So, I guess people like this, and if you people want it. Then I shall grant your request!

Some are wanting Naruto and Asia, which is rather rare pairing my opinion. But I'll hear others suggestions first.

Crowfeast, yes; it is Ghost Rider (If it wasn't obvious). Wasn't Freed a wanted criminal, and still is when he got introduced, if I'm correct? Naruto's naturally going after him. Regardless of Freed's connection with Asia.

If any one's wondering, I'm basing this Ghost Rider off Johnny Blaze. I originally planned Robbie Reyes, but Johnny's Rider fits the DxD universe more.

I STILL need a beta for this… Help me!

Review or PM what Pairing would you like to suggest.

Wouldn't mind a reading of this… (wink, wink) if anyone's willing.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Highschool DxD. Each franchise belong to their respective owners.

Enjoy, Chapter 2 of,

RIDE TO HELL


"My, aren't you in a fickle?"

Naruto gasped and grunted in pain, holding his bleeding chest as he stared at the man in front of him.

This was bad, really bad.

Just a week after he defected from the Church. Exorcist after Exorcist ruthlessly hunted him down. He had to move from town to town to avoid his former comrades in an attempt to hide.

Though, after just three weeks of hiding. One lucky group managed to find him in a small town in America, where he currently hid.

They were relentless, and fought him the first second he saw them from a bar. At least, he fended them off for a short time, but one lucky Exorcist managed to stab him.

Leading to his situation now, in the abandoned part of an industrial area, bleeding to death. His weapons and holy sword, long broken and forgotten.

And suddenly, this man appeared, with a scent of a devil.

Just great.

The man himself was middle-aged. He had gelled hair that was a mix of blue and red, slicked back. He wore a black, buttoned up duster, matching black slacks and shoes.

His blue-red eyes stared at him with a hint of amusement, as he approached him.

The man had a mysterious, yet ominous vibe surrounding him. Making Naruto all the more weary.

The cane he held tapped against the concrete, being the only noise that filled the night air.

Naruto glared at him.

The man seemed to regard the blond's hostility.

"Why the face? Have I done something already?"

"You have a scent of a Devil."

He rose an eyebrow at the claim.

"Oh? Are you an Exorcist?" He asked, and looked at the blond once more, "By how torn your clothes are, I barely recognize your uniform." He laughed.

Naruto gritted his teeth and looked down.

The man kneeled in front of the bleeding teen and grasped the holy dagger stabbed in his shoulder.

"Doesn't that hurt you?"

"Hm? Oh, it does. But I've felt worse." He said casually. "Now, hold still. This might hurt."

Naruto gasped, and held a torn cloth tightly as the dagger was dislodged from his shoulder. He gently put a hand on his bleeding shoulder and looked at the man.

"Why are you helping me?" The teen asked carefully, eyeing the devil with alarm.

"Can't Devils also be good Samaritans once in a while?" He said, tossing the holy dagger away.

"Devils usually attack me, when they see me."

"Oh, don't worry boy. I'm a different kind of Devil." The man smirked slyly. "Though, it seems your quest to find that little nun has been tiring, I assume?"

Immediately, Naruto stiffened and looked at the man with revived hostility and alarm. "How do you know that?!" The blond demanded angrily. His stance, even if he was injured, changed ever so slightly.

"Let's just say, I have… connections."

Naruto didn't looked convinced, to which the man sighed.

"Don't worry, boy. I won't hurt you," He assured, "Haven't I shown that?"

The former Exorcist kept his glare. "I don't even know your name."

The Devil smirked. "You want to know who I am? Very well then."

"You may call me… Mephistopheles."


Three months.

Three months, nineteen days, twenty-two hours, five minutes and one… no, two seconds.

He counted.

He counted the days and nights he didn't transform into that… thing. It had been a full month since he used his curse. His mind would go hazy, and his memories would usually be often fuzzy whenever he used that hellish power.

Naruto Uzumaki, aged seventeen. Sighed and put a hand on his face, slowly dragging the appendage down with noticeable tiredness in his form.

He currently sat on a rotten, wooden stool inside an abandoned, concrete building.

His chopper, now reverted back into its original state. Was parked nearby, ready for him to hop on and ride off, should any Exorcist hunting him down would somehow find him in the middle-of-nowhere.

Where was he? He didn't know anymore, somewhere in Japan most likely.

He moved his hand away from his face and looked at it with intensity.

The appendage's skin, slowly started to burn and tear, opening up and revealing the bones within.

Naruto cursed and quickly jerked his hand in a random direction, watching as a fiery ball burn a nearby table, reducing it to ashes.

He looked at his bony hand and gritted his teeth. Forcing his curse back.

It was stressful and tiring really, trying to control his power.

The thing inside him, it would shriek and rage. Begging him to be released whenever a malicious presence would appear.

And would always leave a small headache every time he took back control.

Stupid curse.

Naruto sighed and gingerly held the silver cross dangling from his neck. Gently rubbing it with his fingers in an attempt to calm himself.

The cross was a gift, from his precious person. The person he left the Church for, to protect her with his life.

Asia Argento.

His precious person. His very first friend when he moved to the church. His sole reason he took the curse to begin with.

The blond didn't know where she was, where the church moved her. But he would find out. He'd be there for her, like she did for him.

He'd go through hell and back for her.

He made a promise to find her, and protect her, no matter what.

It was a promise of a lifetime.

Naruto shook his head and sighed once more, and stood up before straddling his chopper.

The engines roared to life as his motorcycle's lights turned on. He revved the bike, listening to the wheels screeching, before riding off.

Three months, nineteen days, twenty-three hours, seven minutes, and three seconds.


The moon shined ever so dimly as breeze blew by, rustling leaves responding to the wind and flying away.

Naruto didn't know why the bike had led him to a graveyard, but it was clear, judging by the corpses that were laying about, stabbed, cut in half, beheaded, and slashed, that there was a battle nearby.

What happened here?

He stopped his chopper at the entrance of the graveyard. And approached one of the bodies and examined it.

The body was cut up, and was missing an arm and leg. He or she, was stabbed in the chest several times.

Naruto grunted and held his head, before shaking it forcefully. Ignoring the burning feeling he got.

"Die! Human!"

Reacting quickly, Naruto grabbed whoever tried to sneak up on him, and held he, or she, by the neck.

A Vampire.

He was injured, and bleeding badly. Judging by the wound in his chest, he won't survive long.

The Vampire hissed and shrieked, clawing at Naruto's hand but to no avail. The blond narrowed his eyes at him, "What happened here? Who were you fighting?!" He demanded.

The Vampire, with glaring eyes that could kill, opened his mouth to speak.

Only for a spear made of light to re-enter the wound on the monster's chest.

Blood spurted out like a fountain, as the Vampire gave a silent scream, before succumbing to his wounds, and died.

Naruto widened his eyes at the spear, and dropped the body.

"Thank you, for helping me take down this vile creature!" A bubbly and familiar voice trailed off when the figure saw the blond.

Naruto cursed whatever deity had it out for him.


"I shall cleanse you, in the name of God! Amen!"

Irina Shidou, clad in her Church battle suit, which consisted of a black, skin-tight, short sleeve unitard with pauldrons, matching fingerless gloves that extend to her biceps, and thigh-high boots, all of which are adorned with straps, panted as she ducked under a swing from a Vampire and stabbed its back.

Xenovia wasn't here, unfortunately, she could use all the help she could get, but sadly, her partner was in Vatican. Attending a request from the angels above.

Oh, how she wished she was there with her partner! But unfortunately, she was here in Japan, dealing with Vampires that currently resided in a graveyard, terrorizing the nearby town. It did not matter, if it meant helping people in the name of the Lord, then she would gladly do it.

"You dare enter our territory?!"

Irina glared at the next Vampire, he shrieked and flew at the girl, but Irina was ready and dodged quickly. Using Excalibur Mimic, she slashed at him. He screamed and drove forward, barreling towards her.

Just as he was about to hit her, Irina leaped and used the Vampire's head as a stepping stone, as she was in mid-air, the brunette formed a light bow and carefully aimed.

'Just need to get the angle right and…'

She pulled the string back and watched as the arrow sailed towards its target.

The Vampire hissed and went down, the light arrow lodged in his shoulder.

Irina 'tsked' as she landed before charging at the downed monster. Grabbing Excalibur Mimic, she slashed at the Vampire, only for the creature to roll away in time, but not without a flesh wound on his chest.

The girl glared and went into a stance, glaring at the creature of the night.

The Vampire hissed, and flapped his wings before flying away from the Exorcist, to the entrance of the graveyard.

Irina stood there, gaping, with wide eyes.

"Hey!"

Getting out of her stupor, Irina gave chase to the Vampire.

"Get back here, you!"

The brunette ran after the injured creature, narrowly missing and sometimes stumbling upon the corpses that were strewn about.

She stopped when the creature suddenly stood there. Irina blinked in confusion, and saw a figure shrouded by the darkness holding up the injured monster.

This was her chance!

Carefully, she formed a light spear in her hands and aimed.

And threw it with force.

The spear successfully stabbed the Vampire. Irina watched in satisfaction as the figure dropped the creature. The brunette approached the unknown and smiled at them.

"Thank you, for helping me take down this vile creature…"

Her voice trailed off, and she suddenly became quiet, when Irina noticed who them-he-was.

"Naruto…?"

Naruto Uzumaki regarded her with sad, and familiar eyes.

"Irina."

He had changed from when he last saw him. Gone was the clothes she always saw him garbed back when they worked together, now replaced by an attire that made him look like a biker, complete with a leather jacket.

Irina was silent, looking at the blond with familiarity, anger, and… relief?

She wasn't imagining, he was really here. The boy who helped her up in during their missions, who became her first friend when she moved to the Vatican for a short period of time.

She could do it, right now. Kill him, for treason. For betraying the Church.

But she couldn't.

A howling shriek was heard, and the two looked up to see a silver haired Vampire looking at them with hate and rage.

He looked to be more noble-looking than the others, ashen white hair flowing down his face which reached his neck, red eyes that seemed to glow in the night, wearing an attire fit for royalty, with a black cape to finish the look.

A Vampire from the Tepes Faction, if Naruto were to assume.

Irina was quick, and fired a light arrow at the creature, who dodged. "You dare try to hit me?!" He said, and then scoffed. "Know your place, worm!"

With that, he flew off. Heading deeper towards the bloody graveyard. Most likely thinking that they weren't a worth his time.

Irina followed, chasing after the creature to kill him.

"Irina-chan, wait!"

"Don't call me that." The girl said coldly. She tried to move, but Naruto stopped her by holding her arm.

"We share an enemy, I can help you." He offered, but Irina scoffed and walked away. "I don't need your help." She muttered, a bit of something in her tone Naruto couldn't recognize.

"Please." He insisted.

"Leave me alone!"

"Irina!"

The girl rounded on him and glared, "How can I trust you?" She asked. Irina looked down, and bit her lip. "It hurt, you know. After you left the church." She said softly, her emotions slipping out, "You were my friend, Naruto." Despite how much Irina tried to hide it, a bit of hurt entered her tone.

Naruto stepped closer to her.

"I still am." Naruto said softly.

Irina felt a pang in her chest after he said that, but none the less, she held her glare.

"No. I can do this by myself!"

The flapping of wings was heard, and the two stopped momentarily, looking ahead of them.

More monsters.

"… So, partners for now?" Naruto asked.

Irina nodded, albeit hesitantly, and summoned Excalibur Mimic.

Naruto held out his hands, and in a fiery show, summoned two daggers attached to chains that linked around his forearms.

More, and more Vampire's started to appear from their cover in the darkness of the graveyard. The creatures hissed, and glared, slowly forming a circle around the two in an attempt to surround them.

By now, Naruto and Irina were back-to-back, the two looked around them cautiously, as the creatures advanced.

Then, they attacked.

Naruto quickly took down two creatures that flew towards him, stabbing one, removing his blade from the Vampire's chest, he grabbed another Vampire's arm that swiped at him, and brought the creature closer. Bringing down his blade upon the monster's neck, he wrapped the chain around the dying creature and kicked the monster away from him.

"You shall be purged from your sins!" Irina declared, before forming two light spears, throwing them at two unsuspecting Vampires, killing one, and injuring the other.

She jumped when another charged at her. Irina placed a hand on the creature's back, and flipped away from the monster. Summoning Excalibur Mimic, Irina gave the Vampire a quick death via sword-to-the-neck.

"Die! Foul beasts!"

With a cry, Irina beheaded a Vampire that tried to attack her from behind. Rolling away, she kicked another in the chest, giving space. Naruto saw this, and in another fiery show, a pistol was formed in his hand. Training the gun on the Vampire, Naruto pulled the trigger, watching in satisfaction as the flaming bullet met its target's skull.

The two fought, side by side, coordinating their attacks perfectly, if one was on the offensive, the other was defending them. They both looked synchronized with each other, slaying the creatures one by one. It looked beautiful.

A dance of blades and chains.

As the last Vampire fell, Naruto and Irina relaxed, standing together in a group of bodies laid away.

"This feels… nostalgic, y'know?"

Irina nodded fondly.

"Yes. It really does feel familiar." She said solemnly.

It was too bad that this was temporary.

After this… they were back to being enemies. As much as she wanted to deny that, to refuse and never accept. It was inevitable.

"We should go." Naruto suggested, Irina nodded, and the two walked through the dark graveyard.

As they advanced, Naruto groaned, and held his head. He gritted his teeth, his hand turning into a fist. Irina gave a look of concern when this happened, and turned towards the blond. "Are you okay?"

Naruto didn't answer at first, far too preoccupied as his fist started to smoke slightly.

Damn it! Of all times!

"I-I'm fine…" He lied through his teeth.

Irina frowned, approaching the teen, she placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a look. "You're not."

"Irina, we still need to chase that Vampire."

The brunette huffed rather cutely, "Fine! Have it your way." With that, she walked ahead, grumbling all the way.

Naruto sighed, before cringing and held his head. His eyes flickering from their normal blue's, to burning yellow.

"Justice is calling, boy! Unleash me!"

"No!"

"Foolish!" it roared.

Naruto closed his eyes and breathed.

In…

Out…

In…

Out…

A method to calm himself.

The whiskered blond forced the voice away, feeling the presence gone, Naruto stood up and caught up with Irina after a few minutes.

Irina, however, 'hmphed' when he walked by her side and turned her head childishly, crossing her arms under her bust as they walked through the silent graveyard.

Naruto looked at her, "… Seriously?" He asked dryly.

"Hmph!"

"Come on! I'm fine! –ttebayo!" The blond blinked. "Damn it. Thought I got rid of that." He muttered to himself.

Unknown to Naruto, Irina had a small smile on her face when the blond said that.

He was still the same Naruto after all.

They encountered some more low-class Vampires on their way, but the two handled the monsters fine.

Naruto still had the headache as they walked, though it was toned down to the point where it was just a minor annoyance.

It still hurts though.

The two soon neared the end of the graveyard, where the feeling of a cold presence, more powerful than the other Vampires they fought had. He was here, the last and stronger Vampire.

Fog rolled in, blanketing the entirety of the graveyard in a dark, mist.

"Show yourself, vile heathen! So you may feel the power of God!" Irina called out, summoning Excalibur Mimic.

Out of nowhere, a swarm of bats flew right in front of them, forcing them to shield their faces. The bats shrieked as they flew into the night sky.

Naruto gripped his head with both of his hands as his headache increased tenfold, he gritted his teeth and cursed and shook his head wildly.

"Naruto!" Irina said worriedly.

"Both of you will die!"

Suddenly, the shadows shifted and the Tepes Vampire appeared, baring his fangs at them. The creature charged and tackled Naruto, who was still in pain. The Vampire grinned menacingly and showed its fangs, glinting with desire.

"I will feast on your blood!"

"Stay away from him!"

Irina immediately came to Naruto's side and attacked the Vampire with her holy sword, the Vampire hissed and dodged, using his wings and flew into the air.

"You and your boyfriend shouldn't have come here, girl!"

Irina sputtered incoherently with pink cheeks. "He's not my boyfriend!" The Exorcist cried out.

"It matters not. You and he, will die all the same!"

And charged at the Exorcist.

Irina dodged and weaved past the Vampire's claws and fangs. She ducked when another swarm of bats flew in front of her. Using Excalibur Mimic, the brunette slashed at the Vampire.

The monster hissed and descended back into the shadows, bidding his time.

"Come out, vile heathen! Face me!'

"You are over your head, Exorcist." The shadows spat out with hate.

Irina felt something behind her and immediately turned around to attack it.

Too late.

The Vampire tilted his head expertly, and grabbed the girl's neck in seconds. His wings soon burst out, and he took off into the air, holding the Exorcist.

His bat-like wings flapped with power and he flew off with the Exorcist in tow.

From the ground, a kneeling Naruto shot out a hand towards the sky.

"Irina!"

He growled and bowed his head.

He could feel it.

It was calling.

Urging.

He needed to find her.

He needed to save Irina.

Naruto stood up, as he did, his hands started to revert to back and forth, his clothes started to boil and char, he ignored all of this and ran towards the entrance of the graveyard.

As he ran, his head started smoking, but Naruto forced it back, he didn't want to turn into it. Anything but that!

He heard it shriek and rage inside him. Gnawing at his self to transform, to feel the rush and adrenaline. To bring the guilty to justice. It was painful.

It was stressing.

But he resisted, even as more of his body started to tear and open up, flames appearing on his hands and boots, his head smoking and heating up, his jacket charring and boiling.

He resisted.

Naruto ran wildly through the path that led to the entrance, his mind in a fuzz. Finally, he reached the entrance.

His chopper was in the same state as him, the motorcycle's engines roared to life with ferocity and power the last time he used his curse, heating up to the point it turned to fiery yellow-orange color. Flames engulfed the tires, licking the ground it was on. The headlight slowly reverted into a more angular version.

It was transforming.

Naruto ignored this, and straddled it quickly. He revved the engine, and flames burst out the exhaust pipes.

He raced down the road, fire trailing behind his cycle as he did, narrowly following the flying figure in the sky.

Everything was a blur to him, the streetlamps and buildings were merely just various colors and textures as he sped by. He could feel himself turning, forming and becoming it. He saw his skin turning into flaming wisps. His body burning and corroding.

The voice urged him more, influencing his thoughts.

"Yes! Do it! Feel the power!"

Get out of my head.

"Do you wish to fail her, boy?"

Get. Out.

"We both need each other. Regardless if you like it or not."

Get out, get out, get out, get out, get out, get, out, get out, get out! He repeated the mantra in his head.

"No."

That was the last straw, Naruto couldn't take it anymore. He lasted as long as he could.

The last of his hair and skin burned and singed. His will faded.

The Rider was back.


Irina gently opened her eyes and coughed and hacked.

She was flying, no, scratch that, she was captured.

"You will make a fine feast, Exorcist."

"Unhand me, heathen!"

"Silence, Worm!"

An explosion of fire was heard in the distance.

Irina craned her head towards the direction of the fire. 'What was that?!' She squinted her eyes and looked down. There was what looked to be a fire from the ground.

It was following them.

Trailing them.

"What the-?! Who dares-!"

A fiery chain wrapped around the creature's abdomen. The Vampire struggled out of the chain's grip and shrieked as it burned him. It was harder to free himself as he was holding someone else.

Suddenly, the chain was pulled down, along with the monster and Exorcist.

Irina screamed and covered her eyes. Thinking quickly, she grabbed the Vampire and got on top of him, using the monster as a way to break her fall.

Irina looked down and widened her eyes on where they were above.

A construction sight.

This was going to hurt.

And it did.

They crashed, hard.

Pebbles were scattered and thrown about as they landed, Irina quickly let go of the Vampire and skidded on the ground, away from him.

The Exorcist stood up, albeit shakily. She was slightly bruised and scratched, not to mention banged up from the crash, but she could handle it. She was still slightly disoriented, and tried to summon her sword, only to collapse once more.

She panted, and watched as the Vampire slowly stood up, he too, was scratched, his regal clothes and cloak were teared, and torn.

He was mad.

The monster slowly stalked towards her. She was helpless.

Another explosion was heard, this time closer than before.

The Vampire stopped momentarily, and looked up.

The sound of thunderous engines filled the air.

A human-sized, ball of flames jumped from the ramp in the construction sight, and landed in between them.

A hellish skeleton, on a chopper that looked like it came from the Underworld itself was in the middle of them, the only thing that stopped the Vampire from killing her.

Death on wheels never held a truer meaning.

The skeleton's flaming skull glanced at Irina briefly, before turning towards the Vampire with a menacing glower.

"You… guilty."

Irina looked at the hellish figure clearer. And gasped in shock.

It was wearing Naruto's clothing. She recognized his clothes. The same silver cross on the skeleton's neck was a clear indication.

This was Naruto.

The Vampire looked at The Rider in shock, "Your soul… it feels… so powerful… dark, menacing… vengeful." He said, the monster tore his gaze away from the still Rider, and looked up.

A full moon.

He smirked.

"You will be my servant." The Vampire declared.

The Rider's blazing orbs glared at the monster, "You can try, but you will only find failure."

The monster roared out, bearing his fangs once more. The Rider quickly disappeared, and grabbed the Vampire by the throat and lifted him up.

The Rider leered at the monster, "Your soul is revolting," He stated. "You don't have anything in your heart, only hate and darkness…"

The skeleton threw the creature with strength, watching the Vampire crashing down and getting piled up by construction beams.

"It disgusts me."

The Vampire hissed, and turned into darkness itself, slipping out of the mess of construction beams and headed towards the hellish Rider. Shadows started to seep from the skeleton's own shadow. Then wrapped around him.

Only for it to be destroyed in a blaze of fire.

Irina shielded her face from the brightness of the mini-explosion. She slowly moved away as to avoid any flames.

The shadows hissed in response and moved away, transforming into a black mist that floated up from the ground.

The Rider held his hand out to the side, and summoned a fiery chain. He held the chain with both hands and started spinning one end, much like how cow-boys would do in western movies.

He threw the flaming chain, and soon caught the floating mist. The Rider pulled, as the chain forcefully wrapped around the black fog. The Vampire was forced to take his normal form again, he howled in rage, struggling to escape the hellchain, with his speed, the Vampire tried to speed away, darting from left to right, leaving a few after-images in his wake, but to no avail.

He was trapped.

"You won't escape your judgement!"

The Rider yanked the flaming chain with force, the Vampire flew towards the skeleton. Once near contact, the Rider made the chain disappear and gave a flaming uppercut, sending the monster up into the sky.

Forming another chain, the Rider threw it and watched as it wrapped around the Vampire in mid-air, grabbing it with both bony hands, the skeleton pulled down, hard.

Unfortunately, the Vampire transformed into a bat as he was sent down, letting the flaming chain release him.

He soon reverted to his normal form and flew towards Irina.

The Vampire shot towards the Exorcist, fangs extended, intent to drain her blood for nutrients.

The Rider appeared in front of Irina in a burst of speed, and used his arm to block the fangs. The Vampire soon screamed in agony as his fangs snapped off, melting away into the pavement.

As the Vampire backed away in pain, the flaming wraith approached the monster slowly. He held out his hands in front of him, and formed a fiery, double-barrel, shotgun.

The Rider cocked the hellish weapon and pulled the trigger, a flaming bullet shot from the chamber and flew to the Vampire's shoulders. The creature screamed again, and held his shoulders. He screamed once more, when another bullet went past his abdomen.

The wraith formed a hellchain in his other hand and spun it around. Throwing it, the Vampire was soon caught again, and tried to escape the fiery chain, but it was all for naught.

Pulling the Vampire towards him, the skeleton, stood tall before the kneeling and bleeding creature of the night.

"The day of judgement is upon you, scum."

Cocking the fiery shotgun, the Rider aimed at the Vampire's head.

"This is your penalty."

And he pulled the trigger.

The Vampire's entire head engulfed in fire as the bullet hit him. He gave out one last, long and agonizing scream, before his head melted.

The Rider, released the chain as it disappeared, and caught the headless corpse by the neck, lifting it up, the body soon started to char and boil, burning the clothes and cloak.

Soon, the body was unrecognizable, the corpse now a charred, ashen, body.

Using his other flaming hand, the hellish skeleton, grabbed the body by the waist and threw it away, not minding as it slowly burned away.

"Naruto…"

The Rider turned his flaming skull towards the injured Irina, who went out of her cover. She was bruised, holding her side, and limping.

"Irina…"

The girl slowly approached the wraith-Naruto-and stepped closer to him, she slowly brought a hand to the side of his skull.

"Is this really… you?"

The Rider turned his flaming head to the side.

"Monster…"

Irina glared at him. "No. You aren't. Even if you left the Church, and betrayed us… you're still Naruto."

The Rider was silent and turned to look at her.

As he craned his head, he started to revert back. His skin re-appeared, his hair was back, and the flames slowly died down.

"Thank you, Irina."

And with that, he promptly passed out.


Darkness.

He could only see darkness.

Everywhere, it was pitch black, surrounding him enveloping him.

He felt like he was floating.

Where was he?

Then, a bright light filled the blackness. Blinding him.

"So, you finally visit me."

Naruto opened his eyes, and saw blinding white.

"Who's there?!"

"Face me, Uzumaki."

The blond slowly turned around.

And was face to face with a flaming skeleton.

"Aah!"

Startled, he jumped away and landed in a stance.

"Calm yourself, boy." The skeleton said.

Naruto didn't listen and eyed the skeleton with caution.

It looked like him, when he transformed, only the skeleton's flames were blue, brighter, and felt more powerful.

It had six individual spikes around its shoulders, chest, and back. Two each. It had black bodysuit, coupled with matching boots.

Naruto's eyes widened in shock.

"You!"

"That's right boy. I am the one who Mepistopheles bonded you with."

"I am Zarathos."

Naruto fell silent as it, no, Zarathos introduced himself. "You're the voice in my head."

"My curse."

Zarathos nodded. "Yes. I am the one who whispers to you, to urge you. I am the one who influences you."

"Why?! What reason would you have to do this to me!?" Naruto snapped, shouting at the spirit. "What did I do?!" He demanded.

"What even are you?!"

The skeleton scoffed, "You did nothing boy. I simply used you, you are my host, the one who punishes the guilty. And as for me…" Zarathos gestured to himself.

"I... was once, an angel."

As if on cue, two wings shot from his back.

Twelve skeletal like, segments that used to be feathers were his wings.

Naruto's eyes widened.

"Y-You're a..."

Zarathos tiled his head forward in a curt conformation. "Correct, boy. I, was a Seraph."

"Impossible!" Naruto exclaimed. "There are only four Seraph!"

Zarathos scoffed, his wings moving slightly as he did, "You are wrong, Uzumaki. There are... was five."

"I was created by our father, the biblical God. As I said, I was a Seraph, strongest of my kind, and an elite in Heaven."

"I… was the Angel of Justice." Zarathos explained.

"However, during the Great War, when I fought alongside my brothers and sisters. I was sent down to protect man from the Devils. But, Mephistopheles was nearby. He tricked me, and I was sent into the Underworld…"

Naruto stayed silent as he processed the information.

"As I was trapped in there, Mephistopheles, he… corrupted me, tortured me, giving me visions of humanity's depravity…"

"I hoped for Michael, prayed to our father, and wished for Gabriel to save me, to help me as I did them." Zarathos said solemnly.

"But they never did." He muttered bitterly. "They left me there, their own brother, to rot and corrupt. To let the Devils to as they wish to me, and-?!" Zarathos stopped, realizing his temper flaring, at the reminder of his traitorous siblings.

"Eventually… I was driven insane. My mission, my will, to protect the innocent was perverted into a lust to punish the guilty." Zarathos spat out.

"I became the Spirit of Vengeance."

Zarathos suddenly stopped and looked around, before he chuckled. "It seems you are waking up." The spirit looked at Naruto. "Goodbye for now, Uzumaki."

Naruto held out a hand as he started to fade. "Wait!"


He woke up.

Naruto shot from whatever he was laying on, and gasped. He panted, and calmed himself. 'Where am I?' He thought, and looked around.

A hotel room.

Irina must have brought him here.

"Naruto… are you awake?"

Speak of the devil.

The blond turned to see the Exorcist, now clad in fixed Church uniform, in the doorway. Irina approached him in concern, "Are… you… are you okay?" She asked gingerly.

Naruto nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine." He assured her, scratching his whiskered cheeks.

He looked down, and noticed that he was only garbed in his orange shirt, and pants.

"Where's my jacket?"

Irina pointed towards the dresser at the side.

Walking towards the wooden dresser, Naruto took out his black leather jacket, and put it on. Zipping it up.

Shortly after eating breakfast. The two met at the outside of the Hotel. Irina, garbed in a white cloak that hid her uniform, watched as Naruto hopped on his motorcycle, and turn it on.

"So, this is goodbye, huh?"

Naruto looked away. "Yeah, I guess it is."

The two stayed silent for a moment.

Then, without thinking, Irina wrapped her arms around the blond, pulling him into a hug. The whiskered blond blinked, and looked at her. "Aren't you going to kill me?" He asked.

Irina giggled and pulled away, "Maybe next time." She said, smiling brightly.

There's that cheerful personality that she was known for.

Naruto laughed, and gripped the handlebars of his motorcycle. As Irina started to turn around, the blond shouted.

"Irina!"

The Exorcist looked back in surprise.

The blond grinned, "This isn't goodbye!"

"It's a 'see you later'!"

And with that, he rode off.

Irina blinked, before her smile returned. "Yeah…"

"See you later… Naruto-kun."


Yeah, Irina's also a pairing choice.

(1) Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite, Ghost Rider's Hellcycle.

Review! Constructive criticism is also good, give suggestions, advice, etc. Anything really.

See ya.