Hunted or Busted: A Side Story

Dusted 11: The Fox and The Hood: Period of Rest

We have a date! November, which means I still got some time to release the rest of Volume 3 in the main story. At the pace I'm going I doubt I'll do it before, but hopefully I can finish it while Volume 7 is ongoing. Expect an update on the main story next week.

All I know is that I love those outfits and short-haired Blake has given me life.

On another note, I'm still deciding on whether to continue the story after Volume 3, or make a new one starting from Volume 4. If anyone has a preference or any ideas, please do not hesitate to speak up.

((((((((Hunted))))))))

He couldn't quite remember the last time he had felt so tired and achy. The benefit of an Aura manipulation Semblance was that even when he wasn't activating his Aura, it would subconsciously start acting to fix what was wrong. If he had cuts or bruises or strained muscles, his Aura would do whatever it could to patch him up. It wasn't a miracle worker – missing limbs or gallons of blood didn't regenerate out of nothing – but he was usually the first to get back up on his feet after everyone else would tire out.

Which probably spoke volumes about the fight he and the others just came out of, because even though his Aura was still going to work he had woken up on this relief bed with his body screaming in pain.

Taking a slow and deep breath while ignoring the sting that came from doing so, Naruto lifted himself up to look around the tent he had been carried to after the relief effort had started. It was filled almost past occupancy level with Huntsmen and Huntresses that had taken injuries or fallen during the raid border. There were beds filled with groaning individuals, people resting from their injuries, and the unfortunate bed covered completely with a sheet and a body under it.

There was a wave of Grimm coming to attack a village in Vacuo. Whether it was because of some hidden animosity or because they had been forced out of wherever they originally came from a massive horde of Grimm came charging a place that couldn't defend itself. So a call went out to any capable Hunters in the area that could stand up and protect it from destruction.

The horde had been worse than any of them imagined. Grimm of every size and race came rushing in with barely any pause. Combined with the evacuation efforts, keeping the line, and forcing them back the entire mission had taken a full 24 hours of fighting. And in that time lives were lost and they had come very close to failing.

Naruto lifted himself up but found his legs feeling stiff and unmoving. For a second panic rushed through his system as he thought that he had sustained an injury or lost a limb in the fight. But he calmed down and chuckled when he saw his knee was just being weighed down.

Ruby had rested her head down on his leg after falling asleep by his side for who knows how many hours. Even with some light movement she didn't stir awake from her deep slumber. Only mumbling and comfortably moving herself to better rest on his leg.

They had nearly finished their year-long trip around Remnant, just like they had promised. Over one year ago they had come to the agreement to travel out of Vale together and go see the world. With a farewell dinner hosted by Ruby's family, they made their way out of Vale and Solaris altogether.

Jaune had joined them on their initial trek to Anima. The trio of former leaders had a great time making their way through the largest landmass on Remnant together. They stopped in every village and settlement along the way and helped whenever help was needed. But their first major stop was in Argus.

There they met up with Tenten and Pyrrha, who had settled down in Argus together as part of the city's protection force. They shared a nice complex together close to Jaune's sister Saffron. In the time they'd been away the two had found a comfortable life in the northern settlement. Tenten found someone she truly loved and Pyrrha was getting the chance to finally live out her dream of being a Huntress. When they arrived in Argus they invited them to stay in their complex for as long as they were visiting.

That was a mistake.

Pyrrha...had been very happy to see Jaune. She asked him out on a date the moment she saw him, and Jaune agreed to it with a face as red as Ruby's hood. They spent the day together and came back happy and brimming with joy. And then...

Well, it was hard to sleep that night with four ears.

From the fact Ruby and Tenten didn't sleep either, it wasn't any easier for just two-eared people to block out the sounds.

Naruto and Ruby continued their trip while Jaune stayed behind to...indulge? That seemed like an appropriate term. Anyway, they made their way down to Mistral and stayed with Minato for a time. They worked alongside Skyggen for a few missions, gaining some good experience, and then decided to make their way out.

The next stop was Menagerie, after getting a call from an old friend. Taking a boat and after a few quiet days out on the water they finally reached the island nation of Faunus. It was a bit of an awkward affair at first, Ruby feeling uncomfortable in a land where Faunus were forced to live after the war.

But they had been called to help with the new project: The SDC Further Homing Project. With some agreements between the respected new CEO of the SDC and the chieftain of Menagerie, a new effort was being made to increase the living space of Menagerie so the people on it had more room to live on.

It was quite a relief to come there and find Blake, Sasuke, and Weiss all there to greet them. There was quite a lot of work to do, but there was also a lot of fun and reminiscing to be had with their friends again after all their time apart. A few Faunus were wary of having humans on their haven, and some of the workers were a little reluctant, but after a time things started to settle and become comfortable.

Sasuke offered training lessons to the citizens who were interested in learning. When they had showed such great interest in learning how to train and become proper fighters, an idea was passed around for the Uchiha to open a gym or dojo to help train Faunus.

Blake's father showed great interest in seeing it come to fruition.

When Naruto walked outside one night, it was to find Blake standing out on the balcony and looking out at the homes and space they had reclaimed. They had a long talk about how this was a small but firm step forward in the change they had wanted for so long. Humans and Faunus working together, making amends, and even clearing the Schnee and Uchiha names of their former shame. She didn't want to admit she was crying, but it was hard not to notice the tear that came down while she smiled.

After that they made their way up to Solidas and explored the Kingdom of Atlas. It was cold! So goddamn cold! He and Ruby had to walk around in several layers and the puffiest jackets they had ever worn. Even then there was a cold that permeated through into their bones. It was just too much for these warm-blooded children to suffer through.

But Blake and Sasuke had adapted to it well, and Weiss was made for the cold. She powered through it without hesitation, and wielded the power and influence expected of someone who was in charge of the largest energy company in the world.

When in Atlas it was two very different experiences they had lived through. One was in the city. Atlas was a stunning and brilliant landscape worthy of its title of most advanced Kingdom in the world.

And then there was the land underneath it. The people in the shadow of the City of Atlas were bitter and angry. They didn't quite like being in the overcast of the wealthy and powerful.

They had done a lot of work in Atlas, but by the end it felt like they hadn't done enough to change things like in Menagerie.

And after the coldest place in Remnant, they traveled to the hottest place next. The wasteland of Vacuo was their last stop on their worldwide voyage, and what a harsh landscape it was. Sun bearing down on you, and shifting sands as far as the eye could see. Going unprepared to this place would kill most people.

Thankfully his partner and their friends were there to greet them. Kiba, Nora, and Ren had settled down in the desert rather well, changing out of their former attire and sporting more appropriate wear for the harsh climate. They had really acclimated to the new lifestyle, and it had accepted them in kind.

The rule of Vacuo was that if you could survive, you were welcome. And damn if those three couldn't survive the worst of things.

Plus Gaara had been accepted to study as a teacher at Shade, and there was even rumors that he could succeed as Headmaster after Professor Theodore if he kept helping others. So as a celebration they went out partying and drinking.

In fact that was a lot of their nights here. It was easier to count the times he was buzzed or hungover after the night before from all the partying. And he also had the pleasure of seeing what a drunk Ruby had looked like. It was simultaneously the funniest and cutest thing he had ever witnessed all rolled up into one tiny, red-faced mess.

It was the biggest relief during their year-long trip...until now.

"You're awake!"

"Thank god!"

Naruto looked up and saw Kiba and Nora come running over to his bed. They were wrapped in bandages, with a gauze covering most of Kiba's cheek and a wrapping over one of Nora's eyes. He sat up, "How long was I out?"

"Better part of a day." His former partner said as he sighed with relief and sat down on his bed as well, "You kinda passed out after the last of the Grimm were exterminated. After that we checked you over and let you rest over here."

"Thirsty?" Nora offered him a small cup of water and Naruto greedily gulped it up. It was only then when he was drinking it down did he realize just how parched he was. She smiled and knelt down by the bed, beside Ruby, "It was really close there at the end."

"Yeah." Naruto didn't realize how hoarse his voice was until he had got some water down it. After clearing it out he looked at his shorter friend, "How's your eye?"

"Oh, I just got knocked around a little. No permanent damage." Nora grinned and flexed her muscles, "I'll be right as rain in a few days. Ren was really worried that I might have to wear an eyepatch for the rest of my life."

"Bet he'd be worried his pirate girlfriend would make a scene everywhere she went." She jabbed Kiba in the arm and the bearded fighter took it in stride. Once they had calm down the older Hunters looked down at their sleeping friend, "Things were looking dicey there near the end."

"Yeah," Nora nodded before she gently patted Ruby's hair, "This would have turned out a lot different if she hadn't saved us."

They had held back the Grimm horde valiantly for hours, but had started to reach the end of their rope when Deathstalkers, Ziraphs, Jackalopes, and Nevermores started charging in. Even with all the Hunters joining together to fight – even with two Noble Guards to fight them off – this had become a war of attrition. And only one side was filled with monsters that were willing to throw their lives away without hesitation. Their supplies were running thin and people were falling left and right. The evacuation was taking too long and the Grimm were advancing without pause.

Naruto took a stand, summoning his Aura around his limbs and preparing to hold off the oncoming wave. Kiba came to join his side, joking that he was always saddled with his idiot partner even till the end. Then Nora and Ren and Gaara and Lee stood by their side and did what they could to save the people they had sworn to protect.

No one wanted to say it was their last stand, but in that moment it truly felt like it was going to end.

And it did…just not how they expected.

A light as bright as the sun shined out from behind them and covered the entire area in its protective glow. When it faded away the Grimm that had been charging were either reduced to stone, blind, or already dead. No one knew what had happened, and when they looked back they were left even more confused.

The glow faded from Ruby's silver eyes before she toppled over and passed out. Naruto panicked and ran back to check on her, completely forgetting the fight and sliding to her side without hesitation. He picked her up and checked her over, letting out a sigh of relief when he noticed that she was just unconscious and not injured by whatever she had done. Ordering some other Huntsmen to watch over her and keep her safe, Naruto drew out his weapon and turned back to what remained of the sea of monsters.

She had saved them from destruction, and he was going to clean up the last dredges before they could make her effort useless.

"You passed out after wiping out the last of the Grimm hanging around outside the village." Nora spoke up and looked down at the dozing Ruby, "Then she woke up at some point, she panicked thinking something had happened to you, and when we pointed you out she came running over here and refused to leave your side. It was actually really cute."

"What the hell was that anyway?" Kiba questioned, "How did she make her eyes do that anyway? I mean after the last time she did it we thought it would come in handy but she couldn't figure out how to make it work. Who knew her epic Grimm-killing eyes would come in and save our asses again, huh?"

"I don't think she knows either." Naruto looked down at Ruby as she napped peacefully. He smiled and relaxed, feeling the pain and fatigue in his body wash away for a moment when he saw his friend and partner okay after the scare in the middle of the battlefield, "But I'm not complaining as long as she's okay."

"She's our hero." Nora said with a smile and giggle. She looked out over the tent and then nudged Kiba's shoulder, "Come on, we have to help Ren sort out all the civilians and clear everything out."

"Ugh, I think I'd rather have my cuts flare up." With a heavy groan Kiba lifted himself up and Nora ushered him to follow her. But the tattooed man didn't move before smirking and flicking Ruby's nose. The redhead stirred from her sleep and Kiba waved Naruto goodbye with a smirk as she lifted herself up.

"Uwah?" Ruby mumbled, her eyes still heavy and barely cognizant of what was around her. After a moment some clarity came to them, and as soon as she realized where she was she realized who was in her line of sight, "Naruto!" She leapt on him and hugged him tightly without pause, causing him to flinch but taking it in stride as he knew how relieved she must have been to see him, "I was so worried! You weren't awake when I woke up a-and I thought-"

"I'm okay." He hugged her back and whispered to assure her he was fine. His partner pulled back and looked on the edge of tears with a smile on her face. She wiped her eyes before she sat back down on the edge of his bed, "You saved us all by destroying all those Grimm."

"Y-Yeah, Ren told me about that earlier. I don't know what exactly happened, but everything flashed in my eyes before I just felt so tired. I still do actually." She rubbed her head before looking back at him, "I was just so scared when I saw all those Grimm and thought about what they'd do. About the people who'd lose their lives. About what happened if...if you-"

"Hey," She looked up when she felt her shoulder being squeezed and saw Naruto's warm smile, "We're alive because of you. So many people are here because of you. You saved us Ruby."

She looked at him with watery eyes, but smiled and nodded as she wiped them clean. Naruto leaned in and they shared a hug again that left them both relieved that they had come through this ordeal alive.

"Naruto?"

"Yeah?"

"It's your dream, and I kinda forced myself in on it, but do you think we've traveled the world and helped enough now?" Ruby pulled back and smiled sadly, "Because I kinda miss our apartment."

Naruto chuckled, "Me too. But you know it's gonna be all dusty and messed up from a year without cleaning."

"I asked Yang and my dad to keep up with the maintenance."

"Do they seem like the type to actually clean it?"

"Dad does. Yang...not so much."

"Heh, I think we can find a Bullhead that's willing to take us a part of the way there. But for now, let's just rest up." There was a soft grumble from Naruto's stomach that reminded him he hadn't had anything in over a day.

Ruby stood up, "I'll go get us something to eat."

"I don't even know if I can stomach anything right now."

"You will." Ruby pouted and pointed at him sternly, "I'll get some food and you'll eat it, got it? The faster you heal up, the faster we can go home. I'll be right back."

((((((((Hunted))))))))

Stepping out into the relief zone, Ruby started to look around for a place that handed out rations or meals. There were a lot of people and they all needed to be fed, so she doubted there would be much to eat or even that it would be that edible. But she wanted to make sure he had a full belly and he could recover faster.

Looking around with a little more urgency, she spotted Ren and Nora being handed over some trays of food. She ran over, "Guys!"

"Hey Ruby!"

"I'm glad to see you awake again." Ren nodded as she came over and looked down at their trays, "Getting some nourishment? I'm sure you must be starving."

"Yeah, my belly's rumbling pretty bad. And Naruto's is too." She stepped up to the tent and was handing two trays. The people behind the table gave her a quick thanks for her help and she laughed nervously before stepping back to her friends, "I'm hoping that he heals up soon so we can head back home. Oh, u-unless you still need us to help around, because then-"

"It's alright, we have it handled. Gaara is already sending out monitors to make sure no more hordes like this threaten to attack any more villages." Ren smiled as she sighed in relief, "You can head home if you like."

"Yeah, don't let us stop ya." Nora grinned, "I'm sure you must be dying to head back home together."

"Yeah!" It was after a moment that Ruby interpreted what that could have sounded like and shook her head, "W-Wait I didn't mean it like that. We just have a place together but we don't-"

"Ruby," Nora interrupted, her older friend smiling as she slipped her fingers between Ren's and squeezed his hand, "I get wanting to go back home together. It's where you feel safe and sound. So you two get better and head back, okay?"

"We'll see you later."

Ruby was left silent as her friends walked away, hands still intertwined. The silver-eyed girl looked down at the trays in her hand as she thought to herself. It wasn't like that. That was silly. Naruto was her closest friend but that was it. They shared an apartment together out of convenience.

For goodness sake they could barely look at each other for the first few months after that whole naked debacle.

But after they had started their trip, that unfortunate incident started to seem less and less pressing. She and Naruto had traveled all over the world together. They'd fought in Mistral, helped in Menagerie, traveled all the way to Atlas, and then stopped a wave of Grimm here in Vacuo.

They trusted each other with their lives. They had spent so much time together that the incident when they moved in was now just an embarrassing moment in their friendship. After everything that happened he was her best friend. But that didn't mean...

...

When her eyes flashed, she thought about all the awful things that would happen to everyone if those Grimm were let through.

Of course she thought about the civilians.

Of course she thought about the other Huntsmen and Huntresses.

And of course she thought about the rest of her friends.

But the first thing that came to her mind when she saw those Grimm charge their way...

Was that she didn't want to lose Naruto. For anything.

...

Ruby's face started to heat up as she looked back and spotted Naruto in the tent. He had sat up from his bed and was sitting in the edge stretching out his legs. Looking up he spotted her standing there and waved her over.

Her heartbeat quickened as she gulped in shock, "Oh no."

((((((((Hunted))))))))

Done

Took a whole year but Ruby has finally realized that the warm and fuzzy feeling Naruto is leaving in her gut isn't just friendship and fondness. No she might actually want him to leave a warm...fuzzy...

Ewww...

Anyhow, I need to get back to the square one and keep writing as much as I can. I'm halfway through the update month and I still gotta work on the last gift of July. Wish me luck, and I hope you enjoyed the turn for Naruto and Ruby's little story.

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Thank You and Bye