Up From the Shadows

Chapter 12

Disclaimer: I don't own the anime/manga Naruto; nor do I profit from using any likenesses of the characters portrayed.

Dates appear as such: 'June 18 – 015 AK – Midday' meaning the obvious the 015 is basically saying that October of that year Naruto is 15


"You mean like a demon, like what was inside Naruto?" Sakura questioned again.

"Yes, actually exactly like Naruto. I have a being of immense power locked inside of me. My father could have chosen any of the other children born that day, but he could never ask anyone to give their child to hold this burden if he could do it to his own. This is why the most powerful demon was sealed in me. It isn't because of this reason that Hinata loves me, it is actually because I contain every quality Naruto and Rantou ever had. I'm still confused with some parts of my heritage, but that I can find later."

"Ok, that's good and all, but the strongest of the demons is the Kyuubi, so who are you? You better answer or I'll bash your face in." Sakura pounded he fist into the palm of her other hand in a threatening manner

"Whatever, wouldn't be the first time, but my demon isn't stronger than the Kyuubi, because it is the Kyuubi. I guess you can call me Uzumaki Naruto." The blonde turned and faced the room. Suddenly a girl's scream was heard.

"Ahhh, a ghost, Ahhh!"

"Uh, Sasuke-chan? You ok?" Naruto asked before Sasuke fell to the ground unconscious. "I think I may have over done that prank earlier Hinata-chan." Hinata was having troubles containing her laughter after hearing Sasuke scream like a girl.

"Naruto-kun, I don't think Sakura likes the female Sasuke, you might want to run." Hinata warned after seeing that look.

"What do you mean Hinata… oof." Sakura punched him full on in the stomach when he wasn't paying attention.

"NARUTO!"

"Easy there Sakura-chan (cough) It isn't my fault Sasuke is afraid of ghosts." He told her stifling a laugh.

"Sasuke-kun isn't afraid of anything, besides how are you alive?"

"Well that is a weird story… Hey is everyone still conscious?" He looked over the room and saw everyone was pale looking forward with creepy looking eyes. "I guess they are all shocked."

"I'm still alert Naruto." Calmly stated Neji.

"Oh, I didn't notice you. You are always pale and looking around with those creepy eyes."

"Naruto you idiot! My eyes are identical to Hinata's are you saying she is creepy too?" Neji asked in a manner unbefitting of a Hyuuga

"Um, no. Her eyes are gentle and cute, yours are nowhere near the same, she is a bit weird though."

"You still think I'm weird?" Hinata asked slightly saddened.

"Yep, about as weird as they come."

"But why Naruto-kun?"

"Well you do seem to like this." Naruto leaded towards her and licked the tip of her nose again getting the same giggle from earlier.

"Eww, Naruto!" screamed Sakura

"What? See she liked it. I think we are the perfect weird couple, right Hinata mmpf." Hinata pulled him into a deep kiss surprising him again. A chorus of 'aww's' and 'get a room' were heard bringing them out of the kiss since everyone recovered from the shock. Naruto sat down again with Hinata taking her spot on his lap and buried her face in his neck while he explained everything to the group while stroking her back. After a satisfied sigh, Hinata fell asleep.

"This is weird Naruto." commented the skinny blonde.

"What do you mean Ino?"

"Well it is just that we haven't seen you acknowledge Hinata before, and here you are clearly in love with her, it is just strange."

"I guess I see what you're saying. I did notice her, but I never noticed what she actually meant to me until a while later. Also Rantou's feelings for her uncovered mine further when his experiences retuned after the jutsu was canceled. I just wish I didn't hurt her so bad. It'll be a long while before she gets closer to normal." Just then he felt something very soft press against his neck.

"Just stay close to me and I should be fine." She told him as she kissed his neck again, mostly asleep, and fell back into slumber.


Naruto answered all their questions, which were quite a few, until the group started to get hungry since it was almost 5:00. Deciding that Hinata has gotten enough sleep for the time being he decided to wake her.

"It's time to wake up angel." he whispered while gently shaking her body she slowly came to and smiled at still being in his lap.

"Hey Choji." He called out after she was awake. "I need your help with Hinata's training."

"So –munch- What do you –munch- need me for?

"Well, Hinata-chan needs to put on some lean weight so I thought you were the best with figuring out how she should do that."

"Yes –munch- I see –munch- the best way is to eat plenty –munch- of lean meats."

"Ah so you're saying the best thing for her would be to go to, say, an all-you-can-eat-barbeque?" At the mention of that, flames grew in the eyes of the large ninja.

"Yes, yes, yes, BARBEQUE!" Choji rocketed out of the door faster than Lee while Ino approached Naruto while a shout dealing with youthfulness was heard beyond the door as well.

"Um, Naruto, can I …" before her question came out she was interrupted.

"Yes you can bring him if you want." he replied without needing to hear the rest of the question.

"But how do you…"

"Shhh, I'm not dimwitted like they think I am." He told her looking around suspiciously until he chuckled to a baffled Ino as the awake Hinata clung to his arm. They followed the dust caused by Choji and Lee while they were racing to the Barbeque restaurant. When they caught up to them, Lee was sitting on the ground crying.

"Gai-sensei, I've failed you. I lost two races in one day, I'm not worthy anymore." Gai just walked up to his student and kicked him in the jaw sending him flying.

"Lee I will not let you extinguish your flames of youth like that; we shall training twice as hard from now on!" Gai screamed out while giving the nice guy pose. Lee, with tears in his eyes embraced his teacher in a hug."

"Gai-sensei"

"Lee"

"Gai-sensei."

"And he wonders why he doesn't have a girlfriend." Naruto announced with the rest of the group nodding in agreement.


The group entered the restaurant and sat and talked about the circumstances of Naruto's return. Since Rantou had no access to intelligence reports and Hinata was with drawn from everyone, they had no idea of what threats were left and had them fill them in. After hearing Akatsuki was defeated, Naruto was slightly disappointed but also relieved. Even though he didn't know it at the time, Naruto played the largest role in the downfall of the organization. When the leader realized the Kyuubi was lost, he had nothing left so he went insane and killed all his underlings and then killed himself. Somehow Itachi managed to get away and hasn't been seen since.

After all was discussed, Naruto left with Hinata feeling a sense of safety and belonging like he hasn't felt before. It was still a little early in the night so the couple decided to go for a walk around Konoha while they talked.

"Um, Naruto-kun…" Hinata eyed her love trying to figure how to word her question.

"What made you love me the way you do? I felt the unspoken love from Rantou, and clearly you love me very much now, so you had to have felt these feelings before right?" Naruto smiled at her with a smile that would melt any girl's heart.

"I really don't know. I don't know how feelings work but one thing I do know about you is that you were always very cute when we were younger. You have most likely read my journal, so you know I have always noticed you, but it was your caring and the feeling I would get when you would watch me train after the academy that helped. You may have gained strength from me, but I learned what love was before I even knew exactly what it was from you. Even though I was mostly dense to your feelings, when I look back, I knew I cared for you even when I didn't know what that feeling was." Hinata stared at him lovingly realizing that he did notice her but it did bring some sadness.

"And to think, if I could have been a little more confident, I could have had you sooner." she said slightly distraught

"Hey don't dwell on that, we can't change the past, but we sure can have one hell of a future."

"Yeah," She replied while her cheeks turned red after thinking of some more intimate actions she was looking forward to doing until Naruto broke her away from her thoughts.

"Say, Hinata-chan, did you ever wonder why there was even a law created between a Hokage and your clan? I think it is way too convenient that there just happened to be one, and that I just happened to be a Hokage's son."

"That is a bit strange, but I don't care, as long as I can be with you, I just wish I didn't have to suffer your death twice."

"I wish there was a way to ease your pain that I caused, if there was a way to make it up to you I would." His happiness he felt was fading at the mention of that.

"Don't beat yourself up on that my love." She smiled sensually at him before taking him into a kiss. "I think I can come up with a couple things for you to make it up to me." She purred into his ear as she caressed his cheek. Her strange actions made Naruto quite wary of her.

"And what might those ideas be?"

"That's my secret, but I assure you it won't cause displeasure." she said with an alluring smile.

"That isn't helping and stop with that sexy smile and stuff, it's getting a bit too exciting." She caught his meaning and blushed while keeping the smile on in full force.

"Well, I'll stop exciting you if you stop exciting me." She then brought him to the attention that he was stroking her butt instead of her back like he was earlier

"Oh, sorry." He muttered out and withdrew his hand.

"Who said you could stop?" she complained. This conversation was easily getting the two heated up and who knows how it may have escalated if the heavens hadn't opened up releasing a torrential downpour upon them. They screamed out in surprise and then faded into laughter as they giggled and ran back to the Hyuuga manor getting drenched in the rain. (ever notice how most stories found don't have any weather patterns? It is always sunny in most of them...)

'Hopefully this cold rain will cool us off a bit, especially her. I don't need a horny Hinata this close to bed time; besides, I don't think she can handle that much in her weakened state.' He dropped out of his thoughts when he noticed he was standing outside of his bedroom door staring at a damp Hyuuga girl that looked like she was waiting for an answer.

"Um, what was that again? I was lost in thought." She was bright red and it didn't change as she needed to repeat herself.

"I asked if I could possibly, um, bring some stuff in here?" she was still red and Naruto was just smiling at her.

"You know you are just so cute when you blush."

"Um, thank you. Good night Naruto-kun." She turned to leave until she was interrupted.

"I never answered your question Hinata-chan, but I have a feeling you want something more than to bring some stuff in here." He sighed not believing what he was going to say.

"If it will help, you are welcome here." Hinata knew what he was trying to say, but wanted to hear the exact words from him and started to push it.

"I don't quite understand what you are saying." she lied

"Oh, I'm sure you know exactly what I'm saying."

"No, I'm still a bit lost." Naruto decided it was best to give in before she did something, weird.

"Yes, Hinata, you can stay in this room if you desire." Hinata was enjoying her game and decided to push it even further.

"Um, so where will I sleep, and how long can I stay?" she asked innocently.

"You are evil, you know that? You want me to say it? Fine. You can stay in here with me sleeping in the same bed with me for as long as you want, you happy now?"

"Yes very much." She giggled "but I'm far from satisfied." This time she fully knew the meaning of what she said as she pushed by the stunned blonde and went in to shower. She came back out in a warm bath robe and left to get some clothing and stuff from her room while Naruto showered. He returned after his shower and saw his beautiful angel in her silky night gown putting away some clothes in the cabinet. Doing his best to ignore her form, he jumped into bed and covered himself quickly. Hinata frowned at him ignoring her, but knew why he was. She soon slipped under the sheets right next to him and looked accusingly at him.

"Do you really think you can get away without giving me a goodnight kiss?" she asked while smiling with her sexy smile.

"No, I guess not." He leaned over and gave her a quick peck on the lips, but his plan backfired as she grabbed his head and held him tight to her lips. Naruto unknowingly let his hand harmlessly land on her bare knee, but it didn't go unnoticed by her. Seeing this as a perfect chance for something, more, she slowly slid his hand further up her leg. Naruto was enjoying the kiss and was gently sucking on her bottom lip when he felt his hand get a bit warmer than usual and stopped it from going further disappointing Hinata.

"Please. Why did you stop?" she asked with a wanting face.

"Why do you push for this so fast?" he wondered since for him he has only been back for a few days.

"I told you before I'm not waiting like I did previously. I promise I won't push for sex until we're married, so just help me this one time." Naruto shook his head in response getting the familiar sad look in her eyes.

"I don't think you are well enough to handle it." Hinata felt defeat coming, but that quickly left when his hand lightly stroked her thigh. "If this would make you happy, I suppose we can see how you take to it."


(The following paragraph or two could be considered lemon-lime, not quite a lemon, but a little more than lime)

Hinata smiled and nodded happily as his hand glided higher up her thigh. He continued to tease her by sliding his hand within an inch of where she wanted it to go just to slide back away causing her to wiggle in protest. Finding it amusing how much she enjoyed this touch he decided to finally see how much she would enjoy what she wanted. He slid his hand all the way up her leg and came into contact with her sensitive skin causing a tiny moan to escape her lips. Realizing the sensitivity of her skin, he lightly slid his fingers up and down the flesh of her opening as her moans got louder. He traveled around stroking her soft flesh until he reached a point where she let out a joyous scream of pleasure.

Her loud scream was quickly muffled when Naruto kissed her hard. He pushed his tongue past her lips and she happily accepted it while using her own to caress his, still muffling the uncontrolled moans. He continued massaging her moist opening as she started to writhe in pleasure while holding his tongue captive by gently sucking on it while enjoying his touch. Hinata's breathing got quicker and shallower as her moans turned into full out screaming while she bucked her hips and arched her back letting out an absolute blissful scream still muffled by the unbroken kiss. She finally relaxed on the bed still mindlessly sucking on his tongue until she noticed it and released him.


"Sorry," she muttered in between pants.

"Sorry? For what? You can't do anything wrong in these situations unless it causes unnecessary pain, and that tongue thing you did was amazing. So, did you enjoy yourself?"

"Mmmm" she dreamily moaned, "immensely." She got out before falling asleep. He slid his damp hand out from between her legs getting a slight grunt from the loss of contact from her sleeping form. He pushed her legs closer together and tugged her gown back down to her knees and then fell asleep himself.


(Konoha) June 11 – 018 AK:


The morning was dark and overcast from the night's rainstorm blocking out most of the sun's powerful rays for most of the day. It was nearly 1pm and for the past 4 hours Naruto has been sitting in a chair across the room from the bed looking at his sleeping fiancé. Apparently Hinata was having some very interesting dreams since there was a constant smile plastered on her face accompanying some quiet moans as she would snuggle into the sheets of the bed.

"Mmm, Naruto-kun." She sleepily mumbled while a hand struck out feeling the bed next to her finding nothing but air. "No, please no, it felt so real this time." She curled up into a ball and started crying. Immediately Naruto jumped from his chair and ran to her pulling the crying ball to him.

"Shh, it's ok." He said gently stroking her soft hair and cradling her small body. "Shh, I'm here, you aren't dreaming." Her pale eyes crept open to stare at the source of the comforting voice.

"N-Naruto-kun?"

"Yes, I'm here. Do you think you will ever stop thinking it is all a dream?"

"I-I'm sorry Naruto-kun. It's… I've just been dreaming of being with you for so long that I can't tell when it is real or not." he was slightly bewildered by her statement, but smiled anyways.

"Well I do know that you and I are real and um… what you experienced last night was real as well." Hinata gasped with her eyes wide and a blush spreading across her face.

"B-but I thought for sure that was a dream."

"Huh? Hinata, how long have you had these dreams, and um… how far have we gotten in your dreams?" if it was even possible she turned even redder.

"W-well, I-I-I-I Um…."

"It's ok, you don't have to talk about it, it doesn't change anything" he told her so she wasn't uncomfortable.

"N-no! I need to tell you, it might actually help me to tell you what I dream." Naruto got off of the bed and sat down in the chair again.

"Sure, go ahead then." Hinata was unhappy at being left and got up and sat on his lap like usual. Since her gown was slippery she had troubles staying on his lap until he firmly held her there by her bottom getting a slight squeak and a smile.

"I've probably been dreaming of you for about 10 years, but it was only in the last 4 years that they got just a bit more intimate with the touching. In my dreams we have only gotten as far as we did last night. It is hard to dream accurately when I have no idea what you look like… um… you know."

"So you are saying that I only pleasured you… are you secretly selfish then?" he questioned with a joking grin.

"No, that's not true! It's just that I've never been with a guy, so I don't know how things work exactly… Hey why are you laughing at me?"

"Sorry, but I just meant it as a joke, I wasn't intending you to answer. Besides, I'm sure you'll be able to figure out the how quickly since I've never been with a girl, but you sure seemed to enjoy yourself with my little knowledge."

"Um… yes, thank you. Do you think we can do that again?" she asked quietly hoping to not be heard.

"No, I don't think so."

"Why? It felt so good." she sighed burying her blushing face into him.

"How tired do you feel?"

"Very… Is that from my…um…"

"Probably, it is already past noon, you have been sleeping a long while." he informed her

"But it still felt good."

"I'm sure it did, but I think it is still too hard on your weakened body. I'm going to leave and get you some food and talk with Tsunade a bit, do you think you can handle sleeping here with out me?" she looked slightly unhappy at that, but decided it was probably for the better.

"Yes, I think I can manage. You are just so thoughtful and caring of me, I love you."

"I love you too, see you soon." Naruto stood up and carried her back to the bed and set her down under the covers and kissed her forehead and went to leave but she grabbed him and gave him a real kiss.

"Now, you can go." She said smiling at him. He grinned wildly back and took off running to the tower.


He found out he has a lot more patience than he used to since when he got to Tsunade's office, he actually stopped and knocked at the door and came in after getting the command to do so.

"Hello Hokage-sama."

"What the hell Naruto? You're actually polite, that isn't a good sign." That statement drew a smile from the blue eyed blonde as he drew in a large amount of air to yell at the cringing Hokage knowing what was coming.

"WHAT THE HELL BAA-CHAN? ARE YOU TELLING ME YOU KNEW WHO MY PARENTS WERE AND NO ONE TOLD ME?!" he screamed first but immediately lowered his voice some, "I'm sure it could have been dangerous for me, but I've been looking all my life for that information!" Like turning off a switch, Naruto calmed down completely and sat in one of the chairs.

"So, do you think you can tell me about them?" he asked in a clam voice.

"Damn brat." Tsunade yelled while trying to get the ringing out of her ears. "You really have matured. I was expecting you to rudely yell that two days ago, but you actually waited until we were alone to blow up at me. Really there isn't anything I'm allowed to tell you until your birthday, but most of your answers will be revealed then."

"Well crap, that's a waste. Then do you think someone could teach me a sound proofing jutsu?"

"What do you need one of those for?" Naruto turned red in embarrassment as he thought about what it was needed for.

"Well um, you see, it's for um…" she grinned as she interrupted his babbling

"You think she is going to be that noisy huh?"

"Um… well she is." he relented cautiously.

"What!? You've been here for only two days and you've had sex already?" The Hokage screamed.

"No! We haven't had sex… yet, but she is quite noisy when we're kissing, I can only imagine how loud she will be when she is more… excited."

"Alright, I'll get you a scroll on that, but just don't push her into doing that yet; there is plenty of time for that after you're married."

"Well thanks, but I'm not the one that will be doing the pushing" Naruto stood and silently left the room giving a slight wave on his way out.

'It's always the quiet girls' Tsunade thought smiling.


(moments later Hyuuga Manor)


"Hiashi-sama, where are you going? Asked a white eyed servant.

"Going to take out the trash, now leave me or die." he ordered while bringing up a certain set of hand signs.

"Yes, my lord." Hiashi stormed down the empty hall since everyone was out for the day. He stood outside of a bedroom door before flinging it open with a loud racket.

"Hello my demon whore. Conceive any demons yet?" pale eyes snapped open with a gasp as they looked into the older man's face.

"Father, what are you doing here?" she demanded

"I see you're lying with the demon already." he commented venomously.

"Not like it is any of your business, but we haven't had sex yet."

"Nor will you" he replied as Hinata stood up next to the bed.

"What are you talking about?" she nearly demanded.

"You think you can stand up to me you weak little whore? You are in range of my divination…" Hinata was struck quickly, closing off her chakra points causing her to not be able to move as she fell limp back on the bed.

"Why father?" she weekly asked.

"I found I was left with two choices to get a strong heir: one I could kill you now and Hanabi will be heir, or two you could lay with me and create a new heir." He gives her a lecherous grin completely grossing her out. (My apologies this is just needed to illustrate the darkening influence of a new enemy, and no he will never get that far)

"I'm your daughter, how could you even suggest that?"

"You are not my daughter; you are just another female as far as I'm concerned. So what have you decided?" Hiashi stood looking at her with his Byakugan still on hoping to instill fear into her.

"I will choose death of course, just kill me and get it over with."

"Very well, but I do believe it is unfair to let a woman leave this world as a virgin." Hiashi walked away locking the door and approached the side of the bed grabbing the hem of her gown as she screams in protest, but gets a cloth shoved in her mouth to muffle her screams. He pulls her gown to just below her breasts and stares at her womanhood. "I see you must have been dreaming of your demon, you are wet already, this will make it much easier. Hiashi loosens his robe just as he hears a sound from the direction of the door.

"Rasengan!" The door was shredded into pieces revealing a very pissed off blonde. "I told you before, if you ever touched her, I will kill you, and you planned on raping my future wife. As a ninja of the village hidden in the leaves, I find you guilty of attempted rape, torture of an innocent, child negligence, attempted murder, and being a poor excuse for a human. I hereby sentence you to death under the laws written by the Hokages." A blue sphere jumped into existence as he looked at the condemned man.

"Rasengan!" - "Kaiten!" the blue sphere met the Hyuuga's ultimate defense blasting both back in a complete stalemate while the blast sent Hinata towards Naruto while he dove in and caught her before landing.

"Please don't kill him, he is still my father." she begged looking into his eyes.

"Like he even could, I'm near Kage level, I am beyond him. Don't worry I won't kill your demon yet, he has to stay and watch me break you in." (Hold out a little longer guys, he will be dying)

"I'm sorry I can't let him live. He is a threat to the village and you. If he isn't destroyed, he will come back for you. Besides a real father wouldn't think of touching his daughter like that." Hinata let the tears flow knowing he was right but still had a shred of caring for her father, no matter how small it is.

"You're right Naruto-kun, he isn't my father; he died when my mother did. Please don't get hurt Naruto-kun." She reached up with all her strength and kissed his cheek. Naruto set her on the ground and faced Hiashi with anger rising in his eyes.

"Well it looks like your pardon doesn't arrive today." Another ball of chakra formed in his hand as he readied his jutsu.

"I've already proven the uselessness of your jutsu, what makes you think this time will be any different?" Hiashi informed cockily.

"Easy, I didn't live a few years of my life as a wind master and not learn a thing or two about using the wind element." Wind picked up in the room as it gathered towards the sphere gathered in his palm shooting large blades outwards from the ball slowly revolving around it. "Now die for your crimes!" Naruto charged the Hyuuga head as he started his defense.

"Kaiten!" smirking, Naruto thrust his palm towards the chakra wall.

"Fuuton: Rasenshuriken!" his jutsu contacted the defense and pushed Hiashi into the outside wall as the true power came to bear tearing the entire wall off the room shredding the bed in the process. The jutsu followed Hiashi out the hole in the wall and slammed into the ground. Tiles flew off the roof and branches were ripped from the trees while the ground shook causing damage to the manor's foundation. Hinata, eyes wide and mouth open, gasped at the massive crater left in the courtyard after getting movement back from the tenketsu attack. But didn't notice a dark moving shadow disappearing into the dust. (HA, ha, the influencing shadow again... I told you all that you would see it again, more will be found out next chapter, I think)

"Naruto-kun!" she screamed as she ran to the edge of the crater trying to look though the dust. Finally a dark figured appeared and approached the slightly scared heiress.

"Are you alright Hinata?" asked the form.

"Naruto-kun!" she tackled him laying multiple kisses on his face before ending with a long tongue infused kiss. Their make out session was cut short when they heard a huge commotion.

"Whoo, yeah. You get him girl!" was heard above the other cheering of the branch members and some of the villagers. Apparently the jutsu was felt over a great distance bringing people to the manor from all around. The two stood looking at the group completely red faced when Tsunade charged into the area followed by Anbu and stopped in front of them. Tsunade eyed the mangled body at the bottom of the crater and turned to the couple.

"You were just in my office 25 minutes ago and now you've killed someone. Who was it and explain why you shouldn't be arrested." Tsunade demanded.

"Well baa-chan you see…"

"Shut it! This is serious! You could be executed if this was who I think it is." she interrupted.

"No, you shut it!" screamed Hinata getting shocked gasps from everyone hearing the quiet girl yell louder than many can. "Naruto-kun saved me again. This time he was going to rape and then kill me." She whispered out while Tsunade's anger grew to unfathomable heights.

"How dare he! I have half a mind to figure a way to bring him back to life just so I can kill him myself and then bring him back again so I can cut off his balls and shove them down his throat." Tsunade calmed down after seeing Hinata clinging to her future husband like he was her only lifeline that was going to be torn away. "Hinata, don't worry. Under these new circumstances he won't be arrested." The crowd dispersed, after a glare from Tsunade, and Naruto just stood there with Hinata clinging to him.

"Alright, we have a guy that has died at least twice, holds the most powerful demon in existence, finds out he is the son of the Yondaime and is marrying the heiress of a powerful clan who has been nearly raped and killed by her own father. I think we are going to need a lot of psychiatric counseling." After his statement he fell backwards out of exasperation not realizing Hinata was still hanging on him as she flopped, face first, on top of him.

"Um, Hi." She said looking into his blue eyes.

"Hi yourself." Was his reply as he licked the tip of her nose getting a giggle from her turning into full out laughter.

'Yes, counseling it is' thought Tsunade as she wandered away from the mess to avoid the cleanup.


...Later