"Who Now Will Sing?" (Naruto, MinaKu + Naruto, K)
Title: “Who Now Will Sing?”
Author: yukari_rin
Character(s)/Pairing(s): MinaKu + Naruto
Series: Naruto
Prompt: “putting the brat to bed”
Rating: K
Word Count: 518
Notes: AU set in the Victorian era. Title taken from the song “Who Now Will Sing Me Lullabies” by Kate Rusby.
Disclaimer: Naruto and related properties belong to Masashi Kishimoto and related parties.
Minato folded his arms over his chest and sighed. Large blue eyes stared at him unblinkingly as his son held fast to Kushina's arm. The maid in the doorway looked between her master and mistress, slightly distressed. Kushina raised her free hand to smooth Naruto's mussed hair. “Naruto,” she spoke gently, “go on now.”
“But, mama!” he turned his head to look at his mother and pushed out his bottom lip in an extraordinary pout.
“Naruto, you're a big boy now,” his mother attempted again, rubbing a thumb along one of his rosy cheeks.
The boy didn't look convinced. His bare feet dug into the oriental rug as he stepped closer to his mother's chair. The silk of his nightshirt slipped against the silk of her sleeve, causing him to slip a little as he attempted to climb onto her lap. “Just once... and then I'll go to bed. I promise.” His eyes shone in the lamplight as his eyebrows drew together.
Kushina glanced to her husband who returned her questioning expression with a smile in his eyes. She smiled at him and then looked down at her son, lifting him onto her lap. “Oh my,” she groaned as she held him against her chest, “this is the last time. You're too big for me to hold like this now.” She had meant it as a scold, but the way her son's small yet large body folded against her made her heart squeeze in longing. He was growing up so quickly. Already he was five years-old. Time had passed so quickly she was afraid when morning dawned he'd be a grown man already.
Minato stretched his legs out before him, ankles crossed, and watched the two. He rocked the upper of his feet in time to a silent tune and after a moment Kushina's voice created the melody with the words to a lullaby. Kushina sang until the boy's eyes began drifting shut, more verses than a proper song held and continued even as Minato rose and lifted their son from her lap. His own baritone hummed the tune as he walked through their home and up to the boy's room.
He placed Naruto on the feathered mattress and ran a hand through his hair as the maid drew the blankets over the child's body. “Good night, son,” Minato whispered.
Naruto awoke to the early light of dawn peeking through the top of the thick drapes. He ran a hand over his eyes and sat up, the heavy blanket falling away from his chest. It was the same dream that had haunted his sleep for so long now. It had been years since that night. Years since he had last seen his parents. But his father's voice was still clear in his ears, his mother's song still played in his mind. The words to the song were lost to the sands of time, just as his memories of his parents were. Only their ghosts were left to sing him to sleep, their voices merging into a sweet strain each morning before leaving him until night fell once more.
Author: yukari_rin
Character(s)/Pairing(s): MinaKu + Naruto
Series: Naruto
Prompt: “putting the brat to bed”
Rating: K
Word Count: 518
Notes: AU set in the Victorian era. Title taken from the song “Who Now Will Sing Me Lullabies” by Kate Rusby.
Disclaimer: Naruto and related properties belong to Masashi Kishimoto and related parties.
Minato folded his arms over his chest and sighed. Large blue eyes stared at him unblinkingly as his son held fast to Kushina's arm. The maid in the doorway looked between her master and mistress, slightly distressed. Kushina raised her free hand to smooth Naruto's mussed hair. “Naruto,” she spoke gently, “go on now.”
“But, mama!” he turned his head to look at his mother and pushed out his bottom lip in an extraordinary pout.
“Naruto, you're a big boy now,” his mother attempted again, rubbing a thumb along one of his rosy cheeks.
The boy didn't look convinced. His bare feet dug into the oriental rug as he stepped closer to his mother's chair. The silk of his nightshirt slipped against the silk of her sleeve, causing him to slip a little as he attempted to climb onto her lap. “Just once... and then I'll go to bed. I promise.” His eyes shone in the lamplight as his eyebrows drew together.
Kushina glanced to her husband who returned her questioning expression with a smile in his eyes. She smiled at him and then looked down at her son, lifting him onto her lap. “Oh my,” she groaned as she held him against her chest, “this is the last time. You're too big for me to hold like this now.” She had meant it as a scold, but the way her son's small yet large body folded against her made her heart squeeze in longing. He was growing up so quickly. Already he was five years-old. Time had passed so quickly she was afraid when morning dawned he'd be a grown man already.
Minato stretched his legs out before him, ankles crossed, and watched the two. He rocked the upper of his feet in time to a silent tune and after a moment Kushina's voice created the melody with the words to a lullaby. Kushina sang until the boy's eyes began drifting shut, more verses than a proper song held and continued even as Minato rose and lifted their son from her lap. His own baritone hummed the tune as he walked through their home and up to the boy's room.
He placed Naruto on the feathered mattress and ran a hand through his hair as the maid drew the blankets over the child's body. “Good night, son,” Minato whispered.
Naruto awoke to the early light of dawn peeking through the top of the thick drapes. He ran a hand over his eyes and sat up, the heavy blanket falling away from his chest. It was the same dream that had haunted his sleep for so long now. It had been years since that night. Years since he had last seen his parents. But his father's voice was still clear in his ears, his mother's song still played in his mind. The words to the song were lost to the sands of time, just as his memories of his parents were. Only their ghosts were left to sing him to sleep, their voices merging into a sweet strain each morning before leaving him until night fell once more.