"Guilty Until Innocent"
By: Shadow and Janime
Whoever this ninja was he was fast and knew how to move through the sand as if it were water. Taka tried to fight him off but she wasn't at full strength or health thanks to the shadow's assault. She tried to focus on where he was going but the after-effect of the drug was making her dizzy. Finally he stopped but he dropped her on the ground without any care for her well-being.
"I'll remember that once I'm better," she threaten him but he was gone. She blinked and found herself sitting on a stone floor, possibly deep underground. Was she back in the Fallen Moon camp? "I have to get out of here."
"Leaving so soon? And after all the trouble I went through to bring you here," a feminine voice purred out.
Taka turned around and saw a rather large cat creature sitting atop an extremely large silk pillow. Candles with blue flame were set about the altar, giving off an eerie feeling. "You're the one who attacked me," she accused.
"Guilty as charged," the cat smiled revealed her long fangs and flicked her two tails. "I am Nekomata."
"A demon."
"Very perceptive. I expect no less from Kyuubi's mate."
"I'm not his mate," Taka glared at the cat demon. "Now where am I, and what is going on here?"
Nekomata yawned and circled on her pillow before lying down. "You are within the mountain of the Shadow of the Fallen Moon Clan. This room is my lair, and only a select few may enter--you should feel honored."
"I don't," Taka replied dryly.
Nekomata snarled lightly. "Now as to why you are here, girl, I believe you can already guess--Kyuubi's blood is in your veins."
"You are a demon like Kyuubi," Taka interrupted, "why bother trying to have Kyuubi born as a human when the Fallen Moon Clan already has you."
"It's not the clan that needs Kyuubi," Nekomata chuckled, "I want Kyuubi as a human. As you know, he is the oldest and strongest of the tailed beasts and has never lost. I intend to be the strongest."
"So you think that Kyuubi will be limited because he'll be a human."
"Oh no, Taka, you weren't paying attention. I said that I intend to be the strongest of my kind, and for that I need to obtain all of Kyuubi's powers."
Taka looked at the cat demon, dread filling her.
"As soon as Kyuubi is born from you," Nekomata grinned, "I plan on eating him--body and soul. I haven't decided if I should just swallow him in one piece or take my time devouring every bit and savoring it all."
The young woman shook her head and stepped back. "You're sick…"
"It's the only way I can have his power," the large feline rose and stepped down from her bed. "I will no longer have two tails and be the second lowest tailed beast. I will have eleven and be queen."
"How do you know that Kyuubi will even survive the transition from Naruto to a new body?" Taka backed away. "What makes you so confident that it will work?"
"Because it happened once before," Nekomata followed Taka until the woman was pressed back against the wall. "That woman whom Naruto and Gaara call mother was once a tailed beast."
"Hidama…?" Taka couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"The same happened to her," Nekomata went on, "her blood was put into a female human and her soul trapped inside a male. Never can it be the opposite--a man cannot live with a demon's blood in his veins."
"And the woman dies after giving birth," Taka said bitterly.
"Call it insurance."
"How do you know this?"
"I was there when it happened." The feline gave a superior smirk, sharp fangs glinting in the eerie light. "Did you know that once she was part of a demon slave ring? She had been injured, allowing the slavers to 'break her in'." She seemed to laugh, slitted eyes glinting in the blue-flamed light. "She had hoped her dear lover, a famous fox, would come and rescue her from that nightmare. Like he would ever come!"
The young woman swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. "He left her there."
"Oh yes. Never thought once to rescue her and soon found himself at death's door. Such a vain fox he was, taking and giving nothing in return. That woman was enraged and began killing everyone so, she was disposed of. However, it seemed that my master favored her and allowed her to continue living," the cat spat out angrily, the two tails lashing angrily behind her.
Taka couldn't believe what she was hearing. Hidama, the woman who had helped train her, who treated both neglected youths with such compassion, used to be a demon but had been reborn. "Her parents, how did they get mixed up into this?" she asked softly.
Nekomata snorted but turned away, tails high in the air. "I don't know nor do I care. Once I have taken Kyuubi's powers no one will stop me. I will be the master of all tailed beasts." Looking at her over her shoulder she purred, running the tips of her tails along her face a bit roughly. "Sacrifices must be made for the greater good. MY greater good."
She frowned and slapped the furry appendage away. "You'll never succeed." The cat just laughed.
--
Pakkun sniffed at the ground, struggling to find Taka's scent. Quicksilver was also doing the same thing, running ahead then coming back. The pug sighed and looked at the summoner. "Still can't find her scent," he explained.
Kakashi sighed heavily. "We can't stop until we find her. Keep searching."
"Right right."
Sakura tightened the bandages and splint around Hidama's wrist, pausing when she heard a threatening growl before continuing. "At this rate the wound will never heal," she told her.
"I know that but we can't waste time and I refuse to be left behind," she said behind clentched teeth. Since the abduction the woman remained in her demon form (for obvious reasons) and allowed the medic to fix her leg as much as she could before chasing after their friend. By the time they had stopped though the painkillers had worn off, making it hard for her to focus on anything and blood was falling steadily once more.
Gaara merely kept his hand on her large head, abesently rubbing at her ears. She treid to keep still despite the pain but also seemed calm with his touch. Naruto and Iruka were resting as well, having their injuries checked over. For some odd reason Kyuubi hadn't healed the marks left on the back of his neck, saying that they were to serve as a reminder but the blonde still hadn't forgiven him for inflicting harm on his mother.
Sasuke looked around the area, checking off the section on the map. So far there was no clue and they were running out of places to search. He looked up when he saw the white fox come running back at full force, skidding to a stop before them. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"I found Taka's scent! It's hard, mixed with lots of other scents but its hers!" She was fairly bouncing side to side, tails swishing wildly.
"Will you stop fidgeting," the raven-haired ninja growled but she ignored him.
Hidama, who had overheard, looked at her. "What else did you sense?" she asked coolly.
That made her stop but her tails still twitched. "A demon cat." Everyone could only stare as Naruto stood up so she just nodded. "Nekomata has Taka."
Growling Hidama stood, not caring that her bandages were coming undone. "Naruto, Gaara, keep up. Quicksilver, help Iruka. Move now!" she snapped out before taking off, following her daughter's scent. Before the teacher could protest he yelped and quickly held onto the white fox when she quickly darted between his legs, making him sit on her back.
"Hang on Iruka-san," she told him and took off after her family. Naruto and Gaara took off without another word.
"Hidama! I'm not done with the wrappings!" Sakura yelled after her but quickly threw all the items into her pack then went after them.
"What the--Damnit!" Sasuke growled at their fleeting forms. He jumped when he felt his mentor pat his shoudler.
"We better catch up before they leave us behind." With that the two were gone, Pakkun tried to keep up, not used to long distance running but at least he could track them. They weren't sure how long they had run for but soon they reached the mountain of the Shadow of the Fallen Moon. Now normally the group would have waited and thought of a plan; however that idea was taken siwftly from their hands as Naruto and Gaara both charged in. Using Kyuubi's chakra the blonde attacked any and all of the black clad ninajs with a vengence. Those he missed were swiftly taken care of by Gaara's sand, leaving nothing but blood as he crushed them. Hidama snarled as she went right through them, leaving a trail of bloody paw prints in her wake.
Quicksilver whined but didn't join in the carnage. Instead she backed up with her ears and tails tucked down "They're lost in a blood rage," she whispered. "If we try to stop them they'll turn around and attack us."
"What the hell are we suppose to do then?" Sasuke demanded angrily.
--
Taka felt an intense tremor go through her body. Naruto…
Nekomata cocked her ears. "It seems that your boyfriend has arrived. If you'll excuse me, I'll go say hello."
"Stay away from him!" Taka yelled and grabbed the demon's tails, pulling hard.
The feline yelped then quickly turned and slashed the woman's left forearm. Screaming from the pain, Taka released her.
"Let that be a lesson to you," Nekomata hissed.
Melding into the shadows the feline vanished and then appeared outside but she kept herself hidden. She watched as the blonde's body being engulfed into fire red chakra. She didn't care as the humans fell to the ground in bloody masses, she just wanted that power for herself. If they won't sire a child I'll just eat him right now! she hissed to herself, leaping forward with a soft hiss at his unexpected back.
"Stay away from my son!" Hidama screamed, leaping over the startled blonde and tackled the cat, causing the two of them to tumble. She winced when she landed on her broken wrist hard but she continued the assault, fangs and claws tearing through furry flesh.
"Mother!" More chakra burned but before he could help her he watched as a wall of sand stopped him. He growled angrily as he faced the kazekage.
"Naruto, go get Taka and rejoin with the others," he said calmly as the sand continued to crush the Fallen Moon ninjas. "Mother and I can handle these bastards."
I'd listen to him kid, Kyuubi spoke from the back of his mind. Make sure our mate is safe, then we can skin this cat.
"Right," Naruto said quietly and took off into the mountain.
Nekomata started after the blonde but her path was blocked.
"You're not going anywhere, kitty," Hidama narrowed her eyes.
--
Naruto raced through the mountain hideout, dodging attacks and defeating those stupid enough to try and stop him. He paused beyond the trail of bodies, taking deep breaths.
"I got to find her fast," he said aloud.
"Why don't we just bring her to you?"
Naruto's head snapped up, eyes widening Kaemon, Goro, and a ninja holding Taka with a knife at her throat.
"Let her go," Naruto growled, his own eyes flickering to red.
"We're leaving," Kaemon said, "and she's coming with us. If you want her to live, you'll have to come as well."
"Don't do it, Naruto," said Taka.
"Quiet," Goro ordered.
"I'm as good as dead anyway!" she shouted at him.
"That depends on conception," Kaemon said. "With Kyuubi in our clan, the Shadow of the Fallen Moon will reign supreme and take our long awaited revenge on the other clans."
"Are you that moronic?" Taka asked. "Nekomata couldn't give two shits about this clan! She wants Kyuubi's powers for herself!"
That mangy pathetic excuse for a demon! Kyuubi growled.
Goro turned his head to Kaemon. "Nekomata?"
"She came to us over fifty years ago," the clan leader smiled. "Wonderful, beautiful creature--she promised us everything. And we will have it."
I can't believe he's this stupid! Naruto thought.
I can, Kyuubi answered ruefully. There were many foolish humans that made pacts with demons.
"She was the one who started all this," Naruto spoke. "The Seventh Moon Clan becoming the Shadow of the Fallen Moon; Kyuubi's blood injected into Taka's mother; Kyuubi attacking Konoha out of the blue; killing Taka's family and friends; framing me for attacking Iruka… Nekomata was behind all of it."
The bald man smirked, seeming quite please. "Ranked last in his class yet he caught on so quickly. You truly live up to the title of dobe."
"Shut the hell up! Only one person can call me that!" he yelled angrily.
"You should learn to respect your elders, brat," Goro said angrily. The blonde growled at him angrily.
"Bite me."
"Insolent brat! Worthless just like your mother! No wonder she died giving birth to the likes of y-" It was unexpected but the scarred man stumbled and landed flat on his ass, hands clutching his shattered nose. Naruto didn't move from his spot but the chakra was growing stronger, outlining his body with three tails forming behind him. His eyes were blood red, fangs growing longer, nails turning into claws, the whisker marks more rugged but he still retained his human self.
"You can insult me, but don't even insult my family... or I'll kill you." It was the same look he gave Mizuki when he had tried to kill Iruka so many years ago.
The ninja holding Taka released the knife in fear and took off. Taka caught the dagger and stabbed it into Kaemon's upper right arm.
"That is only the beginning for you to pay for what you did to my family!" she yelled and ran to Naruto. Grabbing each other's hands, the two raced off.
Naruto pulled Taka into a corridor and pressed her against the wall with his body. His lips crushed onto hers, hungrily kissing her. Taka moaned and began to slip into the hazy pleasure but her rationality fought for dominance and she pushed Naruto back.
"Naruto, snap out of it," she panted.
He growled, nails digging into her hips where he held her but he shook his head and stepped back; his eyes returning to their original color. "Sorry," Naruto gasped.
"Where's everyone else?" she quickly asked. She wasn't sure how much longer of the drug could she take.
"Outside. Gaara is taking care of the ninjas and I guess the others are helping."
"And Nekomata?" She shivered at the cruel smirk appearing on his lips.
"Mother is dealing with her personally."
--
Hidama growled as she slapped the cat demon with all ten of her tails, sending her flying but she wasn't done. Running she head butted her as hard as she could, sending her to crash into the mountain side. Watching the two demons fight caused most of the ninjas to run in fear but those that still chose to fight were swept up in a sea of sand. The other allies did join in, taking care of the rest but they didn't dare interfere with the fox and cat.
Nekomata yowled in pain, landing on her feet but she was in pain, blood matting her fur and deep gashes stinging badly. "You stupid bitch, stay out of this!" she growled.
"You and what army, hairball?" she growled.
"This doesn't concern you! This is between Kyuubi and I."
"Naruto is my kit and Kyuubi is sealed within him, making him also my kit. Harm my family, and I'll send you to death myself."
"You can't kill me! I am Death's favorite, his pet!" she snarled angrily.
She waved her black tail almost tauntingly. "Where do you think I got this?"
Nekomata hissed. "You are not worthy of my master's attention let alone a gift from him! Whore of humans!"
A wave of sand pinned the demon cat against the mountain side. She dropped to the ground and glared at the kazekage. "Is that all you have, boy? Too bad you didn't keep Shukaku. At least he had more power to his punch."
"Petty insults will win you nothing," Gaara responded.
"Is that so?" Nekomata chuckled. "But what if you hear the truth about your so-called 'mother'?"
"The past cannot be changed, I know that," the red head man took his stance. "When she feels that I must know then she will tell me."
"How do you know she won't lie?" she hissed.
"Unlike you I never lie. We all have dark pasts we never want to surface but we," the pale fox-woman looked at the young red head, "as a family, have grown to accept that." The ice-colored eyes looked back at the black demoness. "You'll never learn that."
The huge cat hissed even more, her tails swishing behind her angrily. "I was a fool for joining that stupid five-tailed dog those centuries ago but I will get my revenge on Kyuubi!"
"Over my dead body."
"That can be arranged." Smirking the cat melded into the shadows; reappearing behind the two she tried an ambush but yowled in pain. The sand slowly began to crush her flexible body, keeping her lower body buried deep in the ground. Gaara was struggling to hold control though; the more the cat fought the harder it was to keep her contained.
"Mother, attack now!" The ten-tailed fox nodded and took a single step-
-a wet snap was heard followed by Hidama's howl of pain as she fell hard. Her right wrist of her foreleg couldn't take the pressure anymore and snapped. The nerves were unbearably raw and felt like they were tearing in half. There was no way she could fight now but she tried to at least stand.
The redhead looked away from his captive for only a moment but it was a moment too long. He was sent flying into the mountain side with a powerful lash of two tails, his sand armor keeping his bones from shattering upon impact but it did knock all the air from his body. Satisfied that her enemy was down the cat slammed her paw--claws fully extended--upon the broken bones, issuing another scream of pain yet she wasn't done. Bringing her other paw back she slapped the fox hard enough to send her flying several yards away. Bright red blood fell from five gashes that starting from her cheek and ended on the other side of her nose.
"Hidama!" Images of losing his best friend and teammate from long ago rose in the jounin's mind. Kakashi had never thought he would feel strongly about anyone after that but he found himself realizing there were several very important people in his life. His former students, his eccentric rival, the teacher, the mysterious mercenary.
She frowned at him, not liking the look he was giving her. "What are you thinking?" she asked coolly.
"I beat you again. We still have our bet, you know," he grinned.
Hidama growled but sighed, looking to the side. "Fine. Ask your question already."
"It's not a question. More like a request." He released her hands but didn't move back, slowly reaching up to pull down his mask.
"What are you-" When she turned to face him she had a very brief glimpse of his face, noticing a scar running from his covered eye to stop at the top of his cheek before he leaned forward and kissed her directly on the lips.
I have to be the only person alive who got away with doing that, he thought to himself, smiling a bit as he pushed his Hitachi up off his sharigan eye and began to concentrate. She didn't let people into her heart so easily, kept everyone at bay, even her sons but he had a place in her heart as she had a place in his. He had fallen in love with her.
The group could feel the amount of charka rising, turning to face to Copy Hound. His left hand was holding his wrist, his right hand glowing with an electric blue color; sparks of charka could now be seen by the naked eye. Only a few had seen this attack in action and the power was enough to send the remaining Fallen Moon ninjas running for their lives as a blade began to form from that power. Nekomata didn't seem to notice as she continued to use Hidama as a scratching post. Frowning he ran at the cat, holding the attack at his side then jumped into the air. "Nekomata!"
Hissing angrily the cat turned, angry at being interrupted. "Wha-!" She finally noticed the amount of energy and tried jumping to the side but not fast enough. Kakashi drove the Ninjutsu: Raikiri into the cat's right leg. Skidding to a halt before his lady he smirked at the pissed off scream of pain. "A leg for a leg."
--
"Because of your idiocy, our clan could be wiped out," Goro wiped his sword off on the front of Kaemon's robe. "But I will make sure that the future of my people is secure."
He kicked the corpse and walked down the corridor. The demons had to be dealt with immediately, and he knew exactly which one to get rid of first.
--
Nekomata hobbled back, glaring at Kakashi as he helped Hidama balance. She turned her head, noticing that most of the Fallen Moon ninjas were dead; those that lived had taken off. No matter, she would have killed them anyway.
Sasake, Sakura, Iruka and the others surrounded the demonic feline. Nekomata looked around. There was no escape unless she dared to go past the humans, and in her condition she would not succeed.
Balancing her weight on her legs she looked at cat. Her pup was out of breathe but he was alive. Her daughter still stuck close to the teacher but she could tell she was worried. The hound, he had risked his life to save hers. She felt touched but she also felt very light-headed. "You've lost Nekomata, your so-called army is gone," she panted.
Her back arched as she hissed. It wasn't suppose to end like this; Kyuubi was suppose to be hers! She was going to be a queen! "How could I have been beaten, by the likes of your kind?" she asked bitterly.
White tipped ears flickered. "Walk a mile in my shoes, and you might have been considered a threa-" She lifted her head sharply when she caught a very familiar scent.
Naruto panted as he ran out of the mountain's entrance and stared at the fallen bodies. He was taken back but looking up he smiled and waved. "Everyone! I found Taka!" he said happily, pulling Taka out of the cave with him. For a single moment the group took their eyes off the cat, overjoyed that the blonde young man and the blind brunette had survived, so they never noticed the cat silently melding into her own shadow.
"I'll eat them both and still be a queen!" she screamed, lunging out of the darkness. Naruto was taken back and quickly pushed Taka behind him. Her eyes widen as he saw the dagger long claws aim right at him but a flash of white appeared before his eyes, stopping the attack. Everything seemed to move in slow motion.
Curved claws tore into the already blood-soaked flesh but this time, her victim didn't cry out in pain. Hidama gave a soundless gasp as she fell to the ground gracelessly. She had seen the cat move but knew that even if she had given her kit the warning it would have been too late. So she used the jutsu Kazuo had been known for in time to save Naruto and Taka.
"Mother!" Quicksilver cried out, feeling tears slowly roll down her face but she growled as she lunged at the cat. She knew she was no match for the demon but she didn't care. Snarling she jumped, grabbing one of the black tails within her sharp teeth, and pulled.
Nekomata yowled in pain, turning to try and dislodge the fox but she always seemed to be several steps ahead of her. "Let go, you bitch!" she snarled but Quicksilver continued to hold on.
Gaara raced forward and grabbed Nekomata's other tail, keeping the cat from running off with strength he didn't know he still possessed. "Naruto!"
The blonde ran towards them, tapping into Kyuubi's power. The claws extended and his eyes turned into the red orbs and slit pupils. "Make a wish," Naruto said. He brought his arm up, and then sliced Nekomata down the center with his charka filled claws.
"Don't think of this as the end Kyuubi!" the demon cat shouted as the two halves fell and burst into blue flame. "My master will release me from the underworld! And you and your ridiculous pack will know of my wrath!"
"I'll be waiting," Naruto said as he features calmed again. He raced over to Hidama, already being tended to by Sakura and Kakashi. "Mother!"
Hidama opened her eyes. "I'll be alright, kit. This is nothing compared--behind you!"
Naruto spun around and saw a spiked hook on a chain heading straight for him. Before he could even react, Taka jumped in front of him. The hook rammed into her chest and then was yanked out.
"TAKA!" Naruto screamed, catching the young woman as she fell.
No breath. She wasn't moving at all. The hook had struck Taka's heart killing her instantly.
No one moved, all too absorbed by shock at the scene before them.
Goro grunted as he caught the bloodied hook back in his hand. "One less demon to worry about," he said with no remorse in his voice.
The blonde stared at the woman in his arms, slowly falling to his knees but he refused to let her go. Inside he felt the nine-tailed grieve. Taka was his friend, closer than a friend or even lover and now... he closed his eyes tightly and hugged her still warm body to him, his tears falling silently. No one knew what to do, what to say. Even when the bloodied hook was thrown once more but it never got a chance to hit the blonde.
Chakra the color of a raging fire surrounded his body, causing the ground beneath him to turn black. Above the grieving blonde a pair of blood red eyes was seen, fangs sharper than any blade snarled angrily, a large body of an animal with multiple tails stood behind them. Goro's eyes widen at the sight of the demon lord of the tailed beasts but that was the last thing he saw. In a single instant his body was engulfed in flames that were so hot the flesh seemed to melt off his bones. The fires didn't last long but in the man's place was a black pile of ash with remains of charred bones. Satisfied the fox faded from view and Naruto began to fall back.
Iruka and Sasuke quickly caught him, checking for any injury but the blonde had just passed out. Iruka sighed as he gently hugged the blonde, closing his eyes against his own tears. "Naruto... Taka..." The rest of the words were choked up.
Sasuke looked at the woman and closed his eyes. He didn't know her that well but to have such an effect on the blonde dobe, she had to have been someone very special. "The Shadow of the Fallen Moon clan... is officially dead," he said tensely.
--
Naruto slowly opened his eyes. The sunlight filtered into the room he was in seemed rather familiar. He turned his head to the side, seeing a pale woman sitting in a chair next to his bed. "Mother…"
Hidama looked at him. "Oh kit," she whispered and sat next to him on the bed. Her right arm was in a sling and she had a few bandages on her arms and more hidden under the loose-fitting top she was wearing. "You've been out for a few days."
"Taka…" Naruto said quietly, "she's…"
"Her funeral is tomorrow evening," Hidama took his hand in hers.
Naruto frowned at the feeling of something pressed into his palm. Pulling his had back, the blonde's eyes focused on Taka's choker.
"I figured you'd want to have it," she said softly.
"... Why did she have to die? It's not fair!" he said angrily.
"Life never is. She gave up her life to save yours, meaning she cared a great deal about you." She gently tilted his face to meet hers. "She'll never be forgotten."
He tried so hard to keep the tears in but he couldn't. "It's not fair..."
"I know kit, gods how I know." Wrapping her good arm around him she hugged him close, letting him cry himself out. The only thing that kept her from breaking down herself was that Taka was with her family, Goro was suffering in hell, and Nekomata was serving her own punishment. There were some benefits from gaining Death's favor.
--
At sunset, everyone in Suna stood in the center of the village surrounding a pyre with flowers placed along the sides. Taka lay on top, her body cleaned and wrapped in a white robe. Her hands folded over her heart, and on her brow was a forehead protector with the Suna emblem. Several people let the tears fall, unashamed of showing their emotions as the younger children cried openly over the loss of their caretaker.
Naruto squeezed his eyes shut as Temari and Sakura stepped forward and pulled a white sheet over Taka's body. Gaara removed the torch from the sconce beside him and paused. He then touched Naruto's arm and the blonde looked at the kazekage. Gaara held the torch out to him. For a moment, Naruto hesitated but he took the torch from Gaara. Steeling himself, the Konoha ninja lit the pyre and stepped back. The flames spread and the smoke drifted up to the oncoming night sky.
No one said anything but they didn't have to. More tears fell as they watched the funeral pyre burn away. The blonde watched silently, not bothering to wipe the tears as they fell and didn't even look back when he felt someone wrap their arm around him, and another hand gently squeezed his shoulder. Deep within he also felt something reach out to the depressed demon fox within, giving him comfort as well. "I still can't believe it..." he said weakly.
"Gone but never forgotten," Hidama said softly from behind him.
"She's with her family but I know she'll be looking down on you," Iruka smiled. The blonde reached up, covering his former teacher's hand with his own tightly, and reached up to hug his mother's arm tightly. They didn't need to say anything as they stood there, grieving.
Gaara watched silently, feeling out of place he jumped when he felt a hand rest on his shoulder. Kakashi didn't look at him but didn't remove his hand from his shoulder. "I know I'm not your favorite person in the world," he began, "but I'm not gonna take Hidama or Naruto away from you; I couldn't if I tried. I do know that they both care about you very much." He paused for a moment but the red head waited, knowing he was trying to tell him something. "What I'm trying to say is, I know what it's like to lose someone close. So if you need to talk I'm here."
Now that was a surprise but it was a welcomed one. He didn't reach up to shake off the older man's hand but he didn't pat it either. Instead he gave the briefest of nods, closing his eyes. "... Thank you." Tears slowly escaped and made their way down his face.
Long after the funeral ended, Naruto snuck out of Hidama's apartment and went to the small garden Taka had shown him. He sat on the large stone, feeling that her ashes should have been scattered here instead of to the desert sands.
Reaching into his pocket, the blonde pulled out Taka's choker.
"It belonged to my grandmother."
Naruto's head shot up, eyes wide as the moonlight shimmered and then became a translucent female figure. "Taka…"
She stood there, wearing the same robe she had been burned in. Her eyes didn't have the discoloration of being blind and she was smiling softly. "I'm glad you got out of the hospital," she told him.
"Taka... I'm sorry," he whispered just barely loud enough for her to hear.
"Sorry? For what?"
"For not saving you."
"Oh Naruto." She moved towards him, not making a single sound as she slowly sat down next to him. "None of that was your fault. I didn't want to see you die, not when you have so many people who love you."
"What about you? Suna just isn't the same anymore, you touched everyone's lives! Even Gaara's depressed." He looked down at his lap, willing himself not to cry. "It's not fair." He stared though, as her translucent hand reached over and covered his. The simple touch was cool yet comforting.
"I wish there had been another way but what's done is done. The good that came out of this is that you're alive as are everyone else, Suna and the other villages are safe, and our families have been avenged. I was also reunited with my family--my grandmother and mother think you're pretty cute if overdramatic at times."
"Hey!" but he laughed. It felt like years since he had laughed. He felt like a heavy weight had been removed from his heart.
Taka's other hand cupped his cheek. "Life always throws you unexpected turns on your path," she said. "I don't have any regrets, Naruto. Meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me." She leaned closer, kissing him.
Naruto shut his eyes; her lips felt like the cool autumn weather just like when she was alive. She pulled back and he watched her stand up.
"I'll see you again when you become hokage," Taka smiled then looked around the garden. "Could you do me a favor and find someone to take care of this, please?"
The blonde nodded. "I promise, and if I can't I'll take care of it myself."
"Thanks, Naruto," Taka began to fade. "I love you."
"I love you, too," he said, and then she was gone. Naruto looked at the choker and put it on, letting his fingers linger on the symbol.
Authors' Notes:
Shadow: That was sad. Touching yet sad.
Janime: I can't help it; I love ghosts going to their loved ones.
Shadow: How's that for drama though? Naruto finally finds the woman of his dreams and she dies to protect him.
Janime: Now the Fallen Moon clan is officially wiped out. No more demon cat to deal with either.
Shadow: But still, Naruto's alone.
Janime: No he's not. He still has his family. And I am telling the truth when I say that I had no intention of putting Taka with Naruto when we started this fic.
Shadow: Fooled me :p but they made a cute couple even with the slight age difference.
Janime: See, Naruto lived up to his dream. Like father like son.
Shadow: Wonder what he'll be known for.
Janime: Who knows but hopefully not for being Kyuubi's host.