OMG... I am so sorry for the long wait, but school has been killing me slowly and painfully, and I just found out that I'm failing math. Yuck. Updates will be pretty unpredictable from this point on, and I apologize. I'll try to get to my other fics to... oh, and yes I will write a seme Gaara lemon sometime before I end the fic, to appease the people who were like, 'uke Gaara? WTF?' Hm... that's about it. Hope you enjoy the chapter. OH, and thanks for 800 reviews! I never thought the story would get this far, so I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. -hands out cookies to readers-
Disclaimer: Naruto and all its characters and places are property of Masahi Kishimoto-sama
"By the way, Kyuubi's told me a few times that she wants to meet you. So if you see her around, don't freak out or anything, kay?"
So Naruto said, but how was he expected to stay calm if forced to talk to his parent's murderer?
'Wait… that's not fair. It was never established why Kyuubi attacked the village; I shouldn't judge it until I know the full story. But still…'
He missed his parents. Losing them so soon had been hell on earth, and he almost threw his life away because of it. He'd admit that he had hated the fox, but never the boy. Never Naruto, who went through so much pain in his childhood, like Iruka himself. Now he was seeing a different side of a being who he had dubbed a monster; Naruto had seemed to like the kitsune. It cared enough to look after his adopted son, so was Kyuubi really all bad? It was a question that didn't really have an answer.
"Iruka-san?"
He sat up sharply on his couch, eyes scanning the room and one hand on a kunai; he knew it couldn't be Kakashi, as the jounin was out on a mission and the voice had been distinctly female.
"Who's there?"
Suddenly he saw what the voice had come from. A smaller from the original size but still large Kyuubi was sitting calmly on the rug in his living room. He froze, having no idea what to do. The kitsune cocked her head to the side slightly, eyeing the tanned man in front of her. She could almost taste his uncertainty, which was mixed with confusion and slight fear. She found it strange, as she had expected more fear, revulsion, and hate. Everyone else thought so of her, why not he? Then again, he was the one who had taken in and loved her kit, even when the rest of Konoha had despised him, her poor little kit.
"Kyuubi…"
He slowly stood up from the couch, staring, trying to read her. She saw different expressions cross his features and after some of the more predictable ones (ie fear, distrust) Kyuubi found something that intrigued her: curiosity. Finally, something she could work with. But before any of that, there was one thing she had to say.
"I'm sorry."
His eyes widened. She guessed he hadn't been expecting that; why would a demon apologize? Well, she felt guilty, that's why. That night never should have happened… it was a mistake.
"You're… sorry?"
Iruka's strength left his legs and he flopped down onto the couch. The great and powerful Kyuubi no Youko, who had killed even the mighty Yondaime, was sorry?
"I was in a blind rage, and I'm truly ashamed at my lack of control that night. It cost so many lives, ruined so many families… and ruined any happy childhood that the kit would have had. I've always wanted to thank you, by the way."
"Thank me for what?"
"For accepting Naruto for who he is, not what I am. He loves you like a father, you know that right?"
Iruka smiled softly; yes, he knew he was as much a father to Naruto as the boy was a son to him. He settled back more comfortably on the couch; for some reason the apology had made Kyuubi seem more… human. He no longer felt in danger, but he wondered what had caused the youkai to go into such a rage.
"Yes, I know. What of you, Kyuubi-san? What is Naruto to you?"
Kyuubi looked a bit startled, and her nine tails swished around her body like lithe, furry snakes.
"Well, at first I admit I was angry for being sealed, not angry at Naruto really, just at people in general. I didn't give much thought to him until the incident where you saved him from that grey haired bastard…. Though I had thought it admirable how the gaki kept living in the face of abuse from his own village. Hate to admit it, but I'm hopelessly attached now. He's the son I never had; he just draws people to him, you know what I mean? I'm happy that I have him for a carrier. I'm also glad you were there for him while I was practically useless."
"It was my pleasure, Kyuubi-san."
Who knew that Naruto had created a soft spot in even the mighty Kyuubi's heart? Who knew that Kyuubi had a heart in the first place? Iruka had been expecting her attitude to be like that of a Hyuuga or Uchiha, haughty and superior. In fact, Kyuubi was quite pleasant and seemed rather fond of him.
'This is something Kakashi is not going to believe when he comes home…'
"So you mated with Kakashi? That's good, he will make good mate. I know that the gaki approves."
At the disbelieving look on his face, she chuckled. Kids were such fun.
Why was he doing this again? Oh yeah, Hinata had told him that Hiashi was getting suspicious of all the time they spent with their friends, so they decided to hang out with their teams for the day. Unluckily for him, Tenten had been unable to make it… Or maybe that was a good thing, in the light of her scary yaoi fangirlness.
"My ever Youthful Students! We must do our best to Improve our Abilities, even though one of our Comrades is Absent!"
Thumbs up, smile, sparkle. Okay, maybe it was a bad thing Tenten wasn't there. Yaoi fangirl or not, at least she didn't wear green and orange. Together.
"Hai! Gai-sensei, I will try my best! For Youth!"
Thumbs up, smile sparkle. Oh, the humanity...
"Lee!"
"Gai-sensei!"
Cue dramatic sunset backgrounds and waves crashing into the shore. Neji suppressed the urge to ram himself in the stomach with a kunai. Repeatedly.
'Maybe if I don't make any sudden movements they'll forget I'm here…'
'Fat chance.'
Having finished his usual ritual with Lee, Gai now turned to his other student. To Neji's horror his sensei seemed to study him intently, his huge eyebrows scrunched up in concentration. Then his face split into a huge, shiny grin, even as his eyes tear-ed up emotionally.
"Neji-kun…"
Neji was getting a bad feeling. Around Gai, this was never ever a good thing.
"Could it be that you have finally found… Youthful Love?"
'Uh oh.'
'More like Holy Shit! How the hell did he know that?'
'Who knows what he sees under those huge eyebrows...'
"Gai-sensei, I-
Before Neji could come up with some excuse to get himself out of this, he had been grabbed in a manly hug by Gai and his sensei was now sobbing dramatically into his shoulder. On the sidelines, Lee began to tear up as well.
"OH, I AM RELIEVED THAT YOU HAVE FINALLY EXPERIENCED A TRULY BEAUTIFUL PART OF YOUR YOUTH!"
"NEJI-KUN, IS THIS TRUE? I CONGRATULATE YOU! YOU MUST BE BURNING WITH THE PASSION OF YOUTH! YOSH!"
Said Hyuuga let out a strangled gasp as his teammate joined in, initiating a sort of choking, enthusiastic group hug. Just as he was thinking of resorting to Jyuuken to get them off of him they let go, emotional tears still streaming down their faces. Gai placed a manly hand on Neji's shoulder.
"Tell me Neji, who is the Lucky Youthful Person that you have wooed?"
Neji was at a loss for words; knowing Gai, the enthusiastic man would have it all over town in a few days if he confessed. Neji did not like to think about what his uncle would say if he found out…
"Gai-san!"
T.C. walked over to the three shinobi, a knowing smile on her face. Gai turned to face her, temporarily forgetting his interrogation of Neji.
"Auntie Keesha was wondering if you could help her move some boxes into the shop. We'd do it ourselves, bit they're just a bit too heavy."
At the thought of helping his lady love, Gai's face lit up with fervor. He assumed the nice guy pose.
"Ah, I see! Thank you for telling me T.C.-chan, I shall go over right away!"
"Hai, me too Gai-sensei! I have yet to meet Keesha-san, and am looking forward to it!"
Lee had been looking forward to meeting the woman who had managed to capture his teachers heart; she must be an extraordinary women. As the two ran off, twin blurs across the grass, T.C. turned to Neji, who was looking imminently relieved.
"T.C.-chan, you have no idea how much I love you right now."
She smiled mischievously at him.
"You better. Not quite ready to be out, huh?"
Neji shook his head as a negative.
"Unless my uncle suddenly finds himself accepting of such relationships, I doubt he would approve at all."
T.C.'s face turned sour at the mention of the Hyuuga patriarch; she knew him to be haughty and unpleasant and did not like the Hyuuga family's self imposed segregation and near enslavement of its members. Her gaze softened as she looked at Neji's hitae-ate clad head, knowing that underneath was the symbol that chained him to his family until death. She twitched in disgust. Poor Neji...
"Wanna crash at my place for a bit? Hinata's with her teammates and I would think you're get tired of the Hyuuga compound. Everything seems so…formal there. When Hinata comes back maybe we could find Kankuro and all go out to eat dinner. That sound okay?"
Neji nodded gratefully; it was true that he needed a break from the oppressiveness of the Hyuuga residence, and dinner with friends and his boyfriend sounded awfully nice.
'T.C. and Hinata haven't even confessed to each other, and I already see her as another cousin. Well… maybe closer to a big sister.'
Gaara dreams.
He dreams of a tainted childhood, and hands stained with the blood of his uncle. He dreams of bloodshed and slaughter, and of sand that reeks of blood. He dreams of bright blue eyes and blonde hair, of laughter and being surrounded by friends. He smiles slightly; it was nice to know that he could be happy, even after going through hell during his childhood.
Naruto dreams
He dreams of scathing glares and ugly whispers, of abandonment and loneliness. He dreams of a kind smile mixed with fierce scolding, and of two teammates and a sensei. He dreams of red hair and green eyes, of sand and leaves. He is happy.
Then it changes.
The green eyes are replaced by slitted gold ones that glare maliciously, and the leaves are replaced by red clouds on a black sky. He feels fear, absolute and total fear, and cries out…
Gaara is awakened by whimpers from his mate and he worries. He starts to stroke Naruto's spiky blonde locks after he cries out, and the other boy seems to relax into the ministrations. A sleep hazed blue eye flickered open.
"Gaara… don't leave me."
The words are whispered so quietly he barely makes them out. He places a gentle kiss on Naruto's forehead.
"It was just a nightmare, Naruto… go back to sleep."
The blonde nods sleepily, soothed by his mate's presence. He quickly slips back to sleep, but not before wondering about the nightmare and what it had implied.
'Akatsuki…'
TBC
Okay, so right now I'm thinking of putting a few more chapters of this to lead up to a sequel. I also want to post oneshots for Hinata and T.C. and Neji and Kankuro. Just thought i'd let you guys know.
Peace out!
Please Review, I love you all dearly.