Sixty-two reviews! For one chapter! You readers are awesome! I just hope there's still some sort of interest in this story.
Well, sorry it took so long. Here's the new chap.
Now, before we move on, Miia might seem a little OOC in this chapter, but remember, it was specifically stated that she was extremely worried about meeting her host.
II: Family
The ground beneath his feet shuddered and quaked without end, cracking and tearing apart, reverberating with the sound of a great explosion, and revealing what lay below the earth.
Heat rose high above him, emanating solely from the earth's disturbed mantle and crust. He looked up in horror, watching helplessly as those around him—his comrades, his friends, fell to their doom, swallowed up by the world's gaping maw. Never to see the light of day again.
Hundreds more were gone in an instant, incinerated by tongues fire raging past him, searing the air with immense heat. His own skin burned, his very flesh screaming as the flames surrounded his damaged body, dancing over his shoulders, licking at his tattered clothing without mercy.
Through the black, suffocating smoke, his eyes trained on one man—that monster of a man—uninhibited by gravity as he stood on thin air. The black-haired man panted with exertion in the clouds, missing an arm, blood leaking from the severed limb. The man's rippling eyes stared him down, glowing with sinister intent as the light of the moon filled the night sky—as though the death that transpired at the man's hand was of no importance what so ever.
Rage bubbled up in him, remnants of the joint chakra of nine Biju roaring, churning violently within him like the turbulent oceans of the sea.
Even though he stood tall, he could feel exhaustion taking its toll. His vision blurred. The world around him swirled and swayed. Agony filled his senses. His ribs were all but cracked, the blood from his veins matting his forehead, pouring out from injury after injury.
"Madara..."
He whispered, glaring at the apathetic man hanging on the air. His legs buckled beneath his feet, too weak to sustain his weight. His clothes were all but gone, torn to shreds by fires so hot that it vaporized the rocks surrounding him.
He had been fighting for what felt like days. Most of his comrades were gone. Either dead, or dying, or far too injured to fight.
But even then, he would not give up. He would do everything in his power to end this whole mess, this madness. Because there were still those who needed him. Those still depending on him to end the shortest, yet bloodiest war in history. Children too young to fight. Those not trained in the Shinobi arts.
Those who could not fight for themselves.
Too many had given their lives for his sake. And their sacrifices never left his thoughts. Not even for a moment. How could they? For he had seen the determination in their eyes, even moments before they gave up their last breath.
His gaze hardened, crimson eyes glowing with determination.
Golden flames covered his body one last time, supplying him with the strength to finish the man who had taken so much from the world. So much from him.
He would not give up.
Never.
A young man awoke with a start.
And then he sucked in a sharp breath, jerking up suddenly, painfully, without the slightest bit of control.
For a while he could do nothing but lay still, unable to move, panting and heaving with exertion as consciousness slowly returned to him. A fresh sheen of sweat slicked his skin, drenching his loose clothing, prompting him to shiver against the icy touch of the air. Pain racked his aching body, pulsing up and down his spine in endless, sporadic waves.
His semi-conscious mind went blank, trying in vain to remember what had happened to him.
Trying to figure out why he was in so much pain.
"Ugh!"
A sudden groan escaped his lips.
It was then that he realized he was not lying on the softness of his bed, or anything soft for that matter. Instead, he was lying face first on the rough ground, arms and legs sprawled limply at his sides. He opened his blood-shot eyes to a spacious room devoid of light. Papers, brushes, and books littered the dimly illuminated room, scattered haphazardly across the floor without care. Various symbols and designs occupied nearly every piece of paper, some primitive in structure, others intricately constructed.
The young man lifted his head with a low groan, raising a trembling hand to his pounding skull. Pain pulsed through his trembling body. His physique—on the outside—seemed relatively undamaged, but on the inside so much more was occurring. And after a brief moment of respite, he choose to sit upright, patiently lifting his body so that his chest was off the ground and his knees supported him.
Piercing pain ravaged his pounding skull. He looked around in confusion, wondering dimly what he was doing in such a messy place.
Wha… what happened?
The simple question echoed through his hazy mind. But his confusion lasted only momentarily as images of his last actions suddenly flashed through his mind, flaring with the speed of a flickering flame. Then he remembered.
When he truly looked around his surrounding area again, disappointment and dejection flooded him like the blood in his veins.
"Damn, it didn't work, again." He mumbled to himself, closing his eyes and releasing an exasperated breath.
Despite his weariness, the blonde male decided to stand up. He swayed like a drunken man on his feet, tentatively reaching out to the nearby wall for support. It took him only a moment to regain his bearings. But once up and steady he looked down at a large piece of paper between his feet.
It was a seal, with swirling patterns etched into the paper with impressive precision.
He reached down to pick it up, and dissatisfaction filled his gaze as he took in the complex design. All his hard work. All his hours spent researching, using what little knowledge he possessed, trying to find the right patterns, the right seal arrays. All of it had still yielded no successes. Now, his latest attempt had been like all the others.
A failure.
He crushed the piece of paper in his hand and tossed it into a nearby trash bin.
"Another failed attempt, huh?" He sighed, painstakingly bending to pick up the sea of papers that surrounded him. Then, as if realizing that the papers were too much for him pick on his own, he brought his hands up into a strange sign.
The very symbol of his favorite technique.
"Kage bunshin…"
Suddenly, nausea filled his body, his stomach churning dangerously as he collapsed to the ground in a heap, breathing heavily as he struggled to fill his lungs with precious oxygen.
"I can't even make a clone?" He groaned. "Just how much chakra did I use?"
The only time he had ever felt like this was when he was training to develop his wind-natured Rasengan. He had been up for hours, pushing his body to its limits, breaking those limits, and achieving heights he never before possessed.
I guess the seals took up more chakra than I'd thought.
After another moment spent regaining his strength, he rose with a grunt, careful not to try any more taxing maneuvers. He looked back at the mess one more time before heading up the stairs that led out of his basement, promising himself to clean it up later.
He would recover soon enough.
He always did.
Who am I?
A simple question.
He stared into the sea-blue eyes of a single person—himself—reflected by the mirror that now stood before him. His spiky blonde hair was slicked with sweat, matted down against his forehead as he rinsed his face with cool, refreshing water. His visage was angular, his skin a healthy shade of tan, and lean muscles, obtained only through hard work, occupied every inch of his visible frame. He reached up to touch his face, gently trailing the three whiskers etched into each cheek.
A glistening emerald necklace hung from his neck.
That's right…
He sighed softly, lips curling upward into a sad smile.
He was Naruto Uzumaki.
The last Shinobi.
He stepped into his shower, shedding his drenched clothes as cool water cascaded from the nozzle above him, pelting his face and skin with unrelenting pressure. The water's touch was icy against his skin, jolting his weary mind back to full awareness for the first time since he awoke.
In the midst of all around him, his mind still managed to drift, leaving the sensations of the world behind as he contemplated his present and past life.
How long had he been here?
He wondered dimly, clenching and unclenching his fists as a tremor of cold ran down his spine.
How long had it been since he'd been forcefully pulled from his home?
And stranded in a world far different from his.
His eyes narrowed to slits. The image of a single man flashed in his mind. A detestable image that never ceased to make his blood boil.
Madara.
How long had it been since he had sacrificed himself to protect those nearest and dearest to his heart?
"Three years..." He whispered.
It had been three long years since he had awoken in the country of Japan, half dead and dying, screaming in agony and grief as the world he'd always known was torn away from him, leaving his people behind to rebuild their lives in an area decimated by war.
He had defeated Madara.
In the last and desperate effort to end the man's plans, he had chosen to take both himself and the Uchiha to the grave. He had used his very body to protect his fallen comrades. He had used every drop of chakra left in him—coupled with an immense amount of nature and biju chakra—to form something that the ancient Uchiha could never survive.
Something that Naruto should have never survived.
It had hurt. Never in his life had he felt such agony. His skin burning, turning dark as his body was torn apart. Shattered. Broken. And the explosion from his final technique. That had been the worst part. Feeling his very body coming in contact with such energy.
Madara had been obliterated, turned to ash beneath his glowing palm, unable to withstand so much natural energy.
But Naruto didn't die.
Even as the nine biju were torn from his body, leaving nothing but their chakra behind, choosing to protect him over themselves and die in his stead.
He was supposed to be dead. He knew that much. Yet, despite being caught in such an explosion, he had lived, waking up in a land far different than his own.
He had lost so much.
Too many comrades had perished.
Too many irreplaceable lives ended by the Juubi's last host.
Those who had been at his side since he was twelve years of age, killed without any remorse. Those who had fought at his side. Ate at his side. Slept at his side. Most of them were gone in a flash of crimson flames.
Neji had been the first to go, killed as he tried to protect him.
Then bee, unable to survive without the Hachibi sustaining his body.
And then Hinata…
The only person—save for his mother—to ever say they loved him. She had been showed no mercy.
She had died in his arms.
Kakashi, his sensei, had been on the verge of death when Naruto last saw him, with Sakura struggling to keep those that remained alive from death's door.
Then there was Sasuke.
What had happened to him, Naruto did not know. The young Uchiha had been at his side till the very end, supplying him with more than enough Chakra to finish Madara off. The result of such energy had been the end of the ancient Uchiha. But Naruto, surviving, had been tossed without consent through space and time to a land of technology beyond his wildest imaginations and comprehension.
He knew that the biju within his body was the reason he had survived. He could no longer feel their presence in him. But remnants of their chakra still remained. A parting gift to him. Forever to be at his disposal in his time of need. Enough of it to keep him alive.
And even though three years had passed, he chose to never forget his home. He had lost much, but he had healed. Gotten past the losses and moved forward.
A small smile graced his lips. He wondered just what was happening there at the moment. He could almost imagine the rebuilding of a war-torn world. He really desired to know. And that was why he was working towards a way to finally get back home.
He sighed softly, stepping out of his shower with strength renewed, wrapping a fresh towel around himself. He left the bathroom without a sound and walked towards his bedroom. Naruto took in what had been his home for over two years, acquired through his service to the Japanese government. It wasn't large. Nor was it small. Even though he had earned enough money to purchase a home four times the size of his current habitation, he chose not to.
Because he saw no need to. After all, he was the only one living here.
He strode into his room with a yawn, shielding his eyes as sunlight streamed in through open curtains.
It was bright.
A new day had come.
He had always loved the sunlight. It never ceased to remind him of the land or fire. It always reminded him of his time spent traveling the country with Jiraiya.
"Listen closely brat, I'm going to tell you a secret. The secret to a woman's heart."
The pervert of a Sannin had once said, leaning in to whisper the words of wisdom into his young ears. Naruto chuckled at the vivid memory, recalling that he hadn't been too concerned with girls at that time. Only with getting stronger and becoming Hokage. But the more power you gained, the more responsible you had to be for your actions—something he had learned through the years.
Wasting no time, he put on an orange and black shirt with equally dark pants and stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"What am I going to do today?"
Another yawn escaped his lips as he laid on his bed, sinking into his sheets with a blissful sigh.
Work on his seals, his only way back home.
Or take a nap.
Tempting…
But he chose the latter.
Reaching for the remote at his side, he turned on his TV with the press of a single button, and on the screen appeared a woman talking with a wide smile.
"Active for the past three years, the extra species cultural exchange program has been a success among all fractions of Japan…"
The reporter spoke as footage of various extra-species people interacting with their host family was shown. Naruto closed his eyes and leaned into his orange pillow, letting loose yet another tired yawn. If there was one thing that truly fascinated him about this world, it would be the existence of unique humanoid species that had been so greatly talked about his first year in the country of japan.
Not that he had been alarmed or anything. Seeing unique creatures had been the norm back in his home. From talking toads, to intelligent hounds.
Japan.
He mused, suddenly pondering the nation that he—for now—called home.
His mind drifted to the very first day he had awoken in this strange land. Even now, after three years, he still hadn't quite adjusted to life in a world dictated by technology far beyond that of his former home. He still remembered when he first awoke. It had been a dark, and blurry day. The first thing he had seen were the sleek, towering buildings that rose to touch the starless night sky—just before he had been surrounded by hundreds of military personnel; each of them pointing advanced weaponry in his direction.
He had been too weak. Too damaged to do anything. Too wounded to move, to even speak. Yet they remained cautious. Fear had filled their gazes, paralyzed them in their boots. Some even shook as he looked at them with slitted eyes.
But it was only one person who had gathered the courage to approach him. Even though he had been surrounded by orange flames of fire.
One person.
Sumike.
Miss Smith.
A small smile etched across his features.
She had stood at his side—walked into the flames—knowing nothing about him, yet believing that he meant them no harm. She had even helped him to adjust to life in japan. Even allowed him to stay with her for nearly a year. So that she could convince the Japanese government that he had no nefarious plans being formulated in the shadows.
As he recalled the first person he'd ever met in Japan, he couldn't help but feel like he was forgetting something. Something very important. As though today was more essential than the last.
Naruto's mind wandered as he slowly drifted into sleep, finally succumbing to the chakra exhaustion of the previous day.
…
Then the sound of his door bell jolted him back to awareness.
Huh?
He jump up with alarm, eyes widening as the sound once again reached his ears.
Who could possibly be at the door so early in the morning?
The blonde Shinobi glanced at his clock, and frowned when he saw the actual time.
It was two hours past noon.
Not so early in the morning, then.
He groaned in exasperation, making his way out of the room quickly. He didn't know how long he'd been asleep, but judging by the amount of ringing, there was little doubt in his mind that the people—or person—waiting at his door would be getting irritated. As he turned a corner, moving swiftly through a small hall, heading down the stairs, his sharp eyes took in the place he presently resided in, inspecting it for any sign of dirt or mess. He found little, but he still rose his hand to form a seal, calling forth a clone with some effort.
His chakra had still not returned to normal. And sure, he could have used the some of the Biju chakra within his body, but he decided not to. Using such power, even the smallest amounts, still had the ability to startle the people of this world. They didn't possess chakra themselves. Yet they could still feel its enormous energy output. So he avoided calling upon it unless it was necessary. Lest he frighten his relatively good neighbors.
The clone appeared before him with a lazy wave.
"Clean up a little, alright?" Naruto spoke, referring to his slightly messy home. The clone observed the living room for moment, scowled, then went to work.
When Naruto finally reached his front door, a feeling of dread washed over him.
I wonder who…
Then he opened his door.
And his eyes went wide.
"Whoa, Sumike, is that you?"
Standing there before him was a woman. The very woman who had protected him when he awoke in the country of Japan. Dressed in a professional suit and tie and skirt, she stood with her arms crossed beneath her sizable chest, her ever-present glasses obscuring her hazel gaze.
He was quite pleased to see her. A familiar face. A trusted friend.
"It's been a while, hasn't it, Uzumaki." Miss Smith spoke.
Naruto grinned, scratching the back of his head.
"What has it been, two months? You never visit. Ever since I stopped working with the government."
The coordinator smiled faintly.
"The work load's been to the roof since you left the service."
The service…
She had spoken, referring to the time he had—after gaining the trust of the Japanese—been part of the Cultural Exchange Security Squad, commissioned to escort extra-species people from their hidden nation to their host family. All of this to provide protection in a world that had just been introduced to the existence of people so much more different from them. There had been great concerns that radicals—those not willing to accept these humanoid beings—would act out and potentially harm them as they attempted to learn about human society.
And that's where he came in, along with countless other men and women. They had been needed to insure the safety of those extra-species brave enough to venture out of their homeland, and into a society that they knew nothing about.
That was one of the things he truly admired about the extra-species.
Their strength, their ability to attempt something most would not.
Needless to say, he'd taken up countless missions. Visited lands far from Japan. And met creatures he never knew existed.
"So what brings you here?" He asked. "And who's she?"
Naruto had long since noticed the girl standing at Miss Smith's side. But he had chosen not to mention her until now. The girl herself was beautiful. Only a few times had he ever seen someone as stunning as she was. Her eyes were bright, yet fearful. Her skin smooth and unblemished. Her hips wide and shapely. Her crimson hair seemed to glow against the sun's piercing rays.
And then he noticed her tail.
A Lamia?
He had never met one before.
The girl looked nervous. He could see her hands trembling at her sides. Her amber eyes finding everything else fascinating but him.
"This is Miia." Sumike introduced.
Miia.
It was a nice name.
Naruto stretched out a hand in greeting, taking the girl's very hand in his own. It was smaller than his own. Warm. Soft to the touch.
"She's the one who will be living with you for a while."
When the raven-haired coordinator uttered those words, Naruto could not help but go rigid with shock.
Complete and utter shock.
His eyes went wide, moving from the girl to Sumike and back again.
Ah, Shit!
"Wait… what? That was today?!"
Of course it was today.
Naruto mentally scolded himself.
He quickly let go of the girl's hand, unconsciously scratching his whiskered cheeks in shame. Two months ago, he had, somehow, someway, been convinced into taking in an extra-species person for the cultural exchange program.
It had been two months ago.
Two months.
And it had escaped his memory long before the day came.
Which was in fact… today!
Damn.
"Sorry!" He apologized quickly, bowing his head to the girl before him. "I guess today slipped my mind."
There was a pause.
"I-It's okay."
The girl, Miia, spoke to him for the very first time, fidgeting as he pinned her with his gaze.
And he kind of found her nervousness cute.
"…Really?"
The Lamia nodded slowly, hands absently gripping her bag's handle. Naruto himself sighed with relief and hastily opened his door to allow both females entry. "Then please come in."
"Hm, this place is cleaner than I expected."
He did nothing but chuckle at Miss Smith's words. His clone had long since finished its job and departed from the physical world, while leaving behind the memories of its efforts in cleaning the home.
As Naruto turned to close his door, he spotted something outside that made him pause. He saw the car, saw the girls smiling at him from behind closed windows. Turning around once again, he tapped Miss Smith on the shoulder, prompting her to face his direction. Ahead of them, Miia moved within the house slowly, cautiously, yet curiously assessing her new surroundings with child-like fascination.
"What is it?" Asked Miss Smith, removing her dark glasses.
The blonde Shinobi pointed out the door. "Why is the Mon team outside? I thought only one would be enough."
Sumike smirked and turned around, inadvertently swaying her hips as she walked.
"Hey, when I mentioned your name, they all jumped at the opportunity to see you."
Huh…?
Whatever she meant by that, Naruto wasn't quite sure. So ignored it, peering out his door and giving the five girls a small wave.
By the time he reentered his home, his two guests were already moving about the living room, Miia herself stopping to observe one of the things he'd mounted on his wall.
"Cool, isn't it?"
The Lamia jumped as he spoke, face growing red as she turned to face him.
"Y-Yeah," She admitted. "Um, what are they?"
"Kunai. One of my choice weapons."
Miia tilted her head with curiosity and reached over to touch one. Then she drew back swiftly, almost as if burned by the sleek metal surface.
She shivered lightly. "They're cold…"
Hm?
Naruto wondered what she'd meant by those words, reaching over to touch the kunai himself. But before he could voice a question, the extra-species coordinator cut in.
"You know," She began, while pulling a few documents out and shaking them in midair. "We still have some important things get to."
The blonde crossed his arms over his chest.
"Like what?"
"Paperwork, of course."
A groan rose from his throat at the mention of paperwork. He never had liked signing papers.
"Come on Sumike, can't we just skip this?"
The coordinator shrugged. "Afraid not. It's protocol."
"Stupid protocol," Naruto mumbled, turning to Miia once again. She was still silently observing his home and tugging around her single bag. "Miia."
She turned to him. "Huh?"
"You can leave your bag here if you like."
The Lamia complied with a small nod as he led his guests through the house, trying to find a room that would be suitable for signing the papers. He soon found one. The one close to his Kitchen. It was a relatively empty room, save for the many books that occupied a few shelves. But he rarely used it. The room contained a single table with no chairs around.
"Well, I think we can sign the papers here," Said Sumike as she sat down, laying her files on the table with Miia choosing to sit next to her.
So Naruto sat in front of them, sighing as he eyed the papers before him.
"I have to also read a few rules, alright?" The coordinator continued.
Both he and Miia nodded.
And Sumike opened a small book.
"Ok. Firstly, according to the 'Cultural Exchange Between Species Bill', you, the host, are to at all times, know where your guest is. You cannot leave them—Miia in this case—to do, or go wherever they please out of your home, without you at their side, or with special permission from a coordinator."
She paused to make sure both he and his guest understood.
"Number two. You, the host, are to in no case, bring about harm, or harm, your guest. Same goes for the guest. Any such harm is punishable by-"
"Sumike." Naruto interrupted, laying his head against the wooden table. "I already know all of this. And I'm sure Miia does too. Let's just skip it."
Miss Smith stopped reading for a moment. She seemed to ponder his words. Then she glanced at Miia, who, as well, seemed unwilling to listen to all the details of the bill.
"Are you sure?" She asked.
He nodded.
"What about you, Miia?"
The girl nodded, looking down at her hands. "I had to memorize most of it, before I left my home."
"Fine then, on to the signing it is."
Finally. Naruto thought, leaning in to get a pen. The signing process took a bit longer than he had expected. But they still concluded faster than if they had chosen to listen to all the rules. By the time the papers were finished, Miss Smith rose with a sigh. She looked at him with a tired yawn, pressing her files against her bosom.
"Go make me some food, will ya?"
Naruto scowled, vigorously shaking his head. "No way, Miss Coordinator. I think you should be getting back to the girls you left in your car."
"But you cook so much better than me now." She almost whined, but Naruto was not deterred. Perhaps he would cook for her another time. Just not now. Miia was his primary focus at the moment. And plus, he could never truly tell when Sumike was joking or not. So he didn't know if she actually being serious.
"Oh well." The coordinator shrugged and glanced at the girl sitting next to her. "I'll be leaving now. Take care Miia."
The Lamia nodded with a small smile.
"And Whiskers?"
Naruto grumbled at the use of that nickname.
"Yes?"
"I need to speak to you before I go. Outside."
"Why not here?" He asked, curious of what she wished to talk about, because she had sounded quite serious. More serious than she normally was.
"It's important." She urged and began turn around. "Come on."
Naruto rose a brow, but didn't argue.
"Sorry, Miia, I'll be right back, ok?"
The girl fidgeted as he spoke, looking at him with her bright amber eyes.
"Ok…"
"Now, you want to talk about what?"
They stood at his front door once again. Miss Smith was preparing to leave, putting her dark glassing back on as she opened the door.
"Make sure you take care of her." She said. "Miia might seem strong, but she was honestly scared about meeting you today."
"She was, huh?"
Naruto could tell. Nearly all extra-species people who met their host family for the first time were nervous. Part of his job on the Cultural Exchange Security Squad had been reassuring those he had been escorting.
"Yup." The coordinator nodded. "I know you've met many extra-species over the last few years, but treat her well. Protect her. She's basically your family now, if you think about it."
Family…
It was a foreign word to him. A distant concept. Something that he had never truly had, for his parents had been killed just moments after his birth.
He replied firmly, "You know I will."
"And Naruto," Sumike spoke, using his first name for the first time.
"Hm?"
"I want you to keep an eye out."
"For…?"
"Suspicious activity. Countless people are still not in total agreement with the whole integration process. And I fear that they won't be for a long, long time."
Naruto nodded slowly. "I will."
She opened his door wider so that she could leave. But half way through the door she stopped.
"You know, we could still use you on Cultural Exchange Security Squad."
"I know." He sighed. "But…"
"But?"
"I've been working on a way to go back home."
Sumike's eyebrows rose, but her glasses covered her yes.
"I… see."
Naruto returned to find Miia still in the room, seated in front of the table, hands resting against gently her lap. Her posture was stiff, her eyes serious, focused, anxiously awaiting his imminent arrival. She seemed focused on trying to impress him. Trying to please him with her calm, quite demeanor.
Hmm.
He quickly decided that he didn't like it when she was nervous. No matter how adorable it made her look. But he could understand her circumstance and reasoning. She had left her home. Left her kind. Her way of life. Even her familiar surroundings. All to attempt and experience new things, while aiding in the bringing of two species closer together.
Human and extra-species.
So he didn't blame her for her fear. She was just like him. Caught in an environment completely unfamiliar to her. But, unlike her, he physically resembled a normal human. He could only imagine what was going through her mind at the moment.
He chose to walk in with a smile, scratching his hair as he found her surrounded by all the books he possessed.
"Sorry I took so long."
Miia looked up, startled from her thoughts as he approached. She looked even more fearful, her cheeks reddening at seeing him.
"It's okay."
He sat down in front of her with a small sigh.
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
He scratched his golden hair with a hand, eyes growing downcast as he spoke.
"I'm really sorry for not remembering you were coming."
He paused for an instant.
And the girl before him looked shocked, her own eyes widening at his words. Then the smallest of smiles found its way to her lips. A subtle, yet heartwarming smile. A smile that he would like to see more often.
"Today is an important day for you. I just hope I haven't messed it up." He elaborated, hoping, wishing that he hadn't hurt the person he was supposed to be caring for.
"No, you didn't ruin anything." She said softly, looking down at her hands again.
Her words eased his fearful thoughts.
So she wasn't angry. He was glad.
"Thanks." He sighed with relief. "Now that were over that, let's start over, ok?"
The pretty Lamia looked confused for a moment, a thoughtful expression crossing her features, but realization soon lit her amber eyes. She slowly stretched out a hand to him. Just as she had done when they first met. But they were starting over now. Meeting each other again. For the second time.
"I-I'm Miia."
Naruto took her hand in his and smiled. "I'm Naruto. Nice to meet you."
But then his smile fell, turning into a frown as he felt it. Her shaking. He looked up at her curiously, watching as her hands shook in his, watching as her whole body shook. He knew that she wasn't shaking out of fear.
No.
It was something else.
She's shivering.
"Are you okay, Miia?"
The Lamia drew her hand back slowly, shaking her head, trying to still her apparent quivering.
"N-No. I'm alright."
Naruto was not convinced. He leaned in closer and inspected her for any other signs.
Was she sick?
No…
She was…
"You're cold, aren't you?"
A tentative nod answered his question.
"I should have known. You're a Lamia, a Poikilothermic."
She her head snapped up suddenly. And her mouth opened slightly in shock. "You know about that?"
"Of course I do. I've met many others like you." He rose from his place on the ground. "Even though it's summer, the air-conditioning still makes you feel cold."
She silently agreed.
"Well, we don't want you feeling uncomfortable now, do we?" The blonde Shinobi smiled and turned to leave the room.
"Wait, you don't have to…"
He did not heed her words. Only left to get her something to ease her predicament. It took him only a few seconds of searching to acquire a blanket—his blanket—long enough and thick enough to provide her insulation and warmth. When he returned to the room, she was still shivering, her eyes growing heavy, drowsy, and he could feel guilt clawing at his chest.
He should have figured it out sooner.
Naruto walked to her side—much to her surprise—and knelt down. It was at that moment that he truly took in her striking features. She was even more beautiful up close. And her tail, her sleek yet scaly tail, seemed to glimmer in the light of the room.
"What're you…?"
She trailed off into a whisper, cheeks tinting pink as he laid the blanket on her, making certain every exposed part of her tail was covered.
"There. Now, you're all covered."
Another small smile found its way to her lips. "Thanks." She mumbled.
Naruto nodded at her gratitude, standing from his place on the ground. "I'll make sure to turn the AC down to a stable temperature."
"Wait," She sat up slightly. "You don't have to do that."
"Don't worry." He waved her off. "I want to."
"But won't you be uncomfortable?"
"Nah. I'm used to warmer weather anyway."
The girl before him was smiling more often now. Though it was still barely noticeable. It put him at ease. Made him feel that he was being a relatively good host.
He raised his arms in a stretch. "So, Miia, what do you want to do?"
She seemed to ponder his question. Miia opened her mouth to speak, but closed it a moment later, suddenly finding her hands more interesting than him.
"I… I don't really know."
Naruto clasped his hands together in thought.
"How about I show you around the house?"
Miia followed closely behind him. Her host. Her long anticipated host.
Naruto.
She tested the strange, unfamiliar name, feeling it echo through her mind, making sure that she never forgot it.
Her slitted, amber eyes were wide and alert, taking in as many details of her new home as she possibly could. It was an almost surreal experience to be in the home of an actual human.
And so far she was enjoying it.
She looked back at the room she was just in. There were many books placed on shelves, and her curiosity had been aroused: because she loved reading. Anything with words within, she would always be gravitated towards it.
Ever since she was little, she had adored books. Especially the ones that spoke of human culture and human living. She remembered reading fairytale books for hours on end, falling asleep and imagining what the world outside her home was like.
What humans were like.
They had always fascinated her, and the fact that they managed to dominate the earth without any defining physical attributes.
Human society had also been an interest to her, how they lived, how they talked, how differently they perceived the world.
She had always desired to know.
And now, many years later, at seventeen years of age, she was in the presence of a human. From now on she would live under their roof. Under their care. Under their protection. She may not look it, but Miia was quite intelligent. She had learned Japanese in less than three years. She had been thoroughly dedicated to the interspecies integration program.
Miia chanced a glimpse at her human host, observing his smiling face, his golden hair, and strange whiskered cheeks . He was a little ways ahead of her, and he still gladly showed her room after room of his home.
He showed her his kitchen, his restrooms, let her see more of his living room. He let her see just about every room in the house.
She unconsciously gripped the blanket he had given her, cheeks heating as she recalled the moment he had given her his possession.
He's kind. She thought meekly.
Miia had come to this realization within the first few moment of their meeting.
He had forgotten that she was coming today. And while it had initially upset her, the fact that he apologized with such fervency made those feeling of sadness dissipate. His gaze had held such dejection. Such remorse. Just because he had forgotten. That alone was enough to make her forgive him.
Then there was his eyes, his bright sea-blue orbs that spoke of past fraught with pain. They held no judgment. No prejudice. When he had first laid eyes on her, there had been no fear, no disgust.
Only curiosity.
And she was curious about him as well.
His past. His reasons for joining the inter-species exchange program.
He had taken steps to insure her comfort. He'd even been able to figure out that she was poikilothermic.
Miia once again clutched the blanket in her hands, bringing it closer to bosom. It wasn't long enough to completely cover her lower body, but was still nice, soft, providing her with the proper insulation of her body heat.
"Miia."
She was suddenly pulled from thoughts by Naruto, who was now standing next a wall.
Next to what looked like a thermostat.
"Yes?" Miia answered, gazing at him attentively.
"What's a nice temperature for you?"
Huh?
She nearly froze with shock. He was still worried about that? Even to the point that she could select which temperature she would like.
She spoke after a moment of deliberation, and chose a temperature both she and Naruto would be comfortable with.
"Twenty one degrees Celsius."
"Ok, great." He clapped his hands together. "Now, let's go to your room."
Miia complied and followed him, feeling the soft carpet brushing against her tail.
She spotted her bag, the one he had told her to leave, and reached to get it. But he beat her to it, hefting the bag up without her request.
"You don't have to carry that."
He waved her off again. "Don't worry about it, Miia. You're my guest. I gotta treat you like one."
"Thanks." She mumbled softly.
Her room was even larger than she had expected.
Naruto had told her it was one of the rooms he never used.
It was wide and spacious. It contained a bed so large that her tail wouldn't reach the floor when she slept.
It was relatively empty, devoid of any personal possessions. A massive window occupied the spacious room, allowing the sun's warming ray to filter into her surrounding area, reaching her skin, warming her body, restoring her strength.
"How do you like your room?" Her golden-haired host inquired, still holding unto her luggage.
Miia was speechless for a moment. She was in a room designed for humans, but still suitable to her. She was actually in a room that provided her with that which was essential for all Lamia.
Space and Warmth.
It was perfect.
"You don't like it?"
Miia turned swiftly to Naruto, waving her hands wildly in front of her.
"N-No, it's not that I don't like it, it's just…"
He rose a brow, leaning in closer. His looked distressed, worried that she was upset with the room.
"I think it's great." She added quickly.
He sighed with a grin. "That's good."
She moved around the room slowly, touching the walls, the wardrobe, until she reached the bed.
Miia chose to sit down on her new bed, testing it for comfort, and gasping at how soft it felt. She reached out with her fingers to touch the soft fabric. It was warm. A great cushion.
"I love it…" She whispered to herself.
"Glad you do." Naruto said as her put her bag on the ground. He glanced at her, then at her bag. "Is this all you brought?"
Miia nodded slowly. She had thought that she wouldn't need to pack too much. But now that she was here, she was starting to regret that decision. After all, she would be staying with him for a while.
"Then I guess we'll have to go shopping soon."
"Really?" She looked up suddenly, excitement filling her senses at the mention of shopping.
Naruto chuckled. "Yup."
He then, after a few seconds, sat on her bed, only inches away from her.
She could feel his warmth even at that distance. Not just a physical warmth. But something else. Something deeper. Something only he possessed.
When she realized she was staring, heat rushed to her rosy cheeks, and she turned swiftly away. Naruto just smiled and leaned back, resting his body against the bed.
They stayed silent for a bit. And then Naruto spoke, his voice sounding slightly embarrassed.
"Hey, um, Miia?"
She looked back and saw him lying on the bed, scratching his whiskered cheeks.
"Yeah?"
"What… does it feel like, you know, having a tail?"
There was a pause.
She blinked.
Then soft laughter escaped her lips. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, I think your tail is really amazing."
She froze for the thousandth time today, cheeks burning as she heard those words.
"U-Um, I guess it's kind of like an arm. I'm as good with it as you are with using your arms."
She waited for a response, then glanced at him.
His sea-blue eyes were shinning with fascination, gazing at her intently.
Miia blinked once more. Was he truly that amazed by her physique?
The fact that he was made her... her happy. She hadn't even realized that her heart was pounding.
Then a rumbling filled the silent room they occupied.
Someone was hungry.
And it was her.
And Naruto.
Their stomachs had rumbled at the same time.
Her host chuckled as he stood from the bed.
"Are you hungry?"
Embarrassment flooded her body, but a gentle giggle escaped her lips. "What about you?"
"I guess I am." He moved to open her door. "Come on, I'll cook something for both of us."
She nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. Maybe this was a good idea. So far she liked it here.
So far… she liked that her host was no one else but Naruto.
"Oh, and Miia?"
She sat up. "Huh?"
"You should laugh more often. It sounds… nice."
A/N: If there was one thing I didn't like about Naruto canon, it is the fact that Naruto seemed to learn nothing new on his training trip with a Sannin. A freakin Sannin! Jiraiya! So in this story, Naruto learned a little about seals from Jiraiya.
And as the story progresses, there will be a decision presented before Naruto. Whether to stay in Japan, or go back to his former home.
So Naruto isn't exactly the "Last" Shinobi, but he is the only Shinobi in Japan.
And this story will be a Harem. It will be slightly more "serious" than the original. More crimes by extra-species and human will be committed.
Lastly, I've seen some of my favorite authors doing this, so I will try it out. I will, after every chapter, ask a question. If you don't want to answer, you don't have to. But I would love to hear what you guys have to say.
Q:Who is your favorite monster girl so far in the series? Why?