ϟ—Chapter Nine — Ashes—ϟ
Ashen smoke crumbled over brimstone. A new day's sun rose behind a black sky and the Hachibi's form finally gave way. Four barely conscious Shinobi lay in the pool of ink where the Hachibi once was. Immediately, Ka'rai snapped to attention. The Nibi's eyes became his own. Kay was next to follow, she placed a now-healed hand on his shoulder.
"Our first objective is to return to Kumo," she said.
Ka'rai nodded slowly. "Yeah…"
A groan followed. Yowui wiped the ink from his face and blinked at the two—he coughed. "You guys…" His eyes widened. "Ka'rai! You're alright!"
He grinned. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"You got kidnapped by an S-Rank missing nin…"
Ka'rai shrugged. "It was fun, not gonna lie."
"Fun?! You almost died!" shouted Yowui—even Kay was taken aback by his sudden outburst.
"Yeah, I've never done that before!" said Ka'rai with his grin growing. "It was fun…"
Yowui's fists clenched. With a sigh, he looked away, toward Bee… who didn't move an inch. The fear on Yowui's face matched the look of a ghoul. "Is he dead?!" he managed through visceral coughing.
"Nah," answered Ka'rai cooly. He walked over to his sensei and crouched. "He's out of it…" he murmured with narrowed eyes. "This must be the price of using a Bijuu's full power."
With a rub of his hands, Jinsei seeped from his skin. "Hey, can you help out Bee-sensei for me?" he asked the flame. It burned hotter yet calmer. He placed it on Bee's back. The unconscious man groaned as he was enveloped in the fire. Ka'rai pumped more chakra into it—it looked like Bee became the wood for a blue bonfire.
"You guys can hop in if you need it," added Ka'rai with a toothy smile.
Yowui stepped back. "Uh…"
Kay simply laid beside Bee, and the flames enveloped her as well. "It feels like a hot spring, Yowui!" she managed through the simmer of Jinsei.
"It's not gonna kill you, man," assured Ka'rai.
Shaking his head, Yowui stiffly laid beside Kay and Jinsei spread to him next. After a bit, he loosened up and allowed his head to rest beside Kay. She smiled at him. He chuckled back. "Thanks, Ka'rai…"
"Of course!"
A screech roared behind the three. Jinsei roared off of them and formed in Ka'rai's hand. The fire burned as it blocked a claw—the size of Ka'rai's head. Two tails roared from his body.
That is a Soul Eater, Ka'rai.
Jinsei formed into a human-sized sickle and impaled the beast to the floor. Ka'rai took a chunk of the sickle, formed it into a blade, then cut its head off. The demonic head rolled in front of Yowui's. The boy screamed.
Ka'rai's cloak dropped, and he fell to his knees. Jinsei evaporated into the air. "Fuck…"
What the hell is a Soul Eater?
Creatures from Hell; as their name says, their purpose is to devour the souls sent to Hell. The more souls they've eaten, the more powerful they are. Hidan must've summoned them when he brought Hell to Earth.
"We need to leave," ordered Kay.
Yowui readily nodded and stood fast. Ka'rai pouted. "I want to hunt down the Soul Eaters, though…"
You'll get your chance soon. Return to your village.
"Fine…" he murmured. Standing up, only to stumble on his knees again. "Shit!"
With Bee over her shoulder, Kay pointed at Ka'rai. "Pick him up, Yowui. We need to move fast."
"I'll barely be able to move with him on me!" Yowui shook his head incredulously. "Can't you summon your armadillos or something?!"
"Suberi was injured during the battle. She needs time to recover. Ka'rai cannot move on his own, and you can. It is up to you to keep the team moving, Yowui."
"No! I can move on my own!" Ka'rai stressed, forcing himself to his feet. He took a step and nearly fell.
"Stop being boneheaded," she commanded with a slight glare.
With a sigh from both parties, Yowui slung Ka'rai over his shoulders. He and Kay moved through the smoke and ash—it still fell from the black sky above. To their back—toward Yakedo—there was a hellish orange glow that was their new sun.
It didn't take long for Ka'rai to join Bee in unconsciousness. Yowui lagged behind Kay, but dammit, he kept moving. A cough accompanied every meter he ran. But, that didn't stop him. No, it wouldn't—it wouldn't, not again.
Not again… never again.
⁑ —ϟ— ⁑
Metal tendrils shifted in the ash. Shattered masks and broken hearts rose alongside Kakuzu. His skin scratched together as his joints moved. He clenched his fist, but nothing came—there was no fist to clench. Tendrils slithered through the ash, attaching to a severed hand of a colorless diamond and pulling back. He did the same with his legs, a chunk of his torso, even his lower jaw.
Kakuzu stitched himself back together and sat up fully. "Damn it all…" he grumbled.
"You look rough, boss," chuckled Hidan as he strut toward Kakuzu. He looked as if the previous battle didn't even happen.
"Did Kinbo at least capture the Nibi?"
Hidan shrugged incredulously. "How the fuck am I supposed to know?!"
Kakuzu growled and trudged through the ash, his feet grinding against brimstone. His partner followed behind. Ash poured like a blizzard of black, but neither man was affected. It took an hour of searching to find Kinbo in the ash, but only mere seconds to dig him up.
He was scorched in third-degree burns. He was missing an arm—it was a miracle that he was even alive. He wouldn't be for much longer. Hidan cackled. With arrogance, he hit the butt of his scythe on the brimstone. Jashin rose and looked toward Hidan.
"Help out this idiot—please, Lord Jashin," requested Hidan with a dutiful bow.
Jashin looked toward Kinbo's almost corpse. He opened his mouth, wrapping Kinbo in his tongue before swallowing him. A minute of chewing later, Kinbo was spat out, fully healed with both arms. On his hands and knees, he panted.
Kinbo bowed his head to the King of Hell. "Thank you…"
Jashin sank back into the ground. Hidan yawned. "So, you failed too, eh? Lord Orochimaru's gonna be fucking pissed."
Kakuzu opened his mouth to scold Kinbo… but dammit, he couldn't. He had failed just as much as he did. "This isn't over. We will return to the nearest hideout to regroup."
"I will not," declared Kinbo, hurriedly searching through the ash. "The Nibi brat released the souls in my blade…" He couldn't help but slam his fist into the brimstone below. "I need to get them back."
Kinbo gasped as he grabbed the handle of a Katana. He pulled out his jet-black blade and let out a relieved sigh. "I will replace every single soul with that of a Soul Eater's."
Turning his back, Kakuzu sighed. "Don't get yourself killed."
"Yeah, I won't be here to get Lord Jashin to heal you again," remarked Hidan as he twirled the Jigoku Scythe in his hand.
Kinbo scoffed with narrowed eyes. "I'll be fine," he murmured, staring at the hundreds of Soul Eaters in the black and orange sky. His fists clenched over the hilt of his empty blade, and he couldn't help but wince.
Everything just felt so damned Hollow.
⁑ —ϟ— ⁑
His mind ached… like a pond rippling in a thunderstorm—crashing and throbbing coldly like a brain freeze. Ka'rai managed to chuckle.
Y'know, Yugito… we kind of share a brain. I can always tell how you feel.
The thrashing pond shifted. I see…
What's wrong? You were really silent for the fight, too.
I simply had nothing to say. I couldn't afford to divert your focus. The pond churned colder—Ka'rai's physical body winced.
Ah, he murmured, missing the half-truth. Well, I appreciate it! A golden warmth calmed the water just a bit. I have trouble focusing on multiple things sometimes…
Yugito chuckled low, the pond throbbing still. I'm happy to have helped you.
Y'know, began Ka'rai. We never got to actually talk about things… Now that we have some downtime, let's do that!
Oh. Yugito pondered. Well, I already know pretty much everything there is to know about you…
Thought so, murmured Ka'rai. Well, that just saves us time! Why do you love Kumo so much?
The same reason as you, she answered—the storm quelled slightly, and the pond reflected in reminiscing. Memories flashed against the black of Ka'rai's closed eyelids, like a dream. A supportive village backed Yugito, championing her to be their second Killer Bee. Two loving parents—both Shinobi—showered her with smiles and determination. Darkness shadowed over all—dreams crushed by the hammer of war. Comrades rose and fell, a lover lost—Yugito shut the memories away.
The cold ripple sent an ache through Ka'rai's head. You died young… you were only twenty…
I was, she confirmed simply. My last act allowed Kumo to keep the Nibi. My only regret is that I couldn't have lived longer to serve more.
I doubt that, rebutted Ka'rai. On top of that, Nibi is more than just a weapon for Kumo—she isn't its property.
I… I am now aware, she assured. The notion is foreign to me; I admit.
Just because it's unfamiliar doesn't mean it's bad! Y'know, I find the notion of a dead person inside of my head very unfamiliar… but it's fun! So, I'm here for it.
That got a chuckle out of Yugito. Right…
I saw that you and Nibi didn't really get along; but, she should hate me waay more than she'd hate you. I'm an Uzumaki, my clan kind of enslaved the Reaper, Nibi's best friend.
It—she's trying to play you, Ka'rai. I don't trust her actions.
I trust her! beamed Ka'rai. The warmth in the mindscape grew—Yugito's cold was nearly overtaken. I'm helping her do her job here, and hopefully when I die, I can release her to the world and she'll coexist with humanity! Like she did in the past!
That's idealistic, Ka'rai, warned Yugito. The Nibi will burn Kumo to the ground the first chance she gets.
I think that would be unnecessary. I'm sure a bunch of unnecessary death will upset the cycle… am I right, Nibi?
Warmth burned away as the Nibi's presence entered Ka'rai's mind. It could, she answered. But, a bigger upset is at play here.
Is it Hidan's Hell thing? guessed Ka'rai.
Indeed. The moment you're recovered in your village, you will be returning to where Yakedo once stood so I can sever the newfound connection between Hell and Earth. The longer we wait, the more Hell will consume Earth. Most of what you call Rice Country has been entirely consumed.
Why would he do something like that?! Growled Ka'rai—the warmth returned with a burning fury.
Some people are simply born abhorrent, said Yugito.
Ka'rai huffed, and the Nibi continued. If it gets to the point where the Flames of Izanyomi breach the barrier… then all will burn. But only if I am not there to stop it.
What are the Flames of Izanyomi? He asked.
The Nibi sighed. Heaven and Hell are connected to life and death; fire is connected to those concepts in the same way. Thus, Heaven and Hell have their own otherworldly flames, which none besides me can control.
Izanyomi, the true flames of Hell.
Amaterasu, the true flames of Heaven.
Both are the purest forms of fire.
Woah… murmured Ka'rai. When will I get to use them?!
Silence fell… Long from now.
Aw, he pouted.
Just make sure you recover quickly. We cannot afford to waste time.
He cannot control that, Nibi, defended Yugito, her pond stilled like hard steel.
A growl rumbled Ka'rai's mind—he managed to chuckle. Don't worry! Uzumaki recover from injuries real fast!
I'm aware, sneered the Nibi.
Right… friends close, enemies closer…
With that, silence fell and Ka'rai allowed his consciousness to fall deep into the black. The blackened darkness of rest.
ϟ—Chapter End—ϟ