Finally updated! Sorry about the wait but at least it's up.
Before you start reading I don't know if ya'll know but there was an earthquake in Japan which triggered a tsunami on Friday, March people are missing, injured, and dead but the numbers keep rising. Please keep these people in your prayers and hope they recover from this disaster.
Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto
Setting Amaya gently the crib, Kuniko lightly stroked the sleeping child's hair while gazing out the window. Some of the shops in the village were still on casting a soft glow in the room giving her enough light to still see most of the room.
Most of the stuff that was in the room was when she and her siblings were little. She could have always bought her new toys but they would just gather dust in the attic plus most girls' toys right now were pink and if anything, Amaya hated the color pink.
Waiting a few more minutes she finally left the room, making sure the windows were locked and quietly shut the door.
She headed down to the kitchen to make herself some tea before she went to bed. As she passed down the hall she smiled at some of the pictures that hung on the wall. Not being big on taking pictures most were taken when she wasn't looking with only a few exceptions.
One that definitely caught her attention and that was the picture of her with Amaya in her arms. When she moved in she also took her usual job as a waitress at one of the restaurants in the village. Wanting to see her old co-workers they went out for lunch and she met up with a friend of hers that just happened to have his camera with him. While she was drinking some of her tea he came up and asked to take the first picture of her with her 'little girl'. Not wanting to tell him no she put the girl in her lap and gave off a small smile while Amaya looked up at the camera, cooing happily. Stepping into the kitchen she started boiling her water, making sure to keep one ear on Amaya. As she was putting the leaves in the pot, a presence outside the door nearly made her made break it. Taking deep breaths she went over and opened the door more annoyed that Washi was just smirking slyly with his back leaning against the door frame. "What are you doing here now?" she asked anger evident in her voice.
"I just came to talk, hopefully without giving you a reason to punch me." "You being here is the reason so if I were you I get it over with." Sensing the air turn more hostile he put his hands in front of him and just said, "Alright, no more jokes right now, but I really do want to talk to you, Kuni."
Sighing she closed her eyes, deciding what to do. It was obvious he wanted to talk to her but… Usually his talks resulted in him saying some remark, her losing her temper, and he ends up in the hospital with some broken bones, all with his stupid smirk always seeming to be plastered on his face.
Curling her fingers in a fist she just said, "Ten minutes, then you're out of here." Without waiting for a reply to walked back in, hearing the man sigh and take of his sandals as he entered.
As she turned off the fire, Washi seemed to stop by the doorway. Turning around she glared at him as he smirked at some of the photos. Trying to ignore him she went back to her tea.
"I thought you threw this one away," he called out. Turning back around she stared at the picture he had in his hands.
It was the two of them when they were sixteen sitting in front of one of the make-shift hospital camps during the previous war. Washi's whole chest and the right side of his face was bandaged and a few places showed that the wounds were starting to bleed. Beside him was Kuniko in a medic-nins outfit, lightly smiling at a smirking Washi as she dabbed ointment on some scratches.
When the 3rd Great Shinobi War started, Washi and Joji said they had to go fight while Kuniko, Sada, and a surprisingly willing Akina decided to learn medical jutsu and improve their ninjutsu. At first everything seemed to be okay but the three of them were called in after a battle and healed almost the whole unit that the guys were in.
For the remainder of the war they managed to win a few battles and save hundreds of lives. There definitely were some sacrifices made though.
Unconsciously she put her arm around her stomach and was nearly lost in memories when another pair of arms wrapped behind her. Turning her head she looked at Washi, eyes laced with sadness.
Taking one arm he gently stroked her face saying, "Sorry for bringing it up but if it helps, I only have seven minutes left." Smiling a little at the comment she laid her head on his shoulder and just closed her eyes.
Both stayed like that until Kuniko slowly unwrapped his arms from around her a few minutes later. Sighing she took her cup and sat with her back to him. When he was about to walk away she called out, "Stay a little longer."
Slightly surprised he took a seat across from her and waited for her to finish sipping her tea. Setting her cup down she asked, "So what do you want to talk about?" Casting his eyes on the table he answered, "Look, I know I've been somewhat of a jerk but… I've kinda been thinking that I shouldn't. After all, you haven't turned me or the girl-" "Amaya," she interrupted. "Right, Amaya so I guess I owe you that. Plus you've been dealing with me for years and I know I must have hurt you a few times."
Flickering his eyes to hers he finally finished, "What I want to say is, I'm sorry. Heck there are many things I'm sorry for. I'm sorry for not treating you right. I'm sorry for never talking to you. I'm sorry for-"
Before he could finish Kuniko interrupted him, "Just stop, Washi. I can tell you're sorry for what you've been doing but I've had it with you. I'll admit, you are tolerable right now and I actually don't want to put you in a hospital but I also don't feel like letting you stay tonight. Something is going to happen, you somehow got yourself into it, and you want me to stay 'safe'. If you want me to listen anymore you'll tell me what's going to happen."
Shock was written all across his face as he went over her words in his head. Seconds ticked by as both were engulfed in silence, broken only by slight noises outside and the occasional sip of tea. When the words finally sank in Washi just looked back into Kuniko's eyes and smirked, making her frown. "I really hate that smirk of yours," she said, eyes narrowing to thin slits.
"I know but I find it quite funny when you glare at me like that. And to answer your doubts, and hopefully keep my bones intact," he added making Kuniko form a small smile, "Don't worry much about me, I won't be part of what is going to happen in Konoha." "Not yet at least, right?" she asked, groaning when he just kept smirking, "I'm going to be dragged into this aren't are?" "Only if you want to." "Wow I get a choice on whether or not I help your plans? Someone call the Military Police Force," she commented, noticing Washi loosing his smirk.
Rolling her eyes she just continued, "Seriously though, it's strange of you to ask me something like this." "Well if you don't want to then-" "How am I supposed to decide if I don't know what's going on?" "Can't you let me finish?" Chuckling she just waved her hand for him to continue.
"As I was saying…"
A spring breeze blew through the flowers, causing waves of colors to move as the bright sun shone down, bathing everything in warmth. Trees began showing off new, green leaves as grass tangled around its roots.
As large puffy clouds moved across the sky, a small chubby hand happily moved in the air trying to see if they could touch a cloud. Even though they couldn't feel it, they still laughed as they continued sitting on a woman's lap who joined them. Beside the woman was a man who smiled along with the two as he gently stroked the child's hair.
Slowly the background began to fade into gray and it wasn't until she couldn't feel the sun's warmth did the woman look around. Her smile faded as everything continued to be shaded in gray until it was only the three of them.
Quickly turning her head she gasped as she saw the man again, red chakra ropes appearing from the ground. Crying out she transferred the child behind her back into a baby sling as she tried using her own chakra to break the rope.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she was forced back and watched with wide eyes and the ropes began to expand until it covered the man. Before she could do anything else he was dragged under into the dark as he also cried out.
Sensing distress the baby cried from the sling as the woman gently took him out, nearly suffocating him in her arms as she held on to him tightly. As tears continued to fall down her cheeks to the top of her baby's head, she quickly turned around in time to see the red chakra in the shape of a claw as it aimed toward her.
Jumping out of the way to stepped back as the chakra grabbed hold of the black ground while another erupted. Standing in shock and fear, she kneeled down as she felt pain in her stomach as more chakra crawled out from the darkness.
Lifting her eyes she was stunned as the chakra began taking shape into a large fox. It crouched in front of her with its mouth curled into a snarl, showing off sharp teeth while its eyes stared into hers. Around her she watched as the chakra formed into nine fox tails while they circled the pair, closing off her chance of escape.
Feeling the child starting to squirm she loosened her grip as the fox just showed off more teeth with its tails closing in around her. She tried taking a defensive stance but was thrown back when a tail grabbed her behind her legs and knock her down.
As she began to feel pain from her back, a laugh began to sound around them and the chakra began receding while the fox decreased slightly in size. A dark shadow figured walked from behind it, sinister chakra almost enough to match the nine- tail's.
Trying to get up she called out in pain as a kunai was stabbed in her back causing her to kneel back down as she kept her arms around the now screaming child. Without a moment to regain her breath she felt the chakra began to start to wrap around her, slowly tearing her arms from the baby.
Feeling being pulled down she tried fighting back but only felt herself descending into darkness, the figure continuing to laugh.
Pulling herself up, Kushina began panting as her hand went to her stomach, feeling a slight kick. Heartbeat slowing down she heard Minato from beside her call out, "Kushina, are you alright?"
Turning on the light he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, gently taking her hand in his. Placing a gentle kiss on her cheek he asked, "Was it a bad dream?" "More like a nightmare," she answered, hearing the demon chuckling, "Stupid fox."
Sighing Minato gave her another cheek kiss and said, "It was only a dream." "But it felt so real. Even when the fox evaded my sleep during the first few weeks of the sealing it has never been this bad before."
Feeling her heart race up again she rubbed her temples as Minato rubbed her shoulders. Once her heart was at normal speed she whispered, "Naruto was in it." Eyes widening he asked, "Really?"
Nodding she looked at the village, most people asleep while the stars above shone brightly. She felt another kick and let out a small smile, placing her hand on the spot. "Are you almost ready to come out, Naruto?" she smiled, starting to feel better.
"Of course he is," Minato said, grinning along, "he'll be an awesome ninja, strong, smart, and a good sense of humor. He'll also make lots of friends, hopefully one will be Mikoto's youngest, what's his name?... Oh Sasuke!" Immediately his mind flashed with a picture of two children, a boy and a girl, looking identical as they seemed to be laughing.
Shaking his head he watched as Kushina laid back down and closed her eyes, chest starting to rise and fall in a steady beat of sleep. Smiling he turned off the lights and traced her hand with his, slowly closing his eyes.
I'm still sorry about the slow update but it was mostly temporary writer's block and other things. I don't know about ya'll but I'm heading out of state for spring break but I'll think about writing any ideas down when we ride up there (bout eight-ten hours in a five seat car with my mom, big bro, and his gf with her sister, fun :p) Well hope this didn't disappoint anyone and thanks for reading and review/flame if you like.
