-Faust- Hello all and welcome to another exciting installment of "Brothers Reunited"!
-Faust- After contemplating and considering circumstances, I have decided to veer away from the original storyline of the anime/manga…after all…this is a fanfic…if I wanted to go along with the storyline I wouldn't even try to write this story. In this storyline, the third Hokage doesn't die, Sasuke doesn't run off, and Neji isn't as much of an ass as before.
-Kitsunemaru- What are you babbling about now Faust?
-Faust- First, do you want the story to be all about you?
-Kitsunemaru- Uh…yeah…
-Faust- Well why don't you read the second part of the opening to this chapter…
-Kitsunemaru- /scrolls up to the top of the page/
-Kitsunemaru- Oh…
-Faust- …Idiot…
-Kitsunemaru- Ok whatever. I've got to go…do something…
-Faust- Like what, go follow Ino around like a lost puppy?
-Kitsunemaru- /blushes/ S-shut up/grabs a copy of Kakashi's "Make Out Paradise" and smashes it over Faust's head/
-Faust- Ow/rubs head/…uh…Kitsunemaru…
-Kitsunemaru- What?
-Faust- Is that Kakashi's…book?
-Kitsunemaru- Uh-oh!
-Faust and Kitsunemaru- RUN AWAY!
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Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto…But neither do you so ha!
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Chapter 4
Of Lavender, Ramen, and Love
It has been two weeks after the Chunin exam had ended and everyone had put it out of mind. Kitsunemaru had become a legal citizen of Konoha and had taken up residence in the apartment next to Naruto's. Kitsunemaru had awoken before the sun had risen that morning, he hadn't slept good that night. He had been told of what had become of his brother two days before and it has troubled him since.
/Flashback/
"It can't be true! It mustn't!"
"Kitsunemaru, Your brother had destroyed villages and killed so many people, he had become a demon." the Hokage said calmly, "The Fourth Hokage gave his life to seal Kyuubi inside of Naruto."
"But Kyuubi wouldn't do anything like that! He was so gentle and kind to me…"
Tears started to well up in Kitsunemaru's eyes.
"…Our kind, when it comes time for us to gain our ninth tail we must make a choice…"
The Hokage, Kakashi, and all the other Jonin present fell quiet.
Kitsunemaru took a deep breath to push back the tears.
"…We must choose what path to follow in our heart. The paths are based on the two most pure emotions, true love and pure hate. Most of my kind give in irresistibly to the call of evil, but a few…find light…and love…within their hearts to purge the darkness and tread the path of good."
"And you too must make this choice?" asked the Hokage.
Kitsunemaru nodded.
"I can't tell you what choice I will make but…" Kitsunemaru looked up at the Hokage and smiled, "As long as I have my brother…Naruto…I will do what is right!"
The Hokage smiled and looked to the Jonin present, they nodded.
"Very well. I, as Hokage, here by bestow citizenship to the village of Konoha upon you Kitsunemaru!"
Kitsunemaru smiled as tears ran down his cheeks.
"Thank you Lord Hokage! This is the happiest moment of my life!"
/End Flashback/
" Brother…a demon?…"
Kitsunemaru shook that thought out of his head.
"Knock Knock"
Kitsunemaru got up and walked to the door to see who it was as Naruto burst through the it.
"Hey Kitsunema-"
Naruto ran right into Kitsunemaru, knocking him to the floor. There was a crash as Kitsunemaru knocked over a table.
"Uh…sorry Kitsunemaru."
Naruto helped Kitsunemaru to his feet and brushed him off.
"It's ok Brother." said Kitsunemaru while rubbing his head.
Naruto smiled; It made him feel good inside to be called that, even if they weren't really brothers.
"Uh…how come you still have you tails and ears?" Naruto curiously asked.
Kitsunemaru's ears twitched.
"I feel now that I no longer have to hide my true identity."
Naruto looked at Kitsunemaru stupidly. Naruto pulled Kitsunemaru's head and begin playing with the silver-haired fox's ears.
"Wow…Your ears are so cool!" Naruto said excitedly.
"Uh…thanks…"
Kitsunemaru had never had this happen to him before, he didn't know how to react.
"Hey Kitsunemaru, you hungry?" asked Naruto.
Kitsunemaru's stomach growled loudly. He realized that he hadn't eaten breakfast yet.
"Yeah I am. All I've eaten since coming here was berries and bread."
"Fine, let's go out for ramen!" Naruto decided.
"Uh…what's ramen?" Kitsunemaru asked. He had never had much "human" food before.
"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT RAMEN IS!" Naruto screamed as he danced around in surprise.
"Well, I'll just have to show you what it is" Naruto said when he calmed down.
It was a beautiful morning in the village of Konoha. Kitsunemaru smiled as the sun's warm rays showered his face. As they both left the apartment, Kitsunemaru noticed that everyone was looking at him strangely . Kitsunemaru just looked at the ground.
"Is it the way I'm dressed?" thought Kitsunemaru.
Kitsunemaru was dressed in a worn, soft blue kimono with a silver trim and straw sandals. There was a hole where he had ripped it so his tails could poke through. It was apparent that he had this kimono for quite some time.
"We're here!" Naruto announced to the dazed Kitsunemaru.
Kitsunemaru looked up to see a small building with a large glass window with the word "ramen" painted all over it in bright red letters. When Naruto opened the door to the restaurant Kitsunemaru was overwhelmed by delectable and aromatic smells. The two walked in and took a seat at a table near the back of the building.
"Well well, if it isn't my favorite customer!"
A tall, thin young man wearing a white apron with brown splotches on it approached the table.
"Hey Takamichi! How's the ramen today?" Naruto asked.
Takamichi laughed.
"Ya know Naruto, if I get a few more customers like you, I can retire before I turn thirty!" the man grabbed a notepad out of his apron pocket, "What'll it be for ya?"
"Let's see…" Naruto looked as if was in deep thought.
"I'll have one bowl of your shrimp ramen for my friend here…"
Takamichi stole a look at Kitsunemaru as he jotted down the order. Kitsunemaru pretended not to notice.
"…And the usual for me."
"Right away Naruto." Takamichi said as he ran to the kitchen.
"So…"
Kitsunemaru glanced up at Naruto.
"What is it brother?" Kitsunemaru inquired.
"Even though we're not really brothers…why do you call me that?"
Kitsunemaru looked into Naruto's eyes, as if searching for a deeper meaning.
"Because…my brother is inside of you, and, in some small way…that makes us brothers." Kitsunemaru explained.
Naruto grinned
"So…we're family?"
"Yes Naruto…brother…we are."
It was about that time that Takamichi came out carrying a bowl of steaming hot ramen to the table.
"Here you go Kitsunemaru-san."
Takamichi sat the bowl in front of Kitsunemaru. He took a deep breath, savoring the smell of the noodle soup.
"Yours is coming Naruto…"
Just then, four cooks came out carrying 14 bowls of assorted ramen. Kitsunemaru's eyes widened.
"How can he eat this much?"
The bowl were sat down in front of Naruto, it seemed that he had ordered every kind of ramen they had today.
"It's on the house today Naruto."
Takamichi smiled at Kitsunemaru and retreated back to the kitchen.
"Hold on Kitsunemaru, I've gotta go use the bathroom, enjoy the ramen."
With that Naruto got up and ran off to the bathrooms. Kitsunemaru grabbed some chopsticks and sniffed his ramen.
"Mmm…smells so good…"
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Ino woke up this morning thinking it was such a beautiful morning that she just had to take a walk through town. She ran into Sakura at a flower stand across from a ramen shop. Sakura grinned.
"So…Ino-pig…You like our newest addition to the village?"
Ino blushed a deep crimson color.
"Sakura! D-don't s-say anything…"
"AAAHHHHHH! MY RAMEN!"
The girls turned to see where the scream had come from. From what they deduced, they ran into the ramen shop. Naruto was standing there weeping over 15 empty bowls of ramen. Ino and Sakura looked under the table to see Kitsunemaru clutching his stomach.
"Ohhh…I don't think I like this ramen stuff very much"
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Two days and five rolls of antacids later, Kitsunemaru groggily got out of his bed and rubbed the sleep out of his aquamarine eyes. As he sat there yawning and thinking about how much he hated ramen, his ears perked up, someone was in his house. As he walked through his rather large apartment he noticed that he heard a woman's voice singing. He followed the voice through the apartment to the steamy bathroom. Now, Kitsunemaru had had little, if none at all, experience with women. That said, Kitsunemaru barged into the hot steamy bathroom. What he found was a startled and unclothed Ino. They both stood there blushing for a few minutes before Ino realized that she was naked. Kitsunemaru's eyes wandered over Ino's body, not out of perversion but out of curiosity. Ino blushed even deeper as Kitsunemaru took in her figure. She was startled at the fact that she made no move to cover herself.
"You…smell nice…is it lavender?".
Ino seem to come to as Kitsunemaru's voice broke the silence.
She grabbed a towel to cover her beautiful, voluptuous body.
"Y-yes…"
Kitsunemaru stepped up to Ino, their bodies inches apart. Ino looked as if all her dreams had come true. Kitsunemaru reached up and moved the platinum blonde hair out of the young woman's face. They stood there gazing into each others eyes for an eternity. Kitsunemaru raised his hands and pulled her face close to his. Ino closed her eyes as her heart leapt into her throat. Kitsunemaru pressed his lips tenderly to Ino's. Her body relaxed as she returned the kiss, wrapping her arms around the silver-haired Kitsunemaru. The two stood there holding each other in a warm embrace, savoring the steady thump of the opposite's heartbeat. Ino broke the kiss to look into the eyes of the man that held her.
"Kitsunemaru…" Ino sighed.
"What is it my sweet flower?" Kitsunemaru asked.
"I…I…love you."
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-Faust- Oh! Am I mean or what? Leaving it to hang there like that! Well, how did you like it? It seemed Kitsunemaru's male hormones kicked in right at the end.
-Kitsunemaru- Faust…
-Faust- What is it Kitsunemaru?
-Kitsunemaru-…Thank you…
-Faust- No problem Kitsunemaru.
-Kitsunemaru- …
-Faust- Well, I hope that keeps you happy till the next chapter so for now…So long!
/Meanwhile/
-Kakashi- /scratches his head/ Where did I put my…book?