Read the authors note at the end that's where all I want to say is. Happy holidays.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the effort, time taken, the OC and non-existent plots that you read here.

…….

"Are you planning on turning mute?" Naruto joked at Elena after the waitress left. They were still getting strange looks from the other customers but not as much as before.

Elena was silent for a few seconds before shaking her head. Then in a low tone that only Naruto could hear, she replied, "I used to be a very frequent customer here. I am afraid that if she heard my voice she might recognize me"

Elena's voice sounded less hoarse than it did before and was slowly starting to sound melodious again. Moreover, she didn't show any shyness when talking with Naruto now. The current her was a great improvement from how she was before. Something that Naruto noticed. However she still had a way to go before she could be herself again outside her comfort zone.

"Well good for you. But she might have just mistaken you for a mute" Naruto sighed when he heard her word. He could completely understand Elena's situation. It had been a while since she last left the house so this was her way of slowly assimilating back into society. Once she feels that the time was right she would rise again like a Phoenix from the ashes.

"Well it's better that way. That means that she will talk to me less." Elena sighed. Although their situation had already been taken care of, they still couldn't change the fact that her family had once been the jest of the city with many people calling them different kinds of terrible nicknames. She couldn't see herself returning back to such a society.

The only good thing that came out of all of this was that she now knew the darker nature of human beings. There were nothing but backstabbers and benefits seeking oaf, as soon as you no longer have anything more to offer they would immediately cut you off. It was now that she finally understands the phrase, a friend in need is a friend indeed.

Although Naruto had only helped them out in exchange for payment she was forever indebted to him.

She stole glances at Naruto as he drank a glass of water.

Unaware of the inner thoughts of the woman besides him Naruto continued to make small talk with Elena until their foods arrived. But to the people around because they couldn't hear Elena's voice they assumed that Naruto was talking to himself.

After serving them their meals Lin Ming retreated behind the counter to observe the two of them. Most especially the hooded figure she wanted to see if she would take off her hoods but she was soon to be disappointed.

As to how she knew the other person was a female she had seen her painted fingernails when she dropped off her bowl of special ramen. Although there were men who loved to paint their fingers as a form of fashion especially during this age when there were different types of gender. Only a female could have small and delicate hands.

Naruto's eyes lit up as he stared at the bowl of miso ramen. He hurriedly picked up the chopsticks and took a huge bite out of the ramen. His eyes lit up as his taste buds was assaulted by different kinds of flavor. Although he couldn't remember the taste of the ramen he ate as a kid, he was certain that this one definitely wouldn't lose to it.

Unlike Naruto, Elena didn't immediately dig into her food, instead she stared at it. Watching the toppings swimming inside the bowl of ramen.

She hesitated for a while before finally picking up the chopsticks with one hand while she brought the ramen closer to her face with the other.

She sniffed it, inhaling the delicious aroma, while other couldn't see it she had a huge smile on her face as she stared at the bowl of ramen. She slowly ate the ramen, savoring every inches of it. She let out a satisfied sigh after she finished the bowl.

When she looked up again she saw Naruto staring at her with a meaningful smile on his face.

Elena blushed at this and hurriedly reached for her hood and pulled it further down her face to hide her blush, not that they could see it to begin with.

"You seem to enjoy your bowl of ramen a lot, should we order another one?" Naruto asked with a mirthful smile.

"No, no. I'm okay. We can leave now. I have a place I want to visit" Elena replied as she reached into her hoodie's pocket. Naruto realizing what she was about to do Immediately pulled out money from his wallet and dropped it on the table.

Elena who was about to do the same frowned when she saw the cash on the table. She turned to Naruto and said in a slightly displeased tone. "I was going to pay"

"Well to bad for you I beat you to it" Naruto stuck out a tongue at her before getting up to leave. There was no way he would let her pay for his meal if lady ever found out about it he would be given a good tongue-lashing.

Deciding to let it be, Elena stood up to follow him. The reason she wanted to pay before was to thank him for saving her family. But if he wanted to pay himself then there was nothing she could do about it.

Naruto signaled to the waitress as they walked out of the bar. Lin Ming walked up to the table to clear it up, she watched them as they walked out the exit. However her eyes never left Elena's back, she just couldn't shake off the feeling of familiarity she got from that person.

She didn't have enough time to think about it as new customers walked into the restaurant and hurried off to attend to them

…….

After the two of them left the restaurant they continued their stroll through the city with Elena taking him to all her favorite places. They continued to wander until their journey eventually led them to a small park. It was already dark by the time they arrived at the park. Naruto and Elena sat down on the swing as they watched the sun setting in the horizon, painting that part of the sky deep orange.

The two of them sat in silence, enjoying the view in front of them.

"I used to come here every evening to gaze at the sunset. It was one of the most beautiful sight I have ever seen in my life. I used to come here whenever I wanted to escape from my rich life" Elena reminisced with a sad tone. What should have been a happy memory, now only brought sadness to her heart. Since it was dark and they were both alone she had her hood down allowing Naruto to see the sad smile on her face.

Naruto stared at her for a few seconds before returning his gaze back to the sun that had almost disappeared beyond the horizon. He sighed, sitting on this swing brought back unpleasant memories. Memories that he wanted to keep buried.

"What about you?"

"Me?" Naruto turned to look quizzically at Elena.

"Yes you, what did you do before all of this? I meant before the whole devil hunting business?" Elena rephrased her question. She wanted to know more about Naruto. Although they were nothing more than employee and employer. Even though she knew that Naruto would be gone once his job is done she felt that Naruto has a story to tell.

Naruto mulled over the question for a while not knowing how to answer. The memories of his time before he met Dante wasn't pleasant. His life has been a living nightmare. Worst than she could have ever imagined.

After thinking about it for a few seconds he decided to answer truthfully.

Naruto didn't shy away when he felt Elena's expectant filled gaze on him. With his eyes now on the silhouette of the moon up in the sky, he replied.

"To be honest with you my life was the same as yours. I was also hunted by a demon when I was a kid. People hated me thinking that I was possessed by that demon. I spent the rest of my childhood alone before I was rescued by a devil hunter who took pity on me"

After Naruto said those words a pair of slit red eyes glowing in a dark room was filled with guilt and sadness before it closed completely blending in with the darkness. Maybe it was for the best.

…..Sorry kid.

Elena stared at Naruto with a shock look on her face. She could believe what she heard. Doesn't that means that he was just like her? Though she couldn't read the tone of his voice she was certain that what he had said was not a lie.

However, she couldn't calm down when she realized that she had inwardly gotten excited after hearing of Naruto had once shared her faith and silently abolished herself.

"I am sorry to hear that"

"You shouldn't be, I am really happy that it happened"

"What?!" Elena snapped her head to look at Naruto in shock. She thought maybe she heard wrong. As someone who had suffered the same faith she know just how horrifying of an experience it was. Hell she had nearly lost herself to the torture.

Naruto smiled at her reaction which was natural considering the nightmares they went through. However when he thought of the things that happened after he couldn't help but be grateful to that same nightmares that hunted him. As they said what doesn't break you only make you grow stronger.

When he looked at Elena again his expression turned serious as he said.

"But still Elena you should be grateful to that demon cause now you know that not everything is sunshine and rainbows. Demons exists in this world and once someone has been hunted by a demon and survives they gain the ability to see the world for what it truly is."

"Wait you mean demons live among us? And they don't need to be summoned?" Elena panicked as she hurried to her feet while staring at Naruto with a horrified look on her face. Why the hell wouldn't she be afraid.

She and her family had nearly perished to a single demon but now she is being told that there are more of them out there, living anonymously among humans. How the hell was she supposed to take that?!

Naruto sighed as he looked at Elena fidgeting about. Maybe he shouldn't have told her. But if he didn't he would only be putting her in danger as she would be unaware of the situation her family was in.

Elena suddenly experienced enlightenment as she turned to Naruto and asked suspiciously.

"Wait is that why you became a devil hunter?"

It would make perfect sense if Naruto decided to hunt demons since he could no longer escape from them.

"Actually no. I m only doing this to help out others who can't help themselves" Naruto replied with a righteous look, however, Elena was having none of it.

"And the payment?"

"Just an added bonus. After all, bills don't pay themselves" Naruto shrugged. He would have loved to do it for free but even he had needs.

Elena had no choice but to agree with him on that one. However she was no longer in the mood to stay after she heard Naruto's words so they swiftlets left the park.

The moon was now shining brightly in the sky and the street that was bustling with activities during the day was now silent. The only found they could hear was of the night creatures and their own footsteps. Surprisingly the night life here was pretty eerie and dark. Elena cling tightly to Naruto's side as they walked down the street.

Naruto held his keyboard bag in his hand, his eyes darted around cautiously. It was only past eight o'clock but this part of the city was fairly quiet.

Even Elena who had spent most of her life here had never experienced this before. Usually the street lamps would lighten up the street at night and most of the time when she lost track of time in the park she would stumble into some hookers loitering around waiting for pick ups or people just heading home from work before Rufus finds her or she took a bus home. It was never this quiet.

"Do you smell that kid?" Kurama asked as he observed the dark street through Naruto's eyes.

Naruto nodded. There was no mistaking it, a demon is nearby. Almost as soon as Naruto completed his thoughts he heard a scared voice scream.

"Help!"

Naruto's head snapped in the direction where the voice came from.

There!

Before Elena could ask what was going on Naruto had already ran off surprising her. However she soon snapped out of it as Naruto move further and further away.

"Hwy?! Wait!" Elena blurted as she hurriedly ran after him. But no matter how she tried she couldn't catch up and he soon disappeared around a corner.

Elena was hit by a wave of exhaustion but she didn't stop running. She didn't know what had gotten into Naruto so in order to understand what was going on she needed to catch up to him first.

She turned the corner where she last saw Naruto as the scene freaked her out.

A girl sat down on the floor frozen in fear and looking out of breath. Elena was shocked to see her because she recognized the girl as the daughter of the noodle shop owner Lin Ming. However that wasn't the most shocking part.

What left her breathless was Naruto standing protectively in front of her in a defensive stance, his keyboard bag was nowhere to be seen instead he held an ominous and demonic looking sword in his hand. She couldn't see his face as his back was turned towards her.

The final touch that left her breathless and fearful was the demonic looking wolf towering over him like a giant. It grotesque looking figure and pitch black skin made it a monster of the night, while it red slanted eyes inflicted all those who gaze at it with fear. It maw filled with razor sharp teeth and claws filled her with trepidation. She knew that If anyone was to encounter such a creature all that awaited them was brutal and cruel death.

However that same monster that filled her with fear stood lifelessly in front of Naruto with it open maw impaled by the sword in Naruto's hands, all the way to the back of it head. Black bloods trailed down the blade of the sword but it completely vanished once it got of the hilt of the sword.

The creature succumbed to it wounds as it lost all strength to resist. It bright eyes slowly turned dim before body started to turn to ashes from the down up. But if one was to look closely they would see the look of regret and disbelief in it eyes.

How?

Elena who had frozen still in fear at the entrance of the alley only managed to regain her bearing after the demonic wolf turned to black ashes.

Her gaze subconsciously wandered from the demonic wolf's ashes to the blade held in Naruto's hands.

Just what the hell is that?

...

Alright this marks the end. Let me take a moment to apologize for the late update. Currently I plan on putting them on hiatus because I won't be able to do a frequent update like before for the mean time.

So please try and bear with me. Next month is December which also means Christmas so I am trying to prepare for the holidays.

I'll be going home to my family, I'll write a Christmas special then for the stories.

Anyways that is all for now. Take care guys and for those of you already celebrating Christmas.

Merry Christmas to you.