A/N: First thing, gomen, gomen, gomen! I'm soo sorry for not updating for so long! I had just finished my mid-term exams. I was not allowed to use the computer during the few weeks. Please forgive me!! Thanks to Ookima, Wolfgirl13, Yanlie and Shadow Eclipse who reviewed my last chapter. AH, I made a mistake! The last chapter was supposed to be chapter 5, not 6. Well, here's the real sixth chapter. I hope you enjoy this!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

"…" talk

[…] thoughts

= = = changes in scene/time

Chapter 6: Confession, Acceptance.

She stood up quickly and cried, "Kyo-kun! Matte!"

The brown kitsune froze in its tracks. Shuri tentatively called out his name again, "Kyo-kun? Kyo-kun desu ka?" Slowly, she began to approach the fox. When she drew nearer, the fox suddenly bolted into the forest. "Matte!" Shuri cried and ran after it. Shuri was now positive that this fox was Kyo. [But how? Did Kyo-kun use Henge no Jutsu? But he wasn't a shinobi. Or…was he?] She looked to her left and right. [Where did he go?] She chose to go left, pushing branches out of her face. The sky was darkening but Shuri didn't care. What she wanted now was to find Kyo. After a while, the sun had given way to the moon and the night sky glittered with stars.

Shuri wandered in the dark forest without any idea she was heading to. [Great, now I'm lost.] The forest seemed so much more unnatural during the dark. The trees cast eerie shadows and now and then some forest animal will scurry pass her. There was hardly any light and Shuri stumbled many times. Suddenly, she heard a light rustle in the bushes and headed towards it. "Kyo-kun!" she cried, hoping it was him. No response. She continued to walk on. "Ky-Aaaaah!!" The ground beneath her had disappeared and Shuri plunged into a dark chasm. Shuri instinctively grabbed for something to hold on to. She managed to hold onto some rock jutting out, but her fingers were slipping. Just when her fingers lost strength and she began to fall, a hand clutched hers quickly and hauled her up. Once on safe, solid ground, Shuri was able to breathe properly again.

The reassuring presence beside her lightly patted her back to calm her but said nothing. It was only after she got over her shock did Shuri look up to thank her savior. It was so dark, she had to squint. Her dark eyes widen visibly as they stared into the other's red eyes. "Kyo-kun!" Shuri embraced him, only slightly aware that his chest was bare. She found comfort in his warmth. Kyo gently pried her off and turned her around. Shuri was confused, "Kyo-kun?" Kyo stopped her from turning around. "Don't. I'm…not dressed right now." Kyo blushed lightly as he explained. Shuri went a deep shade of crimson as she remembered the brief skin contact they made just now. "Wait here." Kyo said quietly. "No, wait! Don't go off again, Kyo-kun!" Shuri almost wheeled around to confront the blond. "I want to talk to you." There was a short pause before Kyo replied, "Okay, but let me get my clothes first." "Where did you place them?" Sensing the hesitation in her voice, Kyo sighed, "I'll bring you to where I live. Get onto my back." When Shuri turned around, she was surprised to find the previous brown fox in Kyo's place. "Get on." Shuri was taken aback, but recognizing Kyo's voice, she only nodded and obeyed. Climbing onto his back, she held onto his neck, careful to not to yank at his fur.

The kitsune took off into the forest, running at a fast pace. His paws barely touched the forest floor as Kyo headed to his home. The wind felt cold against her face, but Kyo's fur was very warm. Shuri snuggled into the brown fur, enjoying the ride. Soon, they arrived at the mouth of a cave. Kyo padded into the unlit cave and Shuri slipped off his back. While Kyo moved further into the cave to change into his human form, Shuri tried to get a fire started to light up the dark cave. She soon got a warm fire crackling, its glow brightening the cave. She noticed it was dry and airy but bare. Just then Kyo entered, clothed in a simple shirt and long pants. He walked towards the fire and sat down beside her. For a while, silence filled the cave.

As Shuri opened her mouth, Kyo braced himself for the questions that will come. He had seen this coming. Shuri had taken the moment of silence between them to properly phrase her questions. There was so much she wanted, needed to know. She decided to start with his transformation. "Kyo-kun, how did you change into the fox? Are you a shinobi?" Kyo considered for a moment. [Should I reveal my real identity? I want to, but…is it wise?] Shuri waited patiently as Kyo seemed to be having an internal conflict. [Will she fear me and hate me like the other humans?] A long silence, Kyo finally answered. "I am not a shinobi. I…am something else, something much more dangerous." Kyo looked straight into Shuri's dark eyes. Throwing caution to the winds, he broke his secret to her, "I…I am a demon." "A demon?" Her voice showed that she was unconvinced. Kyo sighed and got up. "I can prove it to you but are you sure you will want to see this?" Shuri merely nodded. [There won't be any turning back once I show her, but…I, she deserves to know.]

"Have you heard of the Kyubi no Kitsune?" Shuri nodded, wondering what this had to do with Kyo. He closed his eyes and suddenly there was a loud poof and smoke. All the while he was hoping, praying in his heart [Please…don't hate me.] After it cleared, standing in front of Shuri was a large fox. Just that this fox had nine long tails and his fur almost a burnt red. Shuri gasped and her eyes widen dramatically. She recognized this kitsune from the stories she had heard of when she was young. A demon fox with nine tails, red eyes and thirst for blood. "You're, you're Kyubi…" Another poof of smoke and Kyubi turned back into his human form. He pushed his bangs out of his face, not daring to meet the young Uchiha's eyes. "Hai. That is what I am. The demon fox." In Shuri's mind, everything began to click. His strange behaviour lately, his reluctance on letting out details about himself, his excuses when he disappeared at night. [No, he can't be the bloodthirsty Kyubi in the stories. Kyo-kun has never hurt anyone. This isn't true!]  

Kyubi turned around. [I knew this will end this way. It was foolish to expect her to react differently.] After all, what god does a demon pray to? Kyubi walked out of the cave quickly. He needed to get away, before that aching feeling in his chest become worse. Before Shuri openly rejected him, for what he was. Seeing his retreating form, Shuri realized that her love runs deeper than this barrier. Kyubi was almost halfway from the mouth of the cave when he was stopped by Shuri. Shuri hugged the taller figure from behind, burying her face in his back. She felt his body stiffened. "Onegai, don't leave me…like the other day." She whispered softly. "Demo, I'm a demon. Don't you hate me, like the rest?" "It doesn't matter to me. Demon or not, you're still the Kyo I knew, still the Kyo I trust and still…the Kyo I love." Kyubi was stunned. He slowly turned to face the young woman, whose eyes were crying out at him to stay. For a moment, Shuri saw Kyubi's soul. His fears, his insecurities, his loneliness. She reassured him with a smile. "I meant what I said." Kyubi crushed her with an embrace. For the first time ever, he found cure to his solitude. "Arigatou…" Kyubi whispered into Shuri's ear. "Thank you for accepting me, for loving me as what I am."

Matte-Wait

Kitsune-Fox

Onegai-Please

Demo-But

A/N: How was the chapter? I hope I did well. It isn't exactly easy to express the feelings in the right words (not for me anyway) Please review to let me know what you think about it. Ja ne.