___________An Account of Sin and Redemption
folder
Naruto › Yaoi - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
2
Views:
970
Reviews:
20
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Naruto › Yaoi - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
2
Views:
970
Reviews:
20
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Forever Mine To Protect
Author: Arcaia
Genre: Gothic Horror/Romance/Adventure/Other
Rated: MA/A++
Progress: INST. 1/15
Pairings: Itachi/Naruto, Sasuke/Naruto, Gaara/Naruto, Neji/Naruto, Sai/Kiba. Other pairings shall be made known to you in later chapters. Eventual? We will see…
WARNING: Graphic content in later chapters, I am very descriptive. So disturbingly gory it will make your stomachs turn – beware!
I find it easier to do different summaries for different chapters. The summary for the story is on the main page.
Chapter Sum. : A small peek at some of the relationships between Naruto and co. This chapter is of the past, mainly Gaara and Naruto’s.
Further WARNING: There’s an epidemic of the OOC-ness virus in this first chapter. It is written in Old-English...well as old as I can make it, so any word or phrase you don’t understand, just ask me. I will explain some of the words at the bottom though.
A word from the author: This story has been inspired by countless words from one of my favourite writers, Anne Rice. If you enjoy literature and have some time on your hands, please look her up. You may have heard of one of her works: Interview with a Vampire – one of the main stories that gave me the idea for this fiction. I do not know her personally, nor own any of her works, or whatever… (That was part of my disclaimer).
«««««««« - These sequence of characters are used to signify the beginning of a flashback, hence the arrows pointing in the backwards direction: so as to say "let's take a trip to the past, shall we?"
»»»»»»»» - These sequence of characters are used to signify the end of a flahback, and therefore, a return to the present.
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1756 – Between the borders of Konohagakure and Sunagakure...
The bell at the abbey struck five times signalling the onset of dawn.
The sound of war horses tore through the thick southern woods, breaking the tranquil, yet eerie silence. The hooves pounded steadily on the soft loamy soil of a ground well acquainted with the morning dew, the riders with only one intention on their minds and their cloaks billowing in the morning winds that drew in from the western sea.
“Do you sense him?” a blast of wind knocked back his hood, revealing blood-red hair.
“Indeed, he is close! – And true to his word, he has him nearby – the fiend! I swear on my very corpse if he harms him, I shall –”
“Hold your tongue. Do not make oaths you are unable to keep. You forget who he is, one of more than a hundred years and an Uchiha by blood –”
“Am I not an Uchiha also? Answer me!” his knuckles turned whiter from the hardy grip he placed on his reins, “Does the same blood not flow through our veins?”
“What blood?” the other mocked. He pulled on his reins, effectively slowing down his horse.
“You know very well what I mean – Sabaku! What the devil are you doing now?”
The other had slowed down to stop by a great oak tree, from which a rustling sound could be heard.
“I need to feed.” was the simple answer the dark-haired figure received from his stubborn companion.
“Mount your nag – we’ve no time! You shall have plenty to feed on once we’ve retrieved him!”
The moon was still high above them but on the horizon, a thin shred of light was gradually growing brighter.
He paid no heed to his travelling companion’s words. There was another rustle in the undergrowth of the forest floor. He crept stealthily towards the source of the sound.
One step...two steps...three!
Stooping low, his arm shot out to grab his prey by the neck before he greedily sunk his fangs at the point where he naturally knew there would be the most blood. He made sure to drain it all, yet a fully grown deer could not sate his hunger and thirst.
“You will not feed?” he asked from where he crouched low on the ground, quietly licking at the blood that still seeped out slowly from the inflicted wound.
“Wipe your mouth, savage!” he threw back his hood, his raven dark hair catching what little was left of the moonlight before it all but vanished behind darkening clouds,
“Let us make haste, the sun is rising!”
“You need the energy. You have not feasted for more than seven nights. You’re weak.” He said brusquely.
“I do not worry. Once I have him to hold in my arms, he shall make me strong again,” he argued insistently, unaware of the deep frown that marred the other’s features or the spasmodic twitch of the mouth, the tensed shoulders and the tightly clenched fists, “And why do you not worry or fear for his well-being? Was he not a loyal comrade of yours?”
“A...comrade?” his voice was bitter and cold leading the other to mistake the harshness as a negative attitude towards the one whom he spoke of, he narrowed his eyes.
“We do not enjoy each other’s presence, why stall?” his heavy steed shifted around unnervingly, betraying its master’s indifferent appearance. One should know animals always reflect their master’s countenance.
“What of your kin¹? Surely you do not expect me to take kindly to his person if his words to hurt Namikaze-sama are true?”
“We’ll do away with him...somehow. He is of no importance though. A threat, yes, but once Naruto is back safe, my brother and his play puppets can burn in the fiery depths of hell.”
“You speak relevance, Uchiha. Very well, for the time being I shall abide to your wishes...on reasonable grounds, of course.”
He mounted his horse and once again they galloped through the laden vegetation until they came upon a large field.
To one side of this was a small but proficient churchyard, further beyond that was a cemetery, ancient and crumbling. It stretched yonder into the distance.
The vile stench of the dead and the un-dead tinged the otherwise sweet and fresh air, crimson blood mingling with the winds in the inharmoniously quite atmosphere.
“He is near...somewhere...I can smell him.” That ending statement was emphasized by the deep breath he took in, “There, By the Valorian statue.”
His raven-haired companion looked to where the other pointed.
The second he laid his dark eyes on the image before him, his fury was ignited yet again like never before.
“Naruto!” he quickly jumped from his horse to aid the figure whose head had shot up at the mention of his name.
He looked positively horrified.
‘They came! When I told them not to – they never listen! Now...now we’re all damned!’
“Gaara! Sasu-arrgh!” his body tensed and he groaned in agony as the iron chains were pulled tighter around his weakened frame.
“Namikaze!” Gaara made to move closer and unbound his master from the restrains but stopped short when a sharp small dagger embedded itself in the ground by his feet, causing him to jump a few yards back to keep safe and calculate where the projectile had been thrown from. He needn’t have thought that far into it...
“Dear, dear brother, with companion I see, you come at last. I was beginning to worry” Such venomous sarcasm. The chains that bound Naruto rattled briefly and a hand, cold and death-pale, reached out from the dark to cup his victim’s chin.
“You...Itachi!” brought back to his senses, his veins throbbed with unbidden hatred as he approached the figure silhouetted against the shadow of the statue, his hand being the only visible part of his body.
Gaara followed close by, readying his sword – just in case...
There was a loud clash, zing, metal-to-metal, sending little sparks of blue and orange flying in all directions.
...And the chains became undone.
The figure that sat slumped on the cold cemented floor, was pulled up to his unsteady feet like light-weight and then back into his terrorizer’s arms.
“A fine catch indeed, wouldn’t you say, little brother?” his voice still cold and mocking. It echoed through and back the deserted hill on which they stood upon.
Lifting his clawed hand he lazily dragged a finger along his victim’s jaw, drawing fresh blood, and then proceeded to slowly lap at it, savouring the taste,
“Sweet too...nectarine sweet.”
His victim weakly tried to move away.
“Let him go! Let him go now – rat eater!” Sasuke all but lunged at his brother but cursed aloud when he was held back, “Gaara – let me have his…head! I won’t have you deny me that satisfaction!”
Itachi chuckled, lowly.
“I resent that. I am not he who will dare not feed on a mortal soul.”
“Sasuke! Gaara! Hurry – run! Run and set your guilt fr – mmph!” Naruto began when Itachi clamped his mouth shut.
“Naruto! I’m not leaving without you!” Sasuke struggled free from Gaara’s grasp and withdrew his mighty sword, the metal glinting in the moonlight.
“Foolish...foolish little brother. You have forgotten who made you, who pitied your poor mortal soul and kept you alive. And you repay me by stealing what is rightfully mine, now I have taken it back. Is that not the way of life? You grant...only to gain?”
“Naruto has nothing to do with this! Let him go – now!” he forced through gritted teeth, taking a cautious step forward.
Itachi laughed. It didn’t sound merry – no, not a merry sound at all. It sounded forced, strained even to his own ears, as if he were trying to convince himself, as well as others, of something.
“Naruto? Is that what you told him your name was...Minato?” his grip on Naruto tightened.
“It is my name – I assure you. Naruto not Minato...” his voice was hoarse and weak, broken from crying out continuously in grief.
“Release him or I shall tear you apart, feed you to the night wolves and let your carcass dry out in the sun...I do not make idle threats.”
Itachi’s lifeless eyes shifted to rest upon Gaara’s equally lifeless eyes, as if only now realizing his presence or who he was.
“Oh? Sabaku, was it? Of the dessert? To think...a man of your rank would stoop so low as to connive with my brother²,” he ignored Sasuke’s seething and continued, “And what of it? What is my beloved to you?”
“– you’re mistaking me for someone else!”
“Impossible, no one else has those eyes, that flawless golden-strewn hair – as if thou were solely carved by the sun itself. My blood flows through your veins and yours mine. I could not mistake your sweet essence anywhere...because I made you.”
“You deceitful...” Sasuke lunged forward bringing down his sword forcefully to cleave Itachi’s head though more than careful to avoid Naruto’s person. But Itachi jumped back with Naruto still in his arms and threw several more daggers Sasuke’s way. He, in turn, deflected all seven of the weapons with in-human precision,
“He was not made by you. It was I who fed him my blood, I who made him into a night being!” Sasuke raged.
Gaara could not keep the triumphant smirk from playing about his lips. This went unnoticed by both Uchihas.
He supposed it wouldn’t do to incur both their wraths so decided to keep to himself the fact that it was he who turned Naruto into what he was. Did they not know he’d served him from since he was a babe³?
But they were both ignorant, Typical flaw of those from aristocratic descent. They believed everything as they saw fit, making their own rules, decisions...laws. Seeing anyone else not of their rank to be below them, this was why it was such a revelation that both the Uchiha brothers wanted him for themselves. Naruto was of noble blood, yes – but he was nothing special...not of their rank at all. Then again, such beauty compensated for these things.
Nevertheless, it was not an honour to be the one who turned Naruto into a vampyre, could they not see it? That he detested being this way? That he’d tried many times before to try and take his own life? And all those times he had been there, to save him, to talk him out of it and show him the better part of being such a creature? He knew what Naruto meant...when he said to set his guilt free. But he also knew it was too late for that...
‘A hundred and four years too late...’
He was drawn out from his thoughts by Itachi’s taunting voice.
“So he did not tell you then?”
“Tell me what?! What lies do you now use to try and make a believer out of me?” Sasuke demanded. He was ignored, Itachi answered, but more so to himself than anyone else.
“He was my sun...mine alone. He’d strengthen me when I became weak; play his harp to me where I lay nights on end. And he promised me he’d make me the perfect life companion then love me till the sun came out to send us to our grave chambers.”
Naruto’s eyes widened as he tried to struggle free.
“You’re drunk on insanity! You know not what you talk about –” he begun when Itachi grew livid, enraged, he buried his claws deep into the neck of his captive, splurging blood from his throat and out his mouth.
“Stop...stop lying to me!” he whirled him around and glared into his dulled blue eyes, his own red gleaming eyes reflecting uncertainty, “You loved me – you still do! Tell it to them, assure me, my love!”
“Naruto...” Sasuke paused, letting his arms drop limply to his side, “Is this...is this true?”
Of course it’s not! his mind had said to him but he was shocked to see his elder act in such an unorthodox manner, surely he must be speaking some truth? He wouldn’t go as far as to humiliate himself just to spite him? But...Naruto never lied – he never could! There was always truth in what he spoke.
He desperately searched his face for an answer – anything to belie his brother’s words. And even when Naruto was spun back around to face them, he still would not meet his dark inquisitive gaze as if afraid of his judgement...he kept his eyes low.
“I pray thee refute his words. He lies-! Tell me his words are not true!” he moved closer to them, his pleas pitiful and frantic.
Itachi spotted the movement and withdrew several feet back to keep that distance between them.
“I’m afraid he cannot do that brother, for my words...” he paused for effect, “are true. I am now a witness to this statement – the truth does indeed hurt.”
“It was years ag-o...” their eyes turned to the despondent fallen angel as he stopped to spit out the blood that threatened to choke him, “but I mean what I say....I’m different now...I’m not the same person anymore...”
“It hasn’t been that long...” Itachi interrupted in an offhand manner, “...and don’t fret so, such wholesome blood going to waste.”
He leaned down and tilted Naruto’s head, thereafter arranging to gently kiss and lick the blood away. Sasuke gritted his teeth. Gaara clenched and unclenched his fists.
‘Why am I still...? I can do something...I have to protect him – I swore to! And for as long as I shall live, my master...my love.’
He looked up, having not been following the conversation and caught Naruto’s eyes directed at him.
“– truly loved, it was you,” his eyes were now on Sasuke, his voice taking on a slightly angry tone, “Why could we not be together and love one another?”
Sasuke stood unmoving then, as if something inside him had finally broke free he steeled his watch on Naruto, anger reflecting in his own eyes.
“I gave you a choice! I asked you to choose and you chose me! It is impossible to have more than one life companion – you know that. And you chose me – you have me!” he argued.
“And now he has me. He came to me. You have heard of this proverb, I’m sure: “If you love something set it free, and if it comes back...it was meant to be”. Do you now see now, brother? Do you realize what that means?”
He was throwing salt on his wounds and he knew it. But it was not he at fault. He’d warned him. He’d warned him – and everybody else – to keep away from his possession. Naruto was his sun and his alone. Then he’d left, been taken by his own kin. That alone...was unforgivable!
“This choice was not mine to make! Your lives were at stake...” Naruto interjected.
‘Oh – how ironic...their lives at stake...’.
It seemed to the world’s eye...that he was giving up.
Itachi gripped his chin hard and narrowed his eyes to show his displeasure for those statements.
“They need not know that. Though...what can two minors do for you? They’re weak. They lack the strength and understanding to keep you sated and by their side. With me you will have anything and everything you desire. You need not even hunt!
Come, be with me and I promise you, like you’ve promised me many things before, you shall have the world at your feet.”
“Heed not his words! Don’t fall victim to his deceit! Have I not shown my endless affection for you? Are you not satisfied with what I give you – then I can give you more! I beg of you...spare me this heartbreak; I love you far too greatly.”
He wasn’t aware...wasn’t aware of the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes.
He felt his whole world shattering at his feet. This was not supposed to happen. Naruto was supposed to live with him an eternity, explore new worlds together.
Surprised as Naruto was, he did not show it. Instead he pondered this in his mind.
‘He weeps...he weeps for me? He sheds real tears! Here I thought we showed no emotion but fear and anger. Then, he can still be saved! Tears are a language of the soul...if he weeps then he still has a soul! ’
“Wipe your tears, Sasuke, I am happy. I am content now,” he coughed out more blood and smiled a solemn yet blissful smile, “But it seems even vampyres like us, purged in the deepest sin, cannot live an eternity. That is God’s and God’s will alone. If I can die in peace then I have not been forsaken by him – you too, Sasuke! Your soul is still there – your soul is still alive!”
“Naruto...? What nonsense do you speak of now?” he frowned at his wounds, “Why are you not healing??”
‘Dead man’s blood?’
“Itachi – son of a demon, release him!”
“Let go of him?” he asked incredulously, like that command alone was the most preposterous thing he’d ever had the pleasure...or non-pleasure, of hearing, “Why will I do that when I now finally have him in my arms again?? You still fail to realize...” he seized Naruto’s body and pulled him closer against his chest, “...this treasure is mine, and mine alone.”
Sasuke shook so hard he seemed about to implode. He had never felt this way before, this bad blood between such another. He had never more wanted to bury his claws deep into his brother’s chest and rip his heart out for all to see,
“My limit...my limit can only be tried so far!” without warning he rushed forward again with speed he knew not he possessed and Gaara was too slow in restraining him,
‘If he wants to be maimed then so be it. I will not be the one to stop him. Such a young, ignorant mind. He does not witness the madness in his brother’s eyes? The desperation and with such little hope he holds on to his happiness. But...Naruto, you have a tendency of doing that to the ones you meet...and I am not an exception...’
He opted, instead, to run to Naruto whom Itachi had gently – as gently as one can when trying to avoid insane-driven attacks from the bane of your existence – pushed aside.
For one filled with such impressive wisdom, he should have known it wouldn’t work. But being with him so long had forced him to be optimistic.
Whiles both Uchihas were occupied, he would take Naruto away, far away, where he would be safe and they could live happily together whiles trying to be delivered...or not.
That was the idea, and in his mind’s eye it was carried out flawlessly. He had not foreseen this. He did not even know how it happened. One second, his arm was outstretched towards Naruto – and his love was reaching back! Their hands were almost touching when something, whatever this something was, broke their seemingly closing contact and distanced them.
Next second, he was sailing through the air, getting further and further away from his master then there was a loud crash from somewhere and his disorientated mind barely registered the hot searing pain spreading through his body. It was burning.
Like an over-protective dog guarding his bitch, Itachi had let out a long warning growl before he’d launched himself at Gaara who, from the corner of his eyes had been seen approaching Naruto. Sasuke was long forgotten.
He frowned as he watched Gaara drop into a random ditch on the other side of a stream and out of sight.
Good, he thought, running water should keep him at bay.
Did he think he was not paying attention? How dare he undermine his abilities?
But now the most troublesome one was dealt with, he could focus his attention on erasing his mistake years ago when he’d foolishly kept Sasuke alive.
Gaara lay in the dirt, seemingly lost to the world. His eyes slowly drooped down, until he could see nothing. He’d been forced across running water. That was something a vampyre should never try to do. It was like jumping in a basin full of holy water. But nonetheless, he’d tried; there was nothing he could do now even if his body managed to heal itself. He was on the other side of the stream.
The last image in his eyes was the picture of Naruto’s horrified expression, his arm stretching out and the silent scream of his name followed by slide-after-slide of memories kept hidden, memories of them together...
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“Gaara-san! Gaara-san!” a little boy came bundling down the dim-litted corridor, his long flaxen hair flowing behind him. He run into the legs of one very irate red-headed guardian.
“Kazama-sama? Where have you been?” he asked though it did not sound like a question – his voice was devoid of any emotion. Yet his hard eyes softened slightly at the little sob that came muffled from his charge.
“Gaara-san!” the little boy cried.
“What troubles you, young-master?” the sides of his lips twitched uncertainly. He should never forgive it if he allowed himself to so easily become attached to the master’s son.
“Look, Oh-look!” he raised his cherubic tear-stained face and thrust his little chubby fore-finger in the red-head’s face – he was no taller than his knee so Gaara knelt down to listen to his, probably, long-strung and exaggerated story.
“I was playing in the back garden, the one with father’s beautiful fish – I know you said...s-said,” here, he paused to sniff, hiccup and wipe his teary eyes with his good hand, “you said n-not to go there after sunset and that there are many horrible beasts! But – Kyuubi was naughty and wouldn’t listen when I said we should come back! He run under the shrove and when I went to fetch him back I cut myself on the thorns!!”
He bawled his eyes out and clutched harder at his caretaker’s cloaks...whom he was sure was not even listening.
Indeed, Gaara’s attention was focused on the blood dripping from his small wound. He tried to turn his eyes away from the enticing sweet smelling crimson liquid beckoning him to savour it...to no avail.
He succumbed to his temptations and took the child’s hand into his own, scanning the area in which they were in briefly before lowering his head and bringing the wounded finger to his lips.
►
His young-master had just returned back from his leave away in the isles of the notorious Stone country. They were both lounging outside in the big back-garden under the moonlight with Gaara stroking his long beautiful hair and him resting his head on his chest, listening to the low thudding of his heartbeat.
Then suddenly Naruto sat up to look into his eyes and asked in that amazing soft quiet voice of his, “Gaara...why is it that you always look the same?”
His hand stilled.
He didn’t want to say that he’d ruined their moment together by bringing up a resentful topic.
He didn’t want to say how he’d been so very happy when the moment Naruto returned he’d come to seek his company instead of his maidens’ or his father’s and how up until now he’d just been contented with idly brushing his fingers through that soft flaxen hair and holding him in his arms however insignificant it might have meant to the other.
So he pretended he was in the throes of slumber and that he had not heard his young-master’s inquest.
Yet he still persisted, “Gaara, I know you are still conscious. Answer me...”
Ignorance... Maybe ignorance will still his curiosity. So now he pretended not to have heard a thing.
“I beg your pardon?”
Naruto frowned. He knew the reason. He’d just wanted to hear it from Gaara himself but now he was playing at being insensible.
“I mean...what I meant to say was...you look the same as you did when I was,” he paused to count off his fingers, “...not but five! I commit to memory...you don’t age like father...or his father before him. Why?” his sparkling blue eyes bore into Gaara’s with a slight frown marring his wonderful features, daring him to tell a lie.
‘He knows!’
For a moment, Gaara’s emotionless expression faltered and his cold turquoise eyes looked positively frightened. He recalled those harsh words the master of the house, Naruto’s dear father, had said to him...
“If he ever finds out...or you turn him, I will disown you and have you banished or burned!” – They echoed and rung loudly in his ear, resonating to and fro restlessly within his mind.
And he couldn’t let that happen, no matter how it hurt to lie to his young-master whom he’d grown to love, no matter how it would hurt to watch him live his feeble mortal life, grow old and die – because it’d mean to never see him again. So he had to...he had to crush any fantasies of them being together for centuries to come... he had to stop himself from turning him into what he himself was...a cold-hearted –
►
“ – monster! We are not monsters so don’t listen to what others say! You weren’t at fault, you hear? It was not your choice to make. And I don’t hate you...you did it to save me.”
The figure that kneeled on the ground holding a pale, lifeless body lifted his eyes full of shame and regret.
“...Naruto...” the name flowed from his lips in such anguish, “I should never have...I should have heeded your father’s words. And now you…you are – ”
“The same as I was before. I’m still Naruto and you’re still Gaara! Just because...just because we’re not...” here, his voice died down, “...humans anymore or like others around us. We don’t need their judgment – you hear me?” he gripped his shoulders hard and shook him vigorously to make sure he understood.
When Gaara responded by nodding slowly, eyes still trained on the body he held, Naruto leaned down and kissed the blood from his lips. Gaara’s eyes had widened then and Naruto was glad he’d finally drawn a reaction from the usually impassive man – he’d felt him smile against his soft rose-petal lips. Then he’d smiled too when Gaara had pulled him into a loving embrace and whispered in his ear,
“Now I never have to watch you grow old...and we can finally be together.”
“Together?” Naruto asked with child-like wonder.
“Forever...for eternity.”
“You...promise?”
“This servant of yours has never lied to you.”
Naruto chuckled and drew back then raised his hand to count down a list formed from his clever mind,
“There was that time you told me the blood you drank was juice from fresh berries that you’d picked out in the field and that it was the reason you stayed so young. Then there was the time when you said kyuubi had run from home but you’d fed on his poor soul! I shall never forgive you for – mmph!” Gaara had pacified him with an intense bruising kiss.
“I did it to protect you. You are mine to protect, And that there is no ordinary wild fox,” he said pointing to the animal that had just continued past the window after rapping on it several times, “Have you ever not wondered how he could jump off from your balcony and still survive?”
And that night Gaara had taught Naruto how to play the grand piano that sat in the parlour. And so they played to each other, Naruto’s merry laughter and Gaara’s contented low chuckles ringing out into the night.
The dead body lay forgotten on the cold floor, its eyes piercing their backs accusingly.
“Stay with me, Gaara. Let’s be one of the same!” Naruto had said enthusiastically.
“Of course, Na...”
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“ru-to...”
“Gaa-raaaa!!”
In the distance, Gaara envisioned Naruto’s bright, joyful face fading away. Yet – that smile...that smile stayed playing about his lips because he knew the promise spoken...will not be broken – no matter what obstacles stood in the way.
He’ll always be there to protect him...for an eternity. An unspoken truce between them because he was...
‘Forever mine to protect...’
Then he knew true darkness.
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[1] Kin/Kinsfolk- Old fashioned word for family or someone very close to you and your family.
[2]- A vampire who’s lived longer or for more than a century were considered to be very strong and were shown great respect.
This is what Itachi meant by ‘rank’ because we know Gaara was just a servant of Naruto’s father.
When Gaara said: “A hundred and four years too late...” he meant that was how long he’d been a vampire for. He’s not 104 years old because he was 21 when he was turned so really, if you look at it he’s actually 125 years old. (~.~) Ha- anyone else confused?
[3] Babe/Bebe- An old fashioned word of saying ‘baby’, from the womb. Of course, now, it means something else entirely.
There were some words I failed to translate back into English like ‘sama’ because I really don’t know how to put that in English. We all know what it means but I couldn’t very well say: ‘Naruto-master’ or ‘Naruto-I-respect-you-highly’ now could I?
[EDIT]-And now I just realized I could have put ‘Master-Naruto’...oh well, nevermind.
And in case you wanted to know:
• Gaara turned Naruto when he was 16. He’d lived for 27 years before he met Itachi or Sasuke which means he’s 41 years old but looks just like he did when he was sixteen.
• Itachi was turned by...an unknown source when he was 20. He’s lived for 86 years so he’s 106 years old. He turned Sasuke when he (Itachi) was 67 years old.
• Sasuke was turned by Itachi when he was 18. He’d lived for 32 years before he met Naruto and Gaara. He’s 50 years old.
So? What do you think? A bit too ‘OTT’ (over the top)?
Yes, I did warn you that everyone was infected with the OOC virus, especially Itachi! You can’t blame me...
R & R anyway and tell me what you think. Sorry for the inconvenience, but I have changed a few things to go with the new plot that has formed inside my cramped mind.
Genre: Gothic Horror/Romance/Adventure/Other
Rated: MA/A++
Progress: INST. 1/15
Pairings: Itachi/Naruto, Sasuke/Naruto, Gaara/Naruto, Neji/Naruto, Sai/Kiba. Other pairings shall be made known to you in later chapters. Eventual? We will see…
WARNING: Graphic content in later chapters, I am very descriptive. So disturbingly gory it will make your stomachs turn – beware!
I find it easier to do different summaries for different chapters. The summary for the story is on the main page.
Chapter Sum. : A small peek at some of the relationships between Naruto and co. This chapter is of the past, mainly Gaara and Naruto’s.
Further WARNING: There’s an epidemic of the OOC-ness virus in this first chapter. It is written in Old-English...well as old as I can make it, so any word or phrase you don’t understand, just ask me. I will explain some of the words at the bottom though.
A word from the author: This story has been inspired by countless words from one of my favourite writers, Anne Rice. If you enjoy literature and have some time on your hands, please look her up. You may have heard of one of her works: Interview with a Vampire – one of the main stories that gave me the idea for this fiction. I do not know her personally, nor own any of her works, or whatever… (That was part of my disclaimer).
«««««««« - These sequence of characters are used to signify the beginning of a flashback, hence the arrows pointing in the backwards direction: so as to say "let's take a trip to the past, shall we?"
»»»»»»»» - These sequence of characters are used to signify the end of a flahback, and therefore, a return to the present.
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Chapter I ~ Forever Mine To Protect
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1756 – Between the borders of Konohagakure and Sunagakure...
The bell at the abbey struck five times signalling the onset of dawn.
The sound of war horses tore through the thick southern woods, breaking the tranquil, yet eerie silence. The hooves pounded steadily on the soft loamy soil of a ground well acquainted with the morning dew, the riders with only one intention on their minds and their cloaks billowing in the morning winds that drew in from the western sea.
“Do you sense him?” a blast of wind knocked back his hood, revealing blood-red hair.
“Indeed, he is close! – And true to his word, he has him nearby – the fiend! I swear on my very corpse if he harms him, I shall –”
“Hold your tongue. Do not make oaths you are unable to keep. You forget who he is, one of more than a hundred years and an Uchiha by blood –”
“Am I not an Uchiha also? Answer me!” his knuckles turned whiter from the hardy grip he placed on his reins, “Does the same blood not flow through our veins?”
“What blood?” the other mocked. He pulled on his reins, effectively slowing down his horse.
“You know very well what I mean – Sabaku! What the devil are you doing now?”
The other had slowed down to stop by a great oak tree, from which a rustling sound could be heard.
“I need to feed.” was the simple answer the dark-haired figure received from his stubborn companion.
“Mount your nag – we’ve no time! You shall have plenty to feed on once we’ve retrieved him!”
The moon was still high above them but on the horizon, a thin shred of light was gradually growing brighter.
He paid no heed to his travelling companion’s words. There was another rustle in the undergrowth of the forest floor. He crept stealthily towards the source of the sound.
One step...two steps...three!
Stooping low, his arm shot out to grab his prey by the neck before he greedily sunk his fangs at the point where he naturally knew there would be the most blood. He made sure to drain it all, yet a fully grown deer could not sate his hunger and thirst.
“You will not feed?” he asked from where he crouched low on the ground, quietly licking at the blood that still seeped out slowly from the inflicted wound.
“Wipe your mouth, savage!” he threw back his hood, his raven dark hair catching what little was left of the moonlight before it all but vanished behind darkening clouds,
“Let us make haste, the sun is rising!”
“You need the energy. You have not feasted for more than seven nights. You’re weak.” He said brusquely.
“I do not worry. Once I have him to hold in my arms, he shall make me strong again,” he argued insistently, unaware of the deep frown that marred the other’s features or the spasmodic twitch of the mouth, the tensed shoulders and the tightly clenched fists, “And why do you not worry or fear for his well-being? Was he not a loyal comrade of yours?”
“A...comrade?” his voice was bitter and cold leading the other to mistake the harshness as a negative attitude towards the one whom he spoke of, he narrowed his eyes.
“We do not enjoy each other’s presence, why stall?” his heavy steed shifted around unnervingly, betraying its master’s indifferent appearance. One should know animals always reflect their master’s countenance.
“What of your kin¹? Surely you do not expect me to take kindly to his person if his words to hurt Namikaze-sama are true?”
“We’ll do away with him...somehow. He is of no importance though. A threat, yes, but once Naruto is back safe, my brother and his play puppets can burn in the fiery depths of hell.”
“You speak relevance, Uchiha. Very well, for the time being I shall abide to your wishes...on reasonable grounds, of course.”
He mounted his horse and once again they galloped through the laden vegetation until they came upon a large field.
To one side of this was a small but proficient churchyard, further beyond that was a cemetery, ancient and crumbling. It stretched yonder into the distance.
The vile stench of the dead and the un-dead tinged the otherwise sweet and fresh air, crimson blood mingling with the winds in the inharmoniously quite atmosphere.
“He is near...somewhere...I can smell him.” That ending statement was emphasized by the deep breath he took in, “There, By the Valorian statue.”
His raven-haired companion looked to where the other pointed.
The second he laid his dark eyes on the image before him, his fury was ignited yet again like never before.
“Naruto!” he quickly jumped from his horse to aid the figure whose head had shot up at the mention of his name.
He looked positively horrified.
‘They came! When I told them not to – they never listen! Now...now we’re all damned!’
“Gaara! Sasu-arrgh!” his body tensed and he groaned in agony as the iron chains were pulled tighter around his weakened frame.
“Namikaze!” Gaara made to move closer and unbound his master from the restrains but stopped short when a sharp small dagger embedded itself in the ground by his feet, causing him to jump a few yards back to keep safe and calculate where the projectile had been thrown from. He needn’t have thought that far into it...
“Dear, dear brother, with companion I see, you come at last. I was beginning to worry” Such venomous sarcasm. The chains that bound Naruto rattled briefly and a hand, cold and death-pale, reached out from the dark to cup his victim’s chin.
“You...Itachi!” brought back to his senses, his veins throbbed with unbidden hatred as he approached the figure silhouetted against the shadow of the statue, his hand being the only visible part of his body.
Gaara followed close by, readying his sword – just in case...
There was a loud clash, zing, metal-to-metal, sending little sparks of blue and orange flying in all directions.
...And the chains became undone.
The figure that sat slumped on the cold cemented floor, was pulled up to his unsteady feet like light-weight and then back into his terrorizer’s arms.
“A fine catch indeed, wouldn’t you say, little brother?” his voice still cold and mocking. It echoed through and back the deserted hill on which they stood upon.
Lifting his clawed hand he lazily dragged a finger along his victim’s jaw, drawing fresh blood, and then proceeded to slowly lap at it, savouring the taste,
“Sweet too...nectarine sweet.”
His victim weakly tried to move away.
“Let him go! Let him go now – rat eater!” Sasuke all but lunged at his brother but cursed aloud when he was held back, “Gaara – let me have his…head! I won’t have you deny me that satisfaction!”
Itachi chuckled, lowly.
“I resent that. I am not he who will dare not feed on a mortal soul.”
“Sasuke! Gaara! Hurry – run! Run and set your guilt fr – mmph!” Naruto began when Itachi clamped his mouth shut.
“Naruto! I’m not leaving without you!” Sasuke struggled free from Gaara’s grasp and withdrew his mighty sword, the metal glinting in the moonlight.
“Foolish...foolish little brother. You have forgotten who made you, who pitied your poor mortal soul and kept you alive. And you repay me by stealing what is rightfully mine, now I have taken it back. Is that not the way of life? You grant...only to gain?”
“Naruto has nothing to do with this! Let him go – now!” he forced through gritted teeth, taking a cautious step forward.
Itachi laughed. It didn’t sound merry – no, not a merry sound at all. It sounded forced, strained even to his own ears, as if he were trying to convince himself, as well as others, of something.
“Naruto? Is that what you told him your name was...Minato?” his grip on Naruto tightened.
“It is my name – I assure you. Naruto not Minato...” his voice was hoarse and weak, broken from crying out continuously in grief.
“Release him or I shall tear you apart, feed you to the night wolves and let your carcass dry out in the sun...I do not make idle threats.”
Itachi’s lifeless eyes shifted to rest upon Gaara’s equally lifeless eyes, as if only now realizing his presence or who he was.
“Oh? Sabaku, was it? Of the dessert? To think...a man of your rank would stoop so low as to connive with my brother²,” he ignored Sasuke’s seething and continued, “And what of it? What is my beloved to you?”
“– you’re mistaking me for someone else!”
“Impossible, no one else has those eyes, that flawless golden-strewn hair – as if thou were solely carved by the sun itself. My blood flows through your veins and yours mine. I could not mistake your sweet essence anywhere...because I made you.”
“You deceitful...” Sasuke lunged forward bringing down his sword forcefully to cleave Itachi’s head though more than careful to avoid Naruto’s person. But Itachi jumped back with Naruto still in his arms and threw several more daggers Sasuke’s way. He, in turn, deflected all seven of the weapons with in-human precision,
“He was not made by you. It was I who fed him my blood, I who made him into a night being!” Sasuke raged.
Gaara could not keep the triumphant smirk from playing about his lips. This went unnoticed by both Uchihas.
He supposed it wouldn’t do to incur both their wraths so decided to keep to himself the fact that it was he who turned Naruto into what he was. Did they not know he’d served him from since he was a babe³?
But they were both ignorant, Typical flaw of those from aristocratic descent. They believed everything as they saw fit, making their own rules, decisions...laws. Seeing anyone else not of their rank to be below them, this was why it was such a revelation that both the Uchiha brothers wanted him for themselves. Naruto was of noble blood, yes – but he was nothing special...not of their rank at all. Then again, such beauty compensated for these things.
Nevertheless, it was not an honour to be the one who turned Naruto into a vampyre, could they not see it? That he detested being this way? That he’d tried many times before to try and take his own life? And all those times he had been there, to save him, to talk him out of it and show him the better part of being such a creature? He knew what Naruto meant...when he said to set his guilt free. But he also knew it was too late for that...
‘A hundred and four years too late...’
He was drawn out from his thoughts by Itachi’s taunting voice.
“So he did not tell you then?”
“Tell me what?! What lies do you now use to try and make a believer out of me?” Sasuke demanded. He was ignored, Itachi answered, but more so to himself than anyone else.
“He was my sun...mine alone. He’d strengthen me when I became weak; play his harp to me where I lay nights on end. And he promised me he’d make me the perfect life companion then love me till the sun came out to send us to our grave chambers.”
Naruto’s eyes widened as he tried to struggle free.
“You’re drunk on insanity! You know not what you talk about –” he begun when Itachi grew livid, enraged, he buried his claws deep into the neck of his captive, splurging blood from his throat and out his mouth.
“Stop...stop lying to me!” he whirled him around and glared into his dulled blue eyes, his own red gleaming eyes reflecting uncertainty, “You loved me – you still do! Tell it to them, assure me, my love!”
“Naruto...” Sasuke paused, letting his arms drop limply to his side, “Is this...is this true?”
Of course it’s not! his mind had said to him but he was shocked to see his elder act in such an unorthodox manner, surely he must be speaking some truth? He wouldn’t go as far as to humiliate himself just to spite him? But...Naruto never lied – he never could! There was always truth in what he spoke.
He desperately searched his face for an answer – anything to belie his brother’s words. And even when Naruto was spun back around to face them, he still would not meet his dark inquisitive gaze as if afraid of his judgement...he kept his eyes low.
“I pray thee refute his words. He lies-! Tell me his words are not true!” he moved closer to them, his pleas pitiful and frantic.
Itachi spotted the movement and withdrew several feet back to keep that distance between them.
“I’m afraid he cannot do that brother, for my words...” he paused for effect, “are true. I am now a witness to this statement – the truth does indeed hurt.”
“It was years ag-o...” their eyes turned to the despondent fallen angel as he stopped to spit out the blood that threatened to choke him, “but I mean what I say....I’m different now...I’m not the same person anymore...”
“It hasn’t been that long...” Itachi interrupted in an offhand manner, “...and don’t fret so, such wholesome blood going to waste.”
He leaned down and tilted Naruto’s head, thereafter arranging to gently kiss and lick the blood away. Sasuke gritted his teeth. Gaara clenched and unclenched his fists.
‘Why am I still...? I can do something...I have to protect him – I swore to! And for as long as I shall live, my master...my love.’
He looked up, having not been following the conversation and caught Naruto’s eyes directed at him.
“– truly loved, it was you,” his eyes were now on Sasuke, his voice taking on a slightly angry tone, “Why could we not be together and love one another?”
Sasuke stood unmoving then, as if something inside him had finally broke free he steeled his watch on Naruto, anger reflecting in his own eyes.
“I gave you a choice! I asked you to choose and you chose me! It is impossible to have more than one life companion – you know that. And you chose me – you have me!” he argued.
“And now he has me. He came to me. You have heard of this proverb, I’m sure: “If you love something set it free, and if it comes back...it was meant to be”. Do you now see now, brother? Do you realize what that means?”
He was throwing salt on his wounds and he knew it. But it was not he at fault. He’d warned him. He’d warned him – and everybody else – to keep away from his possession. Naruto was his sun and his alone. Then he’d left, been taken by his own kin. That alone...was unforgivable!
“This choice was not mine to make! Your lives were at stake...” Naruto interjected.
‘Oh – how ironic...their lives at stake...’.
It seemed to the world’s eye...that he was giving up.
Itachi gripped his chin hard and narrowed his eyes to show his displeasure for those statements.
“They need not know that. Though...what can two minors do for you? They’re weak. They lack the strength and understanding to keep you sated and by their side. With me you will have anything and everything you desire. You need not even hunt!
Come, be with me and I promise you, like you’ve promised me many things before, you shall have the world at your feet.”
“Heed not his words! Don’t fall victim to his deceit! Have I not shown my endless affection for you? Are you not satisfied with what I give you – then I can give you more! I beg of you...spare me this heartbreak; I love you far too greatly.”
He wasn’t aware...wasn’t aware of the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes.
He felt his whole world shattering at his feet. This was not supposed to happen. Naruto was supposed to live with him an eternity, explore new worlds together.
Surprised as Naruto was, he did not show it. Instead he pondered this in his mind.
‘He weeps...he weeps for me? He sheds real tears! Here I thought we showed no emotion but fear and anger. Then, he can still be saved! Tears are a language of the soul...if he weeps then he still has a soul! ’
“Wipe your tears, Sasuke, I am happy. I am content now,” he coughed out more blood and smiled a solemn yet blissful smile, “But it seems even vampyres like us, purged in the deepest sin, cannot live an eternity. That is God’s and God’s will alone. If I can die in peace then I have not been forsaken by him – you too, Sasuke! Your soul is still there – your soul is still alive!”
“Naruto...? What nonsense do you speak of now?” he frowned at his wounds, “Why are you not healing??”
‘Dead man’s blood?’
“Itachi – son of a demon, release him!”
“Let go of him?” he asked incredulously, like that command alone was the most preposterous thing he’d ever had the pleasure...or non-pleasure, of hearing, “Why will I do that when I now finally have him in my arms again?? You still fail to realize...” he seized Naruto’s body and pulled him closer against his chest, “...this treasure is mine, and mine alone.”
Sasuke shook so hard he seemed about to implode. He had never felt this way before, this bad blood between such another. He had never more wanted to bury his claws deep into his brother’s chest and rip his heart out for all to see,
“My limit...my limit can only be tried so far!” without warning he rushed forward again with speed he knew not he possessed and Gaara was too slow in restraining him,
‘If he wants to be maimed then so be it. I will not be the one to stop him. Such a young, ignorant mind. He does not witness the madness in his brother’s eyes? The desperation and with such little hope he holds on to his happiness. But...Naruto, you have a tendency of doing that to the ones you meet...and I am not an exception...’
He opted, instead, to run to Naruto whom Itachi had gently – as gently as one can when trying to avoid insane-driven attacks from the bane of your existence – pushed aside.
For one filled with such impressive wisdom, he should have known it wouldn’t work. But being with him so long had forced him to be optimistic.
Whiles both Uchihas were occupied, he would take Naruto away, far away, where he would be safe and they could live happily together whiles trying to be delivered...or not.
That was the idea, and in his mind’s eye it was carried out flawlessly. He had not foreseen this. He did not even know how it happened. One second, his arm was outstretched towards Naruto – and his love was reaching back! Their hands were almost touching when something, whatever this something was, broke their seemingly closing contact and distanced them.
Next second, he was sailing through the air, getting further and further away from his master then there was a loud crash from somewhere and his disorientated mind barely registered the hot searing pain spreading through his body. It was burning.
Like an over-protective dog guarding his bitch, Itachi had let out a long warning growl before he’d launched himself at Gaara who, from the corner of his eyes had been seen approaching Naruto. Sasuke was long forgotten.
He frowned as he watched Gaara drop into a random ditch on the other side of a stream and out of sight.
Good, he thought, running water should keep him at bay.
Did he think he was not paying attention? How dare he undermine his abilities?
But now the most troublesome one was dealt with, he could focus his attention on erasing his mistake years ago when he’d foolishly kept Sasuke alive.
Gaara lay in the dirt, seemingly lost to the world. His eyes slowly drooped down, until he could see nothing. He’d been forced across running water. That was something a vampyre should never try to do. It was like jumping in a basin full of holy water. But nonetheless, he’d tried; there was nothing he could do now even if his body managed to heal itself. He was on the other side of the stream.
The last image in his eyes was the picture of Naruto’s horrified expression, his arm stretching out and the silent scream of his name followed by slide-after-slide of memories kept hidden, memories of them together...
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“Gaara-san! Gaara-san!” a little boy came bundling down the dim-litted corridor, his long flaxen hair flowing behind him. He run into the legs of one very irate red-headed guardian.
“Kazama-sama? Where have you been?” he asked though it did not sound like a question – his voice was devoid of any emotion. Yet his hard eyes softened slightly at the little sob that came muffled from his charge.
“Gaara-san!” the little boy cried.
“What troubles you, young-master?” the sides of his lips twitched uncertainly. He should never forgive it if he allowed himself to so easily become attached to the master’s son.
“Look, Oh-look!” he raised his cherubic tear-stained face and thrust his little chubby fore-finger in the red-head’s face – he was no taller than his knee so Gaara knelt down to listen to his, probably, long-strung and exaggerated story.
“I was playing in the back garden, the one with father’s beautiful fish – I know you said...s-said,” here, he paused to sniff, hiccup and wipe his teary eyes with his good hand, “you said n-not to go there after sunset and that there are many horrible beasts! But – Kyuubi was naughty and wouldn’t listen when I said we should come back! He run under the shrove and when I went to fetch him back I cut myself on the thorns!!”
He bawled his eyes out and clutched harder at his caretaker’s cloaks...whom he was sure was not even listening.
Indeed, Gaara’s attention was focused on the blood dripping from his small wound. He tried to turn his eyes away from the enticing sweet smelling crimson liquid beckoning him to savour it...to no avail.
He succumbed to his temptations and took the child’s hand into his own, scanning the area in which they were in briefly before lowering his head and bringing the wounded finger to his lips.
►
His young-master had just returned back from his leave away in the isles of the notorious Stone country. They were both lounging outside in the big back-garden under the moonlight with Gaara stroking his long beautiful hair and him resting his head on his chest, listening to the low thudding of his heartbeat.
Then suddenly Naruto sat up to look into his eyes and asked in that amazing soft quiet voice of his, “Gaara...why is it that you always look the same?”
His hand stilled.
He didn’t want to say that he’d ruined their moment together by bringing up a resentful topic.
He didn’t want to say how he’d been so very happy when the moment Naruto returned he’d come to seek his company instead of his maidens’ or his father’s and how up until now he’d just been contented with idly brushing his fingers through that soft flaxen hair and holding him in his arms however insignificant it might have meant to the other.
So he pretended he was in the throes of slumber and that he had not heard his young-master’s inquest.
Yet he still persisted, “Gaara, I know you are still conscious. Answer me...”
Ignorance... Maybe ignorance will still his curiosity. So now he pretended not to have heard a thing.
“I beg your pardon?”
Naruto frowned. He knew the reason. He’d just wanted to hear it from Gaara himself but now he was playing at being insensible.
“I mean...what I meant to say was...you look the same as you did when I was,” he paused to count off his fingers, “...not but five! I commit to memory...you don’t age like father...or his father before him. Why?” his sparkling blue eyes bore into Gaara’s with a slight frown marring his wonderful features, daring him to tell a lie.
‘He knows!’
For a moment, Gaara’s emotionless expression faltered and his cold turquoise eyes looked positively frightened. He recalled those harsh words the master of the house, Naruto’s dear father, had said to him...
“If he ever finds out...or you turn him, I will disown you and have you banished or burned!” – They echoed and rung loudly in his ear, resonating to and fro restlessly within his mind.
And he couldn’t let that happen, no matter how it hurt to lie to his young-master whom he’d grown to love, no matter how it would hurt to watch him live his feeble mortal life, grow old and die – because it’d mean to never see him again. So he had to...he had to crush any fantasies of them being together for centuries to come... he had to stop himself from turning him into what he himself was...a cold-hearted –
►
“ – monster! We are not monsters so don’t listen to what others say! You weren’t at fault, you hear? It was not your choice to make. And I don’t hate you...you did it to save me.”
The figure that kneeled on the ground holding a pale, lifeless body lifted his eyes full of shame and regret.
“...Naruto...” the name flowed from his lips in such anguish, “I should never have...I should have heeded your father’s words. And now you…you are – ”
“The same as I was before. I’m still Naruto and you’re still Gaara! Just because...just because we’re not...” here, his voice died down, “...humans anymore or like others around us. We don’t need their judgment – you hear me?” he gripped his shoulders hard and shook him vigorously to make sure he understood.
When Gaara responded by nodding slowly, eyes still trained on the body he held, Naruto leaned down and kissed the blood from his lips. Gaara’s eyes had widened then and Naruto was glad he’d finally drawn a reaction from the usually impassive man – he’d felt him smile against his soft rose-petal lips. Then he’d smiled too when Gaara had pulled him into a loving embrace and whispered in his ear,
“Now I never have to watch you grow old...and we can finally be together.”
“Together?” Naruto asked with child-like wonder.
“Forever...for eternity.”
“You...promise?”
“This servant of yours has never lied to you.”
Naruto chuckled and drew back then raised his hand to count down a list formed from his clever mind,
“There was that time you told me the blood you drank was juice from fresh berries that you’d picked out in the field and that it was the reason you stayed so young. Then there was the time when you said kyuubi had run from home but you’d fed on his poor soul! I shall never forgive you for – mmph!” Gaara had pacified him with an intense bruising kiss.
“I did it to protect you. You are mine to protect, And that there is no ordinary wild fox,” he said pointing to the animal that had just continued past the window after rapping on it several times, “Have you ever not wondered how he could jump off from your balcony and still survive?”
And that night Gaara had taught Naruto how to play the grand piano that sat in the parlour. And so they played to each other, Naruto’s merry laughter and Gaara’s contented low chuckles ringing out into the night.
The dead body lay forgotten on the cold floor, its eyes piercing their backs accusingly.
“Stay with me, Gaara. Let’s be one of the same!” Naruto had said enthusiastically.
“Of course, Na...”
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“ru-to...”
“Gaa-raaaa!!”
In the distance, Gaara envisioned Naruto’s bright, joyful face fading away. Yet – that smile...that smile stayed playing about his lips because he knew the promise spoken...will not be broken – no matter what obstacles stood in the way.
He’ll always be there to protect him...for an eternity. An unspoken truce between them because he was...
‘Forever mine to protect...’
Then he knew true darkness.
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[1] Kin/Kinsfolk- Old fashioned word for family or someone very close to you and your family.
[2]- A vampire who’s lived longer or for more than a century were considered to be very strong and were shown great respect.
This is what Itachi meant by ‘rank’ because we know Gaara was just a servant of Naruto’s father.
When Gaara said: “A hundred and four years too late...” he meant that was how long he’d been a vampire for. He’s not 104 years old because he was 21 when he was turned so really, if you look at it he’s actually 125 years old. (~.~) Ha- anyone else confused?
[3] Babe/Bebe- An old fashioned word of saying ‘baby’, from the womb. Of course, now, it means something else entirely.
There were some words I failed to translate back into English like ‘sama’ because I really don’t know how to put that in English. We all know what it means but I couldn’t very well say: ‘Naruto-master’ or ‘Naruto-I-respect-you-highly’ now could I?
[EDIT]-And now I just realized I could have put ‘Master-Naruto’...oh well, nevermind.
And in case you wanted to know:
• Gaara turned Naruto when he was 16. He’d lived for 27 years before he met Itachi or Sasuke which means he’s 41 years old but looks just like he did when he was sixteen.
• Itachi was turned by...an unknown source when he was 20. He’s lived for 86 years so he’s 106 years old. He turned Sasuke when he (Itachi) was 67 years old.
• Sasuke was turned by Itachi when he was 18. He’d lived for 32 years before he met Naruto and Gaara. He’s 50 years old.
So? What do you think? A bit too ‘OTT’ (over the top)?
Yes, I did warn you that everyone was infected with the OOC virus, especially Itachi! You can’t blame me...
R & R anyway and tell me what you think. Sorry for the inconvenience, but I have changed a few things to go with the new plot that has formed inside my cramped mind.