Author's Note: I do not own Naruto or Bloodborne
The Hunts were created to kill beasts. Those who partook in the Hunts were bathed in the blood of beasts and began to crave it. So the Hunts went on, not to slay beasts, but in order to quench the hunter's thirst. Avarice turned desperate men into secret blood addicts. The Hunts became battle royales where Hunters killed both beasts and each other for another taste of that intoxicating ichor.
The addiction to blood was one of three reasons why the Uzumaki are now extinct.
At night, Konoha became a mirror; turning the town from warm, sunbaked buildings into a sheet of black stone with small mountains growing from the dark earth. And the lights, some made by candles, others by neon signs, some the warm eyes of the homes of Konoha folk, were peppered through the dark geography. Those lights were not enough to illuminate the darkest parts of the village; the back alleys, the side corridors, the fenced-off cages with signs that depict a dog and the word 'Beware!'. Step into a dark alley in Konoha and you could end up in a place you have never been before. At night, Konoha became a carnival maze.
That's why Ninja preferred to leaping over the rooftops. During the night, trained assassins sped by one another on their way home or to work. Those below usually didn't notice what was going on above their heads, or that people would suddenly appear from dark corners or alleys. This was how the Hunters could search without being discovered. They simply moved too quickly to be noticed.
Four figures in black, three much shorter than the fourth, stood above Konoha General Hospital.
"Someone here stinks with the blood." One of the smaller figures said. They were all in black hoods that covered their faces and obscured gender. Red hair spilled from under one hood and hung still in the night air.
"We must be discreet. Our prey may know of our presence, but it cannot be everywhere at once. If we can capture whoever is infected, then we can lure the Child of Blood to us."
"I do not understand why we simply don't kill this wretch. Let us send a message to the abomination."
"Don't be a fool, Xavier. We need to take it by surprize. On our terms. If we kill this person, then our prey may flee. No. We need bait."
The Hunter with the red hair removed her hood. "Must we talk now? I'm tired of Xavier's ramblings. Let's go."
"And who are you to judge me, wench? It is odious enough that I must suffer this heathen," he gestured to the remaining team member, "and this puppet," he pointed to the taller figure, "I do not need any unwarranted arrogance from our Master's favourite choir girl!"
"Do we have a problem? We can settle this right now and I can break that precious wooden dildo of yours!"
"You dare deface the holy relic?! I shall bathe in your blood!"
The tallest figure appeared between the two and placed a hand on each of their throats. "Must I remind you that this is a mission sent directly from Master? Or would you like to explain to her how your arrogance caused our failure?" Her grip on their throats tightened, choking them. "Or must I just kill you now and complete the mission myself?" The other Hunters tried not to tremble. The woman's voice was devoid of all reason and emotion; and they knew she would eviscerate them on the spot without a moment's hesitation, as if she were folding laundry.
"Shall we proceed?"
The girl with the red hair and the other hooded figures nodded instinctively.
"Thank you."
Disease has a smell. Like bleach and ammonia, it has solitary odour that drives its way through the olfactory system like a sword through flesh. It is the stink of rotting fruit and blood and sweat. Go to old hospital rooms and you can smell it underneath the disinfectant; go to old missionaries and you can smell it under the floorboards; go to mass graves and smell it under the earth. Disease soaks itself into these places and the smell hangs stagnant for centuries.
It was the smell of disease that led Naruto back to Anko's hospital room. It was empty and still, as sterile as a disinfected wound. The bed sheets lay undisturbed. The mirror was clean. The floor was polished spotless. And that smell of disease, like the smell of rotting flesh, hung subtly under the harsh sting of bleach.
A breeze carrying the salt smell of the sea stalked through the dark streets of Konoha. The ocean was worlds away.
Training Ground #9 was divided. Team 8 trained on the grass under the trees and Team Guy trained on the dirt field. Lee and Ten-ten cast occasional glances at their partnered team, specifically at the silent blond boy who seemed to be the center of everyone's attention. Might Guy and Kurenai Yuhi stood together. Kurenai shook her head.
"Neji has completely destroyed their chemistry. Now they won't even face one another."
Guy, he of the bob hair and green tights, grimaced in agreement.
"Not entirely though. Both Lee and Ten-ten are happy to keep working with Hinata-san and Kiba-san but…"
"But those two won't let Naruto be excluded. They'll stand against anyone for him, even me."
Guy didn't comment on her last remark but nodded.
"It seems our cooperative training is at an end."
"Unfortunately."
Naruto motioned for his teammates to approach.
"I think it would be best if I left."
"What are you talking about?" Kiba said, "Is this about them?"
"They won't train with us if I'm here. I will leave and you two can go on training with Team Guy."
Hinata grabbed his shoulder to restrain him. "No. You are our teammate. If they have a problem with you, then they have a problem with us."
"Hinata's right. We're Team 8; they either train with all of us or with none of us."
Naruto smiled sadly. "Thank you."
Kurenai appeared from her place beside Guy. "Hello everyone."
The team greeted her. Kurenai noted with some pride that neither Kiba nor Hinata shifted in front of Naruto.
"Listen. I think you all agree with me when I say that our cooperative training with Team Guy seems to have come to an end."
"Yeah. It's too bad. I just started my training with Ten-chan."
Kurenai quirked her left brow. "Ten-chan?"
Kiba felt his cheeks catch alight. "Y-yeah, she told me that's what I have call her when we're training."
"Kiba and Ten-chan sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g." Hinata said, smiling.
"Shut up!"
Ten-ten heard Kiba mention her name and smiled. "Seems like someone is talking about me."
"They must be discussing a new training regimen. Maybe something that involves running around the village! That would be most youthful!"
"Shut up, Lee."
"Umm, Naruto-san, can I ask you something?" Sakura said. The sky was now a great palette of red and orange with violet clouds. Sakura no longer looked like a porcelain doll. Her skin had taken to the sun as a flower to rain and she now bore a deep, healthy tan that made her look almost golden in the dusk light. The skin above her cheeks and the bridge of her nose were wind-chafed and flush with color. The bandages around her lower arms had dark brown patterns running from her elbows to the back of her hands.
Naruto nodded and gestured for her to sit.
She took her seat beside him and said: "Did something happen between you guys? You're not training with Lee and Ten-chan anymore."
Naruto nodded sadly. "Yes, Lee and Ten-ten refuse to train with me anymore.
"Why?" Sakura asked, tilting her head to one side.
"Because I made a mistake when I was young, and it hurt one of their friends."
"What did you do?"
"I lied."
Kurenai and Guy gathered their teams together.
"There is only one week left before the Chunin Exams start," Guy said, "And it is time for us to return to our own respective training. Please thank Team 8 for their time."
"Thanks." Ten-ten said.
"Thank you very much, Hinata-san! Thank you very much, Kiba-san!" Rock Lee said, bowing to each of them. They only nodded at Naruto, who nodded back.
"Say thank you as well," Kurenai said.
"Thanks."
"Thank you."
"Yes. This was a most youthful experience! We should do it again after the exams! Now, everyone, training is over for today! Dismissed!" Guy said. There were tears coming down his cheeks in sheets of water.
"That was a most youthful speech!" Lee said, crying too. The two embraced each other
"Lee!"
"Guy-sensei!"
"Lee!"
"Guy-sensei!"
Ten-ten turned on her heel. "Run!"
"What for?" Kiba asked.
"Just run!" Ten-ten bolted, disappearing into the trees.
It took only a glimpse of the sunset appearing behind the two weeping men to send Team 8 and company running.
Naruto turned the world on it's head with blink of an eye. The moon, as round and pale as an egg, bled crimson, a gigantic gaping wound in the purple sky. The clouds surrounded it like a celestial halo. The land beneath his feet was black and crumbled; many of the buildings buried in their own rubble or burning like bonfires. In the distance, a giant red fox with nine tails howled madly at the moon. Yet all was still. The red fury was frozen and silent, the buildings were caught mid-fall, and the fires were glowing statues. This was a single moment that stretched on forever.
"Have I ever told you that this was the happiest and saddest moment of my life?"
The woman with the red hair and the swollen, bleeding belly hugged him from behind. "Even though that monster was killing everyone, even though the citizens were screaming, even though they had opened my belly to save you; seeing you for the first time was the happiest moment of my life. You were the most beautiful thing I had ever father and all the doctor's screamed, but I barely heard them. All I could see or hear or feel was you. You became my entire world. Then I felt my hands grow slack and my arms go numb. When my fingers slipped from your face, I realised that I wouldn't survive the birthing. And the thought that I would never see you again tore at my soul."
She bent down and pressed cold lips to the top of his head.
"I begged for some infinite being to let me live, so that I could raise you and love you and hold you. But then you slipped from my fingers. It was only by the Great Mother's will that your father saved you. The last thing I saw was him carrying you away from me."
She swept her hand over the ravaged village caught in time.
"That was the saddest moment of my life."
Naruto leaned into her embrace and listened. When he was sure she was finished speaking, he said:
"They've found me."
Her grip on him tightened.
"Have they tried anything yet?"
"No, but they took her."
"Who?"
Naruto turned to face her, unaffected by the blood dripping down from her open stomach.
"Her."
Mother grimaced.
"What are you going to do to them?"
Three blue eyes became iridescent, turning into a kaleidoscope of green and white over the blackness of space. Tiny stars erupted over the multicolored nebula. His eyes became mirrors of the cosmos.
"Everything."
Anko screamed as they fumbled at her mind like a virgin at a pantygirdle, tearing at the fabric of her consciousness for answers. She twisted, tried to free herself, felt her arms betray her then screamed in futility. They were searching for the blond boy. Every time they went feeling through her mind, her thoughts drifted to memories of him; and every time she drifted they would tear the memories out from underneath her. They wanted him, needed him; and they would tear her apart to get to him.
In-between sessions of torture, she thought she might tell them all that she knew of him and be released from her pain, but her mind revolted at the idea. This blond boy was special to her. When she saw him, she felt her will renew and her psyche strengthen against their assault. But she sometimes felt sad. She knew she had harmed him, and the pain she saw in his eyes shamed her. At these times she welcomed the agony, and laughed at her own destruction.
The only thing that kept her sane was the thought that if she survived, then she might apologize. If she lived, then she would go on her knees before him and beg with cupped hands for his forgiveness. If she lived, she would confess to him like he was the Messiah. If she lived, then she would love him.
They came again with the claws of beasts, clutching at her sanity. Blue-stained lips stretched wide to scream.
Sakura felt her jaw creak against the blow then retaliated with an uppercut that snapped Naruto's head back. They were training again; the setting sun casting long shadows at their feet. Sakura stood with both hands up to her face and her chin pointed at her chest. Naruto jabbed and connected with her bronze forehead. His fist made a thumping noise at the hard part of her skull. Sakura smiled and moved forward, ducking under and coming up with her left hand poised to connect with his chin. Naruto shifted to the left, let her fist pass by, and landed a blow on her stomach that lifted her off her feet. Sakura emptied all the air from her lungs as his knuckles struck her plexus, allowing her body to arch back and absorb the impact. Her right hand came in a tight circle and missed Naruto's face. Two more swift blows to the body sent Sakura stumbling.
"Enough," Naruto said, holding up one hand.
Sakura bowed her head. "Dammit!"
She clasped her hands together and squeezed until her knuckles were pale.
"Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!"
Naruto frowned.
"Even after three weeks of training...even after working my ass off...I still can't keep up," she said. "Ten-ten was right. I should just be someone's housewife!" Twin drops of water slid down her nose and soaked the ground beneath her face. She looked up just in time to avoid Naruto's haymaker.
"Hey! What the hell was that!?" she said, "I was having a moment! What is wrong with you!?"
Naruto smiled at her sudden mood swing.
"What did you just do?"
"I just avoided getting clocked in a moment of emotional weakness!" Sakura's chest heaved as she spoke.
"And do you think that you could have done that three weeks ago?"
Sakura deflated as her outrage turned to embarrassment. "I guess not."
"And do you think you could hit me three weeks ago?"
"No."
"So you have been improving."
She smiled. "Yes, I have improved."
"Good," Naruto said. He reached behind his back and produced a pair of black leather gloves.
"These are for you."
Sakura took them and tried them on. They fit like a second skin.
"Thank you, Naruto," she said, flexing her hands. She turned them over and saw that there were small symbols indented in the fingertips. Sakura was mystified. She wondered when he had these made. They were obviously tailor-made and must have taken some time. Had he been planning to train her since they came back from Wave? Could he have known that she would come to him?"
"There's one more thing I want to give you, but you can choose not to take it."
"Why wouldn't I want your other gift?" she said, frowning.
"It's a dangerous gift; something I wouldn't be offering you if I had another choice," he said, eyes glazing to chips of glass.
Sakura's spine trembled at his tone. "What is it?"
"A rune, like the one in your palm, but more powerful, and infinitely more dangerous."
"How could symbols painted on my skin be dangerous?"
Naruto frowned. He hadn't meant to divulge such information, but he couldn't offer her this without making her fully aware of the consequences.
"My runes are not symbols, they leave an imprint upon you very mind."
"What?"
"Close your eyes and visualize the "Eye" rune upon your hand."
Sakura hesitated then did what she was told. The image popped instantly through the river of her thoughts; so vivid that she felt she could reach for it and grasp it with both hands. It was the drawing of a great, glowing star with an unblinking eye in the center. She held out a hand to touch it and was thrown backwards. Sakura stumbled awake and gasped; she had been holding her breath. She looked at Naruto.
"What was that?"
"That was my rune. It is, for lack of a better word, etched into your mind."
"So that's how you're talking to me? You're sending your thoughts directly into my mind?"
Naruto nodded.
"I'm not sure I like the idea of you scratching around inside my head." she said, trying not to be disturbed by the thought that Naruto was inside her mind.
"Sakura, do you think so little of me to assume that I would interfere with your own thoughts?" Naruto crossed his hands over his chest and puffed out his bottom lip, milking his innocent features for all that they were worth.
"No! No! I mean...I don't think that!" Sakura said, waving her hands, "I mean, I've read up on mind-reading techniques before, and I don't like the idea of you reading my mind, not that I think you would!"
Naruto smiled at Sakura's distress.
"Please, don't be concerned. My rune only projects MY thoughts into your mind. It's like a one-way radio."
"Oh." Sakura became silent for a moment, carefully constructing her next question.
"So what's so dangerous about this new rune?"
Naruto's smile faded slightly.
"This rune was used once before. It failed to do what it was intended to, though it did succeed in other ways."
"How did it fail?"
"It was supposed to control monsters."
"How did it succeed?"
"It made the monster."
Sakura stiffened. "W-why would you want to give me something that would turn me into a monster?"
"Because I believe that you are the only one who can properly control it."
"Why not give it to Kiba or Hinata? They're your teammates."
"Kiba doesn't have the strength of will that you do. Hinata is your equal in terms of sheer will, but her lust for power and control would weaken her against the rune's lure."
Sakura floundered. She felt like she was being sucked into a mudpit. What could Naruto be thinking? Why would he want to shove this responsibility on her? What if she couldn't do it? What if she became a monster? Would Naruto have to kill her?
"How can you be so sure that I can handle it? Hinata is a hundred of times stronger than me."
Naruto grasped her hands and made her look into his beautiful icy eyes. "Sakura, do you think that I would offer you this burden if I thought you couldn't bear it?"
Sakura's eyes burned, though not out of fear. She was amazed and humbled by his faith in her. She had never been very confident and had been forcing herself during her arguments with Ino, and the longer she continued, the louder she spoke; not because she was trying to make a point, but to hide the trembling of her voice.
Naruto was telling her that she was strong. He was saying that she was the only one who could bear this burden. At that moment, with her hands in his and his blue eyes imploring, she knew she would kill for him if he asked.
"Okay. I'll do it." Sakura whispered, hands trembling.
"Are you sure? It could kill you, or worse."
Sakura locked eyes with him, unflinching. "Do it."
A puff of smoke erupted in his hands then cleared to revealed a small brand. It was a thin rod about the length of his forearm with an intricate symbol on the end that resembled a beast's claw.
"Is this going to hurt?"
He motioned her to sit and brushed the hair from her forehead.
"Yes."
Naruto thrust the brand against her forehead. There was a fine hissing noise like flesh searing under hot metal, which was then drowned by Sakura's screaming.
The faint salt breeze reminded Kakashi of when Naruto had massacred Gato's men. He had only been there for a few moments, but he remembered the way Naruto had risen from the ground; the deep blue of his eyes catching fire; and then the smell of the saltwater. He had originally thought that it was just chakra exhaustion and adrenaline clouding his senses. Now that the salt smell had returned, he could almost see Naruto's eyes glowing like winter lanterns. Kakashi had dismissed the memory when he saw the blond speeding by him. A sudden urge to satisfy his curiosity swept over Kakashi. He moved to intercept Naruto.
Naruto came to rest on the edge of a small building. The street beneath his feet was lit with neon lights. Kakashi stopped behind him. Naruto's front was lit but his back was in the dark. He looked like he was walking out of a dark tunnel into a bright light.
"Hello, Naruto-chan, what are you doing out so late? Shouldn't you be in bed right now?" Kakashi said, one eye somehow smiling while the rest of his face remained still under his mask. Naruto briefly wondered how Kakashi could independently move his individual features, and if he could apply this technique himself. He dismissed the idea. He didn't plan on wearing a mask. He was too pretty.
"Do you have somewhere you need to be?"
Naruto studied Kakashi. He hadn't bothered to look at the man when he was bedridden, and he hadn't been paying much attention to him when killing Gato's men, but now he had a moment to study the man. He was tall and thin with silver hair growing like grass from his scalp. He had a mask hiding the lower half of his face and his left eye. He was standing at a fair distance yet Naruto could see that he was leaning slightly away from him. Blue eyes flicked down and saw that Kakashi's feet were pointing slightly to the left, as if he were preparing to leave even though he had initiated the conversation.
"You seem to be alone. What's a Genin doing running around in the middle of the night?"
Naruto tilted his head and reached into his back pouch. Kakashi tensed. Naruto's hand appeared again, this time with a small notebook and pen. He scribbled something on one of the pages, tore it out and handed it to Kakashi.
"I'm on my way home," it said.
"And you can't talk? You're teammates seem to understand you perfectly. I'm also aware that you've taken to one of my students, and she doesn't seem to have any problems communicating with you. Why don't you speak?"
Naruto wrote another note and handed it over.
"I'm mute. I use my face to talk," it said.
Kakashi suddenly felt like grabbing the Genin and shaking him until he spoke. His hands twitched. Naruto scribbled one more note then dove into the dark alley beside them. Kakashi snatched it, leapt after him, landed, and turned to confront Naruto. The alley was empty.
"Shit," he said.
Kakashi unfolded the note.
It said: "I don't talk to strangers."
Sakura groaned as she awoke and brought her left hand up to touch her face. It was unmarked. She stood. It was night now, which meant she must have lost consciousness when Naruto burned her. There was a small basket on the ground nearby. She walked over, unwrapped the cloth that was covering its contents, then stared inquisitively. There was only one item inside: a vial of blood. Sakura examined it. It had no label. She stared at it's contents and saw something shimmer inside the blood, something like night sky. She turned it around again, but the shimmer was gone.
Sakura crouched and examined the basket again. She pulled the cover off and felt in the base of basket. There was a brief crunching noise as her hand grabbed a piece of paper.
It said, "Drink this when the time comes. You'll know when."
A normal person would have balked at the vague message but Sakura merely nodded. Naruto had faith that she would know, so she took it as truth. She would know because Naruto believed that she would know. Sakura crammed the note into a ball and let it fall away. She held onto the vial.
Naruto came to rest on one of the gigantic branches in the Forest of Death and felt his jaw lock up. Anko was below him in a small clearing. She was pinned against one of the giant trees and hung from knives that had been thrust through her hands and feet. They had crucified her.
He dropped down and rushed forward to release her; and barely ducked under the huge wooden mace swinging towards his face. He came up, avoiding another attacker wielding a dull cudgel covered in blue sparks, and elbowed its wielder in her ribs, breaking two of the them. Naruto vaulted over his attackers, unsheathed the Blades of Mercy and dealt two blows across their shoulders. The wielder of the crackling cudgel cursed. It was a girl. The other with the wooden mace remained silent and rotated his injured shoulder.
"Dammit, Xavier! How the hell did you miss? He was running right for you!"
"Silence, Wench," Xavier said, "I didn't miss. He evaded my attack!"
Naruto examined Anko as they spoke. She was unconscious. There was blood dripping from her right temple and her lips were stained blue. She was very pale.
"Oh, you've noticed your whore."
Naruto directed his attention towards the Hunter with the mace.
"We had a bit of fun with her. I don't know why, but her blood tasted so sweet. We couldn't help but feast on her after we were done."
Naruto ducked as two claws scissored above him. He drove his head back, butting his assailant in the ribs, then turned and cut across the attacker's legs, sending him to the ground. Blood spurted from the wounds and puddled on the ground. The attacker sat up, both hands like the claws of a wolf. He lunged again and was silenced with a blade through his eye.
"Well, Vincent's dead."
"Be silent, Theresa," Xavier said.
"Make me, Eunuch," the girl called Theresa said.
"Must you two argue in front of our prey?"
Naruto turned and saw someone appear from behind one of the trees. She too was dressed in black robes and hood that covered her face. He could tell she was a woman because of her voice; it sounded like the tinkling of a silver bell.
"Now that we are all introduced, would you please tell me where I can find the Child of Blood?"
Naruto smiled pleasantly.
"You are very quiet. My associates could learn from you."
"Hey, we're right here!" Theresa said, brandishing the cudgel. "Don't make me shove this Tonitrus up your ass!"
"Please excuse my foul-mouthed associate. I believe she is mentally deficient after too many knocks to the head."
"Hey!"
Xavier elbowed his compatriot in the ribs to shut her up.
"Thank you, Xavier," the woman said, "now, I ask you again; where is the Child of Blood?"
Naruto continued to smile.
"Fine then. We shall do it the bloody way."
Theresa began to approach but was stopped by a loud crunching sound like someone stepping on a potato chip. She crumpled and landed face first on the ground. There was a kunai sticking out of the base of her skull. Anko stumbled forward and fell to her knees. Naruto appeared at her side. Hefted her onto his shoulders. Xavier brought his mace over his head and brought it down. It crashed harmlessly into the ground. The two had disappeared in a gust of salt-laced wind.
"Blast! They escaped!" Xavier said.
"You are a fine observer of the obvious. Now, onto more pressing matters; help me with these two."
"Must we?"
"Yes. Even if you three are useless against a single opponent," she said, staring pointedly at him, "I still require you for the upcoming exams. But know that I will be reporting your incompetence to Master after we complete the mission. Your punishment is only postponed, not forgiven."
Xavier considered attacking her and escaping but thought better of it. There was no way he could match her, and even if he could, the others would merely execute him. The most he could hope for was a quick death.
"I understand."
Naruto dove into the dark water with Anko in his arms and came out dry on the other side. His hiding place was located under a dark-blue lake deep in the Forest of Death. It was a giant cavern lit by glowing algae that clung to the walls and ceiling and stained everything with blue light. On one side of the cavern was the pool he used to enter and leave his home. The other side was where he kept his amenities. There was a tent big enough for two and before it lay a fire pit. In one corner stood a large mirror and water basin. There was a rack lined with clothes in the other. Various pots and pans hung from hooks driven into the cavern's walls. Plates and cutlery were stacked in a blue plastic tray beneath them.
Naruto laid Anko down inside the tent and pressed a hand to her forehead. She was burning up. He slit his wrist and pressed it to her lips. He held his hand there until her skin flushed with color. Naruto walked out of the tent and lit a fire. Anko snuck up behind him and hugged his neck. She was taller and had to go on her knees to hug him. Her face was mashed against his shoulder. He felt moisture soak through his shirt.
"I'm sorry," she said, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry."
Naruto was too shocked to react then caressed her arms. How long had he been hoping for those words?
"It's okay," he said, "I forgive you."
Anko pressed her lips to his ear. "Come back to bed. I need a cuddle buddy."
She carried him like a bride back to the tent. She didn't let him down though. Instead she turned and fell onto her the futon. She let go just long enough for him to settle then pulled him up till his face was pressed in the valley of her breasts. She smiled at his annoyed look.
"Shut up and sleep," she said.
Naruto grumbled for a moment then decided to make himself comfortable. It was strange. The first thing she did when she awoke was ask for forgiveness, and now she was bossing him around. Humans are strange, he decided. Naruto lifted a hand and brushed some of the hair from her face. She smiled but didn't open her eyes.
"Sleep," she said.
He fell asleep.
Author's Note: Please feed me reviews! Tell me if you liked it, or if you hated it. Did it make you smile at the funny parts? Did it make you sad at the sad parts? Have any suggestions? Am I conveying the story in an accurate manner? Do the character's feel alive?
Please note that you don't have to do any of these things, but I, as a writer, am committed to making better content. I can only do so if you participate and help me make better content for you. But if you don't have the time, or the energy, then feel free to just read the story.
I hope you enjoyed this episode!
*Becomes a butterfly and flies away*
*Gets eaten by a bird*