Good evening minna! (As I am currently writing this in the evening) Silver-eyed Hyuuga is not dead, as some may have thought, rather she is alive and has now posted another story for you readers to read. After my last zillion-page-long NejiNaru story, this is a KimiNaru for a change (since all my past stories have been NejiNaru)...so I do hope all of you shall enjoy this one.
This is set about when Naruto is five and Kimimaro is seven (After all, Kimimaro is only two years older than Naruto)
Chapter 1: Banshee Blizzards
Most everyone in the sleepy village of Konoha was at peace, content and satisfied with the world. Families huddled together in front of the fireplace, sipping hot mugs of steaming tea or hot cocoa, listening lazily to the merry crackle of the fireplace. Children played happily at the feet of their parents, basking in the radiating glow of the fire as it leapt and sparkled in its perpetual dance of warmth while parents sat together on the couch, enjoying each other's company. Almost everyone was at ease, and felt nothing could go wrong with the world.
Almost everyone was at ease, with the exception of one small fox-child.
The winds howled their mournful, wild tunes as they swept through the streets outside of Konoha, harbingers of snow and more blizzards to come. Snow extended her icy merciless fingers and cloaked the rooftops with white powder and ledges with icicles. A raging blizzard blew outside, deadly and heedless of any poor, unsuspecting individuals that had the misfortune of getting in its way.
The poor, frozen body of a small, forlorn five-year-old stumbled through the streets, bearing the full brunt of the heartless storm that enveloped the village in its ruthless path. Naruto sneezed, wrapping his arms around his shivering body in a half-hearted attempt to warm himself in such weather, his efforts quite fruitless. Clutching harder at his tattered t-shirt, he sniffled and shuddered, the cold seeping through his worn clothes and biting through to his bones.
It was no use going back to his apartment; the landlord had upped his bill and kicked him out when he hadn't the money to pay the ridiculously high price the manager had so maliciously stated. The blonde had begged piteously but the landlord would have none of his "stupid sheep's whining", dragging him out by the scruff of his neck and throwing him unceremoniously out into the raging storm, slamming the door with an air of finality.
He had taken refuge in a nearby shop when he found that Ichiraku was closed, salivating wildly as plates of food whizzed past his nose. At first the owner watched him without really noticing who he was until Naruto looked up, begging for a scrap of leftovers. A scandalized look marred the owner's stern countenance and he too forbade Naruto to ever darken his doorway again. Luckily the fox-child escaped with a morsel in his hand which he ate sparingly as he trudged down the streets.
Now that it was gone, Naruto was hungry once more, but the shops were all dark and the shelter all taken, and he suspected by now that no one would let him in to the comfort of their homes. Knocking the snow from his lashes and the ice from his hair, he pressed on against the storm, all sense of direction and time forgotten.
He trudged on for what seemed like eons, plodding along one foot after another, not really knowing where he was headed. It seemed like hours upon end, and still he kept going, walking steadily to nowhere. It was when he finally looked up that he found he was in a completely different scenery so unlike the familiar houses scattered along Konoha's streets.
He supposed he was in the forest; the snow didn't seem to come down as hard, and it certainly smelled like the forest. He looked around and managed to make out the dim outline of a tree trunk. So it was true, he was in the forest, and as to how deep, he did not know. The storm seemed to die down, though it hadn't completely stopped, so Naruto picked this opportune moment to find out his whereabouts before the blizzard came back with a vengeance.
Shinnying up the side of a nearby fir tree (with some difficulty; the snow and the state of his fingers made it hard to find a fingerhold, but Naruto managed with the help of the sticky resin), he brushed off the snow from the branches and peeked through the openings of the needles. He was met by the sight of white, white, and still more white as far as the eye could see. The realization that he was far from Konoha didn't come as a shock though; he had assumed he'd walked right through the gates when he'd been trudging on for at least an hour without hitting any walls.
Sighing, the small fox-child meandered through the trees, quietly braving the storm and walking deeper into the woods. Shivering again, he flicked weakly at the icicles that covered his being and sneezed, almost falling over a tree root. Looking up again, he vaguely noted that his fingers were almost neon blue. That was odd…fingers were usually pink….weren't….they….?
As that last thought passed through the fox-child's frozen mind, his vision blurred slightly at the edges and Naruto staggered, suddenly feeling like his legs weighed a hundred pounds each. Taking in a gasping breath, he valiantly tried to lift up his foot to take the next step but quickly abandoned the effort when his world shifted dangerously and threatened to collapse upon him. Naruto lost what little strength he had left and fell to the ground, landing with a soft flump on the snow beneath him. There he lay and was soon covered by small flakes of white as the snow began falling.
Unbeknownst to the comatose blonde, a similar figure was also walking through the forest. Kimimaro smiled slightly as he felt the first flakes of snow fall from the sky. He loved winter and the snow that it brought; it was the only season he belonged in, with his white hair and gray yukata, therefore making it a lot easier to blend in with his surroundings. Unsuspecting animals didn't tend to notice a background of the same color, providing the element of surprise for the young Kaguya and a fair supply of food. Snowshoe hares were common in the winter, and Kimimaro rather enjoyed their meat when cooked with a few roots.
The Kaguya's ears pricked and he pressed himself against a tree, listening warily for the barely audible rustle of a bush, signifying animals and food. A small white rabbit came out of the thicket, nose twitching for any sign of danger. Kimimaro quickly alternated position, pressing himself downwind against the tree. He waited with immeasurable patience until the rabbit was right up close, then pounced.
He missed, landing face-first in the snow, and as a result the startled rabbit hopped away into the woods. Kimimaro followed pursuit, weaving gracefully through the trees, alternating his breathing to suit his conditions. Calmly tracking the still-frightened rabbit, he swerved and went in for the kill, capturing the animal and ending its pain with a well-aimed stab to the neck. The skin would be useful, and the meat would taste good.
Kimimaro nodded in satisfaction and turned to go when his foot connected with something that didn't seem at all like snow. Snow was slushy and very often wet, whereas this object was slightly soft, yielding under his foot.
Looking curiously down at the offending object, he couldn't see anything but snow. Depositing the rabbit gently at his side, he dug until he uncovered a strange tuft of golden substance. Contemplating as to whether to pull the object out by the yellow substance or examine it first and then pull, Kimimaro decided to examine it first, having learned from a past unpleasant experience with a mountain cat bearing hair of the same color.
Taking the stuff between his fingers, he teased it gently between his fingers, trying to identify the strange thread-like form. After a while of careful testing, Kimimaro concluded that this thread was hair. That was strange; this hair slipped and slid worse than his hair had ever been. Running a hand through his own locks, Kimimaro calculated quickly in his mind. So if this was hair, then there had to be more underneath the covering of snow.
Digging still further, he scooped away the slushy white substance until he found a full head of hair. Rather excited at his curious find, he proceeded to uncover a full body lying in the snow, apparently frozen. It was a rather small body, signifying developing muscles in the smallish frame. Turning it over, he peered curiously over the face, his gaze coming to rest on the three small whisker-like marks on the cheeks. Inwardly marveling at the abnormally long lashes, he smiled slightly and ran a curious hand down the finely shaped nose. This boy was rather cute, a bit younger than he was, and positively reeking of innocence when he was asleep.
Kimimaro reached out and tentatively found the carotid artery located in the boy's neck. Nimble fingers pressed against it, and Kimimaro waited expectantly for a pulse. It came, though rather weak, but it was steady all the same. The Kaguya frowned thoughtfully. From the layers of snow atop the boy, Kimimaro thought he would've been frozen to death by now, but here he was, only unconscious in the snow. That was odd. Most people didn't survive three minutes out in such a storm.
Nodding to himself, he scooped up the boy in his arms and slung him over his back, picking up the rabbit as well. Further cradling the limp form, he clamped the rabbit firmly in his teeth and made his way back to an old abandoned cabin which he used as his shelter. Laying the boy down in a nearby bed, he proceeded to roast the rabbit, proceeding once more out the door and out into the cold to catch another unsuspecting animal. One rabbit wasn't enough for the both of them, and Kimimaro assumed the boy would be quite hungry when he awoke.
Unh…this doesn't feel like a storm…I feel warm, actually…almost comfortable.
Cerulean-blue irises graced their surroundings with a perplexed stare. Naruto sat up, shaking his head groggily to clear the sleep from his mind. Looking around, he found he was in a small room, lying on a mat in the corner. A pungent smell assailed his nostrils and his stomach let out a growl, craving for the source of the aroma. Standing, the blonde fox-boy wandered around the room, exploring his surroundings before coming to rest at the fireplace, warming his hands. He sighed as he gave in to the welcoming heat and scooted closer, liking the feel of the heat seeping through to his bones and warming his core.
A sudden snap made him turn, eyes dilating in caution. A boy came in through the door, dragging something small and furry in his hands. Noticing Naruto, the boy smiled welcomingly, depositing the animal on a nearby table. They stood in silence for a while, Naruto observing the strange color of the other's hair and the two red dots in the middle of his forehead. His eyes were amazing as well; never before had the young kitling seen eyes of such a vivid green. The other examined Naruto, hesitating a little before speaking.
"So you've awakened." Naruto nodded with a little apprehension.
"Are you hungry?" Naruto nodded more eagerly this time, hunger overriding caution. The other boy smiled.
"Help yourself to the rabbit on the spit. I'll roast mine afterwards." Naruto opened his mouth and produced a few squeaks before succeeding in speech.
"Thank you…" The other boy looked up, grinned, and went back to skinning the rabbit.
"It's not yet done, so you'll have to wait a bit," the other boy added.
"Actually you can have the first one. I tend to like mine with a few herbs." The other boy looked up curiously.
"Herbs? I've never eaten rabbit with herbs before…" As an answer, Naruto stuffed his hands in his pockets and drew out a few odd-shaped leaves, depositing them on the table.
"You've never tried herbs before? They add flavor to the meat." The other removed the rabbit from the spit and chewed a piece of meat, eating a leaf along with it. His eyes widened in surprise.
"This really is good. What do you call this leaf?" Naruto grinned cheekily.
"It's called mint. It grows in the forest around spring. I've had these since forever." The other boy nodded slowly, absorbing the information.
"By the way, I never got your name." The boy smiled.
"Kimimaro. Kaguya Kimimaro. And you?" Naruto's face broke into a full-fledged grin, mostly tooth.
"Uzumaki Naruto, soon to be future Hokage!" Kimimaro tilted his head to the side.
"What's Hokage?" Naruto fixed him with an incredulous stare.
"Hokage is the greatest ninja in all of a village! A lot of people acknowledge him and respect him, which is why I want to become Hokage." The corners of Kimimaro's lips curved up in a smile.
"Why would you want to do that? Don't your mother and father recognize you?" Naruto wilted slightly, a little crestfallen. Kimimaro hastily apologized.
"I'm sorry, if that was a painful topic—" Any further attempts were halted by Naruto's reassuring grin.
"It's okay, I've never known my parents, so there's nothing to be sad about." A look of astonishment crossed Kimimaro's face.
"You've never known your parents? I've never known mine either. I was just born to do as my clan bids, but now that they're dead….I stand alone, by myself."
Kimimaro trailed off, a wistful look in his mint-green eyes. Naruto stared. This boy….he shared so much in common with this boy…it was as if he'd given a piece of his heart away to Kimimaro. It was painful in a way, but Naruto was brimming with happiness at the discovery of someone so like him. He spoke, each word laced with emotion.
"I'm alone too. I never have to depend on anyone else, and I don't have anyone to turn to. I've never needed the help of anyone. Nobody loves me, and I don't love anyone else either." Kimimaro's jaw hung open now.
"You…you're the same as I am."
"Really?" Kimimaro's features broke out in a genuine smile, lighting up his features.
"Yup." Naruto grinned as well.
"Then we can be friends!" Kimimaro looked a little confused.
"Friends?"
"Yeah! Here…." Naruto plucked a lock of his hair and wound it around Kimimaro's finger where it threatened to unravel.
"Now you give me one of yours." Carefully, Kimimaro separated a strand of his own pearly tresses and wound it around Naruto's finger as well. The fox-child held it up to the light, amazed at how it scintillated in the flickering fire.
"Thank you." Kimimaro nodded. Naruto hesitated before speaking once more.
"By the way….how did you find me?" Kimimaro thought back to the past events.
"Umm…I think it was when I accidentally stepped on you….and I uncovered a part of your hair, so I pulled the rest of you out and brought you over here." Naruto nodded.
"I see." A long silence passed before Kimimaro spoke again.
"I was wondering…how come you have those whiskers on your face?" Naruto screwed up his nose in confusion.
"Whiskers?"
"The slash marks on your face." A look of comprehension flashed over the blonde's azure eyes.
"Oh those. I was born with those, which is probably the same way you got those dots on your head." Kimimaro reached up to finger the markings.
"I don't really know how I got these though…but I suppose they were there when I was born, yes." He yawned.
"I'm kinda tired. What about you?" Naruto stretched sleepily.
"Yeah. I think I'm getting sleepy as well." Kimimaro grinned.
"Do you want to share the bed?" Naruto pondered that thought.
"Sure. I get the side closest to the fire!" Kimimaro laughed, the merry sound reverberating around the small cabin.
"Okay then." Naruto ran up and bounced on the bed, immediately burrowing into the sheets before coming up with a blanket over his head, giggling wildly. Kimimaro laughed as well, and climbed in with him. He pulled Naruto close, hugging the blonde to his body, and Naruto wrapped his arms around him as well. Snuggling into each other's welcoming warmth, the boys lay together in the dimming light of the dying fire.
Kimimaro stirred when he felt Naruto's lips move against his chest. Pricking his ears, he could barely make out the lilting tunes of a barely audible song. Naruto was singing under his breath. Curious, the Kaguya inquired of the boy.
"What are you singing?" Naruto looked up, a little surprised.
"Oh, I thought you were sleeping. I don't know the name of the song, but I like the tune." And with that, Naruto began singing softly in a melodious soprano that fit his five-year-old frame so well.
Kimimaro listened, seemingly in a trance as Naruto continued to sing. The tune had a mysterious quality to it that seemed to match the songs of legends. It made the Kaguya think of mountains and forests, great lakes and woods and cliffs. The song had a haunting value to it as well, sending Kimimaro into the throes of nostalgia. The Kaguya closed his eyes and drank in every single note to the tune, the notes forever infused in his brain. This music had a deeper current of meaning running inside the corresponding melody and harmony, one that Kimimaro found utterly mesmerizing.
Naruto sang the last few notes of the song, then looked up expectantly at Kimimaro. The Kaguya looked utterly stunned, and his eyes bore a faint trace of indescribable emotion. Naruto swiped gently at Kimimaro's eye.
"You're crying." The Kaguya's unfocused eyes fixed dazedly on Naruto's own cerulean ones.
"I…am?" Naruto held up the finger bearing the single drop of moisture for Kimimaro to see. The Kaguya looked at it with a mixture of curiosity and puzzlement.
"That's strange…I've never cried before in my life." Naruto smiled, albeit a bit sadly.
"Did you like the song?" Kimimaro didn't answer right away, searching for the correct words to describe the haunting melody which plagued his heart so deeply.
"It…it was…amazing. You sing very well." Naruto grinned.
"Thank you. Anyway, let's go to sleep. I'm really…" Naruto yawned. "…really tired."
Kimimaro agreed, and the two gradually drifted off to the sweet bliss of sleep.
So, how do you like it so far? Like it? Hate it? Just plain blah?