Tidal Wave [ItaNaru] [DROPPED]

9: Unheard of; a Kyuubi's loss

Naruto heaved a heavy sigh, grief and pain washing over him like waves as his eyes watered. Bowing his head, he looked at Itachi's pained and exhausted sleeping form.

Gently tracing the ANBU's cheeks, he closed his eyes, fresh tears trailing down his fair cheeks and slid down his chin.

Shisui, he thought, sucking in a deep breath. I— what should I do now? How will I fulfill this void you left in Itachi?

His shoulders sagged as Naruto laid on the bed, curling up beside Itachi as he held onto the Uchiha's hand.

Shivering slightly, he entered his mind scape, unable to sleep. When he opened his eyes, he came face to face with the humongous form of the Kyuubi no Youko behind his cage.

"Ku, Kurama-sama," he whispered shakily stepping closer to the cage and closed his eyes, placing his forehead against the bars. "Shisui, he—"

Kurama held the bar with his claw, his snout touching Naruto's forehead, he answered. "I heard, kit. A shame, I quite liked him."

"Really?" Naruto cocked his head to the side, watching the Kyuubi. "It's a high praise for an Uchiha, especially coming from you, Kura-san." He pressed his lips into a thin line. "He's gone. It feels like a nightmare. Have you, have you, ever—?"

Closing his mouth, Naruto looked into the Kyuubi's eyes, surprised at how the Nine-Tailed Beast's were filled with pain as he looked at a distance, lost in a painful memories.

"Kura-san?" Naruto whispered.

Kurama flinched at his voice and snapped out of his daze, turning to look at Naruto. "Yeah, kit?"

"Are you crying?"

"Huh?" Kurama responded, hurriedly swiping the pads of his paw on his eyes. "I, I see." Naruto's brows creased into a frown as he placed a hand on Kurama's paws.

"You can tell me, you know that, right?"

Kurama chuckled softly, bowing his head, he looked down. "Can I?"

"Yes, of course."

"Will you be willing to hear my story?" Kurama asked. "Will you listen to the tale of how Kyuubi no Youko became a demon, a monster?" Naruto gaped at the fox.

"You will?"

"I you want to," Kurama offered the boy a weak smile. "It's not always that someone wants to listen to my tale, my side of the story."

"Then," Naruto breathed out, the scenery of his mind scape changing rapidly until it turned into a forest.

The forest floor was covered in red and brown fallen leaves, from the tall trees leaves fell, having finished their lifespan.

Along with the gentle breeze, the leaves fluttered all around.

Unable to react, Naruto just looked around mouth ajar in awe, wondrous feeling sweeping him off his feet.

"Like the scenery, kit?" Naruto spun on his heels, facing the Nine-Tailed fox in his beast form as he prowled closer.

"Yes," Naruto breathed out, amazed by the beauty of the place. "This isn't some place I've been to before."

"Of course you haven't," the Kyuubi snorted, sitting down beside Naruto. "This place, it used to be my home. Well, home to my tribe."

"Tribe?" Naruto asked, wide-eyed. "You belonged to a tribe?"

Kurama nodded, smiling, his canines showing at the action. "Yes, we used to live together. All of the Kitsune race, from one tailed foxes to me the Nine-Tailed one. This place was a home to us for ages."