Second Chances

Chapter Two

After assigning a couple of genin squads to take care of delivering the boys to their parents, along with the accompanying disciplinary notices, Naruto went back to his office. There was paperwork to be done, even on festival days. However, Naruto had long ago figured out what could be pawned off onto a bunshin, since he was so much closer to his clones than other shinobi were. He'd been his one and only friend for a very long time... the kage bunshin technique had simply given physical form to that part of his pysche that needed family and friends. Which, now he thought about it, was the reason why he always thanked them for their work, even if everyone else thought it was a strange habit.

Dismissing the clone, who smiled and saluted before vanishing, he was happy to see the routine paperwork was done and the things he needed to work on personally were left in a much smaller pile. Before he got to them though, he took a form from his desk; one designed especially for him by Shizune after Tsunade-baa-chan had blown up and thrown his reports out the window for the fourth time. His command of kanji was much better these days, but he relished the few small reminders he had of people he'd lost over the years.

He wrote up a basic summary of the boys' mischief and his subsequent rescue of the woman, leaving out all the details that would identify her. Those would be recorded in journals that only future Hokage would be allowed to read; the dual records allowing for the protection of information and people, while ensuring that the truth did not get lost. Then, with a sigh and a longing look out the window where a knot of people were laughing, he got to work.

~oOo~

Soon after he'd gotten into the final bit of work on his desk, Bear ducked through the window with his report on the junihito. When the ANBU reported the kimono-artist's estimate on how much it would take to fix it, Naruto had to struggle to keep his composure, since the cost threatened to send him into one of his old rants. The exquisite clothing, embroidered with real gold and silver thread and with cherry blossoms of a special deep red only found in dyes used for royalty, would cost as much as Tsunade's debt to the boss of Snow Country- one that had taken her three years to pay off.

Still, he didn't want their mysterious visitor seeing the destruction of her expensive clothing as another mark against Konoha. "Tell him to try to keep the silk from staining so that it can be fixed if that's what she wants." With a bow, Bear backed out of the room, barely hearing the muttered "I really hope she doesn't..." that made him grin before he shut the door. The Hokage was obsessive about saving money.

After he'd finished sorting everything for his assistant to file, Naruto sat back in his chair and directed himself inwards, walking through his mindscape until he came to the forest Kurama preferred sleeping in ever since he'd been released from his prison. "Hey, Kurama? Why her? What's pulling me to her so hard, making her so attractive? I've never had such a powerful reaction to a woman in my life, 'tebayo."

"Hnn." The great fox shifted and sat up, seriously considering the answer. "Power attracts my kind, Naruto, and that woman holds an immense amount. It seems that more of my kind's ways have been adopted by your body than we knew. Your ex-wife was powerless and a shrew. She could add nothing to your offspring. This woman can." Kurama lazily waved his tails, his mouth gaping into a fox-grin. "No wonder you let that violent woman hit you so often. The vixens run things, we dog foxes are just allowed to participate at times."

Disturbed by the thought he'd merged with Kurama enough for his body to react like he was a youko, Naruto said his goodbyes to Kurama and rewoke in the real world. His timing was perfect, as a genin knocked on his door and informed him that 'Kagome' was awake. Sending the genin off to Iruka with a message to bring their miscreants to the hospital in the morning, he slipped out the window and jumped roofs to the hospital, hoping he'd foiled his assistant. Udon had to be put to the test, as Naruto was almost completely certain his assistant was informing his so-called fan club where he went. It was enough to drive a man mad- or at least help him understand why Sasuke had been such a bastard all those years ago.

Discreetly sniffing, he let his nose locate the girl's room, then walked down the side of the building, entering through her window and winding up right in the middle of a lecture.

"And this is our Hokage, who found you and brought you in. Please excuse his utter lack of manners. I've been trying to train him since we were genin, but as you can see..."

"Very funny, Sakura. Actually, I think I've found my fan club's informant, but I haven't confronted him yet. I hoped to spare you their presence in your hospital, but I can go back out and come in the right way if you wish." He could swear there were flames in his old friend's eyes, which amused him, since she probably wouldn't hit him in front of a new patient. "S-o-o... you don't mind if I keep using the window?" Recognizing that he'd pushed just a little too hard, he wiped the grin off his face as quickly as he could and turned to the woman he'd saved.

"I'm Naruto Uzamaki, Rokudaime of Konoha. I- uh..." It was very hard to concentrate while looking at her beautiful face, especially as his body was most emphatic in it's approval of her. "I would like to offer you my most sincere apology on behalf of my village and myself. Some of the children of the village were practicing their jutsu when they used a time/space technique they were forbidden from trying. It brought you here, to Konohagakure in Hinokune." He bowed as low as the annoying hat would allow. "I beg your forgiveness."

Kagome just nodded, having trouble processing the idea even though she was experienced in traversing time. Two years ago, she'd left her world for Inuyasha's, no longer a child and ready to live there as his wife, or so she had thought. She may have fought a great evil and banished a cursed jewel, but it seemed that those combined with the three years they'd spent apart hadn't been enough to cure her of the rosy view she took of life...

Kaede, Sango, Miroku, and their children had welcomed her heartily, once they'd gotten over the surprise of her walking into the village that day in early spring. However, it had taken them a while to tell her why Inuyasha wasn't around his forest anymore, much less waiting for her as she had for him. He and Sesshoumaru had come to an understanding, and he'd been given his father's lands in the west. Sesshoumaru had ignored them since their father had died, as he preferred the lands he had won for himself, so Inuyasha wouldn't be back until he'd subdued all the youkai who had occupied it in the interim.

At first, she'd stayed with Sango and Miroku, as Inuyasha had arranged for them to keep her until he could come back, should she return. She didn't stay with them long, though... sleeping in a one room hut with an amorous couple and three kids under four years of age was simply too much for her, modern girl or not. Thankfully, though, they were understanding when she apologized and let them know she was moving in with Kaede, who was obviously happy to have Kagome back under her roof. The elderly miko immediately started training Kagome as well, claiming that leaving such a strong power untrained, especially when she had a willing teacher, was a crime against the gods who had blessed her.

She worked hard for those supporting her, as a help to Sango with her three children (four by the time the new year came again), and as Kaede's apprentice. She'd learned to enjoy the pace of life in the village... and now held those months under Kaede's tutelage with love and longing in her memories. She'd been so happy there that first summer, learning the skills that called to her soul... until winter settled it's cold mantle over them early.

That first winter destroyed many preconceptions she'd held onto... and was the first time she began to doubt Inuyasha. The grinding poverty of the winter-bound village was an eye-opener, something she'd never noticed when she'd been living in two worlds. And as it grew worse, bellies growled and grumbled and those with weaker constitutions died, thanks to the loss of the crops the early frosts had killed. And with each death, she couldn't help but wonder why Inuyasha had abandoned his friends and the villagers that had accepted him, since his strength could have saved so many. Especially the children...

Her thoughts were interrupted as Sakura excused herself to look after her other patients. When the pink-haired medic had closed the door, Kagome found her voice, though she didn't quite know what to say to the earnest young man. Finally, she just asked the foremost question in her mind... "Can you send me home?"

With a deep sigh, Naruto tossed his hat onto the empty bed next to hers. "I don't know, since the ones who summoned you didn't have anything concrete in mind when they summoned you. But if you'll tell me the name of your village, I'll see if we can't send someone with a message that you are alive."

And though she'd already noted the modern technology in the room, she answered without thinking, "It doesn't have really have a name, the villagers simply call it Kaede's village after their miko. The closest named village is Edo, in the province of Musashi." She swallowed hard as she realized that she'd just admitted exactly where her true home was; poverty and death and old promises not withstanding.

Naruto sat down heavily, pulling her attention out of the past and back to him again. "I'm familiar with every major town and the countries they're in, but I've never heard of Edo or Musashi. Would you know any other places?"

She lay there, looking at the fingers that had been black and blue until Sakura-san had used a ki technique to heal them; one she would very much like to learn. It looked like she'd been transported to yet another world... but was it safe to confide in this handsome man, who had the distinct aura of a kitsune about him?

"Uzamaki-san, I can feel the presence of a kitsune coming from you-?"

"He's a friend of mine; I'm not a ravening beast, I can assure you of that much."

She looked at him oddly. "I'm sorry, but I think we are misunderstanding each other. I was going to ask what color your kitsune side was, to gauge what I should explain."

"Kurama's red, but I'm human. He doesn't share many kitsune secrets with me, unless it's to tease or discomfort me, but if you want to ask him something, he's quite wise."

"Aa. I see. I know a good bit about youko such as he. If I may request a meeting with Kurama-sama, I would like to avail myself of his knowledge of this world and others. In payment, I will entrust my story to you both, with my guarantee it will not be a waste of your time."

"What are you, that you can feel Kurama's presence and know about his kind?" He knew there was a number of people who would think him insane for not locking her up and calling for Ibiki immediately, but everything about her called to him on a basic, instinctual level. It seemed that Kurama's explanation was true.

"I'm a... kind of spiritualist. I'll explain more after I hear what he says. If you'll allow me to touch your hand? I need contact to be able to find and talk to him the first few times."

He banished his doubts and indulged himself by taking her hand and reveling in the soft skin on top and the half-gone calluses underneath. She had been an archer by the patterns he felt, though they were soft, like she hadn't used a bow for years, or, more likely with the clothing she'd been wearing, someone was trying to smooth them away with unguents. And her scent was so much more delicious now it was clear and not covered with sickness and spring water.

He felt a twist in his stomach, and suddenly they were in his head, walking through his mindscape until they reached Kurama's forest, their hands still twined together in spirit. Naruto wasn't sure how she had gotten here so fast, but watched as she looked up at the youko peering at them through one red eye; not showing a bit of fear.

"Oh ancient one, child of Inari, worldshaker, this humble one would beg an audience. I know not know who to trust, or what has happened to me. Only one of your great knowledge may be able to shed light on my predicament." She bowed deeply, pulling Naruto with her.

The great fox stirred, lifting his head and looking at her curiously. "A miko who knows how to address this one? Interesting. You can trust the idiot beside you, so tell me what you know and if I am entertained enough, I will tell you what I know."

"Have you heard of a cursed object called the Shikon no Tama?"

Kurama laughed, his voice edged with a dark emotion that made her tremble slightly. "Yes, any kitsune worth the name knows of it and the one who destroyed it, but it was not present in this dimension. So this is where you went, Kagome-miko-sama, world-walker, time's daughter." He thrust his face closer to her. "That's where I'd seen that mon. The wild dogs looked high and low for you for twenty years, then gave up. What human could live so long, they foolishly asked. Amaterasu and Inari simply looked to each other and slyly smiled in agreement."

She bowed to him, knowing that if there was a way to return, he'd already be bargaining with her. "Thank you, wise one. Is there something you wish for these answers?"

"Be good to the boy. He's something else." And then he laid his chin on his paws and went back to sleep, and they were back in the hospital.

"How much did that actually explain? And you're from a different dimension?" Naruto sighed. "I could ask the great Toad Sage-"

She shook her head. "He verified he knew of me, that my husband had given up on looking for me and thought me dead due to my friends, a wolf youkai and a kitsune, who had probably heard of my troubles and were happy to have me freed. He also let me know there was no way home again. If there was, he would have immediately bargained for his release. And so I am lost in another dimension, with no family or friends to fall back on."

"Not completely lost, Kagome-miko-sama. You're in Konoha, and my guest! I'm the Hokage, the strongest ninja in the village. You can live here in Konoha, dattebayo!"

"Please... My name is Kagome Higurashi. I didn't get to finish my training, so I'm wary about claiming to be more than an apprentice miko, it wouldn't be right." She dropped her head, tired and strangely, utterly devastated by the kyuubi's news. "I have no idea what I could do here, and I have no wish to live on charity."

Naruto sank into a chair, trying to think of a solution that would salve her honor and repay her for stealing her from her dimension. Recalling an old law on the books, he decided to use it. "For stealing you from your family without your or your clan's consent, the village owes your family a blood-price, that's the law. Since we stole you from another dimension and your family isn't available, the blood-price goes to you. It's not charity, it's an acknowledgment we did you wrong, and a reparation to the honor of both Konoha and yourself. A year's upkeep is traditional."

She shook her head, all the problems she would now face hitting her at once and making it hard to think. "I don't want to be stared at, the oddity stolen from another dimension, with people gossiping behind my back."

Naruto began thinking again, this time out loud. "The only people who have seen you are myself, one of my ANBU, who won't tell a soul, and Sakura. Whatever we come up with, it's got to be mostly true, 'cause Sakura's the worst liar ever born, 'tebayo."

She looked to the shinobi again, telling herself really look at him. Blond spiky hair topped a rugged face, blocky and so very human compared to the inhuman perfection of the inuyoukai she was used to seeing all the time. His eyes showed the sharp influence of the kitsune inside him, the whisker marks a constant reminder of his guest. His hands were those of a fighter; beat up, scarred, fingers thick and stumpy, nails pared back as far as they could be; the complete opposite of long, elegant fingers topped by sharp, polished claws. And though she could feel the jyaki of the kitsune inside him, the aura that was his own was exceptionally pure. He was a man content with his decisions, and did not harm others out of spite. In fact, she began to realize, he felt like Togenkyou's master, an old mountain sage.

But he was so young to be a sage... but then again so was she, and she'd saved the world several times.

That's what she was feeling from him... he was someone who had gone to their limit to save others, and it had marked him as harshly as it had her. It might be foolhardy, as she'd shown she had terrible judgement in men once too often, but she decided to go with her heart once again...

And trust him.

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A note on 'dattebayo'. I am trying to restrict it's use as much as possible, but his annoying speech is just part of his character. It really doesn't mean anything that can be translated to English. That whole 'believe it' is just the dubber's way of keeping him in character in a way really small children would understand.