Ranger24: I'm back. With a new chapter! Little disapointed with the lack in reviews lately. Where is everbody? Please tell me you all didn't join the Peace corp!
Chapter 12: Death watch.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Dreams roiled through Naruto's minded bending a moving to their own wills. He saw a group of around a dozen people riding on proud horses. Many had silver hair and two, who were taller than the rest, were arm and arm. He couldn't see their faces because their faces were hidden by hoods. They followed a lonely river until they arrived at a silver ship. Slowly the figurres boarded until only one remained on the shore. He threw back his head and loosed a long aching cry. The ship set out with out breeze or oars, out into the flat silent ocean. Then is the dream began to end he glimpsed two dragons in the sky.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
A ceaseless rocking was the first thing Naruto heard when he woke up. He sat up. He was almost naked and in a bed. In the corner sleeping, with an empty bottle of sake in her hands, was Tsunade the town healer. Naruto pulled the sheets off himself. His legs had been bandaged. He racked his mind trying to remember everything.
Naruto (thinking): Okay I got back to the farm Cortana went physco and draged me off to the spine. I am definatly not going to fly with out something a little more comfortable then my pants between me and her scales. Then we stayed their all night then we went back to the farm after some persuasion. Hohenhiem was out cold the house was destroyed, I hope we had insurance. Then we dragged him back to town but Cortana had to leave to rest and hide. Then I ran into Ranger and there was all of that blood and then I fainted. Damn. I wonder what happened to Ranger there was all of that blood. I hope Cortana's alright. She's probably to far away to call right now to check though.
As he finished his musings Tsunade woke up. Yawning she noticed he was awake to and sighed.
Tsunade: Well your finnaly awake. I was begining to think you'd never wake up.
Naruto: How long have I been here?
Tsunade: Two days.
With a pang of discomfort in his stomach he relaized that it had been three days since he had last eaten! His missed meals were truly what gave him pain right now. Tsunade seeming to sense this handed him a bowl of porage which he ate rapidly. Only pausing to speak.
Naruto: Hows Hohenheim?
Tsunade examined her finger nails uncomfortably.
Tsunade: Not good. he has a fever that refuses to abate and the burns have yet to start healing. I've got him up at Could's since their wasn't enough room for both of you. And I can tell you I've been on my toes between you and Hohenheim to make sure your alright.
Naruto shrugged and started eating as she contiuned.
Tsunade: They sent men down to your farm and found it destroyed. Is that how Hohenheim was injured?
Naruto shrugged.
Naruto: I don't remember what happened.
Tsunade stared at him for a moment as he continued eating.
Tsunade: Thats quite a scar on your hand.
Almost choking he realized she had seen the mark on his hand.
Tsunade: How long have you had it?
Naruto: I have had it since I can remember. Hohenheim never told me how I got it.
Tsunade: Well when your finished I'll see if I can take you to see him.
He was very glad he had come up with a story that fast. The real explanation would have taken a lot longer and would have left a lot of questions and revealed Cortana. When he finished he got of the bed and wobbled for a moment. His legs would respond but they were rather reluctant to be walking for to long.
After dressing they hobbled out over to Cloud's house. Passing Jairya's can of course.
Jairya: Please help. I'm getting hungery.
At the door Tsunade was about to knock when Tifa opened the door looking suprise but releived to see Tsunade.
Tifa: Oh good. I was just about to go and get you.
They stepped inside the kitchen.
Tifa: He's gotten worse. Wriny's doing all she can to help.
Tsunade noodded and the two of them went up stairs. In a dark room on a bed was Hohenheim. Next to him was Wriny was soaking a wash clothe in a bucket. She noodded to Naruto as he came in. Naruto rushed over to his uncle. Hohenheim was still unconious and breathing hard.
Naruto: Uncle!
Hohenheim didn't move or say anything. Tsunade set to work as Naruto examined a burn.
Naruto: Can't you do something about these?
Tsundae shrugged.
Tsundae: I've tried everything I can think of. Balms, lotions, tinctures, salves but nothing works. If they closed up he might have a better chance.
Fearing what she meant Naruto shuddered. Suddenly he felt strong arms. Grab him and steer him out of the room. Cloud dragged him back down to the kitchen.
Naruto: I want to stay!
Cloud: You need rest and a solid meal.
In the kitchen sat Roxas and Sora Cloud's two sons. Tifa was chopping up some vegtables for soup. Cloud sat Naruto down at the table. Tifa set a plate of food down infront of him and the still rather hungery Naruto started eating. Cloud sat down right across from him and spoke.
Cloud: Naruto, I know this probably isn't the best time but we need to know what happened.
Naruto swollowed.
Naruto: I don't really remember.
Cloud: Naruto.
His face grew darker.
Cloud: I was on of the men sent down to you farm. The house and barn didn't just fall apart on they're own. If theres a shade or some other monster we need to know.
Naruto quickly started to come up with as good a story as he could think of on very short notice.
Naruto: When I left town...
He counted quickly on his fingers.
Naruto: Four days ago you told me to go back to the farm because their were strangers in town.
Cloud noodded.
Naruto: Nothing happened that night. The next day when I'd finished my chores and went for a walk when I heard an explosion. A ran back to the farm and found it destroyed. I dug through the wreckage and found Hohenheim.
Naruto suddenly remembered the clothe and he pulled it out of his pocket.
Naruto: This was in his hand it matches what the strangers were wearing dosen't it?
Cloud examined it.
Cloud: It sure as hell does.
Tifa: Well what happened to your legs?
Naruto: I guess in all that diging I must have gotten the injuries.
Tifa shuddered. Cloud noodded.
Cloud: Continue.
Naruto: A grabbed a board and started dragging Hohenheim on it. Then I guess I passed out.
Roxas seemed very put out by the strangers and spoke.
Roxas: All of this speaks to much of magic and wizards. Who are these people! Are they shades or some other monsters? If we tried we could catch them in a day with a team of horses!
Cloud shook his head.
Cloud: Put that foolishness out of your head. Look what they did to the house. If they can do that to a building then you'd be torn apart.
There was an uncomfortable silence before Naruto spoke.
Naruto: Ed dosen't know does he?
Cloud shock his head.
Cloud: He and Bender left him a short time after you left. Unless they ran into trouble they'll both be in therinsford by now.
Sora: We were about to go and tell him when you woke up.
Cloud: I'll help saddle the horses.
Sora smiled and put a hand a Naruto's shoulder.
Sora: I'll break it to him gently.
With that the three of them left leaving only Tifa and Naruto in the kitchen. Naruto sat their alone to his thoughts. He thought he heard something or someone call his name but as he couldn't see anyone so he ignored it.
Cortana: NARUTO!!
Naruto almost jumped in his seat! He looked at Tifa who seemed unaffected by the voice. Keeping silent he activated the link.
Naruto: Cortana is that you?
Cortana: It's about damn time. What are you, stupid? Everytime I tried to call you I got this same very annoying woman's voice telling me the number was not inservice and to call back later! I didn't eve know what the hell she was talking about!!
Naruto: You don't have to be rude.
Cortana: Fine but tell me whats happened.
Naruto explained to her everything. When he was finished sighed.
Naruto: Were you able to eat?
Cortana: A young buck. He was inteligent enough to guard against enemies on the ground but not those in the air. When I got him he kicked feircly but when defeated was inevitable he gave up and died. Does Hohenheim face the fate same?
Naruto: I don't know.
There was a silence then he spoke.
Naruto: It will be along time before this is all over so you should get comfortable.
Cortana: Alright. But be careful.
With that their conversation ended. Naruto stood up.
Naruto: I'm going back to Tsunades to get some sleep.
Tifa looked up from her chopping.
Tifa: Why don't you stay here with us? We have plenty of room. You can be closer to Hohenheim and Tsunade can have her bed back.
Naruto: Will it be alright?
Tifa: Of course I'll get everything set up.
Naruto followed Tifa up stairs to one of the spare rooms. Once she left to get some sheets for the bed Naruto made his way down the hall. As he entered Hohenheim's room he saw Wriny coming out wiping the sweat off her brow. Noodding to her he enter to find Tsunade wiping Hohenheim's brow.
Naruto: How is he?
Tsunade smiled looking rather tired.
Tsunade: His fevers down and some of the burns do look better. This could be a sign he'll recover.
This lightened Naruto's mood and he went back to his room to sleep.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Naruto awoke in the dark. The night pressed down on him like a heavy blanket. Everything was silent. Getting out of bed he sensed something was wrong. He made for the door and saw that Hohenheim's door was open! He rushed inside to find everyone in the house along with Wriny looking at Hohenheim. He looked as if he was only sleeping. Then Naruto noticed a small silver amulet around his neck and a sprig of dried hemlock on his forehead. The last gifts from the living to the dead.
Wriny stiffled a sob.
Wriny: I thought I might call him a father someday.
Naruto felt a bitter taste in his mouth. Call Hohenheim father? Something even Naruto didn't even have the right to do. Someone lead him back to his room speaking words of comfort that he did not hear. In his room he wept openly until he fell into sleep.
Ranger24: Damn poor Naruto. Those murderous basterds will pay. Read and review!