FULL CIRCLE
I believe I have your attention now. Well listen, I am someone who can take the shape of anything, be anywhere at any moment, you wouldn't know when I would be beside you, behind you, or right in front of you.
All I need is valuable information, for some reason your memories don't go deep. Must be because I cannot control these powers yet; the merging has inhibited my control huh. Well, you will briefed later, for now sleep; your purpose in my new world will come soon enough.
…
Brown eyes slowly opened, taking in every ray of light. Slowly and reluctantly, she uncovered her face. She blinked, closed her eyes and blinked again. Streaks of sunlight penetrated the window, aiming to blind her. From the sun's position and from the feeling from her body, she knew that she had slept for long.
Sitting up, a few light taps upon the pane made her turn to the window. It had begun to snow again. She watched sleepily the flakes, silver crystals that slowly made their way down.
A bang of her purple hair blocked her eyesight slightly and she used her right hand to remove the obstruction. Deep in her eyes as she stared to the falling snow, was a deep longing that was almost indiscernible.
How long had it been? Weeks, a month?
Since that day; the day the day the sky opened. That moment, changed her life in a way she never saw coming, and that was an even surprising thing to factor. She always prided herself in being one step ahead of everything, making plans as well as potential backups to things that could pose a threat to her.
Even after Grimoire Heart, when she joined Crime Sorciere, she was aware of everything; things that could benefit her, as well as things that could threaten her. Nothing however could prepare or prevent her from that day. The day she had made up her mind to save the world, by reversing time.
She had made her peace; that it was the end for her as a mage. She had given her life to the benefit of the world, and the feeling was incredible. It caused her heart to beat in a way it hadn't before; and a great deal of satisfaction graced her mind. She had done it all of her own volition; even to the end, she was in control.
That was before he came.
She couldn't remember his face anymore; woken up by dreams from that day, the day he turned back time on her body, it was ironic, doing something she could only dream of. On that day, he showed her his might in just one move, and it was the most frightening thing she had ever seen. Grimoire Heart, Zeref, and even the dragons couldn't compare. Because what she felt that day, she never wanted to ever feel that again.
Despite the fear, or the apprehension that graced her; she couldn't help that part of herself, the curious part of her that wondered who he was. Surely he was in Earthland, and he knew of her. The only thing that made her know of him were the dreams of him, dreams that didn't do anything to help her situation.
She needed to find him.
She sighed rubbing the right side of her scalp and moved to the door, twisting the handle and opening it. She didn't flinch at the sudden drop of temperature that graced her body, already used to it. She looked up to the mountains which were made of rigid rock and snow, the tallest of them spearing the clouds above it.
From the top of the mountains, the cold wind came down, wrapping around her. And instead of her body shivering in response, she smiled, remembering her home.
Her mother passed through her mind, and the moment was as peaceful as she could be. After a couple of minutes, she moved back into the home, about to prepare for the day.
…
Ultear Milkovich was seen in a restaurant in a town beneath the mountains. The council had pardoned her of her previous crimes which was due to the sacrifice she had paid, and so, she knew she was free to walk the world. Openly, without regrets.
That was something she enjoyed surprisingly. In comparison to her previous life when she had to be careful, looking over her shoulder for threats, scheming to destroy, she was free. And despite the fact that she had enemies, she knew she could handle herself.
"The usual?" The waiter, an old man at the stand, asked. He looked to be in his early eighties, still able to move around. He was known as 'young man Shinzu', mostly due to the fact he tended to tell stories of when he was still young, mostly when he was a licensed mage. If he still was, he didn't bother to show it.
Ultear surmised that he was retired, leaving the bustling activities of magic to the upcoming generation. He knew Ultear from when she was a child, and so she was always welcome, despite everything.
"Yes." She replied, and Shinzu gave a grin before yelling out.
"Sayomi! Ul-chan's dish, quickly!"
"Sure thing gramps!" His grand-daughter, Sayomi spoke from the kitchen. Ultear let out a wistful smile at the thought of her mother, wondering how everything would have been if she was alive.
"It's been a while since I've seen such a smile from your face." Shinzu said laughing a bit. "What's the secret?"
Ultear just shook her head in the negative. "It's nothing, just thinking."
"You're still young you know, Ul-chan," the man said with a sigh, "People your age need not overthink things."
Ultear let out a resigned chuckle, not wanting to bring up the fact that she was once old, however weird it sounded.
"I guess."
He smiled. "There we go. You know, when I was a mage back then in Crocus, wait… have I told you of my days back then?"
"It's come up once or twice."
Shinzu laughed. "Forgive me, I've been told I repeat myself time and again. Heh, this old age sure does suck."
"But it's much easier, right?"
"Not with my sore bones." Shinzu pointed out, letting out a groan, "what I would give to be young again."
"Well…" Ultear trailed off, knowing one person who probably had the ability to do that. Now that she thought of it, was there a chance that he was immortal?
"You're trailing off again."
Ultear blinked at Shinzu's voice as Sayomi emerged with her food. "One Ultear special coming up!"
"Thank you." Ultear said, nodding in gratitude with a smile.
She smiled. "Anytime."
"Hey old man, we hungry over here!" A man yelled from a corner of a room causing Shinzu's left eyebrow to twitch.
"Why don't you come and get your food brat, rather than waiting over there for it! Do you think I'm as young as before?!"
The man grimaced as his friends and some customers let out amused chuckles at his expense. This was nothing new, they mostly came to his establishment to see him get riled up, and it was always entertaining. Call it business.
"Heh, kids nowadays." Shinzu let out a scowl looking to the table that drew his attention. "Listen here you brat, when I was a mage back then in Crocus…"
Ultear just looked dryly at him, like he didn't remember the discussion they just had. She just tuned him out and focused on her meal while Shinzu told his young mage story for possibly the hundredth time. From the chuckles from the customers, it certainly wasn't getting old.
…
"Are you sure you should be out here, you have quite the number of customers." Ultear asked, noting Shinzu walking out from the back door and joining her to enjoy the cool morning air.
"I needed a break, this old bones aren't what they used to be." Shinzu said, sitting on a bench right beside her and letting out a sigh. He reached for a pipe deep in his cloths and lighted it. Sucking and letting out slight puffs of smoke, he let out a deep exhale. "The old stuff always works."
Ultear smiled at him and looked to the tallest mountain, Shinzu catching her gaze.
"You wanna hear something strange about that mountain?" Shinzu asked, drawing Ultear's attention.
"Strange?"
He let out a puff of smoke. "They say a dragon was frozen to death right there."
Ultear blinked, not hearing of this. "A dragon."
"Ridiculous right?" he laughed. "I'm pretty sure someone just mentioned it as an afterthought and it took root, and well, you know the world we live in; tell a rumor so juicy and the world makes it a reality."
"There isn't a dragon is there."
"Of course there isn't. I went there myself."
Ultear arched an eyebrow in disbelief. "To the top?"
"Where else?" Shinzu laughed. "Was highly disappointed y'see."
Ultear just chuckled and shook her head in wonder.
Shinzu's laugh reduced to a smirk. "But I was happy; grateful even."
"Why did you go up there?"
"Because I wanted to." He said, "And despite the fact that it was highly dangerous, and I'm not trained to withstand the weather like you and Ur-chan, I still went, because I wanted to see if it was true."
"If it was true, you might have not been standing here."
"Need I mentioned I didn't really think things fully back then?" Shinzu said, "I was young, the world was right in front of me, but still, had it been that I didn't go, I'm pretty sure, it would still be bothering me to this moment."
Ultear looked to him. "Did you tell them then, that there wasn't a dragon?"
"Need to keep the mystery, Ultear. We don't have much mages in this town of ours, and so we feel detached from the rest of the world. That story," Shinzu looked with a smile to the mountain top, "that story makes the mysticism of the world felt in this place."
Ultear became silent musing on his words and got the message he was trying to send.
"You think I should go and look for him."
"You need answers Ul-chan," Shinzu let out a sigh, "And I'm pretty sure you are safe, considering he didn't harm you; he helped you. And despite the fact that he landed quite eventfully, I believe there is more to it. But that is not my story." He smiled at her, "It's your story, and I'm sure, it will help you discover who you are."
Ultear looked to him in thought, taking in his words.
"Just like I did with the dragon on the mountain top."
Ultear looked determined and nodded her head. "I'll always be grateful, old man."
"Heh, anything for my god-daughter." Shinzu laughed before blinking, "Ah, I must get in, everything must be in order, right?"
Ultear nodded and Shinzu placed a palm on her head. "Be sure to tell me how it goes, I know I need to hear of it."
"I will."
Ultear was still seen on the bench as Shinzu went inside the building, through the back door.
…
Minutes turned to hours, which turned to days, and Ultear was seen walking through a town.
She tried to figure out a way to track him down, but she didn't figure something substantial; every lead turned to a dead end, and it seemed like she wasn't going to be able to find him. She wanted to give up, and just go back home, living her life peacefully as she had.
But it kept nagging at her, that this was a thread she needed to close, this was something she had to do. And Shinzu's words made her see how important it was. And so, she forged ahead.
Even if it took weeks, even if it took months, she was going to find him. And so her fruitless searches continued, trying to figure out how someone as powerful as him managed to hide from the world. Frustration was again creeping in…
Until it happened.
She was passing through a store, when her eyes caught the edges of a book. Being drawn to it, she could only look in wonder at the pit in her stomach, what was happening to her.
The thing was, she was confused as to what was happening, why she was drawn to the booklet, until she caught the cover page of the magazine. It was the Weekly Sorcerer, and on the cover was none other than Uzumaki Naruto, his picture seen with the headline, 'New Guild Master in town; begins by saving Alverton!' by Jason.
His picture stirred something in her, and she trembled as she reached out for it. Her brain began to pulse, trying to fit his face in that silhouette that spoke to her, and to her shock, it fit perfectly.
Looking at the smile on his face it was then she remembered their second meeting.
"What are you going to do with me?" she asked looking forward at Naruto who replied simply.
"Let you go."
She blinked. "W…What?"
Naruto grinned a bit, scratching the back of his head. "Things are a little complicated for me, and it may take a moment to find my place here. It would be nice if someone just knew I existed y'know."
"I don't follow."
"You are someone that has seen the darkness of this world and as worked very hard to not be consumed by it. Those are the strongest friends you could meet here, in this world."
Ultear looked at Naruto in contemplation as he continued. "You are trying to find your place in Earthland, away from the darkness you were enshrouded by when you joined Grimoire Heart."
Ultear's eyes widened to which Naruto smiled in a grim thought. "I've been on the tipping edge there myself. Consumed by so much hate and anger, but still, I managed to find myself."
He looked to her. "I believe you can do that, and while I can wipe the memories of us ever meeting, I wouldn't want to do that. I need at least one person who could understand me. But then again, I need you to make the choice yourself, and you might agree to stay due to fright, something I don't need right now."
"Why do you think that could be me?"
Naruto smiled knowingly. "A gut feeling, and I'm rarely wrong in those, but then again, I might be wrong, and it is too early to be making mistakes."
Ultear looked puzzled. "So, you are letting me go."
"Yea… but, I can't let the information of who I am specifically, run around like that. I'm sorry in advance."
"What are you… doing?" Before Ultear knew, she was back in unconsciousness.
Did he wipe it off, or bury the memory deep in the recesses of her mind, in case she needed to find him? She looked in stunned silence to the picture.
"Who the hell are you, Uzumaki Naruto?"
…
Naruto looked to her in the guild master's office of the Guardian's Haven. "That's quite a story."
"What are you doing exactly in our world?" Ultear asked, noting Naruto's smile.
"What do you think?"
"I…" Ultear trailed off, "…I don't know what to think."
"I do not wish harm upon Earthland. I just… want to find my place, just like you." Naruto admitted.
"What exactly does that mean?"
"I never intended to come here. I was in a battle in my world with a man, a very dangerous man; and our attacks, caused a split in the space barrier, and we found ourselves here."
Naruto smiled, sending a look to the door before looking back at her. "I have made mistakes, horrible mistakes, and there is nothing I can do to reverse it, but I can try to do something, anything to help this world."
Ultear looked to him. "You wanted me to find you."
"I did."
"Because you wanted a guild member?"
"Because I wanted a friend. I never intended for that at that time; I just wanted people who saw me for who I was, not who I unfortunately showed them. I was not in control, my mind was split, broken, and I did something I can never take back. But if I can show them, that I am Uzumaki Naruto, I'll be happy."
"If they still want your head then?"
"They might as well come and try to take it." Naruto smirked. I put up one hell of a defense."
Ultear looked to him in thought, before letting out a smile. "A Guardian's Haven huh, how… appropriate."
Naruto just smiled, letting out a brief chuckle. "Yeah."
…
"Were you satisfied with what you heard?"
Naruto asked Arthur who looked to him, an uncertain expression on his face.
"I had a feeling." He began, "I had a feeling that you were involved, that you were the man who came from the sky."
"And what did you think you would do, once you confirmed those thoughts?"
"I didn't know." He admitted. "I spent time with you; I got to know you, and despite the fact that all this might be fake, that you are just a façade for some dark demon that lies underneath," Naruto smiled at the statement. "I can't help but feel that it is all real, that you aren't the person that killed them."
"Are you okay with that?" Naruto asked, "Knowing that I am the person responsible for it all; your pain, and your suffering, everything that caused your life to fall in shambles." Arthur let out a labored exhale. "Are you really sure, that you okay with that?" Naruto asked, not knowing what to expect. He could understand if Arthur had tried to fight him at this point, he could understand if the mage in front of him bared his teeth in anger, threatening to destroy all he had built.
He could understand clearly.
"Remember when you taught me how to meditate?" Arthur said smiling at the day before. "You made me find peace within that troubled mind of mine. And believe it or not," Arthur let out a relieved sigh, "I did."
Naruto looked to him in thought.
"I know you where the cause of my current problems, and for a while I wanted to find you and kill you. I wanted to use that rage that had been built up within me to destroy you."
Arthur shook his head. "I didn't even recognize myself anymore. The way I was twisted, and the way Tartaros took advantage of that," He clenched his fist, "I hated myself, and I still hate that version of myself. That was not who she fell in love with; that was not who my daughter looked up to every morning, that wasn't me."
Arthur looked to him in sincere gratitude, "You brought me back from the lowest point in my life, you brought me back from that, and for doing that, instead of killing me when you had the chance; or sending me off to jail, you decided to help me, and I'll be grateful to you for that. So yes, I am okay with that. I now know," Arthur smiled, "that you will be the most valuable friend I'll ever have."
Naruto let out a sigh as he closed his eyes.
"I forgive you." He heard Arthur say, and emotions kept bubbling within him. He looked to Arthur, placing his palm on his shoulder.
"Thank you."
It was then it happened.
The moment was silent, but an ominous feeling began to form at the pit of Naruto's stomach. Before he could realize what was happening, his eyes pulsed and the seal he was using to hide the Rinnegan inadvertently got released. Quickly lurching down in response, Arthur looked to him in concern.
"Are you okay Naruto?"
Naruto had a palm over his face in shock as his eyes pulsed, and at that moment, he saw what Erza saw, and a stunned expression overtook his features. "Oh no."
A path is being formed! Kurama's voice spoke in alarm. Get out of there now, Naruto!
"Hey Naruto." Arthur moved forward. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine!" Naruto yelled at him causing him to stay back and he body flickered away from the guild building to the back clearing. He leaned to a tree, heaving in and out as he felt a large portion of his chakra being sucked away.
What's happening Kurama?
I don't know… but you need to get her out of there now! Things aren't looking good for her.
"Erza." Naruto muttered, feeling his chakra replenish as quickly as it was drained. Remembering that he had placed a seal on Erza in case she was in trouble, Naruto flashed to her location and took her away from there.
…
He overlooked her, noting that she was unconscious; but it seemed like he could feel the burden he placed on her body; and he cursed himself even more. Had he made a mistake, did he mess up when he brought her back, if so, he had to fix things. In contemplation, he moved his right hand and exposed her left eye, stunned at the reveal that a Rinnegan was seen staring right at him.
What the hell happened?
I think you know who to contact. Kurama said in disdain. He never had seen this, and the only person who had researched intricately on the Rinnegan was right there with them. So it was quite annoying to depend on Uchiha Madara for information.
Naruto let out a sigh and moved into the guild building with Arthur waiting for him. He arched an eyebrow at Erza's unconscious form in his arms.
"What's wrong?"
"That's the problem." Naruto said. "I don't know. Where's Ultear?"
"She left to get some things in order." Arthur said, observing Erza. "That's Erza Scarlet of Fairy Tail. What is she doing with you?"
"If we do not handle this situation well," Naruto said looking at Erza, a grim thought emerging from his head. "She may end up being a fugitive." Naruto looked to Arthur who looked confused.
"You have a lot to catch up on."
…
A deep chuckle rippled through the air as Madara looked on in complete amusement. Naruto looked at him sternly.
"What's so funny?"
"Your current situation. You said you were going to fix things, I wonder how you intend to fix this one."
"You are going to tell me all you know about the Rinnegan."
"And why should I do that?" Madara arched an eyebrow. "She's a perfect weapon, originally you intended for her to be your deva path, do you really think something as powerful as that can be wiped clean without consequences?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You made her a Deva, then brought her back to life; heh, the only difference now, between yours and Nagato's paths were that his were dead, yours is alive, though even I have to admit, this is unprecedented." Madara laughed lightly, "Leave it to Uzumaki Naruto to put a spin on everything. Heh, you are certainly not a boring fellow."
"But I made sure to pull out the chakra rods-"
"Those were for only mobility," Madara corrected, "it's quite useless if the path is alive isn't it?"
Naruto clenched his fist as the Uchiha continued outstretching his hands.
"You wanted to bring her back, and I did help you with that." He smirked. "Everything is all on you now."
"How do I fix it?"
"Are you willing," Madara leaned in, a smirk seen on his face, "to kill her again?"
Naruto's eyes slightly widened and looked to Madara. "What are you saying?"
"What you heard. For you to fix her, you need to kill her; that was when the problem set in."
"You knew this would happen."
"I suspected it; wasn't it glorious!"
Naruto looked to her, "I will not kill her."
"I know, that's why I'm happy that is the only way; it gives you a chance to do what is necessary for once."
"Necessary?" Naruto looked incensed. "Necessary?!"
Madara narrowed his eyes at his countenance.
"You killed friends I cared about! You tore apart my family!" Naruto stepped forward and looked into Madara's eyes. "Where's the necessity in that?! You put us in a war no one was ready about all because you wanted to force your ideal of peace down our throats; tell me the fucking necessity of that."
"No one, is ever ready for war." Madara said simply, "But it's a necessary evil, I've come to accept that. They say you can take a horse to a river but you can't force him to drink the water. Well," Madara smirked, "In my infinite Tsukuyomi, it was possible."
"Why are you like this?" Naruto looked in reflection, "What made you like this?"
"You had the answer a while ago." Madara replied, "And it is what makes each and every one of us… War."
"I am not killing her."
"You know you can bring her back. But can her mind handle the trip again?" Madara asked in curiosity. "With the burden she already feels, I'm pretty sure she will be broken."
Naruto closed his eyes in thought as Madara continued.
"But even then, you know that if you don't fix this, she cannot go back to her family, she will forever be ostracized for being a fugitive, something deep down you know she does not deserve. Was this really the price she had to pay for loving them?" Madara whispered, "Is that really the price of love? Even though you promise to shield her, you committed a grave act on this world; and the risks are far too great. Will you do that to her?"
Madara continued. "Will you deny her, her family just because you were denied yours? We looked through her memories, you know the life she lived. You know the pain, the insecurities that she feels every day, and now imagine what it must be with your meddling. But then again will you want to risk breaking her mind just because you want one clear conscience?"
Naruto clenched his fist as Madara looked on, intrigued at this turn of events. He gave a sadistic grin.
"Now, I want to know what you are going to do about that."
…
"I made a mistake." Naruto said, looking at Erza's unconscious body in the medical room. "A big mistake."
"That's unbelievable." Arthur whistled. "Do you know how to fix her?"
"She might not be able to handle it a second time, if I attempt that. Her mind might not be what it was anymore."
"And if you don't, the world will hate her," Arthur said as Naruto clenched his fist, "they will see that she, a beacon of hope, was abetting the enemy." Arthur shook his head. "I certainly do not want to be in your shoes right now."
…
Makarov looked on in shock at the destroyed guild. Despite the fact that he wished that it was a guild brawl that did this, he knew that it was not. Mirajane did call him. Gildarts was too far away for him to be brought into this mess, but still he was on his way.
He had gone to the hospital to note many of them being unconscious, but they were okay. That was good.
"What really happened?" He asked.
Mirajane looked saddened. "It was Erza… she-"
Makarov looked at the epicenter of the repulsion, and he knew whose attack that was similar to.
"She was called for questioning and she was uneasy about it, maybe it was because she didn't know what to think? And so she-" Mirajane halted, unable to continue.
"Where is she?"
"He took her."
Makarov looked incensed. "Again?"
"Yes."
"And Natsu?"
"He's with the Magic Council right now. Lucy and Happy went after him. The rest who are not harmed, well."
The two looked to note them trying to clear the area.
"What do we do, master?" Cana asked, her eyes showing fear at the situation."
"Whoever he is." Makarov said, clenching his fist. "He's messed with my children more than enough." He began to walk away from the ruins. "Come with me, Mirajane."
"Where are we going?"
"To the Headquarters."
…
"Natsu Dragneel, Fire Dragon Slayer and mage of Fairy Tail, what can you now say?"
Natsu was seen in an interrogation room, bound by magic restraining chains. Lahar sat opposite him in the darkened room, observing his features.
"Erza always wanted to do the right thing." Natsu said, his voice showing that he was not joking. His expression was hidden, darkness aiding in that. "And she always felt that something was wrong with her, but she knew that she didn't work for him. I wanted to go after him, I wanted to kill him, for what he did to her, but Mira said it wasn't right, that we had to be strong enough to bring him in."
Lahar didn't say anything; he just looked forward at him.
"When I get out of here, I'm going to find her, I'm going to find him! And because of what he has done to us," Natsu looked to Lahar whose body shivered at the draconic pupils that glowed fiery red.
"I will kill him!"
…
"Do you think he's working for him?" Wolfheim asked. He and Hyberion were seen observing the questioning through the window.
"No, he isn't." Hyberion concluded. "Even before all this, it's Gran Doma's brash reasoning that led to this. And I'm sure Erza was just a person caught up in the middle of all this. The main culprit is the man that fell out of the sky."
"They have a moniker for him, the Sky Demon." Wolfheim shook his head in wonder. "People are getting scared, Magnolia is just the beginning."
"This is a good thing though. With this development, Natsu is going to find him for us." Hyberion said. "There's no one with a need to find him like him right now. His reason is just simple, he has to save his friend."
Wolfheim looked through the glass. "Is that a good idea?"
"If we do things through the council, all we will do is make a lot of noise. He's made a personal beef with Fairy Tail, and time and again," Hyberion smirked looking into Natsu's enraged eyes.
"…that seems to be a bad idea."
…