Chapter 3: The Demon Fox!

The Spirit Warriors

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Naruto x Atsuko x ?

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''Normal Speech''

Inner Thoughts, Dialogue, or reading passages from books and scrolls

(Quick Notes and Messages or Echoes.)

(Dark over lapping echoes)

''Boss Summons, Demons, Dark beings speaking, Demonic/Angry characters Speaking as well as extremely Dark spells and Magic.''

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Story Start

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"That went as well as expected." Naruto dryly remarke d as Atsuko placed a cold pack on his eye. ''And in my fucking eye!'' he groaned as he held it against his eye. Whether or not his son intentionally meant to use Spirit energy he didn't know. Although Atsuko couldn't help but snicker. Considering it was the same thing she did when she found out about Naruto's situation she couldn't help but see the humor in it.

''Well what'd you expect?'' she asked before impatiently tapping her feel. She itched her arm, her palm itching against the patch as she tried not to give into the craving to smoke. ''The second thing a son needs to hear is that his father who hasn't been apart of his life was a free roaming polygamist."

Naruto sighed and sent a pointed glance at Atsuko as his lip twitched slightly and he did his best not to get snippy with her. ''I just flirted with you a bit. You act like I tricked you into dating me or something. I told you ahead of time before we started dating remember.''

''I was fourteen,'' she defended. ''I was young and dumb, smitten by a powerful older man and I didn't stand a chance.'' she said, putting a spin on the past nature of his relationship.

'As innocent as a boozing and smoking fourteen year-old could be.' he thought.

''Poor dear,'' she said, removing the ice pack and placing a kiss on his eye. ''Feel better?'' she asked as Naruto nodded.

''My healing factor is taking care of it.'' he said as he stood up. ''Anyway,'' he glanced at the room where Yusuke just walked out of it.

''Going out...don't wait up for me.'' he said as he slammed the front door of the apartment.

''Damnit,'' the two swore. Naruto then moved over to Atsuko and wrapped his arms around her. ''I'll go keep an eye on him.'' he said, nuzzling his nose against his cheek before kissing her ear. Sure enough it appeared that the second of the two demons was planning something.

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''I can't believe this!" Botan exclaimed. ''Do you two realized what you've done?'' she asked as Naruto continued to shuffle the deck of cards in his hand. ''Oh come on Botan...I mean he doesn't seem to be the type to needlessly kill. I mean after three days we'll get the mirror back and that's another item.'' They had encountered none other than Yoko Kurama that night, but instead of fighting the demon requested that he be allowed to make one wish then he would comply with whatever they wanted, up to returning the mirror as well.

''In three days there will be a Full Moon and the Mirror of Darkness will be at it's full power.'' Botan explained as Naruto cocked his head with a huh expression.

''Spirit World intellect. Late as always,'' Yusuke remarked as Botan whacked him with his oar. ''Aah you crazy Bitch.''

''Language,'' she scolded the delinquent. ''That's no way to talk to a lady.''

''Hey!" Yusuke shouted. ''It's not my fault you guys don't tell people anything the first time around.'' Yusuke countered as Botan countered with a statement on her own.

''Hey! We're doing the best we can. It's not like we haven't done this sort of thing before.'' she said as Naruto rose an eyebrow in interest.

''Well what happened to them? The previous Spirit Detectives? You want our aid you need to be frank with us. " By Botan's expression it was obvious that she did not want to reveal the information, but the intense gaze and stubborn duo had her already figure there was no way around it.

''Well one went insane and the other one ran away.'' Botan chuckled nervously as she scratched the back of her head as she frankly and tactlessly admitted it.

Son like father groaned and face palmed. ''Just...just what does the mirror do?'' hopefully they would get an answer that was useful.

''The mirror is said to be able to reflect the true desires of one, and fulfill it. However, something needs to be given in exchange for that one wish to be fulfilled, and as for what that 'something' is, it remains a mystery.''

''Yeah well…will find out in three days.'' Naruto stated. ''Before then, maybe we should at least try to get some information on this Kuruma guy.'' 'Pretty amusing don't you think? Another fox, a demon at that and you share the same name.'

"Clearly the demons of this world have good sense in naming convictions." O. Kurama replied.

''We?'' Yusuke questioned as he sent a hostile look towards Naruto. ''I don't need your help.''

''You're receiving the damn help whether you want it or not.'' Naruto gritted to his teeth. Now being able to see the whole missing parent angle from both sides, Naruto understood the situation a bit more than someone on either side would. He would have given anything if he had a chance to have his mother or father back into his life and while he knew it was a bit unfair, he was getting a bit pissed at Yusuke's attitude considering he was being given a chance not a lot of people with a missing or gone parent had a chance to experience.

''And who's going to make me? You?'' the delinquent challenge. ''Shouldn't you be taking a nap oji-san?'' he asked as a growl escaped Naruto's lips. Now you could call Naruto stupid, make fun of his clothes, and even use him as bait for time to time but there were certain things you didn't do. You don't attempt to hurt his precious people, you don't treat war as a game, you don't mistreat ramen, you don't treat him as some sexual deviant and you sure as hell don't refer to him as old.

''You, me, outside, NOW!''

Now suffice to say that it was a curbstomp battle was a complete and fucking joke. Fifteen minutes later Naruto returned to where his now unconscious son was on the ground and thirteen of those minutes were spent buying an extra large smoothie from McDonalds. ''Are you done yet son?''

''When I get feeling back in my legs I swear to ass I'm going to kick your God.'' Yusuke groaned.

Naruto shook his head and crouched down. ''Yusuke, its not worth it. You want to know what happened to most of the people that fought me? They even had their stomach caved in, blasted to atoms, or chopped up. Of course I'd never do that to you, but this is just my way of saying I am out of your class. "

''I...hate...you!''

''I know son.''

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The day had come. The night of the full moon. Sure enough they found the demon Kurama, who wanted to show them something at the Hospital. The last thing Naruto expected was to meet the guy's mom. A Human mother, a surprising fact. Was he a Hanyo?

Eventually the three traveled to the hospital room. ''Shuuichi is my alias in the Ningenkai. And she's my foster mother, my foster father died not too long ago. They've been taking care of me for 15 years, yet I've been hiding the truth.''

He was getting a much better picture of what this was all about now.

''My True form is a Yoyko, and my profession is to disarm wards and disengage locks to steal ancient treasures and weapons. Fifteen years ago, I was pursued by a highly skilled hunter, and seriously injured. I then escaped into the Ningenkai with a spirit body. Being helpless then, I was unable to transform or possess anybody, so I was forced to lay dormant in a lady's still forming fetus. If I could bear it for another ten years, I would recover, and my flesh would completely become that of a demon's. I decided when that happened, I would vanish from this lady's sight forever. ''

"Why did you stay past the ten years then?''

''Did you see the wounds on her hands?'' Kurama asked, bringing attention to the marks on the woman's arms.

''Yeah…they look like scars.'' Naruto clarified.

''It was because of those scars! Six years ago.'' Kurama said as he began telling the story of that incident.

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''I'm home…I'm going to do some gardening. Are there any large containers around?'' little Suuichi asked as he walked into the room.

''Up there in the cupboards. I'll get if for you?'' The woman said, finishing drying up dishes.

''There's no need. I'll do it myself.'' Suuichi said, on top of the wobbling stool, reaching for the container. He slipped, his hand knocking a cupboard open. Dishes fell out and crashed to the ground below.

''Watch out!'' The woman had dove and cushioned his fall from the broken dishes.

''Mom!'' the boy exclaimed.

''Uua…Are you alright? Are you hurt?'' she asked him, paying little attention to her own injuries.

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''After the bandages were removed, the scars still remained.'' he guilty stated. '' I tried so many times to leave home, but…her smile, '' he paused. ''...and the scars kept hounding me. I was unable to leave! As a demon myself, it is unthinkable to have fostered such emotions, but it was when she fell ill that I realized…that I had always considered her as my mother. She won't last for another month. And I want to use this mirror to save her. That's my only wish now. Once my wish is fulfilled, I'll return the mirror to you.''

''The price…it's one's life isn't it?'' Yusuke asked.

''If you give yourself up, won't she be lonely?'' Naruto added.

''It doesn't matter…she has a loving boyfriend with her now. He's the president of the little business she's working for. If she recovers…she'll be happier without me around.''

''Why are you telling us all this?'' Yusuke asked, trying to pick up his head. ''God damnit!"'

''Perhaps I needed someone to listen to my regrets! After all, you believed me.'' Kurumu finished.

Before anything else could be said one of the medical staff rushed into the room. ''Ah! Shuuichi, there you are. Hurry up! Shiori-san is…!'' he said as Kurumu was led into the room.

''The illness suddenly got worse…frankly speaking, she's in an unstable state right now…Tonight will be critical,'' The doctor explained, "I tried my best.'' the doctor reluctantly informed him.

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That night Kurama began the ritual. The sky was as dark as the deepest depth of oceans and clear as a cloud-less sunny day. The moon shined down upon the roof of the hospital building as a faint glow echoed from the mirror. ''Oh dark mirror, accept the moonlight and awaken! Reveal your strength that will fulfill my wish reflected on your sun face.''

An image of a healthy and happy Shiori along with her beau is shown in the mirror.

''The happiness of this woman. Is it really your wish?'' an ominous voice echoed from the mirror. It wasn't demonic, but more melancholy and faint over echoes of solemness.

''Yes.'' Kurama stated.

''You're so certain about this wish, but it's just as meaningless.'' Yusuke argued.

''There's no other way.'' Kurama stated, turning to the two spirit warriors.

''Is this really your wish? Sacrificing your life somebody else's happiness!''

''I've been deceiving her for fifteen years…If I can slightly pardon myself by doing this…'' Kurama informed the mirror.

''Very well…I should do as told and grant you your wish.'' The mirror started draining Kurama's life when Yusuke shot over and shoved his hand over the mirror as green electrical sparks connected to his arm.

''Dark mirror…take some of my life instead of his…'' he demanded of the mirror. ''That way you can grant the wish without entirely taking his life right?''

''What are you doing?'' Kurama asked as Naruto joined them.

''Yeah you jack-ass! What the hell are you doing?'' he asked as his power poured into the mirror. ''What about Atsuko? She's already lost you once if you die again do you realize that it'll break her?!''

''Well what was I suppose to do? No parent should have to experience the death of their child. Which is why…'' a burst of power from the mirror scent them all lying back. No life was taken as the mirror was impressed by the selflessness was shown and the wish was granted. With the second treasure recovered the two spirit warriors went home as Kurama went to his mother's side.

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''So, any progress?'' Atsuko asked, as she and Naruto shared a glass of wine.

''A bit, but I feel its going to take a while.'' he admitted with a sigh before downing his entire glass with a gulp. ''I'm a bit beat, yet to amp to go and do anything you know.''

''Well it's still relatively early...I'm not ready to turn in just yet...can you think of anything to occupy us?" she asked, her voice turning soft and seductive as she looked up at him with a suggestive smile while sliding off her clothes.

"I think I got something in mind," he said mimicking her actions. He cupped her chin and gently titled her head up as he leaned down to brush her lips with his in a soft kiss. He moved his lips to her cheek, leaving a trail of kisses all over her face and back to her lips again.

"I love you, Naruto," she whispered as his tongue ran softly over her bottom lip.

"I love you," he answered before resuming his light kisses down her chin to her neck. He nibbled and teased her skin, right below her ear until she was gasping and gripping his hair. He went further, running his hand across her soft, warm skin.

She sighed when his hand cupped her breast, his thumb rolling around her nipple until it hardened under his ministrations. With barely any effort he pushed her down onto her back, his body partly covering hers so he could continue exploring her body.

Naruto moved to her sough after destination as his lips connected with hers. His tongue slipped between her parted lips as his hands massaged her body causing her to shiver in excitement. Tonight would be just about the two of them.

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Chapter End

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For those who remember the original ending of this chapter, I will have the proper version of the story up on Archive of Our Own eventually. Anyway coming back to an old story like this...well shit. I had no idea how bad my writing used to be. :p. Glad I improved and hope you guys like the improved version of these stories.