Disclaimer: See chapter 01
Chapter 11: Adjustments Pt6, Reflections and Employees, and A Snow Maiden
Titania woke slowly, getting a feel for her new environment. It has been a few days since she accepted her new lord's offer, and she was finding herself oddly at ease with the idea of being a devil. She had even started to train her new abilities and discovered she liked how her teacher pushed her to always be better. She had also awoken to her new boss sitting at her bedside, which was apparently his custom. The thought was appreciated, and it reinforced her opinion about his honour and loyalty.
Her thoughts drifted to Van, and she smiled in amusement. He had his own little house, apparently built for the sole purpose of housing mounted steeds, and since he was the only such creature currently in Asmodai possession he had it all to himself. She couldn't call it a stable, because really, what stable has three floors that are easily accessed by a horse? The house was under the supervision of two young dark elf children, their parents having been the former caretakers. Cheerful kids, those two, and if Titania didn't know better she'd have sworn they were twins instead of cousins.
The woman rolled to her left in bed and looked out a large window onto prime riding pasture, her thoughts moving to her trainer. Sebas Tian was, no matter how one looked at it, an incredibly old man who nonetheless managed to make beating the younger generation into the ground look easy. The elder Rook had taken one look at Titania's armour and weapon, declared them inadequate, and proceeded to show her just how and why he had managed to live through his centuries of service. At the end of her first session with him, Titania felt bruised and humbled. Her armour had been utterly trashed, and her axe... well, it was best not to dwell on what happened to that. Suffice it to say that she was on strengthening exercises until her new armour and weapon could be made.
Titania was practically in love. The last man to thrash her that badly had been Greil back when he was her trainer at Castle Crimea, and she would readily admit to a strong liking for a man who could not only stand his ground against her, but also take her to task so easily. Certainly Naruto had impressed her with his character, but Sebas had cemented her choice to follow the young blonde. If a man like Sebas was willing to follow him, and with so much loyalty... well, she figured there must be something more to her new boss.
Come to think of it, Sebas is quite likely the oldest living devil. I wonder if he likes redheads? She thought as she twirled a lock of her hair with one hand.
Titania's chest twinged in remembered pain and she immediately rolled back onto her back to give her ribs some relief. Thankfully today would be one for rest. She wasn't certain if she could find the strength to leave the bed right now.
Her meandering thoughts swerved a hard right, away from Sebas- much to her disappointment -and straight to what she had learned concerning her new boss. Titania would admit she wasn't quite certain what to think about some of the things he told her. Most of it was easily acceptable, all the biblical things he mentioned were fairly standard doctrine even in her world, but the other bits... Increased hormones due to an imperfect ritual leading to his need for a harem? Thankfully he had told her that he had not recruited her for a position in that, and her choice of man was still her own, assuming she wanted one. His harem seemed to currently consist of only two members, that red haired girl that was with him when he came around to recruit her and an older blonde woman who was introduced as his Queen.
Then there was the fact that the harem was the blonde woman's idea. That at least made it a bit easier to swallow. While harems weren't unheard of in Titania's world, they were usually created by the man just to sate his lusts for as many beautiful women as he could have. This time it was created by the women for the express purpose of allowing their man to retain his sanity as he slowly acclimated to his new hormone levels. Any territorial disputes were put on hold until he had full control of himself, and by that point, who knew? They might very well be so used to sharing him that they wouldn't even care anymore.
Possible. Unlikely in Titania's mind, but the possibility remained.
Then there was his former status as the third jail for that kitsune partner of his- Kurama, wasn't it? -who didn't seem to really hold a grudge against the young man for it. Or maybe the fox was just hiding it really well. Either way, Kurama wasn't much of a surprise to Titania due mostly to her previous experience dealing with the laguz tribes of Gallia, which lay just south of Crimea. The beast men- and women! -there were able to freely change back and forth between beast form, usually either a tiger or lynx, and humanoid. Then came the wars she was in where she interacted with members of the Bird tribes, hawks and crows and herons, and the later dragons and wolves... yeah, she was good on dealing with a large, talking, magical fox. Even one as strange as Kurama.
Following that was the Rejection Phenomenon Naruto mentioned. That alone made her head hurt to think about. Simply because the being in question may be of a race not native to a world, they may be cast back out? Yet this Underworld accepted all forms of life? Yes, Titania's head hurt to think about it. She was a warrior, sometimes a politician, but never a scholar or philosopher! She may enjoy reading a book every now and then, but those were titles one would never be able to pin on her.
Banishing her headache-inducing thoughts, the red haired former paladin stared up at the roof of her eminently comfortable four-poster bed– with gauzy curtains and all! -and wondered about just where her life would lead her from now on.
Her stomach growled loudly.
Guess the first place it's really leading me to is breakfast.
Go figure, she managed to find the strength to stand.
XxXxXxXx
Naruto sat alone on top of the highest part of the mansion. He needed some time to himself, so he suppressed his emissions of both magic and chakra to the same levels as the ambient area. It was a rather difficult technique, but he'd learned it as a child when he discovered his large reserves allowed damn near anyone with the tiniest amount of Sensing ability to find him. It became an invaluable skill for him later.
All those pranks I wouldn't have been able to pull off otherwise, he chuckled quietly to himself. And it supposedly will shave time off whatever it is that Pa still wants to teach me. Something about being one with my surroundings...? Ah, whatever it is I'll blow his expectations outta the water!
His thoughts then turned to his new Rook.
Titania is dealing with being a devil rather well, much better than anticipated. Though, that can be said for all my new companions that were once something else. Heck, aside from the whole hormones deal, I've been handling this rather well myself. Not sure what that says about me, though.
His mind moved to his newest employee, Kuroka.
Not really subtle, that one. If it weren't for my level of self-control I might have already banged what few brains she shows out. But she's nowhere nearly as obvious as Albedo at times. Maybe I should see about getting them each a man? Nah, that's too much like what Jiraiya might have done... oh, who am I kidding? The old pervert would have been milking my situation for all the sex he could get.
A heavy sigh left him. Naruto's eyes looked up, heavenward.
Ero-Sennin, it's only been a few months, but I do miss you. I miss Konoha. I wanted you to see me become Hokage. I wanted- No, I still want to save our world, but I don't know how I can. War, hatred, revenge, revolution... these seem to almost define our world. If only there was a way...
His attention was grabbed by a commotion at the mansion's gates. Unlike many other devil families, the gates to the Asmodai grounds weren't a half-mile or more away, instead only being a few hundred yards. His keen eyes picked up the forms of several people and carts... wait, no, those weren't carts, they were covered wagons! Who the hell used actual wagons these days? Granted, they weren't big wagons, but still!
What the hell...? Eh, it's my day off, so I suppose I can go see what's going on.
XxXxXxXx
"I'm telling you, young lady, that I'm expected! I even have the papers to prove it! Papers you've already read three times!" An irate middle-aged looking man said. He was a rather prominent blacksmith from a couple towns over, and he was obviously dressed in his best suit.
"And I'm telling you that it is Lord Naruto's day off, and no one is scheduled to arrive today with any kind of goods!" Militia retorted sharply, her sharp tongue being unleashed upon the poor hapless fool who was incurring her wrath. Her twin sister standing right beside her, lending unspoken support. "On top of that, these papers say you aren't expected for another week!"
The man snorted, "A lord of a region, taking a day off? What kind of lay-about is he? I've managed to finish the armour and other pieces he commissioned early. There's nothing wrong with finishing earlier than expected, now is there?"
Militia was about to lay into the man when another voice popped up from behind her. "Nothing wrong with that at all, my good man," Naruto said with good humour as he walked up to stand directly behind the Malachite sisters. "but every other smith I've ever met has always gone over their work a hundred times before declaring it done, and even then it's never quite done."
"Milord!" The sisters both made to drop to their knees, but he stopped them with a hand on their shoulders.
"Militia, Melanie, what have I said about the kneeling, bowing, and other things?"
"That they're stupid and we don't have to do them," Melanie replied quickly with a smile. Well she did pretty much quote him.
"Exactly!"
Militia narrowed her eyes at him, "How is it that we can never feel you coming?"
Naruto flashed her a grin, "I'd be a pretty poor shinobi if I couldn't sneak up on a distracted maid, now wouldn't I?"
Melanie's cheeks puffed up adorably, "Moh! But you aren't just a shinobi anymore, my lord. You are the Lord of Asmodai."
The blonde chuckled, "Ah, but Melanie, if I were to stop being a shinobi I'd be much less of who I am."
A voice interrupted, "Ah, Lord Asmodai?"
Naruto turned to finally look at the man with a wagon supposedly loaded with the various items he'd ordered, "Yes, that would be me. The real question, though, is who are you?"
The man fidgeted for a moment, "Ah, you ordered various goods from my town's craft-makers, including my own smithy, and I'm here to deliver. I know I'm a few days early, but here they are."
Naruto raised an eyebrow, "I do recall making payments for various items from a nearby town, but I don't recall you."
The man stiffened slightly, sweat cresting his brow. "What do you mean, sir?"
"I mean that I went in person to make my orders," the blonde answered easily, "and you were not one of the people I talked with; now was he, Sebas?"
"Indeed not, Lord Naruto," Sebas said, seemingly appearing from nothing right behind the man.
"I-I'm a new hire," the man said nervously.
Naruto nodded, a pleasant smile on his face that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm sure that's it, but you won't object to my making certain of the product? You are early after all. I'd hate to see you missed something in your haste."
As the blonde walked forward the nervous man realized something he hadn't noticed in all of the earlier banter: Naruto made no sound as he walked! The path was well-maintained cobblestone, and the young man looked to be wearing fairly hard-soled shoes. He should have made at least some noise, but there was nothing. No wonder no one had heard him approach, with silent footsteps like that he could probably sneak up on damn near anyone.
Naruto reached out to open the flaps and look inside the wagon...
...And saw nothing but armour and weapon parts made of the finest- or so he would assume –orichalcum, wyvern hides, and a few other things he'd been told were good for armour and weapons. He blinked. He hadn't been aware that orichalcum came in just as many accented colors as wyvern hide did. Golden metal shone bright with underlying accent colours of greens, reds, blues, purples, greys, blacks, and even some yellows. There wasn't a piece of metal in there that didn't gleam like it was freshly polished.
Naruto smirked. The enemy will see anyone wearing this stuff coming from a mile away, which will be perfect to draw attention from the stealthier members... assuming I ever find ones attuned to stealth. So far I seem to be attracting the "knight" type. Well, except for Rias, definitely a "wizard" type if ever there was one. But at least she's learning something of physical self-defense, even if she has taken to using that damned kris(1) as a focus as well. Nasty little thing, I'm still surprised we had something like it in the armoury...
Wait, getting distracted!
He picked up a piece at random, an accent lining for what he would bet would fit into Pyrrha's armour with little difficulty. The gold-like material gleamed from within with a crimson tone, almost as if he held a crystallized combination of amber and blood. Naruto wasn't certain that she'd use it, but that was the point of getting multiple different varieties, which he noticed that there was one with a purple tone underneath it. Putting the piece back down, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Well, my friend, it seems everything's in order," Naruto said humorously. "Unfortunately Cocytus, the one I'd normally turn this over to, is a little busy at the moment in his daily training match against my Queen and Knight. So I guess I'll be dealing with it myself."
"No, no! Don't trouble yourself, lord-!"
"I insist," Naruto said firmly, stopping the man from continuing. "I cannot always delegate, and the matter of the final payment is in my hands anyways. So what say we get all this squared away, and then we'll discuss how to get the rest of the payment to the craftmasters, eh?"
The man capitulated, "As you wish, Lord Asmodai."
"Besides," Naruto continued blithely as he clapped a hand on the man's shoulder, "Sebas has a full list of everything I ordered, so we'll be able to make sure nothing was missed. Wouldn't want that, now would we? Could ruin the reputation of your fine town."
"Of course, Lord Asmodai," the man said with a tone of voice more suitable for a funeral procession.
"And of course this would be an opportune time to start breaking in my new Rook," Naruto said breezily, ignoring the sudden twitching of the delivery man. "Titania's going to have to look through these things anyway to find what she wants to use, aren't ya?"
The man froze as a firm yet feminine hand clamped down on his shoulder. Turning his head slowly he came face to face with a true beauty of a redheaded woman, who said in a strong tone, "Indeed, Milord. As your newest member, I must be properly outfitted, since Sebas crumpled my old steel. This is also a good chance for me to see how us devils handle the financing of such items."
The delivery man slumped. He'd been made, and he knew it. He had no idea how the blonde had figured out he was an assassin, but he'd bet diamonds to doughnuts it had something to do with just how early he was. Now he could only continue with the charade of being a new delivery man for the town in question, scrapping his contract completely in the process. The young man and two maids alone he could probably take, but then the blonde bugger had added Sebas into the mix. That old devil had a reputation that one simply did not cross if one valued their continued existence.
On top of that, though, there was the unknown that was this new Rook. He could easily see the competence with which she held herself. A certain set of the shoulders and the right gleam in her eye that said she'd dealt with those of the shadows before, and had come out alive.
All in all, the man was certain he was going to be in for a bad day.
Imagine his surprise to walk out of the gates three hours later, the final payments in the wagon instead of the products, and nary a word or sign that anything other than a business deal had gone on. The poor man's head was still spinning as he set his feet on the way to deliver the money to the town craftmasters.
Naruto was rather proud of that particular prank.
XxXxXxXx
Rias stood panting in a training room that had been upgraded for her use, specifically so she could train her Power of Destruction. It wasn't exactly the kind of thing most people would want utilized outside of strict conditions, doubly so when her control was shaky at best.
"I don't get it!" The girl panted in frustration. "I'm a wizard type. Magic has always come easily to me. So why can't I get this power to obey me?"
Sitting beside the door on a bench, a little white haired girl shrugged. She knew Rias couldn't really see her movement, the redhead's back was to her, but she also knew by now that the other girl wasn't really asking for an answer. Still, in Shirone's mind it was a good question. Magic was magic, so shouldn't it all obey the same laws and what-not? But then Shirone already knew she wasn't really the magic type, so maybe she wasn't the best judge?
"It's because you're trying to force it, Rias." An amused male voice said suddenly from the doorway.
The two girls spun to see Naruto leaning against the door post, grin on his face.
"What do you mean?" Rias asked curiously, "I'm just trying to get it to work."
Naruto sighed and shook his head as he entered the room fully. "Yes, but you're going about it the wrong way."
He held up his right hand and a small glowing orb appeared, within it Rias could clearly see individual water droplets frozen in time and magnified for easy viewing. "Our family Powers are similar in that they respond to our emotions. Because of this I can tell you, that as you are still a child you should be having fun with it. My own Power of Domination is over Time, you wanna know what it said to me when I got it?"
Rias shook her head, still awed slightly by the casual use of such a powerful ability. "It said, 'I wanna play, so I give you all of time to control, then you play with me'."
He grinned ruefully and let the orb vanish, "You cannot force it, Rias, it must come from you, from what makes you who and what you are. At heart I'm still a prank-loving moron who just wants to eat ramen and protect what's precious to him. What about you, Rias? What makes you, you?"
Rias looked confused, her mind trying to work a mile a minute. Even with the enhanced perception from becoming Naruto's Bishop she was having a difficult time understanding just what he was saying. Was he saying what she thought he was? That she should simply let it out, like those cheesy anime masters kept saying?
"Another thing," he continued slowly, "is that because no two of us are ever the same, each of our Powers takes a different form. I have Time, my Father had Death, his mother had Blood. Your brother has his End Annihilation, your grandfather has multiple smaller orbs that he directs at will. It must flow, Rias. Your Power is much like the Wind in that you cannot force it, and like Fire it destroys what is in its path, but like Lightning it does not destroy indiscriminately. How will you shape it, Rias? What form flows the most natural?"
Understanding dawned on the young redhead's face, and she turned slowly to face the practice targets again. Her hands come up, palms out, a golden circle appearing.
Do not force it, she thought to herself. It must flow, like... like wind through the trees, and water around a rock. Let it well up from within, and then just direct it...
A torrent of red-lined black energy leaped from the circle, the foremost end briefly taking the shape of a jagged black fox head before impacting solidly against the target maw-first and incinerating it. Naruto couldn't stop an amused expression from forming.
So Kurama has had that much of an impact on my psyche, has he? It even invaded my mental training to the point that it was passed on to Rias somehow... probably best not to tell him, though. His ego's big enough as it is.
Rias and Shirone were sharing a small dance of glee at finally seeing progress, and- or Naruto would assume – from seeing such an awesome display of making something go 'boom'.
He might have joined them in their celebration, but he suddenly felt the need to see if Tier was free from her sparring match yet. With an internal sigh he turned and left the room quickly.
So now these stupid hormones of mine are acting up in regards to seeing flashy bits of destruction? Man, devil puberty sucks!
XxXxXxXx
"Hey, Brat! The mirror's at it again!"
Naruto blinked sleepily. "Another one already? That was quick. It's only been a couple days since we got Titania."
"I don't get it either, kid." Kurama sounded annoyed, "It's not like this idea of yours came with a manual."
"Though if I were you, I'd take a few more of your group than normal," the fox said thoughtfully. "The base situation isn't too bad, but the potential..."
"Ah, I get it. Could be troublesome."
The blonde shrugged as he levered himself out of bed, disturbing his two bedmates in the process. Blonde and red hair poked out from under the covers as Tier and Pyrrha woke up. The three of them didn't take very long to get ready, female stereotypes aside the two women knew that there was no time to waste.
Though Naruto did take a moment to admire the new red-tinted orichalcum and dark ivory wyvern leather that replaced Pyrrha's previous bronze and brown leather. Her circlet had remained as the bronze piece she always wore, but he didn't mind in the least. It accented her hair beautifully, much like how the ivory wyvern skin practically caused her skin to glow.
Then he quickly took note of the few changes to Tier's battle garb. Overall she said it reminded her of her former Released state, just in white-tinted orichalcum instead of the bone of a Hollow. He would have asked, but he had recalled what she was wearing when he first came to her as she lay dying... and he had to wonder if this outfit of hers shouldn't be classified as a weapon all its own considering the effect it had on him.
And they were both his. The level of satisfaction that hit him in that moment before they left room was just barely shy of being insufferably smug. Other men could look, but only he could touch them.
... Can't blame him on that.
XxXxXxXx
She sat huddled on a bench, her only piece of clothing a torn and bloodied shirt. Her brown eyes were lifeless and dull, the light of interest and joy having been snuffed out long ago. Now she just sat there, waiting upon that park bench.
Despairing.
Will anyone want me? Would anyone want me? A defective product? A broken, useless, worthless object like me? Where did it all go wrong? I had so many hopes when they first opened the pod I slept in...
Her mind cast itself back over the past months since her awakening. The pod, the professor, his assistant, her education in her role. And then her Adjuster said something about her being broken.
... Ah... Broken... Defective... Worthless as anything but a lab specimen... Is it wrong that I want more? I want a life... I want a reason to exist beyond merely proving them wrong... I want love...
Hoping.
... Ah... Love, yes... I want that... More than anything I want to love... I want to be loved... I want a master, an Ashikabi, to love and serve... So... I don't care who it is, or why... I will love and serve the first one to want me... But who would want a piece of Scrap...
"Well, I can't say I expected my next potential member to lack such a sense of life."
The woman looked up through the bangs of her short light brown hair and found herself falling into a pair of silver-flecked blue orbs filled with mischief and amusement, but above all she saw concern. Concern for her. Behind him she briefly took notice of two other women, one redhead and one blonde. She couldn't see much of them because they had their backs to her in a guarded stance, but she did note that the redhead was somewhat younger than the blonde woman.
"Naruto-sama," the blonde woman said in a chiding tone, though a small smile could be heard as well. "The rules."
"Ah, but once again I am remiss in my manners, as Tier-chan reminds me," the young man said humorously.
The woman turned her full attention upon him. He had sun kissed blonde hair in a wild mane pulled into a low ponytail. His body was far more muscled than what she had been led to believe was normal for someone of his apparent age of mid-teens. Lightly tanned skin, pearly white teeth, three strange lines on each of his cheeks, and dressed in what she recalled being worn by ninjas in the days of old in the colors of black and dark orange.
The young man swept into a small courtly bow, "My name is Naruto Asmodai, and I'm here for you, miss-?"
She realized he was asking for her name, "Ah... Akitsu... Sekirei 07."
"Well, Akitsu, I have a proposition for you-"
"I accept."
Naruto blinked at the interruption. "I haven't even told you what it is yet."
Akitsu stood up, a blank expression on her face despite the hope and desperation in her eyes. "I care not what it is. I care not why you have come to me. I care only that you want me..."
She hesitated for a moment, "Ah... you do want me, right?"
Naruto blinked again and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "I was going to ask if you wanted to join me. It will involve giving up a very great deal, but it would give you a chance to make something of your life."
Akitsu nodded slowly. "You want me, despite my brokenness-?"
Naruto's head tilted. "Broken? I see nothing wrong with you."
Akitsu gestured vaguely to her forehead where a strange mark stood out against her pale skin, only partially hidden by her light brown hair. "Ah... Because of this... I am broken... scrapped... worthless-"
"No!"
The conviction and vehemence in his voice brought her focus back to him, and she found herself falling once more into the endless blue of his eyes. Akitsu admitted to herself that she would gladly die if those orbs were to be her last sight. The emotions roiling within them made her feel comforted and at peace.
"You are not worthless!" Naruto continued passionately, gently grasping her shoulders to make sure she was listening. "You listen to me, Akitsu, you are not worthless. No one is! You have a name, a will of your own, a personality that is only yours! Abilities that only you possess! You have hopes and dreams! You have all of this and so much more or you would not have been feeling the level of despair you were feeling earlier! Worthless people do not feel, Akitsu!"
"I had a friend once who thought they were broken and useless, not even fit to be a tool," he said, his voice ringing with suppressed emotion. "I showed them otherwise, and I'll do the same for you! So, yes, Akitsu, I want you!"
Tears fell slowly from her eyes, and for the first time in her admittedly short memory, Akitsu allowed herself to cry. She cried into the chest of the young blonde that said the words she had longed to hear for months. She cried and cried, eventually crying herself to sleep. The previous lines of exhaustion and hopelessness clearing in what was likely the first bit of restful slumber she'd had in a long time.
"Naruto, I have a question," Pyrrha said softly so as to not wake the sleeping woman.
"Yes?" He replied just as softly.
"Why did you not put a gender to this friend of yours?"
"Ah...," for a moment he had to pause as he sought an answer that wouldn't sound strange, but couldn't find one and finally just admitted, "I'm still not sure what Haku's gender was. He claimed to be male, but his form and voice... yeah, Haku was confusing like that."
His eyes hardened, "But it seems we have a guest with bad manners, ladies. Perhaps we should show them proper manners in return? I would just hate to be seen as a bad role model."
"AH! I wanted that one! It was to be mine! Give it to me! I want it for my collection!"
Naruto instantly wanted to do nothing more than murder the owner of that high pitched childish whine. His ears were sensitive, dammit!
Then his eyes narrowed as the words registered on him. With a low growl he stood and turned, Akitsu held gently in his arms as a golden glow sank into her chest. His gaze took in the ones who had disturbed his moment.
One was tall, clearly male despite somewhat rather feminine facial features. Clothed primarily in black and carrying a short chokuto style sword he gave off a feeling similar to Akitsu. The messy dark brown hair he sported was pulled back into a short ponytail, much like Naruto's own blonde. Naruto figured this man may very well be another of these Sekirei that Akitsu mentioned being part of. This man was definitely dangerous.
The other one made Naruto want to spank him. A short young boy, obviously of mixed descent, and clothed in a strange ensemble that seemed to enhance the statement of his youth, he nonetheless carried an arrogant attitude that was inversely proportional to his size.
The kid's got money, and I'd bet far more than he can spend in his lifetime. If not for his colouring I'd almost mistake him for a mini of Sasuke. Thank God *wince* that isn't the truth of the situation. The brat's probably just been spoiled his entire life by his parents' money and hasn't learned the value of other people yet.
Naruto gave the younger boy a polite smile that didn't quite manage to reach his eyes. "My apologies, but this woman is mine now. If wanted her you should have gotten here before me. That having been said, people are not merely toys for you to collect. Now, I do believe it is well past bedtime for such little children, so you and your guardian there had best be off."
"Do you know who I am?!" The youngster shouted indignantly.
"No idea," Naruto replied instantly without care.
The kid gaped for a minute, his guard seemed to be trying no to laugh.
"I'm Mikogami Hayato!"
"Good for you."
"Grr, give me the Scrapped Number!"
"Hm? What's a Scrapped Number?"
"The thing you're holding!"
"I do believe you are mistaken. This is Akitsu, and she's hardly scrap."
"The crest on her head says otherwise!"
"Oh, you mean that mark that used to be on her forehead?"
Mikogami and his guard both blinked and then took a better look. The lighting was bad that late at night, though the park lamps helped a bit, but they could clearly tell that where there should have been a mark of some sort there was only smooth skin. Where was the mark? It didn't make any sense, once a Sekirei was marked it was only possible to remove it through termination.
So where was it?
"You know," Naruto said calmly, "I did manage to watch something of this world before I came here."
This statement confused the two other males. It sounded as if he was some kind of alien, but aliens don't exist... right? Sekirei notwithstanding, of course. Those aliens didn't count as they had no true will of their own as far as Mikogami Hayato was concerned.
"I'll admit I was confused by a few things," Naruto continued in the same bland tone. "One of which was why a woman this strong and beautiful would think herself worthless. Now, though, I've seen into her eyes and seen the truth of the matter. Someone made her think she was worth less than anything, someone made her this way."
"Mutsu!"
The man in black, now revealed to be called Mutsu, sprang forward at the youngster's command. Only to have to dodge a series of rapid rifle rounds from Pyrrha followed by several slashing attacks from Tier who carried a new sword into this battle.
Naruto sweatdropped as he looked at it. Rather than a sword it looked more like a shark's idea of what sword must be, though according to Tier it resembled her old blade from her released state. She seemed to have an affinity for things from that form, not that Naruto was complaining, what with the current view of a strong woman in revealing armour. Very, what was the term?... Ah! Very Amazonian. Yes, Tier strongly resembled an Amazon Queen to him right now.
The sword Tiburon merely enhanced the image when Tier used it to cast a mid-level water spell.
With a small lull in the fight Naruto spoke loudly, "Mutsu, was it? It would be best if you took your master home now. You will not win this. I will not permit your master to bring this beautiful woman to even greater despair."
Mutsu narrowed his eyes. He knew of no Sekirei to use guns, yet this redhead was too precise in her aim to be human. Likewise there was only one water wielder among his people, and though this woman was blonde, she was obviously not Number Nine.
Sighing the brunette male knelt on the ground, his sword sheathed and grasped in his two hands. "Sadly, my Master is stubborn, and has decreed that he wants that Sekirei you're holding. So I must do all in my power to acquire her."
He was about to use a special technique of his when he heard the blonde man hum thoughtfully.
"I see, that's a problem. Considering that if you do not back off now, I will personally end your master's life."
A shiver went up Mutsu's spine. The words weren't said coldly, or with heat. They were stated like they were merely talking about the weather. As if the act of killing Hayato would be no more an issue for this young man than taking a stroll on a bright summer day. The voice alone told him the young man serious, but he still had to try and reign in this unknown dark horse.
"You wouldn't, the rules of Sekirei Plan forbid targeting another Ashikabi." Mutsu said, sweat rolling off his brow. This was bad, he just noticed that the young blonde man was obviously carrying a weapon under his jacket. The signs were subtle, and the late hour made them that much harder to see, so Mutsu could probably be forgiven for his lack of perception.
"Ah, but I'm not one of these Ashikabi," Naruto said with an evil smile. "I'm a devil; head of the House of Asmodai, to be precise. Your 'rules' about this so-called game mean absolutely nothing to me."
"Plus," he continued in a pleasant manner, "I'm currently fighting off several doses of a rather potent Rejection Phenomenon, and I'd love to leave a little 'fuck you' behind to the nutjob who thought it was a good idea to force a nearly extinct race to fight for the right to live on this planet."
"So please," Naruto lost his pleasant expression as he stared into Mutsu's eyes. "Go ahead and stick around. Continue trying to take this woman from me. I will be more than happy to oblige both you and your master in an early grave."
Meanwhile – Within Akitsu's Mind
She felt comfortable, safe. Her perceptions surrounded by a golden glow that seemed to be remaking her. If she extended her senses a little Akitsu thought she could still feel the arms of the young man who claimed to want her.
As she drifted, content and happy within golden radiance that filled her, words filtered into her mind. The voice of the man whom she had decided to love.
"Hm? What's a Scrapped Number?"
Akitsu winced slightly. She hated being called that. And she didn't want him to think less of her for being unable to be winged.
"I do believe you are mistaken. This is Akitsu, and she's hardly scrap."
The warmth from before returned, even stronger. So even the mark on her head didn't matter to this wonderful man.
"Oh, you mean that mark that used to be on her forehead?"
She smiled to herself. She could feel that something was different within her, but that mark... that mark would stay with her forever. That was how the damned crest worked. It stayed with you until you died, or were "terminated".
Despite her belief in that statement, Akitsu could not feel the accursed mark of her broken state. Which was very odd because she was always hyper-aware of it. Ever since it first appeared she knew it was there at all times. Yet she could not sense its presence now.
"I'll admit I was curious about a few things. One of which was why a woman this strong and beautiful would think herself worthless. Now, though, I've seen into her eyes and seen the truth of the matter. Someone made her think she was worth less than anything, someone made her this way."
Akitsu felt herself flush in pleasure. He thought she was beautiful and strong...? Did he know just what kind of effect his words were having on her? Of course not, she was surrounded by the golden light and thus he conceivably could not know she was able to hear him.
"Mutsu, was it? It would be best if you took your master home now. You will not win this. I will not permit your master to bring this beautiful woman to even greater despair."
There he went again, calling her beautiful. Akitsu had been called many things since she broke: useless, worthless, Scrapped... but never beautiful. And she heard the sincerity in his words, he truly thought that she was worth something.
"I see, that's a problem. Considering that if you do not back off now, I will personally end your master's life."
No! She couldn't let this wonderful man, this man that she was already in love with, sully his hands with the blood of some inferior human scum! Especially not after his rescue of her heart.
"I'm a devil; head of the House of Asmodai, to be precise. Your 'rules' about this so-called game mean absolutely nothing to me. Plus, I'm currently fighting off several doses of a rather potent Rejection Phenomenon, and I'd love to leave a little 'fuck you' behind to the nutjob who thought it was a good idea to force a nearly extinct race to fight for the right to live on this planet."
Who cared what he was? So long as he wanted her, Akitsu didn't care. She loved him. She wanted to always be with him. She would fight to remain with him all her days.
"So please, go ahead and stick around. Continue trying to take this woman from me. I will be more than happy to oblige both you and your master in an early grave."
Her Master. Her Beloved. The One Who Took Away The Pain. He fought for her still, further embedding her choice in him. She would go with him, wherever he went. She would never leave him, she loved him too much.
Akitsu's Ashikabi.
With that, she woke.
XxXxXxXx
A sudden frost sprang seemingly from nowhere, covering the ground and causing the temperature in the area to plummet. Naruto knew where it was coming from, though. He could feel it radiate from the woman in arms...
Damn but it was cold! Well, there was a reason such a thing had its own name; Rime.(2) Damn nasty stuff, and ever since Haku he'd never looked at ice the same way. However, it was slightly amusing that after failing to save Haku, he had managed to rescue a woman who reminded him so much of Hyoton user... right down to the ice manipulating ability.
Akitsu's eyes opened, her first sight being the slightly amused expression of her master. Ah, how she already loved those exotic eyes and the minimal tilt of the lips for his smirk, all topped by that barely tamed mane of bright blonde hair. She felt like she was watching the sun rise over crystal clear waters.(3) And in their reflection she saw his words were truth, the mark was gone from her head.
"Ah... my Beloved..." The love in her voice was clear.
Naruto raised a brow in question. "Beloved?"
She nodded firmly once and reached up to cup the sides of his face, determination and belief etched deep within her brown eyes. "You came for me. You have called me beautiful and offered me a place at your side. You have fought for me. I, who have been broken for so long, scrapped and thrown away, seen as useless except as something to amuse a madman."
She paused for a moment to let that sink in. "We Sekirei are meant to love and be loved, and with what you have done for me already I have decided to love you; Forever and Ever, my Ashikabi."
Mutsu was unable to do anything but watch in stupefied wonder as the so-called Scrapped Number brought her face up to kiss the young blonde man, nearly going into shock as bright wings of cyan blight burst forth from Akitsu's back. That shouldn't be possible! She was broken, un-Wingable! Yet there she was, getting her wings from this strange blonde that sent even greater shivers of terror up Mutsu's spine.
On his side of things, Naruto felt a connection form between him and this world. It wouldn't support him before, but now... something had apparently changed. Maybe it was this "Ashikabi" thing Akitsu mentioned? If that was a thing here, a kind of race, then by making him her Ashikabi it could very well have changed things just enough for him to not be subjected to Rejection.(4) Though he still fought off the Rejection for those he brought with him.
As they separated, Naruto smiled gently at Akitsu causing a rosy blush to form on her cheeks. "Well, I can't say I mind, but what's this all of a sudden?"
Akitsu buried her face into his chest, trying to hide an embarrassed flush and tears of joy. She could feel the Bond fall into place! "...Ah, it's just something I've always wanted to do."
"I see," he commented lightheartedly. "Well, if it's all the same to you, Akitsu-chan, I think we need to spank some naughty children."
Mutsu shook himself out of his stupor at that and rushed to his Ashikabi's side, picked the boy up under his arm and ran away as fast as he could. Naruto, Tier, and Pyrrha all watched in amusement as the male Sekirei ran. The man had assumed that Naruto spoke of Mikogami when he mentioned a naughty child...
In truth, he was only half wrong. Naruto had said "children", plural. So while, yes, Mikogami was on the list, there was at least one other as well.
Well, not like Mutsu would care at this point, the man was already well out of earshot when Naruto smiled down at Akitsu and finished his thought.
"Of course that's assuming you want me to do something about all of this?"
Akitsu blinked. He was going to leave it up to her? Wait, what did he mean, exactly?
"Ah... about what?"
"This whole stupid thing where you and the rest of your race have to fight each other just to survive and be accepted on this planet."
Akitsu drew her face back from his chest with a small bit of reluctance to stare into his eyes. Her incredulous expression met his sincere and her heart beat a little faster. He really could do something, she realized. Akitsu had no idea what he could do, but the power she felt from him with the Ashikabi/Sekirei Bond on top of whatever he did to remove the earlier crest told her that this was no mere posturing; he wasn't just saying it to look cool to her, he really could do it.
Akitsu ran it through her head. Did she want him to do something? Should he succeed, what would really happen? Could more of her species, more of her sisters and brothers find their true love? Or would it just open the world to greater wars? Wars which pitted her family against itself all because of some other greedy, grasping individual? As much as Akitsu disliked admitting it, some of her siblings were less than subtle...
... Akitsu gave the ice covered area around her a slightly guilty glance. She supposed she wasn't all that subtle either, but it did prove her point. How long until the Sekirei were drawn into international wars? As it was the Sekirei Plan, as much as she hated it, at least limited potential damage to both the world and to her race to a small area and relatively few humans.
After a great deal of thought, which she noticed was coming to her easier, Akitsu shook her head. "I-I don't like the Plan, but there's little I can do, and even if M.B.I. was destroyed there is no guarantee that my family would be safe. As it stands we are relatively sheltered, despite the horrible rules of the game."
"And if I were to, I don't know, take your race with us? Or at least those who wish to go? The Underworld supports all forms of life, I'd suspect that it would allow even your people."
"As much as I hate Minaka and his insanity, I'd prefer if you didn't make more work for me," a female voice said, breaking into the flow of the conversation.
Naruto turned to see Tier and Pyrrha holding at bay a fair sized force of armed people- who he assumed were Security of some kind given the logo on the riot shields they carried – led by a silver haired woman in a lab coat and slightly rumpled pantsuit. The woman had grey eyes, and despite the easy way she held herself, even going so far as to light up a cigarette, Naruto could feel determination and authority radiating from her.
He frowned, though, as he felt Akitsu grasp his shirt tightly with one hand. "And you would be?"
"Sahashi Takami, vice-president of M.B.I., and unofficial babysitter to the nutjob orchestrating this whole shebang... oh, God, that's still depressing to admit."
Naruto winced slightly at the mention of God's Name. While he was a High-class devil, he was also still new, so that Name continued to cause him pain. He was just glad the woman, this Sahashi Takami, hadn't used one of the many Greater Names for the being that was at the centre of Christian religion.(5)
"I bet," he replied dryly, remembering his early genin days where it seemed he was always stuck looking out for someone who just didn't get it.
Takami shook her head a little, "look, kid, I'm sure you have great and noble intentions, but I'm already having a really bad day. I'm going to have to ask you to come with me to answer a few questions, namely why you don't show up in our database and how you managed to wing Number Seven there."
Naruto seemed to think about it for a moment, "Hm, yeah, how 'bout no?"
The woman's eyes narrowed, "Kid, that wasn't a suggestion."
Naruto shrugged indifferently, "You make it sound like I should care. I am many things, Sahashi-san, but easily intimidated is not one of them. If you want me to go anywhere with you, you had better ask politely, or possess a much stronger bargaining position."
He paused for a moment, "You have done neither of those things."
Akitsu buried her face into his chest, her shoulders shaking slightly. She'd seen something that Takami hadn't and was doing her damnedest not to laugh. She wasn't usually the type to laugh at all, what with her previously hopeless-seeming situation as "Scrap", but this was just too amusing for her.
"In case you haven't noticed, kid, I definitely have the second of those two options."
"You do, huh? How so? You're kinda alone."
Takami stiffened and turned her head just far enough to look behind her. Sure enough, her men were gone. No trace of them remained, and to make it worse there had been no sound as they were removed. Turning her shocked gaze back to the blonde man, she was even more surprised to see a large red-furred fox sitting beside him.
That wasn't there a moment ago...
"Very smooth, Kurama." Naruto praised.
The fox snorted, "You said all I'd really have to do was sit around and look badass."
"True, but I also said that I might need you to scare a few people."
Kurama's eye twitched and he muttered, "Stupid technicalities."
"Besides," Naruto continued pleasantly, "I figured you wouldn't mind getting a bit of exercise that didn't involve a nap in the field. Was I wrong?"
"No, Naruto-sama," Rias said as she appeared from behind Takami with a small giggle. "Rama-chan was practically bouncing at getting to stretch his legs and make some poor humans vanish."
Takami jumped at the redhead's sudden appearance even as Kurama shouted indignantly at the nickname.
"Rama-chan?!"
Rias giggled again, "What? It's cute."
"I am not cute!"
"Well I am a young girl and my nicknames for things have to be cute!"
"I am not a thing!"
"You know what I mean!"
Takami wasn't sure if she should be weirded out, annoyed, creeped out, or just plain disturbed at being caught between these two. Eyeing the oversized dagger in the purportedly young girl's hand – seriously, how young could she really be with a body like that? Some Sekirei didn't have curves like those, and most of them were already preternaturally beautiful. It wasn't fair! - the woman decided to go with a mixture that included exhausted when the young man spoke up.
"Rias, Kurama, that's enough."
It wasn't the tone, the naturally commanding presence, or even the calm way it was said that both awed and frightened Takami. It was the instant obedience by both parties that set warning bells off in her head. Glancing at the girl she noticed with a bit of worry that there were traces of something approaching worship deep within the child's oceanic orbs. Panning her eyes back over to the fox she figured that, while she wasn't exactly familiar with vulpine body language, it stood in a stance that showed a certain amount of deference.
Naruto sighed and since Akitsu was conscious he set her feet down, though he kept one arm around her waist much to her delight. "Alright, let's see here... Sahashi-san, right? I'm afraid that what you want is rather immaterial to me, as I'm still waiting to hear Akitsu's reply to my question. As things stand I have no problems killing you and that nutjob you mentioned, and then stealing away every last Sekirei that wishes to try their luck in another world."
Akitsu shifted a little, drawing his attention, "Ah... perhaps just getting rid of those Ashikabi like that kid from before?"
Takami sighed. "More work," she muttered to herself, though she noticed the other redheaded girl between her and the blonde boy looked a little uncomfortable. Maybe Takami might have an ally in this situation?
Naruto raised an eyebrow to Akitsu, "Is that what you want, Akitsu-chan? Just to get rid of the ones who abuse their Sekirei or merely see them as some kind of dolls to collect?"
Akitsu thought about it for a minute. What about just eliminating the bad Ashikabi? No, not realistic. They didn't have that information, the kind that would point out abusive masters. Granted that young man from earlier seemed like a good candidate, but who was to say that he didn't treat his Sekirei well? Sure he sounded like he saws them as nothing more than game pieces or dolls, but that didn't mean he abused them. Mostly it just meant that he cared little for their feelings, but he was young. Probably didn't even know what love was yet.
"No," the brunette finally decided. "I do not have the right to make that choice, and neither do you. Not that M.B.I. has any more right to make it, but in this world my people have a chance to survive. I do not wish to take that from them. I will leave, surely that will be enough of a change in the Plan, even if I was never truly meant to participate."
Takami gave a short, sarcastic laugh. "It seems your mind is more there than we gave you credit for, Akitsu, if you can see through Minaka that clearly."
Akitsu's brow furrowed. It was true, she had rarely ever had such clear and concise thoughts. Not without a great deal of time behind them, at least. Yet here she was was, taking only moments instead of hours or even days. Her gaze shifted once more to the eyes of her new love. She didn't know how, but she was suddenly certain he had something to do with it.
Ah... I don't care. I love Naruto-sama, nothing can change that.
With that silent declaration, Akitsu locked stares with Takami.
"It doesn't matter what you say," Akitsu said quietly, "I have no doubt that Naruto-sama could do just as he said. But more than that, he is my Ashikabi, my Beloved, my Master. He gave me my wings. I will gladly follow him into the very depths of Hell."
Rias couldn't stop a small giggle. This woman didn't know just how true her statement was. Well, it wouldn't be Hell, but most Catholics wouldn't care to split hairs.
"Well, then," Naruto said grandly, with a sweeping motion of his arm, "Shall we go home? I still need to explain things to my new Bishop, and Maou save us if we miss a meal Narberal(6) made!"
Rias skipped over to his side as Tier and Pyrrha slowly backed up, never taking their eyes off Takami. Said woman was more than a little confused, what the heck was the boy talking about? Then a golden circle swirled into existence beneath their feet and they vanished in a burst of light.
Looking at the now-empty plaza Takami muttered in disbelief, "How the Hell do I explain this to Miya?!"
Meanwhile in transport, Akitsu was filled with euphoria. Her new Ashikabi – how she loved to call him that! - had called her his Bishop. She didn't know quite what that meant, but she knew a bishop was some kind of priest, or priestess in her case. Which was fitting in her opinion because she would never fail to sing his praises. The man who saved her, took away her pain, and gave her a new life. So yes, she would gladly extol his virtues to the very Heavens!
She was not just his Sekirei.
She was Akitsu, proud Bishop of Naruto Asmodai.
XxXxXxXx
1- Kris: While most strongly associated with the culture of Indonesia the kris is also indigenous to Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Singapore and the Philippines where it is known as kalis with variants existing as a sword rather than a dagger. The kris is famous for its distinctive wavy blade, although many have straight blades as well. (Taken from Wikipedia) In this case Rias has taken to using one of the wavy-bladed variety.
2- Rime is a type of ice deposition that occurs quickly, often under conditions of heavily saturated air and windy conditions. Technically speaking, it is not a type of frost, since usually supercooled water drops are involved, in contrast to the formation of hoar frost, in which water vapour desublimates slowly and directly. Ships travelling through Arctic seas may accumulate large quantities of rime on the rigging. Unlike hoar frost, which has a feathery appearance, rime generally has an icy solid appearance. (Taken from Wikipedia)
3- Akitsu's Feelings: before anyone tries to ride me about how quickly it occurred remember one thing! Sekirei are parasites, they NEED that emotional connection to another sentient being to function properly. Akitsu even more so considering her trauma about being "scrapped" and "broken". She is the type to latch onto the merest form of hope, as is proven in canon when she follows Mikogami despite being unable to be winged. Falling in love is first nature to a Sekirei, not second. It is the entirety of their reason to exist as I understand it, which was twisted by Hiroto Minaka when he created the Sekirei Plan.
4- I'm playing a little fast and loose with the rules of Sekirei here. Originally, when the very first Sekirei ship opened and they spread themselves over the world, there was no need for the later "Sekirei DNA" for someone to be an Ashikabi. You see it in the manga in a kind of flashback into Minato's "genetic memory". I took that as another sign of Minaka's tampering, and with the blank slate that Akitsu became after her transformation... yeah, work it out for yourselves. I'd be very disappointed in you all if you couldn't figure it out from there.
5- Greater Names: these vary from religion to religion. For example, in Islam it is Allah, in an older version of Judea-ism it is Yahweh. God is called by many different Names throughout history, also commonly referred to by some as the White God, and many different cultures split their understanding of Him by referring to certain natural acts as being the responsibility of so-called Lesser Gods (ie: Lightning strikes were attributed to Zeus in Greece, Jupiter in Rome, etc.). This is my personal interpretation of how all religions venerate Him in some way, even if they use other Names.
Honestly, if I were to be perfectly straight with all of the other religions in the world I'd probably have to say... God is immortal, we are not, so why bother trying to categorize Him? We cannot hope to understand an infinite existence in our limited time, so let's cease the use of Names and simply accept that we all have different interpretations.
6- Narberal: one of the Pleiades maids I mentioned earlier in the fic. If you wanna know more about her, look her up; Narberal Gamma.
Current Peerage:
Queen: Tier Harribel
Bishops: Rias Gremory, Akitsu
Knight: Aayla Secura
Rook: Titania
Pawn: Pyrrha Nikos
Okay, the ending actually took a fair bit of time to come together. I had wanted to send a final "Fuck You" to Minaka, but I couldn't really justify it, so I explained why with Akitsu.
Assistance with this chapter comes from hyvnn, formerly Dreaming of the Moon, and Skysage24.
~Dreaming of the Phoenix
