A Strange Familiar World

Those Who Have Loved and Lost

Disclaimer: See chapter 1

Botan led the small group through the building before stopping outside a large door. “I’m just warning you, Koenma isn’t in a good mood. He has been sulking a lot since he came back here four years ago.” The Shinigami paused. “It’s almost as though he’s lovesick.”

“Then maybe seeing Tsunade will help.” Kurama said with a sly smile. “Koenma had a ‘thing’ for her, and maybe it will cheer him up.” Botan stared at Kurama for a moment, before her gaze moved to the woman that Kurama had mentioned. She took her time in scrutinizing the Sannin before she looked back to Kurama.

“Are you sure? She doesn’t look like his type.” Botan said before a fist connected with her face, knocking her back against a wall. “Ouch.” Botan said when she picked herself up off of the ground, where she had landed after Tsunade punched her. “That hurt, where did she learn to do that? Not from Yusuke I hope.”

“Unfortunately not.” Orochimaru said. “She has always had very precise chakra control, and that allows her to be so strong. I’m sure that she could teach him a few things about knocking people out, eh Jiraiya?”

Botan healed the bruise easily before she opened the door. “Koenma-sama, you have guests!” She said as she motioned the others to enter the room. “Kurama has returned with a few friends.” She saw Ayame standing beside Koenma. “Ayame-san.” She said, greeting her superior. “Kurama has returned here with the ones he named as the Sannin.” Koenma looked up sharply as the four approached him.

“Tsunade is it really you?” Koenma asked as he hugged her. “I never thought that I’d see you again and here you are!” Tsunade hugged him back before slapping him.

“That is for running off and worrying me!” She shouted. “The least you could have done was to tell me that you were going!” Kurama and the others laughed as the irate Hokage berated Koenma. When she finished, she smiled as though the outburst hadn’t happened.

“Koenma, you know why we’re here, don’t you?” Kurama asked.

“I believe that I have an idea. Follow me.” Koenma said as he walked towards the other door in the room, and it swung open on his approach. “He’s in here somewhere.” Koenma waded through the spirits, the others following when a hand gripped Orochimaru’s shoulder.

“My little boy is all grown up!” The spirit said, and Orochimaru turned slowly, facing the voice. “It is you, Orochimaru!” It was then that Orochimaru recognized the voice that he hadn’t heard in over forty years.

“Mother?” He asked quietly, noticing that Kurama had stopped too, accosted by a stranger in Orochimaru’s eyes. He felt a pair of ghostly arms wrap around him, and he felt warm and safe.


“Kuronue, you can let go now!” Kurama said as the ghost hugged him.

“I knew it was you, Youko Kurama.” The bat demon said. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s a very long and boring story.” Kurama said. “Cutting it short, we’re after a boy that died before his time.”

“Boring.” Kuronue said. “Now, tell me, you aren’t still moping over me, are you?” Kurama blushed and his eyes moved over to Orochimaru. “Oh, I thought that you didn’t like snakes, my vulpine friend.”

“Times change.” Kurama said, a slight smile playing on his lips. “Time changes us all.” Kuronue smirked before kissing Kurama when he was sure that the snake was watching.


Mamushi and Orochimaru seethed at the closeness of the demon and his partner, and the kiss made the pair snap. They stormed over there and dragged Kurama out of Kuronue’s arms and gave the kitsune a more possessive kiss, before shooting the bat demon a look that said ‘mine’. “Orochimaru-sama, this is Kuronue.” Kurama said. That made the Sannin seethe even more, his eyes narrowed when he took in the ’threatening’ looks of the bat demon and he tightened his grip.

“Oh, he’s protective already.” Kuronue said. “It looks like he will be good for you, be something for you that I never could have been.” Kurama opened his mouth to say something but Kuronue gently closed it, kissing his cheek. “Those that are here are those that cannot rest easily because of regrets before their death. They can’t accept that they can’t do what they want, and so remain in a state of limbo until they do accept their fate.” His eyes met Orochimaru’s. “I can see that you make him happy, so I ask you to continue to do so, snake.” Orochimaru nodded as Kuronue turned away from them. “Youko Kurama, may I see your true form one last time before I depart this place?” A moment later and Youko Kurama looked upon his old partner. “Thank you, my old friend.” Kuronue said. “I wish you and your snake all the happiness.”

“Kuronue, I’m so…” Youko started.

“Don’t say it, had you tried we would both be here. Anyway I knew that you were never meant for me. We clicked, but not in the way that we needed to. We didn’t fit like you and him. Don’t feel sorry for the path that destiny has led you down. You both belong together.” Kuronue said sharply. “Don’t keep blaming yourself over what has happened. You have a new life, don’t let the grievances of the past hold you back.” With that the bat demon left them. Kurama reached out towards the departing demon, but Orochimaru pulled him tighter against him.

“He’s in peace now, let him go.” He said, kissing the kitsune’s tears away. Kurama just nodded. Kurama then saw a man and a woman watching them and felt slightly embarrassed, and blushed even more when Orochimaru guided him over to them.

“Is this the one?” The woman asked as she scrutinized the kitsune. “He doesn’t seem like much.”

Youko was just about to snap something out, but Orochimaru covered the kitsune‘s mouth with his hand. “Mother!” Orochimaru said. “Looks can be deceptive. He is more capable than Tsunade.” The woman blinked in surprise. “Honestly, mother, he shares the first Hokage’s Mokuton. He is a force to be reckoned with in battle, I can tell you that.”

“Hmm, then maybe he deserves the benefit of the doubt then.” She said. “Does he deserve you though?”

“I’ve been more loyal to your son than many others would have been.” Kurama said as he transformed back t his human form. “I love him too much to do anything to harm him, or to betray him. He is my partner and I love him dearly.” He felt Orochimaru nuzzle his neck. “I am sure that nothing could ever make me hate him being around. He is, after all, mine.” A hand caressed Orochimaru’s face. “I expect that he feels the same about me. Our hearts belong to each other, nothing can, or will, change that.” It was then that he saw the smile on the woman’s face. “What?”

“You are the type of person I always wanted for my baby.” She said. “I have no doubt that you’ll stick with him through thick and thin.” Her gaze then hardened. “Just make sure that you look after my little boy.”

“Mother!” Orochimaru cried, blushing bright red. “I’m sixty, not six!”

“You’re still my little boy, never forget that.” Orochimaru’s mother said, then her eyes opened wide. “Has it really been that long?” Orochimaru nodded. “Well I never. Doesn’t time fly when you aren’t alive to live it?” She smiled, hugging the Sannin. “Take care of yourself.”

“I always have done, and I doubt that it’ll change now.” He watched as his mother walked away.

“Just look after yourself. You are, after all, the only chance I have of becoming a grandmother.” She said, before grinning over her shoulder. “I’m sure that snake will give you a helping hand with that if you need it.” Orochimaru just stared, shocked silence at his mother’s words. Kurama smiled slightly as his arms moved around Orochimaru’s waist.

“I liked your mother’s idea.” He whispered into Orochimaru’s ear. “You did say that you wanted children.” Orochimaru squeezed his legs together subconsciously.

‘You know you won’t be doing that when it comes down to it.’ Mamushi said. ’I think you’ll be a shameless…’

‘Shut up!’ Orochimaru yelped mentally. ’I don’t need to hear that!’

‘What’s the matter? Is it getting too close to the truth, Orochi-chan?’ Mamushi said, unable to keep silent. ‘I bet you’ll be a meek, submissive partner when…’

‘I said shut up!’ This time Orochimaru blushed, making Kurama wonder what was happening inside the Sannin’s mind.

“Orochimaru, are you okay?” He asked before the Sannin hid his face by nuzzling the kitsune’s neck. Kurama stroked the Sannin’s long hair. “Was it what your mother said?” Orochimaru shook his head. “Maybe it was the snake then?” This time the Sannin nodded. “Don’t worry about what he says. He is probably just teasing you.”

“No. what he says is the truth.” Orochimaru said, finally admitting the truth to himself. “I am quite likely to act like a… a…” He couldn’t continue, but Kurama got the idea.

“We’ll see when the time comes.” Kurama said. “Although I can understand why being compared to a female dog is so embarrassing.” He paused for a moment. “Maybe you would prefer being my vixen?” The Sannin’s blush got worse. “Aww, how sweet.” Kurama said, unable to stop himself from teasing the Sannin. “You look much cuter when you’re blushing.”

“I’m not cute!”


Jiraiya and Tsunade followed Koenma through the spirits, unaware that Kurama and Orochimaru weren’t behind them. Suddenly a hand caught Tsunade’s arm, drawing her attention away from Koenma and Jiraiya. “You’re not planning on passing by without talking to us, are you?” A familiar voice asked. A voice that Tsunade had dreamed about for so very long said. Tsunade turned slowly. She saw the two people that she had most wanted to see in a long time.

“Dan? Nawaki?” She asked, almost afraid of what would be said. “Is that really you?”

“Don’t be silly, sis, of course its us!” Nawaki said, laughing at his sister’s question. “Who else would it be?” He got clonked on his head for his question. “Ow, Dan that hurt!”

“Good, you haven’t seen your sister in a while, and this is how you act.” Dan gave Nawaki another knock for good measure. “So how have you been, Tsunade?”

“I’ve been better.” Tsunade said. “Although I am now the Hokage.” The pair stared at her in disbelief. They remembered how much she didn’t want that position. “After your death, Dan, I left Konoha with Shizune. The three of us, Jiraiya, Orochimaru and myself, all left Konoha. In the end we all travelled down our set routes only to meet up once more.” She saw Orochimaru and Kurama approaching the way that the others had went in. “When we all met up together, Orochimaru was an enemy of Konoha. That red haired young man with him, is the one that tamed the snake, so to speak.” As if on cue, the pair stopped to share a tender kiss. “I would hate to be anyone that tries to harm one of them. That red head has better Mokuton abilities than our grandfather had, Nawaki.”

“I’m so glad to see that you are doing well now, Tsunade.” Dan said. “I am glad that our village is in safe hands, in your safe hands. I can rest easy now.” Dan kissed Tsunade gently. “You need to get on with your life now. If you stay in the past, you’ll only remain unhappy.” She saw Nawaki nodding.

“I agree with Dan on that, sis.” Nawaki said. “We’re happy, you should be too.” A tear rolled down Tsunade’s cheek. “If you have a chance to be happy, you should take it.” Nawaki’s eyes moved to Orochimaru again. “If he can find happiness from a different world, why can’t you?”


Jiraiya looked around and saw that he was the only one still following Koenma through the hall. They came to a stop behind a boy. Jiraiya knew before Koenma said the name that this was Sasuke. Sasuke turned around, sadness clearly evident in his eyes. “He died before his time.” Koenma said. “He is held here, a spirit inside a limbo of his own creation. His life sacrificed when it didn’t need to be, and yet he cannot return to the world of the living because he has nothing to return to.”

“That was why we came to see you.” Kurama said as he and Orochimaru caught up with them. He pulled out the vials of Sasuke’s blood. “I know that I could get a body created for him, however we need the soul to return to it. Is there a way that it could be done?”

“If you get the body recreated then I shall see what I can do.” Koenma said. “I believe that you are speaking of Yomi’s artificial womb, are you not?” Kurama nodded. “I guess I can look into it while the process is happening. However, don’t you need Yomi’s agreement to get this started?”

“Of course we do, but I’m going to ask Hiei and Yusuke to approach Mukuro too. I’m sure that if Yomi has the ability, then she would too. It may make Yomi more cooperative too. He is always looking for ways to get one up on her.” Kurama smiled slightly. “Plus it would be fun to see who would get done first.” Sasuke’s eyes moved to him. “May we go, we have a lot to do, Koenma.” Koenma nodded as he led the group back, catching Tsunade before they totally left.

“Be quick, there is only so long that I can hold my father’s questioning off as to why I haven’t started processing his spirit. Just now he’s lucky that I have so many to do, but it won’t last forever.”

“Thank you, Koenma-sama.” Kurama said as he led the group back to the portal. “We will be in touch as soon as we possibly can be.”


The group returned to Ningenkai, where they met up with the others and explained the situation. Hiei and Yusuke both agreed to approach Mukuro with one of the vials, and Naruto insisted that he accompanied them. Kurama and Orochimaru would go to see Yomi with Kabuto accompanying them. “Very well, now that we’ve decided, we can leave tomorrow.” Kurama said before looking at Hiei. “Do you know where the entrance to the Makai is?”

“As if I could forget. I spent a while patrolling there, remember.” Hiei said, feeling offended at the question. “I’ll show you where the location is tomorrow when we leave.”