Can't Fight the Moonlight

Can’t Fight the Moonlight



AN: Please remember, while Itachi doesn’t recall himself I will refer to him with the name that was given to him. Raven. Once his memories return, he will have his original name returned to him. Sorry for the LONG wait. I’ve been retardedly busy.



Chapter Three



Raven sat quietly at the massive table in the central meeting area of the den. Lanterns were hung at varying intervals across the ceiling, their light pooling down on the food laden tables.



Seating was arranged by ranking amongst the pack. Kakashi at the head, his meal being the choicest pieces of food. At each of his sides sat Lola and Inoichi. From there one could see the progression of rank until it reached him. While he was a guest, he was considered outside of the pack and not worthy to seat near the head.



He’d been with the pack almost two weeks, his wounds healing with surprising ease. His mind, however, seemed unwilling to heal itself. Or rather, it was healing at a much slower rate. Every time he attempted to recall his past, his head exploded in pain. He could feel the memories squirming like worms in the haze of his mind. Each time he reached for an elusive shard, they only faded in his grasp. It was frustrating to the point of madness.



Kakashi seemed unconcerned. In fact, if Raven had to guess, he’d think the man didn’t care if he ever remembered who he was. That alone was frustrating. How could he ever remember who he was if those around him didn’t care to help?



His fingers clenched on the fork, the metal bending as if it was made of clay. A gasp from beside him brought him back to reality only to witness the surprise from the pack member to his right.



“Raven, are you alright?” she asked, compassion in her eyes.



“I…I think I need some air.” he dropped the crushed utensil to the table with a clatter.



Pulling himself stiffly to his feet, he stalked from the meeting room and into the cool night air. He could feel the eyes of every member of the pack glued to his back as the darkness of night welcomed him like an old friend. The claustrophobic feeling left him the instant the moonlight touched his skin.



For long moments he soaked in the energy. The moon was little more than a crescent slice of silver, still it energized him more than any food or drink. While his body seemed to take comfort from the night, his mind continued to spin as it always seemed to do. The lost memories floated to the surface once more. A face. A smile. Crimson eyes. An intense need to protect something.



All these things taunted him with knowledge, only to pull it from his fingers. He drew back his fist, plowing it into the side of a tree. The pieces of bark and wood splintered as the tree quaked before falling to the forest floor. Raven watched in shock as the tree crashed loudly. A slow clapping from behind had him whirling to face the intruder to his solitude.



Kakashi stood lounging against a tree, his hands falling lazily together. A small smile curled along chiseled lips as he straightened from his slouched position to approach the other.



“Impressive. I didn’t know you had that much pent up frustration. Might I make a request that you put your talents to other uses rather than leveling my forest?”



“I’m…sorry.”



“Don’t be. I never liked that tree anyway.”



Raven blinked a few times before chuckling lightly. One couldn’t really call it a laugh, more like a small escape of humor. Kakashi’s eyes crinkled at the break in the normally somber demeanor of his guest. He seemed to be sizing up the other, his seemingly bored eyes missed little. It both frustrated and intrigued Raven.



“We are going to hunt tomorrow.” Kakashi spoke, finally breaking the amiable silence.



Raven arched a brow, confused at what the Alpha was getting at. Kakashi simply rolled his eyes. “It’s an invitation. Only the Alpha can invite outsiders to a Hunt.”



“But I don’t even know how…”



“To change? Oh, I’m certain you can change. Even though you are not of this pack, I can smell the animal in you. Whatever you are, you can change. It should be fun seeing just what you present us with. It would be really disappointing if you turned out to be something like a were-rabbit. I guess you could still join the Hunt, but I couldn’t promise you wouldn’t get eaten.” Kakashi chuckled at the imagery.



“Were-Rabbit? Is there such a thing?”



The other tilted his head in consideration. “I honestly don’t know, but I suppose if there are were-bears and were-cats, there is always the possibility of were-rabbits.”



Raven sighed, not liking the thought of being something so weak as a rabbit. He knew deep inside, strength was important to him. Being such a weak shape shifter would be an embarrassing thing indeed.



“Don’t worry, you aren’t a were-rabbit. It’s a funny thought though.” Kakashi chuckled again, grabbing Raven’s arm and tugging him towards the den.



“Why aren’t you concerned about my past? I could be a murder. I could slaughter you all in a moment. Why are you trusting me?”



“You’re not and I doubt even you would have the strength to take on a healthy pack. You haven’t earned my trust yet, but you haven’t earned my wrath either. Now, would you like to return to dinner. It would be a shame for it to go to waste.”



Raven allowed himself to be led to the table once more. By this time, most of the pack had finished their meal. Many chose to retreat to their various apartments in the network caves. A few remained seated, sipping tea or coffee. All that remained were shocked as their alpha lead the stranger to the head of the table, placing him in Lola’s vacated seat. If the woman returned to see that, she was likely to go into a rage.



Ino giggled a bit at the thought of it. Kakashi was essentially passively putting her in her place. The act said to all those still seated that Lola’s place at this table as alpha female was tenuous at best and for her to watch her attitude. Word was sure to reach her eventually about the act. Gossiping was a huge past time amongst the pack females and males alike.



Raven could sense the amusement and surprise. He’d assumed since most had left, pack politics were being tossed aside in favor of connivance. It appeared such was not the case. He scowled as Kakashi seemed to ignore the questioning gaze of those still seated, instead digging into his newly acquired plate of food.



“Why is everyone staring?” hissed Raven at the seemingly unaware alpha.



“You’re seated in the highest seat next to mine.”



“Should I move.”



“Nope.”



“I don’t want to cause trouble.”



“I think trouble finds you but don’t let it bother you. I say where everyone sits. If I want Ino to sit here, I tell her to. Lola needs to learn that her place as alpha female is only because I allow it.”



“I don’t want to be a tool for you to teach a lesson to your high-strung mate.”



A gasp sounded form one of the remaining pack members. Kakashi lowered the cup from his lips, a dark and angry gleam present in his eye. He seemed to take a few breaths before turning to face Raven.



“Lola is not my mate. I don’t know where you heard that. In this pack, I am law and if I want you to eat beside me then by all that is holy you are going to sit beside me. I wanted company for dinner, I sat you here.” That being said, Kakashi sliced through the rare steak causing the blood to pool on the plate.



The sight of the food triggered a flash.



“Hey, what’s for dinner.”



“Steaks.”



“I hope you aren’t going to overcook them like you did last time.”



“How long have I been cooking for us?”



“Not long enough to know how to cook a good steak.”



Raven dropped the prongs beside the grill, chasing after the teenaged boy. The small apartment became a battleground. Training commenced. Only the scent of burned meat brought a halt to the play.



“Good job. You succeeded to yet again burn the food.”



“Next time, you can do it Sasuke.”



“Sasuke…” Raven murmured. He attempted to access more of Sasuke, only to feel pain shoot through his head. His quiet moan brought Kakashi’s attention to him.



“Raven?”



“It’s nothing.”



“Don’t force it. The memories will come back when they come back. Until then you will only cause yourself pain if you try to force it.”



“You speak like a doctor.” Raven brought a bite of meat to his lips. The tender morsel practically melted in his mouth, the faint taste of blood shooting through him with a familiar tingle.



“Bah, I’m no doctor. Too much work. I’d much rather let everyone else do the hard stuff.”



“You are a noble man.”



“You are definitely better company than my previous dinner companions. Lola is a self important bitch and Inoichi is too busy talking with his friends. At least I get some attention from you.”



Raven snorted. “Glad I could feed your narcissism.”



Kakashi only smiled that mysterious smile, going back to his food. With conversation ended, the meal was inhaled with a quickness. Much to his frustration, no more memories surfaced. The only thought that remained was of the adoring eyes of Sasuke.



As he stood before the doorway to his rooms, he tried to recall the boys face. He grappled for the emotions he felt upon seeing the adoring gaze. Once more, they slipped through his fingers.



He didn’t know who Sasuke was or what he meant to him. He knew he was important. Too young to be a lover…he hoped. The thought of him liking children sent a wave of revulsion through him. No, they definitely weren’t lovers. If it revolted him with no memories, it most likely revolted him with them. Or, at least he hoped that was the case.



But no, he didn’t feel arousal or lust for the raven haired youth. Instead, he felt a wave of protectiveness go through him. He wanted this person to be safe at any costs. Thinking it safe to push, he attempted once more to access the memory. A slight pain developed behind his eyes but nothing he couldn’t handle as he focused on the shard of memories he’d recovered at dinner. Pushing harder, he focused on Sasuke.



When the wave hit him, it was with the force of a truck. Nausea washed through him as his skull felt as if it was cracking open. He staggered to the wall, his balance lost in the heat of the pain.



“What did I tell you?” The laughing voice behind him lacked any true reprimanding. The humor alone was enough to annoy him.



“I can’t just sit by and wait for what might never come on it’s own.”



“Sure you can. I do it all the time.”



Raven glared at the smirking face. He was beginning to hate that man. His nonchalant way of doing thing; it felt so different from what he would do. Well, what he assumed he would do. He felt a sort of urgency. He needed to find this Sasuke. He didn’t know why but he needed to.



“You’re barely two weeks healed. Rest here. I’m sure whoever this Sasuke is, he is safe. I doubt you would have been alone in the river if he wasn’t. Not to mention, his body would have been sure to wash up on our shores if he’d gone in with you. Until your mind is healthy enough to remember, you will likely not be able to do anything to facilitate the healing process. The mind isn’t something our kind are privy to. Now, if you found yourself a Sharingan demon…”



Sharingan demon. The word sent a flash of memory. This one just as potent as the previous.



“Hail, Danzou. He has freed us from the Sharingan. Death to all Sharingan.”



Blood was everywhere. On his hands. In his hair. The screams of the dying echoed in his ears as watched his small mother press a young child in his arms.



“Please_____, keep him safe. You and he are my legacy. It‘s up to you now to protect your brother.”



“Mother…”



“Go. Keep safe.”



His mother‘s screams washed over him as he ran with all his strength away from their home. The blood of his kind smelled sickly sweet in his nose, the scent never fading no matter how far from the massacre the ran. His lungs burned. His muscles cramped. Still he ran, his little brother‘s soft cries the only sound he could hear.



Raven snarled, the world seemed to lose color, bleeding to red. He felt claws erupt from his fingers as he swiped wildly at the first thing he sensed. Friend or foe did not matter. All that mattered was spilling the blood of those who had destroyed everything.



He roared his anger as his claws came up empty. His fast eyes spotted his prey once more. The grey eyes were no longer smirking. A serious tone overtook the room.



Raven crouched, his muscles flexed as his eyes locked on his prey. A small niggling of doubt curled through him but was quickly stamped out by the raging emotions swirling inside. All that remained was the desire to kill, to destroy.



Raven lunged for Kakashi, his deadly claws swiping directly for his throat. The fact that he hit only air only inflamed his anger all the more. He flung himself once more towards where the grey haired man stood only to once more be denied the pleasure of feeling his blood dripping from his fingers.



“Alpha!”



“Stay back.”



“But…”



“He’s lost in the emotions of one who has nothing. What he’s feeling now is probably a result of witnessing his people destroyed before his eyes. He’s trapped inside. Only the animal remains.”



“He’s a monster.” growled Inoichi, his own claws bursting from his fingers.



“No! This is what all of us are when you take away our humanity.”



“He’s a demon, he has no humanity. At least we are descended from the humans. He has never been.”



Kakashi shook his head, growling a low warning for Inoichi to stay back. He dropped to his haunches, eye level with the other. Slowly he approached with as much caution as his inner beast would allow.



His eyes locked with the swirling red orbs. It would be so easy to lose himself in them. It was a dangerous thing to look a Sharingan demon in the eyes. They said they could steal your soul. Staring at them, he could almost believe it.



He listened to the panting breath coming from the broken creature before him. In and out. Small growls erupted from the shuddering frame as a clawed hand reached forward again, narrowly missing his face.



“Calm.” he whispered, creeping forward again.



Raven tensed, his muscles ready to lunge. The movement forced Kakashi to still his own. The other was on the brink of madness. He was more animal than man, making it easy to startle. A pack member growled, startling the snarling creature into attacking. Kakashi lunged for him, attempting to prevent the pack member from being torn asunder.



Small fangs buried themselves in his shoulder, sending a shot of pain through his arm. Kakashi tilted his head the side, before snarling. He tossed the demon against the wall before initiating the change.



The change came painfully. His face lengthened to that of a wolf. Bones popped and muscles stretched far beyond what any human could accomplish. He snarled at the burn. He hated this form but it provided more versatility in cases such as this.



He was a true merger of man and beast. He could walk like a man but held the strength and features of something far more animalistic. His jaw popped as he opened and closed it a few times. A low rumbling growl of dominance echoed in the small corridor.



Several pack members had come to watch the confrontation. Low conversation could be heard in the background. Kakashi filtered it out, sending a low growl towards the onlookers. The last thing he needed was for Raven to charge them. He needed him to keep his attention on him.



“You need to get a hold of yourself, Raven.” growled Kakashi in a guttural voice.



He hated talking in this form. The simple formation of words was nearly impossible with the tongue and teeth. The sound of his own voice grated his nerves as he popped his neck a few times before taking a brave step forward.



Raven, taking that step as a show of aggression, lunged forward. His claws flashed in the dim light. This time, he connected with flesh. The sticky feel of blood sent rivers of pleasure through him. He practically crowed his delight, swinging his hand again.



Kakashi was ready for him, trapping his wrist with massive clawed hands. Raven snarled pushing his body against the larger frame of the wolf-human hybrid. The other grunted under the full physical strength of the demon. Sharingan demons might not be physically the strongest but they had enough to hold their own.



He tightened his arms around Raven’s body, forcing his back to the fur covered chest. The demon flailed wildly in an attempt to free himself. He was almost amused at the lengths the dark haired demon was willing to go in his bids for freedom. It was several minutes of struggle until Raven stilled in Kakashi’s arms.



Sharp little fangs gleamed in Raven’s panting mount before he snapped at any available flesh he could get his teeth on. Despite his exhaustion, the pinwheels spinning in his eyes promised a very painful death if he wasn’t released. Kakashi read between the lines. They meant a painful death even if he was released.



“Inoichi, bring the tranquilizer.” Kakashi forced out the words.



Raven increased his struggles. Even his clouded mind was able to understand what was going on. His snarls turned into howls as Inoichi crept closer, the drug filled needling gleaming in the shadowed hall.



He snapped wildly at the approaching man. It was no use. Kakashi’s hands kept him pinned. The slight prick of the needle was nothing. It was the encroaching darkness that angered him even more. In a last ditch moment of anger, he sank his fangs one last time into Kakashi’s arm. The metallic taste of blood pulsed across his tongue, but it was the grunt of pain from his captor that gave him the most pleasure.



“Son of a bitch.” growled Kakashi in a garbled dialect composed of words mixed with animal growls.



Raven purred in pleasure before the darkness overtook him. His body went limp in the muscled arms. He didn’t feel himself lowered carefully to the ground, nor did he hear the whispered words of concern coming from the pack.



“Alpha, what was that? What is he?”



Kakashi groaned as his body shifted to his human form. The bleeding bite marks stood out starkly against the pale peach of his skin. Gai was by his side in an instant, the first aid bag open. The first sting of antiseptic on the marks caused the alpha to hiss.



“I’m sorry, Alpha. Bite marks are nothing to play around with. I shall do my best to get you patched up as quickly as possible.” Gai wiped away the blood before spreading antibiotic ointment along the still bleeding punctures.



“Alpha, my mate is with cubs. I don’t want that…person to stay here if her life is in danger.” A nervous pack member began.



“He’s not a danger. He reacted as any of us would should we be backed into a corner. His corner just happens to be his memories.”



The room erupted in debate, some wanting to toss him out while others nodded in understanding about the stranger’s predicament. Kakashi rubbed his temple at the decent amongst the pack. It would make things more difficult. Raven’s presence already had the pack nervous. With his little psychotic episode, he stirred even more fear in them. It was not a good thing if he wanted to be able to live to get his memories back.



“He’s a Sharingan demon. Didn’t you see his eyes.”



Everyone turned towards Lola as she strutted forward. The look of triumph in her eyes told Kakashi of the trouble she had just stirred.



“Lola…” he began.



“No! It’s your turn to listen, Alpha. That thing is a danger to us. If Danzou finds out we housed a Sharingan, our lives and that of our children are forfeit. It is shameful of you to risk our lives for some worthless demon. We should contact Danzou ourselves. Perhaps he would reward us for turning in the demon.” Lola smirked as several of the pack members nodded in agreement.



“You would sentence an innocent man to death because of what he was born?”



“I’ve seen the scars on his body. He is far from innocent. I wonder how many of our kind he has murdered in his lifetime?”



“Not enough if you are still here.” muttered Ino, drawing scattered laughter from the pack.



Kakashi sighed, pushing Gai away to stand. “How long as our kind been persecuted by both human and demon? We are forced to live in seclusion, fearing to reveal ourselves. The Sharingan demons are the same. They must live in constant fear for their lives. Danzou is a tyrant who feared what he could not control. This man may be the last of his kind. Would you sentence a species to extinction to make yourself look good to those in power?”



Lola went red in the face. “I demand a council vote. The pack has a right to decide what we want. You may be our Alpha, but you are not our master.”



Kakashi closed his eyes. He’d known she would be difficult. Raven couldn’t have picked a worse time to go ballistic. With Lola looking for any excuse to usurp him, this evening’s events would definitely not help the demon in gaining the trust of the pack members who would decide his fate.



“Is there a second to the vote?” he asked.



“I second it.” answered a young male, always sniffing around Lola. He’d asked her to mate him several times but she refused, her sights always on Kakashi.



“Very well. We will convene a council meeting tomorrow. Now if you all will excuse me, I’ll put our little naughty demon to bed.” Kakashi scooped up Raven as if he weighed little more than a child.



Inoichi followed his alpha into the bedroom. “Alpha, this could end very badly.”



“Inoichi, if the pack votes to turn him over to Danzou, I’m going to take him and run.”



“What!?” Inoichi practically passed out as the blood left his face.



“I opened my home to him, offering sanctuary. To betray that trust would be a strike on my honor.”



“Alpha, he’s physically well. Give him supplies and have him run.”



“No. He has no memory of himself or his previous life. It would be the same as painting a bulls-eye on his back for all the hunters to see.”



“Lola has a lot of support, especially after tonight’s little stunt.”



“I know. If it comes to me leaving, I need you to make sure she doesn’t destroy the pack. Your daughter would be first on her list of people to off. And you as well. She is vicious and power hungry. She’s almost like a female version of Danzou.”



“Why did you allow her to stay if you knew she would be trouble?”



“I would never turn my back on a pack member, even if they are bitches like Lola. Those that do are trash and don’t deserve to live. I also, for the time being, consider Raven a member of the pack and deserving of its protection.”



“Tomorrow will be trying.”



“Yes it will. Now, if you will excuse me. I’m going to prepare a bag in case the worse happens.”



Inoichi bowed to his alpha before exiting. Kakashi turned to smiled tiredly at the sleeping demon. “You are beginning to be more trouble than you are worth.”



To be continued.