縄 (Noose)

Disclaimer: I'm not adept in Japanese folklore so I might not get some things correct. Please don't hesitate to point out mistakes if you notice them. Thank you.

Rated M for mature themes.

Paranormal romance.

SasuSaku Au fiction.

I don't own Naruto.

一

SAKURA

My bare skin felt as though it had been bound by the icy grip of the night air, causing an involuntary shiver to course through me. When Ame had taken me out of my dorm room and told me she wanted to go for a walk, I didn't expect her and her minions to want to force me to do this.

With my fingers trembling, I clutched the necklace that hung around my neck, squeezing the vibrant ruby pendant, wondering if it truly possessed the power to ward off Yūrei, as Obaa-san had often insisted. My grandmother always told me that this pendant held the ability to dispel malevolent spirits. Yet, at this moment, it seemed utterly impotent–because Ame and her companions were still around and dragging me off to who knew where.

Their giggles and taunts still echoed around me as they eventually came to a halt before an abandoned and foreboding house.

"Well," Ame turned to face me, a malicious grin curling her lips. "Why are you hesitating, witch?" With a push, she sent me stumbling toward the decrepit building, its dark silhouette looming ominously against the night sky. "Go inside," she commanded.

"Enter, witch," her accomplices chimed in, their laughter lacing their words.

When I didn't move, Ame pushed me again. I stumbled forward, landing on the floor. ''Places like this shouldn't scare you, right?''

I gritted my teeth in anger, closing my eyes and hoping they would just vanish. Just one word would do it. Just one. Despite the stinging pain I felt in my knees, I forced myself up. The pain in my knees from the fall was nothing compared to the cold dread that coursed through me. With a sigh, I finally turned my attention to the house, my gaze tracing the rickety steps that led to its entrance and the shattered windows that creaked eerily in the wind.

Thanks to the pendant, I could sense the ghosts drifting in and out of the house, their ethereal forms passing through solid matter with ease. I averted my gaze when one of them turned to regard me, a cold chill racing down my spine. If there was one thing that unnerved me more than anything else, it was the presence of ghosts. And I knew that once they sensed I could see them, I would be very unlucky.

Suppressing my fear and feeling the frigid air seeping into my bones, I took a hesitant step forward. I ascended the stairs, acutely aware of Ame and her companions trailing behind me. When my trembling hand reached for the door, it creaked open of its own accord, halting me in my tracks.

"Go inside," Ame urged from behind me.

I shook my head, my throat constricting with fear. The interior of the house seemed to teem with countless spirits. "I can't," I stammered. "I—"

Before I could finish my sentence, Ame shoved me inside and sealed the door behind me. My heart jumped to my stomach as I pounded furiously on the door. "Ame, open the door!''

"Use your spells to free yourself," she taunted, her laughter echoing through the heavy door.

"Please!" I cried out, my voice quivering. The world outside seemed distant now as I pounded the door relentlessly. Yet, there was no response. Their voices had long faded, leaving me alone in the haunted confines of the house.

Panic gnawed at my insides. I took in deep, trembling breaths, reciting a mantra I had learned over the years to calm my racing heart. "Please go away," I muttered, forcing myself to breathe steadily.

Heart still pounding, I pressed my hand against the pendant, hoping it would somehow unlock the magic within. This house was swarming with thousands of ghosts, and I did not doubt that more powerful and malevolent ghosts lurked in the shadows, waiting for me to come across them. Letting go of the pendant, I opened my eyes to face the darkness ahead of me.

The moonlight filtered through the windows and allowed me to discern some of the features of the house. There was a decaying staircase that led to an upper area, shrouded in an eerie silence. I walked up to the stairs and came across an empty hallway. I noticed doors on either side, each harboring an unsettling number of spirits. They moved stealthily, blending with the shadows. As one ghost passed through me, I couldn't help but shiver.

Emotions attract them. I recalled Obaa-san's advice. Keep your emotions tightly controlled if you wish to go unnoticed.

I took a raspy breath, attempting to steady my emotions. This was the price of being the granddaughter of a shaman. While Obaa-san was away performing her shamanic duties, I endured the daily torment of ridicule and laughter from my classmates. My mother had left me with my grandmother, unable to bear the burden of having a child with the ability to see and interact with spirits. It was too much for her. Perhaps I should have gone with my mother. Maybe then, I wouldn't be subjected to this relentless suffering.

I sighed, shaking off the thought. It wasn't that simple. It had been my choice to stay with Obaa-san, and my mother had made it abundantly clear that she wanted nothing to do with me anymore. Not when she had a new family to care for.

Pushing forward, I flinched as the floorboards creaked beneath my weight, the sound echoing ominously through the hallway. The ghosts still paid me no heed. Good. My eyes scanned the corridor, searching for an escape route, a door, or any means of fleeing this haunted nightmare. I couldn't find one.

Just then I caught sight of a window in one of the rooms across the hall. The moon's pale glow bathed the glass in an eerie light. Ignoring the protesting sounds the floorboards made, I moved forward. As long as the ghosts paid me no attention, getting out wasn't hard. My fingers reached for the window handle and with desperation, I pulled, only to realize it was locked. I drew my hand back, throat dry. No.

My eyes darted around the room, searching for anything I could use. The room I was in belonged to a child. I could tell from the scattered toys all over the place and the solitary cot rested in the middle of the room. Then a glimmer among the dust and decay caught my attention. It was a kitsune figurine, pristine and untouched. Its seven tails arched up gracefully, and its eyes, a vivid crimson that seemed to pulse like tiny drops of blood, held a strange allure to it.

I moved closer to it. Wrapped around its porcelain neck was a talisman with black calligraphy. In my absentminded curiosity, I traced the characters, unconsciously reading out loud.

Fūin. I read aloud, the syllables heavy with mystic power. It was too late when realization struck me like a bolt. Dread washed over me as I gasped out loud. I moved away from the figurine and glanced towards the room door just as I heard movements. A shadow crept up in front of me, bearing the same crimson eyes that had transfixed me moments ago. Its red eyes were still the same, if not darker. And unlike the glossy, ceramic look he had before, he looked a bit human if not for his tails and ears. I stared at it, legs quivering so violently I thought they'd caved in.

"Ah," the kitsune purred, stretching his limbs. "Well, that was the longest one thousand years of my life." He assessed himself, looking through his kimono robe. "Still clean." He mused to himself.

As if finally noticing my presence in the room, his eyes settled on me, and a chilling silence enveloped us. I braced myself for an attack, but he remained unmoving as if he was contemplating what to do. Then, without warning, I bolted. Panic fueled every stride as I sprinted past him, my breaths coming out in frantic bursts. Down the creaking stairs, around the shadowy corners, and into another dark hallway, I fled. Escape was my sole obsession at the moment. I had locked eyes with something much worse than my nightmares.

My eyes scanned the bleak hallway, searching desperately for an exit, a door, a crevice–anything that could get me out of here. Yet, I saw none.

"Stay calm," I whispered to myself, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn't let my emotions spiral out of control. Not now.

Inhaling deeply, I listened intently for any sign of danger. It was then that a finger grazed my throat, its long nails drawing blood. I winced, gasping as I felt myself being lifted into the air.

In front of me stood a yokai, a skeletal specter.

"Human," it growled darkly. Of all the entities to encounter, it had to be this one. Some unknown force jerked me forward. I stumbled, my feet brushing lightly against the floor as I felt myself being lifted. I struggled back on impulse, pressing against hard-rock bones.

"Let go!" I cried out.

"You smell delightful, human. I shall savor our time together," the skeleton hissed, sending shivers down my spine.

I balled my fists together and whispered a short spell through gritted teeth. I saw a white flash echo in the room like a cracking sound and I felt myself land on the floor just as the skeleton shrieked in pain.

Seconds passed as I took shaky breaths of air, surprised the spell had worked.

"I'll devour you!" It cried.

Using the moment, I ran again. My body automatically took me back up the stairs. I didn't even slow to catch my breath as I ran into the hallway. I ignored the stares of the ghosts who could suddenly see me. My throat hurt from the wound the Yokai had given me. My knees and shoulder throbbed. Everything hurt. I just wanted to go home.

My heart raced as I spotted another empty room ahead. I heard the relentless skeleton's ascent up the stairs, and I took my chances, running into the room. The entire room was adorned with an intricate tapestry of talismans–there was something much more sinister here. With a heavy sigh, I turned around just in time to see the grotesque skeleton yokai lung toward me. I slammed the door shut and tore off a talisman from the wall and clamped it onto the door handle.

The handle rattled heavily as the yokai struggled to let itself in. I shifted back, away from the door.

''Your makeshift barrier won't last for long,'' a voice whispered, barely audible yet startlingly real in the stifling atmosphere.

My heart pounded as I stiffened, turning my gaze towards the sound. The voice, though soft as a wisp of smoke, carried a haunting familiarity. The figure stepped closer, and I could no longer dismiss it as a figment of my imagination. Their arm wrapped around my shoulder, pulling me close. With an abrupt movement, I turned and found myself staring into the curious eyes of the kitsune from earlier. He regarded me with a curious look. I was already feeling faint and tired from all the running and injuries I'd sustained since I entered this place. My legs ached and yet I stood still like a rock.

"Hmm," he purred, raking his fingers through his dark, shoulder-length locks. Then, with an abrupt shift, his gaze hardened, and his eyes locked onto the pendant hanging around my neck. His pupils widened with recognition, and he fixed his piercing gaze upon me. "You," he seethed, his voice dripping with menace, a stark contrast to his earlier curiosity. "You're still alive?"

I frowned. What was he talking about? Before I could attempt to respond, the door crumbled inwards, unleashing a swirling storm of dust and an overpowering scent of blood and death that smothered the room.

The yokai hissed menacingly as it lunged forward once more, its intent unmistakable. But, just as it closed in on me, it was hurled backward. It's body crashing into the wall with a bone-rattling impact. It made to attack again, hesitating upon seeing the figure by my side.

"Sasuke-dono?" the skeleton called out in surprise. "This human trespassed my space. I have every right to eat her."

Sasuke-dono?

The kitsune or Sasuke, withdrew his arm from my shoulder and stepped forward. "Of course," he acknowledged.

The skeleton clapped in glee.

''However,'' Sasuke's voice was as cold as the dark aura that filled the room. ''You've met me in a bad mood.''

Dark flames erupted from his outstretched hands as he whispered. ''Amaterasu.''

A loud, ear-piercing screech rented the air. The skeleton yokai shrieked, its agonizing wail curdling my stomach. Writhing in torment, it crumpled and disintegrated into a heap of ashen remains. The room fell silent. I trembled, teetering on the brink of consciousness. Sasuke turned toward me and muttered something. Before I could react, my body gave out and darkness rushed forth, claiming my senses.

My eyes opened slowly. I squinted at the bright streams of sunlight that filtered into the room through closed blinds. An attempt to move sent a wave of throbbing agony through my body. I groaned, my head pounding as I cautiously shifted on the bed. My confusion deepened.

Room? Bed? When did I get here?

"You're not her." A voice said from a corner of the room. It froze me in place. Startled, I jolted upright as if struck by an electric current. Sasuke regarded me impassively. My gaze dropped to his hand and I clawed at my neck.

"My pendant."

"You're not her," he repeated, ignoring me. "Yet, you have her necklace." He played with it, spinning it around like a yo-yo, looking at me like I'd taken his favorite toy. "Tell me. Who gave you this?"

I didn't know what he was talking about or the 'her' he was referring to, but his words made me flinch.

"And she's suddenly mute," Sasuke sighed, his eyes now two dark pools, no longer crimson like before, brimming with an unsettling amusement.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I responded in a calm voice.

His tone remained unrelenting. "I'm sorry, what was that?"

"I said, I don't know what you're talking about," I repeated, my eyes locked onto the pendant. "However, this pendant," I pointed at it, "was a gift from my grandmother."

"And what's your grandmother's name?"

I fell silent. What good was it disclosing such details to a demon fox? My brows came together in a frown as I remembered him destroying the skeleton yokai with a single flame. It reminded me that just like that yokai, he was also one. Perhaps even stronger. What even surprised me was the fact that I wasn't out of my bed and running out my front door, to get away from him as far as possible. But, I couldn't fool myself. He would catch me before I even dared to move. What I wanted right now was answers.

"Who are you?" I asked.

Sasuke's eyes flickered, his gaze now fixed on my frail form. "A demon fox, as you can clearly see," he responded, his voice tinged with teasing. Then, he turned serious. "This pendant was what sealed me for one thousand years."

"My pendant?" I questioned, baffled. "But you were released when I recited the words on the talisman."

"That's because you're a shaman," he declared with a knowing tone.

I bristled at the term, loathing the term.

"I'm not a shaman."

"The fact that you can say a few spells makes you one."

I remembered calling a spell that had struck the skeleton yokai, the ease with which I had dispelled the talisman. A puff of air left my lips as I looked out my room window. I felt a bit better now, but the ache was still there. My eyes swiveled to Sasuke. "So, what do you want now?"

"My freedom," Sasuke replied swiftly.

"What? Aren't you free already?"

"It seems you don't understand how this necklace works," Sasuke said. He stood from where he sat and moved towards me, almost too slowly. I saw that his eyes weren't the only thing that had changed. His tails were no longer there; making him look more human. He stopped at the edge of my bed and dangled the necklace in front of me. "This pendant controls me like a string attached to a marionette. Just like a Noose, if you will."

I nodded, not getting his point.

He continued. "I can only be free if the owner of the necklace dies."

My eyes widened. "Are you saying I have to die?"

He leaned forward, deep crimson eyes boring into mine. "Yes."

TBC…..

Please review, favorite, and follow.

Thank you for reading.