“There was a shop on the corner of our street where our adoptive aunt and uncle sold antiques,” Itachi nodded to the rest as his brother said this, verifying that this was a fact, “and my mother and father would take Nii-san and I there when we were good. We liked going because there were a lot of weird things in there; so-called cursed items, a jar that was rumored to have the souls of those who’d been victim to a worthy adversary to Konoha. It was…” His face flushed as he admitted it, “Kind of cool…
“Anyway…none of them compared to the items in the back of the shop that Aunt and Uncle didn’t want us to go into. They told us that anything could happen if we were let loose back there. Itachi and I thought it was just something to keep us out so we wouldn’t break anything, so one day, while Aunt and Uncle were talking to our parents, I snuck to the back.
“I didn’t think there was anything to be afraid of. There were a bunch of hex items in back- I knew what they were because of some books I’d looked into- but not much else. It was actually pretty lame except for a ‘Soul-Cutting Sword’ I found…but when I went into the next room…that was where I found it.
“There was a doll in back with long black hair dressed in a yukata sitting on a small podium behind glass. I thought it was kind of weird. Maybe it was something Aunty treasured or something…It was seriously creepy; it had squinty eyes and didn’t make me think of a regular doll at all. There was a little tag stuck to the glass on the box along with a sign that said ‘WARNING: DO NOT TOUCH.’ So of course I wanted to touch it…
“My aunty rushed in at that point, grabbed me by the collar and basically threw me out. I was glad I got off with just that. She used to spank Itachi and me…crazy old woman…
“Of course I went back, but by then it was after dark. Itachi was with me, and after a while he decided that it wouldn’t be a good idea to check the doll out after all. Of course I decided to ignore his pleas and gone on without him; I thought Nii-san was such a pussy back then…
“When I got to the back of the shop, the doll was still there, but this time there was no Aunty to get in my way. My fingers inched over the tag for a second- because I really was scared of what might happen- but I yanked the seal off. Nothing happened. I laughed to myself…until I saw blood running down the doll’s eyes. That freaked me out enough to send me running.”
“That’s it?” Terra raised his eyebrow, but Ventus’ eyes were wide with fear and curiosity.
“No.” Sasuke closed his eyes. “When I went to sleep that night, I couldn’t stop thinking about that doll. What if there really was something cursed about it? What if I’d doomed myself? What if Aunty would come and get me? So the next morning, I went to check on the doll. It was gone.” He paused. “That was the day I lost my grandparents. I was told they were killed by a rogue ninja, but when I saw their bodies I knew. It had to be that doll. There were cuts from their legs up, almost as if someone was so small they couldn’t reach and had to get them on the ground first…and there was a small hole in the door of the house, not even big enough for a cat. What I couldn’t wrap my mind around was how…”
Even Shizuo stopped smoking at this point. “…and?”
“And then I heard from my Aunt and Uncle that the Soul-Cutting Sword had been gone for days, along with the doll. My parents asked if someone bought them, but they shook their heads. The doll and the sword were the only things that were stolen.
“I didn’t sleep the next night either. I was scared that the doll would come and get me, especially when people started ending up dead with the same evidence on them…legs cuts…and their upper bodies slashed, a small hole in the door…until I got up one night and found a small hole in my front door…”
“Did it come to get you?” Ven asked.
Sasuke shrugged. “Don’t know. All I heard was the pitter patter of little feet…” He leaned back. “I’m done.”
Everyone gaped at him. “Where the HELL do you get ideas like that?!” Naruto yelled.
“It wasn’t an idea. It really happened.” He answered coolly.
“Liar.”
The raven-haired Uchiha shrugged. “Think what you want. I can swear it’s still following me.” At that moment, there was a soft thumping sound just outside of the tent.
“What was that?” Terra narrowed his eyes.
“Don’t know…but it did sound like…” Naruto went pale. “Little feet.”
“BOO!” A face popped inside of the tent and everyone but Sasuke and Shizuo screamed.
“The hell, Nii-san. Where have you been?” He asked, closing his eyes.
“Thinking up a scary story of my own. But I have decided not to tell one.” Itachi sat down in his usual spot.
“Why?” Naruto glanced at him.
“It would scare you all too much.” Everyone groaned, knowing that no one would ever know with Itachi. He was so weird sometimes…
“I guess that leaves Shizuo and Ven. Shizuo’s out.” Terra leaned back. “Unless he just wants to smoke it out.”
“Laugh all you want.” The blonde closed his eyes. “Smoking calms me.”
“So I guess you’re not creative enough to make up a story?” Sasuke countered.
“Shut up, pretty boy.” Shizuo tossed his cigarette outside. “I never said that.”
“So anyway,” Terra glanced at Ven, “Are you game to tell a story?”
“Yeah, I guess. But I don’t think mine will be as good as Sasuke or Naruto’s.” Ven scratched the back of his head with a nervous laugh.
