Hello everyone! Welcome to chapter 2 of this story. Hoping you all are enjoying this so far, and thank you so much for all the reviews. I've taken the time to address some of you on pm, just to thank you and to pick at your brains a bit. I'm very happy you guys are informing me of these problems, some of which I believe I have fixed for the time being.
I've been keeping track of the reviews I've been getting on my stories, so I really wanna thank Addlax for being present in both review comment sections, as well as being very prominent in my other story's review area "The Twin Prodigies: Honored and Fallen". I'm very happy you're enjoying my content, so I hope I can produce better quality work for you to enjoy.
I won't keep you on for too long now though, so I'll go ahead and start this bad boy up right now.
—-
Furious couldn't begin to describe what Yukana was feeling right now. It was like fire entered her veins and took control of her emotions, only allowing rage to be felt. A feeling of betrayal lingered slightly within her at her friend's actions, but guilt accompanied it. She knew it wasn't the smartest thing to go off on Ranko like that, but she couldn't help it. Seeing the relationship she had strived for so long to create be put in jeopardy because of her friend's overprotectiveness just made her irrational.
Yukana was slightly mopey at the moment, so she thought of the only solution that could possibly cheer her up. The door to said solution came closer with each step she took.
Once more, Naruto was chilling in his seat, reading a book once again to pass the time. The little fight outside the building did little to change his mood. After all, he knew reactions like these would appear when he decided to accept Yukana's confession. The chance for happiness was not something he would push away.
The words on the page were skimmed over by him, not really as absorbed in reading as he usually was. The door slamming open was a reprieve to his attention. It offered a distraction for him to focus on for the time being.
"Ahhh, boyfriend~ I'm so glad you're here!" His girlfriend, may all the gods bless her kind soul, walked towards him with a smile on her face. "I'm so sorry you had to deal with that, I never expected Ranko to attack you like that…"
Naruto shrugged his shoulders. "It's no big deal, I expected it when I accepted to become your boyfriend. Not a lot of people like me, so I understand where she was coming from."
Yukana frowned, "But still, what she did was really mean, y'know? I talked to her about it, so I hope she doesn't try to attack you again." She sighed exasperatedly as she sat down in the seat in front of him, facing the back of the chair to look at Naruto. Her eyes held a warmth he'd never thought he'd see directed at him. It made his heart flutter.
Naruto nodded his head at her, closing his book and giving her his full attention. He didn't say a word to her, opting to instead observe her, taking in her features and expression.
Not minding the silence that answered her, she continued on. "But anyways, Naruto, I have an amazing idea that I totes think you'll love."
Naruto cocked his head to the side slightly, silently inquiring her to continue. Once more no words were spoken from his mouth, but Yukana took it as a sign. She twirled her finger through her hair. "I was thinkin', how about you and I have a date this weekend?"
"A date?"
"Ya, a date. Just you and me, outside having fun together, y'know?" He sat there, bewildered at Yukana's idea. Seconds passed as he computed it. "I guess I can go on a date." His soft voice was of no trouble for Yukana's ears, who cheered in delight.
"But," Ah poo, he's still talking. "What would we be doing on a date? I have no idea what couples do on dates…"
Yukana moved her chair next to Naruto's and leaned into his arm. She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes in bliss. "I was thinking of doing karaoke or something. Maybe hit up an arcade instead." She tilted her head to look at Naruto. "What do you think?"
He gained a contemplative look, weighing the pros and cons of going on a date with the platinum blonde gyaru. After mulling over it for a bit, he responded to Yukana's question. "I suppose we could go to an arcade. I'm not comfortable with singing just yet."
"Aweome! I can't wait for it!"
"Can we do Friday after school? I have things I need to do on Saturday and Sunday."
"Totally! We'll have our first date this Friday! That'll be in…" Yukana grabbed her phone.
"TOMORROW?!"
She was shot with a weird look by Naruto. "You didn't know?"
"Nooo…" A groan escaped her, before perking up. "It's fine! I'll just have to get ready extra quick for our first amazing date! I can totes do this!"
A delightful grin spread across Yukana's face, just thinking about all the fun they would have at the arcade. 'Yosh! I'm gonna show off all my arcade skills tomorrow, and impress Naruto so much that not even he'll be able to keep that nonchalant expression on his face anymore! Perfect plan for sure!'
'Why is she grinning like that?' Naruto thought in worry as he watched his girlfriend's face transform from delight to malevolent scheming. A chill passed through him just looking at it.
"Everyone, to your seats." The teacher walked in, signifying the beginning of class and another staring session for Yukana.
As class went on, Yukana's mood never dropped from its happy stage. Her head was laid on her desk as she watched Naruto, who was unaware of her gaze. 'I love you.'
She watched him. All his movements, the way his pencil moved, the way he blinked, his expression of apathetic concentration, all of it. The hidden pain in his ocean eyes, a typhoon of emotions that was caged.
It made her worried for him.
For her love.
She loved him, all of him. She didn't know what sort of past he had, why it looked like he was in more pain than she could possibly imagine. That cursed look of guarded apathy that he constantly sported.
That cursed look that she hated.
The look that she vowed to erase.
He might not even believe it, but Yukana knew her love for him was real. That it was more than some silly crush she had. Everytime she thought of him, the past encounters they had and their present situation, she felt that same feeling of butterflies and fireworks she loved so much.
'I promise you, Naruto, I'll do everything I can to bring you out of your depression. Don't you worry anymore, because your girlfriend Yukana will make it all ok'
"Miss Yame, is there something interesting with mister Uzumaki that you'd like to share with the class? You seem to be paying him more attention than my lesson." She was knocked out of her thoughts as the teacher called her out. She looked up at him and noticed that everyone was looking at her. Naruto, on the other hand, was now reading a book he pulled out from who knows where.
She didn't know why, but that made her pout.
"Well, miss Yame? Are you going to answer my question?" The teacher asked with an eyebrow raised. The student laughed sheepishly. "Sorry sensei, I totally got distracted. Won't happen again."
"See to it that it doesn't."
It happened again. She really tried, but she just couldn't do it. Then again, everyone knows it's the thought that counts.
—
The ringing of the bell reverberated throughout the school, signalling the end of class and the beginning of lunch. Everyone made their way to move to their friends, but Yukana had a different person she wanted to be with.
"Heyyy, Yukachi~. Where you goin' right now?" She turned around to the voice, greeting her friend with a smile.
"Ah, y'know~ Imma go hang out with my bf~"
"Woah, them rumors were true? You seriously got a boyfriend?"
"There's rumors?"
"Oh ya, girl~. There's a ton of people talkin' bout you gettin a boyfriend. I was like, 'Ain't no way, for realz?~', never expected it to be true."
"Hahaha, well ya, I got a boyfriend. Imma go now, I wanna catch up to him right now. Later girl~"
"Ah, wait!"
Yukana did not, in fact, wait in the slightest bit. She had seen Naruto walk out of the classroom, and she was determined to find him before lunch ended. There was no care for others in her movements as she sprinted through the hallway.
She spent minutes searching the school, hoping to catch a glimpse of her boyfriend amongst the crowd. Once again she got disheartened as her search resulted in nothing.
Dejectedly, she walked up the stairs to the roof. Her hampered mood influenced her to go there, not wishing to interact with people at the current moment. She just wanted to be alone for the moment.
Opening the door to the roof, she basked in the cool breeze and silence the spot granted her.
"Didn't expect to see you here." Naruto's voice sounded out behind her. Turning around, she watched him sit on the roof of the entryway, eating a cup of ramen calmly.
Yukana pouted cutely. "I've been looking all over for you, mister! Why didn't you tell me you would be here?"
"Thought you've been stalking me long enough to know where I eat lunch." He shrugged, mouth full with noodles.
"I do not stalk you!"
"Hm, whatever you say."
"Muuuuuuuu!"
The pouting girl glared at the empty blue eyes Naruto possessed, trying to intimidate him for whatever reason. Should've known nothing like that worked on Naruto.
Naruto slurped up the last of his ramen, putting aside the now empty cup and picking up another. 'Where'd he get that tea kettle?! Scratch that, HOW?!'
"It doesn't really matter to me. You comin up here or what?" Naruto asked while pouring his hot water into the cup.
"Unlike you, I don't have the super human ability to jump up to the roof of the exit with a bag full of stuff."
"Cool. That doesn't answer my question."
"I can't get up there, doofus!" Yukana screamed animatedly, her head reaching a size that allowed her to glare down on the poor blonde, who's eyes went white and frightened. "Now get down here where I can hug you!"
"Alright, alright, I'll get down then. Geez, you coulda just told me…" Naruto groaned, jumping down from his position after gathering everything he had up with him. The cup of ramen didn't even seem disturbed by the fall nor when he landed, a mystery that mesmerized the smiling gal.
Hugging Naruto's arm to her bust, Yukana dragged him over to where she sat her belongings down. She giggled the entire way as she sat down with Naruto, who was still eating his cup ramen with no trouble at all. It baffled her the way he was able to do that.
"So, Naruto." She started. "Are you excited for our date tomorrow?"
Naruto looked up from his ramen, mouth still full with the noodles. "I guess I am," He swallowed his noodles and continued. "I've never hung out with anyone, so I'm curious about what that's like."
"Well I hope I can give you the greatest date you'll ever have, my boyfriend!~"
—-
While the couple were having their moment, a certain short haired gyaru eavesdropped on them. A grin split her face in two. "Perfect…"
—
It took far too long for school to end, and Naruto relished the sound of the final bell ringing. Not many things could make him feel relieved, but this was one of them. There was not one person or thing in this world that could ever take him down from that high.
If anything, there was a chance that someone would replace it.
Thinking back, Naruto couldn't remember the last time someone willingly talked to him in a way that didn't leave him hurt or angered. All his life he had only known strife, the hardships that life threw at him were far greater than what it threw at other people.
He lost his mother at birth, and his father died when he was only three.
His extended family: His godfather and godmother, took the money that his parents left behind and disappeared from his life. Never coming to see him again.
At the age of five, his friends, the very few he had, left him.
And for his entire childhood, it was war.
The poor redlight district of Tokyo was never kind to anyone, the presence of Yakuza and corruption forced Naruto to fight, to become a war machine doing everything he could to survive.
Stealing, fighting, scamming, Naruto had done it all. It was the only way for him to live as long as he had. The number of times the Yakuza and police chased him through the streets could be numbered in the hundred of thousands. That's not even mentioning the civilians that were targeted.
Everytime he was caught, he was forced to endure unimaginable pain. His body was littered with scars and marks to prove it. Whips, cuts, stabs, burns, he suffered it all. He was drowned for an uncountable number of nights, left at the mercy of the Yakuza thugs that had none. He was isolated in a metal room with no food or water to survive on, stuck there for days on end and only surviving because he cannibalized himself. He was beaten to the ground and forced into unspeakable acts that should never happen to anyone, and left him unable to move for weeks after.
It scarred him, left him forever broken.
It forced him to change, and become greater than the rest. It was the beginning of his terrible reputation.
He grew up becoming a thug, an outcast to society that no one wanted to give a chance to succeed. As he grew older, he became stronger. Faster. Smarter. Better. He became the king of the underworld through his might and wits alone, no money, equipment, or connections to aid him.
Just him, his fists, and his hatred.
Yakuza fell before his might, the police turned incompetent when faced with his wits. The gangs and thugs surrounding him were destroyed by his presence alone. The harsh environment forced him to turn borderline superhuman just to survive, and brought fear to anyone who laid their eyes on him. It gained him the reputation of a criminal, a monster.
A demon.
It wasn't until he was 15 that he was able to escape that life.
He had made it big just a year ago, taking a daring chance at a lottery he should not have any business in winning. It won him 700 million yen, and marked the beginning of his new life. Fast forward to now, he was attending a school like a normal person, eating normal food around normal people. There was no fighting for survival, fearing that he might not live to see another day, none of that. Just sweet, sweet serenity.
And now, he had a girlfriend to match it. A girlfriend that he still didn't trust, but was slowly warming up to. It was impossible not to with her kind and bubbly personality that only screamed out to the world in joy.
Her high golden blonde ponytail, her perfect emerald eyes, and the sweetest smile anyone could ever see, so full of love and happiness. All directed at him. All for him
Only for him.
—
When the bell rang, everyone packed up. Chattering clamorred around her as all the students conversed with each other, talking about their plans for the day and just having fun overall. Not Yukana though, she had someone else to bother.
The blonde sitting to the right of her seemed deep in thought. Of what, she didn't know. His face was clear of any agitation or negativity, and it was the first time she'd ever seen him so at peace. His eyes were staring out at nothing in particular, but seemed stormy and nostalgic. Like he was reminiscing about something.
It was an expression that she didn't have the heart to break.
Suddenly, Naruto's dead stormy eyes flickered to her, and she flinched lightly. He was still down memory lane, but now it seemed that it was about her. She watched in fascination as his eyes softened more than they had ever softened before. There was a hint of fondness in them now, staring at her and making her feel giddy.
And then, something happened. Something Yukana couldn't believe, wouldn't believe, shouldn't believe!
His eyes, his oh so perfect eyes, dead and drowned in an abyss of darkness, sparked. For the first time, she saw the light of affection flash through his eyes, directed at her in a way that sent Yukana's mind in circles.
It happened. For a split second, it happened. Yukana knew that look, the same look she wore whenever she thought of him. The look of possessiveness, of love, of obsession. It was small, but it was there, and that was more than Yukana could ever wish for.
'Naruto…' Her heart melted under the blonde teen's stare, a blush forming on her face as she continued to stare back. The light in Naruto's eyes flickered lightly and his smile grew only fractionally, but now visible. Yukana couldn't tell what he was thinking, but she knew that it was only good.
Having enough of the passive staring, Yukana stood up and made her way to Naruto, smiling softly at him. She ignored the silence in the class, not caring if they were staring like flies on the wall. Let them nose around all they wanted, she didn't care. All that mattered to her at the moment was Naruto, that was it.
"Naruto, the bell rang." Her light voice seemed to catch Naruto's attention, who's eyes once more gained a dead look to them and stared at her. "We should get going, can you walk me home?"
Naruto blinked his fishy eyes. "Walk you home?"
"Walk me home~"
He blinked again, another time for good measure, before nodding. He grabbed his bag and made his way to the door, Yukana quickly in tow. Neither of them paid any attention to the bloodlust that emanated behind them. Or rather, Naruto didn't. Yukana couldn't feel the bloodlust in the slightest bit.
Holding onto her boyfriend's arm on her way home had once been a dream of Yukana's. A genuine, honest to god boyfriend that loved her (Or will love her in Naruto's case) and not one that went through the motions just because he wanted to get in her pants. Now, she was finally living that dream.
It felt good. Really, really good to walk hand in hand with someone she loved. It made her want
to do it more.
She couldn't wait for the date to come, Yukana just knew it was going to go perfectly.
—
And that is game. Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out, it's just a little placeholder chapter to build more relevance to the story. I was going to put it all in one chapter, but with me focusing more on my other story "Vanadis Odr" I decided to break it up into two separate chapters. Hope you guys enjoy this to tide you over for the moment, I promise more will come in the future.
Stay safe, stay blessed, and have an amazing day. Happy New Year everyone!