Title: Through Space and Time
Rating:
Character(s): Kagome and Kyuubi
Summary: Konoha has some foreign visitors, who Kyuubi actually recognizes now that he's no longer in a rage and the seal has been weakened. Naruto wishes to help, but what can he do if Chakra has no effect on them? Naraku won't wait; Kagome will.
Disclaimer: I own neither Naruto nor Inuyasha. Anyone who thinks otherwise must not be familiar with them.
HK: Despite what I would want, I own no one.
xXx
Konohamaru peaked stealthily around himself before he snuck into the alley. With a last glance behind him, just for extra precaution, he ran down into the darkness and slid to his knees against the back L-wall corner before whispering a quiet 'all clear' to the others in front of him. His teammates, Moegi and Udon, landed on either side of him from above. They too signaled the coast clear to the group gathered with them.
"Okay, we can take them out." Udon said clearly before sniffling quietly.
Eleven children, the last group of the villages ninety-nine offspring and counting, all grinned to each other before pulling out their charms. Some were dark blue beads, others were dull white fangs, others were a pale peach stone that was heavier than the others with a single dot of red, a few were brown marbles swirled with pink, and fewer still were clear marbles with a frozen explosion of milky pearl cream in the middle. Konohamaru, Moegi and Udon were the only three of all the children whose magic tokens were a glittering pink sphere.
"Ready?" Moegi asked unnecessarily, already knowing the answer. The excited children grinned even harder, verging on laughter.
The charms took a magic word to transport the users to their secret place where no adult was allowed to find. They used to call it their Realm of Safety. After a while, the name was shortened to The Realm. When that title became boring and odd, the name was again morphed to a more suitable codeword. Sanctuary. In their sanctuary was the person Konohamaru and all the other children came to visit as often as possible for fun, stories, and consoling when they needed it.
"You say it." Konohamaru encouraged one of the younger boys as the group all held hands or linked arms.
This person had saved Konohamaru during a training accident almost a year ago and had given him his stone to use whenever he wanted to see her again. He told his team, excluding his sensei, and they met her, also receiving their own sparkling pink stone not unlike the one around her neck. They witnessed another accident, a potentially fatal one for a three year old civilian, and wished for her aid since no one was around and they couldn't do anything in time.
"Nuh-uh. You." The boy defied. It was a lot of pressure for him. He liked the woman who was nice and patient with him, but she was so much more than any adult he had in his life.
Her name spread among the children of Konoha and it was an unspoken law that bid them to keep her a secret from their elders. Now, nearly every day, the children and future of Konoha left their village and home to visit this woman. Her name was the password to the realm she waited in.
With one last glance behind and above them, Konohamaru whispered. "Kagome."
A passing villager peaked into the alleyway, curious of the flash of pink light. He blinked in confusion before walking away with more important thoughts in his mind. There was nothing in the alley.
X
Twin gold orbs flashed to attention in the forest as they watched the activities of the huge village. As they watched the pups of said village called the Leaf, they flashed in surprise, recognition, hope, and joy. Red and silver swirled as he turned around and in a single jump, he was gone.
X
Naruto could only stare. He barely dared to breathe. He couldn't bring himself to even think about taking a step away. The king of all demons, the Kyuubi no Kitsune, the worst natural disaster humanity had ever known, the embodiment of revenge itself, was crying. The red fox was curled up as small as he could be, tails tuck against the side of his body, sitting limply as if dead. His snout was poking out of the steel bars his head was pressed against and paws, just to his wrists, were poking out of his prison. His eyes were clenched closed and he was whimpering faintly. Clear tears flowed heavily and there was no sign of any burning chakra to be sensed. He wasn't in pain, he was greatly distressed. Sad was too much of an understatement. Naruto gulped before daring to speak.
"Fox?" He was surprised when his blue eyes met with dull green.
"What do you want, boy?" The normally mocking, heavy voice was now unbelievable tired. Naruto licked his lips before speaking.
"What's wrong?" He asked as quietly as he could. The green eyes flashed in too many emotions before blinking bloody red in rage. The nine tailed fox slowly stood up, gradually snarling louder as his head raised higher.
"Leave me, boy! Do not ask of things you know you will never understand!" Naruto stood his ground as claws extended towards his face. They were unable to reach him by half an inch. The wave of fury, however, blew by him like a hot gust of wind. "Come just a little closer, if you still want to know, human! Your weak, meaty flesh will break under my claws! So easily! I am a demon, and you're...! you're..." The claws relaxed and the fox began panting. Red flickered for a moment before changing green once more. The fox sat on his haunches, his chest heaving unevenly. He was regarding Naruto in a new light, an epiphany seemingly having occurred. Naruto took a step forward.
"I'm what?" He asked, loudly to be heard, but not too loud to be rude. The fox laid his head down again, nose between the bars of his cell, and continued to watch Naruto with an odd expression.
"You're, a human." The fox said in a raspy whisper. Those green eyes blinked and the pupils erratically focused in and out before they dilated and a high keen was sighed.
"Old news." Naruto commented. The fox did nothing. Naruto dared to come closer. He placed a hand of the furred snout. "What's wrong?" He asked again, wary. The green eyes closed slowly.
"I miss..." Silence. The eyes opened again. The voice tried again. "I wish..." The tears fell again. The eyes closed again. "I apologize... for everything I've done. To you. Your village. Your world." He said. "My family." He whispered. Naruto, of all the things he was expecting, the Kyuubi no Kitsune's death being the main one, was not expecting this. He rubbed the giant beast unsurely, eventually scratching the fur as one would a pet. In this case, an overly grown, demonic, and mentally distressed pet.
"An apology won't change what already happened." Naruto mentioned.
"It is all I can give you freely." The fox answered without emotion.
"Why? What made you change?" The fox shifted his hind legs and fanned his tails across the other side of his body. He seemed to push again the slight comfort his keeper was offering. Naruto, though uncomfortable, continued to pet the fox. The youkai sighed and his shoulders seemed to sag.
"A dream."
"Of what?" The fox did nothing. After an unknown amount of time had passed, Naruto figured the Kitsune wasn't going to answer and he stopped his petting. The green eyes opened again as the boy's back was turned and walking away.
"My mother." Naruto faltered in his steps before pausing. He didn't dare to look back, so he continued on. The fox was right; he shouldn't ask questions of things he wouldn't understand. At least not yet.
X
"Story! Story! Story! Story!" A group of children chanted eagerly as the woman they were waiting for walked down the street, her outfit for the day looking very expensive. They were in their sanctuary, a place that could have passed for Konohagakure itself, if it wasn't for one obvious difference. There was no one around. In this realm, only Kagome, the human woman the realm was guarding, existed.
The children visited her and she gladly entertained them with games and snacks that their own parents and guardians either didn't have time for or didn't think to do. She wasn't a replacement; she was a friend who could take care on them. Konohamaru and his own group ran on and began chanting with the ones already there. Kagome took her time, smiling when some children began to whine for her to hurry up. With a laugh she spoke in time with their chant.
"Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay!" The children quieted and Konohamaru, Moegi and Udon took their seats closest to her under the tree that didn't exist in the middle of their market. She gathered her many layered royal white kimono (with a silver dog with red eyes on the sleeve and a pink symbol on her collar, just under the necklace she wore) and sat down on the stone the tree seemed to be crawling on. The silence was deafening as she thought. "Hm, okay, I have one." She grinned teasingly. "Any guesses?"
"It's about a demoness!" A young boy called excitedly, as the questioning was a ritual of sorts. They were given clues of what she would talk about based on what she was wearing.
"A demon!"
"Royalty!"
"A human woman!"
"Swords!" One eager voice added as he noticed the old looking sword on the woman's waist.
"You're all right!" The woman laughed as the group became quiet in excitement. She had never held a weapon in front of them. "There is a demon, who met a beautiful demoness. They were inuyoukai, and they were royalty. One day, war broke out in their country." The children were entranced.
X
"Thanks, Baa-chan."
"Sure thing, brat." Naruto stood up and prepared to leave. He had told Tsunade what he had learned of his tenant, and she didn't think it was an issue so he wasn't going to worry about the fox's odd behavior. "Oh, Naruto." The blond paused at the door. "I know that we're in the beginnings of a festival, but I want you to remain on alert. We're expecting important princes to visit, and since they're both royalty and also foreign, they're not hard to miss. Anything could happen from ransom kidnappings to assassinations. Spread the word." Naruto nodded and walked out. He whispered this information to the woman in the front desk of the building. She began to discretely spread the word as he walked outside and started to find his friends.
"I wonder where Konohamaru is?" He mumbled to himself. He paused and felt his heart pause as a thought struck him. 'Where are all the kids?' He wondered as he looked around.
A crying infant was in its mother's arms as the woman wondered out loud where he daughter was. Naruto knew the baby's older sister was always taking care of the baby when she could. The Academy was still another year away for her.
A group of men passed him, chatting freely as they walked. One man, a father, mentioned how his son was staying out of trouble now-a-days and the other men congratulated him. Naruto knew the boy liked to follow Konohamaru around as the young Chuunin had done to him.
Something was off. First the fox, and now the children of his village. Naruto glanced at the baby girl. Maybe he was just being paranoid. There are still children, but none older than three. Maybe they're all together in a club they formed. Complete with the 'no adults allowed' rule. Naruto sighed. He hoped that was it. He decided to keep an eye open and report to Tsunade if he was unable to find any of the younger generation.
"Yo! Naruto!" Ino ran up to him and hugged him around the neck in a gesture he wasn't sure he'd get used to. It was meant to get his attention though and put him on alert. "Hey blondie! Have you heard the news?" Ino finished with a more serious voice. Naruto nodded. News spread fast, it seems.
X
"And he stayed there, for fifty years, in eternal sleep. Never aging, always young, always reflecting on those short happy moments he knew he would always cherish."
"His brother just left him there?" A girl asked, hugging her toy rabbit. Her clear sphere with the silver explosion was hidden; sewn into the rabbit's tail as she always had the toy with her so she wouldn't lose it or have it be seen by adult eyes. Her best friend, whom she considered as an older brother, was frowning at the thought and more children began to mumble about the older brother in the story.
"His brother couldn't do anything if he had known. He was a more pure youkai than the Hanyou, so the sacred arrow would have done more damage to him than he could to it." The demon prince's reputation was saved. Konohamaru glanced at the clock tower.
"We should go now. We've been gone too long." The huge group whined, but they knew he was right. Everyone began pairing off and heading to the direction of their returning place. It wouldn't do to suddenly appear in the middle of the market.
"What's wrong, Kagome-chan?" The little girl with the rabbit asked. The question was quiet, but with no other noises in this realm but those the occupants made, it was heard by all. For a while, Kagome didn't answer, creating instant concern. Everyone returned to their seats or even closer to the woman, if they could, until Kagome faced everyone.
"I'm sorry, everyone." She spoke just a little louder. "I, I don't think anyone new can come anymore." No one spoke, not wanting to drown her next words out by an incoherent group murmur. Konohamaru swallowed.
"Why?"
"My magic. It's being strained. I cover all of you in complete protection with those tokens I've given you. If I added one more person, if something were to happen, my magic might not work." Again, no one spoke. This time, they didn't know what could be said.
Moegi looked around. She saw children younger than her. She was one of the older ones. She was one of the first ones. She glanced at the pink sphere chained against her hip. She unclipped it and stared at it, a few other children were doing the same. Konohamaru and Udon on either side of her were mimicking her. They caught each other's eyes and nodded. They held out their spheres to Kagome, who was startled.
"We're shinobi. We're trained to take care of ourselves and others. Your protection is appreciated, but there are others who need it more than we do." She said. Kagome did nothing but switch her gaze between the stones and the faces that matched.
"I would miss your company, and I'll never forget you if I can help it, but we're not helpless. Others are. These can be used more efficiently." Udon sniffled, not wanting to look at Kagome at the moment.
"Thank you for saving me, and actually understanding me. I've learned a lot from you, and I've grown a lot too. Hopefully, we can still hear your stories from those still able to come here. I swear, I'll be careful and I won't need to be saved from death again." Konohamaru said confidently.
Silence echoed in the realm, and no one moved.
X
"You're sure?" A silver head nodded, a grin on the face. The cerulean eyes were obviously still trying to grasp the concept. A grin was born with a fang on the corner. "Well, shit. What a pleasant surprise."
"Sesshoumaru's already on his way. There's a festival in their village; something about spring, life and honor. Eh, don't know much about it, but it's the perfect excuse."
"Could you send a message for me?"
"Already done. They're expecting you." Kouga glanced at his den. They were small in numbers, but still larger than what they were when they arrived. He looked back to his friend.
"Thanks, muttface. You think they won't mind a few wolves?" Inuyasha chuckled.
"They have a clan that would love to meet them." Sharp canines shone as Kouga walked out.
"Well then, let's not disappoint." He howled to the sky and a few of his closest den mates ran towards him. Inuyasha ran on in a different direction.
X
"Sesshoumaru-sama?" A girl's voice asked softly. Inuyasha had reported to them just barely an hour ago and Sesshoumaru had yet to move. The InuYoukai glanced at the human and faced to direction Inuyasha had come from again.
"Prepare Ah-Un." He ordered in a bored tone.
"Done." The girl chirped. She knew he was excited.
"Our traveling supplies." He added.
"Done." She sang.
"Kohaku."
"He's waiting." She giggled.
"Jaken." She laughed.
"He's grumbling next to our bags." Sesshoumaru smiled slightly to his ward.
"Very good, Rin." Rin grinned widely, her missing tooth having long grown in, perfecting her bright smile.
"We'll leave soon, then?"
"We'll leave now."
"Yes Milord!" The young teenager ran ahead as Sesshoumaru walked leisurely towards his pack. His reasons for living.
"Miko, it's about time we meet again. I wonder, how long have you been in this world?"
X
"Konohamaru... I..." Kagome hid her expression under her bangs. A boy next to her spoke up.
"I give you my charm back too, Kagome-chan! I just graduated from the Academy, but that means I proved myself! I'll miss you, but I'll give you back your magic."
"Me too! I'm a capable kunoichi!" Various other graduates from the academy made their way to Kagome, preparing themselves to return their precious tokens of protection.
"Every shinobi and kunoichi should give back their stones!" Udon called over the crowd's murmur.
"Every civilian over thirteen as well!" Moegi added. By that age, children were given more responsibilities and were expected to do more. It would be hard and stressful to continue keeping Kagome a secret and keep visiting her. Plus it wouldn't be much fair if they became adults and other children weren't allowed to visit. Everyone agreed.
"I..." Kagome faced everyone and gave a defeated smile. This was for the best. "Thank you. I promise, even though you returned my gift, you will always have one more chance to use it." She held her hand over Konohamaru's, and everyone saw the glow of her magic. She closed his hand over the sphere. "If anything were to happen you any of you, just call me and you'll return here, just one more time." She did the same to Moegi, Udon, and the rest of the children lined up in front of her to return her magic to her.
"Sayonara, Kagome-chan!" Some children called.
"Thank you, Kagome-chan!" Others said, not daring to look back, not wanting to cry.
"Bye, I'm glad I met you!"
Kagome said nothing. She was eventually the only one in her realm. She was alone again. She sighed and stood up, feeling much better than before. She was sad, but not as tired or strained. She walked to the place where she called her home.
X
The shinobi children returned to their world, feeling empty, but happy. They didn't want to be a burden. No one wants that feeling. The younger children waved a goodbye and left with promises to keep them updated with Kagome's stories, games and samples of her snacks. Civilian children left with mumblings about chores they've been slacking on and left as well. The Gennin looked at Konohamaru and his team and the shinobi all sighed in a dejected fashion. What do they do now?
"Well, who wants to spar?" Moegi asked. Everyone walked to the clearing that mirrored the one they used in the sanctuary and they prepared to do as they normally did.
"Oi, Konohamaru!" Naruto ran towards them. Everyone paused and watched in curiosity as he came closer. Naruto glanced at all the others in the clearing and figured they'd all been here the whole day. 'Weird though, since they're not part of the same team, or year.' He waved everyone closer. "Have you heard?" He asked, lowering his voice to the tone they put them all on alert. No one answered.
"What's going on, aniki?" Udon asked in the silence. Naruto glanced around to make sure somebody wasn't supposed to be here. A few caught the hint and checked themselves. No one raised the alarm to any suspicions.
"There's royalty coming by for the festival. We're all to be on alert, since they're easy to spot and trouble could have followed them. They're trusting the village to help with their security during their stay. Keep that in mind, it's our duty."
"Sure thing, aniki." Konohamaru saluted. Naruto grinned.
"So, this is where you've all been today? I couldn't find any of you earlier and I was about to panic before remembering you're a Chuunin." He said as he ruffled the other's hair. Konohamaru laughed and pushed the hand away, but he was glad for the comfort the familiar gesture called for.
xXx TBC xXx
HK: Thank you for reading, and I hope you have some thoughts you'd like to share with me. Constructive criticism is very much welcome and encouragement with smiley faces are begged for. See you next chapter!
Last Edit: 29Aug12