Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Another Piece of the Puzzle ❯ Work to Be Done ( Chapter 2 )

Another Piece of the Puzzle by Kelocena

Rating: M / R (for sensuality and language)

Summary: It is said that of the Nine Greater Demons, Kyuubi Kitsune is the strongest. However, there are ten demons and they are ruled by the Juubi(ten-tails). When one of them is sent to release Kyuubi from his container, trouble ensues. [NaruKyuu - shounen-ai]

 

Notes: The way I have this planned out in my head, I'll be able to update at least twice weekly. Maybe more. Now that I can finally really get started on this story with the Kyuubi being released, the chapters should take up 6+ Microsoft Word pages at 1.5 spaced. I write most when inspiration hits, which at the moment is hitting me so hard it hurts. Metaphorically speaking, of course. So, I'll probably get out chapters fast. Also, now that I've finished the major pieces to setting the stage, you can expect more descriptions.

 

Super Special Fun Fact: Did you know that `irregardless' is not a word?

 

Enjoy!

 

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Chapter Two

Work to Be Done

 

Kyuubi stood, tapping his foot irritably, staring into the mirror in Naruto's bedroom. Just a week ago, his friend Nibi had released the seal and now he was free to go. However, he insisted upon staying in order to avoid interacting with Juubi. He wasn't sure why, but he felt it natural to stay in Naruto's apartment. He was already familiar with it, so why not? He kept telling himself that. But there was one he could just not get used to. Although he was out Naruto's body and in his human form, he still wasn't quite human. There had been a flaw in the release.

Kyuubi swished his bright orange-red fox tail behind him. There was a knock at the door, and his orange-red fox ears perked up.

“Forget your keys?” He said, letting his former container into the condo.

“Oh, what do you care?” Naruto glared at him.

“No need to be pissy, stupid brat.”

“I told you to stop calling me that, fox!”

“As I told you to stop calling me that.”

“Can't believe you're living with me…” Naruto muttered.

“It's not that bad,” Kyuubi said mockingly, “I'll be gone in about two weeks. Besides, now that I'm out of you, you don't have those ugly whisker things on your face.”

“They weren't that ugly… were they?”

“You have no idea.”

“…Fuck you,” Naruto growled, taking off his shoes at last, and walking into the kitchen to make dinner.

“Making ramen again?” Kyuubi popped his head around the corner to see into the kitchen. “Can't we have something else? That's all you eat. Talk about disgusting.”

“Quit complaining! I don't see you even lifting a finger!”

“I shouldn't have to. I am superior.”

That got Naruto's blood boiling. Kyuubi gracefully caught the metal spoon before it connected with his face. “Nice throw. Not bad for a stupid brat. Not at all.”

“I'll kill you! All you ever do is sit around being lazy all day while I'm working my butt off doing missions!”

“Here. I'll make a deal with you. Tomorrow, I will cover… my ears and tail and go out grocery shopping. I'll get something that's actually good for you.”

“Like what?”

“You'll see.”

To be completely honest, Kyuubi did like ramen, not as much as Naruto, but he liked it all right. He couldn't tell Naruto that, though. He'd never let the blonde win even the smallest thing if he had anything to say about it.

 

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“I hate veggies!” Naruto whined as Kyuubi placed bags of groceries on the kitchen table. “You could have at least gotten something that tastes good.”

“Like ramen?” Kyuubi smirked.

“Just drop it.”

“Whatever.”

Hah! I got the last word, you fool! Kyuubi thought smugly.

When Kyuubi and Naruto had finished putting the food away, Kyuubi decided to take a small tour of the condominium himself, outside of Naruto's bedroom and the kitchen. He started by the front door, where there was a mat, and a shelf for shoes. Looking straight ahead was a hallway that led to a back door into a kind of backyard meant to plant a small garden in. The first room to the left was their small kitchen with rotten food and dishes piled in the sink, which connected to an even smaller living room filled with toys and games. On the right was what should have been another living room or study of some sort, but was instead full of old stuff Naruto had been too lazy to throw out.

The far room on the right was Naruto's bedroom which was actually pretty big and had clothes scattered across the floor. It was large enough to room two beds and two people. Regardless, Kyuubi was forced to sleep on the floor on a fairly comfortable futon. To the opposite of Naruto's bedroom was the bathroom which contained: a shower/bathtub, toilet, sink, mirror, medicine cabinet, towel closet, and a washer and a dryer.

Anyway one looked at it, the entire place was a mess. “This is just nasty. Even for my standards. I should get Nibi-chan over here to help clean.”

After exploring the house for at least the fourth time, Kyuubi admitted defeat. Naruto didn't have a phone. Making sure to cover himself appropriately, he left Naruto's home and set out for the Haruno residence, where Nibi was staying.

 

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“It can't be that bad,” Sakura insisted on the way back to Naruto's condo.

“Believe me. It is.”

“I can't believe I'm doing this,” Nibi sighed.

When Kyuubi ringed the doorbell, Sakura had answered. He explained his problem and she gladly volunteered to help as well. “Naruto's one of my best friends and I can't let him live in such filth!” Sakura had said, dragging Nibi out the door.

After much preparation than what Kyuubi thought was necessary - getting changed, tying hair back, putting on aprons - they finally got to work. It was quite literally hell.

 

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“I'm never doing that again, no matter how good a friend he is,” Sakura mumbled before taking another bite of sukiyaki (a type of Japanese meat dish). After cleaning the last room Sakura's pink hair was no longer so… pink. They then all decided to go out to dinner to celebrate the fact that they'd never see Naruto's condo again as long as they lived. Except for Kyuubi, of course.

“We still have one room to do,” he reminded the two girls.

“Yukito-san, you can do it yourself,” Nibi said, using the human name they had given him.

“But, Kanna-chan,” anime tears streaming down his face, “I don't wanna touch his dirty boxers.”

“Too bad.”

Dinner ended and Kyuubi hopped in the shower. The gentle rush of warm water felt good after a day of hard work. When's Naruto going to get back? He wondered as he shampooed.

Just as he was drying himself off, Naruto walked into his bedroom. The first thing to catch his eye was a half-naked man looking for clean clothes.

“What hell are you walking around naked for?!” Naruto cried, face turning bright red.

“I just got out of the shower, smart one.”

They just stood there staring at each other for a while, saying nothing. Kyuubi's fiery crimson eyes, watching Naruto's ocean blue. Naruto wasn't sure why but since he had spotted the recently washed fox ears on top of Kyuubi's head, he had this bizarre urge to touch them. It's just like any other animal. They have cute fuzzy ears, so I wanna touch `em, he told himself repeatedly. But Kyuubi wasn't cute. Never. Sure, he was a handsome man but Uzumaki Naruto would never find someone like him cute… right?

“J-just wear this,” Naruto forced himself to say, tossing Kyuubi some clean pajamas.

“Took you long enough, stupid brat.”

Naruto snapped out of his trance. “What kind of `thank you' is that?! You're such an ass hole! I hate you!”

 

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Kicked out into the backyard the instant he had put the too small pajamas on, Kyuubi gazed into the dark night sky. Lost in thought, it surprised him to see Nibi standing there when he turned around.

“Kyuubi-san,” she said softly.

“Nibi-chan,” Kyuubi whispered, embracing her.

From the inside Naruto could see them standing out there. Disgusting, he thought.

Nibi pulled away from the fox demon. “In two weeks we have to go back to Juubi. I was sent to release you with a two month time limit. He said that if I failed to succeed, he'd sacrifice us both.”

“I see. Do you know why?”

“No. But I'll kill him… I'll kill that motherfucker!” Nibi hissed.

“Don't get yourself so worked up about it.”

“I can't help it! I love you; I don't want to lose you.”

Kyuubi blinked. This was new; to him, at least.

“Not like that, idiot.”

“Of course not,” Kyuubi chuckled.

Nibi eventually left. Naruto, feeling a little guilty for kicking his roommate out without a truly valid reason, let Kyuubi back in.

“Thank you,” the taller man smiled. And it wasn't one of those fake smiles. It was genuine - a real smile.

Right then and there, for the first time, the blonde ninja saw Kyuubi in a good mood. Maybe he's not so bad after all, Naruto thought sub-consciously.

 

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Notes: Another chapter in just another day. Here I was trying to give small hints that Naruto and Kyuubi don't really hate each other. I do believe in love at first sight, which is not the case for these two, but not instantaneous love. So their relationship, as of now, has only been going uphill. Soon enough, though, obstacles will appear that may cause their relationship to hit rock bottom. You'll see.

 

Next time, on Another Piece of the Puzzle Z!: Kyuubi is angry because Naruto hasn't noticed his cleaning job! - Nibi is PMS and about ready to explode! She's taking out all her stress on everyone else! - Sakura and Ino try to convince Naruto to go to a party at Ino's house! - Kyuubi tries his hand at cooking! - Until next time!

 

Please review! It helps my writing improve!

 

- Kelocena