Chapter 1: Chapter 1 - K
Kurama has been inside a jinchuriki for so long that he can't recall with clarity how it feels to be free. That may be why he forces himself to not forget each time he achieved freedom, as few as those times were. The predominant emotion on each occasion was different, accompanied by others of a lesser degree, hatred being the most constant. However, the feeling of freedom in each one has always been overwhelming. Just to hear, smell, see and feel nature almost override everything else.
(Well, except the last one.)
He remembers the first time when Mito was too old and her body couldn't take more of his chakra. It only lasted a couple of minutes, the transition between his former jinchuriki and the new one, but he was able to taste the air, watch the light through his own sharper senses, and no longer through a human's. The process made it difficult; the seal preventing him from much, even if he was struggling, but it was enough for him to feel joy.
Then he was inside another body and the anger; the deep, deep hatred returned.
Inside that seal, Kurama's tails were impaled, and even if others may scoff because he's made of chakra and thus should not feel the pain—well, it still hurt. Her chakra impaling his own. She didn't let him watch through her eyes, hear through her ears. Everything was muted. He barely caught a few glimpses from now and then. It wasn't until he felt Naruto forming inside her that he realized how long had it really passed. It made him hopeful after such solitude. He knew the seal weakened when one gave birth and, unlike with Mito, he knew for a fact that few seal masters remained.
Uzushiogakure was destroyed. There wasn't a Mito to guide the novices.
So, that gave him his second chance.
He doesn't remember much of that time. He was controlled, after all. But, like the first time, before he went on a rampage, he remembers the feeling of air through his fur. The chakra of nature around him. It was overpowering and even if there was dizziness, hatred, and some sort of numbness to it, the freedom he felt as his paws touched the earth was exhilarating.
'Freedom, finally!' his mind screamed.
The third time, was in the middle of the war and with his brethren next to him, chains around his neck. The sense of freedom he felt at not being inside a human, even if he respected the brat, was still there. More faint, laced with determination and faith, but still there. Even as he was dragged into forming the Ten-Tails. He knew they had a plan. Naruto promised them, so he didn't worry.
So why, he now wonders, if he felt the lightness of freedom in previous times, in different measures and next to other emotions… why he doesn't feel it now.
He doesn't feel any of the euphoria as he's yanked away from Naruto. There's desperation, instead. Desperation and fear and grief and no, stop! It'll kill him!
Freedom doesn't seem to matter. Naruto is moving away even as he extends his arms forwards. But he's weak. The seal deteriorated too quickly. He can't reach him.
Naruto is looking at the Sharingan brat as he also flies away, as always his first worry is the cursed boy. However, after a beat, finally seems to notice something's missing. He turns towards him and sees him. Panic and pain twist his features. He also starts to extend his hand towards him but he stops midway and chokes. Everything moves slowly as the blood that came from his mouth trails in the air, suspended. And he knows Naruto won't survive the extraction. He almost died the first time. There's no Gaara to catch him. No Sakura or comrades. Not here.
Naruto will die and… And Kurama is not going to let that happen.
The seal is open and broken but there's still a link between them. It's slowly fading but still there. He pushes as much of his chakra as he can, hoping the energy left by his old man is enough to make Naruto survive.
The power that seems to have maintained them together now looks ready to snap them away. Kurama can see the energy strung tight and by Naruto's face, he guesses he can feel it, too.
"I'll kill you if you die, you brat!" he shouts as the power releases him. He's being launched now, but for a second he sees it.
The smile the brat gives him as a farewell clearly says 'everything will be alright, believe it.' It's bloody and weak but still filled with the usual determination.
Kurama tries to grin back, even as he's being flung away into who knows where. The portal Kaguya opened to escape before being sealed away is closing. It only managed to affect the three beings closest to her. They sealed her. His siblings and Naruto's friends are going to be okay and he trusts Naruto. If he promises he'll be fine, then he will.
However, the fear and sadness are still there. It doesn't leave. He's worried, and that annoys him.
-o-
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JorieDS
JorieDS So, the first ten chapters will be posted here before I add them to my *******.
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