I'm nearing the end of this supposed one shot... I think one more chapter ought to finish the job... Y'know, to be honest, the story's not as great as I hoped it would be... anyhow, I'll do my best to write the final chapter (or chapters).
Thank you to the wonderful people who reviewed. I may take some time off from writing, because I have seminars next week and I'm contemplating a good ending for this story. Hopefully, I can still update as frequently. Wish me luck!!
Chapter 3
The pre-dawn chill didn't bother the pink-haired medic in the least. Disturbed by yesterday's events, she began searching for answers. Her first stop had been the Inuzuka kennels. Her target, one yellow-bellied Konoha-nin by the name of Kiba. She didn't care that it was still practically night or that the Inuzuka family was abed. She had used her ninja skills, climbed onto the second floor and dropped into Kiba's room via a thankfully open window.
Now, she was jumping all over the residents' rooftops, trying to locate Naruto's elusive companion. Even as her body moved from place to place, her mind kept reevaluating the talk between her and Kiba.
He had repeated the story of having duped Naruto into accepting what was supposed to be "the most exciting and difficult S-class mission an Anbu could ever have".
Oh, Kiba hadn't lied per se. He only left out certain imperative facts. One: this wonderful mission consisted of chasing after an unclassed nukenin, who was wanted nearly in all countries for gruesome murders and vicious acts against humanity; two, no hunter nin or Anbu, had ever caught him (or if they had faced him in battle, had never returned to their own countries alive or in one whole piece) and three, this specific predator frequented a brothel in a faraway land altogether, and had an unhealthy interest for teenagers, male or female. So logically speaking, one Konoha Anbu was called in to be bait- to pose as a pleasure slave and to carry out an assassination in said bordello, with success rated somewhere between "Yeah right" and "No Chance in Hell".
Hyuuga Hinata had the guts to volunteer. Because she thought it was the right thing to do. She had heard stories of innocent lambs being ravaged in unspeakable horror and her sense of justice goaded her to slay this criminal. So intent was she on her valiant sacrifice that the main Hyuuga branch oversaw her advance-training in all manners of self-defense in the efforts to prepare her.
It was disgusting what the main family could be capable of! If Hinata were to die, they'd have lost nothing. Neji, a much more able genius, could simply rule for them. If she were succesful... well, either way, she would bring much honor to the Hyuuga name. As a martyr or as a worthy ninja.
Sakura's chest tightened painfully. Whoever was chosen was not expected to come back alive. If by some miracle that they did, that person would have been broken emotionally, psychologically... in so many ways...
The words "ninja are nothing more than tools", had never been so impressed in her mind than it did in that moment.
And Kiba... Kiba had an inkling about what the main Hyuuga's trail of thought were. He didn't like it. He told Sakura that he had mulled things over with their third teammate.It was Shino who had cemented the dog-lover's suspicions in place, with his sharp anayltic mind. At first, Kiba had offered himself in place of Hinata. If he intercepted the mission for her, she wouldn't be hurt and she would have the chance to rise up over the main Hyuuga family to change their ways; to prove that she was just as good as her cousin Neji. Maybe even more.
It was a selfless thought. An act of love.
It was just Kiba could not follow through. He would be sent away. Alone. Akamaru could not be with him. A pleasure slave did not own anything, much less have a pet. He would have been used. Sold, like common cattle and abused over and over again to slake some disgusting person's lust. He wouldn't be with the one person he loved the most. He wouldn't be able to stay by Hinata's side.
And that unselfish would-be deed turned into fear. A fear that became wild desperation...
In a toneless voice, Kiba had narrated to her just how he had approached Naruto, bought him Ichiraku ramen and persuaded him to take the mission.
"Why Naruto, Kiba?" she had asked.
A quiet murmur. "Because he has no one. He would do ANYTHING for anyone of us."
That had been the brutal truth. The cold rationale. Sakura felt her insides squirming. "Then why not ASK him point black, if you say he would do anything?"
"If I had asked and he was willing, then I would be the coward that I really am."
The heat of anger clouded Sakura's mind. "Do you think by doing what you did, that you are less of a disgusting asshole?!!! You are much, much worse!!!!"
"Don't you think I know that by now?!" Kiba had snarled, in a pained voice. "I felt that I had sunk so low... I couldn't look at myself in the mirror and I broke it off with Hinata because I KNOW I do NOT deserve her. I told her the truth... I had done it for her... and it turns out I had done it for me too. I would have gladly taken MY life, if that would ease the pain and if it would be enough payment... but dying won't fix anything! Dying means I am running away. Dying confirms that I am a loathesome coward."
Brown eyes, filled with guilt, had stared dead ahead into her own green ones. She saw in his eyes, her own guilt; her own desperation. The dignity and strength in his solemn gaze, made her feel small and petty. And she couldn't stand it... she couldn't carry on this righteous indignation, so she had left the same way she had come in.
She had tacked down the Inuzuka's side, now it was time to find this Kurama person, to talk about Naruto. Maybe, maybe... she would be able to bring back the brash loudmouth that she once knew.
Not paying attention, her foot caught a loose roof tile, sending her sliding unto the quiet Konoha streets. She saved herself from a mortifying sprawl at the last minute and chuckled. Her accident had caused her to wake up. The sun hadn't even risen yet. The redhead (and everybody else, except she and Kiba) would still be asleep.
Dusting her red frock, she walked leisurely to the park. She would await the sunrise then continue her private mission. She sat huffily on the grassy field, then lay down on her back and stared into the semi-twilight. Unbidden, thoughts of her sneaking into the Inuzuka's bedroom replayed into her mind.
"Tell me everything Kiba! And it better be the truth. Otherwise, you will never be able to reproduce and I will make your life a living hell!"
Those had been her greetings. Now she realized, they had been completely unecessary.
She chuckled again. She wondered why she was doing this for Naruto. The twerp was annoying, loud, brainless and competitive. She had disliked him. On some level, she even wished for his failures. He wasn't anything at all like the suave, cool, and handsome Sasuke. And for that she was glad.
Naruto had grown on her like fungi on a wet patch. Not that she would admit it to anyone. During those days of Sasuke's betrayal, she had felt helpless. She didn't have the power to do anything, except weep and worry. The blond had been her constant companion. He had made her laugh; had given her hope. He had been there all along...
And then, Naruto had brought Sasuke back. He had kept his promise and Sakura had been overjoyed. She was happy Sasuke had returned, but she was happier that Naruto had come home, a little worse for wear, but alive. It had shocked her to think that she would value the blond over the raven-haired teen at any given moment.
Ah, the irony.
Sasuke was as unreachable as a distant star and only Naruto had been able to get through to him. There was no room for her in Team 7. On a subconcious level, Sakura had understood that the two boys would complete each other. They were night and day and she... she was not part of that equation. It wasn't a surprise when Naruto told her that he and Sasuke were an item. That didn't mean it didn't hurt though. Sakura's love for the blond was platonic. And she wasn't competing for the Uchiha's affection. It was painful to be reduced to a passerby, while a former traitor took her pedestal.
Because of her pride and shallowness; too late did she see how important the blond was to her. She understood the lesson well, which was why she allowed herself to go out with Konoha's Green Beast. He may not have been much to look at, but he made her feel loved, needed and safe.
She now understood why she felt irrelevant in Kiba's haunting gaze. Kiba had accepted the consequences of his actions and lived with it. She... She did not.
Insecure and weak, Sakura had been enthusiastic at overhearing Sasuke and Genma's love affair. Because it meant that Naruto would come running to her, needing her by his side. Telling Naruto had been for his good as much as it had been hers.
Her shaky hand covered her eyes. Her cheeks were wet and her breathing hitched every now and then.
By telling Naruto, she had shattered the tenuous bond amongst Team 7. By telling Naruto, she had lost two people she had considered a part of her family: Sasuke resented her, even if he didn't say it and the blond was... She didn't know who Naruto was anymore. Now more than ever, she regreted what she had done.
Sobbing silently, she didn't realize she had fallen asleep.
"Sakura-san. Sakura-san." a gentle hand shook her awake. "Sakura-san, you shouldn't be sleeping out here. You'll catch a cold."
"Nhuh?" groggily, the pink-haired medic sat up. "What? Who? Hinata-chan?"
"Yes. Good morning, Sakura-san."
She nodded back in greeting, too out of it to reply. Pearl-lavender eyes peered into hers.
"You've been crying." A hand came into her line of vision and she accepted the boost from the smaller girl. "Would you like to talk about it? I may not be able to do much, but I am a good listener."
Without hesitation, Sakura told her of her doubts, her fears, her guilt and her worries. She told the female Hyuuga about her reluctant admiration for the Inuzuka, her pity for Sasuke and her love for Naruto.
Hinata was silent for a moment, a contemplative look in her eyes. "Sakura-san we both care for Naruto and we don't want him hurt. Naruto had to know the truth and Sasuke had to distinguish between love and lust. The outcome is painful, but there is never a guarantee that the same thing will not happen if Naruto had found out later from another source. If you feel that you had mistreated Naruto in the past, don't. The now is more important, is it not?"
The taller girl nodded.
"You know, if I had been there with you in confronting Kiba, I would have felt small too. I am not even brave enough to tell him I love him still." The last part trailed off in a whisper.
"It seemes this morning is a time of realization for the both of us." Sakura smiled. She put her hand on the shy one's arms. "Go talk to Kiba, ok? I happen to know that he's been awake for quite some time. I have to go redhead hunting."
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Kurama picked up the blanket on the floor, and spread it over the exhausted figure of one Uzumaki Naruto. The blond was so used to the life of a pleasure slave that he had slept very late and woke up earlier than even the birds. Knowing that this wasn't a healthy way to live, the redhead unleashed one of his helpful plants that had sent the blond snoozing in no time.
Wishing his charge a restful sleep, he went out of the apartment to get a breath of fresh air. No sooner had he opened the front door when he was met with the pink haired medic nin.
"Haruno-san." he greeted politely. "What can I do for you? Naruto's still asleep. "
The girl fidgeted for a while. She squashed the irrational tendency to blush in the face of this beautiful man. "H-hi. I just wanted to ask about Naruto. I want to know what happened to him ... out there."
The tall man tilted his head to the side. "Alright. Is it ok if we continue outside? I want to stretch my legs a bit." Closing the door behind him, Kurama followed the medic nin at a more sedate pace.
They were both enjoying the early morning sun. Neither were really comfortable in each other's company, yet Sakura knew she had to be the one to break the silence if she wanted to get to the bottom of things. "Kurama-san. How did you come to know Naruto?"
"I was one of his patrons at his workplace."
Sakura choked on a nonexistent furball. "Excuse me?"
The green eyed man glance at her. "I was a frequent costumer of his, Haruno-san. I do not usually do these things, but there was something about him that seemed like family." And altough the words were common enough, Sakura had that gnawing feeling that Kurama knew more than he let on and was speaking of some different matter entirely. "I did not bed him, if that's what worries you." Again, it was the incomplete truth. "I spent time with him because I wanted to get to know him."
The girl felt the gathering of tears in her eyes. "So he really did work in a ..."
"Not that it would make you feel better, but Naruto was hired by the owner of one of the most prestigious pleasure houses in my... country. He was most assuredly well fed and treated nearly like royalty." Kurama cut in kindly. "Too few in our homeland ever see a blond, blue eyed fox."
"Is that why you have him shackled? Because he's a fox?" came the frosty retort. "Those bangles of his may not have chains, but I can feel the chakra of someone else binding Naruto."
"It is not my doing. When Naruto had accomplished what he set out to do, the King in our land purchased him as his vassal; a reward for his brilliant services. His Majesty has been trying to catch that culprit for ages. Those cuffs also serve as protection, they let other sentient beings know that Naruto is owned by His majesty. They will not touch him then."
"Oh... is that what he meant by being owned?" Sakura mumbled to herself. "He seems to trust you a great deal. You know more about him that most people in this village do. Did he tell you about Konoha?"
"He spoke of his birthplace, yes. But he mostly talked about people. He told me about you, an Iruka-sensei and Uchiha-san. And during my later visits, I came to know about his mission and I offered assisstance."
Pink eyebrows dipped cautiously. "That was very... nice of you."
"Do you believe in demons, Haruno-san?" For a second jade eyes flashed gold. "I believe that they do exist. All of us have demons. Orochimaru is a particular one to Konoha. Naruto's target was not in any way human, that is why I offered my aid."
Sakura shivered. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she felt the need to be wary of this man. "Did he tell you about what happened with Sasuke?"
A nod. "It was one of the reasons why he accepted his mission. And it is one of the reasons why he will leave Konoha again."
I really like how Kurama's character turned out. He's speaking the truth, but he makes you think it isn't... twistedly awesome!! hahahaha Just like the fox that he is.
Bet your wondering who the "King" is eh? -wink- It's a secret. Please review. -puppy dog eyes-