Foxfires: New Year's Special
"Foxfires Spirit"
Chapter 01
This is Grand Jipangu. As you can see the winter has come and New Year's Special Eve is coming soon. The entire villagers are very excited for this year, but it wouldn't like any New Year as everyone does have this wonderful celebrating.
A long time ago, there is an Old Enoki the basic legend tree (Hackberry). Saying that all the kitsunebii (Foxfires) would meet to discuss matters of the new year coming, they gathered around the old tree to prepare to pay homage of the Oji Inari shrine (God of Foxes). To celebrate for New Year's Eve.
The cult centers on the God of rice field, for whom the fox serves as messenger on the way to Oji, so the foxes have set a number of kitsunebii, where one hundred famers count to predict the upcoming rice harvest. Hiroshige's print successfully conveys the mysterious atmosphere of the rite as the procession of foxes bearing fires approaches from the distant, dark forest under a starry sky.
Depictions of kitsune or their possessed victims may feature round or onion-shaped white balls known as Hoshi no Tama (Star balls). Tales describe these as glowing with Kitsunebi.
Some stories identify them as magical jewels or pearls. When they aren't in human form or possessing a human, a kitsune keeps the ball in its mouth or carries it on his tail. Jewels are a common symbol of Inari, and representations of sacred Inari foxes without them are rare.
However, there has been ventured into the world of spirits. It was believed that on New Year's Eve all the foxes of the surrounding provinces would gather at a particular tree near Oji Inari Shrine, the headquarters of the regional cult of the God Inari On the way, the animals would emit distinctive flames by which local farmers were able to predict the crops of the coming year.
That's what the villager thinks it was just an old fairy tales from the past, but everyone loves to tell this story to their children and have this wonderful celebrating.
Until this year something will make it true...
Dark Night Time:
In the middle of deep forest there's something small with four legs, trying to run straight through the trees, ignoring the warnings men's who were chasing him.
"Don't let it escape!"
"Get back here you little fur bell!"
The little fox was trying to escape from those men's who're chasing him; but he wasn't fast enough to get away, because his left leg was pretty bad injured. He whimpered at the pain that was coursing through his body as he is ran, but it didn't let him slow down until he gets into a group of bushes. He stopped for a moment to look around to find someplace to hide.
He found a hole under the tree, then he quickly scampers over it and hid.
As the man's approaching they stopped to find the fox track, but they have lost it.
The fox try breath calmly to looks through the hole and sees those man's faces. They were creepy looking because of their make-up. They were looking around the woods to find him. He keeps his head low with baited breath waiting.
"Dammit! We lost it."
"That little beast is fast, even his injure pretty bad shape he shouldn't unable to run that fast, he could be hiding somewhere close by?"
"If we hid back to the Boss with empty handed, he's not gone be happy about it."
"Then we better keep looking. Let's go!"
When they finally gone, he sighed of relive and calm himself, it's the good thing they didn't see him here. Then he came out from hideout and stared headed to the other side of the wood to find someplace where he could hide from those humans.
The little fox was very exhausted to walk, as he feels a lot of pain from his injure leg, but he couldn't give up, he needs to keep walking where ever it take and none stop until he is safe. Then he finally found an abandoned place where he could sleep there until the morning.
He finds a convey and softy grass to sleep in, he laid his body down slowly and looked at his leg, it's still bleeding so he started to licking to make it stop, until he finishes to clean his wounds. He felt really tired, he couldn't keep his eyes open, so he lay his head down on the ground just for a moment and stared looking up to the sky.
It's starts snowing; it was really beautiful night sky lighting from the full moon for all this fouling snow. 'Where's this happiness that you've told me about, Mommy? There's no one out there could ever make me feel saved and love.' He said in his thoughts as his eyes start full with tears for looking at the snowfall. He then role his head to the other side 'What these tears could it do for this? I wish you're here. I'm so scared... I want to go home... Help me, Mommy!' His tears burning the edges of his eyelids as his vision went to unclear to see; his eyes began to close slowly and went into deep sleep.
In the Morning:
The sun has risen for this wonderful new day in Grand jipang. All kids in the street are playing snowbell and making snowman. Everyone in the village is ready to prepare for Christmas morning. The sellers are ready to sale so many things for New Year's Eve.
In a restaurant Luffy Oyabun is having breakfast with Blue-nose sensei Chopper "Hey, Onami! More rise!"
"Me too!" Chopper order.
"That's quite enough, Chief! You have got a lot of bills that you didn't pay for, remember." Onami said.
"Oh, come on Onami! It's Christmas and after tomorrow the New Year celebration will be held. I have a lot of work to take care of, so I need strength." Luffy said.
"And that's why I saved all food for people are coming this Eve. So where is the rest of it? Chief!" Onami yelled at him, as he starts sweat in fear by looking at her scary face.
"Uh… Onami-swan looks even cute when she's angry." Sanji said with heart in his eyes.
"BOSS, BOSS, TROUBLE NEWS!" All the suddenly, his partner Usopp running in the rode yelled for his boss, until he rushed to the restaurant. "Boss, this is really bad! You have to see this."
As soon as Usopp showed everyone the big news about the Old Tree Enoki has been disappeared from yesterday at Christmas Eve, but there is also other news before missing tree!? A week's age all foxes on Grand jipang has been missed too. The polies man and villagers didn't find any single fox every forest; the people have been trying to search for them, but they couldn't find any of them... Which made it strange thing in their disappearance, and there are no traces of them anywhere.
"That's awfully strange, chief! Why would anyone want to steal the old tree and kidnapped all foxes in Grand jipang? Who would do this and what's the reason for them to do this?" Chopper asked wandering.
"Could this be work by big Red-nose Buggy again?" Luffy said, while he is still looking at the posters.
"We couldn't find any clue that the Clown Clan Family is responsible behind all these missing foxes and The Enoki tree!" Usopp said, "The Sheriff Genze is still searching for the mystery suspects, but no luck."
"They just vanished without leaving any a trace, this wouldn't be so easy to find them! They're could possibly hide someplace else outside the area? It's just liked the same last years what happened when Buggy clown has stolen the old Sakura tree. Remember that!" Sanji expound them.
"Good point, Sanji-kun! Hey, Chief! Are you just gone sit here and eat all day? Move your ass and get this job done or else you would get any food for New Year!" Onami said in serious looks.
"Yeah, Yeah! Don't worry about that! I'll find them soon after the New Year Eve coming. Anyways I have some business to do." He got up from his sets and started to walk to the door "Thanks for the meal, see ya guys later... Let's go Usopp!"
"Yes, Boss!" Usopp has followed him.
When those two left the restaurant, Onami have serve Chopper a cup of tea, "Hey Onami! Do you think Luffy Oyabun will find the tree? I mean, it's would be horrible if the Old Enoki tree doesn't exist in this world! What could happen to it?"
"Who knows Blue-nose sensei? Let's just hope they'll find it soon or there wouldn't be any celebration New Year Eve." Onami said. "He better finds it soon... I wouldn't have any costumers for this special Eve."
As Luffy and Usopp walking through the town. They look around and see some people looks unhappy. It seems the news has spread throughout the village about disappear the old Enoki tree. They think there will be no New Year Eve celebration this year
"Oh man, this is bad Boss! Everyone in this village is very upset! We have to find the old tree in fast. What should we do first, Boss?" Usopp asked with worries.
Luffy didn't answer him, while he is looking at the people's face aren't happy for this special day, he needs to do something to make everyone happy again.
"BOSS! BOSS!"
Luffy and Usopp heard Orika calling them as she was running so fast to approach them, then she stopped to take a breath, her looks terrify like she saw something that scared her.
"Huh! Orika! What's wrong? Why are you…?" Luffy said as he tries to calm her down.
"Boss, you... you have to come quick. T-There's a strange kid laying on the ground not moving and he's not a normal kid at all."
"Not normal? What are you talking about?" Usopp asked confused.
"Quickly come, come!" She quickly griped Luffy's arm and start running to show him the place where they found the kid.
"Hey, wait for me!" As Usopp followed them.
When they reached to the leak near to the old temple where her friends Carrot, Pepper and Onion are waiting for them.
"Hey Boss! Over here." Onion waved at them.
When they finally arrived, Luffy ask them a lot of question, "Hey kids! What's happening? Are you guys okay? What's going on?"
Usopp has finally arrived, as he tried to keep up with his Boss, then he stopped and take a deep breath, "W-What... is this all about... weird kid that you guys talking about?" He was very confessing for what they're saying, while he tries to breath slowly.
"Look over there!" The three boys pointed their fingers to the direction, where they saw the weird kid body is?!
When Luffy and Usopp sawe where the boys pointing at! They saw something shining inside the woods. Luffy was very confused of what was? So, he went there first to see it, but Usopp try to stop him "W-Wait Boss! We can't be sure if it that thing is dangerous?!"
But Luffy didn't care, as he slowly walk throw the wood to reaches to that shining things, when he arrived! He saw a small little boy about six years old laying on the grass unconscious. He looks really in bed shape and was covered in cuts and bruises all over his body, his hair was like a shining gold-sun, but there is something strange on his head.
Luffy come closer to the boy, he bent down to look at him and found out that he wasn't an ordinary kid. He has weird ears and two tails behind. Attached to the little boy are furry tails the same color of his hair and it resembles of fox tails. He couldn't believe of what he saw, so want to be sure of what he sees?!
"Hey, Usopp! Come here and see this." Luffy called him.
When Usopp heard him called. His legs were shaking in fear, but he has to come as he told. He then came to and saw his Boss near to the kid "Ooh… Good! It's just a kid!" He reassures calm.
"Not just a kid... Look at him closely." Luffy said.
When he came close to him, his eyes went wild when he saw the boy, "HE… HE HAVE EARS AND TAILS!?" He immediately yelled in shock.
"I know right! Isn't that cool!" Luffy's eyes were shining star when he saw him.
"Hey, Boss! How is he?"
"Is he okay?"
"Is he alive?"
Luffy heard the kids yelled, asking about the boy!? He looked at him again and he sees his chest moving that mean he's still breathing, then he pets his head to check on him! His head was warm, which mean he is having a fever and his body covered with new injured. 'Who could have done this to him?' He asked himself wandering... but he'll think about it later. He needs to take him back to town, so Blue-nose Sensei could check on him.
He carried the boy in his arms carefully and looked at him "Don't worry little guy, I'll take care of you!" He said to him and walked out to the woods.
"H-Hey, Boss! Where are you taking him?" Usopp asking him nerves. As he followed him.
But Luffy didn't answer him... When they came out the kids were in shock to see the boy has the ears and tails on him.
"Wow, guys! He's not just a boy. He's a Golden Fox Boy." Orika said with surprised looks on her face.
"AWESOME!" The boys flabbergasted for what they saw, making their eyes shine.
"Sorry kids! I have taken him to Blue-nose Sensei to check on him. He's not in a good shape." Luffy said with fake smile, trying to hide his anger from them.
"W-wait Boss! What about the mission? Have you forgotten about..."
"USOPP! This boy needs tread mind right away. More important than this mission, you understand!" Luffy said to him as he walked back to the town, hoping to find Blue-nose sensei still in a restaurant.
Usopp was in shocked and confuse of what had happen?! He could see his Boss eyes full with rage and anger. Was it because of that little fox boy injures? Well! He understands his boss feeling and he knows his Boss will do everything to found out who did this to that boy, and when he does... He'll never forgive them.
Back in the Restaurant:
Chopper-sensei is treated the boy wounds and Onami's helping him. When he finishes bandaging him, "His wounds look bready bad, at least they didn't get any infected and I've checked on his right leg, it doesn't seem to be broken, which is the good thing! But he extremely exhausted by his injured, which he needs to be treated about a week. So, I have to check on him later." He looked at the boy's face, he looks really peaceful and calm kid, with those whiskers mark on his cheeks, he looks really cute.
Onami was very upset by seeing this child has very bad injured over his body, as she tries to stay calm and be brave enough to not panic, "Sensei! What is the reason existence that caused these bruises at him?"
"Well! It doesn't seem like fighting by the wild animals, by the looks at his wound it seems to been like he was pounding by the humans." Chopper explained, as he felt bad for this boy.
"Oh, my gosh! How crawl! He's just a child... Who would have done this to him?" Onami covers her mouth with her hand in shook from hearing what the doctor said.
"I don't know? But in the mean time we need to keep in eyes on him until he wakes up." Chopper said and Onami agree with him.
From that time, Luffy has come in with worried looks on his face, "Hey, Chopper! How is he now? Is he okay?"
"Shhh... Keep it down, he's sleeping now... We just have to wait until he wakes up." Onami whispered to him for not making a sound to wake the boy. They leave the room to let the boy rest in bed.
Everyone is gathering at the restaurant dining room, the kids have arrived and start to tell them the story about how they find the fox boy?
Then Onion was the first to explain them, "When we were playing the snow-bell fight, we heard Carrot and Orika were screamed near to the wood, while they were searching to find the peas of woods to build a snow-man."
"I looked everywhere to find one, but then I saw something bright near to the old temple! When we reach there, the bright thing was beyond to the woods! I didn't want to any close to it because it was scary place." Carrot said.
"I was brave enough to go there and check it, so I went throw and I saw him lying on the grass! I was in shock and terrified to see him lying there cover with blood and not moving, I thought he was died for sure. So, I run back to the others and told them what I saw." Orika explained to them, as her body was shacking.
"So, that's explain why you guys were looking for us?" Usopp answer the last part.
"RIGHT!" The four kids said together, as they gave them everything for what happened.
While the others are thinking and discussing about how they gone handle with the little fox boy when he wakes up. But then all the sudden someone has just interred with restaurant shouting... It was Franky and his twin's assistance sisters who inter.
"OW SUPEEEERRR! WHAT'S UP EVERYONE HOW'S...!"
Immediately, everyone in this room shush him up for not making a hard noise to wake the boy up.
Franky and two girls were still standing there in shocked by seeing everyone shut them off, "Hu… Guys? What's this all about? Is there something wrong?" Franky asked them with confused.
"We'll explain everything to you, but first you better not making shout or yell... We don't want to wake the child up." Sanji explained him.
"A child? What child?" Franky was very confused for what he said.
1 Hours later:
The blond hair boy had opened his sky colored eyes slowly, greeting by a harsh light. It took him a short while for his sight to readjust, His head feel hurt and dizzy; then he felt something soft and comfy around him? He realized that he was lying on a bed underneath covers. He wasn't laying on the grass, but in a human bed. He squeaked pain as he tried to sit up straight, he looked at his hands they were tied with white bond and even his body was cover with it too.
He looked around and saw that he's in human bedroom. Then he heard strange noises from outside the window, there was a lot of noise outside that human were walking and talked on the streets. It made him very nervous and panic, 'I-I-I'm in the human village! Who brought me here?' he asked himself, as he to remember what happen that night?! Only he could remember that he was in the fox form tried to escape from humans, then he falls asleep in the soft grass and nothing else that he could remember.
Then he suddenly hears the door open, and saw a woman with orange hair came inside the room with a bowl full of water.
The woman saw him awake, as she looked him with a smile on her face. "Oh, you finally awake! Thank goodness, I was thought you might not be awake." She said gentile in her voice.
When she was approaching, he crewed back to the wall tried to get away from her. His ears been low, looked at her growled lowly trying to make her scared to stay away from him, "S-STOP... STAY AWAY! DON'T... DON'T COME NEAR ME! P-PLEASE, STOP... DON'T HURT ME!" He yelled in fear. and he closed his eyes and fist clenched in protecting to wait for a punch or kicked.
Onami was in shocked what he said, it's made her heart brock and sad by seeing this poor child is afraid of her. She couldn't help but feeling pain for him. She came close to him and petting his head to make him calm, "Shhhh... It's okay... I'm not going hurt you."
He felt soft and warm touch that he never felted for so long. He opened his eyes slowly and looked at Onami face. She's still smiled at him; which is shock him for see this woman smile for him. But why is she so nice to him? That's what he asked himself in his mind.
She sits down next to him and wrapped her arms around to comforted him in hug, "You're safe here. You don't have to be afraid!"
The fox boy was completely shocked, that the woman has hugged him, he breath lightly to avoid the tears cascaded falling down to his face 'What is this feeling? It's so warm, so calm in her embrace? Is that what warmth feels like?' He said in his thought as he remembers this feeling when flash light memories came up to his mind. There was a beautiful long red-haired woman with fox ears and tails, standing there raze her arms waiting for him to come, but suddenly... His eyes froze in shock.
A flashback memory came to him... The fires all over the forest are burning up and the long red-haired woman was running clutching his hand tight, as they're try to escaped from someone and they heard the explosions boomed behind them, while they run.
"RUN! JUST KEEP RUNNING AND DON'T LOOK BACK, DEAR!" She woman shouted with wild, there was sound of exploding and the dogs right behind chasing them. Eventually, she managed to temporarily elude from the dogs and found a small cave that which she could hide him that he can fit in. She told him to keep quiet and not making a sound, but he didn't want to let her go she kissed his forehead and smiled "I love you!" She said for final moment of farewell.
Then she caught the attention of the dogs and led the human forces away from him. Then he heard a familiar shouting came from the same direction where she runs. He sees instead that his mother endangered herself to save her own child.
He crying out loud from seeing a horrible image that he remembers, it was too much for his young mind to handle it. He hugs Onami chest and start to cry really hard as his hands was trembling of fear.
Onami seeing the little boy crying and feels his body shacking, she was in shocked from that moment, but she can understand the depth pain he has. She couldn't help but to stroke his back and whisper soothing words to him "Shhhh! It's okay, don't cry!"
That moment, the door has opened and everyone entered the room when they heard shouting, Luffy entered first "Hey, Onami! What's wrong? Is everything all right?"
"What's going on? You okay Onami?" Usopp was behind Luffy hiding.
"NAMI-SWAN YOU OKAY, DARLING!" Sanji enter the room yelled to see her safe.
She looked at them to shush them for not making the boy scared. So, everyone nodded as they keep their mouth shut and they were startled when they saw him gripped her blouse and buried his head on her lap crying. "Hey, Calm down little guy! Everything is all right now! You don't have to be afraid. No one will ever hurt you. I promise!" She sighed as she pets his head and smiled.
When he finally calms down. He looked up to see her face, she was still smiled for him; for the first time he had never seen a beautiful woman before in his life. That made him instantly blush appeared on his cheeks. Then the little fox felt uncontrollable hunger that his stomach grumbled loudly.
Onami hear that as she allowed a giggle to escape her lips.
At that moment:
In dining room, the little boy is eating hole meals so fast, he couldn't stop for a moment. Everyone's eyes magnetized to the fox the way he eating, it seems he was really starving.
"He sure eats a lot! Poor little guy!" Onami said, as she looked at him.
"Well, it's great to see him okay. I was really worried that he may not wake up, but it looks like he's getting better." Chopper was sitting by his side, watching him eat.
"Shishishi... He looks really cool with those ears and tails on him, he sure is funny kid I've ever met." Luffy Oyabun was really exciting to see how's the boy fluffy tails flapping around.
"SO COOOOL!" The kids shouted in amazement with stars in their eyes.
Usopp was staring at him confusing for what kind of boy is he "Hey! Do you guys think that he may have Devil Fruit power that makes him like half human and half fox by the looks of it!?" He questioned.
"I was thinking about the same thing too. He probable just likes Blue-nose sensei that he was orangery fox and becoming a half human like us!" Sanji said as he looked closely at the fox boy.
"I agree Bro. He sure looks like it, he could probably also transform himself into fox anytime he wants." Franky said while he's watching the boy's ears.
"So CUUUUUUT!" The two Franky's sisters are enjoyed to watch the fox boy eating.
"Shishishi... That doesn't matter anymore! We're lucky that we've found him." Luffy returned the smile.
As the fox boy has finished his meals, low his head "T-Thank you f-for the food."
"Well, I'm glad you like it! Sanji-kun will make special desserts just for you!" Onami gave him a warm and genuine smile.
The fox boy blushed as his fox ears twitches and he gave her a small smile back. Everyone was in shocked and confused at Onami sudden act hospitality and kindness to the strangers.
"Since when did Onami become so friendly. She doesn't care anything but the money." Everyone mumbled to themselves, by watching Onami talking to the boy.
"So, kid! Who are you? And where did you come from?" Luffy asked innocently.
When Luffy saw the fox boy ears twitch and low his head down, feeling nerviest and scared to talk to him, it seems that this boy hasn't been used to be so close to any people before.
So, he has to think of something to make this kid happy. 'Bingo...' He got the idea!
"Hey, kid! Check this out." When the boy heard stranger talk to him, he looked at him...? The boy was in shock by seeing him tied up his rubber face and drawn on his face. As he sticks chopsticks in his nose and stacked his tongue wiggling it out.
"Shishishi... What do you thing...!" Luffy said while start dancing.
"You're such an idiot... You'll make him scared more." Onami smacked Luffy's head and making him bite his tongue and break the sticks on his nose.
"OWW... ONAMI WHY DID YOU HIT ME, YOU MADE ME BITE MY TOEGUE... THAT'S HURT" Luffy cried out in pain.
When the boy stares at him for a few seconds, he let a smile tug his lips, his smile grows a bit bigger at that; he let out a tiny laugh for seeing this strange guy yelled in pain and then finally he let out the hard laugh for this fun moment that he never saw.
When Luffy, Onami and Everyone's eyes slowly turned to the boy laughing at Luffy, they were smiles by seeing him laugh, that's relief which made them glad and happy.
"Shishi... That's batter!" Luffy says laughing with him.
"Ha... Well, what do you know? He actually likes to watch the goofy fights just like you!" Onami smiled happily by seeing him laugh.
"Shishishi… I like this kid." Luffy laugh.
The boy has stopped laughed and web his tears from the entire laugh, "Oh man... You're the funniest and weird human that I ever met. Ya know!" The boy said to him.
Luffy looked at him with big smile "Shishi... Glad to hear that, I'm Luffy by the way! So, what's your name? And where did you come from?" He asked.
"My name is Naruto the son of Legendary Kyubi no Kitsune Nine Tails Fox of Uzumaki clans. I come from the mountain where there's a Village of Fire hiding from humans far away from all this century." Naruto answered proudly.
Everyone faces looking at the across the table, they're all looked at him with open wild eyes in shock to hear it, "YOU'RE THE FOX SPIRIT!" They'll shout in amazement for what he said.
"Huh? E-ehh, Y-yeah I am!" Naruto blinked in shocked.
"So... So, the legend it's true. There are the fox spirits in this real word... THAT'S SO AWESOME!" Luffy yelled loudly and raises his arms to the air.
"B-But, that's impossible! They said its only fairy tales for all this century! How can we be sure if they are truly existing?" Usopp said as he looks to Naruto face and asks. "Kid! Are you sure that you're the fox spirit or you're just one of devil fruit user?"
"Devil fruit...? What's that?" Naruto ears perk up.
"Don't you know what it is, Naruto?" Chopper asked and Naruto shack he head that he doesn't know what it is?!
"It's a Fruits that can give the eater many different and varying kinds of strange and interesting abilities, depending on the type and variation of the Fruit itself. Just like me and Boss Luffy too." Chopper explained to him.
It took a while for Naruto to absorb all the information, "Well? I'm not quite sure of what you said, Mister Raccoon? But, I have never eaten any strange fruits that you're saying, because I know which fruit they were poison and aren't. And I am quite sure that I'm the Fox Spirit."
"Oh, I see! So that mean you're... Huh, HEY I'M NOT A RACCOON. I'M A REINDEER, DAMN IT!" Chopper exploded in rage by calling him raccoon.
"I'm Sorry!" Naruto quickly cover his head for getting any beaten by him, but he felt someone stroking his head gently to make him calm.
He looks up and see Onami strokes him with smile on her face, "Hey, hey! Calm down, Naruto! He won't hurt you. Blue-nose sensei is a doctor and his names Chopper... He's the one who treated you and he is a good guy." She explained softly.
"I don't need your gratitud to make me happy, your asshole!" Chopper starting his happy dance.
Naruto looked at him in awkward from seeing his strange actions as he had sweat drop from the back of his head.
"Oh, yeah I forgot. My name is Onami and this is Sanji the cook master."
"Hi!" Sanji wave in greeting
"And those kids are the one who found you unconscious... Carrot, Pepper, Onion, Orika." Luffy introducing everyone.
"HI!" Four kids yelp in greeting too.
"And that's my partner Usopp."
"H-Hi...!" Usopp greed him awkward.
"And that's our friend Franky and his assistance sisters."
"SUPEEEEERR!" Franky and the girls raised their arms up to greeting him.
Naruto couldn't imagine to meet those people. How they treat him like he's one of them, which it gave him a warm smile as his face lit up a tiny shade of red and he rubbing the back of his head.
"So, Naruto! You said that you're living in the mountain with your clan, so what are you doing out here on your own? Your parents are probably being so worried about you." Onami smiled comfortingly.
Naruto's face turned suddenly pale as he lowered his head, stared at the table for the second the replied and his hand started to shack "M... My village... My clans... Are gone."
Everyone in the room felt their heart work a little harder, the air around them somehow felt a little cold.
"W-What do you mean?!" Luffy replied leaning closer into the table.
"My clan and my village have been destroyed. They'll gone! Including my mom too." Naruto said in weak voice.
Everyone had a look of horror and uncertainty on their face.
"Bu... But, how? What happen to them?" Onami answered for the whole crew.
Naruto was frozen solid in his chair "I don't know quite well what happen? It was all blur to remember it! I was sleeping in my bad when I heard my mom came in and quickly grape me up to escape, my home was on fire and the village was burning... I couldn't see thing, all I can hear that my people are screaming in fear and pain... My mom and I still running, I see someone are chasing us... My mom tries to avoid them as she could, when we reached into deep forest, she found a cave that we can hid, but...!" Naruto grit his teeth to keep his tears back, as his body start shaking.
The room quickly filled with a spin tingling silence to hear Naruto's story.
"But what? What happen to her?" Luffy asked with deep sympathy.
"She... She hiding me their... an-and she told me to stay here n-not making any sound until they gone... But I-I didn't want let go of her... I didn't want to be alone, I was so scared and so is she... But she hugged me and said she'll be back for me when everything is clear... T-Then she left me there to distracting them away from me... But..." A single tear starts to fallen from his eyes. "Sh-She... Cost her live to protect me... They've killed her... Because of me...!" The wave of fear and anger had finally come out. He couldn't hold it any longer.
Everyone was in shock to hear how his mother sacrificed herself to save her own child, the room began to pick up again.
"I-I... I didn't do anything... When I head back to my village! Everything all burn down a-and I saw my people and my friends lay on the ground dead. I-I've tried to find someone who could help me, but all I-I… get is getting beaten up and kicked by humans… No one could help some F-freak like me…. And they're calling me a Monster." Naruto couldn't stop crying.
Chopper sit next to him and give him a hug. "It's alright, Naruto!" Chopper hold him close to calm him down.
Everyone eye's widened, in resentment room was full with anger and sadness from hearing Naruto story of how he's been tortured and suffered by people.
Luffy couldn't believe of what he was heard; he clenched his fist so hard in rage, it shook every muscle in his body as his head sunk. 'Why wouldn anyone didn't want to help this poor little kid?' He said to himself.
"Oh God...!" Onami whispered, pressing a hand to her mouth and begin to cry.
The four kids are crying for Naruto's story, also Usopp and two sisters join them too.
Franky was balling his tears out shout sadness "AHHHH… How crawl to them! Why can anyone help this poor little boy? WHHYYYYY?"
"That's... Terrible!" Sanji declared of his one wide-eye, his head low as his hair covered his face.
After a few moments of silence, Naruto had finally stopped crying as he still holds to Chopper, when he felt someone pets his head lovingly, he looks up and see Luffy looking at him "Hey kid, you can't blame yourself for what happen to her." He says, "And don't listen to those who calling you a monster, because they don't even know what's the monsters mean to them!"
What Naruto could say after hearing those humans saying? He felted so strange to see those humans carry about him, the blond shifted his eyes to him; his tears began to fall again as his teeth clenched tightly. "B-But why? Why are you all being so nice to a m-monster like me? How can anyone accept me to be part of them after what they have done to me?" Naruto glares at him angrily, "I mean look at me. I'm not human like you. I'm just a fox with those ears and tails, that's what I am. Ya' know!" He asked nerves.
"You're not a monster, Naruto!" Chopper says, "Don't listen to those how call you that, they're just afraid for not knowing who you truly are!"
"He's right, and do you know what monsters mean?" Onami says.
Naruto shook his head, "I-I don't know?" He didn't look at her.
"The truth is, kiddo! There's difference between people and monster, is love...!"
"Love...?" Naruto looks at her confusion.
"That's right, kid!" Naruto looked at blond guy Sanji said to him, "Your mother love you so mush. That's why she was try protecting you from those evil basters, because you're so special to her. And she wants you to life happy and fined new friends too. Isn't that what your mom wants to?"
He was right, he suddenly remembers what his mom has told him when she was alive!
A flesh memory
When he and his mom sitting together watching the sundown and looking at the village from above 'Naruto, when you're strong enough to go on your own! I want you to protect the peoples from anyone who's trying to harm them. And remember that we're not alone in this word, there're plenty of spirits somewhere hiding from humans.'
'But why are they hiding from them? Are the humans really that bad? And why do I have to protect them if they're like... Ya know! What the other foxes said about them?' Naruto asks confusing.
'Well... Not really! Some humans think that we're evil because we're different from them, but there are two different kind of people are born to be good and bad, no matter what they are, we have to protect them. That is what I have been try to confuse them that we're not evil, but our clans are still afraid to facing them, so I didn't give up hope to make peas with humans, so now it's up to you, my son.'
'How can you be so sure that I can do is, Mom?' He asked.
'It because I believe that one day you will make humans, spirits and demons to get along together just like your father and I did a long time ago.'
Naruto couldn't stop flapping his tails to hear about his father! That makes his cheek blush and smile 'My dad was so strong to protect our people.' He said as he sudden low his head down feeling sad 'I wish I could be strong, so I can make you both dreams come true, but I'm not that smart and I wasn't to strong enough to protect my friend Hinata from those fools who making fun of her. I'm too weak to help out, I'm sorry Mom!' He didn't want to show his disappointed to his mom.
'Naruto you are strong and brave son I have! You maybe didn't win a fight to help her, but you still standing up against them until they give up. You're just like him for not giving up until he reaches to his dream just like me.' then she gave him a hug and kissed his head 'I know you can do this, Naruto! You just remember that I'll always be in your heart and I'll always be by your side no matter where you go, my love will give your strength to be strong! I'm so happy that you're born in this world and I thank for it! I love you.'
End flesh memory
"Naruto... Naruto! Are you okay?" Onami's voice causes his to look at her, he hadn't realized how deep in thought he was. As he nods to her "Then! Why are you crying?" She asked with worries.
Naruto didn't feel his tears fall on his cheeks when he remembers about his mom's word, "I... I'm sorry!" He says, as he tried to wipe his tears off.
Then he felt something large covers his head. He looked up to see Luffy placing his straw hat on his head. Everyone was in shock of what Luffy did, he never let anyone touch his hat only for someone really importing to him. What Luffy is thinking now?
"Uh... B-Boss! What are you doing?" Usopp asked wending.
"Listen up, everyone!" Luffy announced suddenly, "I've decided! From here on now of all the groups in this room, the Fox Boy will be my little brother."
"….?" Silence moment.
"EEEEEEHHHHH?!" The rest of the groups shouted in perfect harmony.
"W... Wait, Boss! You can't be serious... Are you really going to adopt this kid as your younger brother!" Usopp asked in shock for not believing of what he heard.
"Shishishi... Why not? He's the coolest and funniest fox I've ever meet... And also?" Luffy picked Naruto up, lifting him in the air and landing him into his chest "He remind me so much about myself when I was his age, but he looked exactly like Sabo when he was a kid and I always wanted to have a little brother like him." Then he looked at Naruto with smile and ask, "So, what do you say kid? Want to be my brother?"
Naruto looked at the teen with wide eyes, completely in shock by this offer of becoming his brother, he looked deep into Luffy's eyes displayed nothing but truth and determination, which made him shocked. He never met someone who had so much faith and trust in him so quickly before.
"B-But I'm not human, ya know! I-If the people in this village saw me with you, T-They may gone hate you because of me." Naruto replied in sadness, "Please, I don't want to get you into trouble... because of me." He begged in fear.
"So, what? I'm a monster too." Luffy put his hand on the gold shining hair kid and smile
Naruto suddenly heard what he said, he looked at him curious of what he's saying.
"Watch!" Luffy stretching his cheek to show him what he means, Naruto was in shock and surprised by seeing this, but it didn't frighten him "You see! My body is made of rubber, I'm rubber man. So, you and I are the same." He says as he smiles and giggles.
"He's right, Naruto!" Onami says as she came over and pets his head, "There're plenty people who have this strange power like Boss and Blue-nose sensei too, so you don't have to worry about what the people saying about it. You just have to show them that you're not a bad fox and once they know the spirits are truly exist, they're gone like you."
"YEAH! We'll gone help out to show the people that Naruto's not a bad fox, right guys!" Onion said to his friends.
"YEAH!" The kids shouted.
"OWWW… You can count on us too. We're going to have a great huge celebration for this SUPER HAPPY NEW YEAR for the Fox Spirit Boy! OWWW" Franky yelled and raised his arms for the new happy family.
"So, what do you say? Little brother." Luffy's happiness was infectious and Naruto couldn't prevent the smile that crossed his face, all his emotion bubbles up in one huge wave, no longer able to hold back.
He clinging to Luffy's chest despite being picked up and held by force Naruto couldn't stop the tears from coming out and begin to cry loudly, tears pouring down his face. It was a weird combination of joy, anger, sadness and relief all in one.
Luffy let out a soft laugh as he wraps his arms around him and scoops him into hug, "Welcome to the family, Naruto!"
Naruto couldn't help but feel happier then he could ever remember this feeling.
TBC