Of course my thanks still go to Dreaming of the Moon for his continued help.
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
Chapter 04: The Second Inheritance, A Passing, and Obtaining a Queen
Naruto did his level best to stifle a sigh. For a third time he sat shirtless inside the Ritual chamber below the Asmodai mansion. This was getting to be staple of his life lately. Why was there so much that revolved around this one damned room?
However, unlike the previous two times, he was not alone inside the circle. Sitting across from him, also without a shirt, was his new father, Gressen Asmodai. The withered and emaciated old devil was focusing heavily, eyes closed in concentration, forcing his breathing to remain even as he didn't dare to screw up at this point. Gressen's eyes snapped open and met Naruto's silver-blue orbs.
"Naruto, this is the final thing I have to give you before my time runs out." The voice was strong, the bearing regal despite the thin form. The old man reached his right hand into his very chest, removing something that looked more like a pulsating gold orb than the heart that Naruto honestly expected.
"This is the Asmodai Family Magic," Gressen said, his tone not inviting any form of question. "Unlike certain other families, such as the Bael and their Power of Destruction, where the power is genetic and passed down through the bloodline, the Asmodai concentrate each generation's power and hand that down to the Heir. While multiple children can be born with it, only the Heir, the one who becomes the Head, can actually wield the full power that our family is known for. Generation after generation, Parent to Child, regardless of gender, the power is accumulated and stored and added to each new Heir.
"This is the ultimate secret of our family," The elder devil continued, "This is how we remain and grow more powerful every generation. Each of the Heads literally carries all the power of their predecessors. And each adds their own to it when they pass it on."
Naruto eyed the glowing ball of golden light warily. The thing was nearly the size of his head! Just how many other heads had there been?! How much power was concentrated into that one ball? In fact, it seemed as though Gressen had stopped for a moment, and Naruto seized the opportunity.
"And what is it?"
Gressen smiled grimly, "It has been called many things over the millennia, God's Word, The Truth, and many other things that are quite simply incorrect. The true magic of my family, our family, is the Power of Domination."
The blonde raised an eyebrow at that, "Domination?"
"Yes," a firm nod accompanied this simple statement. "Though it is not as all-encompassing as it may sound," Gressen admitted grudgingly. "Each of us can learn to dominate one particular facet, just a single area. For example, I became known for my ability to 'Dominate Death'."
Naruto's other brow flew to join the first, he could clearly hear the quotations around it, but still… "Wha-?"
Gressen chuckled, "It is the primary reason I am still alive, Naruto. I 'Dominated' the spectre of Death that hung over me and made a deal to give me just enough time to get you ready for this. I will most likely not live to see the morrow's dawn."
The boy took a few calming breaths, then said, "Okay. you say that each one is … different? Like how?"
His new father nodded in satisfaction, it was a fair question. "Each of us gains Domination over a particular facet of the world at large. My own predecessor, my mother if you're curious, held the power to 'Dominate Blood'. Which for her meant that she could control anyone of her own bloodline. Very useful at the time as she had to ram her ascension to Family Head down some very unwilling throats."
Naruto grinned, "Sounds like a woman I would have liked." Then his face went serious again, "Is there anyway to guess what I'm likely to get?"
Gressen shook his head a little, "I'm sorry, Son. The Power itself seems to determine what you most need. I was involved in a few wars, so being able to technically force Death away from my allies was beyond price."
"It didn't always work the way I thought it would though," the old man cautioned. "There were many friends I couldn't help more than to give them a chance to set a few affairs in order. The degree of injury was directly proportional to my ability. In my case, I'm not injured, I'm just old."
Naruto was about to ask something else, when Gressen coughed heavily and held up his free hand for silence. The blonde nodded, now was not the time.
"Most of what you'll need to learn about the history of this Power is in the library," Gressen said as soon as he had caught his breath. "Now take it, my son, and let no one ever stand against you! If they try, knock them down and continue over their cold corpse!"
Naruto nodded firmly, and reached out. Taking the large orb of power in his hand he felt something probing his mind, his heart, and even his soul. It wasn't invasive though, rather it felt like a new friend trying to get to know him. Without further pause, Naruto slowly began pushing the sphere into his own chest, and a feeling of warmth suffused him. His eyes closed to revel in the feeling, almost like a piece of him had been missing and was now returning to him.
When he was done, when the last of the glowing ball had disappeared, the circles on the floor darkened, and Gressen Asmodai fell to one side. The sound of the old devil's body hitting the floor brought Naruto out of his peaceful moment, and he rushed to his devil father's side. Quickly Naruto called for help, and Albedo came running.
Together the two of them got Gressen into bed, and sat on opposite sides. Naruto would admit that he hadn't known the old man for very long, barely a month, but he already felt like more of a father to him than the nebulous human man who had actually sired him. And losing that new father now, Naruto felt the loss keenly.
If only I'd had more time to know him…
He felt a small tickle-like sensation around his heart, but shrugged it off. Weird shit was always happening to him lately.
XxXxXxXx
The passing of Gressen Asmodai, the Momonga of the widely recognized Ainz Ooal Gown Military Company, and Head of the Asmodai Family of the 72 Pillars was heralded by an Underworld-wide wake. The entirety of the devil, demon, and many other races that formed the Underworld's community bent their heads in respect to the death of a man whose reputation reached even into the Heavens. However, despite the width of his fame, many were surprised when Heaven actually sent a representative to the 24 hour memorial time.
In point of fact, Heaven sent three representatives: Archangel Michael, Archangel Gabriel, and Archangel Uriel. Each were resplendent in the white robes that declared them to any with the slightest brain as three of God's most powerful and trusted people. Each set of robes trimmed in what was pretty much known as their individual colors; Michael's gold, Gabriel's silver, and Uriel's sky blue. They even had the decency to mute their natural Auras of Divine Grace so as to not cause the devils in their vicinity any undue problems.
At the end of the wake, when the time came for speeches of remembrance, the Four Maou, leaders of the devils, stood and each spoke. Sirzechs Lucifer gave a stirring story about his time working with Gressen in the war, Ajuka Beelzebub told of learning science at the deceased's hand, Serafall Leviathan spoke of how he gave her the confidence to even join the war and later to pick herself back up after it was over, and Falbium Asmodeus spoke of how much he had learned of strategy from him.
Following them came the three Angels, each with a different outlook on one of the few Elder Devils to gain Heaven's respect. Michael told of Gressen's unwavering determination even in the face of terrible odds (a mutter of 3 to 7 being not quite low enough). Uriel said little, other than a short tale of just how Gressen had earned his respect. And Gabriel, the only female angel that many of the devils could actually name, told of Gressen's utter conviction in making sure every soldier under his command came home.
It was during Gabriel's story that Naruto recalled something about her being the Angel of Death, the final escort of the dead to their resting place. He wasn't sure if that was quite true, but for the sake of his late adoptive father, he could hope that she had been the one to lead him to wherever he went. The long blonde locks of platinum gold, the large and soft blue eyes, and a body that put even Albedo and Serafall to shame... That was some very fine eye candy. Man, he'd tap that given even half a -
Damn teenage hormones!
When it was finally Naruto's turn, as Gressen's recognized Heir he had to speak, and Albedo had insisted that he do a kind of eulogy…
"As many of you know, I was found by my father barely more than a month ago," He started, " I'll admit that while I didn't know Lord Gressen for long, I'm certain I knew him well. Certainly I liked him a great deal better than the man who raised me, but what can you expect of a human who knows you aren't his?"
A few scattered chuckles met that statement. It wasn't really a secret that Naruto had been raised by humans, most found it more surprising how well he was fitting in with his new position. It threw enough of the Parliament for a loop that he managed to get his position as Gressen's heir through all the proper channels without issue.
"Like I said, I didn't know Lord Gressen Asmodai for long," Naruto continued, his voice strong, "But I feel as though I knew my father Gressen all my life. He lived as he felt was right for him, walking the way he talked you could say. It certainly showed in the way he took in so many after the wars, in how he comported himself in his daily life, and finally how he stoically looked Death in the eye and told it to take a hike until he felt I was ready to continue leading the Asmodai name."
He paused for a moment, idly noting that he had absolutely everyone's attention. "This is not a time of lamentation, this is a time of remembrance. I for one will always remember my father's strong will, and the convictions upon which he built his very way of life. The Underworld has lost a great man, the Heavens have lost a worthy opponent, but I? I have lost a father. Gressen Asmodai meant many things to many people, and while he will be missed, he will not be forgotten.
"And while I have a lost a Father, he left me a family in the members of his House and Peerage. My father is dead, but my brothers and sisters, and I myself, still live. We will continue his legacy, we will not allow ourselves to fall by the wayside, and we will never leave behind the Justice that our House has always stood for!" Naruto looked at the open coffin containing the body of of his deceased devil parent, and snapped a crisp military salute, followed shortly by every other man and woman who ever served alongside or against Gressen.
"So I say, Gressen 'Momonga' Asmodai, wherever your spirit has gone, you may rest in peace as your Will lives on!"
XxXxXxXx
After Gressen had been entombed in the Asmodai family crypt, Naruto found himself surrounded by the three Archangels along with the three male Maou. Thankfully he wasn't alone as Albedo, Cocytus and Rias found their way to his side as silent support. Though Cocytus could be described as intimidating under most circumstances, his posture of an obvious guard put the angels and Maou at relative ease.
Sirzechs swirled a bit of wine in a glass. He hated funerals, but the after parties for the remembrance of the deceased's life were always rather interesting. So many little nuances that never popped up in other conversations could be viewed in these rare times of shared humor. And he meant humor, because the stories that came out during these remembrances were inevitably some of the most hilarious events.
"I wonder, young Asmodai," Michael was saying, catching the others' attention, "Have you discovered your own particular brand of your family's magic yet? I find myself quite curious."
Naruto shook his head with a grin, "Not yet, I'm afraid, Michael-sama. The Power itself barely awoke a few days ago, so I haven't really had the time to try it and see what I have."
Gabriel giggled, a glass of orange juice in her hand. "Awoke? Come now, all of us here are aware of how the Asmodai magic is passed along."
The blonde boy grinned, "You may be, Gabriel-chan, but the others listening in are not." He indicated people beyond their group shamelessly leaning ear in their direction, "So to keep the family secret, I'm sticking with 'awoke'."
The blonde angel giggled again, "Oh? 'Chan' is it? You really were raised by the Japanese then? Your name is certainly Japanese enough. Though who would name their child after a ramen ingredient?"
Naruto shrugged a little, "Eh, close enough. And it's 'Maelstrom' not 'fishcake'."
Uriel raised a brow, then gave his own grin. " 'Close enough'? Then you were raised in another world that has Japanese roots?"
The teen laughed, "As expected of you, Uriel-sama. Got it right on the first try. Indeed, the world I was raised in has roots and traditions very similar to that of this 'Japan' I have heard about."
Uriel smiled with a twinkle in his eye, "Perhaps you'd care to go into some detail at a later time? I'm always interested in learning about other worlds."
Naruto shrugged again, "I don't see why not. Just because I can't go back, it doesn't mean I can't tell you about it. Make an appointment with Albedo, and be sure to leave a fair amount of time. There's a lot of information."
Uriel raised an eyebrow, "And why would you be unable to go back?"
The teen blonde grimaced, "It's all connected. I'll just say it again, make an appointment."(1)
"I'll do that."
"I wasn't aware that you'd started your peerage already, Naruto-dono," Falbium said, interrupting the flow of the angels. "Took in Albedo and Cocytus did you? And the young heiress of Gremory? Quite the collection start."
Naruto shook his head and gestured to Albedo, who spoke up. "I'm afraid you're mistaken, Falbium-sama. Neither myself nor Cocytus have joined Naruto-sama's peerage."
"Oh?" The Maou asked lightly, "Then young Rias is his Queen?"
"I'm Naruto-sama's Bishop." Rias said proudly, her hands going to her hips and her head tilting imperiously.
"That's unusual," Ajuka quipped, "Normally the first Piece used is the Queen."
Naruto grinned, "I never was a fan of following the grain. Though I'll admit to making certain exceptions."
"What about the situation with the Gremory and Phenex?" Uriel asked. Almost everyone knew about the standing contract between the two devil families, and he was curious as to how Naruto had resolved it enough to take the girl in.
"Eh, I have an appointment with Lord Phenex next week to discuss that very topic. I'll deal with it then." Another shrug, "I'll probably have to step on more than a few toes in the process though."
With a round of chuckles the talks moved onto the appropriate stories to remember Gressen, and Naruto found himself enthralled by them. He knew Gressen had done a lot, but now he was finally getting to hear about it.
XxXxXxXx
The day following Gressen's funeral found Naruto in a reinforced practice room, designed specifically for the use of the Asmodai Power of Domination. He couldn't help but wonder why other brands of magic or physical exercises couldn't also be done in there, but figured it had to do with the odd markings all over the walls, floor, and ceiling. Hell, they even ran over the inside of the door!
… Which made perfect sense in hindsight, as it didn't make for a safe practice room if the power could just get out through the door.
Naruto was sweating heavily, having failed drastically to access the power Gressen had given him. It wasn't as if he couldn't feel it, more like it was playing with him, trying to gauge his reaction to being denied. It was, putting it lightly, infuriating!
Dropping heavily into a cross-legged position, Naruto growled in frustration. He didn't understand, it was just power, wasn't it? It couldn't really have a will of its own!
… Could it?
In desperation he figured trying to talk with it couldn't hurt. He focused on the power he could feel within him, and thought hard at it.
I don't have time to be playing! I don't have enough time to learn everything I need! I just don't have TIME! I need what you can give me, and I need it now! Not tomorrow, not next week, now!
He could feel something resembling startlement come from the power, swiftly followed by curiosity. Then, as if to mock him, he swore it responded to him in a child-like innocence.
Time? Then give you Time! Give you all of Time! Time will be yours to play with, then you can play with us!
Naruto blinked. Talking to it had worked?! Wait, what did it mean?
What do you mean, 'give me Time'?
We give you Time to rule, then you play with us! We will allow you to Dominate Time!
Dominate Time?
Yes! Then you play with us!
Naruto could feel a headache forming. Was this how Iruka-sensei felt all those years ago? If so, he owed the man a serious apology if they ever met again.
Play?
Yes! Play! You use power! Using the Power we give you means you use us, and that is how we play!
He felt his eyebrow twitching. So … to use his Power he had to 'play' with it? Groaning, he rubbed his temples, the headache now fully formed. Fuck an apology, he owed Iruka-sensei a keg of ale!
Then he asked possibly the most important question.
So how do I play with you?
He felt the power's joy.
We show you!
XxXxXxXx
"Sales of your 'Icha Icha'(2) books are up almost 90%!" An enthusiastic man in a grey suit said from behind a desk. "The public loves them! They're especially popular among young couples and newlyweds who have written in saying that their love lives are even better now since reading even just one! The publishing industry is clamoring for more! Even the ones overseas that we're getting to translate want to get in on the ground floor of this series!"
Naruto stifled a groan, his headache from the day before returning with a vengeance. He had finally gotten his Power to 'play' with him, and had discovered that it spoke literally. He'd developed the ability to "Dominate Time" by causing it to stop within a certain area or focused on a single person. There were a couple huge downsides, though, the most notable being the enormous drain on his reserves the longer he held it active. But it was a point like this that he wished he could speed things up…
… Wait, why couldn't he? It fell in the realm of Time, so he should be able to do it, right?
… Hm, better not test that theory right now. The human might get suspicious if his speech ended too quickly.
Naruto noticed the man looking at him expectantly. Oh, he was already done. He cleared his throat to cover up that he hadn't really been paying attention.
"Ah, I'll think about it," Naruto said, using a simple blanket term to cover himself. "How about the release forms? They are being signed with each single book, right? I don't need anyone coming after me for some kind of idea that these books are merely 'demeaning women'."
Release forms. Yeah right. They were, in actuality, a convoluted run-around that acted as a pre-contract. Considering none of the books had been returned yet, or given away to Used Bookstores, the hidden contracts remained valid and Naruto collected energy from the human's lustful desires whenever another book was purchased.
"Ah, yes, I meant to talk to you about that," the publisher looked nervous, "Are they really necessary? I mean, everyone loves your work, even if you are going under another name, why would you need such a thing?"
Naruto waved his hand in the air and smiled disarmingly, "Don't worry about it, Mister Publisher. It's just my paranoia acting up, and making me protect myself from any potential fallout. It is a fickle business, after all."
Mr Publisher chuckled. "Alright, but are you sure you need them for that first book of yours? The Tale of a Gutsy Ninja is a Bestseller you know? And there isn't really anything offensive in it…"
Another wave of Naruto's hand met the question. "Ah, don't mind it, please. That one's more of a disclaimer, letting people know I'm not collecting the money for that one."
The man blinked in surprise. "You're not? Then where's the money for those sales going?"
Naruto chuckled, "Straight into World Relief projects. It was my Godfather's dream to help bring peace to the world, so I figured that putting the profits from his first work to that goal would be appropriate."
The man smiled, "How magnanimous of him. I take it he was an idealist?"
"Of a sort," Naruto admitted, "But by the time he had finished the first book, he'd become somewhat … resigned, I guess is the best term, to what he perceived as humanity's foolishness."
"Humanity's foolishness?"
"All the wars, fighting over things that really won't last, religion, the almost intrinsic need to be seen as 'better' or more 'successful' than others, being unwilling to help others simply because they don't look right or aren't what we want them to be." Naruto shrugged, "It's all fairly stupid if you think about it. Yet humanity persists with these and more."
Mr Publisher looked more than a little uncomfortable at the topic, and tugged at his collar. "Ah, yes, I see your point. Moving along, I assume you're here to submit the next installment?"
Naruto smiled, pulling a volume from an inside pocket of his own dark blue suit. Jiraiya would be so proud that his work was such a popular item in this world. Naruto just dreaded the time when he'd probably be forced into writing the next book just to keep things rolling.
XxXxXxXx
"Naruto-sama, how exactly do you plan to fill your peerage if you don't look for suitable members?" Albedo asked as they were finishing up one of his lessons in magic.
He grinned in response, "I'm taking a leaf out of Father's book. You remember of course how he sent the Malachite sisters to find the best possible heir they could?"
Albedo nodded, of course she remembered. What did that have to do with anything though?
"Well I've set Yugao, Konan, and Kurama to watching through a kind of viewing portal for appropriate members that can be found in other worlds."
"Oh." She blinked in shock. Why hadn't any other devil thought of doing this before? When she asked this question, Naruto chuckled.
"Probably because we don't belong there, those other worlds reject us after a while," He explained. "It is only because of the magic of this world, the 'Rules' so to speak, that I can stay here. Since Father made me his son through a ritual, which gave me a kind of citizenship here, I won't be rejected now. But in those other worlds, I would be a transient visitor at best, and overtly interfering is likely to piss off the Rules there. Those Rules then force us out of that other realm and back to where we belong."
"But no such problem exists with the nearby human world!" She protested.
He nodded, "Yeah, that's because it is bound up in the same 'Realm' and 'Rules' as this Underworld. So there is no rejection."
Albedo had swirls in her eyes as she tried to understand, and failed. This caused Naruto to chuckle and pat her head lightly, which elicited a small blush from her.
He was her new Master, and Albedo was already seeing him in that light. Some of the others, most notably Shalltear, were going to take more time to get used to him, but Albedo would do her duty, such as she saw it.
"Don't worry your pretty little head about it, Albedo," Naruto smiled widely at her, forcing his eyes closed. "It's complicated. Just trust me when I say that I doubt heavily that I would be able to visit any particular world more than once for a short period."
"Yes, Naruto-sama."
XxXxXxXx
"Sit around and look badass, he said." Kurama grumbled as he watched images of different worlds fly across the pane of a floating mirror. "Maybe scare the shit out of some people, he said. Hah! Then why am I doing this?"
"Oh be quiet, Kurama," Yugao stated irritatedly, "I don't really want to do this either, but this belly of mine is starting to get in my way. It's not supposed to be this big yet! I'm barely more than two months along!"
Konan snickered from her position beside the purplette, "Hey, I'm almost twice as big as you are, and you don't hear me complaining! At least we're doing something, instead of just being lazy."
"Do either of you actually know how he's got his 'fingers' in so many worlds?" Yugao asked, changing the topic, the air quotes easily heard.
Kurama nodded with a grin, the sight of his sharp teeth sending a shiver up the women's spines. "He sealed each of his Evil Pieces into individual summoning fliers, each one set to activate only under certain conditions, and then threw them out into a dimension-crossing spell. The spell itself was set to randomize the location for each of the summon pacts, so there isn't likely to be any overlap."
The two women nodded, both with looks of understanding. It was basically Naruto doing something rash and foolish again, sending out uncontrolled random deals. At least each of them was sent to a different world, that way there was no possibility of two former enemies being brought in as his Peerage members.
Kurama's eyes lit up in glee, "Oh, it seems we have our first one."
"Kurama, just what are the conditions that he set those fliers for?" Yugao asked as her attention was captured by the image in the mirror zeroing in on one particular window.
Kurama's grin darkened with a hint of evil respect, "Death and Despair." (3)
XxXxXxXx
She didn't understand what was going, or why it was happening. She had served faithfully, hadn't she? She had fought with all she had, and had just found the strength to fight on when her Lord had appeared in front of her and almost cut her in half, leaving her to fall to the ground from several hundred feet in the air.
Her mind flashed through what she could remember of her life as she lay upon concrete. Her first real memory being that of a ravenous hunger. A hunger for souls, preferably the souls of the still-living. A hunger that she had sated at every turn, the souls devoured giving her more power with each one she ate. Then came a moment when her hunger abated, allowing her to think clearly for the first time, and she wondered just what the point of it all was. Sure, eating the souls of those human creatures gave her power, but why did she crave it? Why get all that power, if there was nothing to do with it? And really, there wasn't anything she actually wanted to accomplish. She was just gaining strength and power for the sake of satisfying the hunger within her.
The memories unfolded further, her body changing again and again, each time becoming more powerful, more… individualized. She wasn't anyone else, she was herself. She was unique.
She was alone.
In that moment she had a new hunger awaken within her: a hunger for companionship. That hunger evolved into a desire to be seen for herself, as a unique entity. She now craved not just the concept of company, but of recognition.
Over the span of several years, at least as the humans viewed time, she gathered to her side three others. Each of them as unique as she was, but not as powerful. Their strength was more ephemeral, and in a world where the strongest survived by eating the flesh of the weak, they were pretty much bait for anyone on her level.
The oddest thing in her mind was that they were each female and hated anything that was male with a passion.
But by whatever god may exist, they were annoying! Always squabbling over the slightest thing. Only ever agreeing when she broke them apart. However, they were her responsibility, her "friends"... her family.
She vowed to protect them. They would be her reason for becoming stronger, for getting more powerful. She would sacrifice everything for them.
Then came that arrogant asshole. She had driven him off once before, but he apparently hadn't taken the hint. But this time something was strange, he was stronger than he should have been able to get in such a short time. It was confusing, and the surprise of it got the best of her.
He beat her. He had her dead to rights, on her knees, ready for the finishing blow. A blow that never came.
HE had saved her from the bastard. HE blasted the beast into oblivion. HE offered her his hand, and even more power, a power that she could use to make sure something like this never happened again.
She took it, and followed him, swearing her loyalty and service. She gained power, and HE gave power even to her family, and they continued to follow her. She was their leader, their "mother". They remained her responsibility.
She was content. She gained more power over the following years, and rose among the ranks of HIS servants to the third spot. She stood just three places down from him.
HE revealed plans to go to war, to fight against an injustice that should have been solved long before. And she was the first to agree. She had sworn to serve HIM and if this was what he wanted, then she would gladly lead the charge.
But HE had other plans for her and the others that stood in the top three with her. They, along with HIM and a couple others, would act as a diversion to draw out the most powerful enemies. They would destroy the enemy generals, then continue on to correct the injustice of their world.
The plan had gone perfectly. The enemy indeed sent their strongest to do battle. And though she was forced to watch her family fall to the blade of the lead enemy general, she found herself in battle with a white-haired youth. They both used water as their weapon, they both manipulated the molecules of the air to form their attacks. It was a stalemate.
Then the boy did something she didn't think possible. He manipulated the very weather! He changed the once sunny day into an overcast storm cloud that unleased small snow particles. But this wasn't normal snow, no. Wherever it touched it transformed into flowers of ice. These crystals built quickly, and many of them formed upon her own body, and eventually she was trapped within a giant ice crystal made of many tiny flowers.
She couldn't breathe. She couldn't move even the smallest of muscles. She was frozen.
But her Lord was still out there! HE still needed her! She had failed her family, but she could not fail HIM! She dug deep within herself, and found, to her great surprise, a power of her own sleeping.
She grasped it. She forced it to awaken. And she was once again reborn.
Her prison of ice shattered. She stood on air proudly in her new body. She flashed to the side of her Lord.
Then blinding pain, both physical and emotional. HE stared at her with contempt, a sneer that wounded her heart. HIS sword was covered in her blood, acheived when he almost bifurcated her. HIS voice breaking her heart with his final words as she fell.
"I have no need for a failed pawn to return. You should have just stayed dead within your prison."
Now she lay bleeding out, her heart in more pain than she thought she could bear. The physical wound didn't even hurt in comparison. Her Lord, her Savior, had thrown her out with the trash.
It made no sense! She had found this power within her for HIS sake! All so she could still serve and protect HIM! Why was HE throwing away her loyalty, all her years of service? Did it all mean nothing to HIM?
Finally she felt her strength eb. Her eyes closed. A single tear fell from beneath her eyelid. Her heart screamed within her, the loneliness and betrayal taking one last turn. Her lips parted, and a soundless whisper came from between them.
"Someone, save me."
In that instant a flash of golden light enveloped her, and Time stood still. Her eyes snapped open, her pain all but forgotten in surprise. Before her stood a young man, a blonde boy who appeared to be in his mid-teens as humans reckoned things. He had a small sad smile, and his silver-blue eyes held an understanding so deep her heart instinctively knew he felt her pain.
"Well, before I get to anything else, I believe introductions are in order." He sketched a courtly bow, his gaze never leaving hers. "My name is Naruto Asmodai. I have come in response to your request for someone to save you."
She blinked, but her stare refused to leave the view of his eyes. Eyes that revealed a great deal of intimate knowledge of the feelings of Pain, Heartbreak, and Betrayal. Emotions that currently coursed strongly within her breast. The fact that he knew them so well, was what probably persuaded her to speak.
Finally after what felt like hours, but was only a few moments, she found her voice. A sweet, soft sounding voice that belied the strength of the woman who possessed it.
"Tier Harribel. Tres Espada."
"Ah, Tier-san, may I call you Tier-san?" He received a nod and continued, "I'll admit that I'm rather new at this whole 'saving people' thing. Especially the near-dead, like yourself. But I suppose I should really ask what you are willing to give up in return?"
Tier blinked again. This was an unusual boy. He had no doubt that he could save her. Save her from death, and maybe more than death. She firmed her resolve, her expression showing her conviction.
"Everything."
Naruto rubbed his chin, "Everything, you say. Are you sure? That everything includes not only giving up your world, your body, or your very soul, ya know? This is quite literally a deal with a Devil."
Tier's expression didn't so much as twitch. "Yes. I will give you everything I have. Everything I am. Under one condition."
The boy raised his eyebrow. "A condition, huh? And just what do you want, besides not dying?"
"I can see by your eyes, you know the pain I feel right now. You know it well," he didn't give any acknowledgement, but she saw him tense slightly. Obviously this was a sensitive subject, but she pushed on, "I want your sworn oath. I do not wish to feel like this again. If you save me, I will give you my all and everything. In return, you swear to never betray me like HIM."
Naruto stood for a few moments, his eyes closed in thought. Or so she believed. When his eyes opened again, Tier saw his answer in those expressive orbs.
He held out a hand to her, in it was a transparent red object that looked like a female warrior. It was a fitting image in her mid. "Very well, Tier Harribel, you have my word. Our Contract is formed. You will become my Queen, my Second-in-Command, serving me with everything you have, and in return I swear to never betray you. You will stand by my side, in the most important role, and make certain that I keep my promise."
Without taking her gaze from his, Tier reached out and grasped the item in a tight fist, not even taking into account that she could move again. A red light glowed faintly from between her fingers, and she felt the Piece become part of her. She felt the power, the strength, the renewal of her body as the open wound in her gut closed. She could feel it changing her, the hole in her lower abdomen vanishing(4) as she was remade from a Hollow into whatever this item was turning her into. A devil, she supposed, as that was what Naruto had called himself earlier.
But more than all of that, Tier felt herself connect to someone else. She could now feel Naruto in a way that she had never experienced before. Her heart felt his, felt his emotions, one incredibly strong that she didn't recognize, and she felt herself cling to that one incredibly strong feeling. She was no longer hungry for souls or power, no longer hungry for a reason to exist. This young man would be her reason, her heart's support. She was full now, full of his emotions, his very presence.
And she felt no regret. Her former lord had thrown her away, tarnishing any attachments that may have remained. Her new Lord, her King, she could feel it now. This young man would not betray her, he would never forsake her.
Tier buried her face into his chest and cried. She cried tears of relief. Tears of joy and fulfilment.
She would never be alone again. This man would forever be with her. He would never allow her to feel the pain of loneliness again.
And in that moment, Tier vowed to herself. She would never let him feel alone either. Whatever he asked of her, she would do with a glad heart. In that moment she promised to forever be his.
Naruto Asmodai's Queen, Tier Harribel.
XxXxXxXx - Ending Notes
Why can't Naruto go back to his world? This will be explained later, but it's a major point so don't worry, I'll get to it in time.
Icha Icha in the DxD universe? Let's face it people, we are, at heart, a lustful and lecherous race. Could many of you honestly say that you wouldn't be tempted to buy at least one of them if they really existed?
For those who are wondering, the "Death and Despair" triggers mean the fliers will activate when a potential member is either dying or in such a great amount of despair that they might as well be dying. In other words: I'm basically going to be taking people who don't really have much of a connection to their own worlds after a certain point. Not always, but it will be a recurring theme.
Alright, according to Tier's official wiki page, her Hollow Hole is in her lower abdomen where her womb is supposed to be. It is simply that in this case, when I speak of the hole in her, I mean the open slash wound as well. … Now won't that be a shock to her later?
Tier Harribel as Queen! Why? Because I felt she fit that position better than damn near anyone else I could think of. At least without stealing from Sirzechs, and I didn't feel like doing that. So Naruto's Peerage stands thus:
Queen- Tier Harribel
Bishop- Rias Gremory
Well that's it for this chapter! See you with the next one for the first Knight!
~Dreaming of the Phoenix~