Okay then, Prologue of Life essence.
Summary- Emmett and Rosalie never really worked out, and the Coven never figured out why. Each year Emmett becomes distant, and after all these years he still hasn't opened up to the other's. With recent murders in town, and the Coven finally finding out about Emmett, things get complicated.
"Talking." – regular talk.
Thinking. – an individual's own thoughts. In someone's thoughts a word will be accented in either regular font to put emphasis on that word. Random words will also be in Italic for emphasis.
Talking. – Demon talking. Random words will be accented in bold to have emphasis put on the word when someone is talking, thinking, or in narration.
Warnings: Violence, Harsh Language, Gay Romance (BoyXBoy), Character Death(?), Explict Content in Later Chapters.
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Prologue
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"A mission outside of the Elemental Nations...?"
Naruto blinked at his one-eyed sensei, blonde brows furrowed together as blue jewels gazed at the smiling man in disbelief.
Did he hear right? Outside of the Elemental Nations? Was there even an outside?
Signature eye-smile donned, Kakashi nodded at his confused student, reading the other's mind from his dumbfounded expression. "Of course there is. It just isn't well known."
"Aah..." The younger blinked slowly at the elder. "Is it top secret or something?"
"No, just sort of forgotten about."
Kakashi chuckled softly at the disappointed pout that tugged at the blonde's lips.
"Well, that's no fun." He muttered out under his breath, sort of hoping he would get in on a wicked top secret that only the best of the best shinobi knew about. "So this isn't some kind of top secret, awesome mission only the elite of the elite can do?"
The silver haired sensei snorted softly. "You're the 'elite of the elite'? Damn... We're all screwed."
Naruto leveled the man with an unamused look. "Ouch."
"Heh. Meet at the gates tomorrow morning at 5. Don't worry, I won't be late."
"Good. Listening to Haruno-san complain is annoying. And standing around with a brooding Uchiha-san isn't any more fun."
"I know, I know. Just remember to call them by their first names." Kakashi turned for the door, hand gripping the knob. "Oh, and don't forget; You are deeply in love with Sakura."
Tan skin wrinkled on a small nose as Naruto paused in his lunch. "Right..." He mumbled softly as Kakashi left the small apartment. "Why did I establish that again...?" Sighing, he quickly finished his instant cup of ramen before heading out to train.
Uzumaki Naruto, age 12. Love interest he has everyone believe; Haruno Sakura. Actual love interest; None.
Some may wonder why the blonde shinobi harbored romantic feelings for the pinkette, okay, everyone just about wondered why Naruto loved Sakura, but the truth was quite different. If they knew the truth, then they would wonder why he pretended to have these feelings. It was simple, really. To complete his mask―wait. Calling it a "mask"... Is sort of inaccurate. Maybe a play? An act? Well, whatever it is anyone wanted to call it, he didn't do it because he didn't want people to know "the real him", more so it was just easier to go along with everyone thinking him to be a knuckled-headed idiot. So he just rolled with it. So, yeah... Terrible explanation over.
Naruto was just too lazy to correct people, and he wouldn't deny (but wouldn't admit) that he got a certain amount of amusement out of everything. One day someone had just spread the rumor, and one day he slipped in practice and made a fool of himself, so Naruto decided that it would be easier to mold himself into the image other's already saw him as, other than try and break that image.
Was he a terrible person for fooling everyone? Probably. Did he care? Not really.
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Naruto slowly opened his eyes in the morning, struggling to even just crack them open. He groaned softly as he rolled to his side, squeezing his barely-opened eyes back shut.
"Don't wanna get up... Sun isn't even up..."
With another groan, the young shinobi shoved himself up and flung his blankets off. Just as his alarm started to go off, Naruto was already bringing his hand down to turn the annoying and infernal contraption off. Why did he even set the alarm if he always woke up before it?
Sighing in reluctance as he heaved his stiff body up, the blonde settled into his morning routine. It was quite quick, nothing really special or fancy about it; take a piss, shower, brush teeth, have a cup of ramen for breakfast. Very nutritious and healthy.
A quick glance at the clock, 4:37, and it was time for him to leave. Don't wanna get yelled at for being late. A shiver passed through his body as Haruno-san's―Sakura's banshee-like voice echoed in his head.
"Time to go, I'll be back!" He called out before heading out to meet up with his team. Living alone was... Lonely, so to make it just even a teensy less lonely, it was nice to talk like someone was expecting him back.
Of course the walk to the front gates was quick and uneventful, who expects anything to happen at 4:30 in the fuckin' morning? Everyone was asleep. Naruto wished he was one of those people...
Azure eyes widened just a fraction of a fraction and blinked a few times at the silver haired jounin leaning against one of the large gates. "Ah... you're here."
Of course this was surprising, even if the elder said he was going to be on time, it was still surprising to actually see it happen.
Kakashi eye-smiled. "Of course I am. This is important."
"Right..." Naruto mumbled before wincing at;
"AAAAHH! KAKASHI-SENSEI?!"
Glancing over his shoulder, the blonde gazed at his pink-haired teammate as she pointed rather rudely at their sensei. He really did not want to gush over her this morning... He was too damned tired... His eyes flickered passed Sakura as movement behind her alerted the arrival of one Uchiha Sasuke.
Kakashi seemed to smile more. If... If it was possible to tell from the only part of his face that was visible. And it wasn't much... Just an eye... "Yes?"
"You're here?! On time?!"
Thank god she wasn't screeching anymore, but her voice still seemed so loud in the early morning hours.
"But of course!" He stepped forward, arm snaking around Naruto's waist and drawing him close. "Since my cute student asked me to." He cooed as he nuzzled cheeks with the now stone-faced blonde.
Sasuke twitched, eyes hardening. "..."
Sakura blinked, hand lowering as her finger drooped down from pointing. "Heh...?"
"Hatake-san. Please let go." The unamused blonde clipped out.
Kakashi pouted. "Mou, don't get so formal~ You know I hate that~" Pulling his arm away, he chuckled softly. "Anyway, I am here on time since this is a very important mission for my cute student."
Naruto's eyes closed with a sigh. Seemed this game was over? Kakashi seemed to have lost fun in it, though Naruto suspected it was because the silver haired idiot was "snuggling deprived", as the other had put so eloquently one day. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.
"Um... Don't you mean 'students'?" Sakura questioned, confused as to why Kakashi-sensei had just huggled Naruto, and why there was a sort of... Different air about her teammate... Maybe it was just because it was morning and he was still really tired...?
"Hm? Oh! I guess I did say 'student'..." The elder feigned innocence.
Sasuke frowned, eying the two suspiciously. "..." It was too damn early for this shit... What the hell were they playing at? Was this some sort of joke they had both decided to play?
"Kaka-nii, we should get going."
Kakashi's one visible eye widened and sparkled happily. He whirled around and proceeded to scoop Naruto up in his arms. "Haaiii~!" He chirped out happily before walking through the gates. Of course he still had Naruto in his arms. Why wouldn't he?
Sasuke and Sakura exchanged shocked expressions, stunned. Surprised. Flabbergasted. Stupefied. And any other synonyms that went.
"What... Just happened...?"
"Hnn..."
They followed after, watching numbly as Kakashi snuggled Naruto.
What a strange morning...
After finally being put down by an overly ecstatic sensei, Naruto was now dealing with two pairs of eyes boring holes into the back of his head. He sighed deeply, peeking over his shoulder to look at his teammates. "..."
They're glaring... Ugh, they have questions. I don't wanna answer any questions... Too much work... I knew this was going to happen. Dammit.
Facing forward once more, he felt a brow twitch.
Baka-Kaka...
"Kitsu, we're almost there."
Naruto flushed at the old nickname, not expecting it to show up. Daggers shot from his eyes as he glared at his sensei. "Don't call me that."
"Awww, why not? You used to love it when I called you that!"
"Shut up, Baka-Kaka!" The younger huffed. "Mou... It's your fault Haruno-san and Uchiha-san have questions now... They won't stop staring..."
A dark eye glanced over at the other two students, who were more confused than before. "Hmm... I got annoyed." Kakashi smiled back to his blonde (favorite) student, who in turn gave him a blank look.
"You're the one who got the most amusement out of it. Even told me to play along. Whatever... You explain it to them."
"Hai, hai." Spinning on his heel, the tallest member of Team Seven eye-smiled at his two bewildered students. "Where to start..." He mumbled as he walked backwards. "Ah, it all started with a rumor; One of your peers spread the rumor that Naruto loved Sakura, I'm sure you remember that? Instead of denying it, he just ignored it, which made it worse. After awhile I decided it would be amusing if he went ahead and went along with it, so I told him to just let everyone think what they want and act accordingly. Less work than trying to deny it when it had grown into it's own monster."
"I only 'went along with it' because nothing would happen." Naruto interjected.
"What does that mean?" Sakura narrowed her eyes. So he had just been pretending to like her? Well... Whatever! She still had Sasuke-kun!
"Well, you're infatuated with Uchiha-san, I knew you'd never give into my advances and say 'yes'. There was no risk of someone's emotions getting hurt."
Sasuke frowned deeply. He didn't care about that. "That doesn't explain the change in your relationship." He all but snapped out.
Kakashi's head tilted a bit. "Well..."
"That is none of your business, Uchiha-san." Naruto shot back, sharpened blue eyes turning to stare at the pale boy.
Sasuke stiffened as those usually bright baby blues seemed to darken as they gazed at him with a sort of edge. "..." Naruto was definitely different from before, it wasn't just him being sluggish and tired from waking up early. His eyes were suddenly very calculating...
"Don't talk to Sasuke-kun like that, Naruto-baka!" Sakura didn't care if Naruto and Kakashi seemed to have a different relationship, she didn't care if he had just been pretending to like her, he still couldn't talk rudely to her Sasuke-kun!
Said "baka" sighed as he faced forward, ignoring the pinkette. "How much longer?"
"Not long, we're almost there." Kakashi spun back around to walk normally.
"Kakashi-sensei... Where are we going?" Sakura suddenly remembered that she had no idea. She just sort of followed after her sensei, forgetting to ask before they left the village. A lot happened in the early morning that Sakura almost forgot they were starting a mission.
"... You didn't tell them?"
"Oops." He smiled.
Naruto sighed.
"We're going outside the Elemental Nations. You two have probably already heard of the outside."
"Hn."
"Yeah... I didn't think there was a way to go 'outside' though... All the books on it never mentioned how to get there." Not that there were a lot of books on the "Outside" anyway, probably only like three...
"Of course there is. All the entry points are just hidden and you need to know the correct hand signs." Walking up to a tree that seemed to be slightly discolored to the trained eye (to the untrained eye it would just look like any normal tree), the silver haired sensei started to flash through said hand signs. "Close your eyes." He warned.
Naruto immediately shut his eyes, closing them tightly as he felt wind whip around him. "!" His body lurched, knees bending to lower his center of gravity as it suddenly felt like everything was spinning.
"Kyaaa!"
He heard Sakura scream as the strange sensations continued and intensified.
"Ngh!" Blue eyes fluttered open in surprising as everything halted to a stop and he was caught in a warm embrace.
"Are you okay, Kitsu?"
"Y-Yeah... Just a bit nauseous..."
"Don't worry, it'll pass." Eye-smile donned, Kakashi patted blonde locks before glancing over at his other two students. He chuckled softly as they clung to the ground. "Are you two okay?"
"Somehow..." Sakura muttered as she stood on shaky legs.
Sasuke didn't trust his voice as he simply nodded, slowly lifting his body back up as he focused on not throwing up.
"Good! Now..." Releasing Naruto, Kakashi pulled out a map. "According to this... The entrance point we used should have landed us... Here..." Pointing to a place on the map, he started to walk. "Come, if this is right, then there should be a town close by."
"Where are we, or rather... Where should we be?"
"A country called 'America'. Or the United States of America, or USA... So many names for one place. They speak English here, so we'll have to study the language."
Naruto groaned and rolled his eyes. "Don't wanna study... What's the mission anyway?"
Why did he have to study on a mission? Couldn't they just learn the language and he'd just hang back and wait to actually get this stupid mission done. Whatever-the-hell the mission was...
"English? I know some English." Sakura said, puffing up a bit. She had gotten her hands on a few textbooks that helped her teach herself how to speak the language.
Maybe I can tutor Sasuke-kun!
"My father taught me English. I don't need to study."
Naruto and Sakura deflate a bit, both for different reasons. The blonde was sulking over how everyone but him already knew this language. The pinkette was sulking over... Well, not being able to tutor Sasuke and spend some "quality" time with him.
Kakashi smiled. "Should I teach you, Kitsu?"
"No! Just tell me about this stupid mission already!" Huffing out at the smiling man, a small pout tugged at his lips. Of course he would deny ever pouting. Uzumaki Naruto does not pout.
"Maa, maa, so hostile." The slightly disappointed sensei chuckled. "The mission is simple; Find and bring back an escaped convict. He isn't dangerous to us, just a civilian who stole some weapons. The shinobi who helped him has already been taken into custody."
"Boring... So it's like finding a lost cat." Sighing in disappointment, slender shoulders drooped down as the shortest shinobi's stride dragged a little.
"Well, he does have weapons. Kakashi-sensei said so, so he'll still be dangerous." Sakura said with an authoritative tone, always the one to play the safeguard. "So we should be careful and on guard."
"She is right." The sensei nodded, arms crossing over his chest as he got a deeply thoughtful expression. "I don't know what I'd do if my cute student got hurt." He said with utmost seriousness.
Naruto almost facepalmed.
Soft green eyes glanced over at Sasuke, pale cheeks tinting pink. "Sasuke-kun, you've been really silent... More than usual." Which was actually kind of saying something. Usually he'd throw in a comment or two and Naruto would get riled up and they'd start to glare at each other while Naruto would shout things at the Uchiha. But now... This was kind of unsettling for Sakura.
"Hn." Black eyes narrowed at the fluffy looking blonde hair on the back of his teammate's head. He was concentrating, trying to figure out the boy in front of him. So him acting... All just because he was too lazy to deny a rumor? Sounded like something Shikamaru would say... But doesn't playing along take more energy and thought and time?! So what the hell? That didn't make sense.
And now... Naruto and Kakashi-sensei seemed closer... They even had nicknames for each other? Or was this another joke...? Another prank that knuckle-headed shinobi had thought up would be just so hilarious to play on his team. Black brows furrowed as his eyes narrowed further. What in the hell was going on?
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Gatlinburg, Tennessee, 1806
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"Emmett! Where are you going?! It's almost dinner time!"
Blue eyes peered over a thickly muscled shoulder, the corners crinkling with a smile. "Don't worry Ma, I'm just checking the traps I set."
His mother frowned softly in worry, wringing her hands nervously. "Okay... Just be careful! And make sure you're back before the sun sets! I'm making cabbage soup for dinner!"
The brute chuckled softly. "Yeah, yeah. I'll be back before dark. And with some meat for you to cook for dinner!"
With a merry wave, he's off, trekking through the dense woods. The traps were only for small creatures, preferably rabbits. As he checked them, only a few had what he desired. Others were either empty or had a raccoon or a small fox that he set free. Nearing the last trap, Emmett blinked as he saw four sets of footprints.
"...?"
A small group of people...? Strange... No one but him usually came here. Even stranger, the tracks came from a direction which suggested these people came from deeper in the forest. They were headed into town, it seemed. Travelers, maybe?
With a shrug, the young man checked his last trap, grinning as it gave him a fourth rabbit. "Hah!" He trotted the rest of the way home, large grin splitting his face open.
"Ma! We got enough for a stew!" He shouted with glee as he burst through the front door.
"Emmett! Don't just rush in like that! You gave me a start!"
The joyous man laughed softly as his smother scolded him. "Sorry, sorry! Here, these will make a nice hearty stew."
Taking the rabbits, his mother huffed. "We shall see!"
"Hey, little brother!" An arm slung around muscled shoulders as knuckles drove into his skull. "How ya been?"
Wrestling his older brother, that large grin never left his face. "Great! I meet this cute girl earlier."
"Hah! When are you going to stop womanizing and find yourself a wife?"
"Oh please! I'm still young! I don't need to settle down yet!"
The McCarty household was loud with happiness and joy that night. Of course, it always was, but that's besides the point.
The morning sun felt great on Emmett's night-chilled skin as he strolled to the market. "Hmmm..."
What should I get?
His fingers played around with the change in his pocket as he pondered on the topic.
Maybe some seeds to plant. And then something nice for Ma.
With a friendly smile, he greeted anyone he passed, throwing a little wink to the ladies. "Heh..." He puffed up from their giggles and flirtatious smiles and little finger waves.
Girls sure are cute.
The market was of course bustling with a lot of people, but he didn't dislike the crowd. Making his way from stand to stand, buying whatever he deemed he needed, Emmett was almost done with the morning shopping. With some cash left over, the only thing he needed to get was a present for his wonderful mother.
"Ano..."
Emmett paused, blue eyes going wide. That voice... Was so beautiful...
"Th-This..."
How cute... Stuttering...
Emmett started to look around frantically to find the source of that angelic voice.
"Much... How...?"
Gaaaah... that accent! Cute! A foreigner, how exotic!
"Potatoes are .17 cents per pound." A slightly annoyed vendor huffed out.
"Ano... This...?"
That angelic voice sent shivers down the burly man's spine. Such pleasant shivers...
Blue eyes finally found the beautiful angel who spoke so musically. Spiky blonde hair in disarray, a little short for a girl... But it was so cute on her! And those big, beautiful, cerulean eyes standing out against tan skin... Ugh! Those curves! Emmett wanted to run his hands down her sides, to her hips. Oh, she had cute little whisker marks on her cheeks. Made her look like a cute little animal...
Flat-chested... Oh well, she's got a nice ass.
Emmett licked over his lips hungrily as his eyes raked over the lithe body of the creature from Heaven. Glancing around, he found a vendor selling flowers and quickly bought a white lily. Looking back at the angel, he ran a hand through his short, curly hair before walking over to the gorgeous blonde.
"Hey there." He purred, smiling charmingly. He felt his breath being taken away as those brilliant jewels turned to him, gazing up at him.
Aaah... So beautiful...
"My name's Emmett McCarty, what's yours?" He smiled more, reaching out to take her hand. The confused look that graced the beautiful face had the taller's cheeks heating up.
So... Damned... Adorable...
"Ah, can you not understand?" Chuckling softly, he dropped his hand back down to his side so he could hold out the flower. Another charming smile lifted his lips. "This is for you."
Watching those cheeks flush up and those sparkling jewels widen sent a thrill through the brunette's body. It took awhile, but finally the angel took his offered flower, the most adorablely shy expression Emmett has ever seen now on that face.
I just wanna eat her up...
"Oi!"
Both pairs of blue eyes turned towards a raven haired boy scowling at them.
"Nani?"
He jerked his head, frowning more at the blonde angel.
With a pout, azure eyes glance back at the tall brunette for a second before trotting over to the pale boy.
Said brunette frowned softly. "Ah... My angel is gone..." He said softly, watching the two leave. With a forlorn sigh, he headed home. "I wonder if I'll see her again..."
Worried not was he if that raven haired boy was her boyfriend, it didn't matter. Emmett was determined to have her, even if it meant scooping her away from that frowning kid. Who talked so rudely to their girlfriend anyway? And who glared at their girlfriend?! He wasn't right for her...
Nearing his home, he smiled. Oh yes, he would definitely see his angel again.
"Ma!" Emmett called out as he pushed open the door. "Maaaaaa!"
"What?! What is it?!" The woman huffed out.
Grinned widely, he lifted his mother by the waist and spun her around. "I'm in love!" He laughed out joyously as he continued to spin around in a circle with his mother.
"P-Put me down!" She squealed, smacking her son on the shoulder lightly after he set her down back on her feet. "Now, what's this about you being in love?" She questioned, eyes twinkling.
"I saw an angel! The most beautiful creature in the world!" He sighed dreamily, eyes glazing over as he thought of the blonde.
His mother beamed happily. "How cute~! What's her name?"
"I don't know, yet! But I will find out. I gave her a flower today." He said, puffing up happily and pridefully.
"I'm so proud of you! Aaah~ To be young again~!"
"Eh? Why are you so proud of Emm, Ma?" The eldest brother asked as he walked in with the second eldest.
"Emmett has fallen in love~!"
"Eeeh?! Really?! And just last night you were saying how you wouldn't settle down just yet!" He laughed, clapping his younger brother on the shoulder. "Congrats!"
Sharing grins all around, Emmett was congratulated by his family as the mother went about to make them all a nice hearty breakfast.
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Naruto blushed softly as he gazed down at the flower. "..." Why did that man...?
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he sighed softly as he set the lily aside. He would just have to forget about that handsome boy.
…
WHOA! WAIT A MINUTE! HANDSOME?!
Azure eyes widened as the soft blush turned into a full on flush of cherry red.
No, no, no, nonononono! He definitely DID NOT think that boy was handsome! Definitely not!
However... Naruto's thoughts seemed to be infested by a charming smile and dark, curly brown hair with blue eyes twinkling at him. All throughout the morning he couldn't purge his thoughts of the tall local.
…
And why was he so tall?! He was like at least two feet taller than him! Not fair...
As lunch rolled around, the blonde couldn't take all these thoughts circling around the brute, so he had taken to staring Kakashi down with an intense expression.
Kakashi was a bit worried... Why was his cute student starting at him so?
"Kaka-nii... Teach me English."
A dark eye went all sparkles as the silver haired sensei blasted out of his seat, grabbing tan hands in his own. "Of course! Let's start now!"
Naruto's determination paid off as he was taught the English language. Also, shadow clones were very useful in situations such as these. It took him the rest of the day and some hours of the night to at least be able to have a conversation. Of course he wasn't fluent, he just started to learn! That would be silly.
"That's it for today, how about you get some sleep?" Kakashi smiled gently at the tired and sweating shinobi. "You used quite a bit of chakra."
Nodding, the younger let out a soft breath as he wiped some sweat from his brow. "Oyasumi, Kaka-nii."
"Oyasumi, Kitsu."
With a tired groan, Naruto flopped down on his bed and closed his eyes, not even giving a fight as sleep took him.
A single dark eye lingered over the now fast-asleep boy before the sensei slipped from the room and silently closed the door.
As Naruto slumbered, his relaxed face scrunched up in agony as his body twitched and tensed up. Nightmares... Something the blonde was all too familiar with. They were always the same, one way or another, and he could never figure out why he dreamed of vampires.
Disgusting creatures...
Red eyes narrowed at the images, a snarl showing rows of sharp teeth. The large creature could not fathom the fascination his host seemed to have with... vampires. They made him sick. They only drank blood! Never ate the good parts. Never mind the fact that they are dead.
A wide grin replaced the snarl as a pained scream filled the boy's dream. At least he could hear those sweet cries of his kitling. They made his fur bristle and stand on end pleasantly. Maybe he should replace the image of a vampire biting him, to one of Naruto being taken by him. That would definitely be more amusing.
Aah... Maybe next time, seems he's waking up.
What a shame.
Naruto's eyes slowly opened as his internal clock woke him up before the sun. He cringed as phantom pains twinged in his body and a cold sweat seemed very content on sticking to his skin.
"Gross..."
Hurrying to the shower, he quickly scrubbed away the ickiness as the hot water melted away the stiffness in his joints. Finished with his shower, the water was turned off before the curtain shoved aside. Wet feet stepped out on to a cold morning floor as an equally wet hand grabbed for a fluffy towel to wipe the water free from his body. Ruffling the towel into his hair as he stepped back into his room, cerulean pools gazed down at the clothes he swiped from the dresser and laid out on the bed. The only improvement were the colors... But these clothes were stifling! Hard to move around in, loose in places were they should be tight, and way too tight in places they shouldn't be.
With a resigned sigh, Naruto picked up the stiff slacks and pulled them over his legs. Buttoning and zipping, next is the black shirt with a... What was it called again? A v-neck neck line?
"..." Gazing at himself in the mirror, he watched his cheeks tint red. "This shirt... Is too revealing..." He mumbled as he lifted his hands up to cover his collar bones. "I wanna wear my jacket..." At least it had long sleeves, but honestly, what was with these people and wearing such revealing clothing?
"Here ya go!"
A sudden weight appeared on his head, vision blocked out as Kakashi dumped a dark orange vest on him. "It's sleeveless so you don't get too hot, but has a high collar."
Kakashi didn't really understand Naruto's paranoia with showing even a little bit of skin, even after all these years of knowing the blonde, but he wasn't about to force Naruto to show his neck and collar bones if it made him all twitchy.
"Thanks..." Naruto grumbled as he pulled the vest from his head. "Really? Orange?"
"What? It looks good on you."
"I hate orange..." However, he still pulled on the vest and zipped it up all the way to the top. "..." He relaxed as the collar of the vest was indeed high, brushing along his lower jaw and covering his collar bones and neck. Much better...
"Feel better?"
Azure pools watched through the mirror as a single dark eye close in a smile. "Yeah, thanks, Kaka-nii."
"No problem!" With a ruffle to blonde locks, the elder excused himself.
Smoothing out his ruffled hair, the young shinobi glanced over to the white lily in a small vase. He felt himself flush in his cheeks as he thought back to the blue eyed, dark haired local. Why did he give him a flower...? He kept asking himself this every time he gazed at the flower. Maybe it was just a thing the locals did... Of course that answer didn't convince him.
With a soft sigh, Naruto left his room after grabbing his knapsack and slinging it over his shoulder.
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Emmett couldn't sleep through the night, staring at his ceiling through the hours. It taught him that his ceiling was really boring... Anyway, why couldn't he sleep? Simple, he was too excited! Would he see his angel again today? Maybe he could teach her English! They could bond over it, fall madly in love, be happy for the rest of their lives.
It was perfect.
All he had to do now was find his true love, and he knew just where to find her; The market. There was no way she couldn't be there.
So off he went, his excitement outweighing the exhaustion he should be feeling. He could not afford to be tired and drowsy while there was courting to be done!
As he neared the market, Emmett felt his eye twitch. He never once thought the market place to be overly crowded. Usually he enjoyed the bustling people and busy vendors, but this morning? There were just too many damn people! He felt his eye give another twitch as yet another girl latched on to his arm and batted her long eyelashes at him. He strained out a charming smile. "Genevieve, good morning."
"Morning~!" Came the cheerily giggled response.
"I'm sorry, I don't have time right now, I'm looking for someone."
Glossed lips pursed together in a pout. "Aw, can't you just reschedule with this person? You can hang out with me instead!"
Emmett almost went to smack himself in the face. Almost. "Sadly, no."
"Ano... I mean, um... Excuse me?"
Blue eyes brightened and instantly zeroed in on the owner of that angelic voice, gazing into another set of blue pools more radiant than his own. "Yes?" A more natural grin eased its way on the brute's face as he dislodged himself from the clingy woman. "I knew I'd find you here."
Oh, how cute his blonde was as she fidgeted in her spot, those cute whiskered cheeks a soft pink as her hands clutched at a slender vase.
Was he looking for me...?
Of course, Naruto was also looking for this man. It wasn't exactly hard to find him either... Being as he was a freakin' brick wall towering over everyone. His confidence was gone now that he had found the local though, and he was very much nervous. His hands tightened around the vase holding the white lily as he lowered his eyes to the ground. He had gone back for the flower only just moments after leaving his room, telling himself he had to return it because it's not an appropriate gift for a boy.
"This..." Holding the flower out, his gaze slowly returned to the paler blue eyes. "Why did you give this to me...?"
Emmett blinked, smile faltering as he gazed at the lily. "Why? Because I found you to be quite lovely." He replied smoothly, grin returning as he peered into shocked sapphires. "It is a gift."
Gift...
He himself had called it a gift... But actually hearing this man say it was a gift sent a shock to his system. He's never received gifts before, aside from Kakashi getting him essentials, nothing. It was a strange feeling that made his chest grow hot and tight with an uncomfortable, unknown feeling. It was very unsettling that he couldn't place it...
"I-I came to return it..." Dammit, he stuttered.
"Eeeh?! Why?! Is it not acceptable?! Do you wish for something else?!" The thought of not pleasing the creature before him was soul crushing.
Naruto blinked, dumbfounded about a couple of things. "N-No..." There it is again, that damn stutter. "It's just... Awkward to receive such a gift from another guy..." He mumbled softly, not entirely sure how to handle this situation as cerulean jewels slide off to the side and down to the ground.
Emmett felt his eyes slowly blink as he processed this new piece of information.
Another guy...?
Another guy.
Another guy.
Well... Shit. He messed up. How could a guy look so lovely and so beautiful and just so... This!
It only took him a moment to come to a conclusion;
Oh well, he'll still become mine.
Big thinker, he is not.
"Is it? I don't think so. Someone as lovely as yourself should be showered with gifts!"
Ack, there it is again... That word. At first the blonde had been all too content on ignoring the particular... compliment, but now. "St-Stop calling me that! Please! Just take it back!"
With particularly rosy cheeks, the flustered shinobi thrust the vase out to the smiling brute.
"Well... If you insist on returning it..." Reaching out for the flower, blue eyes blinked before crinkling at the corners with a soft chuckle as he watched tan knuckles blanch white as those small hands tightened their hold on the slender vase. "Then I'll just have to insist on you keeping it!"
Bewildered once more, Naruto couldn't help the happy feeling blooming inside his chest from this strange man not accepting his gift back. "Ano-Umm..."
So cute...
Emmett unabashedly stared at the fidgeting boy, a small smirk growing across his face as he reveled in the nervousness wafting off the smaller in waves. Huh, who knew the brute could be sadistic? He suddenly wanted to tease the boy more to make him more uncomfortable and fidgety. He'd contemplate these new-found feelings and thoughts later. Possibly. If he remembered to do so.
"I introduced myself yesterday, but I don't think you understood..." He chuckled softly, puffing slightly as the blonde's attention was now on him once more. "So, my name is Emmett McCarty, what's yours?"
Swallowing some excessive saliva that pooled in his mouth, Naruto was cursing his inability to calm the flame in his cheeks. His eyes kept straying away from the brick wall of the man in front of him, the shinobi unable to look directly at him. He was so out of his element...
"... Uzu―... Naruto Uzumaki."
"Asian? What are you doing in the states?"
"Ah... Um... Just a little trip..." Couldn't exactly tell this person he was here to capture a criminal, could he?
The burly man frowned. A trip...? So he'll be leaving at some point... Shaking off his frown, he held his hand out to the blonde with another charming smile, glad the blonde seemed to have drawn the flower back to him. He's accepted it... He noted happily, blue pools sparkling. "Shall I show you around town?"
Already knowing about the town and have walked all around it multiple times... Naruto still couldn't seem to find it within himself to deny this man. "Okay..." He said softly as a small hand unwrapped from the slim vase and settled into the larger, calloused hand of Emmett.
He's a hard worker... The young shinobi observed with a small amount of glee. The thought of this giant, lumbering man working in a field or in construction or as a hunter sent a teeny thrill through a slender body. His scarred cheeks seemed to glow brighter as those rough fingers closed around his hand.
Warm...
Never having been so aware of another human being's warmth, Naruto was once more at a loss of what to do. Not that he ever got an idea of what to do throughout this whole ordeal, but still. Even throughout his discomfort at being out of his element and not used to what was going on, it was a nice change... And the young blonde found that he could indulge himself for awhile.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
"C'mon, Emmett! You can do better than that!" Came the joyous, laughing tenor of a blonde boy no taller than 4'10". He couldn't help the laughs and giggles that tumbled free from his lips as a head lifted from the ground, a frowning mouth spitting out grass and dirt.
The blonde's comrade growled lightly, playfully, as he pushed himself up from his failed tackle. Baring his teeth in a grin, now standing at his full height of 6'5", Emmett once again gave chase. Pivoting on his heel and launching himself at the smaller male, he finally caught his prey. Pinning him to the ground beneath his weight, blue eyes twinkled down at the softly giggling boy. Emmett smirked. "Heh, how was that, Nar-u-to~"
Naruto shuddered at the purr in the brute's tone, blushing from the way his name just rolled off that man's tongue. "It was okay..." He mumbled out and pointedly glanced off to the side with an unimpressed look on his face.
A dark brow rose. "Just 'okay'?"
"Yep! It was really sloppy. Needs work."
Emmett snorted before lowering his face to the blonde's. "Then how did I catch you, if it was so sloppy?" He gave a seductive smirk as his eyes heated with an intense look, growing half-lidded. Lips inches―no, centimeters away from each other, the burly man almost hummed in satisfaction at the adorably frantic look on his angel's face. He seriously just loved teasing his angel... "Don't worry," He breathed out, breath ghosting over those pink-tinged lips. "I'm not going to kiss you."
With his wrists captured in one large paw of this bear-of-a-man, his legs trapped between stronger calves, Naruto had no means of escape. He couldn't form hand signs like this! The feeling of being trapped was not pleasant to any shinobi and would make most of them squirm, just as the blonde was doing. All movement stilled as that deviously handsome face was suddenly right there. The shinobi blushed bright red at the mention of a "kiss". He almost squeaked.
When warm, calloused finger tips brushed along his whisker marks, Naruto did squeak.
Emmett had always been fascinated with these thin scars and had asked about them many times, but his little angel always skirted around the topic. Maybe it was a touchy subject... But Emmett was dying to know!
At the soft squeak, the brunette chuckled as he gently traced along those cute scars. "Relax..." He all but purred out.
Sliding his finger tips along a soft cheek, he traced a smooth jaw line, noting with slight amusement at the lack of peach fuzz. Those sinful fingers traveled lower, leaving tingles on tan skin in their wake and nudging against the dark orange collar of his angel's vest. The smaller of two couldn't help but lift his chin to expose his throat while his head tipped back. It was an action that caused three different reactions, in three different people. Emmett felt something deep in his chest warm and purr at the show of obvious submission, Naruto felt his cheeks heat up with a soft pink as embarrassment from his action settled in his mind, and red eyes narrowed in the dark corners of a sewer as rows of incredibly sharp teeth bared with a snarling sneer as disgust swirled around in a large body.
A shudder traveled through a lithe body as a finger was dragged languidly over his Adam's Apple, lips parting softly in a silent breath.
"Your skin is so soft..."
Why was Emmett's voice so husky and throaty...? It was sending unnecessary shivers throughout Naruto's body.
"Nngh..."
He couldn't even form a word as calloused finger tips dipped further underneath the collar of his vest to trace over his throat some more. They just barely brushed along sharp collar bones before retreating, and the young shinobi bit back a soft whine before it could escape. His skin and nerves were so conditioned to harsh and rough treatments, that just a few soft touches made his head spin.
"That's a good look for you." The brute hummed out as he gazed down at the flushed and panting boy beneath him.
"Sh-Shut up..."
Naruto couldn't figure out for the life of him how he was reduced to this over just being grazed by fingers tips. It was embarrassing and his thoughts swirled around any and all reasons as to why, never once thinking it was because a shinobi's body was conditioned for war and not love.
A throaty chuckle had the blonde gazing up into gentle blue hues. A breeze ruffled dark brown curls as well as the flowers littering the small field they were laying in. The afternoon sun shined down on them, basking the two in a warm glow and making them feel like they were in their own world.
As Naruto gazed up into those handsome blue pools, he looked back upon the past week and revealed in the perfectness of it all. Meeting Emmett, receiving the best gift in the world, and then almost choking on his instant ramen when the rash man had shown up to the hotel Team Seven was staying at and loudly declaring; "Naruto Uzumaki, I have decided to court you!Prepare to accept me and become my wife!"
That had been very shocking indeed... Especially in front of his teammates and sensei... And by the look each of them were giving, they were equally as shocked as Naruto, and then Kakashi had been very, very amused. Which was more embarrassing...
Even though this week had been perfect, it had to come to an end...
"Emmett..."
The sudden melancholy tone and dulled blue eyes had the older internally panicking. Why was his gorgeous angel sad?!
"What is it? What's wrong?'
"My team and I... Are going back home."
They had finally found the criminal, but as it turned out he was dead. Killed by an animal in the woods. His body had been found and kept in the morgue as a John Doe.
"You're... Leaving?" Shoulders going stiff with the news, he didn't notice as his hand squeezed the slim wrists together.
"Yes..." The response was so quiet it barely ghosted passed pink-tinged lips.
"You can't!" Nearly roaring, blue eyes darkened and widened as both hands now grabbed at slender shoulders, fingers digging in relentlessly.
"Hurts..." Small hands tried to gently pry off the vice-like hold on his shoulders, sure they'd be bruised afterward.
It didn't register in the distraught man's mind as he pulled the smaller close to his chest. "You can't leave!" Thickly corded arms wrapped around the delicate body of his love.
"Emmett..." Gentle hands patted a muscular back. "I have to... I'm sorry..."
"No!" He fought with the tears threatening to spill over as he stared down at the angel with a pained expression.
Coming to a decision, he crashed their lips together, mushing his mouth to his love's. The kiss was rough and dominating as Emmett stole it from those pink-tinged lips. A squeak of sorts tickled the back of a tan throat as the young shinobi blinked owlishly.
Those harsh lips, chapped by weather, coaxed Naruto's into pressing back and moving shyly with uncertainty.
My first kiss... Stolen so roughly. Oh, wait... Not my first kiss.
All thoughts suddenly exploded from his mind as teeth, teeth, nibbled at his bottom lip. A whine made itself known in the back of his throat as a wet tongue swiped across the same lip. The slick muscle pushed between oh, so kissable lips to entice the other in a heated dance.
Naruto's mind whirled around as Emmett perfectly devoured his mouth. Shivers erupted as wicked fingers trailed down his sides to his hips, each finger massaging little circles into his hips.
Finally, the need for air broke their lip-lock, both boys panting with rosy colored cheeks.
"You can't leave because I love you..." Came the husky whisper as moist breath ghosted over a tan ear.
Cerulean eyes widened as he felt his heart skip a beat or two. What...? He couldn't even find his voice to ask the question whirling around his head.
I love you...
Such sweet words... Such words that made his stomach flutter and his heart stutter. Words that sent warm tingles coursing through his body and teasing his extremities. Words his ears longed to hear, words his tormented and tortured soul wished to bathe in. Three simple little words that could build an empire and destroy the world all at the same time.
After a few moments of replenishing his oxygen, the only thing Naruto could finally muster to say was; "I thought you weren't going to kiss me..."
A snort sounded from the brute. "Yeah, well... Situation changed..." He mumbled out.
Lifting a hand up, Naruto gently cupped a pale cheek. "I'm sorry..."
Two sets of blue eyes gazed into each other as they each studied the other.
"Will I ever see you again...?"
"I... Can't promise anything other than I will try..."
A frown tugged at pale lips. "I guess that's good enough..."
Now cupping both cheeks, the blonde leaned up to give the other a chaste kiss. "Please don't look like that..."
A small smile lifted his previously frowning lips as his angel gave him the sweetest kiss he's ever received. "I'm sorry." Taking those small hands in his own, he kissed at the knuckles.
"Emmett... I have to go..."
Another pained expression crossed the brunette's face. "I love you..."
A dusting of soft red colored tan cheeks. "I-I... I love you too..."
As he said those three little words, Naruto felt warmth spread through his body at the sheer truth in them. He really did love this man, he wasn't sure when he fell in love, but he know that he did.
A gentle and serene smile replaced the pained expression. "Really? I'm so happy." Emmett breathed out as he planted kisses on his lover's sweet lips.
Placing a small hand on a very large chest, Naruto ceased the kisses with a ton of effort. "I really do have to go now..."
Reluctantly, the bigger of the two lifted himself off the other, standing to his full height. Helping his lover up, Emmett dusted him off. "I'll be waiting for the next time we meet."
With a soft smile, Naruto nodded. "I will try not to keep you waiting too long."
So they parted, each walking in a different direction, Emmett to his home, and Naruto to his waiting team at the tree. Before leaving the clearing completely, both boys turned around to sneak one last glance at their lover. They exchanged another smile and a small wave.
The love exchanged between them was almost tangible as they gazed at each other with smoldering eyes.
A sudden bloom of pain erupted in Naruto's chest, causing him to blink slowly in confusion. "...?"
"NARUTO!"
Looking down, blonde brows furrowed as he gazed at the bloody hand protruding from his chest. "?"
What?
"Found you..." Was growled into his ear.
"Ah..." Peering over his shoulder, he blinked slowly once more.
Do people normally have such red eyes...?
"You smell so good, it wasn't hard to pick your scent out of a crowd. But you move around a lot."
The hand ripped free from his chest right before sharp teeth dug into his neck, easily tearing the collar of his vest to shreds to expose the skin.
Naruto screamed.
On the other side of the clearing, Emmett couldn't seem to run fast enough to his angel as the unknown man attacked him.
"NARUTO!" He yelled out before roaring in rage as the man dare to touch his beloved. Why the hell was he biting his neck?! And why the fuck was his hand sticking out of Naruto's chest?!
Pain was igniting all throughout his body as claws and fangs tore at his skin. His body was paralyzed by confusion, shock, fear, and pain as chunks of flesh were torn from his body, blood freely flowing from each and every wound. Blood-loss started to settle as his head swam and his vision spun as his hazy mind conjured up a word;
Vampire...?
He couldn't keep himself up anymore as the last of his blood was drained from his body. His knees buckled and his legs gave out, body crumpling down to the ground uselessly.
"KITSU!"
An unfamiliar male voice cried out as a silver haired man jumped out of the tree line and stabbed the assailant in the back.
"You... You're supposed to be dead..." Kakashi's eyes widened, bewildered.
"NARUTO!" Emmett roared as he dropped to his knees, scooping up the heavily wounded body and cradling his beloved in his arms. Ignoring all the blood now covering his own clothes. "No, no, c'mon, don't do this to me..." He choked out as those brilliantly colored eyes dulled to a murky blue. "Don't leave me! Don't you dare do this to me!"
"S-Sor...ry..." Was barely squeezed out as blood splattered passed his lips and on Emmett's pale face.
I'm tainting him... Staring at the blood dotting a perfect face, Naruto wanted to wipe it away.
Emmett sobbed as he held his lover close, tears streaming down his pale and blood stained cheeks.
"Kitsu..." Kakashi grit his teeth as his hands tightened around the wrists of the vampire. He quickly restrained the vile creature with chains and paper seals before a single dark eye took in the sobbing boy clinging to his adorable student. He looked at all the bite marks with a grimace. "Shit..."
Bitten by a vampire...
"Sasuke, Sakura, gather Naruto..." He said somberly, not taking his eyes off the pale man. "I'm sorry, Emmett... I'm so sorry..."
Blue eyes flickered up to the three shinobi, a protective look darkening his features. "..." He bared his teeth in a snarl as the two younger ones stepped forward to take away his beloved. "Back. Off."
"Emmett, we have to take Naruto..."
Those murky blue eyes bled red and widened as an ear-splitting scream echoed in the clearing.
"Fucking HURTS!" He screeched out.
"Kitsu!" Kakashi quickly rushed forward, narrowing his eye at Emmett as the boy got a panicked and lost expression. "Give me Kitsu! NOW!" He barked out, quickly taking the blonde from thickly corded arms. "You two, take him and follow me." He said urgently before gently dumping the now writhing blonde in Sasuke's arms. "Keep him restrained!"
Emmett could only watch uselessly as his beloved was taken from him, the silver haired man grabbing a chain wrapped around the vile creature and dragging him behind him as the team disappeared in the trees. He stood quickly, following after the shrieks and screeches of his poor lover. "W-Wait! Where are you taking him?!"
Catching up to the team, his eyes widened when the vampire was thrown into a tree, disappearing. What the actual fuck?
Kakashi had just finished going through the hand signs when Emmett caught up to them, growling under his breath as he threw the vampire back into the Elemental Nations. "Give him to me..." He said softly, taking his trembling and thrashing student. "Shh, shh... Kitsu, calm down..."
"I-It hurts... It hurts...!"
"I know... I know... It'll end soon..." He cooed out softly, stepping away from the tree a few yards and then gently laying his student down. "Sasuke..." He motioned the raven haired boy over, giving him a grim expression. "Fire ball jutsu... Aim it at Naruto."
Coal eyes widened in surprise. "What?! You want to burn him?! Alive?! Shouldn't we actually―" Sasuke cut himself off, not able to say it.
A single dark eye closed, ignoring the shocked expressions on his students and the local. He sighed deeply and slowly through his nose. "There is no actually killing him. Naruto has been bitten by a vampire. The venom is turning him into a vampire. He has to be..." His voice strained and choked at the end, moisture making his single visible eye glisten as he opened it once more.
Wheezing and trying to draw oxygen into his lungs, Naruto coughed and sobbed in agony. "Pl-Please... Do it..."
"Na-Naruto... What... No..." Sakura covered her mouth, tears prickling at her eyes.
"I-I don't... Wa-ant... To b-be..." He wheezed, hacking on his own blood as it gurgled in his throat.
"Shh... Stop talking... Sasuke, we have to now."
Nodding grimly, Sasuke and Kakashi flashed through the correct hands signs, simultaneously shouting; "Katon; Gōkakyū no Jutsu!"
Emmett squeezed his eyes shut tight as his beloved was engulfed by two giant fireballs, not even wanting to think of how it was possible for these guys to spew fire from their mouths. The scent of burning hair and flesh and the terrible shrieks of pure agony coming from his beloved was making it hard for him to stop his tears. He wanted to retch, to hurl, but he didn't want to do that in Naruto's presence.
Kakashi watched with a morose cringe as his student burned, his skin charring and blackening from the heat of the flames. "I'm sorry..." He whispered out, eyes watering ever more. "Please, rest easy..."
Sakura couldn't watch, covering her mouth and nose with her hands to try and keep the disgusting, bile-inducing scent away. Tears flowed freely from her eyes as she hiccuped behind her hands, shoulders shaking. Backing up towards the tree, she just wanted to go home and try to forget this traumatizing event.
"Goodbye..." Kakashi whispered before turning, flinching as those screams silenced. He would never again hear his student's voice... "Sasuke... Sakura... We need to leave..." He said sullenly, ushering his students to the tree. His gaze lingered on Emmett, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry..."
With one last glance over at the ball of fire burning away at the charred body, the sensei closed his eyes and turned away. Flashing through the hand signs, the three remaining shinobi left back to their home.
Choking on his sobs, Emmett finally let himself bellow out his agony to the Heavens as he threw his head back. "Why... Why did you leave me...?" He choked out as he looked back down to his beloved. The fire was dying down, so he crawled closer, sniffling and hiccuping as he reached out with a shaking hand. "My beloved... My sweet, sweet angel... You cannot leave me to go back to Heaven..."
It wasn't fair, he had just found his true love, his precious angel, and he was taken away from him in the worst possible way Emmett could imagine.
Blue eyes hardened and cooled to sharp daggers, lips curling over his teeth as he snarled vehemently. "I will never forgive vampires..."