Inspired by fanart by Shamylicious: www . tum blr shamylicious-blog/ 697723111945175040/more-lotr-au?source=share
She also provided quite a few elements of this story. The twin lions and Hinata's curse!
Prompt: AU From Fanmade Content
Spell Bound
"Kurama!"
His voice echoed over the wide expanse of the meadow, reverberating back to him but effectively going unanswered.
Annoyed blue orbs coasted over lush green fields, wild flowers and the treeline of a dense forest.
Not a single splotch of orange fur in the distance.
His armor creaked as he brought his hands to his hip, a deep frown marring his lips.
Now where had that crazy fox gotten off to?
They didn't have time for side quests right now, he told Kurama that when they stopped to rest. Unfortunately his companion was just as hardheaded and willful as his master, prone to wandering off at the drop of a dime, chasing one adventure after another. Naruto didn't mind indulging him every once and a while but there wasn't time to waste, they needed to get to the Wastelands before the next eclipse.
It was important.
Incredibly important!
He was the last of the Uzumaki Clan, a once proud, thriving group of renown beast slayers, beast tamers and procurers of rare treasures. Over the years, that number, tragically, had been dwindled down to just him and his fiery haired mother.
Then, ten years ago, that number had been further reduced to one.
Him.
Naruto had trained day and night since her passing, determined to complete her final quest.
A journey that took her into the Wastelands where she met a terrible beast that only appeared once every ten years during a full eclipse.
Kushina Uzumaki had not survived the battle.
Her body was returned to Konoha, but the precious jewel necklace her late husband gave her had not come with her. His mother loved that amulet, often holding it in her battle worn hands, and smiling that bittersweet smile that told him she was thinking of his father.
His father had died long before he was born, and unlike his mother, his body had not been returned.
It was all she had of him, and he wouldn't allow some beast to keep the memento.
He was going to slay it himself and retrieve it.
That necklace was coming back with him to be buried with his mother.
A bright shape melded from the forest, instantly catching his attention, pulling him abruptly from his morse thoughts. He could tell right away it was an animal and that absolutely wasn't Kurama. This creature was smaller in comparison, wasn't orange and had only one tail rather than nine.
He squinted, struggling to make out what he was seeing.
It looked like…a lioness but…
Certainly not one he'd ever seen before!
It was ethereal almost, painted a vibrant violet, it's form was traced by a wispy white aura that writhed and twirled around it's lithe form, almost like a billowing cloud.
He was entranced, awed by it's wild, untamed beauty, wondering where in the world it'd come from.
Did lions live in forests?
He'd never heard of such a thing.
Maybe-
His eyes widened as his hawkish gaze snapped to the item clenched between its teeth.
Worn black leather inscribed with the Uzumaki whirlpool symbol.
Kurama's collar!
That nine-tailed hardheaded pain in the neck was capable of destruction untold, he was an ancient familiar of the Uzumaki Clan, passed down through generation, fighting alongside those he deemed worthy. His mother had fought alongside Kurama in her youth, and her mother before her! There was absolutely no way Kurama had been taken down by any threat this forest had to offer!
He couldn't believe it, but…
How could he explain the collar?
The bijuu's first master, Hagoromo, gifted it to him, along with his name; Kurama respect that man above all else!
There was no way in hell he would ever take his collar off!
Naruto himself had never seen him without it, so how in the world had this creature gotten it's fangs on it?
"Hey!" he shouted at the feline, "where'd you get that?!"
He darted off across the field, crushing flowers beneath his dirty boots as he hoofed it to the forest. The lioness bounded away the moment he neared, leaping deeper into the dense shrubbery, dragging the huge collar. Naruto reached for the sword at his back, the sound of leather sliding across leather echoing the hush of the forest.
He had no idea if the animal or his environment was hostile, and with Kurama's status unknown, he was taking no chances.
He poured chakra into his blade, cerulean orbs fused to the fluffy trail bounding away from him.
The beast was nimble and quick, knowing the lay of the land quite well. They ran across downed trees and over small creeks, then across a massive oak that acted as a bridge atop a rushing river. Naruto was just beginning to grow frustrated with this endless chase just as they reached a part of the forest that looked…dead.
Gray dirt, brown crumpling blades of grass(what litter there were), wilted trees bent in strange angles, naked of leaves and life itself.
It was as though some strange magic had leeched color from the world around.
Everywhere he looked was painted in the shades of shadows, devoid of vitality and innate presence.
He tightened his hold on the hilt of his sword, expecting some trickery to befall him, only for an eight foot splash of color to dispelled every thought from his brain.
"Kurama!"
Sheathing his sword, he tore across the faded clearing, racing passed the lioness he hadn't noticed had stopped and dropped to his knees beside his companion's huge muzzle. His big furry friend lay still but for a slight expanding of his torso, the only indication he was breathing.
There weren't any external injuries that he could see, no blood to be found, no bruises to be seen, nothing to explain what had happened and that scared him more than a bloodbath would have.
"Kurama!" he shouted, pressing a hand to his mammoth torso, "what happened?!"
"I believe he ingested a chameleon fruit."
He rolled swiftly to his feet, unsheathing his blade and holding it's deadly point towards the newcomer.
His would be attacker wasn't at all what he expected.
The most gentlest, softest, lavender eyes stared back at him.
It was a woman.
An elf judging by the pointed ears.
She was small and seemed non-threatening even without her little hands raised in surrender. Her pretty face was bracketed by long violet locks that cascaded passed her rounded hips, her petite but curvy body garbed in a long red dress that rounded at the hem, showcasing her bare feet.
"Don't you hurt our Mistress!" a voice growled behind him.
He turned abruptly to find the lioness he'd chased glaring daggers at him, her wispy form poised to attack.
"She didn't hurt the stupid fox! Leave her alone!"
A second growl whipped his head back in the elf's direction.
A similar lioness stood in front of the young female, this one though, was of inverted coloring to the other feline, it's body white with violet wisps. It was a bit bigger than the first, though not by much, neither were higher than his hip, but stretched nearly as long his own six foot frame.
"Yuuki, Yuukan, calm down," the Mistress implored.
He watched her carefully as she made her way to one of the gnarled trees lining the clearing, one of which had a long branch that curled low into the natural path of the forest. Naruto sheathed his blade, but kept his senses high, watching all three newcomers carefully and shifting closer to his downed companion. He'd fought too many creatures feigning innocence to drop his guard so easily.
"This is a chameleon tree," she explained, pointing to the husked out wood, "they leech chakra from surrounding land and lifeforms, and produce a fruit from that energy. Once the fruit is ingested, the same process is then forced upon the consumer."
He threw a worried glance at Kurama.
She touched a leaf, and a ripple spread, bathing the area in color, life, before fading back to listless gray.
"Before the fruit is plucked, they use this ability to lure unsuspecting prey into the area, then dangle the fruit overhead, tempting one to pluck and consume."
And Kurama, that greedy bastard, had fallen for it.
Sighing heavily, Naruto crouched down next to his friend.
"Jeez, buddy," he muttered, stroking the space between his flattened ears, "how'd you get fooled by something like that, it's a damn fruit, dattebayo."
He stood, turning serious baby blues to the woman.
"How do I heal him? Is there medicine for it or do we have to wait it out?"
"There is no treatment for it," the white lioness informed him.
"Chameleon plant poisoning is usually fatal," the violet lioness murmured.
His head had turned as each animal delivered the bad news, now it whipped back desperately to the elf, hoping against hope she'd tell him different.
Her sad, compassionate gaze twisted his stomach into knots.
"I'm…afraid so," she confirmed reluctantly, "the victim's chakra will be absorbed by the fruit, all the way down to nothing, the body decays quickly afterwards, leaving behind the chameleon fruit's seed, which will bury itself in the ground below and start the process anew."
He was shaking his head before she'd even finished, eyes wide as dinner plates.
There was absolutely no way in hell Kurama would die over something so…so stupid! The legendary kyuubi, his mother's fierce companion, his partner in crime losing his life to a goddamn fruit! He latched on to the ridiculousness of the situation, holding back the panic coursing through his veins.
The dread filling his chest.
"You said, usually, fatal."
She nodded, "Yuukan," she gestured to the white lioness, "once ate a chameleon fruit some years back, she's the only creature I know of that survived."
"How then?"
"I have knowledge of herbs and healing tonics, I'm not sure if it was her own ability or if my care assisted, but over the course of four days, I fed her various concoctions and on the fourth day, she expelled the fruit and was able to recover."
Naruto didn't care what had been the factor in Yuukan's recovery, all he needed was for the results to be recreated for his own companion.
"Please, will you treat Kurama?" he asked, taking a step towards her, stormy depths pleading, "I'm a beast slayer, I come across a lotta treasure and rare gems, I'll pay you whatever you want, 'ttebayo. Name your price."
She blinked, as though confused at his offer.
"If it's not money you want, I can slay any beast, o-or complete any quest you need-"
"You don't have to do that," she assured him, hands raised to placate his rising desperation, "I've already begun treating your friend here. Yuuki took his collar to see if he had an owner nearby while Yuukan and I searched for the necessary herbs."
Relief unwound the tightness in his chest, warmth spread as it flowed through him.
"I can still pay-"
She shook her head, "I'd have naught to spend it on even if I wished for payment."
His brows creased.
That was weird, he'd never run across a person that couldn't find a reason to spend money; even he was prone to blow coin on a ramen stand or two.
Sure, this forest was remote, but there was a town a few miles from here.
"I wish to help, I need nothing else."
Her soft words, filled to the brim with kindness and purity flowed over his skin, it was the strangest sensation he wondered if it were magic.
It kinda felt like a witch's spell, except there was no malice or wrongness to it.
Elves had an affinity to nature and were magical beings considering their ability to manipulate natural energy, but they weren't spell casters, not in the ways of a witch.
Confused but sensing nothing awry, he murmured, "thank you, um…"
"Hinata," she introduced herself, a gentle smile curving her lush lips.
Feeling a bit off kilter as he stared at it, Naruto ruffled the tawny locks at his nape and replied, "I'm Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki," he reached down to pat his friend, "this big fella here, is Kurama."
"Nice to meet you both, though I wish it were under better circumstances," she pointed at the violet lioness, "this is Yuuki."
"Hello!" cheerful Yuuki trilled.
"And this is Yuukan."
The more chilled lioness merely inclined her regal head.
"Nice to meet ya," he told both.
"You said you were a slayer."
"Yeah," he nodded once.
"I've heard that you all tend to be quite strong."
"The strongest," he boasted.
"Is um, is Kurama to heavy for you to carry?" she asked, "I'm sorry to inconvenience you, it's just, I'll be able to care for him better at my cottage. All of my best tonics are there."
"Sure, no problem!" he assured, happy to be able to do something in exchange for her taking care of Kurama.
He bent down, and hefted the four hundred plus animal up like he was nothing more than a basket of flowers, much to the shock and awe of those witnessing the feat.
"Lead the way," he invited, then frowned sheepishly, "oh and uh, sorry about pulling a sword on you."
She giggled, a sound that reminded him of a siren's beautiful melody.
"It's alright, I understand."
NHNHNHNH
Hinata's cottage was of average size and quite spacious inside. It was constructed out of a purplish oak tree, the roofs circular and smooth like giant minty-green mushroom caps. The windows were circular, the front door bright red, and a smoking chimney built somewhere in back plumed dark clouds.
He'd expected her home to be much smaller considering her own short stature.
The top of her dark head barely reached his shoulder!
"You can set him down behind my cottage, the grass is higher, he should be more comfortable there."
He and Kurama had spent the night on harsh stone and slept like babies the entire night, but he appreciated her desire to ensure the bijuu was comfortable even outside.
He set Kurama down in a particularly downy spot, careful not to jar the sleeping beast.
He indulged several strokes to his orange fur, brow crinkling as he tried to figure out if he were being paranoid or if Kurama's vibrant coloring looked a bit…dim.
"This will ease any discomfort."
He turned.
Hinata stood nearby holding a Florence flask of glowing green liquid.
Though he was curious about what ingredient was causing that fascinating glow, he bent down instead to lift Kurama's head, holding his mouth open for her.
She poured it down his slackened mouth, stopping periodically to rub his throat to ensure he swallowed it all. Once finished, she took the empty flask back to her cottage, inviting him to come in for a meal when he was ready.
Yuuki came next, trailing Kurama's collar in it's wake.
Grateful, Naruto thanked the lioness, then reached down to pat her smooth head, much to the familiar's surprise. Contrary to it's wispy form, the creature's fur felt like, well, fur, maybe a bit softer, but still pretty close to Kurama's.
He spent an hour outside, soothing himself and the nine tailed beast with gentle petting.
He spared a few thoughts to their time table, concluding they had just under two weeks to get to the Wastelands before the eclipse began, and though he wanted to get his mother's necklace back as quickly as possible, he was not upset if they had to put it off for another ten years.
If it meant Kurama becoming well again, so be it.
His mother had loved Kurama.
He loved Kurama.
There was no way he'd sacrifice him over a stone, no matter what it meant to him.
A heavenly aroma teased his nose, alerting him to the gnawing hunger in his gut. Though he were loathed to leave his buddy's side, he knew he'd be called three types of idiot by the kyuubi himself if he sat there starving in a situation that was completely out of his hands.
He sighed as he stood, leaning down to pat his nose once more, "I'm headed in, Kurama, I'll be back to check on you later."
With that, he wandered to the cottage, and knocked on the back door.
It swung open a beat later, blasting him his senses with the sight and smell of what was on the other side. Whatever Hinata had cooked had his mouth watering worse than a waterfall, but what really had his attention was Hinata herself.
Now that Kurama was being cared for, and his worry was at a low simmer, he took the time to really look at the woman before him.
Beautiful was a woefully sad word to describe her delicate features.
Skin as smooth as ivory, snowy white and unblemished. A cute button nose settled above the most lush, kissable lips he'd ever seen. Her luminous moonstone depths were surrounded by thick charcoal lashes, lending her pupiless orbs an extra sort of brightness he found entrancing. Her violet bangs glinted above slender brows that were currently creased in two curious(adorable) slants.
She had the shiniest tresses, incredibly long, though she'd gathered it in a hair tie at the base of her spine.
His gaze wandered down despite himself, tracing the outline of her pert and quite large breasts beneath her gown. The bright crimson fabric lay loose, but was cinched in at her little waist, increasing the dramatic flare of her wide hips.
His cheeks pinkened.
He'd never seen a more beautiful female.
"You don't have to knock, Naruto-kun," she invited with a welcoming smile, "come right in."
A bit flustered, he reached for that spot on his neck, the one that always seemed to relieve his nervous energy, "I uh, wasn't sure, dattebayo. Thank you."
He washed his hands at the kitchen sink, her insistence, and then was sat down at a small oak table with two chairs. The dining table was just outside the kitchen and directly behind a sofa of her cozy common room. The fireplace was ablaze, bathing the entire house in comfortable warmth.
He unhooked the leather straps holding his sword in place and sat it on the floor, leaning it against his chair.
She sat a bowl in front of him, then two more plates.
He wasn't sure what kind of soup it was, but it taste heavenly. The unidentified meats on one plate were succulent, and while he was incredibly resistant at first, he shockingly enjoyed the steam vegetables on the other plate.
"This is amazing, Hinata!" he enthused, as he sat his bowl down following a loud slurping of its broth.
She blushed prettily, ducking her head a bit as she smiled and said, "t-thank you, Naruto-kun."
He knew it was probably nothing but, the way she addressed him, in her soft voice and the added 'kun' made him feel funny inside, and not in a bad way.
She asked him questions about his life and his reason for journeying near the forest as they ate, and he launched into the sad but proud history of the Uzumaki Clan, delighted when she told him a passing traveler had spoken of his people's great feats.
He spoke about his mother and the love and admiration he felt for her.
He spoke about his bond with Kurama.
The way the kitsune cared for him at the tender age of ten years old.
How the orange fox wrapped him in his warm tails and held him as he wailed is grief when the bijuu brought his mother's body back.
How Kurama continued the training his mother had began teaching him, pushing the boy whenever he doubted himself.
How he treated the blonde orphan like a annoying little brother he loved with every fiber of their being.
He'd spoken of his memories with a throat tight with emotions, hands fisted on the table and his gaze peering beyond the window where Kurama rested.
Her soft hand lying flat over his startled him.
He turned, finding her staring back at him with all the compassion in the entire world, her glittering orbs wet with unshed tears for the plight of a stranger.
"Kurama will be alright," she promised him quietly, "I'll make it so."
It was a moment, he knew, that would remain with him for the rest of his days.
"What about you?" he asked tenderly as she wiped her eyes with the back of her fluttery dress sleeve, "how come you live out in this forest all by yourself?"
She peered down at her hands, and the look on her face made him feel like someone had stabbed him in the chest.
He listened with equal parts anger and sadness as she described the curse tethering her to this forest.
A spiteful warlock with a deep grudge against her father, kidnapped her in the dead of night, and bound her with a powerful spell that would instantly turn her into a flower should she ever step foot from it, promising to free her if the Hyuuga agreed to surrender in the war with him and his followers, a battle the elves had been winning.
Fearful for her safety, her father agreed, standing down and entering what he believed to be terms of surrender…
…only for her entire Clan to be wiped out, and the laughing warlock to gloat as he left her in the forest.
Alone.
After she finished, Naruto had to press a hand to his chain mail chest to ensure he wasn't bleeding, that he hadn't truly been stabbed through the chest.
"There has to be a way to break the curse, 'ttebayo," he argued fiercely, gripping her hand in his, hoping his grip was instilling the same level of comfort she'd given to him, "every curse has it's weakness."
She was blushing, but nodded.
"The souls of elves are strong, and after their passing, my Clan infused some of their essence into a flower on their way to the other side."
She pointed with her free hand to the beautiful flower atop the fireplace mantel.
It floated inside a glass container, its vibrant yellow petals just shy of unfurling, the long green stem crooked.
It looked moments from blooming.
"It's taken nearly fifteen years but, once it blooms, I'll be able to use it to break the spell and finally leave this forest."
Hope filled his chest, relief crashing through him as he drew in a calming breath. He'd been prepared to search high and low for a way to free her.
He was a slayer after all.
A renowned treasure hunter, finding powerful, magic breaking relics were his specialty!
He nodded, a small smile curling his lips, "do you know when it's gonna bloom?"
Her answering smile was bright and enthralling, "any day now, I can feel it."
She offered him a shower after dinner, ushering him into her little bathroom.
Once he was alone, he shed his tan, tattered hooded cloak, pulled his chain mail shirt over his head and shrugged out of his pea green long sleeved undershirt.
Feeling light and free, Naruto turned the knob jutting over the large wooden basin, then settled himself inside as hot water filled it. He wasn't cramped exactly, but his long legs weren't able to stretch out very far. He certainly wasn't going to complain.
He closed his eyes, already enjoying the sensation of the liquid heat soothing his sore muscles.
It'd been a while since he'd enjoyed a hot bath.
Bathing in the river always left him chilled to the bone and no desire to relax in its waters.
When the water threatened to spill over the side, he turned it off and reclined.
Though, as he closed his eyes, the soothing sounds of an angelic voice floated to his ears. He sat up, moving to the side of the tub to the high window pointed out into the back yard. He reached a wet hand to the pretty purple curtain and peaked outside.
Hinata was out with Kurama, kneeling next to his big, orange head, stroking his downy nose as she sang him a song of hope and healing.
NHNHNHNH
They spent the next day gathering ingredients for Kurama's medicine and to his shock, Hinata joined him with a bow and a quiver of arrows attached to her back.
She'd traded her long flowing dress for forest green shorts and a long black blouse, her violet hair tied in a high bun.
She looked even more beautiful in her combat regalia.
Fierce and elegant, capable yet fragile.
"The forest can be a very dangerous place," she explained.
He learned later, it wasn't an exaggeration!
There were plants that lured and consumed living organisms ten times their size.
Bees the size of bears, their honeycombs so large they dwarfed the large cliffs they were attached to.
He'd found himself fighting off a pack of carnivorous creatures that looked like monkeys but hissed like snakes, while Hinata and her familiars tangoed with a nearby tree who's angry vines swiped and slapped and tried it's best to strangle anything near it's trunk.
Naruto was more than impressed with their prowess and ability to work as a team.
Hinata's skill especially left him in awe.
Her aim was true, quick and deadly, however, weaponless, she was no easy pickings.
He didn't know what type of martial arts style she used, but it had him thoroughly impressed and wondering if she'd be willing to teach him, he could always use more variation in his combat arsenal.
The sun was setting by the time they were finished.
Hinata made them a quick lunch, then set about melding the ingredients into a tonic inside her little lab.
He wanted to help her, but there wasn't really much he could do but be in her way.
He didn't know a thing about the healing arts, after all.
Once he'd checked on Kurama, he did go in to keep her company, chatting endlessly with her, telling her stories of his travels and making her laugh with his goofy, corny jokes…
…heart pounding double time every time he heard that sweet sound.
NHNHNHNH
Never one to sit on an idea for long, Naruto asked Hinata to teach him what she called 'Gentle Fist'.
So, the next day, after a light brunch, tending to Kurama and dressing down for the occasion, she led him to a lake just beyond the woodlands behind the house and taught him.
One thing he could say about Hinata as a teacher, she didn't settle for anything less than perfection.
She was calm and patient, extremely understanding and encouraging, but exacting and strict, if his form was off, better believe he'd be doing it again and again until he'd gotten it right.
It was incredibly frustrating at times, but he respected her refusal to go easy on him.
Kurama and his mother were the same in his training, and it was the best way for him to learn, the technique he was most familiar with.
"You've done well, Naruto-kun," she congratulated hours later, wiping sweat from her brow, the gesture lifting her heavy bosom he absolutely was not peeking at, "it took me years to get this far."
Cheeks flushed, he wiped his own forehead, grinning as he said, "it's really tough, dattebayo. I don't think I'll ever get to your hand speed. You're incredible, ya know?"
In so many ways…
She blushed, pearly depths skating away from his, her entire profile reeking of cuteness. The stray thought didn't alarm him as it had the first time he'd thought it. He found a lot of things she did unbearably cute, and if he freaked out every time the thought passed his mind, he'd be making a fool of himself damn near every moment of every day.
He had to face facts.
He was attracted to her.
Strongly attracted.
"T-Thank you," she stuttered, "I'm uh, going to take a sip from the lake."
He nodded, then watched her lush form stride across the grassy clearing, his eyes drawn to the generous flesh bouncing in her shorts, her long ponytail swaying just above.
It was hypnotizing to the twenty-year-old bachelor.
She stopped at the lake, took a seat and stuck her bare feet into the cool water.
He watched, entranced as she sipped water from her cupped hands, his heart turning over as delight passed over her angelic features.
"Mistress is very pretty, no?"
He sighed, a very smitten sound.
"Beautiful," he absentmindedly upgrade the compliment.
Girlish snickering brought him from his daze.
Yuuki sat on her hindquarter, head tilted to the side, amusement painting her feline features.
"Ah! I-I mean no," he waved his hands, then heard the insult in his words and clarified, "I mean not to say she's not pretty!" he corrected, in full panic mode, "she's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my entire life!" his flush deepened, "I-I didn't mean it like that! I mean, I-"
"She's quite taken with you," the lioness schmoozed, cutting through his babbling.
Jaw clamping shut abruptly, sapphire orbs wide and tanned skin completely flushed, Naruto blinked twice.
The words reverberated in his head, settling in his mind with the force of a hammer.
She was?
He raised a hand to the back of his burning neck, a lovesick, dopey grin spreading across his face as he strove and failed for nonchalance, "o-oh yeah?"
"Mhm, Mistress has had visitors before, not many of course, but she's never been this happy and excited over one. She-"
"Yuuki." Yuukan warned.
"Shutting up," the lioness snickered, twirling her tail.
It was far to late for that.
Naruto was already flying high above the clouds.
NHNHNHNH
Kurama took a turn for the worse a day later.
There was no doubt in his mind now.
His vibrant orange fur was dim, his usually burning body temperature scarily cold.
Naruto was beside himself, nauseous with fear and worry, his stormy baby blues begging Hinata for help each time they locked eyes.
He didn't like what he saw in hers.
The despair…
The resignation…
The pity.
He was scared.
NHNHNHNH
The next day, Naruto never once left Kurama's side.
He didn't eat, he didn't sleep, he didn't drink, he didn't move.
His friend was dying.
He knew.
She knew it.
She wouldn't tell him, but she didn't need to.
Naruto was a warrior after all.
Death was something he was familiar with.
He could hear the end coming in the rattle of Kurama's slow breaths.
The damning beat of his draining life force in his sluggish pulse.
NHNHNHNH
Hinata turned from the window, her heart aching painfully.
Kurama wasn't going to make it.
Her tonic's weren't working.
She couldn't let this happen, she'd promised him Kurama would be alright and she was determined to keep her word.
She couldn't bear for him to lose his companion.
The thought alone pained her to no end.
From his vibrant, but messy blonde locks, to his spell-bounding bright eyes, to his handsome whiskered face and his upbeat, happy disposition, Naruto Uzumaki was all things good in the world, all things honest and kind, a person deserving of a happy life with his companion at his side.
He'd given her some of her fondest memories in such a short amount of time.
He'd awaken feelings in her heart, her mind, her body that she had never experienced before.
She never wanted to see him hurt.
To see him grieve worse than he was now.
She wandered over to the Flower of Vitality, not a single moment of hesitation holding her back as she grabbed the glass holding the key to her freedom and hurrying to her herbal lab.
Her familiars were hot on her trail as she entered the room, set the glass down and prepared a beaker.
"Mistress! If you use that, you'll never be free of this forest! You'll be trapped here forever!"
"Hush now, Yuuki," her mistress shushed, softening her rebuke with a gentle caress as she passed by, "you're not to speak of this to him."
"But Mistress-"
"Hush I said," Hinata repeated, kneeling to cup the lioness' cheeks, a reassuring smile on her lips, "I know what this means, I fully understand that I will never leave this place once I've given this to Kurama, but I do this happily, with no regrets. Naruto-kun is a wonderful person who's endured so many hardships, he deserves happiness, a chance to reach his goals with his faithful companion at his side. He deserves to be happy."
That said, she straightened and began mixing her brew.
She took the flower and brought it to her mortar and pestle.
"But…so do you, Mistress…" Yuuki murmured as her Mistress mashed the petals within the stone bowl.
NHNHNHNH
Whatever Hinata had fed Kurama last night, it was working, and working fast.
The death rattle was gone, his pulse was strong, and his vibrant color returned in a rush.
Naruto was beside himself again, but in a good way.
And when Kurama vomited a disgusting, fleshy, wiggling mass Hinata confirmed to be the chameleon fruit seed, Naruto wept tears of joy.
Hinata along side him.
NHNHNHNH
Another day passed before Kurama regained consciousness, and boy was he cranky when he did.
Embarrassed that he'd fallen to something so pathetic as a fruit, the bijuu was in a foul mood, and Naruto's ribbing didn't make it any better.
Though he was all snarls and growls with Naruto, the kitsune took quite the shine to Hinata.
She pampered the big lug, feeding him even though he could eat on his own, fairly preening when she stroked his fur and sang him soft melodies that would make an angel cry.
Naruto wondered if her familiars felt as jealous as he did over all the attention she was showering on the fox, but strangely, Yuuki had made herself quite scarce, and when he did see her, she was moping around as though she'd lost her bestfriend.
Yuukan was more subtle, though Naruto could sense the disquiet in her too.
Hinata never said anything, but he knew she was aware of their strange moods. She went out of her way to cuddle them whenever they were near, whispering, "it'll be okay," whenever he was in hearing range to make out her words.
NHNHNHNH
Kurama was officially cured.
It was time to leave.
And for the life of him, he didn't want to.
They stood just on the edge of the forest, a ways away from the place he'd first seen Yuuki.
"Promise you'll look after yourself," Hinata pleaded quietly, hands clasped tightly in front of her, "that you'll be careful?"
"I promise," he murmured, moving closer, crowding her space, fingers itching to wrap around her smaller hands, "once I'm finished, I'll come straight here! If…if your flower blooms before I get back can you-"
"I'll meet you in Konoha, just like I promised."
He grinned, feeling exuberant, "follow the Farland river north and you'll run right into it, dattebayo! Big village hidden in dense woods, giant monuments that'll have my face carved in it one day! Can't miss it!"
She giggled, and he wished he could capture that wonderful sound and take it with him.
"Of course."
Giving in to at least one of his deepest desires, he reached for her, enfolding her in his strong arms, his hug lifting her clean off her feet.
"Thank you, Hinata, for everything. I don't know what I would have done without you."
She hesitated a moment, before her body melted into his, her slender arms wrapping around him as his name, sweet and soft passed her lips.
It was hard, letting her go.
And even harder to watch her walk away and disappear into the forest.
He sighed, depression settling over his tan skin, a pouty frown turning his lips down. He knew their separation would last only a little while, but to him, in that moment, it felt like forever.
"I take a long nap and you go and fall in love. This is why you're not aloud to go off on your own."
He jolted, blushing up a storm and blubbering denials at the towering fox. Kurama was hearing absolutely none of it.
"Your mother was the same way, sighing and swooning over that blond haired brat.
"I'm not swooning!" he shouted, turning to stomp his way from the forest, "Hinata's a really nice person, ya know! I'll miss her! That's all!"
"Hmph! You'll be back with a wedding ring and plans for the future once this quest is over, mark my words."
"Shut up!" he snapped, mind wandering to the many, many rings stashed in his treasure room back home.
One in particular came to mind…
She liked diamonds, right?
"She will never leave here."
The words stopped him mid-stride, his foot dangling outside the boundary of Hinata's prison.
Naruto turned, locking gazes with a solemn Yuukan.
Blonde brows crinkling, Naruto turned fully to the lioness, "what do you mean?"
"She fed Kurama a salve made from the Flower of Vitality. At full bloom, my Mistress was to consume it and finally be allowed to leave this cursed place, but that is no longer possible."
His world spun, the damning words piercing his heart, straight to his soul.
"What…?"
"Hinata is trapped here, forever. She never planned on telling you the truth, she would never want you to feel as though you were at fault, that is the type of kindness my Mistress is known for. I don't know what lie she planned to tell you upon your return and discovery that the flower was gone and the curse remains, however, I cannot remain silent to her plight."
Yuukan ventured closer, honeyed yellow orbs pleading.
"Please, if you come across a way to break this curse during your journey-"
He didn't hear anything else.
He was running in an instant, heart pounding, pain lashing his chest, despair carving groves in his abdominals as he charged back to the cottage.
It all made sense now.
Everything.
Kurama's miraculous recovery.
Yuuki and Yuukan's melancholy.
He caught up to her in the yard, and though she turned, stared at him with shocked, wide eyes, he never slowed once, not until he was toe to toe with her.
He gripped her arms in hands that trembled, his lungs heaving but not from the exertion of his run.
"Why?" he raged at her, angry and heartsick and moved by her sacrifice, "why did you do it? Why would you give up your only chance to get out of here?!"
He was grateful, so fucking grateful, but goddammit he didn't want want his happiness to come at the expense of Hinata herself!
He never wanted that.
How was he supposed to live with himself?
Face softening, her lilac depths shinning, she said simply, "Kurama would have died had I not."
He knew that, they both did, and he was so fucking torn over that fact.
It was a terrible choice, her freedom or Kurama's life.
He wanted to say she should have chosen herself, he wanted to yell at her for not consulting him and deciding on her own that her freedom didn't matter as much, but his jaw was locked.
The words stubbornly refusing to pass his tight lips.
"There's no one out there waiting for me, Naruto-kun," she told him quietly, " I have nothing and no one outside this forest. They're gone, my family, my way of life, it's gone. You have Kurama, you have wonderful friends and a home back in Konoha, I would rather remain imprisoned here for eternity than for you to have to return home without Kurama at your side."
He swallowed hard, eyes burning as she removed his hands from her arms and cupped them in hers.
"I don't regret saving Kurama, and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again if given the chance. I'm happy with my choice, and I want you to be too."
"How can I?" he burst hoarsely, the words barely able to squeeze through his throat, "you deserve to have a life outside this place, 'ttebayo."
She shook her head, smiling without a hint of sadness or resentment, "it's enough to hear about your wonderful journeys and exciting adventures," she gave him a gentle look, one that nearly brought him to his knees, "promise you'll visit me from time to time, and tell me about them?"
Undone, he reached for her precious face, rough hands swallowing the smooth softness of her pale cheeks.
"I'll come back for you, I swear I will," he vowed fiercely, forehead pressed to hers, "I'll get you out of this forest and we'll go see the world together."
Her eyes overflowed, wetting both their cheeks as he pressed his lips to hers.
NHNHNHNH
A hard knock sent her heart into a gallop.
Wide eyed, feeling faint, Hinata tossed her book aside, leapt from her sofa and rushed to the door, red dressing and violet hair fluttering behind her.
Yuuki and Yuukan trotted after her, pausing on their haunches as she threw the door open.
He stood tall and and achingly familiar. His tanned skin seemed tanner, his dark whiskers sharper, his blue orbs harder; shaggy mane was longer, and a bandage was wrapped around his head. His chain mail shirt was missing chunks, and charred in places, his cloak and undershirt far more tarnished than it'd been when he left several months ago.
He'd lost a bit of weight, but his muscular form still retained its intimidating bulk.
It crossed her mind he might have been hurt after his fight, and thought scared her more than anything.
All of that was wiped away as he reached down, grabbed her waist, and lifted her clean off her feet with his terrifying strength.
Their second kiss was as passionate and sweet as the first.
He was greedy and ravenous, sweeping her mouth with aggressive swipes of his tongue, swallowing her squeak of surprise and her moan of pleasure.
She wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders, pulling him closer as her head spun.
She was dazed when he pulled away, breathless as he whispered against her mouth, "pack your bags, we're getting out of here."
She stared at him, hardly able to believe, afraid this whole thing was some fevered dream conjured by her lonely heart.
He set her on her feet, reached into a satchel on his hip and pulled out a glinting strip of cherry red material with a glinting gem attached in the middle. Her lungs seized as he wound it around her throat and fastened the latch behind her neck.
She touched the jewel dangling from her neck with shaking fingers, knowing from his stories that it belong to his mother.
She felt it's power, so familiar to the Flower of Vitality, but so much more dense.
"My dad had it enchanted," he explained softly, eyes soft, "it repels and dissolves the magic bindings of witches, warlocks and every magical creature in between, dattebayo. With this, you can walk right out of this forest."
Tears streaked her cheeks.
She shook her head, "I couldn't possibly take your mother's-"
"Come on," he grinned, cutting off her refusal as he took her hand and led her out.
She was in a stunned trance as they walked, her heart pounding a mile a minute as they neared the boundary she dared not cross.
His hand on her's tightened the last few steps away, his grip reassuring.
Instantly calming her silent panic.
She trusted him.
More than anything, she trusted Naruto.
A resounding quaking shook the forest as she crossed over, the spell shattering in an incredible explosion of dark whirls of magic and the glittery sparkles of purification exuding from the enchanted jewel.
She could barely see him through her tears, but she felt his gloved hand in hers.
Strong and reassuring, holding promises beyond the one he'd just fulfilled.
Her blond haired, blue-eyed rescuer gave a hearty laugh, then swept her up and into his arms.
Her own laughter burst free, muffling abruptly as he kissed her again.
He set her down a short time after, wiping away the endless tears flowing from her eyes as he whispered, "let's go see the world, Hinata."
NHNHNHNH
Hope you enjoyed. This probably gonna have a second part too, lol.
Laters
Sessakag!