XXIV: Promises
"Yuukimaru."
I jumped down to where Naruto knelt with Yuukimaru in his arms.
As I knelt down in front of Naruto, I felt his eyes on me for a moment, but I was watching Yuukimaru.
His crystal coated camellia from Guren slipped from his hand as I picked it up in my own. I placed the camellia back in his small hand, holding it in a tight fist.
I could have helped Guren. I could have saved her. I tried, making sure my water jutsu only shattered Rinji. But I don't know if it worked. To be honest, it probably didn't work.
I was a coward. I didn't interfere until most of the damage had been done.
One, because being around Three Tails m would cause Shiroryuu to act up again, after everything Kabuto had put me through to keep her sealed.
I didn't want to release her again. It was too dangerous. Orochimaru was right.
I tensed when Naruto placed his hand over mine, his touch sending a calming chill down into my soul, causing my grip on Yuukimaru's to relax.
I looked into his sad eyes as he placed Yuukimaru's hand over his heart. Naruto looked up into my gaze, giving me a sad smile.
I stood up with him as he held an unconscious Yuukimaru in his arms.
It was just us standing there, staring at Yuukimaru's somber expression.
"Yuukimaru.." Naruto spoke. "Let's go home together."
I smiled as I took a step back.
Naruto watched me with worried eyes.
"Miyako.."
"Go home, Naruto. Take care of him for me.. Okay?"
"No. Not without you." He said.
"I'll be fine." I assured him.
"No. I won't let you stay under Orochimaru's hold any longer!"
Naruto took a step towards me, his eyes burning holes through my own.
My heart was racing a mile a minute as I felt Shiroryuu stir within me.
"I.. I have to save you from him. I can't just leave you. And I also can't leave.. Sasuke..."
I frowned just watching his expression sadden again.
"That's the exact reason why I have to stay with Orochimaru. Although, I'm not sure how he would handle the news of my betrayal.."
"We can get Sasuke back the same way, but this time we'd have you with us! Miyako, please." He pleaded.
I furrowed my eyebrows.
Trust me Naruto, I would if I could.
"It isn't that simple, Naruto."
"Yeah it is!"
"Orochimaru is my Father." I said.
His jaw dropped open as he looked at me with horrified eyes.
"T-that bastard.. Is your Father?!"
"Sadly. He isn't my birth Father, but he took me in after... well, that isn't important. He has a hold over me, and I wouldn't escape from him even if I tried."
"Then I'll just kill him quicker to set you and Sasuke free!"
I placed my hand over his arm, giving him a sad smile.
Shiroryuu stirred more inside my soul.
I ignored her.
"That's another reason why I have to stay. I want Orochimaru dead just as much as you do. I need to make sure he doesn't lay a finger on Sasuke, and in doing so, he will finally die."
"Y-you want to help Sasuke?"
"No. Honestly, I didn't care at first what the hell happens to that idiot. But then I watched you back when you and Sasuke met last. I want to help you, Naruto. And in doing so, I know I'll have to protect Sasuke."
He stood there wide eyed as he watched me in shock.
"You want to help me?"
"Yes."
"Miyako.. You're pretty amazing." He said with a squinted grin.
I blushed at his compliment.
"Sasuke won't come back right away once my Father is taken care of, Naruto. I hope you understand that." I told him.
"Yeah.."
"And I can't force him to go back home to his friends even if I tried. So I'll watch over him for a while, make sure he doesn't get into trouble. Then, when he is ready to go back home, be there waiting for him. I... I promise.. I'll keep him safe."
Naruto nodded with a smile, his expression brightening. "I expect you to come back too. Home is the place where you can come back to, the place where someone is thinking of you. And I'll be thinking of you, Miyako."
I gave out a light laugh as I took a step towards him, planting a light kiss on his cheek.
Shiroryuu stirred more inside of me as I pulled away, seeing Naruto's face redden in embarrassment as he looked down at me with still wide eyes.
"It's good seeing you again, Naruto."
"You too. When you aren't trying to kill me."
I laughed as he joined along, then stepping away from him.
"Take good care of Yuukimaru for me, okay?"
"Don't worry I will."
I gave him a final smile before turning on my heel. I was about to take off before Naruto spoke again.
"Promise me you will survive, Miyako. That you'll come back home. To me. And that you also won't do anything stupid to get yourself hurt."
Its funny. I had only met Naruto two other times, when our missions both crossed paths. The first time was when I fought against him when ( I didn't know then who I was protecting ) him and his teammates ran after Sasuke three years ago. Sensing something strange in him, and somehow feeling attracted to his strength and determination to get Sasuke back, I let him go after Sasuke. Just to see if he could actually do it. But he didn't.
We crossed paths again while he was in training with Master Jiraiya a little bit over a year ago. It was a total accident; I was sent on a mission to wipe out this a certain village that held some tools my Father needed. And Naruto happened to be passing through that village at the same time. Thank god Master Jiraiya wasn't with Naruto when we crossed paths, or it would have ended badly.
Naruto and I spoke, instead of me attacking him. I grew more fascinated by him the more he spoke about his aspirations and his goals. And then he mentioned Sasuke, how he hadn't given up on the promise to bring him back home. The way he spoke about Sasuke and everything they went through together, if I hadn't already known Sasuke and had negative feelings for him at that time, then I would have longed to meet him just by Naruto's description.
Naruto has a way of changing people, as I was warned by Orochimaru after he found out I had not destroyed the village. And it's true. After I met Naruto the second time and really got to know him, I no longer went on missions for Orochimaru. I no longer killed an average of six people a day. I grew more lazy on purpose to not obey Father's orders. Instead, I chose to spar with Sasuke more, seeing if there was really a side to him that Naruto had described. But no, I hadn't seen that side of him once, so I continued to think of Sasuke as a spoiled and rude brat who cared about nothing but himself.
And now, ever since Shiroryuu had awakened, and along with Naruto walking into my life, the dark future Orochimaru and myself had set up seemed more distant as a brighter future for me emerged.
Maybe I could really go back to the Leaf Village, even though I've never been there, along with Sasuke.
"I promise."
"Then I promise you that I will bring you back too." He said with a huge grin.
"Thanks, Naruto."