V9 ch 2
Onari's Fear
"Get away from her," Takeru said with his eyes narrowed at the man in front of him. He stood his ground, his body tense, eyes focused. The man in front of him was a fair distance away watching his reaction to his presence. Takeru was guarding her. "What do you want with her," he demanded.
The man with brown hair and hard gray eyes stared at the raven haired boy. He held no emotion in his face. He was tall, muscular well toned arms, and wore an unusual type of battle attire for a ninja down his arms and legs. Takeru thought the man looked familiar, but he had never seen him before. There was no insignia to what village the man belonged to upon his form. "Who are you? Answer me!"
"I am of no concern to a ninja from the Hidden Leaf village. Step aside boy. You are no match for me. I will kill you if you hinder me from completing my assignment," he said lowly.
"You will not touch her! I'm not about to let you," Takeru said aggressively. He blinked his eyes. Takeru's eyes became red with Sharingan. Onari was not moving. He had seen this man throw her against the tree. Takeru was furious. "Ri, get up." No movement. "Ri, get up!"
"I do not have time for you boy," the man said blatantly. He started to move threatening towards the dark haired youth who intended on guarding the girl. "You will remember this only if you survive. It is custom in my country to give my name to the pre-deceased. I am Kakumei Eimino and I will slaughter anyone who keeps me from completing my task." The man unsheathed the tiger fork from his back. "If you manage to avoid this, then I will end your life slowly and painfully."
Takeru's eyes widened. His breathing increased. Kakumei Eimino. Eimino? My… brother's surname. The man was moving towards him slowly and menancingly. His eyes were stern. Is this Daiya's father? He knew what the man before him was capable of, before it even happened. The kekkegenkai in his brother came from this man. I have to get out of here with Onari. Daiya's capable of frying someone alive and he's only fifteen. This guy's a lot older –which means his strength is greater. That alone told Takeru that he was in grave danger.
Kakumei smiled wickedly as he saw the fear and realization hit the boy in front of him. He started to run at the youth, his tiger fork in his hand. His other hand slipped behind his back at the casing upon it. Unsheathing a metal rod, Kakumei threw it at the boy as he turned away to make a run for it. "You're not getting away from me!"
The metal rod came soaring past his face missing him by an inch. Takeru turned around quickly to see the man bearing down on him. He threw two shuriken at the man to slow down his advances. The shuriken were sent away as Kakumei brought the tiger fork up to block his chest and abdomen. He was defiantly skilled.
Takeru formed hand seals in front of his body. He took a deep breath and held it. The man was almost on top of Takeru. This is for Onari! "Fire jutsu!" Takeru sent the large fireball at the man. He kept it going as the man used a substitution jutsu. Kakumei was sent flying backwards by the strength and force of the blaze as he was knocked out of the tree he had retreated to.
Kakumei landed hard on his side as his body came in contact with a low branch. He grimaced as he raised his torso. That brat has strength in him. It won't last. He's only a boy. He got to his feet brushing his metal attire off. "I will keep my promise. You will die slowly." He ran again at the boy his chakra building inside his body.
Takeru tried to keep a hold on Sharingan, but his charka was running low after the fireball offense. He could see Kakumei's movements as the man came at him again. The man was going to punch at him with the electrical currents that flowed through his body. Takeru dropped hard onto his back as a stream of electricity soared over his form. He rolled off the branch, his hands grabbing onto it at the last moment. He flipped his body around and pulled his weight up. Takeru came up on the other side of the branch, his legs out in an attempt to use the mule kick that Idai had taught him.
Kakumei was sure the boy had fled leaving the girl behind. He moved toward the girl his mind focused on snatching her. He had wasted enough time on this. Gekido wasn't going to be pleased – as he often wasn't. Kakumei swooped his arms down, body bent just as a pair of legs came from his left. He was thrown off balance immediately as the boy's feet pushed him off the branch. Kakumei fell away from his target.
Takeru sunk a kunai into the branch as his weight went over the edge. He grabbed a hold of the kunai to stop himself from going over. Takeru looked down into the abyss where Daiya's father had fallen. He breathed hard his anxiety getting the better of him. Oh, no. Sharingan is draining me. That guy will be back. He had no choice but to cut it off.
Takeru crawled back onto the branch. He went over to Onari checking her. "Ri?" Her body was limp and nonresponsive to his touch, or voice. She was breathing – just unconscious. Takeru put his arms around her, lifting her up. Onari's head went back. "Onari?" He shook her shoulder. "Come on, Onari, wake up!"
The tiger fork shot toward Takeru and Onari. He leaned forward quickly to avoid it. "Something tells me that guy's going to be hard to get rid of," he said raising to his feet. A stream of electricity came out of nowhere straight at the rod he had forgotten about. Takeru dropped Onari to prevent her from getting electrocuted with him.
Takeru screamed in horrific pain as the lightening struck him. The rod that was behind him was intensifying the electrical charge and holding it to him. He felt his legs go out from under him. Takeru fell to the branch. He breathed shallow, his eyes half lidded. Onari had been spared the same fate. Takeru rose his hand weakily to try and touch her.
Kakumei grabbed the tiger fork out of the tree. He aimed it above the boy's back right above his stomach. "You've cost me precious time. In that regard, your death with be agonizing." Kakumei stopped. He felt a large sharp pain in his side. He looked down to see a kunai pressed hard into his vest. The point of the kunai had made a hole through the material and was pressing into his flesh. Blood escaped through the fresh wound.
"Drop the weapon and I'll punch a nice deep hole in your side for the maggots to feast on," Ryu said lowly, his red eyes serious and aggressive. "Get off of my friend, or you're dead."
Takeru thought he heard a familiar voice. His body was in shock as he laid on the branch. His dark eyes kept their gaze on Onari's face. All he worried about was whether Kakumei got his hands on her. Takeru wondered where Kakumei was from and what his intentions with her, was.
Kakumei moved his left hand slightly to this back. His palm faced the ninja behind him. His body charged again. "It's not wise to sneak up on adults, boy," he said aggressively.
Ryu saw the man's hair spike out on all ends. His eyes widened as he recognized the pattern. Shit! Ryu quickly performed a substitution jutsu. The electricity missed him by a few seconds. Ryu reappeared above the man, his arm stretched out as he sent a flying claw at the unknown ninja. The claw grabbed onto the man's leg. Ryu pulled with all his strength. The man fell backwards onto his back. Ryu touched down, his eyes narrowed. "You might want to watch your footing, old man."
Kakumei had had enough of these children who assumed they were on his level. He got up, running at the spiky haired boy who had stuck the kunai in his side. The electrical charges in his body intensified with his anger. As he ran at the boy, he threw the tiger fork trying to lodge the boy against the tree.
Ryu moved back his feet sliding on the branch trying to escape the advances of the ninja. The man before him threw his weapon at Ryu with a preciseness that was well-skilled. The tiger fork's sharp point went through his shoulder. It sent his body flying backwards, his feet lifting off the branch. Ryu was slammed against the tree. He was lodged into the bark of the tree. He brought his hand up to pull the weapon out of his flesh. The man's hair was spiking out again. Ryu had to free himself or he was going to be roasted.
Kakumei tensed his thick arms as he brought them out to his sides. The electrical currents were starting to pop around him. The metal on his arms and legs were plated. They allowed him to harness his kekkegenkai and be more precise at where he was directing the currents. The boy in front of him could not free himself. Kakumei gritted his teeth as the lightening jutsu he used flashed violently around them. He air punched a stream straight at the Genin. The tall, lanky pale boy screamed in pain as the electricity claimed him.
Kakumei watched as the boy's head went forward, his body dropping. The tiger fork held him in place on the tree. Kakumei didn't have any remorse for the ninja that had interfered. "All of this for a runt." He turned around to retrieve the girl. He stopped, now faced with another problem. "Don't you leaf-nin ever give up?"
Saori Nara stood her ground. She was not afraid of the man. He had the same abilities as Daiya – which was to her advantage. She trained with Daiya and knew his abilities well. Saori wanted to look at Ryu, but she didn't dare check on him when being faced with her opponent. "You have no idea who my trainer is," she said threatening the man outright.
Kakumei crossed his arms. "It doesn't matter whose guidance you follow, girl. You're merely a child and lack experience. Allow me to grant you some." Kakumei's body was still highly charged. He moved his arm in a sweeping motion letting her see the electricity he controlled. The girl in front of him had taken out a scroll. She was forming hand seal to unlock a weapon. He sent his wave of lightening at her.
Saori held Rose in front of her as the lightening hit. She closed her eyes, the light from it as intense as it was horrible to her ears. Rose's body jerked violently as the wooden puppet absorbed the lightening. Saori opened her eyes breathing hard. She sent Rose at the man as she flung backwards to control the puppet. Ryu was down. Takeru was slightly moving, but he was no help at the moment.
Kakumei spun on his heel to avoid the spikes on the puppet's arms. The girl with blond hair was spinning the puppet clockwise and counterclockwise trying hard to snare the spikes in his body. He kicked at the puppet's face, tilting his form. It was sent backwards but redoubled.
Saori had Rose throw several poisonous smoke pellets at her opponent. As the purple smoke came into effect, Rose dove into it twirling her spikes. Saori figured the man was disoriented and she had the upper hand.
Kakumei knew what the girl was up to. She was playing with a toy. He brought up a metal rod, holding it in front of his body as he spun at the same time. He was going to find out where the puppet was and keep its long spikey arms from hitting him. The puppet soon passed the rod, jerking the metal. Kakumei ducked bringing his leg up to kick the puppet out of the poisonous cloud. The puppet made contact with his foot. Pushing with all his force, Rose was sent backwards out of the cloud.
Saori swore as Rose started to fall off the branch. The puppet was off balance. As Rose went over the side of the branch, the weight of the puppet caused Saori to be lurched forward with the sheer force of Kakumei's kick. She started to drop below the ninja. Just when she thought Kakumei was going to use this opportunity to finish her off, she felt someone latch onto her ankle. She dangled upside-down trying to keep a hold of Rose.
"Hang on, Saori, I've got you," Takeru said as he started to pull with all of his might. He gritted his teeth, his feet implanted into the wood. Saori was heavier due to the puppet being attached to her. "I can't pull you up! You're too heavy," he said groaning. He was still recovering from the electrocution.
Kakumei formed hand seals in front of his body. He was fed up with the brats who were delaying his mission. The raven haired boy in front of him was not paying attention to what he was doing. He was preoccupied with saving the other ninja. Kakumei made a sweeping motion with his arm again as the electrical currents intensified. The currents were flowing around his arm in a spiral. "Lightening twister," he shouted as his arm went out. The electrical currents came off his arm, going straight at the boy in a corkscrew formation.
Saori screamed, "Takeru!", as she kicked herself free from his grasp. She went falling into the abyss as she saw the lightening hit the space where Takeru had been moments before. If it hadn't been for Saori getting his attention, Takeru wouldn't have had to neglect his attention. She fought to get Rose to hook her arms onto another branch as she fell. Rose managed to catch onto a small branch on the way down. Saori fell until her chakra strings snagged. She ughed. "Now what am I going to do?" She was hanging around like a discarded doll. "If I sever the chakra strings, I'll fall. Way to go, Saori," she said disgusted with herself. She kicked her legs, grunting.
Takeru eyed Kakumei harshly. The man had no emotion on his face as he matched his hard gaze. Takeru threw two kunai at the man. The man deflected the kunai with his own. He balled up his fists. "You're not taking her," he said lowly. The man began to move towards him again. "You won't take Onari!" Takeru's eyes widened as he saw the tiger fork piercing out of Kakumei's right shoulder. All three points were protruding. Blood escaped the wounds causing the man's attire to darken.
"I told you not to touch him," Ryu said. He was bleeding badly from his shoulder. The blood ran down his arm, dripping onto the branch. "Never count an opponent finished unless he is dead." Ryu forced the tiger fork into the man's flesh more. He was mad as hell.
Kakumei was not about to be defeated by a bunch of kids- even if he was outnumbered. He walked forward with ease, his body and flesh coming away from the smooth sharp pointed weapon. Blood started to flow down his back as well as his chest. "Mere children will not deploy me." He flicked his wrist as a long cord came into his hand. He yanked the razor sharp cord free of its hiding place. Kakumei cracked the whip against the branch, splintering off chunks of wood from the tree. He turned his head to regard the spiky haired ninja behind him.
Ryu didn't cower. "You forget I have your tiger fork." He held it in front of himself to block the whip. "And I'm not afraid of an idiot who can't count how many he's up against. What do you want with Onari?"
Kakumei figured it was pointless to say much. "The girl is essential for my Lord's needs and wants. I am to deliver her to him." He shot his gaze to the dark haired boy who was trying to move away.
"How do you know Onari? Why are you after her? We're the only ones that know her," Takeru said angrily. Who the hell was Kakumei's Lord? Onari was being targeted. Was it because of the phoenix?
"My Lord is Gekido of the Hidden Cloud Village. He is the rightful heir and master of his clan. The girl you call 'Onari' has defiled his clan by accessing a creature she had no right to. My Lord wishes to reclaim his inheritance. Move aside, boy. This whip is not the only weapon I posses," Kakumei said as he went straight for Takeru again.
Takeru had already started forming hand seals once Kakumei had spoke. "Ice fortress," he said. Ice started to shoot around him and Onari in a circular pattern. It formed into a massive one foot thick ice ball. It was a jutsu he had learned from his mother.
Kakumei swore. He had to devise a plan to get the girl. A kunai went soaring past his head. He turned. "You're stubborn," he said to Ryu.
Ryu glared at Kakumei. "Your opponent is me. Accept it and deal with it." He kept his red eyes upon the man. Ryu started to form hand seals as he went for Kakumei. Kakumei moved back quickly twirling a metal rod as he emitted his electrical currents. Ryu wondered when this guy's chakra was going to weaken. His genjutsu started to change the landscape around them. The ice ball was gone – as well as the tree they had stood on. Ryu's own form changed. "Intense delusion!" It was a technique that he rarely used due to the immense chakra it required. I have to stop this bastard from getting his hands on Onari. I'm pretty sure Takeru has figured out what he's really after.
Takeru crawled over to Onari. He caressed her face gently as he looked down at her. He had to try and get her to wake up. He looked up for a moment. The world outside had changed. Ryu was using his genjutsu to confuse and take down his opponent. Takeru could not tell where either of the ninja was. His attention went back to Onari. "Onari, I need you to wake up." He bent down. Takeru closed his eyes and kissed her. Any sort of physical contact usually jarred her awake. He felt her body twitch. Takeru kissed her again.
Onari's eyes opened slowly. She felt groggy. Where was she? She felt someone kissing her brow. Onari lifted her hand to feel Takeru's long sleek black hair brush her fingertips. He had been kissing her a lot lately. She wasn't sure what it meant. He leaned over her watching her recall where she was. "Ta-keru? Where is that..bad man?"
Onari did remember what had happened. He leaned over to help her up. She was shaking her head. "Ryu is trapping that Kakumei guy with a genjutsu technique. Soari fell some time ago and I don't know where she is. We're in a predicament where we can't leave to go find her. That man won't let us escape him. He's already put a hole in Ryu. I got his with that stupid electrical charge of his. He is after you to gain Akaihi, Ri. He told us his Lord is Gekido."
Onari was full aware she was being sought after for Akaihi. The time had finally come when her uncle would come to claim the inheritance she had gotten from Sashizo. "I know fully who Gekido is," she said much to Takeru's surprise. "He is my father's brother. He wants Akaihi to control all four of the celestials – to destroy everyone and anything in his path, Takeru."
Takeru was checking on the ice ball they were in. "This ice fortress won't last. It's melting. Soon we'll be trapped in Ryu's genjutsu. I won't know where he or that bastard is, Ri." He hugged her unexpectedly. "I won't let him take you. Your home is with me."
Kakumei looked around his eyes showing signs of annoyance. "This ridiculous trick of yours won't stop me, boy. I don't know where you are, but you know where I am. You'll approach me sooner or later and will get you!" The sky overhead was black mixed with a red hue. The foundation he stood upon was solid dirt. The landscape was the perfect battlefield. He spun a few times with the razor sharp whip held out. It's long metal form sliced through the air. If the boy was anywhere near him, he'd hear him scream as the whip sliced through his skin.
Ryu was a fair distance away. He hadn't forgotten about the whip Kakumei had in his hand. Everyone must think I have poor memory. He was very aware of the weapons Kakumei was harnassing. Ryu had to attack. The man was very persisstant with getting his hands on Onari. He also had a lot of strength for an old guy. Ryu admitted Kakumei was a strong enemy to have. Man, what I wouldn't give for Sasuke to be here. He closed his eyes to gain some confidence. Kakumei has to be from the same clan as Daiya. They look just alike in the face and build. Ryu was glad the circumstances were not different. His teammate could have been his enemy if things had turned out differently.
Kakumei was tired of t his child's play. His whip had failed to snag the boy. He threw several small rods in a circular pattern, several feet from his body. That leaf-nin was fixing to learn how far his currents could reach. Kakumei charged again. His body sparked all over. "Lightening ring!"
Ryu tried to get away from the lightening but he had metal on his person. Kakumei's electrical currents were targeting the earrings he wore and the ninja tools. He was hit instantly. Ryu yelled to the top of his lungs as he came caught by two of the currents. He fell unconsciously to the branch he was on.
Takeru flipped his head around constantly the moment he heard Ryu yell. The genjutsu was disappearing around them. Ryu had been defeated. The ice ball was also depleting rapidly. He stood up. Onari was next to him in a heart beat. I meant what I swore. I'm going to protect her. Onari has been training hard with Lee sensei, Dad, Mom, and Mr. Hyuuga. He glanced at her. She was anticipating an attack. "Onari, this is a game. We're playing 'Keep Away'. If Kakumei touches you, you're out of the game with a fifty point loss. The longer you keep away from him, the more points you receive and he loses. Understand?"
Onari tilted her head a few times. "We're playing 'Keep Away' with the ninja. I won't lose," she said in her usual fast broken dialect of syllables. A terrible slicing noise came to her ears. She and Takeru turned their heads to see a metal whip slicing the ice away.
Takeru pushed Onari out of the way as the whip came through the ice. He brought both of his hands up to guard. The whip wrapped around his wrists, trying him. The razor sharp edges of the metal started to cut into his skin. It felt like he was being stabbed repeatedly. Takeru couldn't scream in front of her. He had to be a man and take it. "Run, Onari! Find Saori! She fell below where we are!" Onari hesitated trying to get the whip off him. Takeru kicked her legs out from under her. She looked up at him in bewilderment. "Go!"
Kakumei pulled as his whip wrapped around something in the ice ball. He smiled devilishly. A form came hurdling towards him. It was the young boy from before. "I told you your death would be slow and agonizing. You have cost me my rank!" Kakumei moved the rest of the whip around the boy's throat and chest. It snaked its way around Takeru, cutting into his clothing. "Because of you, my clan will be defiled!"
Takeru couldn't breathe. The whip around his neck was slowly tightening like a constrictor. He couldn't scream or move his body. The man in front of him outmatched his skills and experience. Onari… At least you got away. Takeru opened his mouth to gasp for air. Blood was flowing out of the corners of his mouth. He was bleeding everywhere the whip was cutting.
Kakumei was seeking revenge for their interference. He snarled as the boy gasped for air. "Your time is at hand," he said as the electricity flowed down his arm. "Give my regards to Sashizo and Urea." He erupted his force and power onto the boy one last time. Takeru's body shook with electricity as he jolted. His eyes closed. Kakumei withdrew the whip once the boy's legs started to go out from under him. The blood flowing out of the boy's wounds was enough. He would soon bleed to death with the deep cuts. Kakumei had to report back to Gekido. He tensed as he tried to determine his fate over Onari getting away.
Ryu woke to darkened clouds. He turned his head. There was no movement around him. Had Kakumei succeeded in getting his hands on Onari? Ryu stood up weakily. His mind was trying to pinpoint where they had gone wrong. He groaned. Lightening jutsus were deadly in themselves.
"Ryu," he heard a voice screaming. Ryu's red eyes looked around the forest. "Saori?" He leapt from branch to branch. Saori's voice was echoing. "RYU," the voice was excited with panic. He hurried in the direction he deciphered the voice was coming from.
Saori Nara unraveled the bandages around her arms. "Onari, take the bandages off your arms! Hurry!" She began to wrap her bandages tightly around Takeru's neck, but not enough to restrict his breathing. He was already pale, blood soaking his clothes. "Ryu," she screamed again.
Onari did as Saori requested. "Saori, Takeru's wounded," she said not understanding how drastic he was bleeding. Saori wouldn't let her see anything but Takeru's face. She tried to get past her, but the blond headed girl turned around quickly to block her.
"Onari, now is not the time! Hand me the bandages!" Saori snatched them. She lifted Takeru's shirt. The cuts were awful. "Takeru, please, hang on for us," she said. He was the youngest out of everyone on the teams. She felt herself get emotional. Quickly, she wrapped his torso and arms. Takeru had already lost a lot of blood. The blood from his body was dripping over the sides of the branch, dripping into the abyss below. If Saori had planned her attack better, he might not have suffered Kakumei's anger.
Ryu touched base behind Onari. "What is going on? I heard you screaming my name." Saori wasn't looking at him.
Onari turned around. "Takeru's injured," she said pointing at the boy she lived with. She looked back at Saori. Saori had tears coming out of her eyes.
"N-No, Ryu, Takeru's dying," she said. Ran ran forth dropping to his knees. He moved her out of the way. Saori had to let him administer whatever treatment he could to help Takeru. Onari's eyes widened. She grabbed Onari, moving her back as the girl lunged forward. "We have to let Ryu help him," she heard her voice crack. "He's older and more experienced." Onari's eyes showed fear. "No, Onari," Saori shouted as the girl tried to fight her. "You have to trust him! Ryu isn't going to hurt him!"
Ryu felt for a pulse. Takeru was as pale as a death's kiss. He had to remain calm. The Uchiha boy was his adopted little brother and best friend. Saori had done the right thing by bandaging the wounds tightly. "His pulse is very weak. Saori, take Onari back to the village. You have to get her out of here. I don't know if that bastard is still trying to find her, or if he's going to come back with more of his kind," Ryu said. He turned around to look at Saori crying. Onari was standing in shock. "Go! I won't lose both of you to that bastard!"
Saori snapped to as Ryu's anger jarred her out of her emotional spiral. She grabbed Onari under the arm, pulling the girl with her as she started to run. Saori leapt off with Onari to leave Ryu behind with Takeru.
Ryu turned his attention back to Takeru. He lifted his best friend's limp form. Takeru's head went back, the boy's long black hair hanging loosely behind his head. Ryu choked. He grabbed Takeru hard. He pressed his friend to him protectively. "You were trying to protect her, weren't you?" His eyes couldn't look away from the boy's pale face. He placed his hand on Takeru's head, moving his hair out of his eyes. Ryu closed his eyes in frustration, despair, and grief. He had to get back. There was no time to delay. "I'll get you there even if they come after me," he said as he lifted Takeru onto his back. He was sure Kakumei would be back to retrieve Onari if not finish them off.
"We're being followed. I don't know who or how many," Saori said as they went through the trees. She looked at Onari. The girl's head went forward as her eyes unfocused, staring off into nothing. Saori gasped. She grabbed onto Onari as the girl's body fell from the height they were at. "Onari!"
Onari's eyes shot up through the trees where she soared high above the tops as a hawk. She had an aerial projection of the surrounding area. Onari's vision did a complete three hundred and sixty degree revolution as she checked for figures darting through the trees. She saw three unknown ninja some distance behind she and Saori. Another figure was ahead off to the right near some rather large boulders in the forest. Onari's eyes came shooting back to her body through the trees. She came back. Saori had caught her. Onari was on a branch with Saori staring at her. "Saori, I see three men that I do not know," she said pointing behind them. "They're coming up fast. They will catch us soon."
Saori nodded as she struggled to understand Onari's fast syllable dialect. "Alright, there are three ninjas behind us. One of them has to be Kakumei. He hasn't lost sight of his goal. He must have gone back to get re-enforcements. We have to hide, Onari. We're still a good distance from the village. Ryu would have taken a different route to ensure that he gets there with Takeru. I just hope it's not too late for him," she said the last part under her breath.
"Daiya is near a few boulders out in the forest," Onari said as she grabbed the girl's wrist. She took off running, hopping branch to branch towards her brother's location.
"What technique did you use to pinpoint the ninja and Daiya," Saori asked as she followed Onari. She could feel the atmosphere around them changing. The danger they were in was heavy in the air. Three full Jounin against three Genin were terrible odds to be up against.
"I used the technique my father used to avoid capture when I was a child. It's called Bird's Eye View. It lets me see everything around me as if I'm, well, a bird," she said. "I can see the tree tops all around in a circle."
"And why have you never told anyone about this jutsu of yours? You're hiding something about yourself all of the time. Speed up! I have a bad feeling these guys will be on us sooner than we think," Saori said as she pushed herself to go faster. They had to get to Daiya. He was a force to be reckoned with if threatened.
Takeru opened his eyes to see a vast amount of twinkling stars in his view. The sky was a purplish color, multicolored clouds moving around as if being blown by a large face. "Where am I?" He felt the cold sensation of scales brush past his arm. Takeru turned his head to see Uso's tail flickering about. It was reached high into the sky, the tip swirling the clouds to paint pictures as she lay next to him, her long white scout angled high. Her red eyes glanced at his form. "Uso? Why am I here?" It had been a long time since Takeru had met the celestial dragon on her terms.
Uso moved the tip of her tail about, the clouds dripping down and off her tail like wet paint. "The heavens are falling tonight, son of Sasuke," she said, her voice echoing in high and low pitches. Her head turned fully upon him, smoke lightly flowing out of her nostrils. "The path that has bonded us together is being broken."
Takeru found himself rising to sit a lot easier than he expected. It was almost as if he were gliding. "Broken? How?" His eyes drifted to see the landscape for what it was. He and Uso were on a small patch of grass floating into the dark abyss that was around them. "Why aren't we were you dwell?" He looked to Uso for an explanation.
"Your spirit is weak. I cannot take you there," Uso said turning her gaze away. "Your shell is injured. To move you away from it is to take you completely with me."
"You're saying if I'm with you, I'm going to die?" Takeru tried to think what had caused him to be here, in the first place. He touched his hand to his forehead, teeth clenched, eyes closed. It was hard to remember when his brain was planes below. "Why can't I remember what happened?"
"Would it make a difference to know what has happened, that you cannot recall," Uso said in her usual way of speaking in riddles. "The answer lays back in a place where memories and longing are forgotten for those of the past."
Takeru stood, his body moving as if he were in water. Steadying himself in this world was a bit harder. Flapping his arms, he managed to touch down upon the ground. "It's hard to move here."
"Your legs are not what you need here. It is your soul that moves in this place," Uso said as her body lifted off the grass, her form moving away to appear around the hovering island of grass. "You were taken down by the same man that severed my contract with Urea."
Takeru stared hard at the abyss, his mind racing as he tried to remember. "Urea. Onari's mother. You were taken away from her in battle. Without the dragon's protection, the phoenix is just as vulnerable as any other creature." Takeru furrowed his brows. "The person who did this to me…" He clenched his fists. His brother's face appeared in his thoughts. That same emotionless face. Why is Daiya coming into my head? "What does this have to do with Daiya? Is there some connection between him and the one who did this to me? You said it was the same person!"
Uso gave him time to think as he figured it out. Her form circled tightly around the mound of grass and dirt that hovered in the blackness. Her main concern now was to keep Takeru's world from slipping away. If the mound broke apart, then he would have no choice but to drift to her realm. Uso's claws latched firmly into the earth holding it together.
Takeru sighed heavily, his body falling to the ground. "It has something to do with him. But what? Daiya was found wandering the lightening country by Kurenai sensei," he said trying to regroup his thoughts. "I don't know anything about-" Takeru's mind flashed back to his brother's face. The way his hair looked, the build of his face structure, the eyes, the emotionless face, deep voice. Another face came into his mind. One of a man with the same expression, but older, more threatening. "Daiya's real father," he breathed out the words like a death sentence. "Daiya's father is the one leading the army after the phoenix."
"He is a great threat," Uso said as she moved the tip of her tail towards Takeru. Her tail wrapped around him lifting him off the ground only to lay him on the grass once more. "Your spirit is weary. Now is not the time to worry about facts that may, or may not come to pass. There is another who is trying to save you."
"Save me?" Takeru stared into the stars once more, their brilliance fading from his eyes. His body was gravely injured in the fight against Kakumei – this he knew, for his spirit was trying to part from this plane to another. Uso's tail was wrapped around him protectively to keep him from drifting away.
Ryu Yuhi, leader of Sasuke Uchiha's team, ran swiftly through the trees, his feet moving with haste as he tried with great effort to get back to the village. On his back, hunkered over, hanging loosely, was Takeru, Sasuke's only biological son. He was Ryu's best friend, also. He was the humble kid who stood on the sidelines figuring out the world around him and the people in it. Two years ago, he had befriended Ryu when he was hiding from his old team mates. It was fate for them to be friends, wasn't it?
His father had trained Sasuke and now he was under Sasuke's guidance for the second time due to his own faults. Becoming friends with the man's son must have been determined by a higher power, in Ryu's mind. He didn't like talking too much to anyone. Ryu was the sort who had never made friends easily; so why had this boy, of all in the village, approached him wanting to get to know him? At first, Ryu humored himself with Takeru's interest in himself. There wasn't much to be interested in. Ryu thought little of his existence, but Takeru thought he was fascinating.
It wasn't until a lot later did Ryu find out Takeru was an only child. He was looking for someone older to confide in, get along with, and above all else, look up to. Without realizing his intentions, Ryu had been the brother Takeru had needed in other areas that couldn't be satisfied by Daiya. Ryu swallowed hard, his emotions starting to get to him. Takeru was a person he adored. The boy had rescued him from a horrible time in his life without noticing it – or maybe he did.
As the trees moved past, Ryu opened the scroll pouch on his vest. Taking out a particular scroll with markings upon it, he slapped it on the nearest tree that came within range. If anyone was following him, he'd know – it would explode with sheer force. He wasn't taking any chances. Ryu's main concern was to get Takeru to the hospital before he completely faded from this world.
Soon the entrance to the village came within sight, Ryu slowed down as the two guards stopped him. His eyes were frantic. "Get out of my way! I don't have time for you! He's injured," he said in a panic.
One of the guards overlooked Ryu's face, his attire, and the boy upon his back. It was clear the boy was in great need of medical assistance. "Aren't you on Sasuke Uchiha's team?"
The other man walked around Ryu as he tried to figure out what was going on. It was his position to keep unfamiliar people out of the village. His eyes stopped on the black haired boy upon Ryu's back. The kid had blood stains all over his clothing. "Hey, he's Sasuke's kid," the man said in a deep voice. He flipped his head to look at the other guard. "Let him pass, Miroku!"
Ryu flew past Miroku, almost tripping over his own feet. He could feel Takeru's body starting to slip more to the left. No, Takeru! I'm getting you there! Don't pass! TAKERU!
Ryu sat near the river, his eyes overlooking the water as the fishing pole shook a little. The fish had already made away with the bait on the hook. He sighed heavily. "I don't know why I bothered to come out here. I'm not good at fishing," he said disappointed in the simple task.
Takeru latched onto the wooden pole flicking his wrist back. The line came out of the water with a pluck, the fish on the end dangling. Once it was out in the open, it started to flip around to try and get free. "How do you know if you don't try, Ryu? You're giving up too easily. The fish in this spot aren't stupid. They learn by watching the others get caught. It's more of a challenge to catch these," he said showing the fish to his friend. Ryu watched Takeru unhook the fish, popping it into the basket next to where they sat. He turned his eyes away. "Why'd you befriend me, anyway?"
Takeru reached up grabbing a hold of Ryu's spiky hair. He tugged Ryu, forcing him down to his level, his body tilted towards him. "I've told you before, I like who you are," he said with an adult's tone. "I don't have a problem with you. Stop questioning why we hang out," he said with a frown on his face.
Ryu sat back up once he was let go, rubbing the spot where he had been forcefully grabbed. Even in the hot afternoon, he still wore the face mask to conceal his identity. Very few had seen his actual face. "You're just a brat. What do you know," Ryu said in a hurt tone.
Takeru glanced at him, the words not phasing him. He had struck a cord. It wasn't hard if you knew Ryu's shy past. The guy was a total loner, even now, when he was surrounded by others. Takeru moved his hand quickly to pull Ryu's mask down. "Get up." Takeru saw him try to pull it back up, but his hand quickly slapped Ryu's hard. "Get up, Ryu."
Ryu was pulled as he struggled to get away from Takeru. "Let go of me, brat. I don't have time for your childishness." He yanked hard, managing to get a wrist free. Takeru, however, was narrowing his eyes at him. Ryu didn't want to go near the river with his mask down.
"Leave it down, or I'm not talking to you ever again," Takeru said with Ryu's hand stopped in mid-motion. "Stop acting like a baby and get over here. Now." He stood stiffly, his grip still tightened around Ryu's wrist. He could feel how insecure the guy was about his face. His muscles were tensed with anxiety. "I've never hurt you, Ryu. Stop assuming I'm trying to trick you, or harm you."
Ryu was yanked a few feet, stumbling on his feet. Takeru grabbed the collar of his vest, pulling him down to where he could see his reflection in the water. "Cut it out! I don't want to look at myself!"
"You're yourself," Takeru said simply as Ryu looked at him with an afraid look in his eyes. "You're not anybody else. There's nothing wrong with your face. Yes, you resemble your dad. I do, too. But we also resemble our moms, Ryu. Look," he said coaxing him. "You have Kurenai sensei's eyes and her color of hair. And when you get angry, your attitude is kind of like hers. But… when you're silly, you're like your dad. You're cool collected, smarter than you think you are, and you're always the one who looks out for the rookies."
"That's your father talking," Ryu said about the last part, his eyes staring at his features. His face shape was defiantly like Kakashi's. He was tall, slender, but his personality was a bit different. He was half like his mother and half like his father.
"Yeah, the last part was my Dad's opinion – not mine," Takeru said. "However, you shouldn't look down on yourself because you can't match your father's skills. Maybe one day you will – maybe you won't. I like you no matter who you are. To me, you're simply a dork," Takeru said turning around with the biggest smile on his face.
Ryu's eyes softened as he looked at Sasuke Uchiha's son. He's nothing like Sasuke. He's more of an adult in a kid's body – just the opposite of what his brother is like personality wise. I don't understand him. Ryu didn't like the sentimental moment that was occurring between the two of them. He was embarrassed, more than anything. Wanting to get over the moment, he punched Takeru hard in the shoulder, running away from him. Ryu scooped up the basket of fish. "Now who's the dork!"
Takeru stood for a moment before he started to chase after his best friend. "Ryu, get back here! I know you're going to tell everybody you caught those! All you did was sit and feel sorry for yourself!"
Ryu put the basket on top of his head, as he ran swiftly from the river back to the village. "My fish! I caught tons of fish! Takeru didn't catch any," he sang, taunting the boy.
Ryu entered the hospital sliding on his heels, shouting, "Help! Help him!" He hurried to find a nurse down the hall. The entire hospital came alive as people poked their heads out of doors wondering what was going on. "Please," Ryu panted trying to get their attention. "I need a doctor!"
A woman came running down the hall when a nurse around the corner pointed. "What's the matter? You're causing the entire hospital to be alarmed." Her eyes befell the boy upon the older boy's back. She lifted the boy's arm checking his pulse. Her eyes widened. "Medic! We need a stretcher stat!"
A medic-nin came running as he pushed the stretcher. "Put him on the stretcher," the doctor ordered Ryu. She signaled the medic-nin to get the boy into a room. "Hurry! This boy's lost a lot of blood!"
Ryu stood in another reality as he watched Takeru drift from his sight.
"Hey, why don't you spend the night," Takeru suggested as they sat on the bed overlooking the genjutsu scrolls. He was trying to learn a new technique from Ryu. Ryu ignored the question, going back to his work as he wrote kanji on the scroll. "We can stay up late, play tricks on Daiya, and have a fire in the garden."
Ryu glanced at him, lifting his ink brush. "Aren't you a little too old for a sleepover?" Truth was, Ryu had never been to one in his life.
"No, we have Idai over all the time," Takeru said. "He's a bit goofy though. What else do you have to do? You've been working on those the entire day," he griped. He wanted to get up and have some fun. It was boring staying indoors all of the time. "Ryu, your mom won't care. Just stay over. You can wear dad's clothes."
Ryu's eye twitched. "You want me to wear Sasuke sensei's clothes?" A horrible image entered his mind. "No, thanks!" He rolled the scroll, tying a string around it. "I'd rather die."
"You can wear Onari's," Daiya said as he entered the room. "I'm sure she wouldn't mind. Girl pajamas ought to appear very dashing on you since you have the body shape for it."
Ryu thrust his fist into the bed. "What the hell are you implying? I do NOT have a woman's body!"
"You're tall and skinny. Almost the same size as a dainty mistress," Daiya said pushing him further. "All we'd have to do is get your hair to cooperate, put some makeup on, and a kimono. I'm sure you could fool anybody."
Takeru shook his head at Daiya, Ryu lowered his face, his body tensing. "Daiya, you're insulting his manhood. I don't think that's going to make him stay over."
Ryu looked at both of them with stars in his eyes, his arm in that kind of pumped motion one often sees in comics. "Yeah, maybe that could work! Let's do it! We'll fool your parents!"
Daiya didn't think he'd actually go for it. "You're going to get us in trouble," he said bluntly. "The last thing I want you to do is cause me to miss dinner," he said flopping onto the bed. He heard Takeru leave the room for a minute.
Takeru came back brandishing one of his mother's kimonos. "How about this one? Mom only wears it for special occasions," he said with a smile. "It'd be fun to fool somebody." He was game for it. Anything was more exciting than sitting around staring at each other.
It didn't take Ryu an hour to get dressed up. Onari had been on it, too, once Takeru told her how much fun it'd be. She had put the makeup on his face while Takeru straightened his hair out. Ryu turned around making poses in the mirror. He put his hands up to his face, wiggling his hips. "Oh, my, I'm so embarrassed," he said like a girl.
Daiya turned his head to see Ryu sitting on the floor with a fan covering his face. The moment Ryu winked at Daiya, he fell over the other side of the bed. Daiya popped up swearing at him. "Take that off, you idiot!"
Izumi walked into her sons' room. She wondered what they were up to. "Dinner will be ready in a short while," she said with a chime. Her eyes looked over the tall female sitting on the floor with the fan in front of her face. Her kimono. "Ryu, if you want to stay over for dinner, you can, but you won't be coming to the table dressed in that." She walked out the room as silence fell upon the boys.
"Izumi knew it was Ryu," Onari said.
"Yeah, I thought she'd be fooled," Takeru said.
"He's wearing HER kimono," Daiya said pointing at his brother as if he were blind and stupid. "If you're going to fool her, dress him in some- No! Don't dress Ryu up! Take that stuff off!"
"You should walk around Konoha like that," Takeru said giving him the thumb's up. "We could really prank Shikamaru sensei."
Ryu fooled around with his hair trying to get it to stay up. "Hey, Onari, would you come help me put it up? Let's see if we really can trick Shikamaru," Ryu said with a sinister hint in his eye.
"We are so dead," Daiya said watching Ryu walk down the hall in his mother's kimono. Ryu was now sporting a nice womanly hairdo with a flower accent. "You're going to get us in trouble," he said aggressively and quietly. "Mom told you not to come to the table like that!"
Ryu couldn't help himself. It was good to get Takeru laughing. He enjoyed the boy's heartful boyish laugh. He sat down near Sasuke his back turned slightly as he dipped his chopsticks into the bowl. Daiya and Takeru just stared. Sasuke was busy reading the newspaper, his eyes skimming it.
Takeru couldn't believe his father hadn't noticed Ryu yet. He watched his father reach over with a hand to grab his cup, sipping it gently, his eyes closed. It's impossible for Dad to not know it's Ryu, right? I mean, he's a Sannin level ninja.
Ryu ate slowly pretending he was a dainty girl who enjoyed the meal. He even said, "Thanks for that meal," in a high pitched girl's voice as Daiya slapped his forehead. Onari was sitting beside Takeru stealing all of his vegetables off his plate. However, Sasuke had ignored him for the past thirty minutes. Ryu's nerve finally blew.
He turned around staring hard at the newspaper with his hands on the floor. "You can't honestly tell me you didn't know it was me the entire time!" Ryu saw Sasuke glance at him. "Don't act coy!"
Sasuke winked at him as he lifted a camera. He took one picture of Ryu has a girl in a dress. The flash went off and Ryu's eyes got wide. "It's a shame Saori is dating the wrong type of person. She's interested in guys," he said as Ryu started to go after him. Sasuke was on his feet in no time exiting the room with the camera.
"You give me that picture," Ryu yelled down the hall chasing Sasuke around the corner. "You ass!" He couldn't let Saori see that picture! He'd be the laughing stock of the village.
Takeru erupted in laughter with Daiya and Onari. He laughed so hard he had tears coming out of his eyes. "He's such a dork," he said slapping his hand on the table causing the dishes to rattle.
Izumi crawled out from inside the cabinet near the sink. She had managed to wedge herself in there just to videotape Ryu in all his glory. "This ought to be good for the next party we have," she said showing them the stunning video camera. That sent out an even bigger laugh as they heard Ryu swearing and yelling at Sasuke throughout the house.
Ryu sunk to the floor in the hall his head hanging forward. All he could think about was Takeru's smile and his boyish laugh. He was his best friend, and now his life was in turmoil. As he sunk into the hole of his darkest thoughts with regret and despair, he had forgotten that he had left Saori and Onari outside of the village to defend themselves against the lightening ninja, otherwise known as Kakumei Eimino.