Disclaimer: The following is a fan-based parody. Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, and Boruto are owned by Masashi Kishimoto, and Highschool DxD is owned by Ichiei Ishibumi. Please support the official release.

Chapter 11: Love Tempts, Duty Chains

'What to do?'

That was the prevalent thought running through Kurama's head. He was in a meditative position under the sakura trees of the palace gardens deep in thought. A cup of green tea was held in his hands, giving Kurama further peace of mind. Even after all these years, the palace gardens were still his favorite spot. It gave him the closest connection to nature without tapping into Senjutsu.

"There you are, Ku-kun," The voice of the angel he knew.

Turning around, Kurama was graced with Yasaka standing at the foot of the steps that would lead down into the garden. For a moment, Kurama saw the little blonde girl from the past who would stand in that spot always hollering her joyous greetings. Then that part faded away to the present and revealed this woman of unmatched voluptuous beauty Yasaka had grown into. It still left Kurana aghast, especially since the concept of feminine beauty was relatively new to him.

"Fu-fu-fu," Yasaka tittered behind a dainty hand. "If you do that long enough, your jaw is going to hit the floor."

Her words stunned Kurama in realization having not realized his blunder and clicked his gaping jaw shut. He turned his head away in a vain attempt to hide his embarrassment. No one would blame him if they were in his place treated to the sight of the golden kitsune. In a simple yellow kimono decorated with crimson flowers, Yasaka looked stunning like the rising sun as the clothes hugged her very curvy figure. A lesser man would drool at the sight, but even Kurama was starting to feel the 'effects'.

A vixen indeed.

"...This brings back memories, doesn't it?" Kurama said, trying to create some conversation.

"Certainly does," Yasaka replied with a coy smile. "One of my fondest was tackling you into the pond."

"Really, that's the fondest memory you have of me?" Kurama replied in mock offense.

"...All of my memories of you are my fondest," Yasaka said barely above a whisper.

Kurama found himself stunned to silence as he looked at Yasaka in a different light. Even the golden kitsune was surprised at her own response. Her cheeks colored a vivid red and turned her head to the side to hide the blush away. It proved to be a vain effort.

'Maybe I should take up on Shukaku's advice,' Kurama thought.

"We should hang out tonight," Kurama announced suddenly.

"Eh?" Yasaka eloquently responded, looking like a startled deer. Even her tails and ears suddenly appeared and standing on end.

"It would only be the two of us," Kurama elaborated. "No guards to follow. No Amaterasu. Just us and the city of Kyoto below."

At Yasaka's silence, Kurama started to get nervous but continued nonetheless, "We can, uh, properly catch up. I can tell you about my time in India, and some more about my adventures. I'll tell you more about the outside world. I, uh, I'll even buy dinner if you want..."

"Ku-kun," Yasaka spoke, stopping Kurama from speaking as a smirk crossed her face, "are you inviting me to courtship?"

Kurama blinked. "I think so. Maybe? I, uh, don't know. Yes?"

"...Then I accept," Yasaka answered after a long pause, turning back to return inside. "I expect you to pick me up in the early evening."

Kurama will not admit that he was not enticed by the slight sway in Yasaka's hips as she walked away. No, he was not succumbing to his body's primal urges no matter the fantasies his mind tried to force him to see. What he truly was concerned about was why he felt he trapped himself. So in his confusion, Kurama meditated back to distant memories when he was still sealed within jinchurriki. He focused on his less than stellar memories of Kushina to the moment she had begun hooking up with Minato. The former bijuu continued to sift through the moments to the moment Minato was asking Kushina to go on a date - Wait!

It finally clicked in Kurama's head. Yasaka said that he invited her on a courtship. He assumed it was some royal way of saying hanging out. What Kurama now realized was that courting was actually a more fancy and old term to simply say dating.

He had asked Yasaka to go on a date... and she answered yes! The thought was both nerve-racking and exciting at the same time.

'Come on, Kurama, you can do this,' the bijuu tried to psych himself up. 'You've fought your own batshit insane grandmother and had to sit through three lifetimes of imprisonment. You can do this. Just give her the best day of her life. No pressure.'

There was in fact a lot of pressure.


(Later that day...)

Breathe in. Breath out.

"How did humans do this?" Kurama wondered aloud as he ascended the steps to Yasaka's palace.

Inhale. Exhale. Be calm. No need to freak out.

"I can do this," Kurama hyped himself up. "I can do this. C'mon, I'm Kurama. What's a date compared to the things I've faced?"

He paused at the iron-clad red gates of the palace walls. Above him from the walls armed both with blessed blades and human weaponry of the current age were Tengu guards. Kurama stared back at their hawk-like gaze with equal measure, forcing himself to not scowl at the guards.

"I am expected," Kurama stated.

"We know," one of the Tengu answered, and the gates opened on cue. "Our majesty awaits. Be sure to give her a good time. But if you break her heart..."

"...we'll break you," the other Tengu guard finished threateningly.

'...Freaking stooges, but at least they're loyal,' Kurama thought, making his way across the courtyard.

It felt like hours rather than the scant few seconds it took Kurama to get to the fancy decorated doors that served as the main entrance into Yasaka's palace. He flexed his hands to get rid of the growing nerves that were making him hesitate. Kurama steadied himself with a deep breath and knocked on the door.

"Yes?" Came the sweet voice of Yasaka.

Kurama gulped on reflex. He wasn't expecting Yasaka to actually be on the other side of the door. At least he thought he was going to get a few moments to compose himself.

"It's me, Yasaka," Kurama called. "I'm here for our outing together."

He wasn't even given a few seconds before a reply. Instead, the door was instead almost yanked open inwards. What Kurama laid his eyes on left him with a hanging jaw. Apparently, the vixen wanted to go full out on the 'date'.

Yasaka had forgone her casual kimono and went all out with the most radiant cheongsam dress he had ever seen. Its silky texture reflected a golden hue to match the sunlight while embroidered with clouds of the same blonde color as Yasaka's hair. More than that was how much the dress really conformed to all of Yasaka's curves. The dress acted like a second skin, showcasing the fullness of Yasaka's breasts in their shape and size while still uncompromising in letting any skin show. Traveling down revealed the small of her waist and the flat of her stomach, yet expanded to showcase her tantalizing hips. At the lower part of the dress, slits were cut to allow a peek of Yasaka's bare legs and thighs.

For the first time, the sight of feminine beauty had turned Kurama's brain to static noise.

"Ku-kun," Yasaka called smugly. "My eyes are up here."

Kurama snapped to attention like a rubber band, but there was no denying that he had been staring rather intensely at Yasaka's figure. It made the golden kitsune all the giddier she was able to get such a reaction from Kurama with the beauty of her body. On a deeper level, it made Yasaka really happy that she had to cup her cheek to hide the blush.

'He thinks I'm beautiful,' Yasaka thought wistfully.

With Kurama's attention back to Yasaka's face, he was able to take notice of the black eyeliner and pink dusting on her cheeks. Her hair was done up in two small buns that allowed a waterfall of her golden hair to fall down her neck to her shoulders. Two pins of gold with emblems of suns on one end were struck into the buns of her hair to keep them in place.

"So, Ku-kun," Yasaka said, sauntering up to Kurama and hugging his right arm, "how are you going to spend the day with this beautiful woman in your arms?"

"Uh..." Kurama mumbled, his mind still trying to fix itself and not make himself a fool. "You're putting in a rough spot. I mean, Kyoto is yours after all. You've probably been to every hangout spot in the entire city."

"You'd be surprised," Yasaka muttered with a sad edge to it.

The entire time Kurama had kept his empathic abilities on the low, but even now he felt a deep sorrow from Yasaka buried deep within her. He had to school his face to hide the wince of sympathy, but underneath there was a familiar seething rage flaring up. Just why or dare it to be who is making Yasaka feel this way? And most importantly, can he punch them?

"Well," Kurama said, scratching his head. "There is a high-end restaurant we can hang out near Lake Biwa. I heard they specialize in seafood from fresh catches. It's one of the things I haven't had in a long while. So, um, are you up for it?"

Yasaka didn't answer immediately as she gave Kurama an unreadable gaze. Kurama started to get into a cold sweat at the continued silence and assumed he had messed up with his suggestion.

'Damn, that was stupid,' Kurama panicked in his head. 'Why a restaurant? Yasaka is served the best in all of Japan. What can a fancy seafood restaurant compare?'

"That sounds good," Yasaka answered, relieving Kurama. "I'm always sheltered in my home, and I've been curious how cuisine among the common folk compared to what the palace cooks bring me. Yes, I would really like that if only so I can walk amongst the people I will soon be responsible for. I want to know what the outside world is like, even if it only is a small bit."

'Naruto, I will thank you forever for giving me your luck,' Kurama praised.

"Shall we get going?" Yasaka said coyly, tugging lightly on the arm she was embracing.

"We shall," Kurama replied with a smile and escorted his actual date across the courtyard and passed the palace gates. Though Kurama suddenly stopped at the start of the stairway that led down to the city below.

Yasaka blinked in confusion and looked to Kurama for answers. The crimson-orange kitsune's eyes were trained to the horizon where their destination lay. From Yasaka's angle and lower height, she couldn't see how Kurama's eyes shifted to the Mangekyou Sharingan to grant him a better vision of the landscape.

"You know, if we try to walk all the way to the place, we'll be burning a good amount of daylight," Kurama noted. "I can make the journey in a much shorter time if I sprint all the way there."

"Truly?" Yasaka queried, having never known anyone to go that fast.

"I am plenty fast," Kurama said with a knowing grin. "It'd be real simple. All you had to do was hold onto me while I carry you."

"C-Carry me!?" Yasaka squeaked.

This time, her sly act crumbled down as her face flushed red. Her mind was already conjuring visions and sensations of Kurama's hold on her body. How he would hold her bridal-style like a princess, and how his hands would hold her with such tenderness and softness as though she were the most precious thing in his possession. Yasaka's wild imagination was causing her heart to drum loudly against her chest.

'Th-This is too fast,' Yasaka thought in a panic. 'My heart isn't ready.'

"Wait, wait, wait," Yasaka exclaimed, making Kurama back off.

"I'm sorry, did I do something wrong?" Kurama asked in worry.

"No, it's not that," Yasaka answered quickly. "It's just that I would prefer to walk the way there. I know your way would be faster, but I want to savor this. I want to see the sights with you at my side, no matter how long it takes."

'As long as you're with me, it's all worth it,' Yasaka added in her head.

"Okay then," Kurama replied with a disarming smile. "I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you're happy."

'...Oh shit, was that the wrong thing to say!?' Kurama thought when Yasaka turned her head away.

BA-BUMP! BA-BUMP! BA-BUMP! BA-BUMP! BA-BUMP!

Yasaka pressed her hand to her bosom as her heart started to hammer in her chest. She looked away to hide how red her face turned from embarrassment and the growing intensity of her feelings. Kurama stared in confusion at the strange behavior from Yasaka and wondered why her face was constantly going red.

"Are you okay, Yasaka?" Kurama asked, leaning closer. "Your face is getting red. You're not getting sick, are you?"

Let it be a reminder that Kurama was very much a stranger to feminine mannerisms. The closest experience possible was his time as a prisoner within Mito and Kushina Uzumaki, the latter of which kept him more contained.

Instead of getting an answer, Yasaka renewed her grip on his arm with frightening vigor. Not only was Kurama suffering from her surprisingly strong grip on his right arm, but he was also trying to keep his composure despite the very big fleshy 'pillows' fully embracing his bicep.

"C'mon, let's get going," Yasaka said excitedly, tugging on the embraced limb.

"H-Hold on," Kurama called, quickly matching Yasaka's pace as they made their way down the steps to the city below.

The walk together was silent at first. Yasaka took the time to admire the surroundings of the Yokai going about their everyday lives. When they crossed the threshold that separated the supernatural community from the human world, she even took the time to study the humans themselves. She smiled watching the children playing together in the streets and enjoying the various sounds and smells of the folk working and talking.

"Soon, their lives will depend on me," Yasaka mumbled.

"Yasaka?" Kurama wondered.

She looked up to Kurama with a heavy smile. "You know I am to become the leader of not just the Yokai of Japan, but also the humans that live alongside us, even if they don't know it. Some in court say their lives are meaningless in importance, but I beg to differ. The way they go about their lives is not too different from ourselves. If you take away the obvious differences, is there really anything that makes us dissimilar? The lives of both humans and Yokai will fall on my shoulders, and I'm it frightens me if my decisions will endanger even a single life. To know that with a few words I could decide the difference between life and death like Shinigami. I... I don't like having that kind of power."

Their walk was paused momentarily by Yasaka, whose nerves were making her body tremble. The mere thought of having that kind of power scared her too much to still her body. She didn't desire that kind of power as a leader. It felt awful to her.

The shaking would have continued if another hand didn't gently grab her left hand. She stilled at the sudden contact but blushed a storm realizing it was Kurama holding her hand and so gently at that. Yasaka didn't resist as he guided her hand to his chest, where they were locked in a mesmerizing stare. Both of them did not realize their remaining hands were intertwined as well.

"Yasaka," Kurama began in a soft tone. "These people, all of Japan from the human farmers to the guardian Yokai, are so lucky to have you as their future leader. You're kind, intelligent, and have an iron will that will see through to everyone's protection. That's the sort of leader I would fall behind."

"Ku-kun," Yasaka mumbled, her face almost steaming. "Y-You're just saying all that to make me feel better."

"Hah, nope!" Kurama laughed. "We grew up together, remember? I know you better than probably anyone else, so I know for a fact you're the best one for the job."

Yasaka couldn't handle the praise with a straight face. She felt her lips tug upwards into a wide smile but also her cheeks heat up like steam. Stop blushing Yasaka would demand her cheeks, but they only reddened in fervor. Her heart raced like it was on a sugar rush and no thoughts could calm it down for it all went down a familiar road. That of her Kurama, her childhood friend that has grown into this hunk of a specimen, treating her like she was the most precious thing in his world. Yasaka could imagine those strong arms wrapped around her, giving her a safe haven from the outside world.

This wasn't how it was supposed to go. It was just supposed to be an outing. Yes, it was veiled in an event of courtship, but an outing nonetheless. There was going to be some teasing at the most, despite putting her most risque dress the seamstress made on her orders. She just wanted to hang out with the one person she missed for so long before that. Now, Yasaka was feeling like one of those lovesick teenagers stuck in a crush. And wasn't that the crux of the matter because no matter how much Yasaka tried to hide it she had more than a simple crush for Kurama.

"Ku-kun, you're embarrassing me," Yasaka mumbled.

"Uh, I'm not supposed to do that, am I?" Kurama asked, genuinely confused.

What came out of Yasaka's lips was a mix of a sigh and laughter. She now realized that Kurama had no idea what he was doing to her. Kurama's natural charms were making her dance in his palm and he wasn't even didn't even know it. A chill went down Yasaka's back as she momentarily imagined what Kurama would do if he was trained in the more flirtatious arts. He could probably talk Yasaka out of her clothes.

Her face immediately burned as her mind plummeted to those raunchy thoughts. How it would be to experience his bare, muscular body practically shadowing over her form as she submit, ready to - Stop! No, must not lose focus. Must not become a bumbling mess. Not in public during courtship, especially in front of Kurama. Yasaka vowed to be dignified; the one in control even if her body betrayed her enjoyment in Kurama's presence.

"Let's get going," Yasaka ushered, pulling on Kurama's arm yet again through the streets of Kyoto.

Meanwhile, she was ignorant of Kurama's silent pleas to lessen the hold on his arm. It was starting to really, really hurt.

'My arm needs air!' Kurama whimpered in his head.

Eventually, they left the confines of the main city and entered the roads leading into the forest. There they were given the majesty of the forest canopy hanging over them in branches of pink flowers and emerald leaves shining in the sun. It was here Kurama chanced to smile, allowing his senses to flow out to touch the natural energy around him. The lands of Kyoto, especially the forests, were so rich in their purity that they gave Kurama a sense of calm. Yasaka on the other hand took his serene smile with the way he admired nature around her. As a master of Senjutsu herself, she also appreciated the beauty of nature in its untamed majesty.

The smell of freshwater signaled them they were getting close to Otsu, which bordered the southern part of Lake Biwa. When they could hear the roil of the water beating against the beaches, they set their sights on their destination where a human restaurant was. For a village, it was very large in size due to its high trade of freshwater catch and famed cuisine. Already, Yasaka could take the fragrance of human cooking and could tell it held its own quality compared to the meals prepared by her Yokai servants.

But really most of her attention went to the lake itself. In truth, Yasaka had not ventured this far from the palace. She had never seen anything bigger than the ponds in the royal gardens. To see something a body of water as vast as a lake almost stretching to the horizon left her staring in wonder. Her eyes continued to gleam in excitement at how the lake reflected the sky perfectly and couldn't wait to see how it look after dusk.

'It will be a full moon tonight too,' Yasaka thought.

"So where is this human restaurant that has caught your eye?" Yasaka asked.

"Hmm, they did say it was at the water's edge," Kurama said, surveying the quaint village at the lakeside. "Ah, I believe it is right there."

Following Kurama's line of sight, Yasaka saw what appeared to be the most robust pier in the village where a single building sat with half of its foundations built into the pier. The pier was big enough for a whole line of seating available for anyone for a taste of the outdoors while Yasaka could clearly hear the bustle of human activity from within.

"Come, let us take a seat," Kurama said, now being the one to escort Yasaka.

As they walked down the pier towards the furthermost table, Yasaka felt the stares on her body. She could not blame them; kitsune women were one of the most beautiful in the supernatural in any form they take. Her body rivaled the beauty of goddesses around the world. Though Yasaka did catch more than a few lustful leers aimed at her chest and hips. It was an unsettling gaze, but they were quickly made null by the presence of Kurama who carried himself in a more bestial manner. His figure cut a ferociously and intimidating aura around him that made sinful stares crumble apart since he was the one at her side.

'They know I am his,' Yasaka thought, sinking just a bit more into her embrace with Kurama.

After they did sit down at their chosen table, it did not take long before someone of the staff came over to take orders. Yasaka was nervous at this prospect, not used to actually choosing from a menu. She would make food on her own more than once, but now came the sudden fear of if Kurama were to judge Yasaka's cooking in this establishment. The golden kitsune couldn't bear the thought if Kurama were to suddenly find her cooking inadequate.

"How about I order for both of us?" Kurama said.

Yasaka let out a sigh of relief. Kurama had come to her rescue getting rid of the burden of choice. However, when Kurama called the staff for their order, he merely pointed to something she couldn't see while holding up two fingers to gesture for two servings. Once the staff member had left with their menus, Kurama turned back to Yasaka to see her raised brow in confusion.

"What did you order exactly Kurama?" Yasaka asked.

"It's a surprise~," Kurama said with a cheeky grin.

Did it say something that Yasaka found her own lips trying to match that grin in amusement?

"Fine keep your secrets," Yasaka replied.

It did not take them long when their orders were brought in the form of two black bowls topped with a lid of the same color. There was only the steam that seeped from the sides that clued Yasaka on something that was hot, but any scents were kept within. The seconds felt agonizingly long until the staff member of the restaurant lifted the lids to reveal what was in. When Yasaka looked inside, she only blinked in confusion when her expectations weren't exactly met.

'Is this... ramen?' Yasaka thought.

"Itdakimasu!" The kitsune praised before clicking the chopsticks in their hands.

"Kurama?" Yasaka said in a questioning tone.

But the only answer she got was that same cheeky smile and he began to pick out ramen noodles into his mouth. Yasaka looked down, still unsure about the broth. The ramen that they were served was not too different from anything she was served at the palace if she was asked for it or any she made for herself. The broth was a similar color if only a bit on the darker side and the noodles looked to be just a big thicker possibly due to them being handmade. The only thing that really stands out was the smell of a curious sauce within the ramen that smelled of fish and the floating bits of bass swimming in the broth along with the chive and ginger.

'Oh, what's this?' Yasaka thought when something caught her attention.

It was a peculiar thing that floated in the broth with many others like it hidden by the noodles. She plucked a single one with her chopsticks and held it up in the open air to examine it. It was simple in that it was simply thin and white with pink swirls, and it had a texture similar to a sponge. With the grace of a noble, Yasaka brought it behind her lips and chomped down.

Oh.

Oh my.

OhholyAmaterasuthisisreallygoodwhatisthistastytreat!?

"Woah, woah, slow down!" Kurama called.

His voice broke Yasaka out of her trance and she realized to her horror that she was eating these flat sponges exclusively. She blushed in embarrassment at the break in decorum.

"What is this?" Yasaka asked.

"It's called a fishcake," Kurama answered, taking one for an example and twisting it in noodles and fish within his chopsticks. "It's very recent, and the recipe just came in from China. Delicious, don't you think?"

"...You had something in this," Yasaka accused.

Yasaka would only make such a ridiculous claim if she didn't have a sixth sense for this. Something she developed when growing up with Kurama. Out of the staff in the palace and sometimes Amaterasu herself, only she knew when and where Kurama would sneak off to either between meals or at night. After that, it was simple for Yasaka to follow his chakra to where he trained by himself.

No, this did not mean she was a stalker. That is entirely slander on any who claims so, even if it was a snickering sun goddess in question.

"How so?" Kurama inquired.

"You said this came 'fishcake' came about in recent years, far to the east," Yasaka said. "You were in the far east, situated in India. And now for our day together, you come to this restaurant out of all of them that just had fishcake in their ramen. So what I want to know is how did you start this?"

"I could say that it involved me, boredom, and some experimentation with fish," Kurama said, a sad smile on his face. "But honestly, it's not my creation. I made the fishcake because it was to honor an old friend of mine. It was his favorite topping with noodles."

It was not too far from the truth. One day, Kurama was thinking back on Naruto and all that he has done for him despite their short time together. As a way to honor Naruto's memory, Kurama spent half a year trying to recreate his favorite ramen topping. He eventually succeeded when Kurama was sure he liked the flavor himself and started making his own ramen just like he did. Eventually, Kurama decided to share the recipe with the human folk starting with the denizens of India and it continued to spread from there. Naruto would have done it in his place in order to share the 'glorious food that is ramen.'

"So you made this fishcake revolution throughout the entire continent for an old friend," Yasaka said, her interest peaked. "He must be quite the friend."

"He was," Kurama said lowly.

Yasaka flinched back hearing the hurt in his voice, and it now struck her how much the passing of this person affected him. She felt a little sick of herself for unknowingly bringing up painful memories, but more than that she wanted to understand and learn about this person Kurama once called his friend.

"This friend of yours that you met in India," Yasaka asked, setting down her chopsticks to focus her attention on Kurama. "What was his name? What did he help you with?"

It took Kurama a few seconds to realize that Yasaka thought he was reminiscing something that actually happened in his time with Asura and not his old life. That sort of secret was reserved for himself and his siblings because otherwise, he would actually believe him. However, there was a way to spin the tale of his past in a more believable way.

"His name was Naruto Uzumaki," Kurama retold, his eyes going distant, "And he was a human. A simple human that got me through my darkest moments. I've always had problems with my rage, but during my stay with Asura, they got worse as I got older. You know, teenage years being emotional hell and all that. There were just days..."

'Centuries,' Kurama added mentally.

"...where I just nothing but this murderous rage. It was consuming me, and it got horrid when I watched the humans. How they needlessly warred with each other for religion or ideals. But it was the greed that got me. The earth gave them plenty to live, but all they did was take and take and take. I feel it in the earth whenever I use my Senjutsu, the rage the planet feels at humanity squandering its gift of life. I agreed with that rage, and all that hate was aimed at humanity. There were more than a few times where Asura had to contain me when the malice of the earth took me when my rage was too much.

"Then came Naruto. A human who stumbled upon the sacred grounds. If Asura permitted, he could've walked into his palace. Naruto found me there, brooding you could say. Once I saw him, I threatened him to leave these sacred grounds lest I eat him like a tasty treat. I even grew into my fox form to scare him away or I really was going to kill him. That's how much I hated humans. Do you know what he did instead?

"This blonde weirdo jumped right on top of my snout, stared me right in my eye, and gave this goofy smile as if I weren't threatening to kill him. Then he said, 'You know what, I'm coming after all that hate of yours.' I stared at him in disbelief for a few seconds, then promptly blew him away like an annoying dust bunny."

"That was rude of you, Kurama," Yasaka admonished. "Humans are not deserving of such treatment."

"I know, I know," Kurama placated. "It was a faze I was going through. Humans didn't exactly paint a good impression on me in the world at large. And Naruto proclaimed to help me with my hate. Really, this one human had the audacity to come up to me and claim that he could 'fix' my hatred for his kind. How wrong I was.

"Naruto was stubborn. Like a lump of steel. He always kept coming back to the same spot, even waiting for me. For the next week, he kept coming back with bowls of ramen to share, even if I didn't eat. And every time Naruto talked to me, even as I tried to glare at him to death. Then I started to notice the little things about Naruto. How he had a care for nature as he walked, making sure to not step over any blooming flower in his way. Any creatures that came his way, he offered his own food for their benefit. It was slow at first, but I soon realized that this human was different from the ones that I hated. And that maybe there were perhaps humans like him. That there are mortals simply have no greed to hold them and devote their lives for a better, brighter future instead of mindless slaughter.

"Then Naruto started talking about his dreams. He wanted to spread an idea of cooperation for the world not just between the human nations, but also the supernatural as well. He had a dream of every living thing on this planet working together for the future. More than anything out of all things, he wanted to end the cycle of hatred. A very bold human indeed, but it was something that gave me a new hope for humanity. This was a human I respected truly."

"Sounds like an upcoming Buddha or saint from how you describe him," Yasaka commented. "Yet you say this Naruto isn't around anymore."

"No," Kurama said sadly, "At a village he frequently visited, there was an outbreak of a fire caused by a supernatural criminal. A mad spirit if you will that had festered since the ancient empires of India. I was sent there to defeat him and the fire was put out, but that was when I was hit by the news of Naruto's passing. He had risked his life saving children from their burning homes and stopping the flames from spreading throughout the forest. He perished by doing what he wanted - preserving life that was sacred to him."

As Kurama spoke, his mind brought up the vivid memory of Naruto's soul dissipating into nothingness. He was not ashamed to shed a tear brought on by the deep sadness. To Yasaka, her heart went out to Kurama having glimpsed the hurt of losing a friend.

"I don't even know what to say, Ku-kun," Yasaka said. "I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"There's nothing to forgive, Yasaka," Kurama said. "It would dishonest Naruto if all I did was dishonor his death. There are a few things he left for me before his death. One is a promise I made at our last meeting. He made me promise that I find people precious to me and protect them with my life."

"And who are these precious people?" Yasaka said, more than a little curious.

"Well, I had already someone precious to me I want to always protect long before I went to India," Kurama said, taking a cup of tea to his lips. "You."

Was it bad he found it amusing how Yasaka spat out her tea at that moment? She quickly righted herself and wiped any of spat out bits of tea, but now there was certain shyness to her demeanor now. Yasaka's face burned scarlet continuously and she found it hard to make eye contact with Kurama. For a moment, Kurama let out his empathic abilities and saw the mess of her emotions but what really stood out was a sense of longing and anxiety.

"Of course that makes sense," Yasaka said, though her eyes spoke a bit differently. "Of course, you would protect me. I am one of your precious people because I am your oldest friend."

Friend...

That's something Kurama treasured in his new life. It was one of Naruto's greatest motivations alongside his need to keep promises to those friends. He wanted to live up to that. And certainly, he did make friends in this world not just with Yasaka, but also with Asura, Amaterasu, Buddha, and his reincarnated siblings. Yet he tried to put the word of a friend towards Yasaka, he found it... dissatisfying?

It wouldn't be the first time he thought of this. Kurama always thought of Yasaka when he was away. At first, it was always because she was the first friend he made in this world and officially the only other person besides Naruto to gain his friendship. Yet somewhere along the line, something had changed. Every time he thought of Yasaka, it always came with that indescribable warm feeling that was almost addicting.

Because when trying to put the word 'friendship' with Yasaka, Kurama wanted more. Was it wrong to have this urge, this desire? Kurama didn't know, but he could resist and made the lunge forward. His soul yearned to do so.

"It's more than that," Kurama confessed. "To me, you're more than that. You're... the most important person in my life."

"E-Eh!?" Yasaka squeaked.

Her whole face took on the like of a cherry, but underneath the embarrassment, Yasaka was panicking. This was not what she was planning; this was never supposed to happen. She just wanted a day just to herself serving as a glimpse of a fairer life she could only dream of before fully resigning to her duties. Yasaka had once envisioned a life with her Kurama, but such a choice was not a part of her. At the very least, she was fine with adoring Kurama from afar. Knowing that she had his friendship was enough for her, if painful to her heart.

But that was not to be. If Kurama saying was true, that meant what she felt for her fellow kitsune was mutual. Perhaps he did not understand it, but it was there nonetheless. A desire to grow more than friends. Yasaka should be relieved - no, happy beyond compare - if it were a better world. Only this was the reality where her duties called far more than her personal happiness, and it is why she could nothing except a terror coursing through every part of her body. It felt like her world was cracking apart.

'No, no, no, no, no, no!' Yasaka's mind screamed in turmoil. 'Wait, wait, wait, wait! This isn't supposed to happen! I love him, but why does he love me!?'

"I-I'm not good with this," Kurama said, more than a little anxious as he reached into his shirt fishing for something. "But maybe this will show how much you mean to me."

Finally, his hand returned now holding a small bag, and from it pulled out a set of earrings. Yasaka immediately noticed the master-level craftsmanship, surpassing most of any treasures of the palace. On the mystical side, there was a small presence within them that was foreign to her supernatural senses. Both earrings contained a gem encased in black stone, holding either a sapphire or a ruby. Kurama held out the one encasing a ruby towards Yasaka.

"These earrings were once worn by the married blacksmiths' Mo Ye and Gan Jiang," Kurama explained. "It's said that they wore one for each of them so that the pair was only complete as long as they were together."

Kurama then proceeded to take the sapphire earring and wear it on his right earlobe. Yasaka's heart started to quicken with two warring emotions. On one side she was pure joy, but that was overshadowed by the crushing reality of her situation. She silently begged Kurama to stop so that she doesn't force herself to hurt him.

"And it's why I offer you this half of the set as I wear the other," Kurama said, still holding out the earring for Yasaka. "As long as you have this, I will always be by your side. No matter how much the world works to keep us apart."

How she wanted more than anything to have this, but she was trapped. She couldn't call it off or else all of Yokai will know the wrath of Susano. So as she ducked her head shadowing the upper half of her face, Yasaka suddenly pushed Kurama's limb back with the earring. While Kurama stared in shock, Yasaka slowly got out of her seat.

"I'm sorry, Kurama," Yasaka stated, her voice a mere whimper as tears cascaded down her cheeks. "But it can't be this way. It just can't."

Kurama panicked, "Yasaka-"

"Stop chasing me," Yasaka continued, taking steps back. "Just forget about me."

Yasaka turned on her heel and ran. That was the only saving grace to hide the rivers of tears coming down her face and raining down on the ground as she went, leaving a flabbergasted Kurama. The reincarnated bijuu was so confused. His hand was outstretched, but the words to call Yasaka back died in his throat as questions arose in his head.

Why did her emotions suddenly spiral into a storm of sadness, regret, and so much pain?

Why was there so much pain?

...Why was she crying?

Did he do something wrong?

...

Was he the reason she was crying?

'...Is this my fault?' Kurama thought in a broken manner, collapsing into his chair.

It was more of a statement towards himself. Perhaps this was due to happen. Just another long list of unfortunate events in the life of Kurama, both as bijuu and Yokai.

A staff member approached, giving Kurama a pitiful look.

"That seemed harsh," the man spoke. "Sorry, it didn't work with your lady-to-be. She looked worth it, sir. If you want, the meal's free."

"...It's alright," Kurama replied.

It was almost horrifying to the onlookers just how broken Kurama sounded. No tears may have swept down his face, but this was the lowest Kurama ever felt.


I honestly wanted to publish this a month ago, but it just kept needing more and more. Allow me to point this was a very, very, VERY hard chapter to type out. Admittedly, it is very rough and I needed chapter out so I can get to the main parts. And now here we are. The rest following this should be marginally easier to type out. Right after Burning Heaven and Shining Light.

Kurama feels rejected thinking it's his fault. Yasaka tortures herself for pushing Kurama away, stuck between love and duty. The children of Hagaromo unite once more. Will Kurama be able to free Yasaka's chains? Or will the coming darkness consume all?

Up next is Chapter 12.

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