Log: Complete

[relimited.livejournal.com]

When; 25th December (PM)
Rating; U
Characters; Uzumaki Naruto and Kazama Arashi
Summary; After their Christmas celebration, the father and son are left alone to talk. Cue one very special present and a little fatherly advice.
Log;
It'd definitely been a Christmas to remember. Oh, it'd been strange, but he'd managed to spend most of the day with some of most important people in his life. His first Christmas with his father was something he wasn't ever going to forget. And, if he had his way, it wouldn't be the last. Shizune had left a short time before, with Sasuke lending her a hand as he too made his way back. Perhaps they were both tired, but he doubted it. He was pretty sure they'd left for the very reason Naruto was still there now. He could have some more alone time with his father. As the last plate was placed into the sink, Naruto grinned up at Arashi, happier than he had been in a while. "That was great!"

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Arashi replied with a matching grin as he dried off the dish Naruto had washed and put it away. "I wanted to make sure this was very special for you." After all, he didn't know if they would have another Christmas together. Then tilted his head, "Hey, I haven't given you your present yet."

Then put up his hands, "Wait here, I'll be right back." And moved to his room, taking up the package. It was rather slender and not very large, somewhat light. Curious whatever it was that lay inside.

Emerging, he smiled at Naruto and offered it. "I wasn't quite sure what to get you, but, I think you will like this."

Drying his hands, Naruto watched excitedly as Arashi left to pick up his present. In all honesty, he couldn't have asked for anything more than the day having even existed. But he wasn't going to reject the gift. Of course not. What teenage boy would? Blue eyes moved down the present as it was offered to him. Taking it carefully, he grinned a thank you in response, before starting to peel the paper back.

...what he found inside caused him to pause in confusion. "...who is that?"

"That's your mother, Naruto," Arashi replied softly. The picture was of a blonde woman with gentle brown eyes, sitting in a small flower garden. She wore a loose fitting outfit and her hands were on a slightly protruding stomach. "It is the only picture of you and her, in a way, she was pregnant with you when it was taken."

The paper dropped to the ground, long forgotten as he stared down at the image of a woman who was both familiar, and yet he'd never met before. "She's..." His fingers tightened around the frame, his gaze refusing to move away from the lady's smiling face. "...mom..."

"She was a very kind woman. .and she loved you more than anything. The doctors told her the pregnancy was dangerous, but she didn't care. You were her child and your life meant more to you than anything," Arashi replied, dropping his hand to rest on Naruto's shoulder.

Well that answered one question. The trouble was, that was only the first of many. "What was her name? How old was she when she had me? When did you guys meet each other?" And still, he found himself unable to look away. It was almost as though he was scared that this was all...a dream. Or another curse.

"She was twenty four when she had you, her name was Michiko. We met when we were children, both orphans." Then paused, "Are you all right?" He seemed both quiet and out of the situation.

He repeated her name in his mind, both that and her face being committed to memory. It was yet another reason for this day to never be forgotten. At the question posed to him, Naruto could only shake his head, not trusting his voice right then. It was...a lot for him to take in just then.

Arashi squeezed the boy's shoulder as he looked over Naruto's head at the picture. It had been so long since he had seen her, sixteen years. Would he ever see her again in death? Of that he was unsure.

"She...she died...so she could have me?" His voice cracked a little, before he was stepping forward to rest his head against Arashi's chest, a hand reaching to grip at the mans shirt as dampness began to seep from his eyes and to the material. "Do...do you think...she'd...be p-proud of me...?"

The hand on Naruto's shoulder wrapped around the boy's upper body, hand resting on the blonde hair and stroking. "She. .had the choice at the end. To give you life and die, or to live herself. Your life. . it was all she wanted." Then swallowed, "She would be very proud of you, Naruto. Very proud."

"S-she was really pretty." He looked up with a shaky smile, doing his best to try and keep his tears in check. It was easier said than done. "So...I...both of you were orphans too?"

"Yes, that's why we had no clan," Arashi replied. No one to take care of Naruto after both of his parents had died. Smiling down at him, Arashi continued to stroke his son's hair.

So he was really the only person left from his entire family. For that alone, he made himself a promise. He wouldn't ever let their name down. No matter what that meant he had to do. "What was she like? What did she do?" They were just going to keep on coming...

"She was very generous and kind, a good person. I see a lot of her in you," Arashi replied. "She was a medinin for a time, but after we married, she retired and took care of our home, wanting to get it ready for when you came along."

He looked across to the picture again, his smile growing stronger at his fathers words. "...I wish I could've got to meet her," he muttered quietly. "Did she...know about Kyuubi?"

"She knew it was attacking, but she was. . gone. . before anything else happened," Arashi replied, giving him a wistful smile.

His arm wrapped round his chest, pulling the picture between the two of them as his other hand wrapped round Arashi's waist. "This is the best present I've ever been given." Looking up to his father, a warm feeling washed through him. "I got to spend the day with both of my parents."

"I'm glad you like it," he replied, "You deserve. . that is to say. . I was wrong. You should have known. The entire time. Everyone should have known." And swallowed back against tears.

"Dad, I..." He shook his head slightly, his smile unwavering. "Even if I said other things before...I'm glad that you were the one who told me." Perhaps he would've known when he was younger, but that wouldn't really have made a difference. Or at least he hoped it wouldn't have. But he knew now, and that was all that mattered to him.

"I'm glad I was the one to tell you as well, I never thought they would react that way," He sighed, pressing Naruto into an embrace. "I wanted you to be seen as a hero."

Now that was something easier said than done. Even if Arashi had still been around to try and enforce that ideal, it would be impossible in the long run. "People are always scared of things they don't really understand." It was a lesson he'd been taught the hard way. "But I'm gonna become the best Hokage ever." A grin. "Even better than you and the Sandaime Hokage!"

"I would expect no less, if anyone could surpass me, it will be you," Arashi replied. "I have a feeling you will be the most talented ninja Konoha has ever produced." And grinned, trying to chase away any lingering feelings of sorrow.

Finally pulling away a little, Naruto looked down as he tried to discreetly wipe his eyes. Only once he had, did he pull the picture away from his chest. "I hafta get once of you too. Just in case..." And a shake of the head to stop himself before he started.

"We'll make sure you do," Naruto replied. "The both of us, together. Just in case." Then half smiled, "Not that anything will happen."

Nodding slightly, Naruto gave a weaker smile. "Nothing will happen though, 'cause I'm-" He cut himself off, making sure to change the word. "We're gonna find a way to bring you back too!"

"That's right, we. Together." Arashi replied with a grin.

He turned quiet for a moment, simply looking at the other with a happy look on his face. Eventually however, he broke his own silence with a certain other present he had in store. "Dad, I've got something else for you, but uh...I can't give you it yet." Not that it was anything physical that could be given. "You just have to make sure you're free on New years eve, okay?"

"I think I can do that," He replied, rather curious as to what the other had in mind, but not willing to ask questions and possibly ruin the surprise. Arashi gave him one final squeeze before releasing Naruto and ruffling his hair.

Which made things much easier. The plans were already in motion, but if Arashi had had something else to do, then he wouldn't hesitate to move it to another day. There was only one reason he'd decided on it after all. "And...I think Sasuke'll be ready to come move in here by then, so..." A nervous laugh. "It's still okay for both of us, right?"

"Of course it's all right. I just hope he will be comfortable here," Arashi replied. "How is he doing, by the way."

"He's alright. We talked about everything that happened. But...well...what happened when he turned into a kid. That made things worse." Though it seemed as though he was feeling a little better than before now. "...he spoke to Hotaru too. That didn't help either." Especially considering she now thought that Sasuke was the one to kill his clan. "But things'll be better soon. I know it!"

"Lets hope they do," Arashi replied. "And. . when are we to meet Aizen and discuss his want of Kyuubi and possible removal."

He definitely agreed with that. If Sasuke decided at some point that he didn't want to move in with Arashi, then Naruto was going to have a tough decision to make. And as much as he hated to admit it, he'd probably end up having to put his best friend in second place. Especially now. For the rest though, his expression turned serious. "I think he wants to speak to us pretty soon." And a sigh. "...you're not...angry about that, are you?"

"No, I'm not. You are the one who has to carry Kyuubi and if you wish to rid yourself of him, I only want to ensure that you won't be harmed at all during the process," Arashi replied. Or that kyuubi wouldn't be used to harm anyone.

And now for the moment of truth. "...I don't know anymore." It was something he'd been thinking hard over ever since the possibility had been mentioned to him. "I mean...I don't like it when he gets out, but...that day where he was gone." He sighed, not really sure how to explain himself. "When I think back on it, it felt like something was really wrong." And his voice turned quiet. "I want him to go, but at the same time, I don't."

"Because he has been part of your life for so long," Arashi replied. "He has been with you when you thought you were alone. That is understandable. And something you might take into consideration."

"But I wont be alone again. Not now. I've got friends, and they..." Ah, who was he kidding. He knew that without the Kyuubi there, he'd have an even harder time trying to protect those he cared about. Sure, Akatsuki wouldn't be after him anymore. But what about the others? What if they tried to go after someone he cared about again? He'd been too late to save Gaara, and he refused to let the same thing happen to anyone else again. "If I could just...stop him from getting out..." It was the same problem he'd had for years.

"We'll work on it," Arashi promised. "We'll find a way to keep kyuubi in check so you can keep him with you." Then paused, "Have you tried speaking with him about this? It is my impression that he was a sentient demon and might be open to reasoning?"

He ducked his head, a frown on his face. "...I don't like it," he admitted, a little embarrassed by his own words. "When I go in there, he tries to make deals of his own, and I...I just don't like it."

Arashi smiled, "You are the master. Tell kyuubi it will be your terms, or no terms at all. He is imprisoned, utterly. His chakra is owed to you as rent. Don't let him pressure you."

"But I...it's not as easy as that." Well it should be, but he seemed to always let himself down on things related to Kyuubi. "...can't you talk to him instead? Sasuke did. The one from my time. So can't you?" If it meant not having to confront the kitsune himself, then he was willing to try anything.

"I can try, and I will for you," Arashi replied. "But you are his master, not I. And eventually, Naruto, you will have to come to terms with him." Then tilted his head, "How did the Sasuke of your time speak with Kyuubi?"

"But I don't want to." Perhaps that came off a little childish, but right now, he didn't care. Talking to Kyuubi was something he never liked doing. And having to do it to try and make a deal under his own terms... "I don't know exactly how he did. One minute I was talking to him, the next, Sasuke was." He frowned, remembering what had happened. "He destroyed Kyuubi's image."

"Destroyed Kyuubi's image. ." Arashi pondered. "This is a strange circumstance." Then shook it off, "If possible, I will speak to kyuubi then. But I must say, I doubt he would be happy to bargain with me."

"Kyuubi said he reminded him of someone too." And of course there was the warning thrown at the Uchiha too. "I don't really understand it all though." But that didn't matter anymore. Not now that Arashi was agreeing to try and help. "It's better than just leaving him though, right?" Because he doubted that he would be making a move himself to talk to the creature.

"I suppose. He must be very alone having no one to speak to, having been locked up and ignored for so long," Arashi replied, thinking on the Kyuubi’s situation.

"I...didn't think of it like that." But he was right. Kyuubi had been locked inside of him for 16 years. The only times that he'd ever had 'company' was when Naruto had been pleading for his control to return to his own body. Other than that... "Do you think that'd make a difference?"

"I'm not sure, but. . it couldn't hurt. He knows that his life will end when yours does, everything about him depends on you now," Arashi replied.

He turned silent for a few minutes, contemplating the idea. Talking to Kyuubi with this idea in mind could work one of two ways. Either he'd react the same way he usually did, or he'd listen this time. Arashi was right, it couldn't hurt to try it at least. "...I'll try it out and see first."

"Good. And if that fails, then I will help you," Arashi replied. After all, this was something Naruto would have to deal with for the rest of his life, not something that anyone else could have responsibility over.

If it meant that it could make things better in the long run, then Naruto was willing to try it at least once. And if it didn't work, then he had Arashi reassurance that he would try something too. That was all the prompting he needed. He'd find some time to get away from everyone else and just...speak to the creature.