The hole Naruto and I were crawling through was tiny and damp and extremely dark. I was worried I might bump into Naruto but I figured that wouldn't happen. Still, I worried, like I did most of the time. I was anxious. I couldn't see my hand in front of my face and I could barely move anywhere but forward. I was beginning to feel claustrophobic. Just as I was about to totally start freaking out, I popped out on the other side to find Naruto crouched to the left of the hole.

I crouched beside him, blocking the hole, and watched his expression. He looked so desperately sad. Why? Why was this boy so sad? I glanced around and saw why.

Coffins, hundreds of coffins, stacked one on top of the other as high as the ceiling, and the ceiling was pretty damn high. It was even higher than the domed room of the chapel where we had just been. So many coffins, so many lives gone.

"Wh-what is this?" I demanded in a shaky voice.

"This is a tomb," Naruto stated flatly, eyes devoid of anything.

"A t-tomb? F-f-for wh-what?"

Naruto nodded at an inscription painted directly across from us on the wall in between a stack of coffins. I read it once, then again and again, trying so hard not to let the meaning of these words affect me.

All those who lie here

Died in their 16th year

The strength of their power so great

They were forced to share the same fate.

Here lie the Messengers

Those who had no one else.

Here lie the forgotten

Those covered in welts.

If you are reading this

Then you are burying another

One who was forced into this

One without a mother.

Take heed of my warning

All who come here

That if you know a Messenger

Their end is near.

I was 16. I knew that because every time my birthday came around I would receive three visions in a row. One from the past, one from the present, and one from the future.

"Naruto," I whispered as I felt the sting of tears.

He didn't move.

"Naruto," I whimpered, a tear slipping down my cheek.

I saw his eye twitch my way.

"Naruto," I tried to say again, but came out only as air, my lips barely forming his name.

He stayed still once more.

"Please, Naruto. I'm so scared," I whispered as the tears sprang from their ducts and down my pale face.

When he turned to look at me, he looked angry. "This is so wrong, Ruin."

Me? Me crying was wrong? I quickly wiped away the tears and stopped the shaking that had started up once more. I stood up straight and put on a mask of nothingness.

"I'm sorry," my voice wavered. "I d-didn't mean t-to m-make y-you un-uncom-uncomfortable."

Naruto stood up next to my stiff form. I turned away from him and decided it would be best if I got out of there right then. I began to crawl into the hole just as he caught my leg. Just like last night.

"Ruin, wait. What are you talking about?" Naruto called, his voice echoing in the small space around me. I went into reverse and slumped against the wall.

"This is wrong, me seeking comfort from you. I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable and put you in a situation you wish you weren't in," I explained in a cool voice.

Naruto blinked at me. He crawled over and sat down in front of me. I couldn't look at him.

See, you were right all along. He never wanted you! That evil voice hissed in my ear.

"You're right," I mumbled to it. The voice then laughed at my pain.

"Ruin, look at me," Naruto ordered. I kept my head turned away. "Ruina," he was now using my real name, "look at me, please."

When I didn't, he grabbed my chin with his fingers and tweaked my head around to look in his eyes.

"You can always come to me for comfort, Ruina. Never forget that. I'm here for you, even when you aren't even there for yourself. I'll be there for you. I swear." And I almost believe him.

But almost wasn't enough.

"Then why did you say this was wrong?!" I snapped at him, pulling away my chin. "I understand how little I am to everyone and I understand how my feelings for you are wrong. I understand it all."

I watched him as he just shook his head at me, mouth hanging open slightly in shock. "Ruina! You don't understand this! Why are you always so willing to blame yourself, always jumping to the conclusion that you are nothing?! Ruina, why do you do this to yourself?"

There it was, that question that had been said several times before, only masking itself slightly each time to hide its true meaning.

"I already told you. I. Am. Nothing." I hissed, enunciating each word as its own sentence.

Naruto kept shaking his head at me. "No, Ruin. You are something. You are important." He paused for a moment then smiled slightly. "I just have to prove it to you."

It was my turn to shake my head. What a ludicrous idea! How could he achieve the impossible.

"Naruto," I whispered, suddenly remembering where we were.

"Huh?"

I stared past him at the stacks upon stacks of coffins. "I'm going to die soon, aren't I?"

I saw Naruto shake his head in my peripheral vision. "Not if I have anything to say about it."

I took a chance then. I moved forward slightly and dragged myself into Naruto's lap. I wrapped my arms around his neck and began to cry softly. I knew he would try to save me. I also knew that he would not succeed, not as long as I continued to be the Messenger.

Deep in my heart, though, I hoped. I hoped Naruto would save me from this fate. I needed this. I needed this chance to live a life that I wanted, a life with meaning besides being the tool of the Elders. I wanted to be with Naruto, more than anything I wanted to be with Naruto. I wanted it so badly it hurt me.

I wanted him to feel the same way. I tried to think clearly as I cried, but it was hard. I could feel Naruto running one hand through my hair soothingly while another hand was wrapped around my waist.

"Naruto, do you care about me?" I whispered, taking an even bigger chance with my heart.

He kissed the top of my head. I waited for his answer, the one I knew was coming. He would push me away and say, 'Of course not! Why would I care for you, Ruin? What could you possibly give me?!'

But instead, Naruto said, "More than you can possibly understand."

My heart fluttered. I nuzzled my head into his chest and let my tears fall.

"Why?" I asked.

I felt Naruto's chest rise and fall as he sighed. "The way you still keep going even though you have been told your entire life that you are nothing, the way you still fight even though you believe that you are nothing, the way your green eyes light up when you laugh, the way you only smile when it is the best of times showing that it is the most precious thing, the way you are, Ruin, that is why I care for you."

The tears stopped and I pulled back from his chest so I was level with his eyes. "You're so naïve, Naruto," I laughed.

He grinned at me. "Whoever said that was a bad thing?"

We stood and dusted ourselves off. Naruto climbed through the hole ahead of me. I took one last look at the tomb of all the Messengers who had come before me. I wanted to be the one who broke the trend of dying so young, of never having a real life.

When I popped out on the other side, Naruto was lying on the ground and motioned for me to lie down beside him. I did, at first careful of how I moved closer to him and then not caring as I snuggled into the crook of him neck.

Just as I was floating off to sleep, I heard Naruto whisper something in my ear.

"Tomorrow, I'm going to show you how important you really are."

well wasn't that just adorable or what?! i thought it was pretty damn cute! i love how this shows how truly protective and truthful Naruto is, which are two of his most endearing qualities! next chapter i'm gonna try and make it a bit less sad, maybe incorporate a bit of humor. plz REVIEW!!!!! love to hear what you think of this chapter!!!! next chapter will be up asap