Can't Fight the Moonlight

I don’t own Naruto nor do I make money from it.



Warnings: cursing, supernatural themes



Can’t Fight The Moonlight



Chapter Five



Blood. It filled his dreams. Every night to some degree, his nighttime journeys into his own subconscious were haunted by the sight and smell of it. He could still hear the screams of his people, of his mother as he raced from their stronghold, his brother’s body clasped tightly to his back--Sasuke’s tears wetting his neck in a seemingly never ending flood.



No matter the situation, he was unable to stop the massacre--only forced to relive it night after night. His dreams were the only places his shattered mind was complete. The light of dawn destroyed the wisps connecting his past, returning the almost insurmountable holes spanning through his memory and the despair that came with it.



Along with the despair, a deep residing anger surfaced, the kind which burned scars on one’s soul. His claws longed to tear through Danzou, to feast on his blood as his ancestors did during the age before becoming civilized. He would destroy the monster who brought about the destruction of his people, his family. He would show no mercy when faced with the monster who sought not only his death but also the death of his beloved little brother. Never would he allow such an event to come to pass.



His body tensed, ready to spring upon the laughing visage of the demon who took everything from him, forcing him and Sasuke to live the lives of drifters--never allowed to settle in one spot for too long least the hunters discover their trail.



His claws prepared to stab through the heart of the laughing demon. He would destroy him now. He growled low in his throat. Danzou would die!



“Wake up.”



Raven jerked awake at the gentle touch on his shoulder. Even after several weeks trekking through the forest, evading the troops sent by Danzou; the dreams seemed to tempt him into a homicidal rage. His memory recovery came in tiny bursts of seemingly worthless information. He knew he’d been trained by his father in the deadly arts of their kind. He knew his family had died in a massacre orchestrated by Danzou and that he and his brother, Sasuke, were the only two Sharingan demons left in the world. Still his name eluded him. It teased the tip of his memory. Thankfully, his battle skills remained instinctual rather than memory based as the specifics concerning his training continued to survive surrounded by an insurmountable haze.



“You were having a nightmare again.” Kakashi settled beside him before the small fire. They hadn’t seen a mercenary demon for several nights and deemed it safe to use a fire. The nights were losing their warmth and autumn began the yearly transformation of leaves. They would need to procure warmer clothing from one of the homes where they ‘borrowed’ necessities. They dotted the forest, usually summer homes of the wealthy.



Raven shook his head, clearing the dreams from his mind. “Sorry.”



“Have you recovered any memories about the night you were separated from your brother?” Kakashi poked a stick at the fire, reviving the embers.



Raven growled low in his throat. Kakashi always asked and he always had the same answer for him. “No--”



The night he was separated from Sasuke was gone. He doubted he would ever recall the events leading to his rescue by the werewolf pack. Sasuke, if he ever found him, would be able to shed light on the darkness clouding that night.



“It will come to you.” A wind blew through the forest, forcing Raven to pull the black trench coat tighter around him. He hated the cold. Unlike Kakashi, it seemed to effect him more. The increasing sensitivity of his senses of touch, taste, and smell were becoming difficult to deal with. He’d become used to the flux of his body. As the moon grew to fullness, he became more and more irritable.



The night of the full moon were different for both men. Kakashi used the time to prowl through the woods in wolf form. Contrary to legend, he wasn’t forced to take his true form but what moon animal could resist a chance to race and hunt beneath the fullness of the Mother Moon. Even Raven felt the pull of the moon on those nights when its fullness gleamed bright in the star lit sky.



Raven spent the nights of the full moon pacing near camp. It was more a prowl than a pace. His claws and teeth extended, making him look more the demon than any other time of the month. He was also more sexually excited than any other time. Most of his species knowledge had returned--an explanation for this extreme state of arousal had not. He supposed he could ask Kakashi but he didn’t. It was bad enough Kakashi’s presence during these times made him more than a little uncomfortable.



“The moon will be full tomorrow.” Raven commented, taking his own stick to poke the fire.



Kakashi grinned, obviously fully aware of that fact. “I know.”



“We’re near a town.” Raven could smell the telltale scent of humans packed together in large groups. It was a larger town than they’d run across in the past several weeks roaming the countryside.



Kakashi lifted his nose to scent the air. “A nice sized one, too. I think there’s a small college in this one. There seem to be a unusually high amount of young ones running around.”



“Your perverted nature would notice that little tidbit,” Itachi commented dryly.



Kakashi snickered under his breath before replying, “It’s not perversion. I was merely commenting on, as Gai would say, the youthful scent in the air.”



Raven shook his head, staring into the growing flames. Kakashi had been helpful, more so than he would have thought him to be. He’d learned a lot of the wolf during their time together yet much remained hidden. Unlike Raven, he seemed to take life with a bit of a carefree attitude.



With his memories all but returned, Raven began to rely less and less on the werewolf. It also bothered him--the more he grew into himself, the more attracted he became to him. Sexuality wasn’t something demons considered. Gender didn’t factor into mating other than consideration for future generations. As such, his close proximity to Kakashi put his body on edge, especially during the times of the full moon.



It worried him, being in such close quarters with Kakashi with the full moon less than twenty-four hours away. He was a strange mixture of virility and dry humor. He seemed to follow his own sense of justice and exuded power like the alpha male he was. It was distracting for Raven, whose memories were still full of deep chasms he found himself unable to cross. Knowing pieces of the puzzle but unable to see the greater picture proved to be the ultimate frustration.



“I think we should part ways.” Raven stood, rubbing his brow in frustration for the memories he failed to access. The distraction Kakashi provided could prove dangerous for both of them.



Kakashi arched a lazy brow. “Why would you think that?”



“It’s becoming too dangerous to travel together. Aren’t you worried about your pack? You haven’t heard from them in weeks. They could have all been hunted down by Danzou’s men by now.” Raven bit the inside of his jaw at the thought of being the cause of the death of so many of a rare and nearly extinct breed.



“My pack is good at taking care of themselves. No one knows the location of the safe dens but me and the elders. Each group leader was given directions to them the morning they left. If Danzou finds them…well, I can say they will fight to the last breath to take down as many of his men as possible. I’ve already put aside everything to stay with you. I owe a debt to a friend and it would be a shame to see his cousin die because I ran away scared with my proverbial tail between my legs.”



“I don’t even recall the Obito you’ve spoken of.”



“It doesn’t matter if you remember him or not. He lived and died because of Danzou’s mechanizing. I won’t abandon you as I did him.“ Kakashi stood, taking a hold of Raven’s arm and forced their eyes to meet. “We are a team. At least until you find your brother. I’m not leaving you alone. You’ll just have to get used to it. We’ve been together for nearly four months…what’s a few more weeks.”



“You’re an idiot.”



“So I’ve been told.” Kakashi grinned almost devilishly, pulling Raven down to sit before the cracking fire once more. Dawn was still several hours away. They would search the town tomorrow and hopefully find a lead to Raven’s brother. Some part of his soul told him Sasuke was close--possibly hiding in the very town they hid just beyond. Things would be easier if he had full access to his memories. The multiple holes did little to aid in his search.



Running his fingers through his long hair, he was just beginning to relax against the log when a tingling sent his body moving of its own volition. Raven was on his feet the instant his internal alarm sounded, an instinct he knew came from years of training. Someone was near, watching them beneath the cover of night. Black eyes flared red, darting back and forth through the darkened woods. “Why didn’t we sense him?”



“Magic,” hissed Kakashi, his own fangs becoming more evident with each passing moment.



Raven hissed as well, his hand reaching for his weapon--a beautifully crafted sword taken from one of their dead adversaries. Kakashi preferred using his claws and daggers over swords or guns. Itachi felt most comfortable with a blade in hand, though his claws were just as deadly. “He’s been following us,” Raven growled as a dark shape exited the forest.



“Danzou has been looking for you, Sharingan demon.” A demon stepped from the forest, his eyes shining whitely in the darkness.



“He’s blind.” Raven’s eyes widened. Danzou had taken measures to insure if Raven defeated him, it would not be with the use of his eyes. Tiny hairs stood up on the back of his neck.



“Smart move on Danzou’s part,” Kakashi murmured, taking his own daggers from a pouch on his hip. “Your eyes are the deadliest weapons in the demon word but nearly worthless against a blind adversary.”



“But not my only weapon.” Raven narrowed his eyes, lunging forward, his sword swinging in a graceful arc towards his enemy.



The demon jumped backward, nimbly dodging the move, firing a series of small needle-like projections towards Raven. Kakashi’s body throwing him to the ground prevented the small needles from piercing him. “Careful, these demons lace their weapons in a highly toxic neuro-poison.”



“You’ve encountered them before?” he asked, dusting himself off as he rose. His muscles ached from the landing and his eyes were useless weapons against such a foe, forcing him to deactivate them to save on strength.



“Only once.” Kakashi’s eyes narrowed dangerously towards the creature. It’s misshapen, cloak encased form swayed to test the movement of air around it. “Their bodies are covered with highly tuned hairs. The slightest change in air pressure or movement sends a message to their brain, effectively painting picture of anything approaching. It gives them a very deadly advantage.”



Raven locked his gaze on the movements of the hunter. Even without his demon eyes activated, his eyesight was still better than the average demon. It gave him an edge with the garden variety demons but with one who knew he was coming just by the change in air around it made things much more deadly. They would need to proceed cautiously with this battle.



Raven edged away from Kakashi, drawing the full attention of the demon. “Why are you attacking us?”



“Tsk, Tsk. So it’s true your memory is full of holes. I wasn’t sure the rumors were true. Even that she-wolf bitch who came whining to Danzou said you would be easy to bring down.” The demon shifted, the beady white eyes staring sightless in Raven’s direction.



Kakashi released a deep growl, “Lola--”



“The little slut was willing to spread her legs for Danzou in exchange for power. It’s a shame your pack left the den. They’ve been particularly hard to track down. I would have liked to be one of the trackers searching for their hiding places.” The demon’s teeth flashed. Small fangs were visible between thin misshapen lips. The fangs were the least of their worries from such a dangerous creature.



Raven snarled, his teeth peaking through his lips. The demon interloper only laughed at the sound. “What’s wrong, Itachi Uchiha? Are you angry?”



Though he hadn’t been with the wolf pack long, he’d grown attached to those who cared for him. They could have just as easily left him to die in the river, but instead, took him in, dressed his wounds, and aided him in regaining his strength. That spoke for something. “Itachi--” he murmured, tasting the name on his tongue.



Almost as if a dam was broken, memories hidden until now rushed forward in a gush, nearly bringing him to his knees. His pupils flared wide. His parents. Sasuke. Everything he’d been through since the massacre. It all flooded through him. Where large gaps had spanned each memory, now his mind was free from the binds.



“Ah, still your quiet self. It’s a shame that you are the last of your kind. I had the pleasure of taking your brother‘s eyes myself. Such a foolish brat to think he could take on me.” The triumphant laugh following was the final straw for Itachi. His newly freed emotions, raw from the rush of freedom, burned and he was unable to control himself.



Itachi went ballistic at the insinuation of Sasuke’s death. He lunged forward, his slender blade slashing down with a force and speed the blind demon was unable to avoid, only parry. His attacks were brought on with the force of a full blooded Sharingan demon lost in a blood rage. His eyes flared red despite the lack of effect against the blind demon.



His attacks were so unbelievably fast, Kakashi fell back in shock. The long black trench coat flared behind Itachi as he swung his blade with deadly force. “Raven!” Kakashi shouted.



Itachi didn’t register the shout, his entire being was focused on the demon that dared suggest the possibility of Sasuke’s death. If he’d been thinking correctly, he would have told Kakashi to stay back. No were-creature could move with the speed of full blooded demons. Kakashi moving in for a strike was a mistake, possibly proving fatal. His body moved in a flash of silver, moving close to stab at the attacking demon.



The demon turned his back to Itachi for the barest of seconds, blocking Kakashi’s attack and delivering his own. Tiny needles flew from long pale fingers, forcing Kakashi back with a grunt. Itachi used this moment of distraction to deliver a quick blow and fatal blow to the aggressive attacker.



Blood splattered across the once pristine forest floor in thick globs. The two preternatural creatures standing gasped from the exertion of the battle. Thought it had only lasted minutes, both felt the burn of how close they had come to death at the hands of the blind demon.



“So, you have a name now.” Kakashi slumped against a nearby tree.



“Itachi Uchiha.”



“It’s a good name. Do you remember everything?” Kakashi’s breath seemed to become harsher instead of easier as their pulses calmed. It concerned Itachi.



“Mostly.” Itachi placed a hand on his traveling partner’s shoulder, feeling the muscles tighten and loosen spasmodically. “Kakashi?”



“It’s good you remember. I’d hate to die here and leave you alone without enough memories to survive.” Kakashi gave a low grunt, his body going limp in Itachi’s arms. The scent of rain was strong in the air, forcing Itachi to sling the limp body over his shoulder. There wasn’t enough time to do more than grab their packs before moving towards the town. Time was not on their side and he needed to treat Kakashi before the effects of the toxin became irreversible, if it hadn’t already happened.



Itachi didn’t have many options at the hour. The only human money they possessed was hidden away in Kakashi’s duffel. Leaning the unconscious man against the wall in an alley, Itachi walked quickly into the office of a rather seedy and rundown motel, moments later exiting with a key. A quick stop to recover Kakashi’s unmoving form from where he left him, Itachi hissed at the rapidly deteriorating condition.



Hefting the limp body, Itachi grunted under the weight. “You’re heavier than you look.”



Though he may have imagined it, Itachi could have sworn he heard a strained chuckle from his incapacitated companion. Trust Kakashi to find humor when he was this close to death.



Itachi inserted the key into the lock. The door, barely on it’s hinges, creaked open loudly. The interior wasn’t much better than the exterior and obviously hadn’t seen the care of a housekeeping maid in probably several weeks. A small rat lifted its head as the two entered the room, dodging through the spares furniture and into a small hole gnawed in the wall near the bathroom.



Itachi wrinkled his nose at the smell of dust, rat feces, and a few odors he would rather not think about. He hadn’t stayed in such squalid accommodations since he and Sasuke first took to the road a century earlier but it was better than the outdoors, especially with the access to a working bath and relatively clean water.



Shedding his trench coat, Itachi laid Kakashi as gently as possible on the barely made bed. Already the telltale signs of the toxin were working through his body. A fever was beginning to rage through Kakashi, forcing Itachi to work all the faster. He grabbed the empty ice bucket and headed for the lone ice maker machine located several doors down. If the gods were willing, it would be functional. His nature leaned more towards fire than ice, making any magic with ice nearly impossible.



He ripped open the rusting metal container, sending a silent prayer of thanks to whatever gods thought to listen and scooped the bucket full--returning several times until the tub was filled to the brim with icy water.



Kakashi fought him weakly, delirious with fever. The poison was forcing his body to fight itself. Using his knife, he ripped the jeans and flannel from the shivering body. Quick eyes found the tiny scratch where the poisoned needled had grazed Kakashi’s body. “You are a lucky son of a bitch.”



The wound was minor. If he could survive the fever, he would only suffer a little muscle weakness and exhaustion upon waking. If the needle had fully punctured him, there would be little Itachi could do for him. Such demons were rated nearly as dangerous as Sharingan for their deadly use of toxins and were highly desired to use in cases of assassination.



Itachi grunted under the weight, being forced to lift Kakashi once more. The walk to the bathroom was short, followed by a loud shout. “Fuck! Are you trying to freeze me to death?”



Growling, Kakashi put more force into his struggles. His canines lengthened--so close to full moon, change between animal and man was an easy metamorphosis. Long white canines snapped viciously at Itachi, forcing him to release the struggling werewolf least he be bitten. The bite wouldn’t change him to such a creature, his demon blood would always come out dominant. It would, however, hurt like hell.



“Stay in the water. You’re suffering from a fever created by the poison on the needle. Your body is over heating.” Itachi moved back towards where red tinged eyes glared towards him.



Kakashi didn’t acknowledge him, exploding from the tub and lunging towards Itachi, claws and fangs bared.



“Fuck,” Itachi snarled, Kakashi’s fangs bit deep in his shoulder through the material of his shirt. Pain shot up his arm and Kakashi tackled him to the ground, both landing with grunts on the dingy bathroom floor.



Muscles bulged against Itachi, icy droplets of water splattering on his face. Kakashi snarled low in his throat, lowering his head to sniff the other’s neck. His attempt to keep from injuring Kakashi any more than necessary had placed him in a very dangerous position. He wasn’t immortal by any means and could easily die of blood loss from a well placed bite to the jugular.



Blood pulsed through his veins, a mixture of fear and excitement. It wasn’t often one such as him could be placed in such a deadly position. What he had come to know as the desire to mate each full moon now blared heatedly in him. His neck was bared, Kakashi in the position of dominance. He’d shown his superiority towards him, forcing Itachi’s body to desire him. Both species were ruled by dominance--a mate claimed.



Kakashi snarled against his jugular, long canines scratching against the skin as if to say he could press forward at any time, taking his life. It irked Itachi beyond all as his own body responded to the dominance, going limp and docile. He’d always considered himself a dominant demon. If he chose his mate, he would be the one in control. It appeared his body had other desires. Already, he could feel the swelling in the sacs located behind his teeth. A mating tonight would be furious. There would be no hiding their presence from any hunters left in the town and surrounding areas.



“Kakashi--” Itachi gasped feeling the fangs once more teasing along his throat, forcing a response from his body.



Kakashi seemed to answer the call, grinding his aroused body into Itachi. The heat rolling from the other was like a furnace, sending him into a tailspin of desire. If they didn’t stop soon, he would place his own mark on the other--he would bind them together.



Unable to stop himself, his legs spread, allowing Kakashi to settle between them. The last vestiges of control were moments from slipping away. He pulled back, eyes scanning for where to place his mark when the body above him shuddered and collapsed, forcing the breath from Itachi’s lungs. Strong through Kakashi was, the fever was stronger.



Itachi rolled the limp body from him, bring damp palms to his face where he knew his eyes were flaring a brilliant red. The tiny fangs in his mouth throbbed painfully with the temptation to mark Kakashi as his own. Tomorrow would be nightmarish for him, especially if Kakashi chose to remain with him. It was unlikely the werewolf would feel up to venturing out after such a bad bout with the fever.



Scooping the limp body from the floor, he pushed it into the icy bath once more. Tempting though it might be, he refrained from drowning the other and made quick work of the bath, not lifting the lean body from the water until he was satisfied the fever was within a manageable range.



Tonight was close, far closer than he ever wanted to feel again. He’d nearly lost control, mating himself to someone who he’d known for barely four months. With tomorrow being All Hallow’s Eve, his mind would be practically crazed with lust. He would be forced to sedate himself should Kakashi remain with him.



Dumping the object of his frustrations on the bed, he glared petulantly at him. He was in a weakened state--he could take him, assert his dominance and mark him. The temptation was nearly more than he could take. It also left a foul taste in his mouth. Rape was an action he detested.



Rape aside, it felt wrong with Kakashi. It was as if their personal dynamic had already been set in stone. Tonight, Kakashi’s wolf had dominated Itachi’s demon. Such an act was seeped in natural magic.



Itachi crouched in the corner, watching the sleeping were-wolf with wild eyes. He was afraid to approach him. If Kakashi’s wolf came for him once more, he would be unable to resist the pull. Drawing his knees to his chest, he focused on the now even rise and fall of the sparsely haired chest. Things would be different from this moment on.



~*~



Sasuke purred happily in Naruto’s lap, the tan hand stroking him in all his favorite places. Yellow eyes slitted to stare out into the darkened window. The air seemed ripe with electricity. He could feel the power pouring through him, tempting him with the pleasures the next night could give him. Even in his feline form, he could feel the sacs behind his fangs begging to plunge into Naruto--to claim him.



He’d long since decided to claim Naruto as his mate. Had Itachi been here, he would have discussed the pairing with his brother long before coming to such a decision. Itachi’s approval was something he longed for but time was short. Already he could sense the discontent and loneliness his future mate exuded. If he wanted to claim him, he would have to act fast before another placed his own mark upon him.



Sasuke hissed at the thought of another mating to his mate, earning him a toss from the comfortable lap he‘d formerly dominated. “Don’t you hiss at me or I’ll throw you out the door.”



Sasuke snorted loudly in his master’s direction. It was a common threat to fall from Naruto’s lips. Sasuke had long sense taken to ignoring him when such threats were voiced. Naruto’s affections for his feline form ran too deep to ever actually follow through with such threats. Jumping back into the lap, he curled into a comfortable position once more. I’d like to see you try, moron.



He really wished for lips to voice his thoughts. Soon. Tomorrow would be the day when he made Naruto his. He’d decided. Itachi would just have to accept his necessary decision and forgive him. Steps needed to be taken without Itachi here.



“I’m going to the grocery tomorrow, you want anything while I make my list,” Naruto asked as if he expected Sasuke to answer with his own list of desired groceries.



Sasuke lifted his head and meowed. Some more salmon, the good stuff. I’ll take tuna but you better get fresh if you want me to eat it. And don’t even think about trying to trick me into eating any of that canned cat food. I’m not an idiot like some people.



Naruto jotted down salmon followed by tuna and a question mark. “I’ll check the prices of fresh tuna but don’t get your hopes up. We live on a budget after all.”



Sasuke purred contentedly. Naruto didn’t realize it, but he was picking up on Sasuke’s desires like a good mate. Once he returned to his true form, he would seal their bond. Mental communication was one of the perks of being mated. He’d heard that after several years, the bond becomes strong enough to feel the each other’s tactile sensations while engaging in intercourse.



His body was practically sizzling with excitement. Tomorrow would be intense in its own right. The initial mating always released power. That Itachi would not be present to guard his first mating was a disappointment and a worry. If his guards failed during the mating, his energy signature would be felt by any demon within at least a fifty mile radius. During mating, Sharingan were particularly susceptible to attack, hence why family or close friends guarded them during the initial mating.



“I think I’m going to go to Sakura’s party tomorrow.” Naruto lifted Sasuke, taking him to bed as was their nightly ritual. Sasuke annoyed the shit out of him until he did, refusing to move from his spot on the couch. His yowls and cries were loud enough to wake the dead. Naruto had given in particularly easy, showing how easily it would be to train him in his duties as a mate.



The memory brought up other worries. Sasuke curled onto Naruto’s chest, feeling the heavy thud of each heartbeat. Would Naruto be willing to remain on the run with Sasuke and Itachi? Sasuke would be unable to be separated from him long before physical side effects would begin to take hold. Should I allow him to mate with a human?



Naruto shuffled a little in his sleep. “Stop worrying bastard.”



Sasuke released a little huff. Idiot. The only time you are receptive is in your sleep. I think I should take offense.



“Bastard,” Naruto muttered, turning on his side and forcing Sasuke to relocate to his hip.



If his feline form would have allowed a smile, he would have grinned. No matter the risk, Naruto was worth every bit of it. His paws began kneading the thin comforter draped over Naruto’s slender hips. Tomorrow, Naruto would be his.



To be continued.