Title; Fading

Disclaimer; Nope I don't own any of the Naruto characters.

A/N; I thought I should point out that this story isn't about heroes and is very much a grey and grey morality affair. Sasuke in particular is a Byronic hero and will at times border on being a villain protagonist in his actions. Bare that in mind with every chapter.

Chapter - 28;

There exists a great entity known by some as the World Holder and to others as the Lord of the Sea. An enormous creature that dwells below the surface of the sea dividing the northern and southern continents swalling those who would seek to pass without its blessing.

Whether this creature was bound to any God or if it was a Deity in its own right was unknown but it was known to have had dealings with the Wraiths of olden times and some theorised the creature was the first Dragon grown ancient and powerful.

Leviathan those of the Holy sisters called it, the Dragon King.

We finally set out, leaving the village much earlier than I would have liked but as Hanabi had explained our presence was a danger to the villagers. My leg had healed itself completely with the aid of the magic salves we'd pilfered from the Fair Folks keep and Hanabi was similarly revived despite the battering I'd seen her take, it was the first time I felt genuinely sorry for the Uchiha's Wraith blood.

He's explained that while he did heal slightly quicker than was natural and if his sources where to be believed would naturally heal from injuries that would cripple normal men it was still far slower than magically aided recovery. Even after three weeks rest he moved uncomfortably from the damage he'd taken.

"You need to name him." Hanabi spoke up and I chimed in delighting at the pout Sasuke donned at us bossing him around. He stayed quiet following his mystic pet as it led the way forward. We'd rationalised that a Divine spirit of travelling would sense the best way forward through the Daemon host, my sight had proved too broad and was overwhelmed with every direction appearing as an oppressive wall but as Hanabi had noted I couldn't see details, all I knew was that there was a continous wall of Daemons in each direction not how many or how tightly packed they were.

"How about Wolfy?" I suggested earning a look of disgust from the swordsman and if the low whimper was anything to go by a similar feeling from the wolf in question.

"Get your bow ready, you get to start your real practice soon." Muttered Sasuke, it was actually already prepared. I was looking forward to today's challenge, the melee fighters were going to hold back allowing me to hopefully refine my aim against live targets. Still the warning renewed my nerves and I began double and triple checks rattle brained.

"How about Mr Snuggles?" Hanabi did not have any such nerves to play on and I was certain the alchemic creature was whimpering now.

"I think it's a she actually." The Uchiha highlighted and there was a beat before a dark look crossed Hanabi's cheerful expression. The Uchiha wore a crooked grin.

"For the record naming a wolf after a girl is not flattering." Muttered my sister scowling in a way that was mostly playful. I resisted the urge to giggle, for a couple most for their interaction did seem to take the form of teasing the other mercifully.

"For you or the wolf?" that crack earned him a punch but before anything else could transpire a low growl from the wolf alerted us to danger. From the high branches of the dead trees two hulking figures slung down to the path. They were shaped vaguely like one of Akame's more prized pets, his monkeys, but these things were far more fierce and deformed in their appearance on top of nearing twelve feet in height. Two other arms sprouted from the thing's ribs and their fur and flesh was sickening, the former coming only in patches of different sickly colours and the later flaking and scaled. Worst of all though was the parody that seemed to be their faces, a large gapping maw above an over grown single scarlet blinking eye.

"Take your shot." I heard Sasuke's voice whisper to me from some seemingly far off place as my mind tried to make sense of the beasts before me, woodenly I moved pulling an arrow free from my quarrel and taking aim. The creatures began to move lurching forward onto all fours and bounding forward in a mad dash.

I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Breath." The command came gently but with enough force to pass above the blood pounding in my ears. I drew a hungry breath, exhaled slowly and released the shot as the two were mere feet away. The arrow whistled and struck the Daemon on the right in the shoulder crackling red hot as the bows alchemy added fiery heat to the arrow drawing a snarled shout from the creature that sounded more angry than injured.

My companions moved like twin shadows. Hanabi's new black blade bending and contorting into a bladed whip striking a low sweeping blow on the uninjured Daemon's front limbs bringing it toppling forward and face first into the roaring flames of her off hand…I was sure she was just showing off with that kind of a kill. The Uchiha struck with the same tactic his wind blade shearing through the front limbs and his curved plain one piercing through the Daemons eye and up into its brain.

Hanabi had mentioned this to me, given that Daemons were a sort of wild card a Raider had to be able to gauge a weakness in seconds and then strike at it with conviction. In this case these Daemons had put the majority of their weight on their front legs, I did wonder though how they'd have attacked without those new weapons.

"You got it." Congratulated my sister with a wide toothy grin, she certainly seemed to be ignoring that I'd done little more than annoy the tyrant. Another growl came from our new companion alerting us to more of the Daemons, three I thought, dropping down to the forest floor in front of us.

"We've met the line it seems." Concluded the Uchiha stepping forward and twirling his blade freeing it of the blood and clumps of brain that hung to the silver edge. It was time then, we'd need to break through here where the opposition was hopefully lightest and we'd have to do it quickly too lest reinforcements arrived.

I drew an arrow, breathed and fired. The first missed the far away target, the second hit the Daemon next to the one I'd been aiming at and the third cut away what might have been an ear off one before Sasuke called for me to stop and sprang forward into melee. Even injured he moved like some wild beast pressing forward and tearing through the creatures one by one. For the range his enchanted weapon offered it was the other blade that seemed truly dangerous. It tore through muscle and bone without trouble and seemed to frighten the giant Daemons back into retreat.

I turned wondering where Hanabi had vanished to and caught sight of her engaging two more I hadn't even heard approach our rear I'd been in such a tunnel vision. These targets were too close to waste and I drew an arrow planting it into the side of a beasts head as my sister cut through another bisecting it with her fearsome enhanced strength.

"Keep moving forward." Came Hanabi's curt order as more Daemons fell onto the path, these ones far different. A dozen of them stood maybe as tall as I was, six legs carried them along swiftly and a set of four clawed limbs snapped threateningly in the air. Their flesh was a beaten purple and pink messily stricken with pulsing veins and boils. I noticed Hanabi had paled at the sight and her hand lit up with rolling flames.

"I really hate things with so many legs." She muttered to herself. Which was strange, she'd never been afraid of spiders or creepy crawlies as a child. Her blade cut through the nearest trees on our flanks sending them crashing onto the path in front of us, a fireball ignited the dead wood before Hanabi turned I imagined to venomously push forward before those things found a way past the flames. At least they were too large to get through the dense woods.

The way forward wasn't so much a push as it was an endurance trail, the line had been really thin here and the only Daemons after the initial giants were cut though were the smaller faster type. We mostly chased after our new wolf companion as he or she bounded and zigzagged though the woods.

Eventually though we came to a stop as the forest seemed to shift in appearance and we broke into what seemed to be someone's camp site. Sleeping mats had been lay out around a crackling fire and a delicious scent hung in the air from a bubbling pot hung over the fire. It conveniently reminded me I'd been running, climbing and fighting since first light this morning and the sun was well past the noon mark now.

The wolf was quick in settling itself down in front of the fire for a small nap.

"I guess that means this is a sanctuary." I concluded being the first to move forward, my world weary companions taking the time to perform a sweep of the area and insisting I confirm the Travellers magic in the air with my sight before they'd settle down. Each insisted on a watch and after a brief argument I managed to get one of my own, I didn't like it but I couldn't blame them for the lack of confidence.

For at least a little while though both settled themselves down before the fire to relax before the ailing sunlight gave in completely to night. I joined them, completing the third point of the triangle just as the Uchiha withdrew a wine skin from his pack and Hanabi drew out bowls for whatever soup boiled in the pot.

"Is this how it was for you in Naru? Just fighting and drinking day in day out?" I asked accepting a cup from the swordsman, Hanabi's snort as she accepted a cup seemed to confirm it.

"That was it at first anyway." Spoke Sasuke his eyes flickering to meet my sister's for a brief moment as the corner of his mouth quirked up into a crooked grin and her own lips formed a more gentle smile. Right, later came the love confessions hidden romance and that troublesome sister.

"How did you pass your time, in the keep?" voiced Hanabi. The drink was bitter and none too pleasant but I took a large mouthful of it grateful for the burn before I gave my answer.

"Akame allowed me to borrow books from the Mystics library though I was kept away from the really interesting ones. Sara and Orca came later." I answered the two children's features flashing in my minds eyes. They'd come to mind more than once since we'd formed our strange triangle and escaped the citadel. There was the constant wondering of where and how they were now and more painfully the probable answers.

"What were they like?" It was Sasuke who phrased the question while Hanabi looked apologetic at having raised the topic. I wondered had she really believed I'd forgot my self-appointed charges in the absence of questions.

"Sara was the kindest child I've ever met. She seemed obsessed with playing the part of mother or nurse or any caretaker really. And Orca wanted to be a wizard, like in the tales. Tame the elements and ride dragons. They were good kids." I wasn't sure when the tears sprung to my eyes, I only really realised it on seeing the uncomfortable reactions of both of my stoic companions.

Sasuke's gaze had descended into his cup as if he could see a whole world unfolding within the swirling amber or as if he at least expected too. I thought he was still listening though in his silent non-intrusive way. Which was good, I didn't doubt his searching scarlet stare would draw full sobbing from me, I never could seem to hid anything from his eyes. Hanabi was biting her lip, something she didn't do often, but after a moment she slid a little closer and looped an arm around my shoulders.

After a while I offered every happy memory of the children up and more than a few tears and Sasuke told me about Sakura, the beautiful woman he'd known. From the frown Hanabi subtly hid from her lover I made a few leaps. More than anything it gave me a greater insight into the cold warrior and I became more certain we were of the same destiny, kindred souls. As the Uchiha slinked away intent on taking first watch it seemed to be Hanabi's turn to confide in me about the unknown prostitute.

"She was in love with him you know, told me as much when she knew me as Gin." My sister confessed as we chose a sleeping mat each, I couldn't really get a read on her but I thought her strange tone was likely more important than her words.

"Did you hate her, or resent her?" I asked, I thought I already might have the way Sasuke had spoken her name.

"No, you couldn't really. She didn't have much of anything besides Sasuke, and then the way he treated her…it wasn't rough or cruel but it spoke of duty more than anything else. I don't think he even realised how much more it was then that until it was too late." I could see it clear enough now how Hanabi must have seen the other woman, not a romantic rival but rather a shadowy reflection…where she could have been if fate had been a little crueller. Maybe this Sakura was more of a reflection of myself, how we'd lived, our curses, even our feelings for the distant Raider.

It's going to be better isn't it, where ever we settle down?" I was surprised to hear Hanabi sound as lost as I was, and grateful to feel like the elder sister once again as I assured her it would be. She was far away from that miserable rock in the rain and would never have to return.

I was sure she wouldn't but when I tried to tell myself the same I found I couldn't. Was it Sara and Orca, I would feel compelled to return for them if I ever gained enough strength but I knew that was impossible. It felt much more certain than that, there was a cold wind leading me back North and it would not be denied.

I found myself unable to sleep despite Hinata's ease in the new camp. It was the growing darkness I thought, dawn for a Raider and those same old instincts remained. Sasuke was the same if not worse than I was deeper ingrained in such ways and we shared the first two watches. I wasn't surprised when Sasuke passed me a branch from the canopy for us to practice.

He still held back when we trained I knew but at least now he used both hands and fought in his own blended aggressive style. I found myself wondering how we'd match up now if I had access to my magic.

We were both sweat slicked by the time Hinata's watch came around but I could finally sleep as we settled down. I was only mildly surprised when Sasuke's weight settled down behind me and a strong arm enclosed my waist.

My dreams were a shadowed reflection of the day, constantly running and fighting with figures that should have only ever appeared in my nightmares. I awoke a few hours later than I expected to the sounds of Hinata's bow and the smell of something cooking.

The sun was just over the horizon so I couldn't have over slept by too much. Sasuke knelt by the fire apparently the cause of whatever food had aroused me from sleep, my sister hung further back and looked tired at the lack of sleep.

"I've been scouting ahead with the wolf, Hinata's confirmed there's another Daemon void up ahead but this time it's lacking the magic user." Explained the Uchiha stirring the food diligently. It was his regular style, lacking on small talk and straight to the point.

"Most Chaos users can hide since it's more of a trained ability than born magic, they naturally do, that Fowl asshole was just too egotistical to bother." I offered up stretching with a lazy yawn. I'd probably had four hours maybe five, that was enough out in the field but too many nights like that in a row and I'd lose my edge.

"There's more, there doesn't seem to be any Daemons south of this void. That could mean the ocean." It seemed too good but when I thought about it there was some sense to the idea. Sasuke had been collecting information and maps of northern regions for years now with little overlap proving it to be quiet vast, Naru was likely located more southward on the continent than I'd always imagined.

"So what's for breakfast?" Hinata asked after she'd wrenched the last of her arrows free from the makeshift target. The broth wasn't anything special, several vegetables and some tough salted meat we'd carried with us.

"We'll just cut right through any opposition then?" I asked a little unnecessarily. I'm not sure if we really had a mode besides wandering blindly into danger and fighting our way through.

"Hopefully it's simply a town or village and we can bargain our way across the sea." Suggested Hinata, easily the most optimistic of us. I couldn't help feel any village would be more than a little hostel towards us let alone the danger of what power they might be abusing to keep the Daemon presence at bay. Sasuke was probably expecting an army of dragons, demons and a thousand other monstrosities to rush us the moment we approached the void.

"I doubt it will be so simple." Came the Uchiha's dawdling tone. Yeah, he was definitely expecting dragons.

We soon saw what he meant though as we broke out of the forestry and into open air again, though the air was the only thing really open or bright about this new area. The soil appeared as death, burnt or drained away to a sickly bruised grey it was completely devoid of plant life.

The field was far from empty though, among the rocks and fissures were the remains of terrible war. Old bones and rusted weapons lay together broken and scattered in a conflict long passed, the dead hollowed eye sockets of yellowed skulls seemed to stare at me questioning my presence. In the still heavy air I could still hear the rending of ancient blows echoing through time and I thought there may be more to it than an over active imagination.

"You could have told us we'd be entering Death's realm." I muttered. There was definitely a host of dark magic at work here, I couldn't sense the source yet but I could taste it in the air. Corruption not entirely unlike the Daemon's but different all the same, this leeching of the land had a human feel to it that I didn't much like.

"It's not so different from Raiding really." Offered Sasuke stepping forward unperturbed by the deathly aura. Of course he couldn't sense the terrible magic at work here and the remains of old conflict were a somewhat familiar sight from Raiding.

"It's the magic here, it's unpleasant." Spoke Hinata understating the effect as I debated whether or not to remove my sixth sense for the time being. I'd be more comfortable certainly and it would be easier to focus in battle without this oppressive distraction, and yet if I did I'd be blind to the mystic danger present. My sisters eyes turned on me sympathetically, she could likely see the corruption but wouldn't feel it in the same way.

"Will you be alright?" I gave a shaky nod and strode forward to join Sasuke. I'd adapt to it I was sure, just another challenge to overcome.

Fortunately the pressure didn't increase as we moved deeper into the corrupted lands though the sights certainly did. The piled bones and old weapons crowded us more and more until they finally disappeared altogether for a stretch before we came upon an ebony gate, tall and extending out far in both directions. It was not locked. Behind the black enclosure was a neatly organised dead garden filled with stone markers and small dark buildings. Dead flowers were scattered before some of the stones.

"It's a graveyard?" Hinata spoke her voice echoing with confusion, Sasuke gave a short nod apparently understanding what she meant though both quickly noticed my own confusion.

"People used to bury their dead more regularly and mark their resting places like this." Explained Hinata, I had heard rumours of that before though I could count the times I'd seen the dead buried on one hand. Sasuke had buried Ander on my first night outside of Naru and Kakashi had buried his dead soldiers when we'd been tracking the Shadow's assassin. More commonly people were cremated due to Naru's limited space. Though some said Akame and the Mystics ate the dead who weren't diseased.

"At least we've nothing to fear from the dead." I offered with a nervous laugh. There was a creak and a shaky crumble as the dead soil seemed to shift all around us.

Perhaps I'd spoken too soon.

Chapter 28 is finished, hope everyone's enjoying the story. Do be kind and leave a review.

R&R