To all of those wondering, I think I'll be taking a break from Naruto fics for a while, the way the plot is going right now, I just can't seem to work up any mojo at all. That aside, I've been considering several ideas for Code Geass, so look out for those.
Lelouch: You have good taste at least.
C.C: You're just saying that because he's given you TWO harem fics.
Lelouch: What man wouldn't want a harem or two?
C.C: Shingo Kiryuu.
Lelouch: Touche...
Kyugan: In any case, this fic kicks off shortly after R2, where Lelouch, for reasons beyond my comprehension, has allowed himself to be stabbed by Suzaku.
Lelouch: It was for world peace!
Kyugan: Whatever dead-guy *nods to C.C* now hold still.
Lelouch: Hold still for wha-HRGH!
C.C: *Smirks coyly as she stabs Lelouch* Hmm...not as fun as you make it seem...penetration that is.
Kyugan: Try not to bleed on the carpet, now roll camera!
Journey Begins.
'Where…am I?' a voice wondered, the owner's eyes opening to reveal an infinite whiteness that transcended all else 'Where is…this place…?'
Scenes flashed before the beings eyes, like a montage of old movies. It witnessed the rise and fall of nations, empires forming, only to crumble to dust, millennia passing in mere seconds, and each second lasting an eternity.
'What…is this?' the being wondered, mind oddly detached, as if the scenes racing before him meant nothing at all 'What does it mean?'
The being witnessed a child being born, and in seconds watched it grow to adulthood, the person's life unfolding in a matter of moments, yet the being saw every detail as if it were in slow motion.
'Why…am I here?' the being muttered, a hand coming up, only to pause, images of a sword stabbing through flesh rising to the forefront of it's mind 'Oh…' it noted, almost disinterestedly, as I commenting on the weather 'am I dead?'
"You are." A voice noted, the being's world jerking, eyes widening as he found himself, for indeed the being dicsovered he was male, standing in a strange, off-white world, naked as the day he was born.
"What is this?" he wondered, looking down at his hands with purple eyes, marvelling at their functionality and slenderness as he closed each finger experimentally, as if he'd never seen them before "Where is this?"
"This is the gate." A voice that was neither male nor female called out, the naked man turning, eyes blinking at the sight of a strange, human shaped silhouette, if such a thing could be called such, squatting in front of the largest, most ominous looking gate imaginable.
The overall shape of the silhouette was human, but that was where the resemblance ended. It had no features, no gender, not even any defining details. There was no skin, no hair, not even bones or muscle, simply a white outline against the off-white background, one 'arm' resting on it's 'knee', it's unseen gaze boring into the man.
"The Gate?" the man repeated, heedless of his nudity, or the weight of the being's sightless stare as he looked around warily, but there was nothing else in that off-white landscape to look at "The gate to where?"
"Who knows?" the being shrugged, the 'shoulders' rising almost noncommittally, it's genderless voice devoid of emotion, though the man got a feeling of smugness from it, as if it knew something he didn't, which at that moment, seemed likely "If you want to find out, you need to pay the toll."
"Toll?" the man repeated, blinking in confusion as he gazed at his mysterious companion, if such a being could be referred to as such "I'm afraid I've nothing to offer." He countered, holding his hands out at his sides to emphasize his nudity.
"Oh I've no need for money." The being countered, amusement in it's tone as it raised one hand out, palm up, as if to clutch something "the toll is unique to each person…depending on what they wish." The hand extended to the figure "What is it you desire?"
"My…desire…" the man wondered, his eyes going to his own hand, which he noted now was rather slim, hardly that of a man's at all, little more than a teenager at best "I want…"
Sudden, distant pain lanced through his chest, the man looking down, his eyes distant, at the gaping wound that appeared there, as if something had stabbed through him. Oddly enough, no blood flowed.
"Destroy…"
'What?' the man wondered, his purple eyes flinching as he reached up from his chest wound to his head, an echoing voice rising from deep within himself, sending flashes of pain through his skull 'What is this…?'
"Destroy…worlds..."
'Why would I want to destroy anything?' the man countered, suddenly dizzy, the hand on his chest growing sticky with blood as he swayed before the impassive entity, who's featureless face looked on with hidden interest.
"Destroy worlds... to create…"
"Worlds…" the man breathed, his words coming out as a ragged gasp as he staggered, landing on his knees and doubling over, his arms wrapped around his bleeding chest as he fell face first onto the unforgiving floor "Worlds…"
"So your wish is for worlds is it?" the entity noted, intrigue in it's tone as it slowly got to it's feet with a grunt "Not an easy wish, even by my standards…" it mused, padding towards the gasping man, or at least moving towards him, for his steps made no sound on that strange, barren floor "Still, a toll must be paid, and far be it from me to deny you…"
The man looked up, his eyes gazing upon that featureless face as the entity knelt, extending a hand towards him, almost kindly, one hand uncurling from around his chest to reach towards the offered limb with bloody fingertips.
"Welcome to the gate…" the entity greeted, fleshless fingers latching onto the man's hand like a viper's kiss, a wide, menacing smile, laced with mockery splitting its featureless face in two as the man gaped on in horror "Little Prince…"
Inside the Gate
The man screamed, his eyes wide with terror, even as the gates crashed open, revealing a mass of darkness and glowing red eyes, shadowy tendrils looming over the entity to grab at him, dragging him into the darkness beyond.
Pain lanced through the man, screams tearing from his lips in a rising crescendo, until he went so far beyond pain that he could no longer feel it, nor hear his own agonized screams, though they doubtless continued. 'Make it stop!' he wished to cry out, but he could find no means to voice his plea, for all he knew he could still be screaming himself hoarse 'Dear God make it stop!'
"Do you know why the snow is white?..." a voice asked, the tone soft, lilting and female, yet all to clear despite his screams of agony "It's because it's forgotten what color it's supposed to be..."
"The world and the people in it…" another voice stated, this one laced with determination and resolve, decidedly male "they will never be what we want them to be!"
'Who are you?' the man demanded, the voices tearing at his heart, his mind, even as he was carried down the path of agony, the clutching hands tearing him apart and putting him back as they pleased.
"All this power…" yet another voice murmured, another woman's, but this time laced with amazement and growing anger, which exploded before him like a firework "ARRGH, do the right thing!"
'What is the right thing?' the man demanded, seeking a face to tie to that voice, only for the agony to increase, a sense of loss coming over him as he sank into the abyss. 'Why is this happening?' he wondered, a sense of loss washing over him as he fell deeper into the realm of pain and fading memories 'What did I do to deserve this…am I being punished?'
"It wasn't me who was wrong..." a new voice declared, this one strong and firm, laced with absolute certainty and anger, though like the others, the man could not quite place where eard it before "It was the world!"
'The world?' the man wondered, the new voice's words striking a chord somewhere deep within his tattered heart of hearts, driving through the pain as he sought to latch onto those words, to keep them with him 'Then…what should I do…?'
"The world won't change with pretty words alone" the voice declared, the words ringing true to the man's mind as the agony began to fade away. "The only ones who should kill are those who are prepared to be killed."
'The resolve to kill…or be killed…' the man wondered, even as scenes flashed before his eyes, scenes of giant, armoured machines clashing in mid-air, or at sea. Of people, kind faced and scowling, of men, women and children, all in various stages of emotion 'But what is that resolve for…?'
"In order to change EVERYTHING." The voice proclaimed, another surge of memories washing over the man as he continued to fall.
'Who…are you?' he wondered, trying to place a name to the voice that was echoing in his head, one hand, which was little more than several particles held loosely together, reaching out in wonderment 'Who are you…?'
"I am the ally to those without power…"
The images changed, replaced with a scene of a barren canyon, the man looking on in wonderment as what appeared to be a full-scale war broke out.
Tens, hundreds, thousands of armoured figures rushed into the canyon, some of them riding on vehicles, others charging on foot. From the sky came a great roar, and two trains, one red and white, the other green, descended from on high, the warriors mounted on their hulls opening fire, only to be cut down in a fiery explosion.
An enraged roar heralded the arrival of a giant fortress, like a medieval castle, only with the head, wings, and tail of a massive dragon extending from its sides. Mounted on the prow of this strange fortress was another armoured warrior, and flanking it were two more dragons, of oriental design, one red, and one black, with corresponding warriors on their backs.
"Those with power, fear me!"
The dragons launched their attack; only to be shot down, the fortress dragon collapsing on its side with an agonized roar, even as it's fellows continued their reckless charge. From behind, a massive armoured figure, like a gorilla almost, reared up on its hind legs, angered by it's comrade's fall, only to be silenced itself by another explosion.
"Those who are powerless, seek me!"
Undaunted by the giant's fall, the surviving armoured warriors continued their reckless charge, roaring out in unity as they advanced on their foe, only to be cut down en masse, the survivors crying out as the ground beneath them exploded.
"You either live with me or die with me!"
The man shielded his eyes, waiting for the smoke and debris to clear, only to gape in horror at the sight before him, of the numerous armoured warriors, which now lay lifeless on the ground, the smoking heaps of their vehicles and weapons lying scattered all around them.
"What…" the man wondered, realizing with a start that he was standing in that barren canyon, that he could smell the scorched earth, that he could feel the clamminess of the air, hear the crackling of the fires and the dieing echoes of destruction "What is this?"
A cry from the distance drew his attention to the end of the canyon, where the body count seemed the highest. One of the dragons, the red, oriental one, let loose one last, keening roar, before collapsing, it's struggles stilling as a light shone over it, a figure hovering in midair, arms at his sides, palms out.
The man blinked, gazing at the figure before him in wonderment and growing terror as it loomed ever closer, unable to turn nor avert his eyes from the being as it descended on him like some evil angel, it's sinister green eyes glowing ominously.
"I am the destroyer and creator of worlds."
A garden in the rain...
The man stumbled forwards, his eyes wide, his hand outstretched as if to grab something, the other clutching his chest, only to blink, pulling up short at the feeling of rain pounding down on him.
'What…?' he wondered, blinking in confusion, gazing at his extended right hand, watching the rain water trickle off it in wonderment, noting with some surprise that he was now dressed, though his clothes were soaked through.
'A dream?' he wondered, looking down at his clothes, noting with some interest that it seemed like some sort of uniform, black pants, a blazer lined with golden thread, and smart, dress shoes 'No…' he muttered, clenching a hand over his chest, where phantom pain remained 'But then where…?'
"Konbanwa…" a voice greeted, the man blinking, looking up in surprise to find he was standing in the middle a massive garden, lined on all sides by an ornate wooden fence. Before him lay a traditional Japanese style house, though how he knew it was Japanese was beyond him, the roofs, walls and windows marked with the sign of a crescent moon, the tiles dark and the walls wooden.
A figure lounged on the walkway, sheltered from the rain by the roof, his mismatched eyes gazing out at the man impassively from behind a pair of spectacles. He was dressed in a practical, but nonetheless elaborate men's kimono, despite the elegance of his clothes, he seemed lanky and thin, little more than a teenager himself. A long Japanese pipe rested in one hand, the smoke curling around him like mist.
"Right on time…" the youth noted, a pocket watch disappearing into the sleeve of his kimono as he sat up, the pipe held between two fingers as he regarded the man before him, his features welcoming, but oddly detached.
"Um…good evening…" the man replied, a little uncertainly, only to blink, his eyes widening in confusion as he realized that he'd responded in the same language as the teen before him, though he knew he wasn't from the same place "Where am I?"
"In my garden." The teen replied cryptically, a small smile on his bespectacled face as he blew a trail of smoke into the night air, watching it fade before elaborating "Or rather, in the garden of my shop."
"A shop?" the man wondered, looking up at the large house behind the man, a sudden feeling washing over him, a certainty that there was more to those wooden walls and shutters than met the eyes.
"Yes…a shop." The teen replied, taking another draw on his pipe "Though you'll forgive me if I don't invite you inside." He turned to regard the man with a lidded stare "Your kind aren't normally welcome here."
"Sorry…" the man offered, though internally he felt the stirring of some buried emotion, most likely annoyance, at the teen's attitude, even as he turned as if to walk away from the house, despite the pouring rain "I'll leave."
"No such thing." The teen countered, shaking his head as he held up a hand to stall the man, his smile cryptic "Why do you think I'm out here? I can carry out a transaction just as easily on the porch as inside."
"I'm sorry…what?" the man wondered, honestly bewildered by this strange, enigmatic teen's words. At the very least he was human, unlike the faceless entity from before, but nonetheless he exhibited an air of…strangeness about him.
"So then…" the teen noted, tapping out his pipe and refilling it with fresh coal "you have a wish, correct?" he nodded at the man's look of shock "Don't be surprised, that's this shop's speciality."
"Um…I think there's been a mistake." The man countered, looking confused at this sudden turn of events, recalling his words with the last person that had mentioned a 'wish', and the pain that had resulted from it "I don't have a wish…"
"But you do." The man countered, a wry smile on his lips as he gestured behind the man to a set of gate posts, the came crescent moon carved on their sides "Everyone that comes to this shop has a wish…" here his gaze grew lidded "The problem…is whether you can afford the price?"
"Price?" the man repeated, the feeling of deja-vu washing over him again as he recalled the unnerving smile of the faceless entity, patting his new clothes down with a frown "Like I told the other guy…I don't have anything."
"But you do." The youth countered, his features solemn, almost wistful as he eyed the drenched figure from his spot on the porch "In fact, if I'm not mistaken…you've already paid part of it in coming here…"
He turned, ignoring the man's look of confusion, calling into the shop, summoning two girls, one in black with long blue pigtails, and one in white with short pink hair. "Maru, Moro." The bespectacled teen murmured, his eyes gentle as he smiled at the duo, who were standing hand in hand "Fetch THOSE from the storehouse, will you?"
"Can I get an umbrella while we're at it?" the man demanded politely, but pointedly, only to scowl as the girls giggled and ran off into the house, leaving him in the downpour "I mean is this any way to run a business?"
"Store policy." The shopkeeper countered with an ALMOST apologetic smile, though the man could see the bemused look in his eyes "Your kind couldn't enter even if they tried…the barrier would repel you."
"My kind?" the man repeated, blinking at the bespectacled teen in confusion, only to shudder as the entity from the gate's words registered, his hand going to his chest, feeling around for his non-existant stab wound "You mean…"
"Got it! Got it!" the twins cheered, racing around the corner, each of them carrying a strange device in her hands. The blue one carried what looked like a belt, though the buckle was rather large, like a giant white camera. The pink one carried a strange, metallic case, almost like a book.
"Indeed…" the teen nodded, blowing a gentle stream of smoke into the nce more "the dead are not welcome in this world…in order to grant your wish, I must send you to a world where you can exist."
"A world I can exist in?" the man repeated, only to blink as the twins raced up to him, the blue one fastening the belt to his waist, while the pink one clipped the weird case to his left hip, chanting all the while "Hey what're you-HEY!"
"I'm afraid there's little more I can do for you." The shopkeeper sighed, looking on impassively as the twins shoved the taller man before them, moving him towards the garden gateposts with surprising strength "The rest of your journey depends on you."
"Hold it!" the man demanded, looking over his shoulder, trying to free himself from the little girls' grasps, only to almost stagger as they shoved him out the gateway, the man righting himself with a grunt, before whipping round to glare at them "How will I…know…?"
He gaped, his eyes wide with disbelief at the sight of the empty lot on the other side of the gateposts. There wasn't even a fence anymore, simply two, rather odd looking gateposts, carved with the crescent moon. On the other side was an abandoned lot, filled with garbage and various other throwaway items. And judging by the smell, the lot had been like this for some time.
Outside the Gates...
"What the…hell…?" the man wondered, turning his head left and right in confusion, unable to comprehend what he was seeing, or rather, failing to see "But it was…I was just…!"
He paused, taking a look at his surroundings, noting with interest that it had stopped raining too, or rather, that the rain had vanished along with the store.
'That's not the only thing that's changed.' He noted, a frown on his face as he eyed his clothes, which had changed almost without him noticing, save for the buckle and case attached to his waist.
Rather than the black blazer he had worn second before, he was now clad in a beige, button up jacket with red trim, an ID badge clipped to the front, with a black undershirt underneath. His pants, had changed to an identical shade of beige as his jacket, and his dress shoes had even been changed to black sneakers, with a strange, winged glyph on the back of the heels and toes. To top it all off, there was a large duffle bag, the kind used by athletes, and a briefcase resting at his feet.
"Looks like they at least gave me some supplies." He muttered, shaking his head in disbelief as he knelt down, unzipping the duffle bag and rifling through it, coming up with several changes of clothing, a phone, and a wallet.
"Hope this isn't stolen…" he muttered, only to wince as his stomach growled, looking around for a restaurant or café, only to sigh as he realized there were none nearby "First things first…" he deduced, picking up the two bags with a grunt "Find food, then answers."
Unbeknownst to the teen, his arrival had not gone entirely unnoticed. The figure lurking in the shadows watched him go, a gloved fist tightening in anger as he glared after the departing teen, eyes narrowing at his defenceless back.
"So…" he muttered, watching the teen scamper off in search of food, light glinting off his helmet as he withdrew into the shadows "you've finally come…"
Reworked the opening chapter a little, for Plot Convenience.
Yes, that is Lelouch, for the same reasons I stated during the promo-chapter in my Crossover Corner.
No, C.C & Kallen won't be travelling with him, he's going to be picking up new travelling buddies.
C.C: Rats...I wanted to see Lulu in pink...
Lelouch: It's not pink dammit!
Kyugan: It's pink, deal with it. For those of you wondering how Lelouch, who can't outrun Milly in full frock dress, can be a Rider, I turn to the Deus Ex Machina that is the Gate of Truth. The man was taken apart, one atom at a time, and reassembled back in Watanuki's yard. Don't tell me the gate didn't put him back together a little better than before.
Kyugan: For those of you who ask HOW improved Lelouch is...refer to my Geass Tekka fic. He's not THAT strong as a human, but he's close enough that he can at least pull off some of the stunts Tsukasa did in the world of Faiz.
C.C: Seriously, DBZ meets Prince of Tennis, what the hell?
Kyugan: And yes, Lelouch has no memory of his past. It's such a useful plot device I can't help but use it over and over again, and it worked so well for Tsukasa. Let's see how this saga unfolds eh?