Can't Fight the Moonlight

I do not own Naruto nor do I make money from it.



Warning: demons, were-creatures, cursing



A/N: Small interlude with Sasuke/Naruto. They will pop up here and there through the story until Itachi and Sasuke are reunited. Unbetaed. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate any support for my stories. Also, the story is Kakashi/Itachi. The word limit for a summery wouldn't let me put who the pairing was. -grumble- Well, anyway, enjoy.



Can’t Fight The Moonlight



Chapter Two



Naruto Uzumaki juggled the bags of groceries towards the door step of his apartment building. The rain was coming down with the fury of a Tsunami. Never was he more grateful for the use of plastic bags. He’d have never made it home with paper.



Pulling his key from his pocket, he heard a soft mew, almost like a baby’s cry. Peering down beside the steps, he saw the most pitiful excuse for a cat he’d ever seen. The poor thing was drenched, muddy, and shivering. Large eyes gazed up at him. Being the good soul he was, he couldn’t just let him stay out in this weather.



Grabbing the sodden creature, cried out in pain as a clawed paw reached out to swipe at him. “You damn cat. I was going to take you inside and feed you.”



The cat glared at him before rushing past him into the warm, dry building. Naruto glared at the creature as he hissed menacingly at him. Damn cats. Such ungrateful creatures. See if he offered to help again.



Walking up the steps to his apartment, he turned back to glare at the drenched cat following him. “What the fuck do you want? You turned your nose up at my help, remember?”



The cat snorted before sitting down at his door. Whoever said cats were just stupid animals was an idiot. That cat was as a certifiable bastard. Only beings of higher intelligence could be bastards.



“Fine. Come in.” He opened the door. The cat stood, sniffed the door before trotting gracefully over the threshold.



Grumbling under his breath, Naruto closed the door before taking his bags to the kitchen. The cat followed on silent paws. Looking down at the drenched beast, he considered toweling it dry. Grabbing a dry dish towel, he approached cautiously. “Now you listen here, cat. I’m going dry you off. If you scratch me again, I’m tossing you out in the rain. Got that?”



Dropping the towel over the cat, he began drying him off. Surprisingly, the animal remained still. After the disaster of their initial meeting, he found the polite demeanor to be a relief. Drawing back the towel, he burst out laughing. The partially dried hair now stood out in all directions. Pulling his cell from his pocket, he snapped a picture for posterity. “And I thought you looked silly all wet.”



The cat sniffed before he began licking his fur into some semblance of order. A saucer of milk was set before him. The cat sniffed it before beginning to lap at the white liquid. “You are kinda cute. If your owners don’t show up, would you like to stay with me? I mean, I know it’s not much but I promise to take good care of you. What do you say?”



The cat lapped up the last of the milk before turning away from him. He walked directly to the bedroom. Hopping up onto the soft mattress, he curled into a tight ball. Eyes narrowed, as the human followed him in. “Make yourself at home.”



The eyes of the cat gleamed with humor. This was the beginning of a beautiful relationship. The idiot would take care of him and he could lay low until Itachi came for him. Sasuke began to purr at the first stroking touch on his fur. Hmm…yes, beautiful indeed.



~*~



“Who is he?” asked Ino, her eyes taking in the stark beauty laid out before her.



“Hmm, well he’s not a water sprite.” Kakashi chuckled as Gai finished wrapping the broken ribs.



“If that is all my leader and rival, I’m going to head to the meeting hall for some food.”



Kakashi waved his hand absently as he stared at the demon resting before him. He’d thought the Sharingan demons extinct for the last hundred years or so. Since the revolt, most non-humans hid away. Danzou’s coup shook the demon word to its core. Even the were-creatures withdrew from sight. It was too dangerous to risk drawing the eye of Danzou.



Now, out of the blue, a relatively healthy Sharingan comes from of the wood work. To be in the river, it was obvious he’d been running. Sighing, Kakashi tunneled fingers through his silver hair. If Danzou heard of a Sharingan demon being housed within the pack, he would raze the place to the ground to destroy him. He wouldn’t care who was struck down in his wake. It put Kakashi, as alpha, in a bad position.



“Who are you, pretty?”



Sooty lashes fluttered open at the question. Obsidian eyes gazed at him in confusion before drooping closed once more. Those eyes, they captivated him. It had been a long while since he’d been interested in much. When one was as old as him, there wasn’t much in life worth seeing.



Tossing a hand spun blanket over the limp body, Kakashi exited his room. Lunch was already underway. He chuckled, it wasn’t unusual to see him meander in at his own pace. He wasn’t known for his punctuality after all.



“Good day.” he smiled, settling at one of the tables.



“Alpha, who is the stranger you brought into our den?” asked one of the pack members, curiosity visible in her eyes.



“A guest.”



“Eh?”



“Kakashi, you are foolish to bring in an unknown into the heart of our family. What if he attacks us once recovered?” Lola stomped forward, her rich autumn hair flowing around her hips. She really was an attractive woman. Too bad she was such a bitch…in more ways than one.



“Lola, dear. The last time I looked, I was the alpha male. That makes you, as high and mighty as you try to be, my subordinate…that is, unless you want to challenge me for pack leadership?” Kakashi picked up a slice of fresh baked bread. His apparently calm body language belied the swirling dominance in his eyes. His eyes were dead serious.



“N-No, Alpha.” she stuttered, dropping her eyes almost immediately. Inward she seethed before glancing towards Kakashi’s rooms.



“Good, good. Now let me eat in peace.” He immediately turned his eyes towards the rabbit stew, effectively dismissing her.



The rest of the pack followed in suit, finishing up their meal. When their alpha was ready to tell them about the stranger, he would. Kakashi was a strong leader, even more so than his father. He would not do anything to put them in danger.



Kakashi stood, making his way back to his bedroom only to find Inoichi standing at his doorway. The worried look on the man’s face caused him to sigh before approaching him. “Inoichi.”



“Alpha, I’m worried. He’s a Sharingan. The hunters will find him eventually. We are all in danger the longer he stays. I’ll stand by your decision but please, Alpha, consider the consequences.”



“We are no better than Danzou if we do not offer aid to those injured. The Sharingan demons did nothing but be born superior. It was their strength others feared. They envied them their power. We may say we are nothing like humans but there are times when I wonder about our civilized nature. Danzou envied that clan and as a result, destroyed it.” Kakashi opened his door, aware of Inoichi following him inside.



Three walls of the room were ceiling to floor books. The shelves carved from oak, small designs running along the edges. He walked to a shelf, extracting a book before turning to his subordinate. “Inoichi, trust me to care for this pack. If the demon proves to be even the slightest bit of danger to the family, I will send him away.”



“As you wish, Alpha. You know I trust you.”



“Good. I have a request. I want you to watch Lola closely. She has been acting off lately.” Kakashi didn’t look up from his book, he didn’t want Inoichi to see the worry in his eyes.



“Of course, Alpha. Do you think she would betray the pack?”



“I don’t know. I don’t want to take any chances. Just watch her for now. We’ll worry about the rest if it happens.”



Inoichi bowed before leaving, the door shutting lightly behind him. Kakashi sighed, lifting a hand to stroke the scar slicing over his left eye. It was a reminder of how friends can betray you at a moment’s notice. It was a lesson learned hard.



~*~



It was dark. The nothingness seemed to engulf every part of him. Bit by bit, it began to fade. With the darkness leaving, the pain was brought into the forefront of his mind. Every inch of him felt battered to the point of agony. Even his eyelids hurt. Only the smell of the forest, green and pure, seemed to offer any comfort.



Blinking a few times as his eyes adjusted to the dim lit room, he looked around in confusion. Nothing felt familiar about this room. He tried to recall what happened to put him in such a pain ridden state when a sharp stabbing feeling shot through his skull. Unable to hold in the sound, he gasped.



“Ah, you’re awake.” Steel colored eyes lifted from the pages of a book cradled in calloused hands.



“Who?” It hurt to talk. It hurt to even breathe.



“No need to talk. You are pretty beat up. I could list all your injuries but I highly doubt you want to be up all night listening to it. Now, before you blank out again. Tell me your name.”



He frowned. His name? It should be so easy, the words were on the tip of his tongue. What was his name? Another stab of pain shot behind his eyes. Why couldn’t he remember.



“Hmm? Are you alright?”



“Don’t…remem…ber.” Gods it hurt to say just that little bit.



The other frowned. He seemed to consider something silently before nodding. “Just rest. Once you heal a little, it will come easier.”



Rest, that sounded good. Anything to get rid of the pain sounded like a phenomenal idea. Closing his eyes, he felt the abyss engulf him. Before dropping into unconsciousness again, he felt as if he was forgetting something important…something more important than even his own name.



~*~



Eyes fluttered open again. The only light visible was coming from a small lamp on the bedside table. Again the smell of the forest perpetrated his senses. Taking a few breathes, he eased himself into a sitting position, gritting his teeth against the throbbing pain. The only part of him feeling even remotely better was his head, the headache having dulled from throbbing agony to a slight ache.



Biting the inside of his jaw to stifle the cry, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed. It was then he noticed his lack of garments. Grabbing the sheet in his usable hand, he wrapped it around his waist as best he could. Something told him to be wary of unfamiliar surroundings. He didn’t know what, but he figured it was better to be safe than sorry.



After pulling himself to his feet, his eyes watered as nausea bubbled in his throat. The room spun like a top before his eyes as he fought to keep from collapsing to the ground. The opening of a door in the room revealed an attractive teenage girl. Her almost platinum blonde hair was pulled back high on her head, making her look all the younger.



“You shouldn’t be up.” she stated.



He stared at her for several seconds before grating out a response through the dizziness. “I need…to leave.”



“Why?”



Why? He tried to force his mind into understanding why he needed to leave. It only resulted in the return of the throbbing in his skull. Groaning at the added pain to the dizziness and nausea. “I…don’t know.”



“Then why not rest here? You wouldn’t make it ten feet from the den.”



Den? That seemed an odd phrase for a home. He felt as if he should understand what she meant but his head throbbed after every attempt to access his past. “I…feel…sick.”



No sooner had the words escaped his lips did the nausea churning in his stomach finally begin making its way upward. First, the burn of bile. Then, the taste on his tongue. He collapsed to the floor, surprised as a wastebasket was pushed under his face.



Gagging slightly, pale green mucus was expelled from his stomach. His body continued to heave in an attempt to expel what it did not have, the dry heaves wracking his slender frame in vicious spasms. A cool cloth was pressed to his face as concerned blue eyes gazed at him. “I’m getting the alpha. Don’t move.”



He didn’t think he could even if he wanted to; the dry heaves left him even more exhausted. He closed his eyes in an attempt to find his center, to ease the pain wracking his body. So focused was he on himself, he did not notice the return of the girl or the man with her.



“You’re a stubborn one. It’s to be expected but honestly, couldn’t you at least wait until you can stand for more than thirty seconds before heading out.”



His slender body was lifted as if he was a child. He felt the touch of soft cotton sheets once more. Lying down seemed to ease the throbbing in his head. Maybe he would stay for a little while longer. His enemies would have an easier time tracking him if he moved while injured. Enemies? Why did he have enemies? Who were they? Scrunching his face once more, he groaned in frustration as the knowledge was once again held from his grasp.



“My name is Kakashi and that’s Ino. She’s the girl who found you half drowned in the river. Do you remember?” The silver haired man plucked a book from the night stand, settling in the bedside chair while the girl sat on the edge of the bed.



“I…don’t…”



“Hmm, interesting. I don’t suppose you recall your name either?”



He shook his head, his brow furrowing with concentration. The attempt only sent a sharp shock of pain, leaving him gasping. The man nodded, bringing a hand up to stroke his chin thoughtfully.



His lack of assistance in the information department annoyed him. The man knew something. A small voice in his head urged him to interrogate the man. Why wasn’t he offering up what he knew? Did he have something to hide?



“He doesn’t remember his name?” The girl piped in, a look of pity crossing her face.



That annoyed him as well. He didn’t need or want her pity. He was… A sharp shot of pain ricocheted through him. He’d almost had it. It was on the tip of his mind then, just like that, gone. He wanted to scream out his frustrations.



“It seems so, Ino.”



“What are we going to call him? I mean…everyone needs a name.”



“How about John.”



The dead panned look the girl sent the other showed her opinion in the matter. Obviously John was not good enough for their guest. He would have chuckled if he thought his body could withstand the movement. As it was, simply breathing was a trial.



“How about Raven. His hair is so pretty, almost like a raven’s wing. We can call him that until he remembers his name.” She smiled brightly, pleased with her suggestion. The look in her eyes told them both whether or not they liked it, his name would be Raven for now.



“Ino, why don’t you go see if that venison broth is finished. He’ll need his strength if he’s to recover.” Kakashi smiled lazily at her before turning to his guest. “So, Raven, how are you feeling.”



Raven sighed, closing his very tired eyes. Raven. The name would do. While it didn’t seem right, he would answer to it…for now.



“I feel…like shit.”



“Hmm, what type of shit? Loose? Hard? Just right?” The man seemed to find his personal joke funny.



Raven did not share the sentiment. His face darkened perceivably as his unbound hand clenched in the sheet. The man was annoying. This man could not be the head of this household.



“You know…who…I am.” It wasn’t a question but a statement. He wanted to know who he was and he wanted to know now!



“I think I’ll keep that little tidbit to myself for now. You are in no shape to deal with it, not that knowing what you are would help you in defining where you were going or what you were doing half dead in the river.” Kakashi smiled as Ino entered once more, carrying a bowl of fragrant broth.



“Ah, thank you Ino. Be a good little nurse and feed him. Make sure he eats every bit.” Kakashi smiled teasingly at Raven before trotting from the room, leaving him and Ino alone



“You are so lucky. Lola wanted to just throw you back in the river. If Kakashi hadn’t put his foot down you might have been left to die.” she chatted as she shoved a bit of broth in his mouth.



The fragrant stew didn’t just smell good. It burst across his tongue with a medley of spices, some he couldn’t identify. His stomach, grateful for the food, stopped it’s incessant churning. That was a small blessing in itself. Even the pounding in his skull seemed to ease.



“Lola?”



“She’s the alpha female and a real bitch. Thinks she’s hot stuff. She’s been trying to get into Kakashi’s pants since forever. If he claimed her as mate, that would solidify her position in the pack.” She chatted on, not noticing the confusion working across his face.



“Pack?”



She cocked her head. “Yeah, didn’t you know. We are a pack of were-wolves…well mostly. Kat, that’s Gai’s wife, she’s a human. But she was raised in the pack so it’s ok. Though, Lola doesn’t like her either but her position as Gai’s wife secures her safety. That bitch knows if anything ever happened to Kat, all eyes would turn to her. She a purist. Kat’s the one who cooks most of our meals.”



“Am I…a were-wolf?” he asked cautiously.



“Umm…well…we don’t know. You don’t smell like pack but if you are like a were-cat or a were-bird, you would smell different. It all depends on where you live. I can’t really describe your scent. It’s a…contradiction.” she blushed, glancing at her lap.



“I…see.”



“But don’t worry, Kakashi won’t let anything happen to you.”



“What if I’m human?”



“You aren’t. Your wounds would have killed a human. Already your body is healing at a faster rate than any human.”



Itachi took a moment to digest all this. It seemed so fantastical and yet familiar. For some reason, he knew he wasn’t one of them. It didn’t matter what his scent said, he was not a were-creature. But, it stood to wonder, exactly what was he if he wasn’t human?



Thinking about it only made his previously diminished headache return in full force. Kakashi knew but he wasn’t talking. Why? Was he dangerous? What was it about him that forced the other to hide the truth?



“All done.” Ino smiled prettily.



“Thank you.” He leaned back against the pillows, his thoughts still on her words, and those of Kakashi.



“You’re welcome. I’m going to let you rest. Call out if you need something.” With that, she trotted out of the room, leaving a floral scent in her wake.



Raven was left alone with his thoughts. Closing his eyes, he began to drift on a sea of weightlessness. His thoughts of the recent turn of events swirled away from him, leaving him in a blissfully neutral state. All worry gone.



Until the images started. They flashed so fast he was unable to decipher them. The harder he tried, the faster they spun. Around and around, they swirled before stopping. A dark eyed boy gazed up at him with adoration. His slightly spiked hair bobbed as he ran towards him. His lips moved but no sound was emitted. He strained to hear it, to hear his name. This boy was important to him, why couldn’t he remember him?



He screamed out in frustration. These small hints, subtle voices; they all screamed at who he was. He was left with a puzzle so huge, it seemed impossible to put the pieces back together. Especially with key bits missing.



As a result of his mental turmoil, his sleep was anything but restful. Each time he awoke, the shadows of the dark room seemed laugh at him. Shadowy fingers crept from every corner in an attempt to claim him. A one eyed man laughed from the darkness as he held out his bloody hand to reveal glaring red eyes. No. He shouldn’t have those. NO!



“No!” he cried out, jerking awake.



“I wonder what dreams have you so restless. Dreams are the time when our mind sorts through the things we have seen. What have you seen?”



Raven glared at the man. It made him anxious at the thought of being weak before someone…especially this man. Something about him intrigued him, while at the same time annoyed him. With no memory of who he was, creating bonds with anyone would be a risky venture.



“Why don’t you tell me since you seem to know something I don’t.”



“What would be the fun in telling you everything? The search is half the fun.” Kakashi smiled mysteriously.



“I don’t care about fun. I feel as if I should be doing something…I just can’t remember what it is.” Raven’s brows furrowed deeply.



Kakashi lifted his gaze to meet the dark obsidian orbs staring intently at him. “There is a saying. When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back. Be careful the darkness you seek.”



“Only the weak run.”



“There is no harm in a strategic retreat. Don’t push yourself. Your mind will let you remember when you’re ready. You’ll only make your head hurt if you keep trying to forces it.”



Raven ignored him, trying to grasp onto that small thread of a memory curling in a teasing manner through the back of his mind. The more he tried, the more the ache in his skull intensified. So focused, he didn’t see the other rolling his eyes.



Finally groaning in defeat, he closed his eyes in hopes of easing the throbbing in his skull. The mirth expressed from the other annoying him as he sought ease from the pounding headache.



“See, you might consider listening to me. I’m not Alpha because of my devilish handsome visage.” He smirked down at the wounded man, not showing the least bit of pity for his obvious pain.



“Don’t rub it in.” he growled, keeping his eyes closed.



“My Alpha, I am here to check his progress.”



“Hmm? I’ll leave you to it then.”



Raven cracked open an eye to see a quite large man stripping the sheets from his body. He supposed feigning sleep would be a lost cause as almost immediately, his fingers poked and prodded. Wincing as fingers pressed into tender areas, he opened both eyes.



“You are very lucky indeed. Some of these injuries would have killed you if left untreated.” announced Gai, his nimble hands carefully checking the bandages surrounding his rib cage.



“If I was so lucky, I would remember why I was in the river.”



“Well, I can not say why you were in the river, but some of these wounds were inflicted by silver blades. Without proper care, the chances of you dying would have been astronomical. My rival was wise to pull you from the river when he did. It‘s so unfair. He gets all the glory. One day, my rival, one day.”



“What do you mean silver?” he asked, drawing the conversation back to the track he wished to follow.



“Silver is a dangerous metal for most non-humans. The witches are the only group not affected by it because in most cases, they are born human using incantations and potions to draw strength from the elements.” he explained as he redressed each of the wounds.



“So I’m not human.”



“Of course not. No human would have survived such extended time in those waters. The blow to your skull would have killed a mere human.”



“How long until my memories return?”



“I cannot say. Your bones should finish mending within two weeks. Your mind…that is unknown. Enough. Do not think on it. If the goddess allows it, your mind will repair itself with time. Ino told me you liked my wife’s soup. She put some willow bark in it. It helps with the pain. Rest. There is nothing you can do until you are healed.”



Raven frowned but did as he was told. His body was too weak, ignoring all his commands. The more he rested, the faster he would heal. Growling, low, he felt his eyes flutter shut once more. This time rest came, the confusing dreams silent for now.



~*~



Kakashi frowned as he flipped through the massive tome in a small hidden room. The quiet entry of Inoichi was noted and ignored. He was more interested in the words before him. The tome related the history of the Sharingan demons as well as their gifts and talents.



“What’s that?” Inoichi touched the crinkled edge of the ancient tome.



“I want to know more about our Sharingan. Some of the things they can do…It’s no wonder they were hunted down to near extinction. Throughout history, whomever they sided with was the victor in every war amongst non-humans. Gives question to wonder if that wasn’t why they were destroyed.”



“An upset loser?”



“Hmm…I wonder.”



“It’s ancient history. Your guest is most likely the last of his kind.”



“Yes and as such, I would like to keep him alive. I need to know what to expect from him…at least until he regains his memory. It wouldn’t do to have him use those eyes of his without knowing how to control them.”



“I hope you know what you are doing, Alpha.”



Kakashi sighed, shaking his head before closing the tome. “Hmm, so do I. And Lola?”



“She’s quiet…for now.” Inoichi informed, standing to leave.



“It won’t last if I know her.” chuckled Kakashi.



“No, it will not.”



Kakashi ran his fingers over the fan blazed across the cover. This book had arrived on his doorstep only days before word of the massacre reached his ears. He knew who. Obito. He heard not a word from his old friend. For all he knew, he was dead along with his clan.



He always wondered why Obito sent it to him. His friend was always a bit on the strange side. Who knew the ancient book would come in handy? Now hopefully his den guest wouldn’t go into heat or activate his eyes. Most of the pack he trusted but there were a few who worried him. As long as Raven remained oblivious to who he was, the more danger he was in. He hoped their guest was ready for the wild ride about to take off.



To be continued.