A/N: Here we go! Black Myth Wukong!
Sorry, I know this seems strange, and short. Someone suggested I post this here, so I managed to upload this from my phone while traveling.
Unfortunately, I am unable to update Claws of A Lion today due to extenuating circumstances. I will, however, have it ready and update tomorrow. Possibly with another story at that ! It's shaping up to be a very long chapter, and a lot happens in it. See you all tomorrow!
Fanfiction currently doesn't have a category for Black Myth Wukong yet, so I'm posting here in this category until the admins finally make one.
Just wanted to say, I appreciate you all! More feedback means faster updates! It's especially important, in these trying times, with all the glitches. Every word counts and all these reviews really keep me inspired! Looking forward to hearing from you~!
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. They're tributes to legends far greater than little 'ol me.I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.
Time and feedback will determine if this remains a story. Simple as that.
In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know~!Away we go~!If you've played the game, you know EXACTLY where I'm going with this intro...
"A fox by any other name still remains a fox.
But so too is any kindness, a kindness.
For that alone, we will follow him."
~?
By Any Other Name
It was a simple mistake.
A misstep made in haste and hunger.
How the elders would have chided her for such an error.
She was a harmless fox guai, practicing to become human, one day wishing to become immortal. To the unassuming eye she seemed naught but a beast; yet she practiced day and night to become something more.
One day she was foraging for food and found herself caught in a hunter's trap; leaving her paw badly manged. A young scholar ran past her on the path, paused for a moment, then fled with fear at the sight of her. Another paid her no heed at all, too focused on his journey. She thought that would be it, then, that she would surely die.
It was not to be.
For a strange blond boy with whiskered markings upon his cheeks chanced upon her. He freed her, despite possessing an ugly wound of his own. Heedless of the grievous injury across his chest and his missing right arm, he took her to his home to let her heal. At least she assumed it was his home. He did something with the door and forced it open, so it may well not have been his at all.
Still, his kindness touched her frozen heart.
She couldn't move, such was her pain, yet she was aware of him in her slumber and her heart swelled with gratitude.
Ignoring his own wounds, he tended to her first, made certain she was comfortable, safe, and warm. Only then did he deign to see to himself.
She made a decision, then, to aid him in his career, whatever it may be, for all the years of his life, in return for saving her own.
Little did she foresee that this "human" would live for thousands of years.
Nor what he would become.
His name was...
(.0.0.0.)
Naruto awoke from a frenzied dream with a gasp.
It had been a dark one; a war full of prizes and power and perils, half-forgotten when he awoke. Heart beating, chest heaving, he rolled over with a groan, trying to remember where he was and what he'd done.
Nothing. Only darkness remained.
His chest hurt. The stump of his arm ached abominably.
Would he grow it back, he wondered? He'd never needed to regrow a limb before, but Sasuke...
Sasuke, Sasuke, Sasuke!
Stupid broody Uchiha. His temper sparked and with it, memory returned. Their final climactic clash, the searing agony that followed, and the blazing white light. Whatever the light was, it must've carried him far afield; because he didn't recognize his surroundings.
He remembered stomping through the snow, slowly bleeding out.
Finding a little forest critter, and taking pity on her.
There have been so much pain, a searing red haze that threatened to encompass his entire vision, and he only just managed to find somewhere they could both rest, before passing out.
Still, the cottage he'd found seemed well-stocked, if cold.
Now where was that fox he'd saved...?
Righting himself with an effort, he looked about, frowned when he failed to find her, paused now.
He looked left, he looked right, he saw no fox in sight.
Wait.
Naruto blinked.
He blinked very hard.
Scrubbed his eyes with the back of his remaining hand for good measure.
The scene before him did not change.
In place of the wounded snow fox, a beautiful young woman sat on the cot across from him, naked as can be.
She stared at him. He stared back at her, incredulous.
No clothes to her name. None at all. None.
Urk. He didn't know where to look!
Truly, she was a sight to behold. Dark of hair, her coal-black eyes rimmed by red, two red dots etched upon her forehead. She blinked up at him with wide eyes, painted lips quirking in confusion as she covered her bosom with one arm.
Naked and trembling from the blizzard still raging outside, she stared at him with wide glassy eyes.
Neither of them dared move, until someone did.
"Aw, jeez! When did you get here?!"
Sputtering to himself, Naruto ripped his battered jacket from his back and slung it around her shoulders. She accepted it gratefully and draped it about herself. Much to his surprise, she spoke, then. Haltingly at first, like she wasn't used to the words, but speak she did.
"Thank...you...
His heart did a silly little backflip in his chest. "You're, ah, welcome?"
"Cold." She muttered under her breath.
His brow furrowed. "Come again?"
Her eyes flashed. "Cold!"
Quick as a flash, she dragged him down onto the bed and tucked herself into his side. He panicked for a moment before he realized she was seeking warmth, but even then he didnt dare move for fear of provoking her.
Kurama was of no help at all, of course. Fuzzy bastard just laughed at him!
The strange nameless-girl-who-just-might-be-fox buried her face into his chest with a contented hum, holding him tight. "Warm...sleepy...
Her powerful grip soon proved too much for his battered body; his wounds protested mightily, sending black spots sparking before his vision.
In conclusion? He passed right out.
He had a rather interesting thought before sleep claimed him.
Maybe...just maybe, this strange new world wouldn't be so bad after all.
A/N: There we go, love it or hate it, do let me know, it'll be over here for awhile...next chaoter will be much longer.
We'll cut it here for now, work is calling my name...
Hopefully you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did writing it. Well, should this remain a story? Would you like weekly updates? I've got two slots left. Or should it be monthly? By all means, speak up.
So...in the immortal words of Atlas...
...Review...Would Ya Kindly? And of course, Enjoy the previews. Potential ones...
Previews are but a few this time. Didn't want to spoil the upcoming chapters.
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
SPOILERS LAY AHEAD!
YE BE WARNED~!
(PREVIEWS)
"Name!"
The nameless girl slapped her hand into his own.
A bead of sweat ran down his brow. "I said name, not paw, oi...
The girl tilted her head.
"Guess I gotta give ya one...
...did that wounded dragon just turn into a girl? Is this my life now? Picking up strays?"
He blew out a breath, steam pluming in the air.
"This is my life now, isn't it."
"Papa!"
Naruto wheezed out a breath.
There could be no more powerful word on this earth.
Yellowbrow crashed backward, clutching his broken, bloody nose.
"W-Wait a moment!" He flung out a hand, to no avail. "Mercy! I see what you are, now! I was mistaken! Clearly, you're stronger than I!"
"Mercy? After all this, you want mercy?" The Monster stalked after him, teeth gone sharp, eyes blazing red. "I can't stand people like you...using others for your own gain...no remorse...
WHAM!
"You are no Buddha. You are no god."
SLAM!
"You're no monk!"
BLAM!
"All you are...is a sad, strange little man! NOW GIVE HER BACK!"
EDIT: Hey, you made it! I do hope this chapter lived up to your expectations. By all means, feel free to let me know what you think!
Looking forward to reading your feedback/chatting with you when I get back from work!
Hope you have a great day!