Hey y'all! I'm all happy cause I saw baby Mason today! Man, that kid can eat and go through diapers at the speed of light.
Swordsman of Shadow: Thanks! That means a lot. I hope not to disappoint!
"..": not sure what I should call you, as no name showed up. Anonymous reviewer then I guess, I shall call you nameless. Thank you for the suggestions! I haven't decided yet. Maybe "rainbow/ rainbow colored dog of insanity" Not exactly sure how that would translate, and that might be a mouthful. Yeah, I pictured Naruto just sitting enthralled at the light show. Just pictured it my head and had to put in in here. A lot of things are spur of the moment. I'm glad you liked it. :)
Most dedicated reviewer award: JSinuYasha: you'll see. the dog kind of does. but doesn't.
---- Chapter 8: Losin' it ain't cool or: Never talk to strangers
Eventually, Naruto fell asleep. His dreams were not pretty at all. Nightmarish and unpleasant all would suffice to say he didn't get a good nights sleep.
In fact the only good thing so far was last night. He'd watched the lights floating, mingling, dancing. He thought it was the best show in the world. The most mystical thing he'd ever seen. Of course, not forgetting the dragon. It had been majestic, but intimidating. Forceful might be the word.
The genin attempted to count how many day's it had been since all this started. To his panic, he found he couldn't. The knowledge, or rather the memories kept slipping away. Like an oily ball.
"Having a hard time?"
Oh no. It could NOT be the damn dog. "I should just call you the dog of insanity!" It constantly grated on his nerves. Maybe most annoying dog from hell would be better.
"I'm disappointed. I'm not from hell. I wanted a better guess."
If Naruto were to describe the dog to an artist to draw, this was what he'd tell them: it was a dog. So four legs, and a tail of course. That would be the general shape. And the dog was in relative proportion to it's body (the legs weren't to short and stubby, or long and narrow). It's fur though was in poor condition: matts and tangles were everywhere. Yet it was oddly clean. Not dirt was anywhere. Not even a speck. And as far as he knew, no fleas either. The hardest part would be to color it; it's fur was green and red. That's all he could say. Not, "Oh, red legs, green body." The most accurate description would be if it got in the middle of a paint-war crossfire. Splashes of crimson and emerald colored it at random intervals.
The teeth of course were pearly white. And he saw them. When the dog smiled. Last were the eyes. They constantly changed color; sometimes they were solid and he couldn't see any pupil. It was a wonder the thing could even see. If you mixed glue with rainbow colored glitter, he imagined that's how the eyes would look.
All in all, it wasn't a typical mutt.
"What do you want?" The twelve year old must have asked a thousand times.
And still he got no answer. Actually the dog never did anything he wanted it too. The blond was starting to feel insane.
This isn't a story about the hero. This a tale of someone's decent into madness.
"Bingo."
"W-wait! What?" Bingo what? What was the hakkyou-inu talking about.
"I already said it once: bingo."
And with that the dog dissolved into the wind.
---
Poor thing. She thought it was rather cute and had begged father. High status did have it's perks. She was giddy with excitement. The creature could barely stay still. Father had said yes! It wasn't often that the youngest of the brood got their way.
---
Finally! A village. It's all the small things. He thought.
A hot shower; being clean. Regular meals. They were part of what made you human; those creature comforts.
By now, his shoes were completely shot. The blond kicked them off. His jacket though torn (and clearly having seen better days) was still usable and he held onto it stubbornly. His pants were on the verge of destruction; the ends were frayed and the knees were torn open. The genin had a chance to clean up a bit at the river, but grime still covered him.
Plus his stomach might eat itself soon. I need food! Now! My stomach doesn't even GROWL anymore..Naruto thought mournfully at the thought of something to eat.
And unknown to him, his eyes were bloodshot. A pretty pathetic sight all around.
pit pat pit pat.
No!
He swung around. The dog.
Now he was coming to the village entrance. "What are you doing here?!" Naruto hissed.
No answer. Typical.
Trying to ignore his own personal ghost, the blond followed the dirt path into the small village (really it was just a few houses and basic stores) hoping to see a market.
A hand latched onto his wrist.
He spun on instinct, nerves completely gone. Naruto was a wreck and prepared to stick a kunai in the first thing that surprised him.
The blond's target was short, female, reddish brown hair, grey eyes. She's just a child!! Something screamed at him, stopping him from completing his attack.
Her eyes were now wide, but she was unharmed. Shame filled him, and he fled.
I really AM a monster.
Never mind she stood their watching, just as hurt. Already Nina missed her friend. She watched him sadly.
---
"Status?"
Another lower voice answered the cool tone. "Five days. .." the rest was muffled and incomprehensible to anyone else.
---
Naruto stared at his hands. Calloused, rough. They were the hands of someone who held a weapon. Who worked hard.
How could I lose control like that? What if..what if I'd..
The idea was just to terrible to think about.
You said you wouldn't cry. No one would hurt you again. Why are you being weak?
"I don't know! I don't know!" He put his hands to his forehead, fingers in his hair. The blond was in turmoil. Hungry, upset, confused.
Naruto had broken a promise; the hardest kind to keep-an oath to yourself.
Secretly, some part of him knew..though he refused to recognize the thought:
He was falling apart.
----
Kyuubi couldn't help but give a show of fangs (demons never smiled); finally the brat knew! The feeling of being trapped, in a cage. No contact with the outside world.
It was suffocating, being in a cramped dark place.
---
Like a breath, a thought brushed his mind. Go to another village. Try again.
"Why?"
He wasn't expecting an answer. "I thought you never gave up? Are you a liar as well as a coward."
Naruto was to far gone to argue with the damn dog. In fact, the blond was beginning to suspect that only he could see it.
The genin was actually starting to be glad the dog was bugging him. He was lonely,and misery loved company. He was reminded to much of his childhood and how he was a ghost, without anyone to talk to.
Still, when you fall into a depression, it was for a reason. "What's the point?" The blond said petulantly. A cloud of sadness seemed to follow him.
"Is there a point to anything?"
Once again, Naruto was asked a question he couldn't answer.
---
"Kyuubi?"
Suddenly he was in the familiar confines of his mind.
"Pathetic. You cave so easily when faced with my situation, little worm."
Naruto glared up at the fox.
Faceless fangs and glowing red eyes? Check.
Big ass cage? Check.
Sewer tunnels? Check.
Pipes? Check.
Water up to his ankles? Do you even have to ask.
"What do you want, fox?" It seems he was asking this question a lot.
"I have my pride, and my honor. I refuse to be confined in such a spineless being such as you." The sadistic ancient voice rumbled. "You are not Uzumaki Naruto."
"The hell I'm not! That's all I've wanted all my life! I never wanted to be Uzumaki Naruto, demon kid, unwanted orphan! Kid with the evil fox in his stomach!" He shouted angrily. Bitter sarcasm laced his voice. "Who wouldn't want to be me!"
The Kyuubi seemed to find this amusing. "What a fool you are. I was going to let you see the true situation you face..but now, I will just let you flounder around."
The water suddenly started rushing becoming deeper. It was soon covering his head and spinning. The last thing he heard before being thrust from the seal was this:
"Good-bye, not-Uzumaki-Naruto!"
---
Naruto lay on the grass, just thinking for a long time.
And then as the sun set, he headed back towards the village.
---
"Everything is falling into place."
---
Naruto soon reached the familiar place. First thing was food. How he was still standing was a mystery to him. Or how he was still alive for that matter.
Before coming here, he washed his face so it wouldn't be so dirty. No time to completely immerse himself in the shockingly cold water. And he left his weapons pouch and kunai holder in a hollowed out tree. The blond didn't want to risk hurting anyone on accident.
"Oh, you poor dear." His head whipped around. Oh, just an old woman.
By now he'd accepted that the dog was a shadow that came and go. Mainly it just followed him silently now. Which made him a bit paranoid cause he was always being watched now.
Nice. And creepy. Just what everyone wants; an insane stalker dog following them around.
Yep. My life is perfect.
And with that he followed her in, not noticing that he couldn't really remember her features.
---
"Thank-you." Naruto felt a bit awkward. He'd never been invited to dinner before. And apparently the little girl (the one he nearly killed), Nina, was her grand-daughter.
The blond was welcomed with open arms. The pair lived in a small cottage made of stone. It consisted of two rooms: one for eating, and one for sleeping.
Solemnly, the Hakkyou-inu had followed him in.
Right now he was seated at a low wooden table, and Nina was helping her Grandmother serve stew.
And damn, it smelled real good.
"No taking my soup." He muttered at Fuuten. Naruto hadn't forgotten the river incident.
The dog just sat by his feet, tail whapping. As if he were a normal dog. Like that'll ever happen.
----
Words: 2,001
Okay, I forced my-self to stop. I know you're thinking:Why?! But I have my reasons. I would have kept going on and on and gotten all scatter brained. Plus that means I'll have the next chapter out even faster. So Hell Yeah! I have a couple questions:
Do you want the dog to have a name? (I already have a suggestion and ideas of my own. feel free to offer names).
Does this not seem..I dunno. Crappy?/Anyone catch the vague full metal alchemist reference? (some parts were really awkward to me)/(it will give you a HUGE hint about what's coming up)
Please will someone guess what word is Sarutobi represented by inn chapter 6? (the one naruto forgets; I'll give you a hint-four letters).
What do you think the creature(s) is/are, and what are Akatsuki's nefarious plans? (I'm really curious about what you think, any crazy theories? No spoilers, Saph!)
Alright, I'm thinking of putting another story up (still working the kinks out of the Harry Potter xover dragaman) So which would you rather see?
Summary: AU Naruto's parents are alive. Cause Sarutobi did the sealing. So what? Things are only worse for the jinchuuriki and Konoha is plunged into war.
Pairings/Status: (past?) MinaKushi, others undecided. You can have influence if you let me know./I have several pages written (a chapter, maybe two).
Or:
Summary: AU. Sasuke get's to keep his family. But is the price of a child's happiness anothers sanity?
Alt. Summary: Au. Itachi's a failed genius; Sasuke must live with that shame, Sakura is miserable, Naruto bitter.
Pairings: Idk. Whatever. Nothing written down yet, but I definitely know where it's going.
So the first one, second, or both?
7/14/09
