Recovery 20
Naruto stood outside the barrier. She refused to walk through the boundary. "Beast?" She uttered in surprise to see Beast standing before her. He had honestly frightened her when he suddenly appeared when she got closer. "What are you doing out?"
"Agreement with Kakashi," Beast huffed, looking over his mate. "Me miss you,"
Naruto felt her heart and body melt. Without hesitation, she walked inside the barrier with open arms and replied, "I've missed you too, Beast." She chuckled when Beast swept her up in his arms and held her tightly. "I've missed you so much,"
"Your words make me happy," Beast grumbled, rubbing his snout along her head. Taking in her scent, Beast found that she smelled clean but her heart also smelled refreshed. "Little Fox feeling better," He could feel her hold him tighter in response. Pulling away, Beast gently held her face and licked her cheeks. This caused her to giggle. "My heart is yours,"
Naruto felt her heart beat faster. Looking up at the giant wolfman, Naruto knew this being would always be her weakness. "How much time do we have together?"
Beast wanted to say it could be forever but held his tongue. "My control until sun gone,"
"Your speech is getting better," Naruto noticed and held the Beast's gigantic monster hand. She gently pulled him to follow her and they walked back to the cabin. "We have plenty of time to catch up. I've always wanted to talk to you,"
Beast followed after Naruto like a lovesick puppy. He ignored his aggressively happy tail as all his focus was on the blonde fox.
Naruto, glancing back to see Beast's hulking body, opted to find a lovely shade to sit under rather than inside. She doubt he would be able to sit comfortably on the couch. She pulled him close to sit next to her as she got comfortable on the grass and laughed when his giant body fell onto her lap in a heap. His head lay on her thighs as he looked up at her expectantly. Reaching out, Naruto ran her fingers through his thick pelt much to his delight. "I'm sorry," Naruto apologised, catching his curious look, "I'm sorry for chaining you up. I shouldn't have done that."
"No, Little Fox, you made the correct choice." Beast hummed, closing his eyes as her fingers played in his fur. "I would hurt Little Fox in my excitement." Through their connection, he could feel her underlying anxieties. "Speak to me, Little Fox. I can help,"
Naruto sighed, "It's not something easy to say aloud,"
"I know your plans," Beast replied, "Silly plans."
"Beast!"
"I speak no lies. Little Fox wants to run away. Run away just when feelings reach Little Fox," Beast opened an eye. He was surprised to see the hurt and sadness on her face. Her eyes were pooled with tears that refused to fall.
"I can't do it," Naruto confessed, hiccuping over her words. "I can't do it, Beast. W-what if it goes back again? What happens if Kakashi doesn't believe me again? I don't know what to do if he throws me away again. I can't do it, Beast!"
Beast was quick to sit up and pulled Naruto into his lap. He felt ashamed having tried to push his relationship onto her. He felt ashamed he didn't know the cause of her anxieties. Beast felt shame as his mate cried into his chest. "I must apologise," Beast held her gently. Trying his best to block her from the world with his body, "I am selfish. I did not think of Little Fox in my heart. I am selfish,"
Sniffling, Naruto looked up to see the Beast's reaction. He was just as hurt as herself. "I only want you,"
"I am grateful, Little Fox." Beast said sincerely, "But I am also human. I am also Kakashi. Not just me. Can't have only me. Although I wish,"
"I-" Naruto took a deep breath, "I can't believe that." She pulled away, holding him at arm's length. Gathering her courage, she looked into his eyes as his heart ached. "I love you," She felt her voice tremble, "I love you, Beast, more than anything,"
Beast felt his heart jump. His tail thumped excitedly against the earth. However, he felt something wrong. The way she spoke to him sounded in pain.
"But I can't love Kakashi," Naruto continued, her fingers trembling against Beast's chest. "I can't be honest with myself and say everything is okay after what he did. I was always there for him whenever he wasn't okay. I was always by his side. I watched, every. single. time. as he crawled back to Katsumi, back to drinking, back to the next dangerous mission. A part of me broke every time that happened." She felt tears gather but they refused to fall. Part of her knew Kakashi was listening. She could feel his pain. "I don't want to walk on eggshells waiting for the moment he changes his mind and throws me away. I can't live with that anxiety - even if it's all in my head."
Beast wanted to comfort her. He wanted to ease all her worries and give her confidence in his human counterpart. "Naruto," Her eyes widened. He knew she was shocked he called her name. It was the first time. "I cannot speak for Kakashi. We are one but his actions are his alone." Reaching out carefully, he touched her face gently. Sighing in relief when she grabbed his claws and melted into his hand. "My love for you will always burn. It will never go out," He could feel her agony and delight from his words. Beast was more than willing to face the consequences of not completing the mating ritual with his Little Fox. He was willing to die for her. "Please trust me,"
Naruto was confused until she saw the signs that the Beast was returning. "Wait! Wait! You said we had until sundown together! Please," She begged him, "Please don't go,"
"Trust me, Little Fox," Beast leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek. He hoped to convey all his emotions in this simple gesture when he truly wish to spend more time with her. He whispered softly against her skin, "My love for you only grows,"
"Beast!" Naruto begged, pulling her hands away from him when Kakashi returned to the surface. She wanted to scream at Kakashi to give him back but she could only look away. Hurt and confusion swept her heart. When Kakashi reached to grab her hand, she slapped his hand away and looked at him venomously, "Don't touch me,"
"Naruto," Kakashi said softly, doing his best to hide his hurt. He had a plan. Kakashi planned to woo her and sweep her off her feet. He knew he couldn't do that with her in this state.
"I told Beast in confidence. I didn't tell you," She could feel the tears finally fall. Naruto couldn't look at Kakashi. It hurt too much. She felt sick to have him so close. Losing Itachi made Naruto realise she shouldn't hide her feelings. It would only make her sick yet she felt sick expressing them.
"I know you don't want a relationship with me," Kakashi admitted, "I know I'm not the one you want." When she turned her body away from him Kakashi felt like he couldn't breathe. He felt like he was about to lose her. "I have no excuses to give you. I'm well aware of how I treated you and I am so sorry for my behaviour. I have no right to ask you to let me spend the rest of my life making it up to you. It's not that simple. For the time we have left, I swear I'll make it up to you. I swear to listen to you and I won't argue with you unless it's in your best interest. I wish to be by your side for however long you'll have me,"
Naruto frowned, pulling her knees to her chest. She still refused to look at him and could feel Kurama urging her in the back of her mind. He was pleading with her to look at Kakashi. Her mind kept repeating Beast's words to trust him. Naruto trusted the Beast the most. Moreso, she trusted her gut when it came to Beast.
Taking a deep breath, Naruto gathered her strength to look at Kakashi and felt her heart tremble. He was kneeling before her, his face bare of his mask showing his hurt and sorrow but what caught Naruto's notice was his half-transformation. Thick silver wolf ears, a matching bushy tail, sharp elongated claws, pointed fangs and glowing red eyes. They were both present. She still kept her body tight as she mumbled, "What do I call you?" Her eyes moved to the wagging tail yet the half-man/half-beast stayed still.
"I will answer to anything, Little Fox,"
Naruto frowned. It felt weird hearing her nickname come from that voice. "Then, Kashi?" Her deepest desire came out. She always wanted to call Kakashi like this.
Kashi nodded, a small smile on his lips. He hid his excitement when she held a hand out. Kashi knew it was out of curiosity and tried his best to stay still when she touched the tip of one of his ears. "Kashi is fine," Kashi knew with this appearance Naruto felt more relaxed around him.
"Kashi, What am I to you?" She asked again. Before, she was cut off from Beast's answer when Kakashi interfered. However, this time Naruto had a good feeling that she would get an answer. "I'm tired of being the only one not knowing. Please tell me,"
Kashi nodded, "You have my word. I will not go back on it. Beast is a spirit born from a curse. Only their true mate can calm their bloodlust and bring balance to their Hatake. You are my balance," Kashi went straight for the kill. He didn't beat around the bush like Kakashi would've or put it in confusing terms like Beast would. Kashi was the perfect blend of the two and he knew Naruto the best. "You're aware I bloomed late but I know you're mine,"
"I'm not you-" Naruto was silenced by Kashi's warning growl and knew that was the Beast's actions.
"Little Fox, I admired your father. I saw him as a second father. When he passed away and left only you, the beast inside imprinted on you. No, even before you were born the Beast chose you. I just lost someone important to me. Are you following?" Kashi tried his best to keep everything short. He didn't want to storytell to his mate. "For the human side of me, I didn't understand my feelings. I was grieving. All I knew was that you were important to me but I didn't know why or how. Growing older I denied my feelings and did everything to ignore them. In turn, I became unbearable to be around. I am still responsible for my actions, I will not deny that."
Naruto held her tongue. "I still don't want you, Kakashi." She shivered seeing Kashi smile. It looked dangerous. She wished she could've taken her words back.
"I know," Kashi replied, his tail settling down. "I know you don't trust me. I wasn't confident before but now that I am complete I will say this to you every day for as long as I'm with you. I love you. I love you. I love you, Naruto. I loved you yesterday. I love you today. I'll love you tomorrow. I'll love you every day. Naruto, I love yo-" Kashi grabbed the shoe that flew at his face. Placing it on the ground, he saw his mate's face. It was bright red in embarrassment and shock. He couldn't blame her. It was a total 180 degrees of Kakashi's approach yet it held more charm than Beast's approach. "I'll apologise every day to you to say I love you. I'll rebuild the trust between us so you believe me when I say I love you," He effortlessly caught her other flying shoe and put it down. "I will never stop making it up to you for as long as I have two hands, two feet and a mouth to say I love you, Naruto."
"Shut up! Oh my god, shut up!" Naruto covered her ears. She couldn't hear it anymore. The devastation of both Beast and Kakashi was fatal. Kurama's whispers were encouraging her to listen to Kashi but she refused. Getting up, Naruto knew it was a bad idea to show her back but she needed to escape.
Kashi was hot on her heels. He remembered to grab her shoes before chasing behind her. "Naruto, I swear to tell you everything so I can spend each waking moment telling you the depths of my love for you. I love the way your eyes sparkle when you're challenged. I love when your lips curl into a frown whenever you're thinking. I love the way your smile instantly brightens up the area. I love how big and generous your heart is. I love the way your hair looks in the morning and if it's really tangled then I know you've had a great sleep."
"Shut up!" Naruto screamed. She was so embarrassed she wanted to disappear.
"I'm forever thankful that you never gave up on me, Naruto. I swear to return the favour. I swear with all my strength to make each day brighter for you. I swear with all my love in my heart to erase any and all doubts you may have." Kashi caught up to Naruto, she had entered the cabin, but she was one step closer and threw the couch at him. He was quick to place it down, and jump over the couch but scoffed when Naruto slammed the door in his face. He didn't push it and stayed outside her room. Resting his forehead on the door, he poured out all the emotions of Kakashi and Beast. "I love you, Naruto Uzumaki."
"Shut up!"
He chuckled, hearing her muffled screams. Yet, his ears heard no venom unlike before. Kashi could even hear Kurama muttering in his mind to keep to his word or else. His plans had changed. He would spend every moment easing her doubts and would woo her in between. Kashi even agreed with Kurama's mumblings to stay in this form. It seemed most effective on the blonde. He wasn't up to cold-blooded murder on someone's wedding day.
"I love you," He mumbled once more into the door before moving away to clean up the mess Naruto made in her wake.