Sorry guys, even though I said I'd be away the ideas never stop coming. ((Annoyed))
This is an early mother's day present to you all! Since my time will be eaten up later this month and the month after....
This is a oneshot concerning Natsuhi, (Someone gave me the idea, whether they realized it or not; you know who you are!)
I've decided to take pity on Natsuhi, though she is filler, her character needs the proper respect it deserves. Edit: Damn straight!
Important Note: I do not own Naruto. Nor the wonderful song. The Kish owns everything.
The Devil's Ravine is not exactly the nicest of places to ever visit. Toxic fumes continually rise from the great land depression, creating a natural barrier around Bear country; yet at the same time, the barrier acts as a double-edged sword. Though the poisonous gases do an excellent job at keeping bandits and highwaymen at bay, there are also a number of health hazards acciocated with the miasmic mists. As such, respirator masks are required to even get near the stuff since prolonged exposure could prove well...Let us just say, The Valley of Death is a rather fitting nickname.
'I knew it was a good idea to bring an extra mask along...' Natsuhi thought, as she removed the mask that she had placed on Naruto, earlier that day.
'Good thing too...' She mused as she laid the blonde onto her bed, 'I wasn't exactly expecting company.'
After covering him up, Natsuhi turned her attention to the prize in her pocket. 'I should really hide this thing...' She said, as she produced a glowing rock from the inner folds of her shorts.
As she turned to leave the cavern, something caught her ear, in the form of a restless Naruto. Returning to his bedside, Natsuhi inspected the figeting blonde, checking his temperature as she did so.
'Well, he doesn't have a fever...so a nightmare perhaps?'
"No!" The older kuniochi jumped at this, "Don't leave..." Naruto cried out, as his hand quickly latched on to her wrist.
'Wow, even in his sleep his reflexes are this keen?' Natsuhi then mentally slapped herself remembering that Naruto is a shinobi as well. 'He must be around Sumaru's age...'
"N-no...." Naruto stammered, as his eyes clenched tightly, desperately trying hold in his imprisoned tears. "Don't go..."
Hearing the blond's words stirred a sense of regret in Natsuhi. It was unshakeable, feelings of the past were always constantly dredged up by a certain event or another, but of all times why now? Tossing those thoughts aside Natsuhi positioned her on the edge of the bed and cradled the boy in her lap.
"Shhh...ssh...it will be alright." The rosette spoke softly, as she tried to reassure the blonde as she began stroking his whisker marks unconsciously. To her dismay, Naruto's grief ridden cries and pleads only intensified, as warmth enveloped his body
'It must be a really bad dream for him to react so...unlike the unpredictable opponent I faced, today.' She thought warily as she recalled the fight between her and the blond. 'Clever boy, I'd never would've guessed that those clones were only a distraction while he henged himself amongst the rocks, waiting for the most opportune time to strike.'
"No..."
'What to do...?' Natsuhi thought, with a creased brow. 'Maybe....I'm just not cut out for this...' She sighed sadly, as past memories flooded her mind; some good, some bad, some more or less in between. One of these memories was a bittersweet reminder of how much time she had lost, yet the same memory held a special place in her heart and always would. Natsuhi allowed herself a silent smile as she formed an idea.
'It's definitely worth a try....' She mused, as she began to hum melodiously, 'Now, how did it go? As if I could ever forget.'
"Natsuhiboshi naze akai?
Yuube kanashii yume wo miita..."
Naruto's struggling lessened as Natsuhi continued to sing...
"Naite hanashita
Akai me yo..."
Naruto pleas softened into faint whimpers. 'I can't believe it's working...'
"Natsuhiboshi naze mayou?
Kieta warashi wo sagashiteru..."
The blonde quieted down completely...
Dakara kanashii yume wo miru."
Natsuhi kept singing the same stanza again and again, her voice growing softer each time. How much time has passed? No one can say really; she stopped only once during her song, to examine the snoring shinobi in her lap, before finishing her verse completely.
Carefully, Natsuhi slid out from under the blonde and cushioned his head with a nearby pillow. After re-tucking Naruto in she turned to leave only to receive her biggest surprise of the night.
"Thanks....Kaachan-'ttebayo..."
Natsuhi's eyes widened with realisation, before she turned heel to exit the cavern. She smiled softy as she quickly hurried to the exit, her vision became more and more blurred with each and every step she took.
'If only for just one night...' Little did Natsuhi know, that night is tonight.
Translation:
Summer star why are you red?
Last night I had a sad dream.
Crying as I talked
Oh, red eyes.
Summer star, why are you lost?
You are searching for we, who disappeared.
That's why I have sad dreams.
Well, a lullaby is just another way to say goodbye, if one thinks about it....
Though in this case goodbye is forever, it seems....
Whether or not Natsuhi channeled her feelings for Sumaru to Naruto or she just wanted to comfort the blonde as well as herself is really up for interpretation, (Hint: There's no wrong answer.)
Though...it does make you wonder what exactly happened in that cave....((Chases ecchi thoughts away))
Oh, you guys may link this shot to DITS, though honestly it probably will not add anything to the story. Edit: Yeah right, in your face former past self!
Thanks again, Meta-Z.
Later...
-IR