Chapter 11
A Chat With the Demon
Another chapter. And I am getting disappointed in some of you readers for not reviewing! So many hits...so little reviews. So here's the deal, do you think you can beat my Inuyasha story, Darkness and Light: A Secret Left Untold in reviews? If you do, 1. You get a special banner saying 'Number One' on it, and then something else...haven't decided. 2. You get your own character in this story, as a character such as the little people popping up (Atsuiiki for instance). But if you do not, then sorry, but you will not get a new chapter of this story until 7 days pass! THAT'S RIGHT! NO UPDATES FOR ONE WEEK! So, sucks for you who hate my cliffhangers! SO REVIEW!
Disclaimer: Okay...if I copy these papers...then I will be co-owner of Naruto...no...still not good enough.
Sakura arrived at the Kumokage's office, and looked around for Tsunade. "Excuse me," she asked the lady who was keeping her from entering the main building. "Has the Hokage come by?"
The lady looked up, and nodded her head. "She was here earlier…" she said in a sweet tone. "But she left for Konoha…she's coming back."
Sakura sighed, and jumped when the wall of the office broke into a million pieced. Tsunade came through the rubble, with nine shinobi behind her. "Wh-what are you all doing here?" Sakura asked as Lee, Neji, TenTen, Ino, Shikamaru, Chouji, Hinata, Shino, and Kiba followed the Godaime.
"Sakura!" Ino screamed and hugged the pink-haired kunoichi. "How's Naruto?"
"We heard his heartbeat had slowed and his life span has been shortened to three days." Lee said, and Sakura stared wide-eyed at the shinobi.
"NANI!?" she screamed, and rushed out to the hospital. "Why didn't I here about it?"
TenTen smack Lee. "Way to go, bonehead." She growled, and ran off after Sakura. The others began following after they all gave Lee a smack.
Tears about to creep down, Sakura busted the hospital doors open and ran over to the desk. "Is what I hear true?" she demanded. "That Naruto now has three days?"
The woman nodded her head. "Do you wish to see him?" she asked, holding out a visitor's pass.
Sakura snatched it up, and ran down to the blonde shinobi's room. To her surprise, when she entered the room, she saw Atsuiiki staring down at him. The blonde jounin lifted her head, her eyes full of concern. "Sakura," she muttered. "You've heard?"
The kunoichi nodded her head, and took her usual seat next to Naruto. Carefully, she laid a hand on his chest, listening for a heartbeat. It had indeed slowed a great amount, and there was no doubt that he would have only three days left. "So," she sighed, lifting her hand of him. "Why are you in here?"
Atsuiiki looked down at Naruto. "I've met him…" he admitted. "When I was younger." a Sakura stared at the blonde kunoichi. "He helped me wake up. Do you know how a person sometimes wakes up from a coma?" Sakura shook her head. "Well, they must forgive themselves for things that they blame themselves for."
"Sasuke…" she muttered. "He blames himself for letting Sasuke leave."
"And that Minato and Kushina are dead."
Sakura tilted her head. "Who are they?"
Atsuiiki laughed. "The Yondaime and Naruto's mother! You never learned the Yondaime's real name?!"
Staring at Naruto, she now realized a lot. "So…his father was the Fourth Hokage?" she muttered, examining the jinchuuriki. It made sense, now learning why he looked a lot like Minato. His hair and eyes, looked oh too much like the Yondaime. But what about Kushina; who was she? "Who was Kushina?" she asked.
"Honestly, I never met her." Atsuiiki sighed. "I always wanted to, especially since Minato told me about her before."
Sakura stared into the sapphire eyes of the blonde kunoichi, and they were clouded with memories. "So you and Yon-I mean Minato; were close?" she asked, remembering what his real name was.
Atsuiiki nodded her head yes. "Very. I was his friend since the beginning." She said, and laughed. "That's how I met Kakashi-san. He was only a Genin when Minato introduced me to him. I was shocked at how fast he grew." The happy expression on her face faded away. "It's sad. Kakashi and Minato were my only friends…and to think I went into a coma at his funeral…" Sakura saw tears well up in the Jounin's eyes. "And I had to bring Naruto to it. He ran off as I fell down, but no one went after him…and that's why I went into a coma. I blamed myself for Minato's death, for I was the one who wanted him to become Hokage."
Sakura patted the blonde on the shoulder. "It's okay, Atsuiiki…" she soothed. "It wasn't"
"I know that." Atsuiiki snapped. "Why do you think I'm right here? Awake?"
Sakura sighed. "So, what did Naruto say?" Atsuiiki stared blankly at the kunoichi. "You know…about me?"
A smile swept across the blonde's face. "You honestly want to know?" she asked. Sakura nodded, and Atsuiiki laughed. "He said he didn't want you to worry about him," She closed her eyes, and opened them with the kindest expression you would ever get from her. "And that he loves you very much." Sakura blushed, replaying that last sentence in her head over and over. He loves you very much…he loves you very much. "So," Atsuiiki said again, looking into Sakura's emerald eyes. "Do you feel the same?"
A larger blush flashed upon Sakura's face, and she stuttered the words "I…well…I…think…um" over an over.
Atsuiiki stared harder, and sighed. She put her hands together to form a hand sign. "Henge!" An image of Naruto appeared in front of Sakura. "Well," the transformed Atsuiiki said. "Do you love me?"
Sakura stared at the figure of Naruto, and tears crept down her face. "Atsuiiki," she choked. "Why are you doing this? It's making me feel worse, seeing him…and hearing his voice…"
The figure of Naruto disappeared, and Atsuiiki stood, a happy look across her face. "You do, don't you?" she said, watching the tears creep down Sakura's cheeks. "You love him!"
A long sigh came from Sakura, and finally she nodded her head. Oh, this girl was good at interrogation. "Fine I do," she admitted. "Now I have one question." Atsuiiki glanced awkwardly at Sakura. "I thought the Shikyo clan was destroyed years ago? Why are you here if you are Shikyo Atsuiiki?"
Atsuiiki looked to the ground. "You do not know the reason why my family is dead, do you?" she suggested, and Sakura shook her head. "It's because of me…being a kitsune akki. And they were killed…" Tears now started to roll down her cheeks, and Sakura stared with a serious expression. "on my birthday." She spat out that last word as if it were cursed, and that it brought the worst luck upon her. Never in her life had she wanted to hear that word, that song, that occasion, nothing to do with that one day. June 29…the most dreaded day that ever crossed the blonde Jounin.
Sakura looked at the poor blonde. "Go lie down. Besides, I want to be with Naruto-kun alone." She told Atsuiiki, who left the room and entered her own, closing the door behind her. Slowly, Sakura turned around and stared at Naruto. She carefully knelt down beside him, and briefly brushed his cheek. It was cold, and it chilled her to the bone.
"Naruto…" she whispered, and lifted her face up to his. "Please wake up," Her face slowly inched closer. "Please," Sakura froze as she heard footsteps, and threw herself back into the seat just in time before the door busted open.
"Sakura?" a soft voice called from behind the door. "Can I come in?"
Sakura nodded her head, and Hinata came out. "Sakura-san," she started, twiddling her thumbs. "Do you…um…love Naruto-kun?" Crimson appeared again across her face. "If you do…then it's okay…after all…he loves you."
"Hinata-san…" Sakura started. "I-I…I'm sorry." Hinata looked up at Sakura. "It's my fault Naruto's in this mess…"
"It is not. It's no one's fault but fate." She interrupted. "The heavens wanted this to happen to Naruto, whether it be fair or not. Fate. It's one thing you cannot change, unlike destiny."
Sakura watched with sorrow as Hinata left the room, and she felt a pang of regret. Why did she have to have one of the kindest people she knew in a war of love? It's just like her versus everyone else in the battle of love against Sasuke, but she gave that up. Now she was against Hinata, and who else? Probably no one, but who knew since Naruto grew up?
He was more mature now, he was stronger, and he was cuter than ever. Plus, his kindness had increased, and basically every aspect of Naruto's life had turned for the best…but what about his health? That was going down a different trail.
Feeling lost, she laid her head on Naruto's chest, and listened to the slow beatof his heart.
Naruto woke up, propped up against the wall. "Uhh…" he groaned as he rubbed his forehead. Where am I? He asked himself, glacing at the empty space in front of him.
"You're awake!" a voice shouted. Naruto looked ahead and saw a figure standing in front of him with blue hair and violet eyes. The poor thing was no larger than 4.5 feet, and probably weighed no more than 70 pounds. "I was beginning to think you would never wake up!"
"Who are you?" Naruto asked, still rubbing his forehead.
"Oh…I am called Aoi." The little one said. "Don't laugh. I know it's a girl's name."
"It's okay, Aoi." Naruto replied. "So why am I here?"
Aoi laughed. "You almost died! That's why!" he blurted out. Naruto gaped, and the little boy laughed again. "Surprised?"
"Can you wake me up?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No…"
"Then I shall be going." He said, and ran off.
Aoi watched as the blonde shinobi rushed off, and sighed. "You'll have to come back…" A smile appeared across his face. "After all, I do know how to wake you up, but I can't do it. You must."
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