A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. Once again I am sorry for being gone for so long.

*Also…if anyone reading this will be at the anime convention known as AnimeNext in New Jersey June 18-20, look for me! I will cosplaying as Itachi in a group with at least Tobi, Hidan, and Kisame.*

The Fox and the Flute

Chapter Nine: Nightmares

Naruto had managed to prepare a simple dinner without either burning the food to an unrecognizable char, or burning the house down, much to Tayuya's surprise. After eating their dinner both Naruto and Tayuya decided to call it a night.

"Good night Tayuya," Naruto said as he began to climb the stairs, pausing to add, "Do you need anything before I head up?"

"Nah, I'm good. Good night Shithead," Tayuya replied sleepily as she made herself comfortable on her couch.

Naruto growled slightly, as he always did when he heard her nickname for him. "Alright then, see you in the morning," he said as he climbed the stairs.

Later that night, Naruto was awakened by something. His eyes shot open and grabbed the kunai he had strapped to the side of the headboard. He cautiously sat up and looked around the room for what had caused him to wake up, but found nothing. A moment later he heard a sound coming from outside his bedroom, but still inside the house. "Shit!" he cursed as he bolted out of bed, ran to the door, threw it open and ran to the flight of stairs.

Once he got halfway down the stairs he was able to distinguish what the sound was: Tayuya was crying again. "Tayuya?" he asked as he slowly descended the stairs and walked around the couch to view the girl. It was immediately obvious to him that she was still sleeping: she was reliving her memories in her dreams.

Naruto quickly walked over and gently shook her shoulder, while urging her to wake up, "Tayuya. Tayuya wake up!"

Tayuya was trapped in a vortex of pain, reliving the final hours of her mother's life over and over. After that came her years in Orochimaru's service, that was of course a hell all its own. She was then immediately confronted by the sight of her mother being tortured and raped.

"Make it stop! Somebody please make it stop!" Tayuya cried out as she fell to her knees and gripped the sides of her head as tears began to fall.

"Tayuya…" a voice faintly called out to her.

Tayuya looked up, tears still falling from her eyes, she was immediately bombarded by the images once again. "Help! Please help me!" she called out.

"Tayuya!" the voice called out stronger and more clearly.

Tayuya was now able to recognize the voice and asked quietly in shock, "Naruto?"

"Tayuya!" Naruto's voice called out once more.

"Naruto! Make it stop!" she called out desperately.

"Tayuya, wake up! Wake up Tayuya!" Naruto called out as the images around her began to fade away.

As Naruto continued prompting Tayuya to wake up she started talking in her sleep, until she finally started to wake up. When she opened her eyes and saw Naruto she immediately sat up and clung to him, surprising him. After a moment he embraced her and rubbed her back slowly in order to calm her down.

"It's okay Tayuya, it's okay. Let it out," Naruto said gently as Tayuya for a second time that night cried into his shoulder. For several minutes this continued, until she calmed down once more. Once she was calmed down Naruto asked, "Are you gonna be okay?"

He felt her nod in response, he then gently lowered her back down onto the couch, and seeing that her eyes were shut made to get up to go back to bed.

As he stood he felt his arm being pulled, and looking down saw that Tayuya had grabbed his hand. Seeing the almost pleading look in her half-closed eyes asked, "Tayuya?"

Tayuya's hesitation was visible on her face before she spoke up, "C-can I…sleep upstairs with you tonight?"

Naruto's eyes widened at this: he knew she had been shaken by delving into her memories, but he hadn't expected this much from it. Are you sure Tayuya? You're going try to kill me when you wake up are you?" Naruto asked in response.

This managed to get a slight laugh and smile out of her as she replied, "I'm sure. I'm….afraid of having those dreams…and you were able to make them go away…"

After hearing that and seeing the pleading look on her half-asleep face, he couldn't say no. "Alright then, come on then," Naruto said as he carefully picked her up bridal style. Neither said a word as he carried her upstairs and into the bedroom. He placed her down on one side of the bed and made sure she was comfortable before going to the other side and getting in bed as well.

As Naruto laid down on his side facing Tayuya he was surprised as she scooted closer to him and wrapped an arm around his waist. Naruto smiled slightly at this before moving a bit closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer, her face burrowing into his chest.

"Thanks Naruto," she mumbled sleepily.

Naruto laughed a bit before replying, "You just called me by my name."

Tayuya responded by reaching up and smacking him in the side of the head and saying, "Don't get used to it. Shut up and sleep."

"Good night to you too Tayuya," Naruto said as they both drifted off into sleep.

A/N: Sorry it's another short chapter, both this one and the previous chapter's moods would have been killed if they were any longer. Please Review!