'the fat piece of shit'- Akame certainly seemed to hear it that way.
"That said I have a plan you may appreciate, for dealing with both the Raider and his wrench." Added the skeleton his slimy features twisting into impossible cruelty. My ears perked up to take note of their plot against Sasuke but apparently they realised the risk of speaking so openly around me, both pairs of eyes lay upon me one filled with impotent rage and the others coldly empty.
"Have her cleaned up and locked away. Solitary, I want no one speaking with the traitor." Ordered Orochimaru gesturing weakly to the guards that flanked my sides, Akame nodded his agreement.
I was dragged away roughly to be locked with nothing to do but mused upon my failings, of Sara and Orca's impending deaths, of the knife I now knew hung over Sasuke and by extension Hanabi and the unknown part I would play in its falling.
"Titans Arm, First Flare, Double Step and the must have Sixth Sense." Spoke Tenten listing off the techniques I would gain now that I had the Chaos charms drawn over my scar. It had been a wonder to witness the bright paints dry and sink into the skin vanishing without a trace.
"You'll need to wear these charms at all times at first, they migrate the cost of the Magick's and are necessary to improve your form. Without them you will be stagnant, with them each application of a technique will improve it ever so slightly." Explained the brunette in the dreary voice of someone rambling off memorised speech.
"Which arm do you favour child-Raider?" Tenten asked drawing the charm for my first technique from her stock. The bronze band bore scratches but the merchant assured me it would work as well anyway, it held a carving on its front of a name with a single arm swollen to twice its natural size.
I offered my left and she helped me tighten it upon my skin, the arm fell to my side useless and numb.
"This technique's price is to put your arm into hibernation. Once it awakens you'll be able to activate the stored energy to increase your strength for a period. As you become more talented the hibernation period and hence the amount of energy you can store will expand." Explained Tenten, as she finished I was amazed to feel my arm return to life. Apparently I couldn't store all that much energy yet.
"The First Flare is a fire technique allowing you to form living balls of fire. Of course it will take a while before the flames get hot enough to kill. Your payment is an increasingly nasty burn with each subsequent use." Explained Tenten handing me what appeared to be for all intents and purposes simple ruby red prayer beads. Tenten flipped them over to reveal the insignias on the underside at my sceptical look.
"These are the markings powering the charm and these ones are more decorative simply beseeching the Gods of Fire to grant them more power and such." Explained the woman airily as she wrapped the beads four times around my wrist. I was going to press another question but was cut off as a burning pain erupted over my wrist, I watched tears springing to my eyes as a long burn snaked its way up my forearm before residing leaving a faint scar in its wake.
"That's your measure, fill it and your flesh will go up in flames." Explained Tenten almost sounding sympathetic as she retrieved some ointments from her belt and dabbed my still stringing wound.
"Why do they pray to the Gods? Isn't this Chaos Magic?" I questioned as Tenten finished treating my arm, in all honesty I didn't mind the link, I was just curious. That said had she offered me something lined with prayers to Shadow I may have felt otherwise.
"It's an old design, from back before we realised the two forms were distinct from one another." Answered the merchant retrieving another charm from her stock. I was more abrasive by now fearing what new punishment was to come.
"Now then Double Step, a speed technique allowing for brief intervals of heightened agility. The price for this one…you know I actually can't remember." Trailed off the brunette looking particularly puzzled for a moment before she simply shrugged.
"Hang on n-" Is all I got out before Tenten moved with a frightening combination of speed and dexterity and latched the charm onto my belt. We both waited on baited breath for something horrible to transpire until…my stomach let out an audible grumble.
"That was it, bouts of intense hunger." Commented Tenten with a simple shrug as I resisted the urge to glare at her too happy and relaxed attitude. For all she had known my legs could have fallen off, though maybe that speculation was a little overdramatic on my part.
"Last one now kid, your Sixth Sense the technique that will allow you to sense magic and its users…comes with Divinely awful migraines." muttered the brunette removing a simple sapphire charm on a black cord, she gestured for me to turn so she could put it on.
"Will it be effected by this?" I asked pulling the Naru charm Sasuke had given me from where it lay beneath my shirt. He'd simply tossed the thing to me casually one evening without any explanation of what it was or where it came from. He just told me to wear it at all times.
"No, they won't disturb one another." She eased my conscious. I wasn't even sure what the charm did if anything, but I'd chose it over a new ability without hesitation.
Not that surprisingly as the cord was tightened in place I felt a crippling headache rake my mind turning it to putty for a moment and blurring my vision. After a moment it eased but didn't fade completely, I eyed my new friend a little darkly as she hummed a little in approval.
"My of my the Raider does have some interesting friends, doesn't he sister?" she asked after a moment a twinkle in her brown eyes. I felt a shiver trill its way up my spine and was suddenly all the more eager for Sasukes return.
"Why did you…" I trailed off as I felt a warm presence seem to radiate from the woman, she reached out and rubbed my bicep soothingly.
"The Sixth Sense also allows for empathic communication between users, you can keep silent and hide from others with training but you can't lie or mislead. What you're feeling now is my support sister." She explained softly, maybe there was truth to her words as I felt compelled to believe her.
"You'll…keep my secret then?" I asked softly testing the water tensely.
"I usually find some buried secret and use it to raise the price a little. But you're the second woman warrior to come out of this dingy little hole, I feel a kinship." She spoke with a grin, I was trepid.
"If it helps you've got no choice but to believe me." She offered lightly. Her eyes crinkled slightly, I suspected as she felt my annoyance.
"And I'll teach you to hide your little secret." She added, I considered murder. The powerful Chaos user chuckled lightly reading the thought. Sasuke I recalled was immune magic. Tenten scowled darkly, it was my turn to laugh.
"So teach me then, sister." I proposed the title 'sister' coming out less sarcastic than I had expected it too.
"Okay first your energy source. It originates from just in front of your hips, all of your techniques begin here." She spoke brightly pointing her left index finger to the supposed spot and trailing it up, over her shoulder and down her right arm to her wrist. As the finger came to a stop a ball of living fire erupted to life in her palm.
"For the First Flare you need to bring the energy to your hand and ignite it- it sort of feels like flexing a muscle you didn't realise you had. For the Titans Arm and Double Step you bring the energy to your limbs and wrap them in the energy. The Sixth Sense is more intuitive, it will always be active but you can add energy to it to increase its potency. It increases the headache of course." She explained impressing me as she drew spires of ice from her elbows with only a slight wince and forced lightning to dance to life on her shins.
"Your turn." Ordered my new found 'sister' with a grin.
"I'm not hungry." I called without turning as the heavy door opened with a hefty clank, I was admittedly hungry but I didn't care for the meals the Guards offered. Broth flavoured with spit and other fluids I didn't care to wonder about.
"That's a shame." I heard a dark voice rumble. I didn't turn immediately instead pausing for a moment trying to calm my heart beat, I heard the cell door shut softly and the man step further into the room.
"They let you in here?" I asked redundantly, apparently shocked into stupidity. I turned to see Sasuke diligently laying out a thick blanket over the dusty floor, he gestured me over to sit. I drew near with a whimsical smile.
"Akame's got something planned for me, he was actually confident when I spoke to him." Answered the Uchiha drawing various foods from his pack, hungrily I took note of the breads, cheeses and dry meats he set out on the blanket.
"You're not wrong, he's got something in the works with Lord Orochimaru." I returned lowering myself a little rigidly onto the blanket, dark eyes raked over my form taking in the fresh bruises and cuts but the Uchiha didn't comment- I appreciated it.
"That's unfortunate, Akame's a fool among fools but Orochimaru is a chess master. Whatever he's got planned will be difficult to deal with." Grumbled the Raider retrieving a bottle of wine and two tin cups. I flashed him a smile but it turned sad after a moment.
"Have you heard about the kids?" I asked after a couple of quiet moments of awkward nibbling on one of the drier cheeses, Sasuke sighed softly and I awaited the bad news on baited breath.
"Riggs, one of your former guards, drinks at a hole in the wall I know. We had a...conversation." I wondered at the way he spoke 'conversation' but didn't question it, if Sasuke beat the hell out of Riggs…well I wouldn't fault him for it.
"The kids have been moved from the citadel, I don't know where." He whispered softly avoiding my eyes, not a difficult task as I tried to avoid his in turn. There was a stretch of lingering silence between us.
"I'll keep looking though." He promised and our eyes met again, a connection sparking to life as his scarlet orbs drew me in.
"Thank you." I offered perhaps a little weakly. We passed the rest of our strange picnic in quiet conversation, I asked about Hanabi and he smiled a strange grin and talked easily, he even talked me into telling him one of my stories…and impressed me by feigning interest all the way through.
Somehow I found myself locked in a tower awaiting execution enjoying one of the happiest if not most bittersweet moments of my life with the tower's Dragon.
Okay a couple of exciting things in this chapter- or at least I hope so. Let me know what you folks think of the developments.
Next chapter might be a while I've been ignoring some of my other stories and need to update them.
R&R