Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ A Time to Love ❯ Golden ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter Three: Golden

 

 

 

Naruto stretched when he awoke one day after several weeks. He looked out the window and almost instantly knew that Yueri had, once again, allowed him to sleep a little later. He smiled to himself as he ran his left hand through his blonde locks, disheveling them and creating a more just out of bed look that he had mastered because parts of his hair still stood up, yet some of it fell in his eyes. Naruto smiled to himself as he pulled on a white sleeveless top and a pair of black pants.

 

Sleepily, Naruto rubbed his eyes as he wandered into the kitchen. He leaned against the doorframe as he scruntized Yueri's movements.

 

Yueri's black curls cascaded down to her shoulder blades. Naruto could hear her humming as she fixed breakfast. A black tank top and a pair of black jeans caressed her slender body as she moved about the kitchen, seemingly unaware of Naruto's presence.

 

Naruto snuck into the kitchen and slunk towards the cabinets containing the ramen. He grinned to himself, but his grin fell when he felt a piercing gaze fall upon him.

 

“You better not be thinking about eating ramen for breakfast again,” Yueri warned, crossing her arms over her chest and tapping her foot. Her golden eyes captured Naruto for a moment before he shook his head. A sweet scent lingered in his nostrils as Naruto smiled sheepishly up at Yueri.

 

“Go sit.”

 

“Yes ma'am,” Naruto muttered, barely dodging a pan that was thrown at him. “You missed, Yueri-chan!”

 

Yueri rolled her eyes and laughed. “Do you think I would try to hit you on purpose, Naruto-kun?”

 

“No, but I can't be too careful.”

 

Naruto could hear the smile in her voice and he could see it in her golden eyes.

 

“Are we collecting herbs tonight?” Naruto asked as he leaned back in his chair.

 

“Hai.” Yueri nodded. “I'm running low on nightshade, foxglove, and monkshood.”

 

“But aren't those poisonous?” Naruto looked deep into Yueri's eyes once she had turned to face him completely. Her eyes glinted mischievously.

 

“That's not all we're collecting tonight,” Yueri whispered. “Mandragona and Artemisia. Highly poisonous and potent. Remember Naruto-kun, you can never be too careful. They have other qualities as well.”

 

Naruto nodded. He didn't understand why Yueri would need poisonous plants. She was well liked by the people of the surrounding villages, yet she never ventured near Konoha. When asked, Yueri would always mention a falsely golden life she did not wish to return to. Yueri would be gone for days sometimes. Naruto still didn't know where she went. He frowned as he thought about it.

 

“When you're gone for days, where do you go?” Naruto asked as Yueri placed a plate of pancakes before him.

 

“Hidden in the Sand,” Yueri answered. She moved away from the table and leaned against the counter. “Only the Kazekage trusts me with medicines and herbs. He only trusts me to care for his people's health when sickness erupts.”

 

“Who is he?”

 

“Why such an interest, Naruto-kun?”

 

“I just want to know. I've been here for weeks, and yet still I know so little.”

 

Yueri sighed and rubbed her temples. She bowed her head for a minute before looking up at Naruto.

 

“Gaara-sama,” Yueri answered, blushing slightly.

 

“You like him.” Naruto's voice softened as he noticed the blush spread across her cheeks. He felt something twist and coil within his heart; something black and angry.

 

“I do not!” Yueri argued, her eyes flashing dangerously. “It's purely business!”

 

“Is not! You prefer to be with a heartless demonic bastard!” Naruto yelled as he stood and slammed his fist down on the table.

 

“Look who's talking! At the moment I could call you a heartless bastard, Naruto-san,” Yueri growled loudly. “Now eat, or don't eat. I don't care.”

 

Yueri blinked and Naruto could see tears glimmering in her golden eyes. She glared up at Naruto before turning away and dashing out of the front door and into the dawn. Naruto sat back down and yelled incoherently as Yueri fled into the golden light.

 

~*~

 

Yueri found herself in one of the nearby villages. She had thought about going to see Gaara for a while, but had decided against it and she was sure she would go visit him anyway. She wiped away her oncoming tears. She felt the ground beneath her feet and realized she had forgotten her shoes. She shrugged; she didn't care anymore.

 

The sky was turning golden with the oncoming dawn. The trees swayed with a morning breeze, seemingly from nowhere. Yueri shivered and wrapped her arms around her slender figure and watched the sun raise over the trees as it ascended into the heavens, before turning away from the light.

 

The shadows appeared as Yueri walked slowly down the main street of the village. She bowed her head, hoping that none of the waking villagers would recognize her. She felt Shishi stir within her breast, awakening as the golden disk above her head rose higher and higher in the sky.

 

What's wrong kitten? Shishi's voice purred in Yueri's head.

 

Nothing, Yueri lied.

 

Sweetheart, I live within you. I know something's wrong between you and that boy that you're so sweet on, Naruto.

 

He's mad at me because he thinks I `like' Gaara-sama.

 

Well, don't you?

 

Well, yeah, but I `like' Naruto-kun too.

 

Listen to your heart, kitten.

 

And to you.

 

And to me.

 

Yueri could feel Shishi smile as she lifted her face towards the sun, allowing its golden rays to wash over her face.

 

I think I'll go visit Gaara-sama.

 

That might be a good idea for now.

 

Yueri wandered through the village for another hour or so, allowing her black curls to fall in her eyes. She snuck into the forest as the villagers began their daily hustle and bustle of life.

 

Once she was far enough into the woods she whistled a few, high, shrill notes and waited. The underbrush rustled for a moment before a large, golden lioness leaped out at Yueri. The lioness bent her knees and kneeled to allow Yueri to climb upon her broad back.

 

“To Gaara-sama,” she whispered in the lioness' ear as she leapt into form before bounding deeper into the forest and disappearing into the green.

~*~

 

 

 

Amber shadows dance in the sky,

tossing and turning in the raising sun.

Slipping through the cracks in the clouds,

pivoting on imaginary grace filled heels

 

Tossing and turning in the raising sun.

Rain drops trickle from the sun's eyes.

Pivoting on imaginary grace filled heels,

simple whispers crying throughout the fields.

 

Rain drops trickle from the sun's eyes

flashing golden upon the earth's wastelands.

simple whispers sighing throughout the fields,

beckoning droplets of dew from their slumber.

 

Flashing golden upon the earth's wastelands,

amber shadows dance in the sky

beckoning droplets of dew from their slumber.

Slipping through the cracks in the clouds.

 

Amber shadows dance in the sky,

spinning and twirling with energy unmatched.

Slipping through the cracks in the clouds,

singing a ballad that no longer has words

 

Spinning and twirling with energy unmatched.

As words fall through the amber shadows

singing a ballad that no longer has words

listening to the heartbeat that is lingering.

 

As words fall through the amber shadows

starlight penetrates the twilight's dusk.

listening to the heartbeat that is lingering,

as it fades away into silencing chaos.

 

Starlight penetrates the twilight's dusk.

Glimmering upon the silver plains,

as it fades away into silencing chaos,

taking the lingering heartbeat as it softens.

 

~*~

 

TBC…