The Dragon Queen // (Under Revision)

Bended Light

Tsuyoi did a very poor job of trying to mask her surprise. He looked...it was hard to describe, but he looked good. 

Should I say even that? It was like her sudden kaleidoscope of emotions had rushed through her and were spinning her into a dance to a song whose rhythm she wasn't familiar with. Naruto's eyes went wide as they came to rest on her. She could sense his own surprise and wonder. She wanted to burst with happiness. He thought she looked good, too! She hadn't seen herself yet, and she wondered what he was seeing. Do I look more like Kura-chan? Then his eyes shifted; the sparkle in their depths was overshadowed by a raw, powerful fear.

Lightning seemed to strike her, jolting her mind into chaos. Tsuyoi stepped back, a hand coming up to her mouth. Why are you scared? What did I do? Time seemed to envelop her, making the moments tick into hours. They ticked and tocked until her internal clock shattered, and then there was no need to measure time anymore. There was just light bending around them, cradling them, until Sakura and Tomoe were just dust particles scattered in the wind.

Naruto's hand lifted and reached towards her. I'm not scared of you. She stared at his outstretched hand, eyes alight like a wild animal's.

Yes you are! She backed away. She felt like her mind was bending, like the world around her was becoming warped. What's happening to me? It kept bending, stretching to the limits, a millisecond away from snapping. Another voice layered her's; WHY IS HE SCARED OF ME?

Natsukashii tried to shout, tried to bring her back, but that other voice pushed her head down under the waves, drowning her out. It wasn't Yowai, Yowai was gone. What was it? It didn't hurt but she was somehow still being torn apart.

Why are you scared of me? Tsuyoi's mind felt scorched, corroding. Naruto...

I'm not scared of you! Naruto's voice pierced her. I'm not!

The feeling evaporated. Tsuyoi blinked. What the hell was that? She hadn't moved at all. Naruto crossed the distance between them before she could blink again. He grabbed her around the waist and picked her clean off the floor, swinging her around twice.

"You look amazing!" Naruto beamed, gifted her with a toothy grin as he put her down. "Why are you acting so shy about it?"

Just play along, he thought to her, serious. We'll figure this out, but Sakura can't know about our yuimaru yet.

Why does my mind seem to be like a playground? Something's always messing around in there. Tsuyoi nodded slightly. It wasn't difficult for her to "play along." She already felt the blush creeping up her cheeks as she noted Tomoe and Sakura's questioning gazes.

"I don't even know what I look like yet," she muttered, casting her eyes to the floor. "Are you sure its okay?"

Naruto lifted his hand and nudged her chin up so he could look her in the eye. "You. Look. Amazing. Believe it, okay?" He asked, mocking her tone. Tsuyoi tried to hide her smile and pushed his hand away. He grinned.

Before Tsuyoi could say anything, the door swung open. Tsuyoi felt her shoulders jump instinctually. She turned and stared into the eyes of Chizu. Tsuyoi felt a snarl curl from her lips. She hadn't seen Chizu since their forced yuimaru had been broken. But her wa felt familiar. You okubyomono, she seethed. Naruto placed a hand on her arm. Chill, he thought.

Chizu met her eyes. They looked so sad, so tired. And so unusually bright. Chizu's wa wavered suddenly. Tsuyoi's snarl lifted. Something's wrong.

"We depart in twenty minutes. The palaquin is waiting by the south entrance."

Then she left.

Naruto and Tsuyoi exchanged worried glances. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Tsuyoi thought.

I think Chizu's sick.