Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
XxX Chapter 2 XxX
"Naruto-sama, where are we headed" Kyuubi asked.
It had been well over a thousand years from that fateful night on the year 763 when Kyuubi gained immortality.
It took him a very long time to adjust to this new life in the beginning. In fact he had begrudged naruto, cursing his name.
Though he slowly grew attached to him, he denied that simple fact. Even still he could never truly forgive naruto.
He could leave but, he choose to stay. Naruto was his master but above all else he felt that Naruto needed him. Because he could see the loneliness that took over him, the loneliness that he was sure had and would engulfed him leaving him as a mere empty shell.
Naruto ignored Kyuubi's question and continued running ahead.
"Neh naruto, stop being rude, we're all curious" Arashi asked as he followed in step with naruto flitting by his side.
"You know he had a point, Naruto" Madara, who seldom voiced out his thoughts, said.
Over the span of time naruto had made other fledglings besides kyuubi. This included Arashi, Madara, Orochimaru, Jiraiya and Tsunade.
Kyuubi was not content with this but; he learned to deal with it, because it made Naruto happy.
Though he couldn't figure out how Naruto grew so attached to them that he wanted to save them from death granting them immortality. He didn't even know why naruto choose to sire him either. And he never did ask why.
Arashi was the second he sired, turned at the age of 25. He had blonde hair, dark blue eyes, a creamy complexion and a slightly muscled build.
Next was Madara. He was sired at the age of 30, though he didn't look 30 at all. He was the opposite of Arashi, dark long raven hair, pale skin, dark obsidian eyes.
Orochimaru, Tsunade and Jiraiya were all from the same generation, friends even. Though, that changed long before Naruto turned them into vampires.
Orochimaru had almost sickly pale skin, snake like golden eyes and long black inky hair, that and an extremely long tongue; he liked to experiment on humans for his private experiments.
Jiraiya had white long hair that reached past his midsection, dark brown eyes with red lines going from the bottom of his eye lid's to his cheeks, not to mention a perverted nature he had developed over the years, having all the time in the world and in dire need of a hobby.
Now comes Tsunade, she has shoulder length blonde hair tied into two low pigtails, chocolate brown eyes and she had a knack for the art of medicine and brute strength to boot.
Naruto tilted his head slightly to the side looking at them with an introspective look. He did not give a sign that he would answer as he turned back and looked ahead. They were passing many towns and it was relatively getting closer to the ocean.
"You didn't have to follow me; you should have stayed back at the castle with Jiraiya, Orochimaru and Tsunade".
They made no move to go back.
Naruto held in a sigh "I just need to visit Europe, to quench a curiosity I have".
Picking up his pace, he inwardly groaned as Kyuubi, Arashi and Madara quickened their pace, catching up to him. There was no use; he should have known they wouldn't let him go by himself, being a pureblood and all.
The silence ticked by for a minute or two until naruto slowed down coming to a stop.
They were in front of a ferry, it was huge. Reaching into his cloak naruto took out four tickets. They gave him inquisitive stares.
"After all this time you should know by now that I know how all your minds work, I knew you would come, but had thought the little outcome of you choosing to stay would be put in my favor, alas you all seem too stubborn to be swayed otherwise" as he said this he handed them their tickets.
Naruto went up the step latter with ease the other three followed suite. The trip on the ferry would be 3 days at most.
They all ignored the stares and whispers. It was something they were all use to and had learned to ignore. They were all beautiful, had a ethereal look walking with grace that in the human eye looked more like an elegant dance.
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They all shared one big room, one in the first class section. Naruto choose this room because it was much easier if they were in one room together.
They had no luggage but they did have money saved in accounts, it was all to put the charade of being human and to not rouse so much suspicion if they did not buy food and living essentials.
"Hey Naruto how long are we going to stay in Europe" Arashi piped in breaking the silence that befell the group.
"I'm not sure, at most it would be 2 to 3 weeks, but that's just an estimate".
"Naruto it isn't like you to suddenly want to go somewhere out of curiosity, there has to be more you're not telling us" Madara muttered.
Kyuubi and Arashi waited straining their ears to hear Naruto's response.
"Ah I should have known you would question me Madara, but it's something that is rather personal. You see I need to know for certain if what I heard was true…about a certain man being alive".
Kyuubi knew of only one person naruto would keep searching for and instantly butted in.
"Naruto you can't believe such rumors like that, even with your mind reading ability you shou-".
"Not another word. This is exactly why I didn't want any of you coming" Naruto growled.
"Naruto be realistic the chances of you finding him are slim to none" Kyuubi argued.
"Even if the odds are against me I will still search. And even if I fail at least I'll know that I tried" naruto said complacently.
"If anything I think he's dead, and if he is he deserves it" Kyuubi snarled.
Naruto eyes narrowed his lips pulling back into a snarl.
Kyuubi had not noticed Naruto's warning glare, and he continued.
"I hope he dies slow and painfully for what he did"
And naruto leaped throwing Kyuubi on the floor. His nails dug into Kyuubi's shoulders.
"Shut Up!!, who the hell do you think you are, talking like that about him" naruto yelled with such emotions that Kyuubi flinched while Madara and Arashi were trying to grasp who this unnamed man was and why Naruto seemed so affected by Kyuubi's spiteful words.
Naruto's eyes were filled with rage, and Kyuubi stared back, his eyes hesitant.
"Hey guys, calm down" Arashi said nervously as naruto glared at him.
He looked at Kyuubi and then he stood his shoulders tense as he walked out.
Kyuubi let out an exasperated exhale of breath.
"I shouldn't have provoked him, I was out of line" Kyuubi mumbled.
"Who is he searching for?" Madara asked.
Looking up his voice turned disdainful "It's a vampire. But, I have no right to tell you anything about him. Even I don't know what he was to Naruto. But I will never forgive him for abandoning him".
Madara took this all in, storing this bit of information at the back of his head. Naruto would them when he was ready. And he was willing to wait, after all time was trifling. That is if you're a vampire.
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Naruto laid his head on the rail of the boat. It had gotten late so the sky had darkened and the cool breeze that caressed his golden locks cooled down his emotions.
"Why are you always so far away, I know though, that I will find you" Naruto whispered as he inhaled a short breath.
That night naruto stayed outside watching as the twinkling stars faded away and the dark black sky was replaced with a warm pinkish orange color as the sun rose from its slumber. Arashi, Kyuubi and Madara didn't see him the rest of the time while they were on the ferry.
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Naruto waited down at the port for the rest of his companions to come. The crowds were fairly large and he managed to dodge each and every one of them with careless ease.
Of course some would stop and admire him, while naruto paid them no mind opting to look forward not even batting an eye.
"Naruto sorry it took forever we got held back catching some breakfast" Arashi happily sang.
"So has your hunger been satisfied" Naruto asked.
"Yes, I'm good, though I had to eat a lot. Regular food doesn't fill me up the way blood does" Arashi whispered
Naruto couldn't agree more. In truth they could prolong the desire for blood by eating large amounts of human food. This was something Arashi did more often than not.
Closing his eyes he let his mind wander. He needed to focus his attention on tracking Madara's and Kyuubi's location. It was much easier to find another vampire if you had already met but it was much clearer as to where they were if you were the one who sired them.
He saw a building, a lobby and stairs.
He slid his eyes open.
"They're waiting"
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The streets of Europe were beautiful and magnificent. He was fascinated with the tall buildings and the archaic atmosphere. It was all serene and lively with people walking down the paved sidewalks, as others went into stores and others busy going in and out of old cars. Some riding on horse pulled cabs.
Naruto had halted a cab down not wanting to be seen and get attention, being surrounded by the bustling crowds wasn't his thing.
Even though his enhanced hearing had great advantages it also had draw backs. The sound of an engine hurt his ears to the point of it being painful.
Arashi on the other hand loved it. Most sounds were like music to his ears. He loved being with humans and helping them whenever he could.
He had warned him that getting too close to humans would be dangerous but, Arashi would protest and not listen to his logic and by this point he gave up and let Arashi do as he pleased.
As the cabbie took them deeper into the city Arashi edged closer to the window his eyes enchanted by everything that caught his eye like a child in a toy store.
Naruto on the other hand watched everything with apathy, he wasn't one to gawk at things like a new born child, it was just something trivial to him. The cabbie stopped, and Naruto looked at the rather large hotel.
It was 4 stories, painted a light green with hanging flowers at the entrance. Naruto paid the man more than what was necessary but he really didn't care about getting change.
Arashi glided out of the cabbie while naruto got out leisurely.
"Arashi, no matter what, you always act like a child"
Arashi just hmph'ed and walked ahead with naruto trailing close behind a ghost of a smile playing on his lips.
As they went through the double doors naruto scanned the room.
'Hmm there's a receptionist in the front, 4 couples to the left and some elderly to the left as well as 7 little kids further down the hallway' naruto thought.
Going to the front naruto cleared his throat getting the receptionist attention. She looked up at him and stared, she stared some more and Naruto felt like punching something. Really hard.
"Excuse me" he said coolly.
She snapped out of her stupor. "Oh I'm so sorry, how rude of me to stare, how many rooms do you need".
"I'm not renting a room but I do need a key for a room I'm staying at, it's under the name Kyuubi" he replied.
Looking through the list of names on her clipboard she looked up at him saying "Your room number is 36" as she said this she handed him a key.
He grabbed it and gave a quick thank you. Arashi who was watching smirked
"You still have your appeal, hmm old man".
Naruto glared at Arashi. Arashi had a point, he was over a thousand but, he still looked 18.
"Well I look younger than you Arashi" Naruto retorted.
"You do by 4 years but you just lookyoung, but you're really old".
Naruto knew he couldn't win and just let it drop while Arashi punched the air in victory. As they both went up the flight of stairs they didn't talk well naruto didn't Arashi kept making little comments about naruto 'needing to stop being so stiff', and that 'he should take it easy or he'd throw out his back, since he's old'.
Naruto didn't so much as twitch. While Arashi was determined to get a reaction out of Naruto. In fact he was getting something out of him it was just hidden inside.
Naruto was irked and felt like destroying a few buildings but he reframed from doing so. Reaching the white door with a gold plate with the numbers '36' written on with care was when Arashi stopped poking fun at naruto.
Naruto put the key in, turned it and you could hear a 'click' sound. Turning the doorknob he pushed the door open and was greeted by the sight of both Kyuubi and Madara sitting on two different chairs looking at him intently.
"Hope we didn't keep you waiting!!" Arashi shouted.
As he pushed past naruto and lay on the bed with a 'thump' as he just lazily rested. Kyuubi kept averting Naruto's gaze.
He couldn't look him straight in the eye after their argument, he regretted some of the things he had said and it was Naruto's business not his.
Naruto held nothing against Kyuubi, he forgave him.
That was something that relieved Kyuubi.
"I need to go hunt for a while" Naruto said as he removed his coat, having a sleeved black sweater under.
He bid them goodbye. Madara left as well, he had not fed recently and felt hungry. Arashi and Kyuubi were the only two who had already fed so they stayed in the room.
An hour ticked by, Kyuubi entertaining himself by reading a book while Arashi tried vainly to get some rest.
This was the perfect chance for Arashi to confront Kyuubi on a matter that had been bugging him as of late.
"Kyuubi I know you don't really like any of us, because we were sired by Naruto.." Arashi began.
Kyuubi looked up from his book staring at Arashi, waiting for him to continue.
"I just want to know why?" he questioned.
Kyuubi sighed "I really have no ill will towards any of you but, I felt that I wasn't enough for him. When he took interest in siring more fledging, you could say I got jealous. I knew that I was being selfish wanting to be the only one he needed, but can you blame me."
"No, I guess if I was you I'd probably feel the same but what will you do if he ever fell in love with someone? I know he hasn't showed any interest in love but what if he did?"
Kyuubi didn't do or say anything at first but after a pregnant silence he responded "I'm not sure, they'd have to get my approval before I would accept the relationship. Naruto's happiness is all that matters".
Arashi just nodded "Yes as long as he's happy".
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Naruto had now been hunting for an hour, he'd found a woman with a peculiar floral scent. He watched as she entered a bar most likely to get intoxicated by wine and other alcoholic beverages. He didn't care as long as he got his prey.
He patiently waited hidden behind the shadows for her to come out. She was dressed suitably, revealing nothing wearing a long sleeved shirt with a coat and a long skirt that reached the floor.
Her dark brown hair was pulled up into a loose ponytail, her bangs shielding most of her face. Naruto could almost feel the blood pumping through her veins. He could almost taste it in the air but waited until she came closer to the alley where he was hiding. Opportunity came as she was mere inches from him.
He sprang and was behind her in seconds. She didn't know what was going on until she felt a sharp pain. He held her with one arm supporting her as she grew weak. The blood flowed through his lips and he savored it.
His prey was getting weaker and weaker and finally he let her go. He licked her puncture wounds and saw them fade away until only an almost invisible little scratch was left, it would be completely gone the next day. He used his index fingers and put them over her wrist.
He felt a 'th-dump'. She was still alive. He picked her up and left.
The least he could do was take her somewhere more secluded, and much safer. He owed her that much.
He checked her pockets for any identification but only found the address and name of a library.
'Hmm... So you're a librarian, interesting' naruto mused.
He readjusted her limp form and was gone, deciding to take her to this library he assumed she worked at.
He picked the lock and stealthily went inside, making sure no one was around to see. He placed her on a big soft sofa that was at the far end of the building. Looking around he spotted a wool blanket near a desk, how convenient.
He grabbed it and placed it over her sleeping form. Turning to leave he felt something tugging on his pants. Turning back he saw that his prey had awoken.
Her eyes were unfocused most likely still dazed and disoriented.
"Who're you?" her words were slurred.
"Nothing but a figment of your imagination" he said soothingly as he pressed his fingers on the side of her neck effectively knocking her out.
He locked up and left. The sky had darkened as time seemed to move faster than usual. Climbing up the building and reaching the balcony he knocked on the window glass door. The curtains fluttered and he could see Madara standing their giving him a bizarre look. The door was opened and he waited for any to speak. They didn't.
"It's a beautiful night" he whispered.
Madara nodded "It truly is, the stars are sparkling and the full moon is shining with it's never-ending glow"
Naruto sighed he could still taste the blood in his mouth, it had been a while since he had tasted human blood. He didn't need it as frequently as the others.
Arashi leaned near the rail next to naruto. Kyuubi opted to being on his left while Madara stood next to Arashi. They left the silent night envelop them. There was no breeze; it was just a calm gentle current of warmth now.
As they all looked out they never noticed a pair of eyes watching them.
Tbc…