This is Aots with…

Oh my, no new chapter? Please relax! Due to extreme work overload I have been finding it very difficult to work on my fanfiction… sad, I know. In the span of a week my brain slowly began to morph into a rather unique form of jell-o. I slowly went through a withdrawal period and spent a whole weekend and three school days reading nothing but fanfiction… Then, late one night, I was interrupted from my sleep from a rather cute idea. I couldn't just let this idea die away so before my brain could register it, I already had half of it down on paper.

This, my loyal readers, is a short intermission of the actual story, a nice, cute little blurb that I hope you will all enjoy. Still KyubixNaruto pairing, but this kind of takes place way back-like say when Kyubi is still feeling bitter…

Oh! Word of warning, I really didn't mean to do it, but there is a serious spoiler for 'This Line They Cannot Cross' in here, if you notice it I'm sorry!

Shards of Spring

Sandal-clad feet tromped quickly onto old wooden planks of a familiar bridge. The sandal's color barely visible due to the thick fog circling the ground.

It seems that as of late all I have been able to do is sleep my days away and hope for a day when I would be free…

Bright orange pants snagged by tree branches, tore and ripped, revealing small tanned legs.

But today was unlike any other, for I could not bring myself to sleep. It was as if I had reached the end of rest. I was aware of everything around me, and I was unnerved by it…

A dark blue navy shirt blended into the shadows of the trees. Dark rings of sweat showed through the cloth.

It was as if I was being smothered by emotions. Never before had I felt them so strong. If sorrow could be measured in teardrops, I would be drowning…

White wisps of steam came from a trembling mouth, panting and whimpering from extreme pain. Both physically and emotionally. Water streamed down from bleeding cheeks, only to be blown away from the wind.

But there would be something tainting these waters. Like blood introduced to a pure pond, there was hate swirling around these waters…

Yelling was heard. A door came into view, like a camera out of control it was coming nearer. The body halts, opens the door and runs inside. A slam is heard, and symbolically the rain began to pour.

And the amount of this hate is what caused me to freeze in a curious fear…

§§§

He remembered some happy couple giggling that they would forever be happy because home is where the heart is.

His knees were drawn up to his chin and his arms hugged them closer to himself. He was huddled in a small dark corner of his apartment. Slowly he lifted his head to survey the mess. Everything looked dark, empty, and cold.

There was no heart in this house, just a lingering presence of rejection.

Rejection… His small eyebrows furrowed upwards in sorrow-filled pain. Betrayal… He dropped his head back to his knees; dry blood flaking off his cheeks, and onto his arms.

Should he wash up? Was it worth it? Everything hurt. "Thought I could trust you…" He said in a high-pitched, cracked voice, "Why did you have to make me stop trusting you?"

He began rocking back and forth in his sitting position. He could hear the rain pound against his thin windows, could hear the water drip onto his floor from his leaking roof. A part of him wondered if they could feel the rain…

His body shuddered with disgust and despair and he clenched his arms even tighter around his knees. A small hand snaked into a sweaty mop of hair and clenched tightly to the point of sharp pain. He had done a bad thing.

But they started it… He told himself childishly. His young mind was swirling out of control and he wondered if this was what that old man from down the hall felt constantly.

A clap of thunder sounded, its impact shaking the building, sending a small figurine to fall to the floor with a dull thud. Lightening flashed outside the window, sending a blue and white glow around the room.

Both of these occurrences startled him out of his self-inflicted pain. He jumped off the ground and looked around the darkened room with wild, panicked eyes. It was as if he was searching for a shadow killer to leap from his very walls; but nothing came.

Faintly aware of moving at all he found himself in his kitchen; pulling out a pan from one of the cupboard doors under the sink. He set it atop the small puddle on the floor. A small echoing 'ting' sounded in the apartment.

§§§

Should wash up… He heard the other think. Smells bad. Feels icky. Want it off…

If he had a body, he was sure he would be relaxing in a mortal's pose of wonderment. With one hand to his chin, and the other hand supporting his arm, he would be leaning on the back of his heels with his head tilted on an angle.

For a while his uncontrollable rage for this child had died away. He remembered times when he would send this boy into long periods of insomnia due to him sending the boy nightmares. Horrible, grotesque nightmares that left the small child screaming and crying to the point where he would lock himself in his room.

Now, he was curious as to how this boy would grow. Like a father watching the world through his son's eyes he observed with a sleepy fascination.

Yet now, there was something unfamiliar boiling in his stomach. Hearing this boy's thoughts, feeling the emotions as if he was the one feeling them; he didn't know what it was that was making him feel blood thirsty, he only knew that someone had caused this boy to be upset.

And this someone has to die… He promised himself. A delicious shiver ran through him, it would roll down his back in small waves, causing fine hair to stand up… if he had a body. Now it was just a remembered physical feeling.

With very little effort he could see a hazy image through the boy's eyes. They were back in their den… was it always this dark? The poor boy should turn on some lights…

They were moving through the one bedroom apartment and heading towards the small bathroom. Annoyance repeatedly made it known in him as the boy's rapid blinking interrupted his vision.

Like the boy, the light in the small room momentarily blinded him. This time he didn't mind the blinking or the long lapse of time between each blink, he was just thankful the other was clearing away both of their colorful visions.

Once again the eyes were open and being the curious being he was he glanced around. Cracked silver lay in a crumbled heap by the door and its surface reflected bright orange. This caught his attention, what could possibly be orange?

It was at this time that he came to realize, he had never seen this boy's physical appearance. Not once, could the boy possibly be orange, was that he, reflected off the glass? He was not able to find out, for he watched with a small fear as water quickly became closer to the boy's face.

If he had eyes to narrow they would be, for he saw how the water turned a rusty brown. Water never did that unless it was unclean… This boy had been bleeding. What caused him to bleed so?

Just a slight strain on his chakara and his better result was able to see. He had only come upon this technique recently and because it drained him now, he only used it for really wanted times.

To anyone else who was used to the modern day world, it would have looked like a series of movies being played at once stuck on fast forward. Hundreds of images flew before him and with a narrowed interest he skimmed through every one.

A concentrated thought and all but one vanished; this one lone image hovered before him frozen in mid-shot…

A bloody kunai.

§§§

He was going to see him again today. He was excited. His first friend, and he was the only one who stayed with him! Just thinking about him always brought a smile to his face; it was his friend after all.

He dashed towards the training field intent on getting there on time, he had a surprise for him, and he wanted to know what it was.

"Naruto! Over here!" A cheery voice called. It sent his heart to pound in excitement. He was the only one who would give him a smile or a wave or any positive expression at all.

"Aww! And I thought I came here on time!" Naruto shouted with a fake pout.

Large black eyes widened in surprise and glanced upwards, a pale hand brushing ebony green locks from his eyes, "No, you're on time, I just came early…"

Naruto let out a laugh. "Great!" The day had started out wonderfully; never had the small blonde played so many games with another. But one game…

He didn't like the last game…

Rough-housing, they were rolling and trying to pin one another to the ground, somehow the laughter stopped it became a more desperate struggle. Naruto flinched as he was once again thrown harshly down on his back. The force caused his teeth to rattle and the back of his head to throb. This was no longer becoming fun… "That hurts." He stated in a voice of confusion. He didn't want his friend to feel guilty about hurting him so he tried to remain positive about it.

Once again he was knocked into the dirt, the knee in his stomach edging deeper than it had previously. He grunted in pain and squeezed his eyes shut, throwing his weight on the other and forcing them onto his back, "Let's stop, it's not fun anymore." He said with a tired pant.

Black eyes gleamed at him and his body shook with a cold shiver. That look in his friend's eyes… that look should never be in any friend's eyes.

"I know what you are." He said from beneath him. This statement caused his little body to freeze. "I overheard, I know what you are."

"What I am?" Naruto repeated he was nervous for some off reason, a constant clenching in his gut telling him that the situation was no longer good. Fright, it was lancing through his limbs, slowing turning him numb.

He let out a startled yelp as he was thrown to the ground, a heavy weight on his stomach. He was sitting on him; his arms were rendered immobile by the other's feet. Small bits of rock stuck in the bottom soles digging into his soft flesh, imbedding themselves under the skin.

Those black eyes widened in a sympathetic look, "You're a monster Naruto. You know that?" he told the blonde softly, "I wouldn't have wanted to do this but… after what you did to my older sister-"

"Wha-?"

"-EVERYONE HAS TO KNOW!" He screamed, lifting his feet and slamming them back down on the smaller boy's arms. "I will not be happy until I know that everyone in this village will know by seeing you that you're the monster." He muttered darkly.

Big blue eyes widened in fear as they were forced to focus on gleaming metal. A desperate wheeze left his throat and he began to struggle, trying desperately to throw the other off of him but it had no effect. Tears clung to the corners of his eyes, getting caught in the long dark lashes.

"When people walk pass you Naruto, they won't even have to look twice, they'll always have a reminder of what you are." A sadistic laugh slipped out of his smirking lips, "It will show on your face."

The blade descended, but not where he was expecting. There was no dramatic spurt of blood as it was drilled into his chest; there was no clean swipe across his neck.

There was only a burning agony. How can steel so cold, scorch his flesh? He could feel the blade dig deep into his cheek and drag down. A sick suction sound met his ears as he could feel the blade slide from his flesh like a knife in butter. Tears streamed down the side of his face as the sticky warm tip fell lower on his face. Each cut slower than the last.

"Stop it…" He would beg between the abuse, "You're supposed to be my-"

"Friends don't hurt each other Naruto, you hurt me way before, so you can never be classified as 'friend' now." The older boy hissed out coldly, now starting on the other cheek.

After several minutes that passed by as hours the torture ended. Naruto opened pained eyes to see a satisfied face. A cold smile on the boy's lips, he looked like an evil painter admiring his latest art piece. His sight became blurry from blood loss and pain, his vision swaying before him; and just before his eyes closed and the hazy sensation took him under-

"Now everyone will know what you are." The other said gleefully.

§§§

Humans… This was just one small reason why he hated them. He didn't need to look to know what that human brat did to Naruto. It was obvious in itself.

He was going to pay. Child or not, he willingly inflicted pain on his host, Naruto. The brat knew what he was doing was wrong; he just refused to view it as such.

And he's so emotionally distraught right now; he will not put up any fights… He thought to himself.

All it took was a coaxing voice and he knew his host was drifting under his spell. Sleep claimed the blonde's mind and he knew the other's soul was drifting in his own realm.

He took the other's place and forced heavy eyes to open…

§§§

It was odd, thinking about it he wondered if everyone viewed an object the same way. I guess thoughts like that appear in your mind when you're currently controlling another's body. Everything seemed shaded. Looking around, surveying the room, he wondered if lighting would have made much of a difference.

Dreary blues, depressing grays and horrid blacks made up the boys apartment. Everything about the place made him want to curl back inside his cage and wait until something was done right, but he ignored that feeling and forced his new body to move.

He tested the muscles and the weight, trying to get accustomed to walking on two legs. He soon gave up however, finding that he was much more comfortable on all fours. Dropping to a crouch and appreciating the short distance between him and the ground he sprung forward, out the window and onto a nearby building's ledge. Leap after he leap he closed the distance between himself and that familiar salt and metal scent…

§§§

A human life is short and pathetic. Always finding a way to weasel out of work, becoming more and more lazy with each year that passes. Yet always finding something else, something new to complain about… a human child is much like an adult only more innocent in the mind.

They have and show no respect to the gifts that have been granted them, always finding a flaw in that something that will cause them much happiness.

This small human boy was much like his theory on humans. Weak, mindless, cruel… and oh so undeserving of what they have. If any traceable thought of regret was filtering through his mind at that moment, he didn't show it, didn't even acknowledge it.

And perhaps it was cruel of him, an elder of centuries, praying on such a helpless kit. Ah but the kit knew what he was doing, and by demon law that was a fitting excuse for revenge. Cruel? Yes, maybe, but at that very particular moment he couldn't care.

The screams of his parents escaped his sealed lips, muffled out by the clawed hand slowly bruising his jaw. Salty tears spilled like buckets from wide, fearful brown eyes. Not once did he stop. This wasn't death… this was so much more painful. Very few knew of the technique, even fewer could master it.

No, this boy would not die… but he would spend his passing days wishing he were.

A similar sadistic smile bared thick sharp teeth, "Sickness comes from the mind…" A deep gravely voice chuckled. Pain flared in the small child's head as the clawed hand holding him down tried to sink him deeper into the soft dirt floor, "It is too late to regret."

One last scream was all that was heard.

§§§

To keep control of a body was tiring. This thought was proving to be true, as each step seemed heavier than the last. Each of these small steps did eventually lead him back to his host's den, although he was almost too tired to move once inside.

He forced himself to the small room that he remembered had the sink, and washed his face with what felt like hands of lead.

Tired… He whined pitifully. There was no blood only dirt that caked his face this time, and it brought him certain happiness to know-

A flash of blonde caught his attention. He whirled around the small confinement searching out the blinding color. The room was white; there should be no blonde… unless someone else was with him too.

Again he sees it but this time it moves with him. He cocks his head to the right and sees shards of glass, mirror lying on the floor. Raising his gaze up he sees the remains of the mirror nailed to the wall and freezes.

Hair the color of a sun's rays; eyes of purest waters; skin tanned as fresh sand. For a moment he stood in awe, wondering whom this creature was, when he saw it giving him a similar if not the same look. He turned his head behind him to be sure that there was no one there, and when he turned his head back he was struck speechless.

Was this? He started, fascinated. Was this… Naruto?

He stepped closer to the mirror and trailed a now normal hand along the smooth surface, tracing the images jaw. Slowly he brought his hand back to his face, Naruto's face and gingerly touched the now scared cheeks. Despite the scars, now too deep to ever fade away, the skin was smooth and soft. A single index finger slid down the cheek around the jaw and over a full bottom lip. A pleasurable 'zing' shot down his spine, causing his breathing to pick up. Blue eyes focused with a hungry intent on that finger caressing a mouth that did not belong to him.

Who would have thought that his host was so beautiful?

Not knowing what exactly was compelling him to do this, but merely following a demonic instinct. His eyes fluttered close, and his hands came out in front of him to rest on the wall beside the mirror. He slowly leaned in, and pressed soft, and surprisingly loving, kisses onto the reflections lips.

And slowly he felt his control breaking and falling away. He could once again hear the echoing click as his locks fell into place, and for once he did not care. He merely stayed there, stupefied, at his actions.

How did I get back in the bathroom? He could hear Naruto ask, And why do my lips taste like metal?

Forgive me, Inari, I think I love him. Naruto…

§§§

"Did you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"They finally found that boy that went missing!"

"R-really? Oh, what a relief!"

"Yes, they found him in the forest, an open field."

"Oh?"

"The poor boy..."

"W-Was he dead!"

"No, he was alive, still is alive."

"Thank goodness."

"I'm not so sure..."

"What?"

"When they found him, he wouldn't stop crying and screaming..."

"Was he hurt?"

"No, stark-raving mad he is now. Won't stop screaming about the pain."

"But you said he wasn't hurt."

"That's just it, there was no wounds to cause him pain. He's plain insane now."

"Oh my..."

"That's not the worse of it."

"Won't stop chanting. He doesn't say anything else..."

"And that is..?"

"...I want to die..."

§§§

For some reason when I uploaded this, it did not upload any of my italic changes, and it deleted the ending! So hopefully you all took the time to read the ending. Thank you, and tell me what you thought.