Alright, so I'm back to the whole writing thing and this is the newest update. Although it's no excuse for not having updated in forever, I was extremely busy sorting out a schedule for college life, social life, and this. Unfortunately, this was cut for a while. I was having midterms last week and so didn't have a lot of time, and we'll see how those turned out. Anyway, this is the latest chapter, which I've been sitting on for the longest time. I will try to update at least semi-regularly, but I am sending out a warning now that I do have two huge research papers that I have to work on until the end of the term. Enjoy and direct any comments, concerns, suggestions, or questions to either my email (on my profile) or in a review.
kaoru-ai
Chapter 8
For days, Kyuubi and Naruto simply spent time together. It was not a conventional, "let's get to know each other" time: Kyuubi referred to these days as the time when he was "pestered by that human brat," although even in his personal thoughts, or rather, especially in those thoughts, hints of growing attachment slipped through.
Kyuubi was experiencing something completely new: affection for a human. He didn't fully understand it. Why should he care about some human brat he just so happened to be stuck with (stuck in?). And he tried to answer his own question. He'd decided that it was possible that since this was the first human he ever really interacted with his assumption that humans were essentially selfish and cruel beings was wrong. But he didn't think so. He had a sneaking suspicion that Naruto was the difference, that he was the reason why Kyuubi could bond with a human. He reached the conclusion, in those hours away from Naruto, that Naruto possessed the perfect combination of curiosity, openness, trust, intelligence and pain. Kyuubi knew that it was especially that last trait that helped close the gap, so to speak, between bijuu and ningen. And what amazed Kyuubi most was the way Naruto carried his pain. He didn't flaunt it, as a creature seeking to be pitied; he didn't give in to it and wallow in his hurt; rather, he accepted it for what it was and worked hard (so very, very hard, Kyuubi knew) to move past it and towards better things.
And Kyuubi respected him for this, for doing something Kyuubi wasn't sure he could, would, or even wanted, to do.
Months passed since Kyuubi and Naruto first exchanged names, and the giant demon no longer really held back his affection for, and interest in, Naruto. He decided it didn't matter whether he showed his care: there was no one to see him, Naruto wouldn't judge him, in fact, he would welcome him, and he was lonely.
It was in the ninth month that Kyuubi knew Naruto, that the first inkling of real change came.
Kyuubi could only speak to Naruto when the boy was unconscious and if Kyuubi wanted it. Yet on a warm and relatively cheery morning, Kyuubi realized that he could hear Naruto humming. This, in and of itself, was not overly impressive; however, coupled with the fact that Naruto was awake and apparently cleaning his room, well, it became something causing intense shock to the demon fox. Upon spreading his senses a bit further, Kyuubi realized he could see through Naruto, could in fact, use him as a medium of sorts: he could see the world, even if it was a limited view.
Naruto could feel something was different. He felt that his mind wasn't entirely his own. No, he amended, that isn't quite right…It's my own mind, but there's something…extra, something, a presence, that wasn't there before. The boy stilled and waited, hardly breathing.
Kyuubi, sensing Naruto's hesitance, sent out his awareness again, a bit more forcefully this time, and found he could understand, could hear, Naruto's thoughts, could sense the boy's uneasiness and precaution. Still shaken, but determined to find out the extent of this new state, the fox sent a thought to float around in Naruto's mind: Brat, I heard your crappy singing. It makes me wish I was deaf.
Naruto answered immediately, "Oh, yeah? I'm glad you like it so much! I wasn't even singing, but I should now! I'll sing loud! Bossy fox, criticizing my singing!"
Naruto opened and shut his mouth seconds later, when he realized what was happening. Opening his mouth again slowly, Naruto swallowed and asked, "K-Kyuubi? Why can I hear you? Why? I'm still awake, aren't I?"
Kyuubi, unsure himself, answered truthfully, hoping he and Naruto could come to some sort of rational conclusion, "I'm not really sure kid. I was sleeping like always, and when I awoke…I could hear your voice. You were humming. I thought you were with me, waiting for me to wake up, but I realized it was morning, when we're usually apart. I could, can see, too, through your eyes. And," Kyuubi paused here, wondering how Naruto would take the next bit of news, "And I can hear your thoughts. I didn't do it on purpose, really, I was just testing my limits."
"But…" Naruto trailed off. He was worried, agitated really, and he was confused, struggling for the words to ask his questions and avoid the rising panic he felt.
Kyuubi instantly sent out comforting sensations to calm the boy. He was, quite honestly, surprised at himself for trying to assuage the child, but he was not deterred. The reassuring feelings from the giant fox demon did help Naruto to alleviate the worst of the oncoming fear, but did not completely erase the feeling that something was wrong, for which the boy was grateful. He tried to continue once again.
"But, then--what I mean is…why…what's going to happen? What did happen?"
Kyuubi sent out his reassurances in smooth and constant waves. "I'm not…I don't quite know. But let's think. We spend lots of time together, right? Even among demons there can exist a certain type of closeness: when they know another so well that they can finish each other's thoughts, they know when the other is distressed. This can be it, can't it? Our way of becoming closer? I know it seldom happens, but, that could happen, right? The seal weakened because we got closer, right?" There was a slight hint of desperation by the end of his questions.
Thinking about it that way, Naruto was more comfortable with the intrusion, though still a little uneasy. He realized that this is exactly what he wanted to have with people. Lasting friendships, meaningful friendships. The more thought he gave it, the happier Naruto became, to be able to have someone, even a tailed demon, to talk to, to enjoy life with, to simply be around, even if there were no words shared. In his short life, Naruto had ached for this so much that it seemed a dream it was coming true. He decided then not to question his luck and to make the best of it.
"So, O Mighty Kyuubi, what should we have for breakfast?"
