A/N: Welcome back to another chapter! This is a special chapter because it is the tenth one! To think that I would actually get this far without burning out or just dying. It is truly a miracle. I am grateful for all the feedback that I have gotten thus far from you guys. Reviews are pretty much my only way of finding out whether what I write sucks or not. I am glad that this story is decent enough to garner all your wonderful attention! Anyways...

I hope you enjoy reading this chapter!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto or any of these characters. I have stated this many times now.

Stuck on an Island with a Cute Demon

By Yangster

Chapter #10: Climbing to the Peak

How did she convince him to do this again?

Oh yeah. She had given him several sweet looks, some hugs, and a lot of kisses. She had also done other stuff—wonderfully lewd stuff—to get him to take this trip with her. See, he had been totally happy just hanging around their new spot with the fancy onsen and the wonderful leaf hut, but it seemed that she had suddenly developed an itch for adventure and needed him to help her scratch it. See, he would have been happy to scratch her itch if it had been the ordinary kind or the perverted kind, but not this kind. Perhaps all that lazing around had finally turned him into a slob, but all he really wanted to do was just relax with his girlfriend.

Was that too much to ask for?

He looked down at his aching feet as if he was expecting them to give him an answer. Obviously, he did not get one. They were just his feet after-all.

Just this poor, poor feet that were aching because of all the walking that he had done so far. Not only was he going for a walk, but it was a walk up the side of a mountain. From that comfortably, cozy space in the jungle that they had created, they had gone through several kilometres of dense foliage and were just now making their way up a freaking mountain.

Pressing his lips together, he let out a quiet grunt as he forced his leg up to hike up a slightly steep ledge. Seriously, was it just him or was it getting harder and harder each day to move like he did before? Pumping chakra into his legs was not just as effective as it use to be. It was, as Shikamaru might put it, troublesome.

Tilting his head up, he saw Kyuumiko skipping along ahead of him. She was as lively as ever, even more lively than he was at the moment, and was humming to herself as she enjoyed the sun on her back and the slightly cooler mountain air flowing through her silky, orange hair. God, even from the back, she was pretty. To think that he was lucky enough to find a woman as beautiful and witty as her. Being with such a person meant that giving his all was just the minimum of what he could do to earn her favour, but he was fine with that—he loved her after-all.

Forcing himself to quickly hike up several rocky steps, he managed to catch up to her somewhat. Reaching forward, he tried to place his hand on her shoulder as she walked but missed.

"Gah... My legs are numb," he said as he pulled his hand back to wipe some sweat off of his brow.

She turned her head to look at him. "You alright, Naruto?"

"Yeah. I'm just a bit tired," answered Naruto, offering her a smile. "It's been a very, very long time since I've had to move so much."

"I forget how you mortals need to keep moving to maintain your physique," commented Kyuumiko, slowing her pace long enough for him to fully catch up to her. "Still though, even through your shirt, I can see that you still have about the same amount of muscle as you did before..."

The way she trailed off caused him to quirk a brow. "Kyuumi?"

"Mmm, sorry. I was just admiring," she replied, grinning at him foxily, causing him to blush when he realized what she meant.

"I wonder if this is what you feel whenever you catch me staring at your chest or your rear end..." His cheeks remained flushed as he spoke.

She smiled. "No. Not anymore. Catching you staring at me like that just makes me feel... Happy."

"Happy?"

"Maybe proud is a better word... Proud? Happy? Maybe I just like it when you look at me," said Kyuumiko in response, shrugging her shoulders as she offered her hand to him.

Naruto smiled back at her as he took her hand, immediately squeezing once he had interlocked fingers with her. Her hand was so dainty that it sometimes felt as if he could break it if he was not careful. He knew that it was the opposite that was true though—Kyuumiko could destroy him with her pinkie finger if she wanted to. Thankfully, she did not.

"So... Does that mean I should look at you even more?" he asked, turning his head to look at her.

"You should do a lot of things to me more," she answered cheekily with a wink, nudging his side a bit with her elbow. "Maybe you should also try a few new things with me as well."

He felt his cheeks slowly start to heat up again. "Hah... Like what, Kyuumi?"

Now it was her turn to blush. What she had said was supposed to make his face go red and for him to go adorably quiet though! She had not planned for him to ask her a question back at all, which was kind of a faux pas on her part because what she had asked would have definitely garnered a response from him. Now, as she walked in silence, she could feel as the power between them shifted away from her towards him. Oh, how the tables had turned!

"I... Uhh..." She trailed off as her blush slowly spread to the sides of her face. "I mean..."

"You mean?" Naruto grinned as he nudged her back.

She pouted. "You know what I mean, darling... Don't make me say it. I still have some bits of modesty that I wish to keep intact."

"Hmm," he hummed softly, his grin widening slightly as he caught on to her use of the word 'darling' to win him over—it did—before letting out a soft sigh. "Alright, Kyuumi. I won't make you say it."

"You won't?"

"Well, now that you say that, I kind of want to," he replied. "And I think you want to tell me too."

Kyuumiko bit down gently onto her plump, bottom lip before slowly nodding. "Somewhat..."

"I have a feeling that what you are about to say will be... Lewd."

She nodded again.

"Y-Yes..."

"I wonder what people would think if they knew that I was able to make the legendary Nine-Tailed Fox stammer," he mused, deciding to change the topic for her.

"I'd be ruined," said Kyuumiko, puffing her cheeks at him. "But, I wouldn't mind..."

"Oh?" He quirked a brow.

Kyuumiko shrugged her shoulders. "Why should I care about what monkeys think of me? I could kill them all with just my pinkie finger if I wanted to."

"Huh..."

"The only monkey whose opinion that I care about is yours, Naruto," she stated firmly as she gave his hand a squeeze.

He could not stop himself from smiling when he heard her say that. "That's really sweet."

"If you think about it, you're kind of a race traitor—betraying your fellow monkeys to be with me," commented Kyuumiko, canting her head a bit to look up at him.

"Well, if you think about it, I'm pretty much a hero since I managed to conquer the Nine-Tailed Fox when so many others have failed," he said in response.

"Pshhh," she let out, smirking at him. "The only thing you've conquered so far is my heart. My body remains... Unconquered for the most part."

"For the most part."

Kyuumiko's cheeks turned a cute shade of pink as she blushed. "Maybe after we finish this trip up the mountain, Naruto..."

"Once we get to the top or after we get back down?" he asked bluntly, causing her blush to deepen.

"M-Maybe we can discuss it after..."

Naruto let out a contented sigh before bumping shoulders with her. "We can wait as long as we want until we talk about things like that, Kyuumi. You don't have to worry about me wanting you to push yourself."

"But... I want to..." Trailing off, she looked up into his eyes.

They widened just as she looked into them.

"Oh."

"Don't you?" she asked gently.

His cheeks flushed. "I... Well... Of course! I just... Well... I can tell that we both feel a bit nervous about it."

"It is funny how we already do all these lewd things to each other and yet sex is the one topic we're so nervous about," she commented, smirking despite also blushing at the same time. "Right, Naruto?"

"You'd think it'd be something else, but I'm fine with this," replied Naruto, smiling in response to her smirk. "I think it's natural, you know? Couples can go at any pace they want and as long as things work out, then it's all good."

"That makes a lot of sense..." She leaned against him as they walked. "For someone with as little experience with these sorts of things as I do, you are so much wiser about it."

Naruto glanced down at her when he felt her rest her cheek on his shoulder. "Well... I mean, I must be amazing at this relationship stuff. I did get you to become my girlfriend after-all."

"Hah! Yeah. True," said Kyuumiko in response before letting out a soft chuckle.

"Man... You know, this talk was helping me a bit earlier, but now I just can't think about anything else besides how sore my legs are," he admitted, letting out a grunt as he took a particularly long stride to stretch himself out a bit.

"I can give you a piggy-back ride," she replied as she glanced up at him.

He blinked. "Wouldn't that be a bit awkward?"

"Not as awkward as you complaining about the limitations of your monkey legs." She smirked.

"See, now I just feel like I should complain even more now," said Naruto in response, giving her a soft nudge.

Kyuumiko let out an amused snort. "What? Don't like the idea of being carried around by a woman?"

"Well... I mean—... N-No! It's not like that," he sputtered as his cheeks flushed, causing her to let out a giggle.

"I'm only teasing you, Naruto!"

He pouted. "Well then."

"I love it when you get embarrassed, my dear. It really brings out the blue in your eyes and the yellow of your hair when bits of red are mixed in." Kyuumiko grinned foxily at him.

"So kinda like how I like it when your skin turns slightly red whenever I spank you."

Her eyes widened and she quickly blushed. "N-Naruto!"

"Hah!" he let out, the corners of his lips curving upwards to form a toothsome smile after he snorted. "The tides have turned, Kyuumi. It seems you're the one blushing now!"

"Yeah, but unlike you, I managed to get you to blush without mentioning... Mentioning..."

"Spanking?"

Kyuumiko puffed out her cheeks and furrowed her brow at him. "Hmph."

"Alright, alright. Low blow," conceded Naruto, giving her an apologetic smile as he reached over and gave her a gentle pat on the head. "Sorry."

"You're going to have to do better than that, darling," she said, keeping her cheeks puffed. "I want more than just your word. I want action as well! When we get back, I want you to give me a massage!"

"Alright."

"And I want you to take a bath with me!"

"Sure."

"And an hour of belly-rubs!"

"W-Wha—?"

"Also..." She blushed. "I want you to do that thing again... You know? With your tongue?"

Naruto slowly nodded his head. "Yeah... Alright. Seems fair. Hopefully I don't immediately collapse after getting back."

"You won't. You're stronger than that, my dearest," replied Kyuumiko.

"If you say so."

She gave him a little nudge. "I know so."

"Heh..."

The corners of his lips curved upwards to form a small smile on his face after she said that. Feeling some of his energy return to him, he decided that maybe walking up the side of a mountain would not be that bad. With good company, the fresh air, and the beautiful view—both the jungle below and Kyuumiko beside him—to keep him entertained, he could definitely make it.

He actually did manage to make it eventually. Tired, exhausted, and on the verge of being broken, he took the last step up and finally arrived at the peak of the mountain. His legs were numb and so was his arm because Kyuumiko had to hold onto him tightly during the last couple of minutes to keep him steady lest he accidentally collapse and fall to his death. While he pretty much hated every step he took to get there, he was happy at the fact that he had made it. It seemed that Kyuumiko was happy too because the moment he flopped onto the ground, she began clapping.

"Bravo, Naruto. You made it," she said, giggling quietly at her boyfriend's exhausted state.

Naruto merely grunted in response. "Hm..."

"You know, you look really unsightly right now with your butt in the air like that," commented Kyuumiko as she walked over to him and prodded him on the rear with her finger.

"Too tired... Too tired to care," he replied quietly.

"Mmm, come on, darling. I am sure that you have a bit more energy to spare," she said softly as she squatted down next to him.

He let out a groan. "Ugh... Maybe..."

"No maybes." Kyuumiko pouted as she slid both of her arms underneath him in an attempt to roll him over. "You have already made it this far. Reach deep inside you for whatever energy you have left and enjoy the view with me!"

"Is it really that good?" he asked, grunting quietly as he was rolled onto his back.

"It is!"

Closing his eyes, he took a deep, much needed, breath before slowly getting up. Grunting once again, this time because of the soreness that had set into his legs, he then opened his eyes and looked around. Indeed, the view was quite beautiful. Though, as he took in the wonderfully misty clouds around him along with the bits of green and some of the vibrant colours from the jungle that managed to peak through, he ended up just staring at Kyuumiko.

"Ah. Yes. You're right. The view is really good," he said, offering her a smile.

She pouted at him. "All you ever do is look at me."

"That's because you're the best looking thing on the island," he said in response, his smile widening when he saw Kyuumiko's cheeks flush.

"You..."

"Me?"

Kyuumiko gave him a playful smack on the chest. "You and your sweet words. Sweeter than apples with honey is how you are, Naruto."

"Only when I'm around you, Kyuumi." He smacked her back on the shoulder.

"Mmm... We both know that is not true," she said as she sat down next to him and placed her head on his shoulder. "It wasn't me that made you the kind person that you are, Naruto."

He was quick to wrap an arm around her despite how tired he was. "Well... I can thank you for at least keeping me kind. I think if I were alone on this island, I'd go crazy or something."

"I forget how susceptible your kind is to isolation," replied Kyuumiko, placing one of her hands onto his lap. "I guess I am now too... I would not be able to survive long with your company, my dearest."

"I'm sure you're strong enough to get by on your own without me."

She shook her head. "No... Not at all. Without you... I do not even want to think about going on without you."

"Kyuumi..."

"I love you more than life itself, Naruto..." Trailing off, she slowly shifted to face him before embracing him.

Naruto returned the embrace, placing one hand on the back of her head while keeping the other one on her upper-back. "I love you too, Kyuumi..."

"Naruto..."

"I know that you cannot help but think about the future, but... Well... Focus on the present. For me, alright? I want you to enjoy the time we have together as much as possible," he said softly as he gave her a firm, loving squeeze, seemingly aware of her worries.

"I..." She hesitated. "You're right, Naruto... I'll try my best... To love you as much as I can... Right now, when I still have you."

Naruto slowly pulled back so that he could look at her face and into her eyes. "I can see why you wanted to get me to come all the way up here with you. It is a very romantic place, all the way up here in the middle of the island... If you think about it, we're so close to the sky that it is almost like we're both in heaven."

"We are in heaven," she corrected, offering him a warm smile. "At least I am. Are you?"

"I am." He smiled back before he pressed a quick kiss to her lips.

Kyuumiko whined softly when he separated from her, expecting the kiss to be much deeper. Clasping her hands behind his neck, she pulled him in against her and kissed him the way that she had wanted him to kiss her. Deeply, lovingly, and passionately—that was how she wanted all kisses between them to be like. His hands settled onto her wide hips as she continued to kiss him; she moaned quietly into his mouth when he squeezed them. It seemed at first that he was going to be able to nab control, but he melted before she did, much to her delight. It was not often that she could get him to give in first, which made this moment extra special to her.

Eventually, she pulled back. Slowly and gently, she slowly parted from him, licking her lips immediately after doing so, tasting the small strands of saliva that he had left on them while they were kissing. Looking back at him, she let out a soft chuckle when he saw how his blue eyes were glazed over as if he was so taken aback by her kiss that he needed a moment to collect himself.

"Maybe it's just me, but I think kissing on top of a mountain is much more interesting than kissing in the middle of some jungle."

He slowly nodded his head. "Definitely. Though..."

"Though?" She canted her head.

"How are we supposed to get down?"

Kyuumiko blinked. "Eh?"

"Well, my legs are numb... And... It's getting dark."

"I give you such a wonderful kiss and the only thing on your mind is how numb your legs are?"

He blushed. "Well..."

She gave him a purposefully light shove.

"Way to ruin the moment, Naruto!"

"Ah!"

A/N: I hope you liked this chapter, folks! It is bittersweet in a way, no? How Naruto is mortal and how Kyuumiko is immortal—their relationship, while adorable and wholesome, is quite fleeting. Hopefully something happens that allows them to live together forever. Anyways... Please favourite, follow, and review! I would love to hear some feedback!