Monster
Chapter 52
Minor fluffiness in this chapter!
Kiba POV:
The Very Next Day.
Even long after, I could still feel the warmth of his hand as his fingers slid from mine and the tingle in my stomach as my onyx gaze dove into uncharted waters. Tranquil and majestic and yet...oh so unruly.
It was like that when we were kids too. One minute I was on land and the next, I was being swept out to sea. Lured by the siren's silent call. And for a brief moment, nothing else seemed to even exist. I was almost afraid that if I looked away, even for a second, I would surely drown. As if the only thing keeping me afloat was him.
And when those jeweled tides began to burn I was at a loss for words. How could something so beautiful...become so terrifying? But, even in that terror, there was still beauty to be found. It was like none I had ever seen.
So radiant and defiant. Almost as if those tides of ocean blue reached up and captured the very light of the sun. The way they flickered from orange to gold like celestial fire and the raging-violent rouge settled into a warm flame was truly an enchantment to behold.
An enchantment…
"Don't forget to come see me and Akamaru later."
That I longed to feel again,so that I could finally tell him…
"I won't"
Just how sorry I really was.
I never stopped caring, even after that day. I may have kept my distance and never talked to him again, but I was always there. Silently watching from afar, along with another. One who still prefers to linger in the shadows and keep a watchful eye.
But how do you do it? How do you take the first step into healing what had been done, when the damage was so prominent? Hidden behind a false pretense and loving smile. One that could light up an entire room if you were watching. And if you were watching even closer, you could see the pain masked behind it and the scars that tainted his sun-kissed body.
Scars that I might have well inflicted upon the boy myself, since I did absolutely nothing to stop them from appearing. Nor did I stop the hunger in his belly when his stomach growled from across the room or steady him as he stumbled to his chair. All I did...was watch because I was such a fucking coward.
There had been many times I wanted to cry out and help the poor kid, but, every time I tried...I just felt so ashamed. Naruto needed me and instead I cast my gaze away and sunk back down in my seat. Cursing myself and what I had become. I wanted to be his hero. His knight in shining armor. A guardian to chase away all the bad and bring light into his darkened world. But, that's not what happened.
I was completely hopeless, and Naruto deserved better than me as a friend.
Flashback:
7 years ago…
"No wait!" I wept as my mother forcibly took hold of my hand and pulled me away. Even as I cried to her and pleaded my heart out, my words only fell on deaf ears. "Okaasan!" Nothing. "Mommy please!" Silence. "Mom…"
In one last attempt I turned my teary-eyed gaze back to the fallen child, still pressing his swollen cheek. "Naruto." I called as I reached for the boy. And when our fingertips came within centimeters of each other...I was yanked away.
Never again to feel that warmth of which I had already become so fond of. Nor feel the rush of the sea as I could no longer gaze into those starlit sapphires.
What made everything even worse...was his agonizing silent cry as he called out to me. His hand still reaching what he could not grasp.
"Kiba! Please don't go." He whispered, his voice faltering into almost nothing. "Please..."
End Flashback.
Even through the years, those cries still followed me. Haunting me. Whether it was in my sleep or just staring off into space. They were always there. Reminding me of what could have been and my eternal shame.
After that, nothing was the same. I started skipping school more often and got into fights almost every day. Anything just to get me out of school, so I wouldn't have had to face him. But it seemed no matter how hard I tried to avoid the child of my hauntings, no matter how far I ran or how many days I skipped school, I couldn't escape from the torment that I caused him so long ago. Nor could I silence his desperate cries of loneliness and shake the ever-streaming tears from my memory.
Cursed to live out the rest of my life with those images burned into my brain. I can only hope that now...things will be different. That when his deep azure eyes fall on me they will no longer be saddened, but content in our newfound friendship. Or if I'm lucky, maybe even more. To be able to make him happy and atone for my sins...that's all I really want.
After being lost in my own head for so long, my mind began to slowly wander back to what was right in front of me. Seated in my lap was a small white pup with his head slightly cocked and a soft whine protruding his tiny throat. "Don't worry Akamaru." I comforted with a reassuring smile as I petted the pup. "He'll be here before you know it." I continued, even though my voice started to trail at the thought of the blonde forgetting his promise to come and see me in the med bay.
"I know he will." I whispered softly, my smile slowly returning as I gazed out the hospital window.
I know he will…
xXxXx
Naruto POV:
It's not that I forgot about going to go see Kiba and Akamaru or anything. It was just that I was having a little trouble getting away from home that morning. Papa had just made breakfast and wanted to hear all about the chunin exams.
But, I...didn't exactly make it very far to say at the very least.
"Ah, ah, ah. Where are you off too in such a rush this early?" The older man corrected as I attempted to flee from the table. "At least finish your breakfast before you go running off." He sighed.
"But I have to go meet Kiba." I replied, almost whining as I slid back down in my chair and pouted at the man before me, like a mere child. Papa was wearing his usual deep blue sweatshirt and pants, minus his vest and shoes and his hair was slicked back in its usual ponytail. His headband tied firmly around his forehead.
Since I wasn't going to be doing any training today, I decided to not to wear my headband and let my golden bangs brush up against my eyelids. I wore a semi tight fitting orange quarter sleeve shirt with a V cut, loosely laced with string and a pair of deep blue capris with matching sandals. The only accessory I had on was a thick bracelet that wrapped around my left wrist. It was fairly plain, but I really liked it. After all the chaos that happened yesterday I just wanted to relax and be comfortable. And my clothes were pretty torn up from fighting Kiba the other day.
Papa was pretty upset about the new outfit he had just bought me, but it's not like I did it on purpose. Plus it was really nice outside today. I didn't want to stay cooped up in my tiny apartment and I had plans to meet with Sasuke later.
"No buts," Iruka chimed in, waving his chopsticks before he scooped up some more rice. "Now eat up."
I sighed in defeat and deflated in my chair a little but gradually picked up my own set of chopsticks and continued to stuff my face. Papa was a really good cook and he always made sure I ate every bite whenever he stopped by. The man practically lived here without actually living here. It was kinda nice.
He did everything for me. Cooked, cleaned, washed my clothes, bought the groceries, and occasionally took me shopping. Papa was everything I ever wanted in a parent. He was just as kind as he was loving. And he always looked out for me, almost to the point where it was annoying, but that was why I loved him so much.
I couldn't have asked for a better dad.
"Okay, okay can I go now? Please Papa." I begged as I finished up my plate.
"Alright." He softly chuckled, seeming amused by his loving torment as he watched me quickly pick up my dishes and place them in the sink. Once finished I hurriedly grabbed my nin bag and placed it on my hip, making my way to the door where Papa was already waiting.
Iruka POV:
"Don't come home too late. I'll be by later to make dinner." I called as the boy was already heading out the door, grinning from ear to ear.
"I won't." He responded, making quick work of the stairs.
"Wait, I-" He was gone before I could even finish, leaving me to only to finish quietly to myself. "I love you son."
He's always in such a rush these days. Between training and making new friends it seems like he hardly has time anymore just for me. But, I'm glad things are going well for him. Kakashi seems like he's doing a pretty good job of keeping him out of trouble. From what Naruto tells me, it would seem that maybe Kakashi is getting a little attached.
Naruto looks up to him and praises him for everything he's done for him. He is eternally grateful, as am I, but…
I flashed back to the time of the 'incident'. The day my eyes had been opened to the horrible truth of this world and the day a certain silver-haired jounin had forced me to come to terms with my part in Naruto's life.
"You're like a father to him, aren't you? That's why I came to you. Whether or not you knew the role you were playing with this boy, you became the closest thing to a father this child has ever known."
His words were like iron that penetrated my very soul, echoing through the depths of my shattered mind.
"Don't say that. Don't say that please...because if you do it just makes this even more horrifying. I let this happen. I'm a terrible father! I don't deserve that title!"
And when I collapsed into his chest and sobbed until my heart's content did his words of truth finally sink in.
"We all have regrets. There are things I wish I had done differently as well. I cannot change the past, but what I can do it continue trying. This is your chance to do just that."
If I really thought about it, it wasn't even that long ago. But seeing how far Naruto had come, it almost seemed like a lifetime. Even though it pains me to think about it. I often wonder if Kakashi would have been better suited to take this role. I love Naruto more than anything, but I can't protect him like Kakashi can.
Should things go terribly wrong and Naruto is forced to flee...then where does that leave me? What good would I be if it really came to that? How can I-
My train of thought was immediately interrupted when I felt the sudden embrace of a child bursting through the still open door. "Wha-"
"I forgot to give you this." He whispered as he nuzzled himself deeper into my torso and tightened his grip around my waist. My heart nearly leaping out of my chest as my vision began to waver. Blurred by a clouded haze. It took me a few blinks to clear it, but when it finally did I returned his loving embrace with a smile.
"I love you Papa. Arigatou for everything. I don't know where'd I'd be without you." The child cooed, faintly into my shirt. Secretly mending a tearing heart.
"I love you too Son." I breathed into his golden locks as I gently kissed the top of his head. "Just be careful and take the rooftops so don't have to deal with as many people." I bid as the child slowly began to pull away from my grasp. " I will." He promised, turning to leave once again, waving as he did. "Bye Dad. See you tonight."
And with that, he was gone yet again. Only this time...I didn't feel as empty inside.
They sure do grow up fast. I mildly chuckled to myself before I closed the door, wishing him safe passage to wherever he may go, so long as he comes home safe and sound.
xXxXx
Kiba POV:
I shifted uncomfortably as the nurse checked my vitals and onced over my entire body for any reopening wounds. Changing whatever bandages that needed changed and sterilizing the severed flesh. My hand burned as she lightly dabbed on a swab of alcohol where the glass had penetrated my skin, though I made note not to show it.
A few minutes later, she bound my hand back up again and smiled. "Looks like you're healing just fine. You should be able to leave this afternoon. I'll let the doctor know."
"Arigatou. I can't wait to get out of here." I beamed as I coddled my now stinging hand.
"Oh, big plans?" She in quizzed curiously as she cleaned up her work space.
"Nah, just meeting a friend." I answered.
"Is she cute?" The nurse giggled, pressing for more info.
She? I thought about it for a minute and decided it was best not to go into details. It wasn't that I really cared, but I didn't want to just put my business out there to someone I didn't even know. From what I hear this hospital's not too keen on demons. And if the rumors floating around about what all went down in the chunin exam...then Naruto's not the only one.
"Ya, you could say that." I smirked, cunningly.
"Well, try not to overdo anything. Wouldn't want you back here getting stitched up again, now would we?" She sang as she exited the room, pushing her cart along with her.
I looked down at what appeared to sound like laughter emulating from the ball of fluff next to me. "What?" I playfully questioned. "Naruto's pretty cute for a boy. I didn't lie about that part."
Several more minutes went by before my attention was drawn to the window where I heard the faintest of sounds tapping against the clear glass. There, a boy kneeled on the ledge of the windowsill. His skin glistened as the sun's rays reigned down upon him in angelic light, rivaling that of the boy's own spikey locks.
Naruto…
I just knew the little twerp wouldn't forget. I'm glad he made it.
Sapphires sparkled as they peered through the sliding glass and softly waved. Silently seeking permission to enter of which I happily granted. Once inside, the fox slowly made his way over to my bedside. My gaze coolly noting the semi-tight-fitting orange top that hugged his body in a way that revealed his muscular physique.
The V not quite low enough to showcase his DEMON scarification, but still accentuating his chest. And his pants clung to him just enough to outline his toned legs with a bit of his calf making itself known before leading into his matching sandals. I also didn't miss the strapped bracelet that decorated his wrist in sense of fashion.
When my gaze finally collided with his, I became instantly lost as I surrendered to the siren's call. Succumbing to the possible desire hidden deep within my own heart. A desire that I was suddenly finding harder and harder to ignore the closer he got.
Thankfully, that voyage was shattered by the yipping of small white fluffy dog. Reeling me back to the shore where it was safe and snapping me out of my illusion.
Damn, I wasn't prepared for that. I mean I've always thought the little twerp was attractive but fuck! Okay, okay deep breaths. We're just friends. Don't say anything stupid. You got this.
"How's your injuries?"
Huh?
"O-oh, I'm okay-I mean good-I mean fine-I mean they're...all good." I bumbled, scrambling to find my words, like some sort of love-struck puppy.
Oh fuck me… I literally and mentally slapped myself for acting like such an idiot all of the sudden. My face now resting in my hand in an attempt to hide the embarrassing coat of red that now stained my tribal cheeks.
"Really, that's great!" The beautiful blonde chuckled as he went to reach for Akamaru, petting him lightly. Not even phased by the fool I just made myself out to be, so I tried to bring it back, but at this point I was already feeling defeated.
"U-un, the nurse said I should be outta here by this afternoon." I said as I recovered from my apparent blush and placed my hand back down. "But, how are you? I heard the preliminaries got pretty exciting towards the end there."
"Exciting is one word for it." He exclaimed as he positioned himself even closer by sitting on the edge of the bed, placing the pup in his lap as he did. Akamaru happily obliged by making himself comfortable and laying down, being sure to lick Naruto's hand a few times before falling asleep.
"Actually…" The blonde went on, his voice seeming to soften ever so slightly as his smile began to fade. "It was pretty terrifying."
He didn't go into too much detail, but he told me the gist of what all actually happened. He even defended the other demon on a couple different occasions. Said he wasn't a bad guy and that he just wanted to understand. It was hard for me to believe at first, but...when I compared the scarlet to Naruto...it just somehow all made sense.
The pain, the suffering...even the hatred and anger. I guess after hearing all this, I was really just wondering how it was that Naruto turned out so good when in reality...he should have ended up like Gaara. If you're treated like a monster long enough, eventually that's what you'll become. You'll abandon your humanity little by little until all that's left...is nothing. Nothing but an empty void that you'll spend the rest of your life trying to refill.
But, what you decide to fill that void with will be the deciding factor in how much of your soul is truly gone and what kind of a monster you'll surely become.
"Sounds like you're pretty close with your team." I noted as the fox lit up at just the very mention of them. His smile returning as if it had never left. Even as he went on to talk about how much each of them meant to him I couldn't stop staring at the features of the boy's face. How oddly beautiful each and every marking accentuated his beauty.
The lines that decorated his cheeks like whiskers. No doubt a tribute to his inner demon and the faint scar that trailed down his temple to the side of his face. A painful reminder. Next, my eyes ventured carefully into the movement of his lips, revealing pearly white teeth and a hint of canine. They were small, but they didn't go unnoticed through his smile.
And neither did the tiny scar on his bottom lip, as if it had been bitten one too many times. My gaze then wandered just a little lower to the flesh under his jawline, where they came face to face with a patch of skin slightly darker than his own. Had I not been studying him so closely I doubt I would have even noticed such things.
But, the closer I looked, the more of those darkened patches of flesh I was beginning to find. They were light and nearly blended with his sun-kissed skin, but the slight discoloration made me think twice about them. Almost as if he were attacked by some sort of leech.
I pushed those thoughts off to the side while my eyes drifted further down the boy's neck. There, hidden amongst the collar of the blonde's shirt was a small protrusion of teeth where he had been bitten. It didn't look like it hurt or that it even went very deep, just enough to leave a mark.
It was a right of territory.
Someone had stamped their mark on the boy's body. If I had had the pleasure of going further down, I was sure I would have seen more. A knot had tangled its way deep into the pit of my stomach and found its way into the base of my throat. My heart became heavy with sadness and jealousy, even though I did my best not to show it through my discovery.
But, sadly enough...it didn't go fully unnoticed by the angelic fox.
His eyebrows had slightly knitted themselves upward and his expression softened, seeming concerned.
"Oh sorry." I snapped back into reality, bearing a weary smile in an attempt to cover up my crumbling heart. "I sort of phased out there for a second. Musta been the meds kicking in. What were you saying about Sasuke?"
That was when it hit me.
Oh...I get it now. It's him and Uchiha. Because of course the most popular guy in school, who had every single girl chasing after him, would go for the one person in the entire village that I wanted.
I flashed back to morning I first saw Naruto and Sasuke sitting together in class. Sasuke was always dick but whenever Naruto asked to sit next to him on that first day...everything changed. After that, they were always together.
Even placed on the same team. I remember secretly wishing it had been my name called instead of Uchiha's, so I could use that as an excuse to be near the one known as Naruto. That was going to be my chance to start over and try again, but...it wasn't meant to be.
Naruto just looked so happy. So happy that I often wondered if it had been me instead of Sasuke would he have accepted me the same way as he accepted him?
"It's not fair." I whispered to myself, so faint that even to a fox's ears it went almost unheard. It was like my body suddenly had a mind of its own as it reeled closer to the boy in front of me. The world around me fading into nothing as the earth stilled to the hitch of his breath and the sound of my name leaving the boy's fragile lips.
Why does the Uchiha get to have you when this whole time I've…
As my bandaged hand tightened around the front of the boy's waist his eyes widened as my lips firmly pressed against his own in a searing kiss. It was wrong and possibly even unforgivable. But, how could I deny the flutter in my heart or the tingle in my stomach when our lips were shared.
How could something so wrong...feel so right?
The only thing that could have made it even better was if he actually returned it, but...he didn't. Which is what finally caused me to pull away, leaving only inches between us and a tear to my quivering eye. "I'm-" I gulped as I choked on the knot in my throat and fought back the tears that continuously overflowed and poured down my face.
It hurt. It hurt like a pain I had never felt, but even so...I still tried to push through it. When I tried to apologize again I only got the first letter out before my entire body shut down and I just became a sobbing mess. I was pathetic. Just downright fucking pathetic.
It wasn't until I felt the awkward hand of the fox on the side of my face did my erratic breathing start to falter and I possess the strength I needed to apologize. "I'm sorry." I wept. "For everything. I should have been there. I should have- I'm sorry." The moment those gargled words left my tear-soaked lips, his hand slid further back into the roots of my hair and pulled me in close for a warm and heartfelt hug.
"I know." He whispered. His breath softly caressing the tip of my ear and sending relaxing waves throughout my entire body. "And...it's okay. It was a long time ago. You don't have to burden yourself with the past. It's just the way life is. The only thing that matters now is that we're friends."
I buried myself deeper into the crook of his neck and tightened my hold on the boy for I knew what was coming next. I knew it all along, I just wasn't ready to hear it. "But...I can't be more than that because I'm in love with someone else. And he means the entire world to me. I wanna stay with him and be with him until my time on this earth is finally over. And...I don't know...how much longer that will be. I just know that it has to be with him." He finished, his voice frail and shaken as if he knew something...that no one else did.
"Gomen-nesai."
To be continued…
Sorry, lots of emotion in this one from Kiba and Iruka. BUT, if you guys remember anything about what happened in (I think it was chapter 40) where Naruto took Sasuke into that room, that's coming up next chapter! I don't know when that's gonna be up. I'm hoping not as long as it took this one. I didn't know what I was doing.
Clean up from the preliminaries I guess lol. Ino and Sakura will have their moment soon enough, but we all know why we're really here and that for Naruto x Sasuke, so they have all priority next chapter. All I'm gonna say that I know for a fact is that there will be come major fluff going on ;)
I hope you guys enjoyed and please as always feel free to review/leave a comment. Always love to hear from you. Let me know what you guys think of my Naruto x Kiba storyline so far. Well, until next time!
