Disclaimer: Naruto is not my creation nor do I own any of its characters.
A/n. I started typing this chapter a longgggg time ago. Each time I started reading/writing, I couldn't progress any further because I would just sit and add layers to the already written part. In the end, the chapter turned out so lengthy I had to split it into two parts so that I could update the story faster while finishing the second part. I'll add in the second part on this page instead of opening a new page and chapter. So, I'll e-mail anyone on the story alert list, signed in reviews or e-mail address with reviews when I have added that part!
I'm really sorry for not updating faster!
Also, this chapter is dedicated to the wonderful Allys for all her help in editing making 'Kyuubi's Fiancée' so much better!
For more information on story status visit Author's profile.
Warning: Sasuke's character is so far, far away that he probably suspects Itachi is behind it! Just for fun, regular old Kyuubi mayhem!
Summary: Kyuubi has a crush! Let's hope the intended comes out with even the slightest bit of dignity and the delightful host without being pummelled into a pulp.
Pairing: Beside the obvious, I'm toying with the idea of adding another pair. Recommendations for other pairs are welcomed!
Kyuubi's Fiancée
Part 3: A Dip in a Lily Occupying, Algae Ridden Pond
'It's NOT my fault! If he didn't want to get jumped then he shouldn't have gotten rid of his shirt and flaunted his possession in front of us!'
'Possession? What the hell does his possession have to do with anything, you insufferable pest?'
'It's the source of everything and especially these little squabbles between us! Can you not see why he took it off, you miserable, brainless little human?'
'Kyuubi,' the courageous blond took a deep breath, 'Don't call me a 'miserable, brainless little human.' I am not blind, deaf or brainless. FUCK! We were dipping in an algae ridden pond! Of course, he took off his shirt to not get it wet and spoilt! Why do you think he took off his shirt?'
'...' A silence followed by, 'to be provocative,' in a flat tone.
'...' A silence descended again this time followed by in a disbelieving voice, 'Provocative?'
'Seduction, implying innuendo, insinuation for intimacy, an invitation between his sheets!'
'...' A sigh, then the one dubbed pest replied, 'Can your slow, dysfunctional brain not comprehend that he was tempting us to feast on him?'
'Feast on him? Are you crazy? Do you think he wants to be eaten by you, you intolerable, dimwitted carnivore? And you call me brainless? WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM?'
'I rest my case. Clearly it is an utter waste of my time to point out to you why he obviously took his clothes off in front of us!' the voice seemed to get dimmer as if retreating, 'Now if you will excuse me I have something much better to do than listen to your ranting!'
'Hey, hey! Where the hell are you going?! I am not done with you yet! Come BACK HERE, YOU PEST!' the blond's yelling echoed off into the silent recesses of his now empty mind. His tenant having long abandoned him with a glazed, duped look on his face for the outer world to see.
...Earlier that day...
Due to a particular message delivered to the genin of Team Seven between the hours of two and three in the morning by a summoned ninja dog dubbed 'Pakkun', they found themselves at the shore of a pond instead of on the bridge to start their day. The message simply contained the words:
'Meet at the green koi pond in the Northeast forest bordering Konoha for your next big mission at 5 o'clock in the morning. Don't be late.'
Without any surprise the ever-punctual members of team 7 met up at the designated place at the precise time minus the writer of the message and the particulars of the mission he carried.
Not uttering a single word, Naruto plopped down against a tree after sleepwalking the entire way to the spot with an occasional shove and push by a sleepwalking clone and a nagging pest in his sleep induced psyche, telling him which way to go. Had his mind not been in the realm of the sleeping dead he would have discovered the horrifying and disturbing fact that Kyuubi was guiding him along the entire journey by following Sasuke's scent.
Sakura, after some inner deliberation with her alternate psyche and after Sasuke jumped up onto a tree branch, sat beside the more amiable of her two team-mates. Leaning back against the same tree as Naruto, she closed her eyes in hope of catching up on some of her beauty sleep.
Sasuke glared at the two inferior beings and idiots that were his team-mates. Being the only one truly awake among the three, he decided to mediate before starting his training and his irresponsible sensei arrived with the mission.
Surprisingly, when the current black sheep of Team Seven unintentionally fell into very deep meditation, Naruto woke up first. Thus, he was the first and only one to witness the scene, before sunrise, of the gigantic clear, green pond, that was almost large enough to be a lake, with lilies floating on the surface. The unsullied tips of rocks covered with algae and moss were protruding from the shallow waters near the shore while the looming mass of dark forest surrounded the big pond, encasing a piece of the lightening sky with its dimming stars and moon. Being so early in the morning the jungle's inhabitants were still sleeping, endowing a peaceful silence in the neck of the woods. The scene even through the light mist was calming to the nerves.
As the blond watched the rarely witnessed beauty of nature, the sky turned from navy blue to dark grey to silvery lilac, the forest woke with its small habitants and the mist gradually lifted. Sakura woke with a start when the first rays of the sun hit the emerald water. The light ricocheted off the surface in brilliant colors illuminating the pond bed to show several packs of small koi and the occasional large one. Where the golden lights penetrated deep, the ripples of waters seemed to be harbouring gold beneath the surface. Even Kyuubi had something to say regarding this particular breathtaking beauty of nature.
'It's the perfect place for us to amalgamate! The ritual...'
To which Naruto made the very intelligent response of, 'huh? What the hell is amaligate?'
Kyuubi ignoring his vessel continued in an excited voice, '...Away from prying and nosy humans! Soft bed! Clear view of the sky and the moon to create the perfect atmosphere afterwards for courting! Dense forest for cover from naked eyes! Water for cleaning and bathing! Most importantly it's away from those disgusting, interfering, idiotic humans and their repugnant smell! Couldn't have found a better place!'
Naruto baffled at Kyuubi's sudden excitement was also a bit ticked at being ignored so he just huffed and turned his attention towards Sakura. His mood immediately brightened seeing the person of his infatuation, despite her gazing at her crush perched in the tree with admiring eyes.
"Good morning, Sakura-chan," he greeted in a loud, exuberant voice then following her gaze his eyes fell on his other team mate, "morning Sasuke bast-"
A pair of dark obsidian eyes looked down at him. Suddenly the memories of the previous day came flooding at him. He visibly gulped, preparing for a beating. After a long silence, when Sasuke did nothing but glare at him before turning away, he let go off his breath and tried to relax.
Sakura, noticing the tension between her team-mates and interpreting it as Sasuke still being mad at Naruto for stopping him from joining Orochimaru, frowned. Even though she loved him, she didn't like the fact that Sasuke treated Naruto so badly when he'd almost died trying to stop him from making a terrible mistake. Maybe she should say something? Gathering up her courage she started, "Ne, Sasuke kun. I know Naruto's annoying... especially so early in the morning but... uh... he's just... trying... to be... uhh... friendly..." Her voice faltered meeting Sasuke's icy gaze.
Too immersed in fear that the Uchiha would finally snap and decide to beat him up for what he did, Naruto tried to intervene before that happened, not noticing his dream girl was standing up for him for the first time in front of her lifetime crush.
"SAKURA-CHAN! Are you hungry?" he shrieked to divert the girl's attention before rummaging in his backpack to take out his breakfast box, "I have egg sandwiches and they are edible! Dattabayo!" He practically shoved the sandwich in the girl's face not waiting for her to reply.
"Er- thanks Naruto," she replied taking the sandwich awkwardly, surprised at the blond's obvious insistence to change the conversation.
After an awkward silence, trying to apologise and offer peace to the obviously bad tempered Uchiha, he held up a sandwich, "Er- Sasuke te- hungry?"
If it was possible the Uchiha's narrowed eyes turned even more glacial, Naruto lowered his hand. Gulping, he swore frozen fire was licking out of Sasuke's eyes and forming the words 'drop dead dobe'.
"Guess not," he mumbled and quickly looked away.
Sasuke not at all mollified by the blond's attempt at an apology continued to glare at him. He had woken up in a particularly bad mood realizing he had fallen asleep while meditating and missed hours of training due to his very 'funny', 'righteous' teacher being his usual 'cheerful', 'eccentric' and 'irresponsibly late' self. And people wondered why he had run away to Orochimaru? Happy-go-lucky bastards... they wouldn't know how to keep their interfering noses to themselves and stay out of other people's business if their lives depended on it. And speaking of interfering, cheerful bastards...
Scrutinizing the biggest moron of all time, he looked for anything atypical of the blond. Naruto's obnoxious, loud voice did nothing but bring back yesterday's humiliating memory fuelling his already bad temper. After that incident he couldn't trust the idiot anymore since he was sure there was definitely something wrong with Naruto. Maybe he'd hit the dobe on the head particularly hard during their fight in the Valley of the End and that was why the blond was acting so- so- peculiar? That could be a reason but it still didn't explain the red chakra and why Naruto seemed so different at that time.
'Anger' and not embarrassment, as he reminded his inner self viciously, caused slight heat and a red tinge to creep onto his face, he admitted it also didn't explain why he felt weird in his stomach when Naruto was doing that. Maybe he could ask Kakashi since he seemed to know lots of things that were weird about Naruto? Then he shook his head. No, what was he thinking? He couldn't tell Kakashi about something like that. It was a major blow to his pride to be overpowered by the dead last and not be able to escape from his grasp.
Beside, it was humiliating and not to mention degrading to be bitten like a helpless little boy unable to do anything but watch. Suddenly he felt waves of anger surge thorough his body as the curse seal on his shoulder throbbed painfully. That wouldn't have happened if he was stronger... if he had more power to stop Naruto. He was an Uchiha, the last of their great clan, yet he was again defeated by the dead last. He was truly useless and disgraceful. Even without his father having to imply that or his brother say it, he could tell all by himself. If he couldn't even best the dead last how could he expect to beat Itachi? If he stayed like this he'd never be able to kill his brother and avenge his clan. He'd just taint his family name more with weakness and traits unbecoming of a shinobi, continuing to live an existence not even worthy enough to be eliminated...
Not surprisingly after an hour and a half Sasuke's patience was on the verge of breaking. Contemplating whether killing both Naruto and Sakura for the Mangekyo sharingan would really be that bad considering the fact that he would be doing Konoha favour by getting rid of its two most idiotic and useless shinobi. He was mentally seething. 'They couldn't even leave anyone to peacefully brood on their own without their incessant, meaningless ranting on the most mundane things.' He got up to ditch his team and train on his own. Mentally cursing Kakashi and the dead last for hindering him in his quest for power, he prepared to jump and almost plummeted downwards instead in surprise when said sensei's summon appeared with a poof on the branch right above his face, carrying a scroll in his mouth.
After reading the mission scroll Naruto couldn't help losing his temper, "WHAT THE HELL? This is the so called very important mission that we had to wake up for? Cleaning up a freaking pond because of an idiot!"
Sakura and Sasuke, even though they agreed with Naruto, chose to keep their comments to themselves. While Sasuke merely glared and inwardly fumed, Sakura tried to pacify the blond, "Look it says here that the 'idiot' is the nephew of the fire lord and he's proposing to his girlfriend."
"Why the hell does he want to propose in a freaking pond when he fears 'he'll drown if his oar gets tangled with the lily pads' or 'the algae will soil his clothes'?" Naruto's anger escalated with each word as he quoted the phrases from the scroll. He was particularly pissed at the moment due to all the degrading missions the fire Lord's relatives seemed to come up with, which the old hag seemed to assign them without a second thought. Ignoring Sakura totally, he ranted, "And I bet the idiot's clumsy and can't even row a boat properly. Hell - Owwww Sakura-channnnnnn!?" Naruto whined after receiving a blow in the head from Sakura for not shutting up.
Sasuke turned on his heel thinking, 'no usuratonkachi, that sounds more like you!'
While Naruto clutched his head and grumbled about unfairness, Sakura started following her dark haired team-mate grumbling about unromantic idiots.
"Sakura, you start on the algae on the rocks, I'll uproot the lily stems and clean up the pads. The pond should be done in half an hour," he left out Naruto, who noticed it and glared at his back silently, following him to the edge of the pond and towards the small dock.
Just because Kyuubi did that to Sasuke it wasn't fair that he should be the one to suffer for it. Besides, didn't the bastard know that it wasn't him because really why would he want to lick a prissy, rude and arrogant icy bastard like Sasuke? The teme had enough attitude to blow off a blizzard!
'Only because he has finally hit puberty,' gleefully Kyuubi informed him, 'wait till next mating seasons he's going to be even more of a fiery, lascivious, little vixen from all the increase in hormones and repression of satyriasis!' He eyes took on an odd gleam.
'Huh?' he hated when the pest used complicated terms like that. When the fox didn't say anything else to elaborate, he tried to analyse what he did understand.
'Er - Kyuubi? Are you saying that his icy bastardly attitude is going to get worse?' Naruto asked with a mixture of scepticism and horror, he really didn't want to be anywhere near Sasuke if his temper was going to get worse with Kyuubi pulling stupid stunts like yesterday's.
'You can bet on his luscious posterior!' he licked his canines with a dreamy look on his face, 'he's going to be simply exquisite and delicious, I can't wait to taste him!'
Naruto at once screeched at the highly misunderstood demon in captivity, 'No, you miserable glutton! You CAN'T eat him! He's my best friend! I'll kick your ass from here to the moon and back if you try to get a bite of him again! Besides, you don't even have a body so why are you so hell bent on eating him? You do realize that if you do eat him I'll be sick and you could die?'
At that little speech he would have gotten a snort from Kyuubi if the demon wasn't busy looking at a certain someone's backside. However, as the next train of thought hit his junchuuriki, Naruto couldn't help asking the nine-tailed about it, 'Kyuubi?' Getting no response he tried again, 'hey, Kyuubi?' Since he could still sense the fox's presence at the forefront of his mind he waited for the other's response. Still not receiving any response the blond realized the pest was looking at Sasuke, instantly he snapped his eyes shut.
Kyuubi practically shrieked because unlike the genin to whom the mission was assigned, he was listening to the mission particulars... or at least to the low, lilting voice that was talking and had been watching the vixen take off his arm bands... 'oh, he has slim, dainty hands and long fingers...' and he had just grabbed the hem of his shirt to pull it off-
And the idiotic moron had the audacity to close his eyes at that precise moment, the evil spawn of Satan! He growled, shrieking, 'Open it! Damn it! I am going to miss the show!'
"What show? You were just looking at him taking off his-!" opening his eyes he accusingly pointed his finger at Sasuke.
Freaked out by the blond's sudden yelling, Sasuke and Sakura turned to see who Naruto was yelling at. Only to see he was yelling at the air with a finger pointed accusingly towards Sasuke. Sakura's eye brow twitched and the prodigy just narrowed eyes before trailing finger along the hem of his shirt to pull it off, still glaring at the obnoxious boy.
Realizing he was yelling aloud, Naruto shut up and lifted a hand to awkwardly scratch the back of his neck, grinning bashfully. However, the moment Sasuke lifted his shirt a little, panic ensued in him again. Yelling, the Kyuubi container leapt forward and grabbed his team mate's hand, "heyyyy? What cha' doing, bastard?"
Resisting the urge to beat up the idiotic blond for touching him, Sasuke replied coolly, "Taking off my shirt."
"WHAT? You can't do that, bastard! Don't you have any shame? You can't go around prancing naked in public, Sasuke! That's called indecent exposure!" Naruto shrieked, his volume increasing to drown out Kyuubi's yelling of 'Shut up! Shut up, you freaking idiot!' He really didn't want to fuel Kyuubi's appetite by giving him a better view of the body he was so fixated on eating.
A finger subconsciously flicked across Sasuke's pale stomach making him almost jump in his skin, the coal black eyes widened minutely as the oblivious blond continued to talk.
Ironically, during the blond's entire ramble 'inner Sakura' registered two words, 'naked' and 'Sasuke' and hence unknown to Sasuke, two people - er - a demon and a human were currently bashing the blond unknowingly trying to save him from being eye-raped.
"...Besides, why, why would you want to take off your shirt? It's clean, it's not wet and it's not that hot!" Tugging and pulling at the dark material Naruto reasoned. Subconsciously he gave a rub or two on the other's belly then blinked owlishly as if waiting for Sasuke to respond to his question. His fingers continued to venture into forbidden territory and a thumb dipped into the waistband of white shorts.
The finger trailing along his stomach was giving him weird shivery feelings in the pit of his stomach. Sasuke resisted the urge to squirm at the ministrations. Instead, calmly with the thumb and index finger of his other hand he took Naruto's hand holding it like it was something particularly nasty and disgusting then pried it off of him. Next, he stepped back out of the blond's reach and intensified his glare so that it was particularly vicious to get every bit of Naruto's attention. When that was achieved, he started talking with enough ice to freeze the blond and enough venom to put even Orochimaru to shame, "In case you haven't noticed it, usuratonkachi, we are going into a pond," a jab of finger in the direction of the said pond, "to clean up algae and lily pads. I am not getting my shirt wet and dirty. So, shut up!"
"You still can't take it off!" Naruto replied stubbornly. Turning his eyes into slits and pouring even more poison into his voice, the sharingan wielder hissed, "I can take off my shirt if I want!"
"No, you can't!" the blond shook his head for extra measure and folded his arms on his chest to give the impression that he was putting his foot down on the matter.
'Yes, he can, you interfering moron! Now shut-' to the demon's irritation and aggravation he was cut off by a shrill voice.
"Naruto, shut up!" Sakura yelled from the sideline.
Naruto glanced at her. His eyes momentarily flashed red. Freezing Sakura in her place he hissed, "No! You can't see him!"
Sasuke didn't miss the flash of familiar red eyes or the miniscule amount of red chakra licking outward with the anger rolling off of the blond. He shivered. However, when the blue eyes turned on him with warning he remembered the helpless feeling of being trapped and powerless the day before and his anger spiked. His cursed seal swirled feebly, spreading sluggishly and releasing the purple chakra unsteadily. In his anger he didn't notice the differences, so sneering at Naruto he took the hem of his shirt in his hand, "You can't tell me what to do, dead last!" With satisfaction he noticed Naruto's eyes turning red. Daring the blond to stop him he lifted a corner of the shirt exposing his left hipbone. Not breaking his eye contact he raised the other side slothfully, his stomach in full view of the other's now amused eyes. Anger literally flowing through his veins boiling his blood at this, in one smooth motion Sasuke gracefully took off the whole article and dropped it at his side on the ground. Gaze only breaking when he closed his eyes for a moment (his long, pure black, crescent eye lashes fell over his anger induced rose-tinted cheeks in contrast, the demon noted to himself) before pulling his shirt over his head.
A moment passed then a minute as both stared at each other with scarlet eyes, one glaring with venom the other with amusement and slit pupils. The third terrified team member was forgotten in the background.
After several minutes when to Kyuubi's sheer amusement and irritation the vixen didn't back down he decided to concede. Leisurely he walked forward and bent down to pick up the shirt from the ground, his head was only millimetres away from the pale stretch of stomach in front of him. He noticed his intended's almost non-existent shiver as his breath ghosted on his bare skin for moments before he straightened up.
"If you are so eager to take it off in front of others then I suppose you won't need it!" Just as his claws slashed at the cloth Sasuke landed a round house kick at his side. Never expecting the boy to lash out at him when he was so close to him and emitting deadly aura he was caught off guard; he flew through the air, skidded over the water, disturbing the calm surface violently in his wake, before sinking into the pond with a large splash.
Deadly silence followed once the water returned to its previous stillness with the exception of occasional bubbles breaking out of the depth indicating the beginning of turmoil in the world beneath.
With enormous effort on his part to rein in his escalating temper, Sasuke turned his back to the emerald water unaware that it was currently concealing the secrets and mystery of his strange team mate that had him so curious, distracted, fascinated and angered all at once. He bent down to pick up his shirt at his feet and tugged it on angrily.
When mentally congratulating himself for kicking and perfectly landing the deadly blow, therefore hopefully breaking ribs right into his heart and drowning the blond was not enough, he settled for feeding his bloodlust and inner demon asking for death and retribution the happy images of continuously ripping into Naruto and tearing his heart out to feed it to the piranhas. Without a word to Sakura, he gathered chakra to his feet before walking across the pond to the furthest side from the spot he assumed the blond's hopefully dead body would be surfacing.
Did Naruto honestly and idiotically think that he could intimidate Sasuke into complying with his orders just because he bested him in one fight? He was not weak...
Anger spiking into sheer rage with each passing thought fuelled his cursed seal, feeding it the energy it needed to strengthen and awaken.
...and if Naruto thought otherwise he'd teach the moron to never underestimate him. He would not be surpassed by a dead last.
White and pink lilies with stems and pads floating peacefully on rippling water emanating serenity suddenly and unexpectedly met with the receiving end of the wrath that was solely in reserve for the 'idiotic and violent moron asking to get the stuffing beaten out of him'. Their roots tore from the soil beneath the pond, splashing water as if struggling one last time to survive the wrath that was unjustifiably seizing their lives causing the water to turn murky into their murky grave.
He would get power even if it meant sacrificing all his bonds and ties to this place...
The delicate flowers and green stems stained the pale hands gripping them with bruising force dark green as a last reminder to their unjustified violent demise.
He wouldn't let anything stand in his way of attaining the power to provide his once great clan with justice...
A pair of gleaming red eyes opened just beneath the water to watch red and white lily petals rain down from the sky at the forceful tugging and ripping to shower on the oblivious, enraged teenager.
A/n. Amalgamate means to combine two or more organizations or things into one unified whole or join together to form one unified whole. It has nothing to do with courting or anything sexual. However, it is relevant for the story. Any guess why?
Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think!