The wind cut through my chilled skin as if to mimic to the frigid pitches of the melody. The flute seemed to play me rather than I play it.
Of course, the demon had reared its baleful head, and Naruto's clones had struggled to maintain it. With every passing rhythm, however, his vicious claws and haunting chakra cloak diminished, his clones disappearing in a puff of smoke. All in all, it had gone smoothly. He was able to cut cleanly through a leaf.
But more importantly, I seemed to be deepening my bond with the demon. Every time I managed to subdue him, it was as if the timeless melodies enraptured his soul and linked it to mine. I could feel his despair, and it quite frankly made me want to weep in sorrow. Such anguish. Such hate. Such loneliness. No wonder his appearance was so astonishingly frightful.
After finally completing the first phase, Naruto's energy had been sapped after releasing all thousand of his clones, and Hatake had barely appeared by his side in time to catch his falling figure. We sat in silence, waiting for him to awaken. Linksys had come to my side, acting as a cushion for my aching self to recline on. Naruto wasn't the only vanquished fighter; however, he was passed out in the grass next to Hatake.
As thoughts ran through my mind, a slight, soft breeze blew across the field, the blades of grass dancing in response. It was peaceful with the lull of the waterfall behind us and the random chirps of birds high in the sky. Shadows of passing clouds were seen flying across the fields as if running from an unknown entity.
Before long, my breathing became one with Linksys's, and my eyelids drifted close for a while.
↭
The crimson circle snaked around her petrified form, the scarlet lines creating a triangle within the circle. Her legs quaked in fear as the symbol completed itself.
A slight whimper formed in her throat as tight cords wrapped around her, taking captive her wrists, ankles, waist, and neck. They moved to strangle her, numbness taking over her body as her vision became blotted.
It was then that a man appeared. His eyes were anguished and posture slumped.
His mouth moved as if forming words, but no sound escaped. His hand desperately reached out to her as the cords dragged her away. Writing in attempts to escape, she watched as the man's frightened expression became smaller and smaller.
↭
"Hey!" His voice rang in my ears, my heart jolting in surprise. Eyes flying open, I immediately regretted my decision as the noon sun burned them like hell's fire. When I finally felt them adjusting and simmering down, I reopened them only to find my hand squeezing Hatake's wrist, his face close due to my aggressive hold.
I immediately released him, seeing his uncomfortable flush and feeling my temperature rise as well. I cursed silently. He was a human. He was a human.
"What was that all about? Bad dream?" He asked hesitantly, avoiding meeting my gaze. Sighing, I rubbed my temples in attempts to mitigate the headache forming.
"I'm afraid it was more than just that." I responded lightly, sitting up and happily welcoming Linksys's nuzzle with a petting hand. Hatake's raised brow forced me to expand my description. "It was a premonition." I finished, slumping back down onto Linksys's comfy side.
"You mean," his voice held surprise, "like a vision of the future?" He inquired curiously. I couldn't help but chuckle.
"I guess so." I shrugged, thinking back on the memory. "I usually forget their events if I don't recant them. Would you mind listening?" I looked up at him, reading what little of his expression I could make out from underneath that bothersome mask.
He shrugged, sloppily dropping into a sitting position in front of me. Gesticulating for me to begin, he watched me carefully.
"There was an odd symbol, and it formed under my feet, petrifying my body in the process. It was then that odd, black cords wound around various parts of my body, subsequently squeezing me into numbness and asphyxiation." My eyes had closed as I struggled to remember, the familiar feeling of the cords causing me to squirm in discomfort and massage my neck. "It was then that a man appeared. He was the man that came into the hospital for Naruto - the man I highly dislike. There was a sash around his waist with-what you people would call - a kanji for fire. Why would I dream of his future?" I inquired, watching as Hatake's eyes widened in complex emotion.
"Ominous. . ." he mumbled. His eye searched my face blankly as he pondered for a moment. "G-go on."
"A-anyway, he tried to call out to me, but I couldn't hear his voice. However, he seemed in desperate need of help. Of course, the cords dragged me away, and his form faded out. That's when you woke me up." I bit my lip uneasily. When others appeared in my dreams like that one, it was never good.
"By the look on your face, it doesn't seem good, huh?" He stood up, stretching his limbs.
Nodding, I added, "no. I have a feeling this man will have little time to live, and I will most likely have another unwanted visitor. I-i really don't belong here. Tsunade needs to release me." My eyes shifted to that boysenberry as my body shook in annoyance. It was another trait of humans that reminded me why I hated them - stubbornness.
He chuckled lightly, "any unwanted visitors to Konoha never leave, and I know Lady Tsunade-sama will release you once you have repaid your debt. As I hear, it's pretty high. Reconstructing buildings isn't cheap." He teased, but I was still stuck on his first words.
Unwanted visitors never leave. . .
"Are you telling me that I will never leave, then?" I stood up, facing him in aggravation. His face contorted in confusion.
"H-huh?" He stammered, taking steps away from my bowed up form.
"I was an unwanted visitor and still am. Are you threatening me?" My eyes were glaring crimson, and his forehead was dripping in sweat as I cornered him to a tree. Clearing his throat, a more complacent, strong expression composed his features, and his posture straightened to challenge mine.
"It wasn't a threat. . . more like," the outline of his lips curved upward into a mocking smirk, "a fact." He finished with finality, taking strides around me.
I couldn't help but ball my fists in contempt. Who did he think he was?
"Watch your step." I warned lowly, sending a glare to which he seemed slightly unnerved by. "I must inform Tsunade of my premonition. I don't like the feeling of it, even if I could stand to see that man feel a little pain." I folded my arms defiantly, stomping off toward the city.
"I'll send a messenger. You must remain to help Naruto." His outstretched arm halted me. "Besides, I'm training you once he's done."
"Sure - wait. . ." I searched his passive face as his words registered. "What? Train me? A human training an elf?" I couldn't help the laughter echoing around me, its noise intensifying at his annoyed eyes. "You're jesting?" I stilled my laughter, sending him an incredulous face.
Grumbling under his breath, he retorted, "if you truly do not like the feeling of your dream, why not try it out? You may actually learn something." He challenged. "Although, I highly doubt it." His way of manipulation infuriated me. It was mainly due to the fact that it had seemed to be working.
"Hah," I folded my arms, "if you think you're good enough, just try it." I sent him a defiant smile, walking briskly passed him and back to my ritual spot.
Naruto had awoken and was ready to continue.
↭
"Like I said before, the lightning will not manifest without harming me. How can this be useful in a brawl?!" Once again, under Hatake's instruction, I attempted to use my magic to form the lightning element, however harmful it seemed to be. Both my hands were beginning to shake and were wrought in nasty burns.
He simply watched, a hand to his chin as his eye narrowed over my panting form. It was calculating and thoughtful.
"So. . . trying to get you to create your own form, like with your fire, isn't working. My theory was false." He sighed, closing his eyes and rubbing the lids. "Let's go to plan B."
"Plan B?" I repeated questioningly, straightening my posture and evening my breathing. His eye glistened in excitement as he reached for his mask. Taking hold of his headband, he pulled it up, separating it from his mask to reveal that startlingly crimson orb. I couldn't help but be intrigued as I studied the jagged scar once more.
"Kekkei genkai?" I muttered, subconsciously walking toward him. He nodded in agreement, patiently waiting as I studied it up close.
It was fascinating, with red undertones and black spots known as tomoe forming in a circle around his pupil and connecting by a thread of black.
"What is so special about such a thing?" I inquired, my curiosity having not been quenched. He chuckled.
"Unlike chakra and being able to form ninjustsu skills, a kekkei genkai is a bloodline limit - meaning it is only available to those of a specific family lineage." He explained, his voice monotonous as if he had done this so many times before.
I couldn't help but fold my arms in annoyance at his lack of enthusiasm.
"I see. It is much similar to what I know as Speridia. That name directly translates to special magic." I made sure to keep my voice apathetic, making him sweat in realization of his rude tone.
I wanted to ask why his seemed implanted, but I felt as if I didn't want to know. Not to mention, it might not be a cheerful memory for the human who is so futilely trying to help me.
"How does this special magic work? It might give me an idea to help out." He inquired, leaning back against a tree and folding his arms. It was well into the day, Naruto sleeping off his rather vigorous training. He was quite close to accomplishing his goal.
I sighed, almost laughing again.
"You think you'll be able to come up with theories I've been trying to come up with for years? You humans' will is so tenacious." I yawned, stretching and wondering if I should actually explain. His furrowed brows told me of his frustration toward my attitude. "Why are you helping me, anyway?"
The thought had just occurred to me. He owed me nothing. What was this for?
"I'm simply curious. Making you stronger would benefit the village, yea?" He responded casually, watching me lazily. Sighing, I simply nodded. Being the center of someone's curiosity and attention made me uncomfortable. It always made me question their motives and incentives.
"Special magic is something an elf is born with that no other elf has. It's a unique technique reserved for only the elf, and the phenomenon almost never occurs. Although, it is more prominent in elven aristocracy rather than a certain bloodline." I finished quite quickly, trying to keep it as short and sweet as possible without giving too much away.
He nodded, pushing off the tree.
"And," he smirked, "you have a special magic, don't you?" His words made me visibly stiffen and curse under my breath.
"So what?" I snapped back, my eyes red in aggravation. He simply shrugged, walking in circles around me.
"I want you to meditate. I have an idea, but you'll need to get to where your body will naturally take in chakra." He instructed, putting his hands on my shoulders and forcing me to sit before I could protest.
"Seriously?" My voice was low and sinister. "That means I must create a circulatory system for this foreign energy. It will take long and much of my magical energy." I hissed through clenched teeth to which he simply shrugged.
"Power is not gained through nothing." He retorted nonchalantly, reaching in his pouch only to pull out that confusing book.
If only he knew how much that statement hurt me in every way.