Author's Notes: This chapter took longer than expected because I just simply didn't know how to introduce everything!! How that it's alright! Read the preview for the next chapter! Yay!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Orphaned Legacy
Chapter 3
"So, you've finally come, brat."
Ran felt everything rushing back, snapping his eyes open and seeing, as if almost behind some fogged up tainted glass wall. He was seeing but yet he was not.
'W-where am I?'
Ran slowly sat up from his place on the sewer floor that looked so inviting. He stood up leisurely drenched from head to toe, gazing around at the dark sewer-like setting. Water was everywhere, dripping from the pipes overhead that gathered in a pool up to his ankles.
Ran could feel a tugging not only in his naval but also in a part of his soul. It pulled him toward a certain direction until he arrived at the entrance of a grand gate that was held by what seemed like a flimsy piece of paper with the kanji for seal on it.
"W-what...the...hell?"
"You've finally called upon me, have you?"
Ran looked up to see the Kyuubi, nine-tailed demon fox in all his glory and stumbled back, tripping over his own feet in the process and making himself look like a fool.
The demon fox laughed uproariously in slight amusement and...was that pride?
"So, this is my vessel, eh? A weak human that's a bit too scrawny for my liking; although, I can most certainly fix that." The demon stated as he gazed at his vessel's form.
'V-vessel...what does he mean by 'vessel'?'
Letting out a shuddering breath, Ran stuttered to find the words that just wouldn't come out.
"W-w-what-...w-where-...why-...h-h-h-how...ARGH!" Ran pulled his hair in frustration. This didn't make any sense!
"I believe you forgot 'when' in your little speech there."
'Maybe this isn't real...that's it!'
"This isn't real. It's just a dream...it's just a dream...just a dream..." Opening his eyes, he found that nothing had changed and tried again.
Fine, then, onto a different strategy.
"There's no place like home...there's no place like home...there's no place-" He closed his eyes, repeating this over an over again in a mantra like before, but also started clicking the heels of his sandals together...pfft...like that does anything...as if...
Anyways...
The Kyuubi laughed at the dark-haired boy. Humans are so entertaining to watch! Maybe this is why demons messed with them so much...throw something at them and watch them panic creating their own mass destruction and downfall!
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"Ran!" Yuri and Sanosuke yelled as they scrambled to catch him as he collapsed.
"What's wrong with him?" Yuri yelled frantically.
Sanosuke shot him a look, "What do you think, you idiot?" he said while hefting Ran onto his back to piggyback him.
"What'd you say?!"
"Can you just make yourself useful for once and lead the way to the hospital? Geez..."
Yuri huffed in offense but quickly forgot it when he was reminded of his friend's current state. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just go, but don't forget. I'm gonna get you back!"
Sanosuke's smirk turned to a grin. "Wouldn't dream of it. Now let's get moving!" Sanosuke took off after Yuri, leaving in a jog towards the hospital.
Too bad Yuri was terrible when it came to directions, but an expert when it came to getting lost.
"IDIOT!!!"
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"There's no place like home..."
"Listen, foolish human!"
"-lace like home..."
"You will pay me respect as the king of all Youkai and most powerful of all demons!"
"-no place like home..."
"ENOUGH! Shut your trap before I make you wish that you are sent to the seven depths of hell!" The fox roared, baring his fangs as he released a large enough amount of killer intent to paralyze the delusional boy.
Ran trembled in fear, trying in vain to move his body but it wouldn't respond to any of his commands.
"S-s-s-seven d-depths...of...hell?" He managed to blurt out, mentally slapping himself for showing his fear in front of the supposed demon.
"It's actually nine, hence why I am the most powerful demon, but that's not the point."
"What are you? Where am I?" Ran questioned in total confusion. The demon just glared down at him, causing all the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end and chills to run down his spine. He could see now that this...monster in front of him was a demon, indeed.
"We are currently residing deep within the depths of your mind."
"Huh?"
The nine-tailed fox growled in aggravation, "Damn you, Yondaime, condemning me to this prison and on top of that, sealing me in this idiot buffoon, as well." he spat as he moved restlessly behind his cage.
Ran's eye twitched in irritation, "I'm right here you know, and who you calling an idiot, you useless furball!" pointing at him for added effect.
"I would mind that tongue of yours, boy."
"And if I don't? Who are you to tell me what I can and can't do or say?"
Surprisingly, the Kyuubi didn't show any sign of anger, it was more along the lines of amusement than anything else. "Impressive. I suppose you show a bit of promise. You most certainly have bravery or perhaps it's just stupidity."
The raven haired boy decided to ignore that comment and glanced around at his surroundings. "So, this is my mind? Why is it like this?" He gestured to the pipes and the sewer-like background.
"It is how you designate it to be. Of course, you had done it subconsciously, but you have the power to change if you choose to due to it being your mind and all."
He gave a simple nod and stored that information in the back of his mind, "I'll keep that in mind." He paused at the implication of that thought.
'Wait...if I'm in my mind...then how can I keep something in mind...if I'm already there...Does this mean that the furball can know whatever I'm thinking or something?!'
Ran grabbed his head in confusion, feeling the need to pull out his hair again. "I'm gonna get a headache soon. That, or just suffer from mental damage 'cause I think I'm gonna go insane by the end of all this,"
"You truly are an idiot, aren't you?"
"Shut up! I'm suffering from mental damage here, okay, and you're not helping!" He shouted, spewing the words out before his brain caught up with his mouth.
Ran stared blankly ahead, saying dumbly, "Wait...did I just say that I'm-"
"Idiot, I'm stuck with an idiot." The fox stated, not looking all that surprised, in fact, he looked kind of smug. "Yes, yes you just admitted that you are incapable of handling anything of high standard when it comes to using your head, which is apparently mentally challenged."
The boy scowled up at him and threw the fox a dirty glare. "You never answered the question. Who or what are you?"
"I am the Kyuubi no Kitsune, nine-tailed demon lord and king of all Youkai..."
Ran pretty much just tuned the rest out of the fox's little speech because it seemed like it would be going on for a while anyway.
"-reatest of all the tailed beasts-"
"You like to hear yourself talk don't you?"
The Kyuubi growled low in his throat and glared fiercely at Ran, eyes boring deep and once again causing a shiver to run up is spine in fear. Ran broke eye contact first and tried to look anywhere but the fox demon.
"Need I remind you, brat, to hold your tongue? I should rip it out next time." Ran involuntarily shuddered at the thought. "I may be stuck behind this cage, but I still demand respect as not only a demon but a demon lord, as well. And no human will change that fact, understood?"
The raven haired boy nodded not trusting his voice for once.
"As I have told you, I am the Kyuubi no Kitsune-"
"Wait! Didn't the Yondaime kill the Kyuubi? So, how can you be him then?"
The Kyuubi glowered at the boy, who gulped, remembering the warning that was made beforehand.
"Seven years ago, someone summoned me to the mortal plane. This was no ordinary summoning, though. It messed with my mind and twisted all of my emotions into that of rage and anger, directing it towards your village. As a result, your Hokage had no other alternative but to seal me inside of something, a container or vessel of sorts."
"It's...me, isn't it?"
"Yes. You catch on quick, perhaps there's hope for you yet."
"T-then...why me?" He spoke in a whispered tone, head bowed so the emotion on his face was unseen.
"It is simply impossible to seal me inside a full grown adult, just because their chakra pathways have already been formed and molded. My chakra would have completely overwhelmed them, resulting in the vessel dying and the sealing to be a complete failure. The only solution was to use a newborn for the ceremony."
The demon glimpsed at the boy for some sort of reaction, but his face was unseen, his head bowed low and his hair shadowing his face. The fox paused for a moment to let the information sink in before continuing on.
"You were most likely a week old or perhaps younger when the sealing took place, which explains why you were the one chosen."
Ran started trembling, only slightly but the Kyuubi saw it and tried to ignore it as his vessel stood in front of his cage sobbing silently and clutching himself.
"Crying is a great sign of weakness. You must learn when it's okay and when it's not to show your emotions. This time it is alright to cry. Don't hold back." The demon's gaze intensified as he looked beyond his cage bars to the one that contained him, his jailer.The only response he received was the boy tightening his hold and soft whimpers breaking through his lips.
"I have heard others say that it is a weakness that either makes or breaks you. Which one are you?"
Ran couldn't hold it in anymore and fell on his hands and knees crying openly. He couldn't stop; the tears just kept coming as images flashed through his mind.
Kimura Akira beating him and so many others...
All his friends at the orphanage disappearing, dying one by one...
The lies that he's been told...
"Your mother was a whore..."
"Your father was a drunk...he didn't want you..."
"It hurts..." He whispered hoarsely, one hand gripping at where his heart is. He knew the Kyuubi was watching him but he didn't care. "It hurts so much..."
The Insanity...
The Screams...
The Blood...
The...Pain...
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"Wait, Sano." Sanosuke ran past Yuri but slowed down at his request. They have been everywhere and still couldn't find the hospital. Both had even asked for directions but Yuri always found a way to screw it up and somehow they ended up in exactly the same place they began.
"What is it?"
"It's Ran, he's crying..." Yuri spoke softly.
"Eh?" Sanosuke tilted his head to the side and found that Ran had tears running down his face, soaking his shirt and clutching at the material like it was a lifeline. The sobs were barely audible muffled into his back.
The taller boy carefully placed Ran on the ground and gently wiped his tears away with his fingers.
Yuri kneeled by them. "What do you think he's dreaming about?"
"I don't think he's having a dream, Yuri, it's more like a nightmare."
"Then we should wake him up."
"We can't. He has to do this alone."
"B-but that doesn't mean that he's truly alone, right? He has us."
Sanosuke gave the other boy a small smile. "Hai, he has us."
"Hang on, Ran, you're not alone."
Yuri glanced up and found that they were just across from the hospital. "Hey! The hospital was there all along!" He jumped around excitedly until he heard a low growling sound and slowly turned his head to face a very pissed off Sanosuke.
"This is completely and utterly your fault!"
"Hey! I said that I'd find the hospital and I did, so don't blame me!"
"You are so lucky that we're in a rush because I would make you so sorry right now!"
"Maa, Sano-chan, you're hurting my feelings."
"..."
'Uh-oh. No response. That can't be good.' Thought Yuri.
"Run." He turned slightly before taking off in a sprint in the direction of the hospital.
"You better run because you're gonna be bedding in that hospital for a month once I'm through with you!" He yelled as he chased after the brunette as fast as he could with Ran on his back.
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Ran's eyes held tight as he tried to bury the reality of everything and just forget. He wanted to forget everything. He was alone.
"He has us."
"Hai, he has us."
"Hang on, Ran, you're not alone."
The boy opened his eyes in shock as those words seemed to echo off the walls.
"Yuri!" Ran eyes darted from side to side as he looked for his friends. "Sano!" He closed to eyes again and covered his ears from the words. They weren't here.
"You can close your eyes to reality but not to the memories."
Ran opened his eyes and lifted his head cautiously to stare at the demon curiously. "Why are you helping me?"
"Don't think too much of it. I'm doing this because if you go insane, then where will I be?" Kyuubi spoke indignantly.
Ran lifted the curves of his mouth and whispered sincerely. "Thank you, Kyuu."
"Who said you could call me that? Don't mock me, brat!"
"Ran, My name is Ran, not 'brat' or 'boy' but Ran."
He spoke in a condescending manner. "I will call you as I please."
"Then, I'll call you Kyuu." Ran said simply.
"Listen, kit-"
"Kit, I like that name. What does it mean?"
The nine-tailed demon sighed heavily. "Our time is almost up."
"Huh?"
"You will be waking in the real world soon, kit."
Ran smiled brightly when the fox unintentionally called him that. "But I want to stay here...with you."
Kyuubi's eyes seemed to softened but the emotion flashed by so fast that Ran thought he imagined it, but he knew he didn't. "Don't worry, kit, I'll always be here whether I like it or not."
"Is that supposed to comfort me, Kyuu?"
"I'm terribly sorry if it doesn't." The demon replied sarcastically. "And don't call me that!"
"I just asked you that because, to be honest, it does comfort me."
Surprise fleeted across his face but he changed to stoic expression immediately. "We will continue this soon."
The boy nodded and turned to leave but paused with his back turned. Slowly, the sewer-like essence was gone and replaced with a cozy warm feeling. His surroundings molded to that of a forest, which held a natural look and feel to it, almost as if it were real.
"I'm sorry."
He didn't get to see the other's face as he spiraled into a comfortable darkness.
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Eyelids slowly opened and closed quickly to adjust to the sudden light. A soft groan emitted as he tried to blink out the haziness of his vision.
'What happened? The pain...demon...Yondaime...Kyuubi!' Ran shot up so fast that he was rewarded with a sudden dizziness, but shook it off.
Ran looked around, figuring he was in the hospital by the looks of it. He reached up and sighed in relief as his mask was still in place.
All of a sudden, the door bursts open and he unexpectedly finds himself with an armful of Yuri while Sanosuke trailed behind.
"Ran! Ran! I'm so happy you're okay!" Yuri shouted loudly, taking a sly glance at Sanosuke. It was payback time.
"Sano was so worried. He was panicking and crying and everything, but luckily I was there. He also kept getting us lost when we tried to find the hospital, but I also found that too!"
Ran blinked once and then twice. He shifted his gaze to Sanosuke who was currently scowling at the grinning boy.
"Really, Sano? You were that worried about me?"
"Umm..." Sanosuke shifted uncomfortably refusing to meet his gaze.
Ran then pounced on him, hugging him tightly and burying his face in the crook of the other boy's neck. "You're the best, Sano!"
Now Sanosuke was confused, terribly so. He knew that Ran was too smart to fall for something like that, so what was he doing?
"Just play along." He heard that was barely audible so only he could hear. He gave a small smirk only to change it to a smile as Yuri's eyes shifted to him.
"Of course, Ran. I'm your friend and actually care unlike Yuri who just kept yelling at me for trying my very hardest." It was ironic that the roles had actually been switched between them, making Sanosuke snicker inwardly at the face Yuri was pulling.
"O-oi! I was just kidding!"
At that moment both Ran and Sanosuke broke out laughing at the brown-haired boy again. Yuri pouted childishly, "Why are you guys always so mean to me?" then he suddenly broke out in laughter as well.
"So," Ran started as he finally caught his breath. "When can I leave?"
"You can actually leave now. The nurse said that you are fine and that your bruises would heal, but I don't think she really cared all that much."
Ran sighed, no one did except for Sanosuke and Yuri...but that was enough.
He quickly hopped out of the bed and realized that he was still wearing his clothes much to his relief. Ran bolted past his two friends and down the hall yelling, "Last one out has to buy me ramen!"
Sanosuke and Yuri looked at each other then at the disappearing form of their friend and sped after him. They both knew that he loved ramen to no end.
Ran was looking back at them and didn't realize that someone was right in front of him, causing him to collide roughly with said person and falling to the floor.
"Oof!"
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Preview for Chapter 4:
"Oof!"
"Hey, you alright, kid?"
Ran tilted his head up to come face to face with a blond man that had a strong broad figure. It was none other than the Yondaime. Time seemed to have stopped as cerulean met cerulean, their eyes bore into each other. This was the Fourth Hokage, the man who sealed the Kyuubi in him and...the man who ruined his life.
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Yeah! I'm finally done!! Don't worry! Ran won't hate the Yondaime or anything...or will he? Hahahah...read and find out!! Review! You guys have been awesome, so please keep it coming!!
Much Love!
xxFrozenSn0wxx