A/N - First, I'd like to apologize for taking so long to update anything. I've been going through a number of health problems and I've been trying to just take it easy and not stress out about all this stuff. For those of you who happen to be curious about how I'm doing now, I have an update on my profile, right at the top of the page, explaining in detail everything that's going on. I'm in pain every day because of this Hiatal hernia. I have an appointment with the gastroenterologist on December 28th to get a microscopic camera shoved down my throat. We need to get a look at the hernia from the inside so we can figure out how to treat it. Surgery may be required, which isn't gonna be fun.
Anyways, I was trying so hard to figure out what I wanted to work on next. Eventually, I decided to just update this story. I changed things up a bit as compared to how things happen in the game. Hopefully you like the chapter and what I did with it. If not, ah well. Can't please everyone.
Alrighty, read on and enjoy! Hopefully! lol
Chapter 21 – Kamuy
As the day faded to night, Naruto and the others in their motley crew returned to the mayor's house to rest and relax for the night. Naruto was still a little upset with the mayor for the clear refusal to get to the truth in favor of ordering Kamuy's death, but he held his frustration in and chose to simply make the best of things for the night.
They had just finished the wonderful dinner prepared by the mayor and his dear daughter, Fa. Naruto had planned to talk with Shana for a little while, but Fa beat him to the punch as she walked up to his girlfriend and tugged lightly on her shirt to get her attention. Shana, being the kindhearted soul that she was, kneeled down and looked the younger girl in the eyes. "Yes dear? Are you sleepy?" When Fa simply nodded her head, the brunette giggled a bit and asked, "You want to go to bed together, then?"
"She probably wants the warmth that cuddling with someone gives." Haschel said. "Why, back when my dear wife was still alive, we'd cuddle together during the colder months. It was an excellent way to keep warm and bask in our love for one another. These days, I simply have to bear the chill on my own."
Shana giggled a bit before returning her gaze to Fa. "Come, let's go to bed together. I'll keep you company until you fall asleep." And with that, Shana took Fa by the hand and left the room together, ascending the stairs to help Fa get some sleep.
A while later, Haschel went upstairs to stretch and perhaps even get some rest. However, when he heard the lullaby that Shana was singing to lull Fa into a peaceful slumber, his eyes widened, and he quickly turned to stare at Shana. This lullaby….!
Flashback – 27 Years Ago
Haschel couldn't help but smile to himself as he approached a beautiful young woman sitting alone, gazing out at the ocean waves. She was singing a beautiful melody to herself, a serene smile on her face as she sang. When she sensed Haschel approaching, she stopped and stood up before turning to face him. "Isn't it a lovely tune?" his dear daughter asked him.
Turning away from her father, she walked over to the railing and looked out at the ocean once more. "This tune is a lullaby that I am dedicating to my future baby."
Haschel smiled at his daughter and said, "That might be better for her than mastering the martial arts." When his daughter turned to face him, Claire's father simply shook his head and said, "I simply want you and my future grandchild to be happy, Claire. While I would love for you both to follow in my footsteps and master the ways of the Rouge school of martial arts, it may not be for the best. You deserve to be happy and follow your own path. No matter where that path leads, I'm sure I'll be proud of the both of you."
When Claire simply smiled at her father in thanks, Haschel nodded once and turned around, walking off without another word. Be happy Claire.
Present Time
Haschel shook his head free of the memories as he watched Shana sit up in bed and smile at him. As she pet Fa's head, she said, "She's sleeping now." Gently leaving the bed, Shana smiled at Fa one more time before she joined Haschel and followed him back downstairs so they could talk without disturbing the young girl. "Isn't it a sweet tune? I learned it from Dart."
Haschel quirked a brow before asking, "Dart knows this tune?"
Naruto was also curious, having heard the melody from his place beside Albert on the couch.
Shana nodded and said, "He said that his late mother sang to him. It's a special lullaby for Dart."
Haschel's eyes widened, and he took a step back, almost as if he had been dealt a physical blow. What!? Shaking his head in an effort to regain some measure of composure, Haschel began to pace around for a moment. I see. It's not a coincidence at all for me to be here. To think that all this time… Chuckling dryly to himself, he turned to smile at Shana. "Thank you, Shana. I'm going to go and get some air. You should spend time with those you cherish." And with that, Haschel turned and descended the stairs to take one of the boats and leave the mayor's abode for a time.
Naruto frowned and thought silently to himself, So, it's no coincidence that Haschel's daughter and Dart's mother share the same name. I knew there was some kind of connection between the two of them, something beyond simply being friends, but I can't say I expected this. Small world.
Albert spoke up at this point, getting their attention. "That reminds me. Dart and Tayuya have been gone for a while. I wonder what they could be up to."
Shana shrugged and said, "If he's smart, he's doing whatever it takes to make Tayuya happy. Now…" looking from Albert to Naruto, Shana smirked at him and took his hand in hers. "Let's go outside. I want to spend some time together." And with that, she tugged on his arm, coercing her boyfriend into following her outside and onto the roof.
Albert chuckled to himself as he watched them leave. He wasn't even surprised when Meru chased after them, trying to be as stealthy as she could be. Ahhh, young maidens in love. I wonder how dear Emille is doing.
Naruto
"So, Dart taught you that lullaby, huh? You really do mean a lot to him. It's a shame he didn't realize just how much until it was too late." Naruto said, frowning slightly at the thought.
Shana frowned as well and gave her boyfriend's hand a firm squeeze. "Hey, none of that now. Yes, Dart and I are close, but it's as he said: it's more akin to siblings than anything else. Even if we once had feelings for each other, our paths led us in opposite directions. I chose you and he chose Tayuya. I love you, Naruto. Just as Tayuya loves Dart. I hope I don't have to do something drastic to make you see that."
The blonde chuckled and shook his head. "I trust you, Shana-chan. I kind of just wish there was something we shared together, you know? That's all." It was at this point that a thought went through his head and his entire face turned a deep shade of red. Quickly shaking the thought off, he turned to look at his girlfriend, only to realize she had caught him.
"Oh? What were you just thinking of, Naruto? Was it something a little…naughty, perhaps?" she teased him. Before he could say anything, she leaned in and whispered into his ear, "I bet I know. And I already know just what we can share together, too. I'm going to give birth to your children. That's what we can share together."
Naruto couldn't trust his voice for the moment, so he nodded and wrapped his arms around his beloved. Holding her flush against him, he claimed her lips with his and began to let his hands roam her body. Even if they weren't truly alone, if the two of them stayed quiet, they might just be able to give each other exactly what they both wanted more than anything in the world.
Peeking from the staircase, Meru silently giggled to herself and watched as the two of them made out. This is gold! Ooooh, I wonder when he'll take me in his arms and ravish me like he's about to do to Shana! Mmmm, the possibilities!
Sadly, before they could really get started, even just to disrobe, something happened to ruin the moment. The Moon That Never Sets suddenly began to glow and a mysterious aura seemed to wash over them. Within seconds, Shana stepped back, clutching at her head as if in sheer agony. Stumbling a few steps back, she screamed out, "My…my head hurts! M-Make it…make it stop!"
Naruto's eyes widened in horror as he watched tears streaming down his beloved's face. Hugging her tight against him, he placed a kiss atop her head and looked at Meru as she hurried up to them. "Meru, do you have any idea what's causing this?"
The platinum-haired dancer shook her head and helped Shana over to the nearby bench. Looking Shana over carefully, she shook her head and said, "I have no idea!" Turning her gaze from Shana to the Moon That Never Sets, she frowned and said, "I really don't know, Naruto. Something is very, VERY wrong. I wish I knew what to do, but I think all we CAN do is wait for this to pass. I just hope she'll be all right…"
Naruto continued to hold Shana close and said, "Whatever's going on, I think it has something to do with that blasted moon. And whatever's been going on with Shana throughout our journey. She shares some kind of connection with the Virage, as well. Something is really, REALLY wrong here."
Meru could only nod as she rubbed circles in her fellow Naru-lover's back. "You'll be okay, Shana. You'll be okay…"
Albert and the mayor rushed outside to see what was going on. Rushing up the stairs, they saw the state Shana was in and the king of Serdio asked, "What happened? Is Shana going to be all right?"
The mayor walked up to them and pressed his hand against Shana's forehead. "She isn't running a fever. Whatever's causing this, she doesn't appear to be sick."
Naruto nodded and said, "I don't know what happened. Her head suddenly began to hurt and then she ended up like this. If Tsunade were here, I'd ask her to look over Shana and try to help her, but…"
"Well, there's no sense in leaving her out here. Come inside and lie her down on the couch. Let her rest." the mayor said, guiding the group back inside. "Hopefully she's feeling better come morning."
"I certainly hope so." Naruto said as he followed the mayor back inside and laid Shana down on the nearby couch. Kissing her forehead gently, he said, "I love you, Shana-chan. I promise, I'll be here for you no matter what. We'll get through this together."
The Next Morning
Hinata frowned as she looked into Shana's eyes. "Everything appears to be fine. How do you feel, Shana?"
"I'm fine now. We can leave anytime. I'm sorry for worrying everyone again." Shana said.
The mayor looked at her and asked, "Are you really okay now? You can stay here for a while longer, if you'd like. Heck, you could even stay forever if you really wanted! Fa already likes you, and you'd be a good role model for her to follow."
Naruto frowned at the mayor, but didn't say a word. Instead, he listened as Shana said, "Thank you, Mr. Mayor. But I really have to go. I'm sorry. Thank you for the hospitality."
"Shame. Well, take care on your journey, and be safe. Don't be afraid to stop and take a rest when you need it." The mayor said.
Shana thanked him again before kneeling down before Fa and patting her gently on the head. "I'll see you soon, okay? You be a good girl." Standing up, she stood at Naruto's side and looked at the others. "Let's get going. We have to find Lloyd soon, or it will be too late. I really hope he hasn't done anything too crazy after we lost him like that."
Dart nodded and said, "Agreed. The main problem we now face comes from the fact that we don't know where Deningrad is. I think Naruto has the right idea. If we talk to the priestess watching over the Land of Demons, she might just be able to point us in the right direction. We can only hope…"
As they prepared to leave, the mayor decided to give one final warning. "The animals in the forest have become savage like Kamuy did. Please, if you're going that way, be careful. You never know what might happen."
Naruto frowned at this, but once again chose to remain silent. Instead, Dart thanked the mayor for his concern before the team of twelve left the house and decided to head across the way to make their exit from the small town of Furni. However, instead of leaving, they entered the nearby house and approached the couple standing at the table nearby, seemingly in a panic. "Calm down! We have so many warriors now! Teo will come back safe, I'm sure of it!"
Naruto frowned slightly as he turned to the wife who was in hysterics as she exclaimed, "B-But…! Kamuy is a monster now! It's not the same Kamuy as before! Teo! Oh, my poor Teo…!"
Could something really have happened to change Kamuy? Everyone seems so sure that Kamuy's responsible for everything. But… Shaking his head, the whiskered teen shook those thoughts away and went upstairs to explore a bit and get away from Teo's parents. Seeing a rope nearby, he pulled on it and heard something slam down below. Shrugging, he hopped on the slide nearby and let himself slide along, all the way into the basement of their house. In a metal basin nearby, he found a piece of stardust. Pocketing it, he soon rejoined the others and chuckled a bit as he rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry, got curious."
Teo's father glared at him and exclaimed, "You nearly gave us a heart attack! Please, if you're warriors, help find our son! Save him from Kamuy!"
The blonde frowned again before saying, "We'll find him. And we'll figure out what the heck happened, too. I just hope the other warriors haven't done anything too crazy, yet."
With that, the party left Teo's house and left the town of Furni. It didn't take much longer for them to reach the Evergreen Forest and enter it. Shortly after doing so, Dart stopped the group and looked around at everyone. "We've got a choice to make. I want to hear your thoughts so we can determine what to do and how best to spend what time we have. Do we investigate this Kamuy incident and try to save Teo? Or do we move on to visit the priestess we heard about? Personally, I want to set this whole situation with Kamuy right before anything bad can happen. But what do you want to do?"
Naruto smirked and said, "Don't even need to ask me for my opinion. I'm all for helping Teo and Kamuy. Even if we lose some time and Lloyd gets even further ahead of us, I can't just ignore those in need."
Hinata giggled a bit and said, "I'm with Naruto-kun. Let's help Kamuy and Teo."
Mei smirked and said, "Whatever choice Naruto-kun makes, I'm standing by it. Yes, I'd like to pay Lloyd back for his crimes, but if Naruto-kun says we help Teo, then we help."
Shana smirked as well as she looked into Dart's eyes. "Do you really need to ask? I think most, if not all of us, will vote to help Teo and Kamuy. Unless someone has some kind of problem with that?"
When all eyes turned on her, Rose quirked a brow at them. "What? I'm with Naruto on this one. We help Teo and Kamuy. Yes, finding Lloyd and stopping his schemes is our main goal, but not if we throw aside our ideals to do it. Now, enough dillydallying. Let's get a move on."
Dart chuckled softly before he turned again and said, "Very well. Let's set out!"
For a time, they ventured through the forest, collecting various items and accessories and the like from what treasure chests they came across. One such useful accessory they found was called a Destone Amulet, which would protect the wearer from petrification. Very useful!
After a time, they seemed to reach the middle of the forest and the five ninja of the group easily spotted a young boy sitting atop a hill a short distance inward. It would take a bit of maneuvering to reach him, but he appeared to be okay. Though, it appeared as if he was frightened of something, most likely the dangerous beasties of the forest.
"Well, I think we've found Teo." Hikari said as she pointed towards the hill. "Let's hurry. Maybe he knows what happened to Kamuy."
"Right." Dart said. "Let's make our way around to him then. Be careful, though. Never know what we might run into this deep into the forest."
Sadly, as they reached the top of the hill, Teo panicked and ran off deeper into the forest. A very brief moment after this, they heard screaming coming from some of the warriors as they ran away from something. Before they could take any time to dwell on what they were seeing…
"Ah shit!" Naruto shouted as he quickly grabbed the two that were closest to him, these being Shana and Meru, and leapt backwards, away from the danger. A few scant seconds after everyone dodged out of the way, they saw a rather large, wolf-like monster land before them, obviously having pounced towards them for some reason. Seeing this, the blonde's eyes widened considerably and he shouted, "Is this KAMUY?! What the hell?!"
It was at this point that Resident Knight Harris and a number of other warriors, or rather mercenaries, surrounded them, boxing in Kamuy to the best of their ability. "Everybody surround it!" Harris exclaimed before he and the mercenaries rushed closer. "Finally, I found it!"
The man known as Bulgus cackled to himself with a wild look in his eyes. "I'll get him, and I'll get the five times larger prize!" Gripping his axe tight, he shouted, "Let me kill it!"
"Stop it!" a voice yelled shortly before Teo burst out, stopping beside Kamuy.
"Teo! You're all right!" Harris yelled.
"Everybody, please listen! It wasn't Kamuy's fault! It was a different monster that attacked Fa!" Teo shouted at them, trying to explain the situation. However…
"Teo! Leave Kamuy's side and come to me. We'll keep you safe!" Harris exclaimed.
Naruto clenched his fists angrily, practically snarling at this point. "They won't listen. They're too bloodthirsty."
"No way! Cuz Kamuy protected Fa! So, I'll protect Kamuy this time! I won't let you hurt him!" Teo shouted at Harris and the mercenaries angrily. "Please, listen to me! Don't you dare kill Kamuy!"
Harris shook his head before shouting back, "Teo! It's no longer the Kamuy you knew! Many other people were attacked by it!"
"Goddammit!" Naruto shouted as a dark red cloak of chakra began to bubble forth. "Listen to him, you fools! Kamuy's innocent! Pull your heads out of your asses and look! Kamuy's NOT hurting Teo! He's trying to protect him from all of you! From us! Teo just fucking told you that Kamuy didn't hurt Fa! I don't know what's happened to Kamuy to make him like this, but he's still in control of himself. He's not responsible for what's happened!"
Seeing Naruto hunching over, snarling at everyone, caused Harris to take a step backwards in fear. "W-What ARE you? You're not human! We'll protect Teo from you as well, if we have to!" he exclaimed, quickly regaining his bravado as he pointed his sword at the enraged Naruto.
"Guys! Let's grab Teo first! We need to get him to safety before…!" one of the mercenaries shouted, only for Teo to interrupt him.
"Just stop it already!"
Before anyone could say anything further, Kamuy howled before rushing the mercenaries, knocking them off their feet and sending them flying away. Hurrying towards Teo, he set the boy on his back before knocking aside Bulgus and the others. Afterwards, he disappeared into the forest.
Harris reached out for Teo as Kamuy ran by him, only to miss him by a hair. "Dammit! Teo!" Looking at the others, Harris was about to rally the troops, only to suddenly be lifted off his feet by a firm grip around his neck. "W-What…?"
Naruto glared deeply into Harris' eyes and said, "Kamuy. Is not. At fault. Teo tried to tell you. I tried to tell you. Why won't anyone listen?! Kamuy won't hurt Teo! So just stop already! Before you make me REALLY angry!"
Harris' eyes widened in horror as he looked into the face of death itself. Raising his sword, he prepared to attack the beast that was choking the life out of him, only to hear someone shouting at the both of them. "Naruto, stop!"
Harris and Naruto both looked at the person hurrying towards them. Shana reached them and looked pleadingly into her boyfriend's eyes. "Naruto, please! I know you're mad! We all are! But killing these people ISN'T the answer! Please, just calm down and come back to us. We'll find a way to settle all of this peacefully. We'll save both Kamuy AND Teo! Please…"
Naruto frowned for a time and dropped Resident Knight Harris on his ass. Slowly, the Kyuubi cloak began to dissipate. Slowly stumbling backwards, he held his head and said, "S-Sorry…Shana-chan. I just…I hate when people do this. It reminds me so much of…"
Naruto blinked before he spat out a glob of blood. "Gugh?!" Looking down, he saw a sword penetrating his chest. Looking up into the eyes of Harris, the blonde tried to speak, only to cough up blood on the knight's face. Why…?
Harris had to backpedal, removing his sword in the process, and quickly blocked an attack from Dart. "Why are you attacking me?! He's a monster, just like Kamuy!"
"Naruto!" Shana exclaimed as she hurriedly transformed and began to heal him. "Hold on! Please, just hold on!"
As his wound began to close, Naruto's eyes fogged over and he fell forward, almost hitting the ground. Thankfully, Mei caught him and allowed her love to lean against her. "You'll be okay, Naruto-kun. Just hold on."
Meanwhile, Harris barely moved in time to avoid the arrow that had been fired at his skull. Raising his sword again, he blocked yet another attack from the enraged Dart. "Enough of this! The longer this goes on, the more danger Teo could be in thanks to Kamuy!"
"Naruto is our friend! You tried to kill him! How are we supposed to just forgive what you've done?!" Dart exclaimed angrily as he swung his sword once more, sending Harris' blade flying from his hands. Pressing the tip of his sword against Harris' jugular, he said in a seething tone, "Nothing you say or do will ever be enough to pardon what you've done. Leave Teo and Kamuy to us and get lost. I want you out of my sight NOW!"
Harris took a few steps back before turning and running away, back in the direction of Furni. He didn't even try to help gather the mercenaries scattered about the area. All this over a monster?! Just what's wrong with these people?!
Putting away their weapons, the majority of the party members surrounded Naruto and those tending to him. "How is he?" Albert asked.
Shana was shaking as she shook her head. "He'll live. But…"
"But? But what, Shana?" Dart questioned somewhat impatiently.
"Harris stabbed him through the left lung. Naruto was choking on his own blood. I don't think he's going to be able to fight for a while." Shana said as she wiped tears from her eyes and tried to dry her cheeks. "Naruto…c-could have…he could have DIED! All because that man treated him like he's nothing more than a monster! If…if they had just LISTENED…!"
Hinata scowled as she kneeled down and placed Naruto's head in her lap. Gently brushing his whiskered cheeks, she said, "You should go and help Teo and Kamuy. Shana and I will stay with him. We'll catch up when we can."
Dart frowned and asked, "Are you sure? You could be attacked by real monsters at any time."
Mei and Hikari looked into his eyes and said, "We'll stay with them then. Go on. Kamuy and Teo need you. Once Naruto-kun wakes up, we'll come join you. Like Shana said, though, Naruto's not going to be doing any fighting until he's fully recovered from this."
The red-clad dragoon frowned slightly before nodding his head. "Very well. Look after him and keep him safe. The rest of us will find Kamuy and do what we can. I just hope the mercenaries don't make things worse."
Haschel nodded and looked down at Naruto's unconscious form. "Naruto is strong. He'll pull through this. Now come, we must be off. Be safe, all of you." And with that, he and the others hurried off in search of Kamuy and Teo. To think, Naruto's going to try and master a power that chaotic. I wish you luck, my young friend.
Once they were gone, Shana looked into her darling's face and said, "Why do things like this keep happening? It's…it's not fair! Doesn't he get enough of this kind of treatment from the people of Konoha? I thought he'd be free of that out here, with all of us."
Hinata shook her head and said, "People will always fear what they don't understand. And what they fear, they come to hate. And what they hate…they try to kill or destroy. Naruto…he empathized with Kamuy. Kamuy is different from them. Kamuy…is just like Naruto in that way. It's only natural that Naruto would get so angry. Angry enough to call on the Kyuubi's power. I should have killed that man for what he did to Naruto-kun."
Mei nodded and said, "I'd have loved to do that as well. However, it wouldn't have done us any good to take his life. For now, we need to watch over Naruto-kun until he awakens. I just hope the others can save Teo and Kamuy from those bloodthirsty monsters."
Hikari drew her weapon and quickly dispatched an enemy that came too close for comfort. "Agreed. If we're lucky, Naruto will wake up soon. I just hope he will take it easy for a while."
Shana watched Naruto for a moment before saying, "If we tell him to, he'll take it easy. I'm sure of it. Especially if he remembers what just happened to him. Here…" Reaching into one of her pockets, she withdrew a handkerchief and knelt down to begin wiping Naruto's face clean of the blood. When she saw the looks the others were giving her, she said, "I'll clean it later when I get the chance. I just didn't want to leave Naruto's face like that."
"Thank you." Hinata said. Looking back down into her boyfriend's face, she smiled softly at him and said, "Did you know that he was talking about marrying all of us when we get to Deningrad? Rose asked him to marry her there, so…"
Hikari giggled a bit and said, "He said it somewhat jokingly at the time, but I think he really meant it. Naruto really wants to be with all of us for the rest of our lives. I don't want to take away from Rose's big day, but…"
Shana giggled as well and said, "We can wait. Let Rose have her big day with him. Then we can convince him to marry the rest of us."
"Heh, glad to see you girls are so excited." Naruto said as he slowly opened his eyes. His voice was raspy, sounding as if he hadn't had anything to drink in a while. Slowly sitting up, he tried to clear his throat, only to have to spit out some more blood off to the side. "Ugh. I really wasn't expecting that. I shouldn't have lost my temper so easily. But…"
"We know, sweetheart. Kamuy is a lot like you. He reminds you of your past in Konoha. Don't worry. Dart and the others will save the two of them. For now, just rest for a little while. Once you can get up and walk again, we'll catch up with them. Just…don't push yourself too much, okay?" Hinata pleaded. "Let the rest of us do all the fighting. Until you've recovered, we're not letting you do any of the fighting. We can handle it."
Naruto nodded in acceptance of that. "Sure. Just…gimme a bit. I'm honestly feeling kind of weak right now. I'm not even sure if I can stand up, let alone walk with you girls."
Shana hugged him tight, resting his head against her breasts. "I was so scared I'd lost you. I'll never forgive that man for what he did to you."
The blonde nodded and closed his eyes again. "Yeah. I guess…I have you girls to thank for saving me. Again. I love you. All of you. If you really want to get married in Deningrad, I'll be more than happy to give you exactly what you want. And Shana?" Seeing he had her attention, he smiled serenely at her and said, "I can't wait to have those children together. They're going to be beautiful."
Shana blushed prettily, but happily smiled at her lover. "I can't wait. I love you, more than anything in the world." She said before kissing him sweetly on the lips. "Now rest. We'll rejoin the others when you've regained some of your strength."
"Sounds…good to me. I'm just going to close my eyes for a little while." Naruto said, closing his eyes a moment later. "I'll be ready to go soon, I promise. Just let me relax for a while."
Mei and the others giggled, and she said, "Sure thing, Naruto-kun. Take all the time you need."
Dart
Upon entering one of the deepest parts of the forest, Dart and company easily spotted Teo and Kamuy far in the back of the area. The spiky-haired merc couldn't see any of the other mercenaries around, which he was quite thankful for. Still, he knew that this was a dangerous situation. One wrong move could have Kamuy attacking them, viewing them as threats to his and, more importantly, Teo's safety.
Deciding that the only way they were going to get anywhere was to advance, Dart led the party closer to Teo and Kamuy. When Kamuy practically roared and sent a shockwave of energy washing over them, Dart began to sweat a bit. "Oh, this is NOT going to be easy." He muttered to himself. Still, he knew they had to advance if they wanted to save the both of them.
As Dart began to step closer to Teo and Kamuy, the young boy suddenly rushed up and shouted, "Go home! Leave us alone! Kamuy's not bad, so just go home and leave us alone!"
Tayuya took a few steps closer to Teo before kneeling down so she could look him in the eyes on his level. "We know that, sweetie. Kamuy's not bad. But your parents, and more importantly, Fa, are really worried about you. Fa's so worried she can't even talk. I'm sure she'd like to thank you and Kamuy, too."
"S-She is? She does? Is…is she okay?" Teo questioned.
Dart nodded and took a step closer to Teo. "It's true. Fa isn't talking anymore since you disappeared, Teo. She's so worried about you and Kamuy. It's because she really cares about you two."
"Fa…cares that much about me? About us?" Teo asked as he paced around a bit. "I…I didn't know. All I could think about was keeping Kamuy safe from all the mean people."
Tayuya smiled at him and said, "That's a good thing. You're a good person, Teo. But Fa really needs you. She needs both of you. If you get hurt, she might never talk again."
"But…" Teo said, looking back at Kamuy before returning his gaze to Dart and Tayuya. "I…" Feeling tears trickling down his cheeks, Teo asked, "What about Kamuy? He's gonna be killed if I don't protect him!"
Before anyone could say anything, a maniacal voice shouted out from behind the party, "That's right!" Turning around, they saw Bulgus come stomping towards them. "You pretended to not be interested! But you came back for the prize, right?! I knew you would! Who could ever resist such glory?! Such wealth?! It's magnificent!" Cackling madly, the man stomped past them towards Kamuy and Teo. "But I won't let you! I'll be the one to finish the beast!"
Another mercenary, this one a slightly smaller man, rushed up and exclaimed, "Teo! Come here, child! Kamuy's time has come! We need to get you to safety before it's too late!"
"Don't come any closer!" Teo exclaimed, stepping in front of Bulgus and throwing his arms out to the side. "I won't let you hurt him!"
Bulgus glared at Teo and took a few steps closer, raising his axe as if he was preparing to strike the boy down. However, when he began to bring his axe down, Kamuy acted before anyone else could and pinned Bulgus to the ground, his axe flying out of his hands. Snarling down at the man, Kamuy kept his senses open for anyone that might dare try to go after Teo again.
"He-Help me! I don't want to die!" Bulgus screamed, staring pleadingly at Dart and his companions.
Dart simply stared apathetically at the pinned man. After what had happened earlier, he didn't feel any sympathy for the likes of Bulgus and Harris. However…
"Dart-kun, we have to stop Kamuy. If he really does kill this scumbag, it won't help him. It will only make things worse, and people will continue to hunt Kamuy down until they finally kill him. We can't let this happen." Tayuya said, although she didn't like the situation one teeny tiny bit either.
Dart scowled and drew his sword. "Dammit. You're right, Tayuya. Everyone, prepare for battle!" As everyone readied their weapons, they watched as Kamuy threw Bulgus aside before turning his attention on them. "Here goes nothing!"
"Stoooooooooooop!" Teo screamed, desperately trying to keep the party from hurting poor Kamuy. However, when he went to rush them, Tayuya leapt over to him and carried him away from the battle taking place. "Let me go! I have to help Kamuy!"
Tayuya shook her head and said, "They aren't going to kill him. They're just going to calm Kamuy down. Yes, Kamuy might be a little hurt afterwards, but they won't kill him, and they won't leave any lasting damage. I promise, everything will be okay. So just watch, okay Teo?"
Teo looked into her eyes, tears streaming down his cheeks. "B-But…" Looking back at the fight now taking place, he asked, "A-Are you sure? They really won't kill him like those other mean people wanted to?"
"Darn right." Naruto said as he and the other girls walked up to them. Placing his hand atop Teo's head, Naruto smiled kindly at the kid and said, "Nothing to worry about. Kamuy's going to go back to normal and the two of you will be just fine. Heck, I bet Fa-chan's going to be really happy to see you two again. Just think about all the good times you three will have together once all of this is finally over."
Tayuya looked Naruto over for a moment and asked, "Are you okay now, Shithead? I was worried about you for a while there."
Naruto nodded and said, "I'll be fine. I won't be doing any fighting for a while, but I'll live. Now, why don't we have a seat and watch?"
Tayuya nodded and watched as Naruto and the others sat down with her and Teo. "I'm glad you're okay, Shithead. We're family, after all. If that jackass had managed to kill you, I'd definitely find a way into the afterlife to drag your ass right back out. I refuse to let you die on me."
Naruto chuckled softly and said, "Thanks, Tayuya. I love you, too. Family needs to stick together, and I'm glad you're in my life. Just tell me if Dart does something to piss you off, though. I'll try to knock some sense into him for you."
Tayuya giggled a bit before returning her attention to the battle. "I'm more worried about you doing something stupid again. You tend to pull some really stupid stunts and get yourself hurt way too often."
Naruto chuckled softly and said, "Yeah, I really do. I'll try to work on that so I don't worry anyone too much. Anyways, looks like they're wearing Kamuy down. The battle should be over soon."
When Kamuy collapsed and began struggling to breathe, Teo's eyes widened and he hurried over to his dearest friend. "Kamuy! Don't die!"
Tayuya frowned as she stepped up beside him and placed her hand on his shoulder. "I…I have to admit, I didn't expect this to happen. I'm sorry, Teo."
Shana frowned as she stepped up to Teo and Kamuy. Looking at the wolf that meant so much to Teo, she said, "I can't just leave things like this." Clutching her Dragoon Spirit tight, she prayed to it and said, "Please…save Kamuy!"
When a bright light began to shine from her Dragoon Spirit and enveloped Kamuy, Teo looked at his friend and asked, "Kamuy?"
It was at this point that Resident Knight Harris stumbled onto the scene and stared in awe of what he was witnessing. "Kamuy is becoming himself again. But…how?"
Naruto and the others glared at Harris and didn't even say a word to him. Instead, they watched as Kamuy shrunk down and returned to how he used to be: a sweet young wolf. No longer was he in such a monstrous, scary form. "Kamuy!" Teo exclaimed joyfully as he hugged his friend tight. Afterwards, he began to play with the wolf, just as he used to.
Shana walked over to Naruto and wrapped her arms around one of his. Resting her head on his shoulder, she said, "I'm glad. Thank God and thank these Dragoon Spirits."
Naruto kissed the top of her head and said, "You did a wonderful job, sweetheart. I'm glad everything's back to normal now. Well, for them, at least."
Albert nodded and said, "I'm glad things turned out for the best, as well. The White Silver Dragon healed the savage soul that changed Kamuy. Now the people of Furni have no more reason to fear him. Even better is the fact that Teo is unharmed. Harris, I suggest you escort young Teo and his friend back to Furni. Because if you don't leave now…"
Dart nodded and turned to glare into the knight's eyes. "We're likely to kill you where you stand."
Harris gulped and nodded his head rapidly. "Y-Yes, sir! Teo, please come along. Let's get you back to Fa and your parents. Heck, everyone's been worried sick about you."
Turning to look at Teo again, Dart smiled at the child and said, "Teo, please go with this man back home. Show Fa that you're fine and that Kamuy has returned to normal. Nobody has anymore reason to harm him, so the village should be safe for Kamuy again."
Teo smiled thankfully at them before he hurried over to Tayuya and Shana again. "Thank you, pretty ladies! I hope we get to see each other again real soon!" And with that, he and Kamuy ran off with Resident Knight Harris.
Once they were gone, Naruto scowled and said, "Doubt I'll ever forgive that guy."
"Same, Naruto-kun. Same." Hinata said as she grabbed his free hand, considering Shana was still clinging to one of his arms.
The others all nodded in agreement as well. "Regardless of how we feel, we should return to Furni and make sure that Teo and Kamuy arrived home safely. It would be nice to make sure Kamuy is being treated right, as well. And…"
Shana smiled and nodded her head. "I hope Fa is talking again. I really hope everything's returned to normal for the people there, especially those three." And with that, everyone began to make their way back towards Furni.
Furni
Immediately upon entering the village, they saw Teo playing together with Kamuy right outside his house. Chuckling softly to himself, Naruto said, "I'm so glad that everything's back to normal for them. They really deserve this."
Dart walked up to Teo, preparing to talk to him. However, when he looked up into Dart's eyes, he smiled brightly and said, "Goody goody gumdrop! Kamuy is back to normal! I can play with him again! I'll never leave Kamuy! Kamuy is my favorite friend!"
Shana giggled to herself as she approached Teo. Smiling at him, she said, "I'm so happy for you both. I'm glad everything worked out for the best. You be good for your parents and for little Fa, okay? Both of you."
"Of course, pretty lady! We'll be good, I promise!" Teo shouted before he resumed playing with Kamuy.
Naruto smirked at Shana and said, "You sure do get called 'pretty lady' a lot. Must be pretty flattering, huh?"
Shana giggled a bit and playfully swatted his shoulder. "Oh hush. You have no room to complain, considering you seem to woo every woman under the sun."
Naruto chuckled and said, "I do not woo every woman I see. At least, I don't try to." Scratching the tip of his nose awkwardly, he said, "It really does seem to happen more often than we'd like, huh?"
Everyone looked at him with a deadpan expression and, as one, said, "Yes."
Naruto slumped over and sighed heavily. "Of course. Oh well. Let's just make sure everything's back to normal and then we can be on our way to visit the priestess. I just hope she can help us somehow."
It was at this point that they turned and saw Fa standing nearby, watching Kamuy and Teo play. When she noticed them approaching her, she said, "I was attacked by a monster. Kamuy helped me. Kamuy's…not bad." Feeling tears prickling at her eyes, she continued, "Everybody tried to kill Kamuy. I was scared of everybody way more than the monsters."
Shana hugged her and said, "I know how you feel. People can be really scary sometimes. Way more than any monster could ever be. Right?"
Fa nodded and said, "Thank you for helping Kamuy."
"Of course. We've got to go now. Please take care of yourself and watch after Teo and Kamuy, okay?" Shana said.
Fa nodded again and said, "Of course. I'll make sure nothing like this happens ever again!"
"Good girl." Dart said, patting her gently on the head. Afterwards, they entered Teo's house and approached Teo's father.
"Thank God. I wondered if Teo would really be okay. I'm so glad both of them are okay." He said, placing a hand over his heart. "I was so scared that I was going to lose them both."
Naruto frowned slightly and said, "You almost did. Those mercenaries were out for blood. I'm just glad we got there in time to save them both."
Teo's father nodded and said, "So I heard. Are you all okay? It couldn't have been easy out there."
Dart scowled and said, "Most of us are just fine. Naruto, though…"
As Dart looked his way, Naruto sighed and patted the spot he had been stabbed. "Harris almost killed me. He thought I was a monster. Nothing new, but still…ouch."
Teo's father frowned and said, "That doesn't sound like something he'd do. But, regardless, I'm glad you're okay. Thank all of you for saving my son and Kamuy."
"Of course. We were more than happy to help." Haschel said before he motioned for them to follow him.
Approaching Teo's mother, they easily saw the regret in her eyes. When she saw them, she bowed her head and said, "Kamuy is a part of my family. But…I didn't trust him. I'm so sorry, Kamuy. I am so ashamed of myself. How could I not trust him?"
"I can't answer that question for you, ma'am. Just try to spend as much time with him as you can if you really want to make it up to both Kamuy and your son. Make sure they stay happy." Haschel said.
"Of course. Thank you. Would…would any of you like some snacks for the road? I've made plenty extra and can spare a few if you'd like?" Teo's mother asked.
Rather than turn her down, Naruto smiled politely at her and said, "That sounds wonderful, ma'am. Thank you very much."
"Of course. Just give me a moment to prepare a basket of treats for you." She said before turning and doing a bit of work in the kitchen. Once she had everything set, she turned and handed the basket to Shana. "Here. I hope you all enjoy them. You're always going to be welcome in our home."
"Thank you." Shana said before she and the others left Teo's house. Afterwards, they hopped on some boats and proceeded into the mayor's home.
Ascending the stairs, they didn't immediately see the mayor. However, as they ascended the second staircase, they saw the mayor standing near the railing, simply gazing blankly outside. "Fa…Fa spoke. She's…she's okay! Fa, Teo, and Kamuy. Everything had a happy ending! Thank God!"
Dart nodded and said, "I'm glad. Try to make sure everything stays this way. And try to have a little more faith in Kamuy from now on. And…"
When Dart looked at him, Naruto sighed and looked into the mayor's eyes. "You might want to have a long talk with Harris, the knight. He stabbed me and called me a monster. I'm…different from other people, sure. But that doesn't excuse what he did. So please, talk to the man and try to ensure that he doesn't do something like this ever again. Heck, he put Teo in more danger than the monsters did!"
"I see." The mayor said, nodding his head in understanding. "I'll be sure to have a nice, long talk with that man. For what it's worth, I'm sorry about what happened to you. Be well, all of you."
"Thank you, Sir. Goodbye." Dart said before he led the party back down to the boats and outside once again.
After exploring the town a bit and chatting with the locals, and ignoring Resident Knight Harris, of course, the party left Furni and made their way back to the Evergreen Forest. Once inside, they returned to the path that they had gone through to reach Kamuy and Teo. As the north path led to the secluded area where Kamuy was before, and the western path was blocked, they only had one direction to go: south.
As they descended the hill, Rose suddenly paused, causing the others to stop and turn to look at her. "Rose?" Dart questioned.
Rose shook her head and looked in a seemingly random direction. "It's nothing important. I just remember a village used to be near here. I visited it once and it left quite the impression on me. That's all."
Naruto looked into Rose's eyes and could see that she wasn't telling the full truth. Oh, he believed her, no question there. But he knew something was up. Still, considering her past, he didn't want to press her for answers right here in front of everybody.
"There's no telling where it could be now. It's a real shame, too. I would have liked to visit it again, if given the opportunity." Rose said.
"Well, if we're lucky, we might actually come across it during our travels. For now…" Dart said, only to pause when Meru suddenly began sneaking off. Seeing this, he quirked a brow and asked, "Meru?"
Meru paused and began to chuckle nervously to herself. "Y-Yes?"
Shana frowned at her and asked, "Where are you going?"
"I…um…I have something I need to do around here. I'll catch up later, I swear!" Meru exclaimed.
Naruto looked into her eyes and asked, "Are you sure you'll be all right on your own? What if you can't find us again? We don't know what's out there anymore."
Meru looked into her boyfriend's eyes and said, "I swear, I wouldn't do this if it wasn't important. I just have something I need to take care of on my own. I'll be back before you know it!"
Naruto frowned sadly and walked up to his girlfriend. Placing a hand on her cheek, he leaned in and captured her lips with his. When they parted, he said, "Just be safe, sweetheart. I'll miss you."
Leaning into his touch, Meru said, "I'll miss you too. Very, very much so. For now, I really need to go. I'll be back as soon as I can. Love you." And with that, she turned and hurried off, back the way they came.
Once she was out of sight, Naruto turned back to the others and said, "She'll be fine. We need to go and see that priestess. So, let's head out. I just hope she can help us. Otherwise, we're pretty much completely lost out here."
Dart chuckled and said, "If you were feeling up to it, I'd say send out your clones. But for now, take it easy. We'll meet with the priestess and see what she can tell us. Now come along everyone." And with that, they turned and made their way out of the Evergreen Forest. Together, they began their journey to their next destination.
I just hope I don't have to rest for too long. I don't like feeling so weak. And now that Meru's left us, it feels kind of lonely. I'm really going to miss her. Sighing sadly, Naruto turned forward once more and continued walking with his friends and loved ones. Lloyd, we're going to find you and we're going to stop you. That's a promise I intend to keep. For Lavitz and for everyone else you've hurt along the way. I don't know what your plan is, but you NEED to be stopped. But… Looking at Shana, he frowned slightly and thought, Something's happening with Shana, too. Please, don't let it be anything too serious. I don't want to lose her, too.
A/N - And that's the chapter! Next chapter will have the group meeting Shion! Yay! lol. Please, let me know what you'd like to see happen with Shion in regards to her encounter with Naruto. Should she fall for him and ask him to give her children? Or should something else happen? I'm rather curious to see what you all want to see happen.
As you can see, a lot of stuff did happen in this chapter. Naruto's going to be out of commission for a little while, so to speak. No fighting for him, no clones, none of that stuff. It shouldn't be long before he's back to normal, but for now, he's out of the fight. We'll have to see how that plays out in the coming chapters. :P
Anywho, like I said in the beginning author's note, a LOT of stuff is going on with me right now medically speaking. I'm in so much pain it's ridiculous. I really hope it doesn't get any worse than it is now, but we'll have to wait and see. For now, I just want to try and get back into writing. I'm also trying to keep up with my gaming so I can hopefully clear out my enormous gaming backlog. I recently beat The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV, and that game was AMAZING. I need to do another playthrough to get the rest of the trophies I'm missing, but damn do I love that game! I've also been rather addicted to Star Ocean First Departure R lately, too. Very fun game and lots of fun stuff to do.
Alrighty, not much else to say. If you want to know more, check my profile. And please, take a look at all the challenges towards the bottom of my profile! I want to see some of you fine folks take up the challenges and enjoy writing them! Please and thank you!