Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Crimson Flower ❯ Prologue ( Prologue )

It was warm. The liquid was hot, fresh from the body, just the way Hikari liked it. The crimson fluid slipped down her throat, not to mention some of it slid down the side of her lips.

 

“No matter how many times I see this,” Mahiru, the Neko, began. “I will never get use to it…”

 

Releasing her fangs from the unconscious victim, Hikari straightened her back, and then licked her lips of any stray blood. The vampire chuckled darkly in amusement when the Neko's ears twitched and her tail swished uncomfortably at the sight.

 

“Really, must you do that every time?” Mahiru sighed, rubbing her temples in disgust. “You know that it irritates me!”

 

“Exactly why I do it,” Hikari laughed. She motioned for Mahiru to throw a band aid; Mahiru did so, and Hikari then stuck it against the two holes in the victim's neck, stopping the blood from flowing out any further.

 

Mahiru gave the half-vampire a slight glare. “You may be a princess, Imouto-chan, but that doesn't mean I can't give you a good whacking to teach you your place!”

 

Hikari gently laid the man down and then covered him with the blankets, ignoring the comment. “Let's go, Mahiru, before he wakes and all Hell is loose.”

 

--

 

Adrenaline raced through Mahiru's veins, but she made not a sound. Sweat beads slipped down the side of her face.

 

Her ears twitched, listening intently for any sound of a guard, or an unexpected visitor. She made sure to keep her tail high above the wires, for they were connected to mines and if she tripped over one, even if just a bit, it would cause the mines to explode.

 

Death was not something she wanted to experience.

 

Mahiru bit her bottom lip; she was only halfway through, but now was not the time to celebrate.

 

She would whoop in joy after she snatched the Jade Dragon, after Hikari and herself disappeared without a trace, the precious treasure in their possession.

 

She heard Hikari whisper to her irritably from the safe side of the room; the young blood sucker was already on the other side, waiting for Mahiru.

 

“Hurry up, Mahiru! We don't have all day!” Since Hikari was a vampire, she could fly, or at least jump very far and very high, and so this little task was quite easy for her. Hikari's feet never even reached within three feet of the wires when she jumped across the field of explosives.

 

Unfortunately though, Mahiru could not jump as far and high as her half-vampire friend and so she was stuck trying to accomplish this dangerous task.

 

“Shut it, Hikari; let me concentrate!” Mahiru answered, stepping carefully into each square that was made by an intersecting wire.

 

Sighing, Hikari leaned against the wall, impatiently waiting for her slow, slow cat friend. “It'd be so much easier if today was a new moon; you're a lot faster in your cat form…”

 

“Yes, well, that wouldn't help much, because then you'd turn into a human and then be completely useless to the mission!”

 

Hikari rolled her eyes, still waiting for Mahiru as the Neko carefully stepped into another square. Finally, after eight long, dragged out minutes, Mahiru completed the errand without setting off a bomb, and to her relief, there weren't any other traps within the area.

 

Mahiru wiped the sweat away with the back of her hand, silently thanking herself that her she managed to keep her snow white skirt high above the wires.

 

Hikari uncrossed her arms and took the lead down the hall. “What a way to take forever, Onee-san.”

 

Sticking her tongue out, Mahiru ran a pale hand through her black hair, noticing the natural streaks of gold. “Watch that large mouth of yours, Imouto-chan.”

 

“Whatever,” Hikari grumbled, keeping her blood red eyes alert for any booby traps. “Let's just grab the Jade Dragon and get the hell out of here.”

 

“Yeah,” the Neko agreed. “This place gives me the creeps…”

 

The two were in an eerie castle in the demon realm, looking for the Jade Dragon, a one foot tall statue with a strong demon aura emitting from it all across the demon world.

 

Legend has it that the Jade Dragon was once a real dragon. He used to fly across the realm without fear and with much pride; everyone worshipped him, and all feared the great beast but it feared none. Then, one day, the dragon's arrogance got the better of it, and the dragon was defeated in a duel with a witch; she turned him into a statue and for hundreds of years, he sat in the castle, catching nothing but dust.

 

Before he was turned, he vowed to come back and defeat the witch and if any mortal or demon freed him from his prison, he would grant that person one wish.

 

So the statue was of valuable importance, especially for self gain, but no one in their right mind would travel to the castle, for the ruler of the castle was a powerful witch, the same witch who imprisoned the Jade Dragon centuries ago: Kurei.

 

But of course, Hikari and Mahiru weren't exactly the sanest demons on the block; they wanted the Jade Dragon, and they were willing to go to the ends of the Earth for whatever they wanted, for whatever price. Why? They kept that to themselves; the two friends wouldn't even share their reasons to each other, burying their secret deep within.

 

The two even sent Kurei a message, telling them that they were coming, and that they would steal the Jade Dragon.

 

Little did they know their overconfidence would be the end of their mission…and the beginning of their punishment!

 

The hall the two thieves were in wasn't very long, although it was certainly…quaint. It was dark, not dark enough to be like a blind man, but dark enough for it to be creepily…creepy. There was a long red carpet in the middle of the hall, and large pictures of humans and beast, although in each, the human was also dying…or being ripped apart.

 

“She sure enjoys human torture, huh, Hikari.” Mahiru murmured, mesmerized and yet revolted at the same.

 

Hikari nodded. “Yeah; these pictures are horrifying…this Kurei lady must be a real maniac.” She reached out towards a particular drawing. “This is almost worse than the fantasies my demon has…” she murmured.

 

Within minutes, they reached the end of the hall, stopping at an old wooden door that looked as if it would break if you just gently laid your hand upon it. Hikari and Mahiru glanced at each other, silently agreeing to open the door and brace for whatever wonders or horrors that lied on the other side.

 

Hikari grabbed the knob and turned it, then gently pushed it outwards, trying to open the entrance, but with no avail. She tried again, harder now, with more effort; she was thrusting herself against the door, trying to break it down, but nothing happened. It didn't even budge. Mahiru patiently, and nervously, waited for her friend; the Neko kept turning her head to look behind her. Her gut was telling her that something wasn't right; there was something wrong with this scene…

 

Where were the guards?

 

Where were the traps? The entire way down the hall, nothing happened, nothing tried to stop them from continuing.

 

What was Kurei thinking? Was she that arrogant? That stupid?

 

Still trying to open the door, Hikari grunted through clenched teeth, “It's stuck.”

 

Mahiru brushed a strand of her bangs out of her eyes. “Then push harder.”

 

“Easy for you to say!”

 

A minute passed.

 

Two minutes…

 

Three…

 

Four…

 

“What's taking so long?” the Neko nagged.

 

“I told you, it's stuck!” the vampire grumbled, still ramming at the door, willing it to open.

 

Mahiru sighed. “Really, with your vampire strength, this should be a simple task!!”

 

As if on cue, the entrance opened just a bit, creaking loudly and annoyingly. With a smirk, Hikari place her weight against the door, pushing as hard as she could. At last, it fell to the ground, sending dust in the air in the process. The two coughed as it flew down their throats, and they closed their eyes when their bright orbs were attacked by the dust.

 

“Welcome, demons.”

 

They froze. As the cloud of dust parted, the two thieves could see her, the most terrifying in demon world: Kurei.

 

Mahiru's pupils turned to slits as she stared with caution and coldness at the woman; Hikari quickly slipped into a fighting position, ready to kill if necessary.

 

Kurei was wearing a black Victorian dress, and her hair was bright red, brighter than the streaks in Hikari's black hair. The witch's hair reached the floor; it was puffy, and well kept, as if she spent hours looking in a mirror with a hairbrush in her hand. She sat in a throne, smugly gazing down at the two.

 

“I guess sending her that letter was a bad idea…” Mahiru whispered.

 

“No, duh,” her friend growled, glaring daggers at the woman.

 

“Welcome to my humble estate; did you like what you saw in the Halls of the Tortured?” Kurei asked, folding her hands in her lap.

 

Mahiru's ears twitched. “You mean that repulsive sight we just passed?”

 

“That was inhuman, Kurei.” Hikari said.

 

Kurei laughed aloud; her high pitched laughter echoed throughout the castle, and it only served to irritate the two sisters. “Inhuman? Child, I'm a demon; I'm supposed to be inhuman!”

 

“Demons like you appall me.” Hikari snarled. “Every one of you should die.”

 

The witch giggled. “Oh, you sweet girl; but you must know, flattery doesn't work on me!”

 

Standing up, Kurei stepped down the stairs slowly and leisurely, as if certain of her victory. She stood next to a rectangular stand, and upon that stand was a jade dragon.

 

Their eyes widened. Why didn't they notice before? If they had, maybe they could've snatched it!

 

“I must congratulate you on getting this far!” Kurei stroked the dragon, and then kissed it on the forehead with her ruby lips. “Needless to say, you two were the first to actually make it to my throne room; I guess the rumors are true! You are the best thieves in the demon realm!” At this, she threw her head back and chortled, giving Hikari and Mahiru a view at her pale neck adorned with jewels from the human and demon realm.

 

Hikari jumped forward, intent on killing the witch right there; her reputation was laughed at; she'll show no mercy!

 

Suddenly, the witch vanished with the jade dragon, and then reappeared on her throne. A thump was heard, and then a scream from Mahiru, but Hikari paid no attention to it. Mahiru probably sighted one of the guards unexpectedly and yelled in surprise.

 

Getting ready to attack again, Hikari bent her fingers at an angle to get a good swipe at the woman's face, and just as she was about to jump, Kurei raised her finger and shook it at her.

 

“No, no, no, my vampire; you wouldn't want your Onee-san to get hurt, would you?”

 

Hikari glared at her. “My Onee-chan can take care of herself; she is, after all, a demon cat.”

 

Kurei smiled wickedly. “Oh, but aren't demon cats weak to water?”

 

Hikari raised her brows in shock; that was a Neko's deepest secret! Even a demon cat outlaw would never tell!

 

“Who told you that?” Hikari asked.

 

Kurei giggled. “Instead of asking me questions, why don't you turn around? I don't think your Onee-san won't make it, if, oh I don't know…maybe if she…slipped?”

 

Hikari heard Mahiru shriek again. Whipping around, she saw that the entire floor where the Neko once stood was now a pit of water! Mahiru was clinging desperately to the wall, but there were roaches crawling near her, keeping her from moving anywhere else. Mahiru let out another shriek.

 

“Onee-chan!” Hikari yelled. Onee-chan is deathly afraid of roaches, but how did Kurei know that?

 

“Hang on!” Hikari ran towards the Neko and as she jumped over the deep water, already halfway, she suddenly bumped into an invisible wall. She fell backwards, landing in the water with a splash. As she resurfaced, Hikari spat out water that managed to enter her mouth, and then she swam towards stoned floor, reaching it in a flat second.

 

Turning angrily to Kurei, Hikari muttered, “You little bit—”

 

“I'd watch my mouth if I were you, Princess Hikari.” She grinned wickedly. “A wrong word out of you could result in the death of your dear, beloved sister.”

 

Hikari gritted her teeth and clenched her fists together, her sharp nails digging into her skin. Her head drooped sorrowfully, defeated. “…what do you want…?”

 

Pretending to be shocked, Kurei stared at the demon. “Want? What do you mean? What could I possibly want? And why would you even offer? Are you that kind?”

 

Jumping to her feet, Hikari glared at the woman with fury. “Don't' play games with me, Kurei!” she yelled bitterly. “What do you want in exchange for Mahiru's life?”

 

Kurei laughed. “What a bright demon!”

 

The half vampire said nothing, but a scream from her sister caused Hikari to turn around in worry. Mahiru was still alive fortunately, but the insects were starting to close in on her, and it was freaking her out… Hikari had to do something, now, or else Mahiru's panic would lead to clumsiness, which in turn would then lead to death.

 

“What I want is…” Kurei paused dramatically, tapping her finger against her chin as if she was thinking; she petted her Jade Dragon statue. “I wan…a slave.”

 

Hikari frowned. “Anything else besides that?” she asked, noticing the sudden silence…

 

“Hm…” Kurei thought once more for a moment. “Nope,”

 

Hikari nodded, her hope for a successful mission quickly fading…that is, until she saw a flash of white out of the corner of her eye.

 

Then, it all came together.

 

The sudden quiet…

 

She tried not to smile, realizing what was going on. There was still a chance at the dragon.

 

“Come on down and let's shake on it.” Hikari said, motioning for the witch to leave the throne.

 

Kurei smirked, stepping down from the throne, completely forgetting about the dragon in her excitement of a new slave…and she never even saw the empty space on the wall in between the roaches… “Get ready to wash my clothes, Maggot.”

 

As the witch stood in front of Hikari, the vampire sneered, a mischievous glint in her red orbs.

 

“What's the smile for?” Kurei asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously at Hikari.

 

Hikari leaned in until she was so close that she could smell the cauldron's scent emitting from the witch. “You lose” she whispered; and then in a matter of seconds, Hikari disappeared.

 

Kurei stood rooted to the spot, confused; the last thing she heard before silence was Mahiru's giggle.

 

--

 

Mahiru held the heavy statue in her pale arms as the two dashed for the exits.

 

“That was fun,” Mahiru grinned. “Since we demons practically live forever, I wouldn't mind an eternity of that!”

 

Hikari laughed along side her. “How'd you get out, Onee-chan?”

 

“Us Nekos can swim, too; Kurei forgot to extend the barrier all the way to the ground. Then, it was just a matter of withstanding the burn.” Mahiru explained. “Luckily, I managed to jump out quietly and quickly, so the water didn't do much damage.”

 

Mahiru stopped for a second or two and shook herself free of the water still on her body, careful not to drop the statue.

 

“Hurry up, Mahiru.” Hikari called; Mahiru nodded, and then quickly followed her friend.

 

They passed the disturbing pictures, ignoring the pained faces and evil smiles.

 

As they headed towards the mines, Mahiru swiftly flipped and jumped into each square with ease. It took less than ten seconds to accomplish this feat, while not too long ago, it took Mahiru fifteen minutes!

 

“Why didn't you do that before?” Hikari whined.

 

“I was trying to save my energy.”

 

As they continued towards the exit, a gate suddenly dropped out of nowhere, landing in their path. The impact of the gate landing on the ground shocked them, causing the two to scramble backwards in fear; Hikari cursed under her breath. Staring at gate, she noticed that there were power wards, keeping them touching the gate.

 

“Any demon above C class can't touch this gate!” Hikari said.

 

“It's the witch,” Mahiru glanced behind her. “She won't go down without a fight.”

 

The large window next to them allowed the silver rays of the moon to flow in. Silence entered the hallway as the two demons strained their advanced ears to hear the witch's footsteps…but there was nothing, just an eerie quiet.

 

And then, out of nowhere, she appeared, floating in the air with hatred in her eyes. Kurei glared loathsomely at the two close friends. Raising her hands, the window flew open, allowing a strong gust of wind to enter and nip at their bare flesh. Their hair blew wildly around their faces.

 

“Filthy demons!” Kurei yelled furiously. “You will pay for your crimes!”

 

The wind snatched the Jade Dragon from Mahiru, and as she attempted to steal it back, the wind pushed her and her soaring towards the gate. Hikari grabbed the Neko's arm just in before she came in contact with the gate.

 

“We have to get the Jade Dragon back!” Hikari cried, pointing at the dragon that was sitting atop the wind next to the witch.

 

“You are forever banished from this world!” Kurei bellowed, point at them with a finely manicured finger.

 

“She's controlling the air stream!” Mahiru exclaimed.

 

“Try to fit in with the humans; attempt to find the crimson flower, for that is the only way you can return home. But beware demons, though you may live seemingly forever, even eternity must end.”

 

Mahiru leaped towards the statue just as the witch's hands were glowing green, her spell almost completed. Managing to get her right palm on the statue, she pulled it into her clutches, just before everything went black…