NaruKat- Every Heatbeat, Part One

“Kiri-neechan’s been kidnapped!” Neji yelled as he skidded to a halt in front of Katsumi who was sat alone on the fence. Naruto came flying up behind Neji with Lee following close behind “Kidnapped?” Katsumi cried, leaping off the wall “By who?”
“Her Father, Kisame Hoshigaki and Itachi Uchiha,” He muttered as he gasped for air and Katsumi’s mouth feel open “Itachi Uchiha, he’s my cousin, what does he want with Kiri-chan?”
“They’re going to extract her demon. They go after all the demons but it’s a fatal process, if we don’t hurry, Kiri-neechan will die.”
Katsumi threw herself forward desperate to reach the destination that Neji was talking about before the worst could happen.
“Kiri-chan, speak to me!” Lee cried, holding her body close to his, he could feel tears in his eyes but he didn’t care “L-Lee-kun,” Kiri moaned gently huddling closer to him.
Katsumi sighed and pulled away from the group, wandering off into the forest in search of food. Saving Kiri had been an ugly affair and Katsumi still had blood from her nose on her jacket from where the handle of Kisame’s sword had smashed her face.
Berries and edible mushrooms were the best she could find but it would do until they returned to the village, she collected as many as she could carry in her shirt and stumbled back to the clearing where she had left the others.
“Kiri-chan you have to eat to regain your strength,” Katsumi pleaded holding the bowl out to Kiri, the kunoichi shook her head. Katsumi sighed and got to her feet “Lee-san can you try to get her to eat please, she has to.”
Lee took the bowl from Katsumi’s hands and dipped in his own fingers, pulling out one of the mushrooms that Katsumi had tried to cook; he held it to Kiri’s mouth. Kiri shifted over slightly and opened her mouth and allowed Lee to feed her.
Naruto sat alone by the river, letting his feet dangle just above the water, his own empty bowl sat beside him. He had been thinking, now was the perfect time to tell Katsumi, everyone was calm and it would be simple to just ask her for a word. Nothing could distract them and he was rather courageous after what had happened.
“Kat-chan, can I have a word quickly,” He muttered. Katsumi blinked and rose to her feet; she followed the blonde boy a little way into the trees. Naruto walked in front, his fists clenched determined that this time it would be ok.
He stopped and turned, Katsumi stood a little way away from him.
“Kat-chan, I have something to tell you a-and I’ve been trying to tell you for a while now.”
“A while?”
“Well Five months and I’m sorry it’s been so long but it just took the time to… y’know…”
“I understand,”
“Well anyway, Kat-chan I’ve wanted to tell you that I…I like you, I mean I really like you, in the way that’s more than a friend…I-I’m in love with you.”
Katsumi breathed and his words brought tears to her eyes “Oh Naruto-kun, I’ve been trying to tell you exactly the same thing but whenever…whenever I tried I felt like I would make a fool of myself.” Salty tears began spill down over her cheeks “Naruto-kun I’m so in love with you, that its hurts so much that I’ve never found the courage to tell you my true feelings…” Both were silent for a moment before Katsumi cried out “I love you more with every heartbeat!” Naruto stepped forward and wrapped the kunoichi in a tight hug “I won’t let it hurt you anymore,” He whispered into her ear and before Katsumi could reply he bent down and gently placed his lips over hers.
It was the loveliest feeling in the world; the kiss went on for a little while longer and from that second on Katsumi held that wonderful moment in her heart forever.
THE END