Perfectly Imperfect Love

Reunions

Naruto awoke, not in a ragged tent, nor in a damp cave, and not even in his recently reacquainted bed.

He awoke in a lush, green, peaceful meadow. He recognized it as the inside of his seal; he had been her multiple times before. He frowned slightly when the sky wasn't it's usual baby blue; it was dark, grey and covered in storm clouds.

"It's been a while." A deep, grumbling voice said, followed by the sound of light footsteps.

Naruto looked over, and saw his orange-colored Bijuu walking over to him. His nine tails were swishing around lazily, and the expression on the fox's face was almost...solemn.

"Kurama?" The blonde asked, his voice, in a way, shocked. He never understood why, but they hadn't had any sort of contact over the years he spent in ANBU.

"The one and only." The fox said smugly, before plopping down next to his container, fixing a lone, crimson eye on him.

Kurama took in Naruto's appearance. He looked ragged...tired. Like he had just been to Hell and back. He could also see the darkness and despair that laid in those dull, cerulean eyes.

The desire to kill, to end, to cause pain.

Oh yes. The Kyuubi watched Naruto throughout his years in Otogakure. Every life he ended, every scream he tore from the throats of his victims, every drop of blood he spilled. As a physical embodiment of malice, destruction and chaos, Kurama was in tune with those feelings and acts.

But nothing prepared him for what he saw his container do.

Ever since they became partners and friends, Kurama had taken a liking to Naruto. He became protective over him, watchful. The blonde was, in a way, his savior from an existence of pure hatred and mistreatment. The blonde's exuberant personality and inane ability to make friends with anyone intrigued him...and affected him. Hell, Naruto even convinced his friends, the Alliance, and Konoha that he, the demon fox, bode no ill will towards humans.

His transition from the happy, goofy, peaceful hero of the Fourth War, to the cold, emotionless, bloodthirsty black ops soldier was one Kurama would never forget.

"It has been a while." Naruto remarked, turning to rest his head on the soft fur of his tailed beast. "Speaking of which, where have you been?"

"Indeed. That damn seal the big-breasted sannin put on you cut off not only my chakra, but any connection or mental link we had. I was, essentially, trapped once again." The fox said grimly. A sigh escaped his companion's lips.

"Ah. Sorry 'bout that."

A silence blanketed the two. Kurama noticed a frown marring the blonde's features.

"I blame myself, you know."

"Hm?"

Kurama never thought he would be talking so casually, so closely with his vessel. Even his conversation with Mito and Kushina never got this far; they were never his friends.

"I can't really blame the two of them for everything...in a way...it's my fault."

"Naruto-" The fox protested, confused by the blonde's lack of determination in having a backbone against his former teammates. His words almost made it seem like he was giving up...giving in to the despair he felt.

"Don't get me wrong. It still pisses me off...so fucking much. But, really, in the end, I can only truly give myself the blame. If I never fell in love with her, none of this would have never happened. I wouldn't have indirectly destroyed their relationship, I wouldn't have broken Hinata's heart, and I wouldn't have had to go to that hell of a fucking nation for four years." Naruto ranted, his face scrunching up in frustration. At himself, at Sakura...at everything.