Standard Disclaimer: The creative properties used in the development of this story are not owned by this author. Have fun figuring out which ones I've used. There are a few original characters; those are mine.

Surgeon General's Warning:

Read at your own risk.

Kara no Kyokai - The Borderline of/to Emptiness

In the Dark Future, there is only -- Magical! Lyrical! Naruto?

Verse 14:

Sekinin / Responsibility

A Naruto AU fanfic by Tempest Dynasty

"Prayer cleanses the soul, but pain cleanses the body. You will be thoroughly cleansed."

Such were the words of a certain Grey Knight, his anger beyond the boiling point. The very air shuddered as a gigantic hand smashed into the unprotected jaw of Naruto Uzumaki, twisting his head painfully; and again as the other hand nearly made Chrono fold from the sheer force of the blow. On their knees and stripped of all their belongings save for the most basic of clothing, the two boys were at the complete mercy of a superhuman Space Marine. How fortunate for them that their punisher was not clad in his power armor. Otherwise it would have been far worse.

"Fools!" Gabriel's voice thundered mightily though the hallow room. "Irresponsible and slothful fools! How could you have allowed such a thing to happen?!"

His question was accented with another set of punches. There was not a single ounce of mercy in the Astartes's eyes, only mad fury. His fists were white-knuckled, and the very air was thick with the aura of utter wrath emanating from the Grey Knight. There was nothing stopping him from expressing his full rage upon the sinners in front of him.

"Never have I witnessed such disregard of duties! Not even penal conscripts have shown such sloppiness!" Gabriel focused his attention on the Daemonhost, fighting back the urge to just disintegrate him with a wave of his hands. Instead, he opted to further beat the boy.

"What sort of friend are you, if you allow them to be hurt? What worth are you if you cannot even protect a single girl? You call yourself a guardian? Have you not seen Lady Nanoha's injuries? Pathetic! Lord Drakken would be embarrassed to even be associated with a weakling like yourself!"

He brought not only physical pain, but mental anguish as well.

"And you, the mighty Blue Breaker. You are a commander of the Time-Space Administration Bureau's armed forces, you have fought mutants, xenos, and heretic alike, and as such I expected you to be a leader. Instead, I find you belittling a civilian conscript. You failed at your task and responsibility; I am disappointed."

With another punch to both of them, neither could stand on their own anymore. They dropped to their knees, coughing loudly and spitting out blood. Teetering there, they threatened to fall completely.

"Hold them up. Their repentance is not yet complete," Captain Gabriel growled darkly.

The boys felt strong hands clamping firmly, painfully down on their shoulders, and lifting them up like sacks of potatoes. Now, Naruto and Chrono could only face down the rain of blows from the mighty Captain without any way of escape.

Yuuno Scrya kneeled not too far a way, a pulsing bruise of his own forming on his cheek. Though his master had demanded that he be punished for his servant's folly, Yuuno could not avoid the entire punishment. He managed to get away with a single punch, but it seemed minor to what transpired before him.

Instead, the changeling felt it more painful to watch his master and Naruto-san be physically beaten in punishment for their failure. Not only did the new enemy capture a Jewel Seed, but also Nanoha-san was severely injured. While it was fortunate that they had arrived on the scene to foil the finishing blow, they had come too late to prevent the painful injuries that the girl now was recuperating from.

But by the Empress, that was the most frightening time of his life thus far, especially when the Grey Knights stepped in…

The day prior…

It took longer than they would have liked, but they managed to stabilize Nanoha's condition and bring back into the green. While she was still injured, her own natural healing could handle it from here.

"Whew. The worse is over with," Chrono sighed tiredly. His magic reserves were spent, and he would need some time to rest. His aide Yuuno, also depleted of energy, nodded in agreement.

Slowly, the magical girl sat up with the assistance of Naruto, the boy having dispelled his barrier jacket a while ago. Plate armor wasn't the softest stuff, after all, and right now, the girl seemed so fragile.

"Ne, Nanoha-chan? You all right now?"

"Ah, yes," Nanoha gave a gentle nod and smile. "Thank you very much, everyone."

"Nanoha-chan!" Naruto yelped happily and moved quickly to glomp the girl. His pounce, however, was intercepted when a gloved fist was introduced to his face. "URGH."

"Idiot! We just healed the girl! Don't go pouncing on her as if she were a chew toy!" Chrono barked in frustration, shaking his now throbbing hand. By the Empress, the Daemonhost had a hard head; no wonder he was still alive!

"Owww! What the hell, teme!? You coulda just said so!" Naruto spat back, cradling his injured nose on his hands.

"You wouldn't have listened, idiot!"

"Did you even thinking of trying?!"

"There's not much to think about when it's you!"

"Gaah! I'm gonna kick your ass for this, teme!"

"Bring it on, dobe!"

""Um…" Yuuno's voice cut in unexpectedly, effectively defusing the fight in one word and catching both boys' attentions.

"Anou… I'd like to say that someone is coming…" Yuuno said, looking up from a furiously beeping Auspex. "A lot of someones…"

Only the rustle of bushes announced the sudden arrival of a maid squad dozens of dozens large, followed by the duo of Arisa Bannings and Suzuka Tsukamura. Armed and ready for battle, the maid squad quickly surrounded the three hapless boys and held them at blade point, much to the great discomfort of the heroes (who knew these maids preferred feudal combat, and where did all the katana come from?). Was this their reward for saving the girl? Needless to say, there were quite a few awkward moments…

It was a rough time after that. Naruto had to explain his unannounced arrival, as well as introduce the two boy mages (hastily transformed into civilian clothing before the maid squad arrived, thankfully) AND Nanoha's state of injury. Fortunately, the combined healing magicks of Chrono and Yuuno managed to clear up any visible traces of injury, thus fooling the two girls. However, the hawk-like eyes of Shirou Takamachi did not miss the slight limp his daughter walked in with at home, or the slight flinches of pain as tender spots of her body were touched just by her close. Someone had hurt his little girl and there would be hell to pay.

Thusly, the Takamachi patriarch's fury came down upon the Grey Knights, particularly Brother-Captain Gabriel. As the saying goes, "shit rolls downhill," and so the livid Captain then brought his wrath, multiplied tenfold, upon the ones most responsible.

CRACK.

"Heh. How's that, teme? Seventy-nine," a bruised and bloody Naruto smirked at his nemesis despite the throbbing pain that dominated his entire body.

"I'm amazed you can count that high, dobe. Eighty two," Chrono sent a smirk of his own back, refusing to be one-upped by the Daemonhost, even in this situation.

"SHUT. THE. HELL. UP!" each word was punctuated with a devastating punch, rattling the boys' teeth with each blow. Held firmly in place by their jailors, Naruto and Chrono could only struggle to bite down cries of pain. No, they would not show their weakness now, not after their shameful failure

"Weaklings! Worthless fools! What can I trust you with if you cannot deal with such a simple task? Retrieve the Jewel Seeds at all costs! Can you not handle that!?"

Stars exploded in their vision as merciless fists battered their bodies.

"You were given a mission! A responsibility! And you are expected to carry them out to the fullest! What gave you the right to be negligent?! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!"

The last question was asked with a punch for each word; the final punch to each lifted them off the ground, their eyes widening as their pupils shrank, their mouths open wide and gasping for breath it could not have. As they fell, breathing in deep hungry gasps to ward off the darkness enveloping their vision, they struggled to stay awake.

"What do you have to say for yourselves, children? Speak."

Suddenly, they were released to stand on their own. Punch drunk and delirious from the pain, it was a feat of incredible willpower that both boys managed to remain standing on their own two feet, swaying slightly.

"Per—perseverance and silence are the hi-highest virtues," Chrono was the first to speak, his words garbled by his swollen cheeks, tongue, and bleeding gums. "Ninety-nine, dead-last."

"Ruthlessness -- ugh -- is the kindness -- hah -- of the wise," gasped Naruto, in a similar shape, gave his own quote. In truth, both the Captain and mage were amazed that the Daemonhost spoke such wisdom. "One hundred and one, ya bastard."

Gabriel gave one final nod before adding his final words:

"Pain is an illusion of the senses, despair an illusion of the mind. Learn from your mistakes and do not repeat them. You do not wish to know the consequences of another failure such as this."

Two loud thumps followed, the two boys hitting the deck soundly as their final ounces of strength left them. Immediately, Yuuno was hovering over them, his hands alight with healing magic.

"Apothecary."

"Yes, sir," Ramiel already knew the command before Gabriel said it, stepping over to the unconscious bodies with a small medipack. He, as well as Yuuno, understood their task: enough healing to return to duty, but also remember each and every punch they received.

Barely a day passed before Captain Gabriel entered Naruto's home and roused the boy from blissful sleep, dropping a heavy data-slate into the boy's lap. Sputtering indignation died the moment he realized who was responsible, and he gave the Astartes an inquisitive look upon picking up the data-slate.

"It comes to my attention that you lack the formal training to be of much use past ablative shielding. From here on out, you will be schooled in the art of war, and you will learn quickly," the Captain left the unspoken threat up to Naruto's imagination, leading to nods of agreement so fast his head nearly seemed to fall off.

Oh, how he regretted that decision (not like he had one in the first place).

Each evening was spent being "trained" by the Grey Knights, though "training" hardly described the treatment. There was a massive gap in skill and power between the 12 year old blond and the centuries old Space Marines, and there was no holding back. It seemed more of a physical beating than actual training, highly reminiscent of the one he got as punishment. And if they were not beating him up, they were running him around ragged worse than a dog: this was "physical drill."

At least the Apothecary was nice enough to heal away the many bruises he got from them. Still, Naruto found that he learned less than he would have liked, and did not enjoy passing out at all. Sure, there was plenty to learn from the blade swipes, hammer blows, fist fights, and whatnot, but there was definitely a better way to learn than to read a single data-slate that was slightly more useful than The Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer while getting pounded by eight foot tall supermen with little to no mercy.

Thus were Naruto Uzumaki's thoughts as he wandered through the streets of Yokohama days later, his body aching from unforgiving "training." Dark storm clouds hovered over the boy, thoughts in turmoil and depression. He just wasn't getting stronger fast enough…

BOING.

Turning the corner, Naruto suddenly found his face buried deeply between two amazingly soft and warm mounds. In that short moment, he felt something akin to bliss as he detected a faintly pleasant scent. There was an incredible urge to bury himself deeper into this little piece of heaven, but all too soon did his mind kick back into action and remind him exactly where his head was planted.

"Aah! Sorry about that!" Naruto scrambled backwards out of the woman's personal space. Now that he had a chance to look at the person he bumped into, he could not help but feel as if he had seen this woman before. Tall, magenta hair, frilly headband, golden eyes, maid's uniform of white and purple with a yellow necktie, and a massive backpack that didn't seem to burden the woman at all; he was pretty sure he had seen her before… but where?

"It is alright de arimasu. I am unharmed de arimasu," the maid's voice was eerily dispassionate, seemingly lacking every emotion save for apathy. It sent a small shiver down Naruto's back. Her eyes bore into him intently; was she angry with him?

"Ah. That's… good…"

"Excuse me. I must go now de arimasu."

Naruto watched as the maid with the gigantic backpack stepped around him and walked off into the distance. Weird woman. Shrugging to himself, he continued on with his moody walk.

But not ten steps later did something else interrupt,

"Aah! 'tis been a while, sweet wag! How goes it? Ye getting' better with that Smart Disk, yeah?"

"Huh wha?!" a familiar voice jolted the boy out of his thoughts, snapping his head to the side to address the speaker.

"Cypher? What are you doing here?" Naruto asked.

"Whaddya talkin' about, lad? Yer in mah house!"

Blinking, Naruto looked around to take stock of his surroundings, and true enough, he recognized the messy piles of junk all over the place. It was indeed Cypher's "house," if you could count a junkyard at the city outskirts stuffed full of scrap, trash, and various odds-n-ends to be a suitable home.

"Huh. How did I get here?" a slight bewildered look adorned the boy's face.

"That's not important lad, but I do see that ye got somethin' on ye mind. What's up? Did ya have a bad fall out with yer lady friend?" Cypher had a knowing grin hidden amidst the filth and overgrown face hair.

Thoughts of Nanoha immediately flooded his mind, particularly ones of the most recent battle. He sighed, drawn further into his slump; he had to get stronger so he could protect Nanoha!

"Not really… well… kinda. Sorta. Nanoha-chan got really hurt during the last battle, and I wasn't there to help her. Captain Gabriel got really pissed at me, too," Naruto shuddered, painfully aware of tender spots all over him.

"And? How do ya expect ta fix things?" the bum sounded surprisingly serious about it.

"I… I wanna get stronger, get better at fighting. Old Man Drakken started me off on a bit, but never got real into it. He just wasn't around all the time, ya know? And I don't feel like I'm learning much from the Captain and that data-slate he gave me…"

"Well now. It seems those Grey Noobs ain't teachin' ya a damn thing!" Cypher snorted, hitting his knee in emphasis. "Hell, I could be a better instructor than that! Say, actually that's a good idea! Whaddya say, boyo?"

"You? What can you teach me?"

"Ya remember the Smart Disk I got ye? The prev'us owner of it din't give it up freely, ya know? It was a spoils o' war, if ye get wot I mean?"

"Uh… I guess?"

"What 'ave ye got ta lose? Those Grey Knuckleheads ain't teachin' ya jack! 'Sides, I got some things here that could be real useful later, yeah? I just gotta find them first. Meet me 'ere tomorrow and we'll get started. Savvy?"

"S-Savvy?"

"Good! Now, off be with ye, lad! Get sum rest! You're gonna need it," the hobo chuckled and shooed Naruto off. The boy stumbled away in a daze, his mind in a slight tizzy.

Just what did he just agree to…?

No matter how far humans go to surpass their limits, the strength they gained in exchange seems comically small. Even so, being able to live five minutes longer is certainly an improvement to any brave fool who values his or her life. Training with the hermit bum, Cypher, was an entirely different experience from his "training" with the Grey Knights.

The mysterious fellow did not bother with physical drill at all; according to him, Naruto was already getting enough of it from the arrogant supermen in grey. What he really needed to know was how to be a soldier: basic weapons, basic tactics, basic survival skills, basic martial skills, basic expertise of military operations, discipline, and culture.

As Cypher put it, the boy's fundamentals were horrible. He was barely more useful than a PDF trooper on some agri-world, and would last about two seconds longer in a real war. So what Naruto got was the equivalent of a recruit training camp, minus some unpleasantness, as the bum considered himself to be a combat instructor. "Extra military instruction" was not his thing; he could leave that hazing and mental breakdown nonsense to the zeal of the Grey Knights.

The way he taught was simple enough: Naruto would have a class, he would be given a chance to practice what he learned, and then they would go out to perform a practical applications test to see if he got it right. Granted, it was difficult to perform live-fire exercises, but Cypher always managed to find a way. How in the Empress did he manage to get his hands on a working laspistol, lasgun, and krak grenades was another mystery.

Come to think of it, everything about the hermit bum was bizarrely mysterious. He knew way too much about combat, the Imperium, no, the galaxy at large, and he had too many war stories to count (though by the sound of it, the hermit was doing alot of self-editing). Cypher had an opinion on everything, and even though he said he was Old Man Drakken's buddy from the "hey-days", his stories just did not add up right.

Piecing the bits and fragments together, Naruto reckoned (despite Cypher's censorship) that he was probably ten thousand years old at least! There was no way that could be right, yo!

Still, the blond-haired boy supposed he should cut the smelly guy some slack. He did not like being deceived, but Cypher must have had his reasons. After all, why else would such a badass like him be living like a bum on this backwater world? The High Lords of Terra should have given a larger than life hero like him his own planet to rule and live on, easily!

Regardless, bottom line: Cypher "The Hermit Bum" was an absurdity. He; a really cool badass smelly guy, with a fetish for going to Tokyo to hit up the maid cafes. But, man, he is so hiding something!

"An' we're done fer tha day!" Cypher crisply shut his grimy notebook that smelled strongly of urine.

Unpleasant smells and unsanitary conditions were things Naruto grudgingly learned to bear. As the hermit explained, on the battlefield he will be facing much more acetic conditions; therefore, basic hygiene and sanitation were extremely important. Cypher would not even let him set foot inside the junkyard unless he was as clean as a daisy, and the man badgered him always to take a nice long soak in the tub after training.

Not that he had to badger him; there was no way Naruto was going to let anybody get close to him, especially females, until he was positive he smelled human again.

"Oi, was w'th tha long face, boyo?" Cypher interrupted his thoughts, with hearty slap to his sore shoulders. "Sun settin', ya know, and 'morrow is Sunday!"

Naruto yelped and shot a death glare back at his combat instructor. He swore the smelly guy had some bad timing. "I was thinking, Gross-sennin! Didn't you see I was in the zone-yo?"

"Oooo, thinkin'! So ye do got brains in d'ere!"

"Hey! You better not be makin' fun of me."

"No way, that's great! I've be'n waitin' awhile now fer ye to start thinkin', sweet wag."

"Huh?" Naruto gaped dumbly.

"Ho boy…" the hermit bum frowned.

"What are you making a face for?"

"Boyo, 'ow long 'ave we been trainin' together?"

"I'd say a good month now. Why?"

"Naruto, my sweet wag, ye really haven't noticed?"

"Noticed what?"

Cypher sighed, "Boyo, w'th that attitude just 'ow do ye expect ta protect any-thing? I know soldiers aren't supposed ta think too hard, but, sweet wag, ye're still a human being too."

Naruto was confused and getting a touch pissed off. However, he resolved not to blow up because he trusted that Cypher must be trying to teach him something here, or so he believed. The question was: what?

"C'mon, what's yer biggest asset right now that y'er not using properly?"

"Anou... umm, my psyker powers?"

The hermit gave him a long suffering stare, before pinching his temples in obvious disappointment. "Naruto, sweet wag, yer not ready to tamper with the Warp or face its horrors yet... Ye need more experience, ta know yer limits, yer strengths, yer weaknesses, and... yer darkest secrets."

"Well, how the hell am I supposed to get that-yo!" Naruto raged back, anger blazing in his clear blue eyes. He hated it when people told him "crap" like this, that he was not ready yet, not experienced enough yet! Absolutely hated!

By the Empress, and just what did the crazy smelly bastard mean by his dark secrets anyway? He had nothing to hide! Absolutely nothing!

"Combat can teach ye lots o' things, but some-things ye ought ta learn on yer own. Trust me."

"Huh?" What's he babbling about now?

"In any case, I doubt He's goin' ta let ya any time soon. Ye haven't exactly done much ta impress 'im or earn his confidence either, ya know?"

"Who's He?" Naruto asked, eager to latch on to something tangible, and hopefully, something he can understand.

Again, Cypher made a face, except this one was pure dumbfounded shock.

"What now-yo?"

"By the Stars! Boyo, He's been with ye fer months now! Right there, on yer hip, lad! Yer best friend in tha whole galaxy, an' most powerful asset ta date!"

Suddenly, Naruto remembered the weight attached to his belt, a constant companion in his daily life, so subtle and unassuming he had forgotten about it; Him. After all, the Gespenst Jager, the lantern of the will-o-wisps that will guide the souls of the alien, the mutant, and the heretic back to the swamp of death, was home to Ergo Proxy.

Proxy… He has not said anything in ages, not since they cleared out the Chaos tainted vermin a while back.

"Boyo," Cypher lamented to him with a pitying shake of his head, "as much as I'd like ta teach ye everything d'ere is ta know. Some-things aren't fer me ta illuminate ye in, savvy?"

Naruto frowned, "What do you mean by that? Stop talking so…"

"Sweet wag, ye're 'ere ta get stronger, right?"

"Well, yeah!"

"And in a coupla more months, I'd be done teachin' ye basic 'Soldier' business. Have ye thought 'bout wot comes then? Wot yer next move is goin' to be?"

"Eehhh… not really."

"Hmm, I see yer not that sharp yet. Don't want ta feed the answers to ya, but I'd be failin' ya as a mentor if I didn't give ya some kind of answer to go by… Look, yer gonna be a Warrior, boyo. And ye must master the most difficult part: yourself!"

"Master myself?" Naruto scratched his head. "Whaddya mean by that?"

"Magic is in yer blood, too, sweet wag. And ye can't just ignore it. Like all things, magic must be nurtured and exercised, or it will never grow stronger."

"Okay…so?"

"Boyo! Yer girl was nearly killed by a witch, wasn't she!? Are ye tellin' me that kind of power is a joke?" Cypher thumped him on the head, making him wince.

Naruto growled under his breath, taking the chastisement.

"O-Of course not!"

"What then? Are ye just gonna ta be some hick half-assed magi all yer life, and watch yer friends die covering for ye weakness! Right now, I'd bet ye all o' me treasure that that girly is training on her own, learning spells from Raising Heart, and trying to master them as quickly as possible."

"Wh-Wha?" Raising Heart? How does he know so much about Raising Heart and Nanoha? How…?

"So she can be stronger! So she won't be a liability in the next battle! And ye have been neglectin' yer greatest strength, the only one ye can rely on right now. I don't care if that Intelligent Device, Raising Heart, is a woman, female, and she adores the girl because she is her first master and has so much potential; that doesn't matter!"

What the? Raising Heart is like... a real person? Intelligent Device? How does Gross-sennin know about this magic stuff too?

"If olde Ergo Proxy is such a scrooge, then impress him! I am well-aware ye 'ave blundered badly, an' 'aven't done much anythin' o' late, but ye got ta start tryin'. He's got the spells an' ye need 'em. In fact, wot ye should do 'morrow, first thing, is go find the Blue Breaker Boy an' his girly changeling sidekick, swallow yer pride, an' ask ta train with them."

Ask Chrono-teme and Yuuno-san for help!? No way! Not happening!

"Bein' a real man an' gettin' the help ye need ta get stronger, I promise, is going ta get ye where ya need ta be. I'm dead sure olde Ergo Proxy will notice ye maturin', and start ta bloody teach ye, so not only can ye protect yer friends an' loved ones, ye can protect yourself!"

Naruto gaped, stupefied at the stunning statement. Protect himself? Why would he need to know that? And… And…! Gah, is that jerk done screaming at him?

Of course, it only got weirder when Cypher had a stupid look on his face. The kind of expression a child would wear at seeing that he just broke something he should not have, and was probably going to be in a lot of trouble for it. But then, his expression changed, almost melting really into a mischievous grin, his eye glittering with unrepentant, smug conspiracy.

"Seems I got a bit excited. Oh well, no harm done, yeah?" the hermit bum grinned, tearing out a page from his notebook and stuffing it into his student's hand. "Here ya go, sweet wag! The address to Enforcer Chrono Clyde Haraoun Le Fay's brand new apartment condo, quite a beautiful location in downtown ya know, and shared presently so by his feminine but oh so nice aide, Scholar Yuuno Scrya! Have a nice Sunday!"

Naruto had a bad feeling about this…

Sunday morning rolled around, and the bad feeling had not left. In fact, it had intensified into dread. Here he was in a rather affluent, busy part of downtown 'Hama, feeling all sorts of bad vibes in an apartment condo complex that made his place look like the ghetto.

Empress, I feel underdressed, thought Naruto, staring dumbly at the door.

Apartment #7-7, the Haraoun residence, so said the nameplate off set from the doorframe. He had not even stepped foot in the apartment yet, and Naruto could feel a distinct vibe of "Chrono-teme" radiating around the place, even the cutie-pie welcome mat felt number one arrogant bastard. Granted, the welcome mat probably was not chosen by the said haughty individual.

Ding-dong!

Oh crap! Why did I push the doorbell!? thought the blond-haired boy in horror of his own hand.

There was a call from the inside, followed shortly by the audible hurried rush of footsteps. All he could do now was brace for the inevitable, but… Why in the world would Chrono-teme come running to the door? Even if he was expecting company, an "ultra dignified" prick like him would never stoop to going down on his hands and knees.

So if it was not Chrono-teme, could it be…?

The door opened up, practically blasting him with the heavenly scent of breakfast (it was around nine in the morning) and polite air freshener (a "fresh green" scent, almost like you were in the woods but not quite). Alas, nothing could have possibly prepared him for the sight before him…

What in the Warp was Yuuno-san doing in a frilly pink apron, a skirt (oh, wait that's a kilt, I think), and a striped red-white tanktop? He's even got a spatula in hand (looks fresh, judging by the film of oil coating it)! Why is hair so "goldy" and "vibrant"? Where did the sparkles, "pretty" lighting, flowers, dramatic "oh my god! He'so--!" lilting harp melody come from? Sakura petals! And... and, Oh Empress, how could he have a smile more... more moe! than Nanoha-chan or Fate-chan?!

"Oh, why good day to you, Naruto-san!" Yuuno greeted him. There was a sparkle of surprise in his eyes, but it did not last long, replaced by good cheer a moment later.

They would turn green with jealousy in a heartbeat!

"…Naruto-san?"

Then comes murder with the color of pink…

"Uzumaki Naruto-san?"

And…

"Dead-last," interrupted the seething hiss of Chrono Haraoun.

Where polite Yuuno failed, the arrogant steel of the Blue Breaker's voice cut through Naruto's daze, like a lascannon to a Chimera; he growled, meeting the glare of the older boy gazing over his aide. Standing by his perch on the step of the foyer, Chrono had every bit the air of self-imposed absolute confidence. His fashion this morning, incidentally, only went to galvanize his image even more.

He wore a muscle shirt, arms crossed over his chest in a superior pose, blue jean trousers (rather casual wear for a stiff, proper fellow like him) belted snugly at the waist, and for the first time, Naruto noticed just how "ripped' his rival was! The blond had noticed back then in their not so pleasant reprimand by Captain Gabriel, as he had been too busy to care. Now, he could not help but feel another hammered into the coffin of his steadily growing inferiority complex.

They were not big, grotesque muscles or something you would expect out of supermen like the Space Marines. Chrono's physique was... ideal (Naruto dared to say, perfect) for his age and would only grow stronger; toned and built muscle conditioned for endurance and combat, which must be the result of his personality, and many exploits no doubt. Perhaps, Yuuno's praise and Captain Gabriel's disappointment in the famed Blue Breaker was not unjustified, after all.

Still, that doesn't give Chrono-teme the right to be a snotty jerk! thought Naruto with great vehemence. So what if I'm an amateur? I'm fighting on the same side he is too!

Better yet, just what the hell was Chrono-bastard's problem with him anyway?

"Scrya, bring the stray in. 'Tis Sunday Sabbath, and I believe you cooked a bit too much this morning, yes?" Chrono broke eye contact and trotted back into apartment.

"W-Why, why yes! At once, My Lord!" Yuuno beamed, displaying enough surprise for both Naruto and himself.

Naruto was stunned, astonished, and insulted all at once. Who knew even Chrono took a break during the week? Who would have thought he would invite somebody he hated, apparently so, into his own home? But, on the other hand, who was he calling a stray!?

Incensed, and positively steaming red, the blond boy needed no ushering or encouragement from Yuuno to enter the residence. Hell, he marched right in, kicked his shoes off, and began swaggering round the corner, like he owned the place. There was only one mission on his mind, and that was to locate Chrono and…

Well, there he was already standing by at the table, a place already set for a third occupant. Breakfast was at the table too, a decidedly continental Western affair: scrambled eggs seasoned with spices and melted cheese, French toast served with maple syrup on the side and sugar, fresh bread from the bakery, and all the condiments and drinks one would expect to go with the first meal of the day.

Suddenly, Naruto could not help but be reminded by his stomach loudly that he had not eaten anything at all before he left. To add further incentive, much to his blushing embarrassed chagrin, the food smelled positively mouth watering. Oh, Yuuno-san, if you had been born a girl, this would be perfect!

…well, except for the part with Femme Yuuno-san shacking up with Chrono-teme under the same roof. That very reality is unforgivable!

Argh, the injustice of it all! thought Naruto with a violent teary-eyed shudder. The fire of my soul is burning! Chrono-teme, I swear I will-!

"Um…ex-excuse me, Naruto-san," Yuuno interrupted, a sheepish and helplessly effeminate smile on his face, "but I believe it would be polite for you to join us. We cannot very well eat without you; after all, you are our guest!"

Naruto found himself blushing out of embarrassment for a much more ordinary reason. Just because he lived alone does not mean he had no sense of good manners at all. He quickly took his place, sitting precariously across the table from Chrono with their "host" sitting between them.

Naruto would have apologized too, if the blue idiot had not held up his hand to stop him.

"Prayer. Eat. Then, talk," Chrono deadpanned, earning a seething furious blush out of his mortal enemy.

Things might have gotten ugly, if Yuuno had not taken the initiative to jump in right away. Honestly, his master gave him so much trouble, but given the opportunity to enjoy a meal as rare as this occasion was surely worth his ever-persevering patience. It must have been a sign for the Empress that he overdid it this morning in the kitchenette, and the changeling happily gave thanks for them all in a brief prayer.

And lo, breakfast began in earnest…

"So what brings you here, Uzumaki?" Chrono served Naruto, bizarrely enough, the first portion of the scrambled eggs out of its fashionable deep silver dish.

The gesture and the Bureau commander's almost civil tone caught the blond by surprise, drawing his blue eyes wide as a saucers, and his mouth hanging agape. Naruto was speechless!

"Wh-wha-What are you doing? Why aren't you helpin' yourself first-yo!? Is this poisoned or somethin'!"

Yuuno laughed, as his master served his portion next without missing a beat.

"Please, Naruto-san, you are the guest!"

"And the junior man," Chrono added casually, "or do you prefer lowest ranking man?"

"Wha! What does that got to do with anything?" Naruto reddened some more. And then…the thought finally hit him. "Wait, is this…?"

"Ah ha ha, I would prefer if Master Chrono did not run his household as a pseudo-militaristic residence, but my Lord is the senior officer in charge."

"The enlisted men and women eat first, followed by the non-commissioned officers, and then, commissioned officers such as myself. It is a tradition out there in the field, and one we still practice."

"Uh…oh, okay." Geez, even in his own place, he's such a stiff! Well, at least Chrono isn't being Chrono-teme right now…

"Now, back to my query, what brings you here, and more importantly, how did you find us?" Chrono shot Naruto a glass eyed stare.

Naruto flinched, of course, taken by surprise. He should have seen that line of questioning coming, not to mention the older boy's remarkable ability to push people's buttons. He could brood over the latter later, but right now, how was he supposed to answer the first without seeming suspicious?

"M-My Lord, we have been here for two weeks now," Yuuno stuttered, clearly trying to divert the conversation away from a potential confrontation. "Surely, it's reasonable that…"

"Do not be so naïve, Scholar Scrya. Our side and theirs have no such contact. The Inquisition has their priorities and we of Her Supreme Majesty's Time-Space Administration Bureau have our own objectives. We all fight for our own definition of 'right', 'justice', and 'what is best for the Imperium of Man.'"

"Th-That is true, My Lord, but…"

"Scholar Scrya, if the extremist elements of the Inquisition had their way, all of our kind would be branded witches and heretics along with the rest of the psykers, long before we were born. 'Tis only good fortune that our ancestors fought so hard in the Horus Heresy to clear our names and earn us a place in the Imperium of today."

Yuuno deflated at Chrono's matter of fact tone, his expression a reflection clearly of his hurt, but he spoke no more. Naruto wanted to come to the kind boy's defense, but as he no understanding of --err, what was the word again?-- the politics in the wide galaxy beyond his own sky, he chose to relent as well.

Being ignorant really sucks…and this breakfast is starting to feel more and more like an interrogation!

"Now, it could not have been Captain Gabriel that sent the dobe. He has no intelligence on our whereabouts and activities anyway, until a new Inquisitor sponsors his brethren, in the least. None of our own people would make such a grotesque association with Uzumaki, especially knowing who slumbers inside him."

Oh, what a guy… Going for the low blows already, huh, Chrono-teme?

"Which leaves only one logical conclusion: those meddlesome Battle Sisters from the Order of the Black Barrel must have found out. According to our information, they were pretty thick with the late Lord Inquisitor Drakken. The question is, why in the Warp would they send the Daemonhost to us?"

Yuuno gasped, his complexion blanching to an unhealthy pallor in an instant. Naruto had seen this reaction before, a couple of months back when they all first met together at the graveyard. "M-My Lord! Please, you mustn't…!"

Question is: what was he freaking out so much for? What is this daemon or something host nonsense?

"In that case, why do you not answer me then, Uzumaki?" Chrono smirked, putting Naruto's teeth on edge.

He sure as hell was not going to tell the prick about Cypher, but lying to him would be impossible too. The guy would sniff him out in a heartbeat. How long he could protect Cypher's anonymity he did not know, but in the least, he would delay the bad news as long as possible.

After all, the best lies were half-truths…

"Ahem! Well, to tell ya the truth!" Naruto paused for drama, a huge toothy grin on his face that accented the whisker-like birthmarks in his face. The gesture surprisingly making Chrono's gaze grow colder to his silent relief, meaning his gambit may just pay off. "The Sisters did tell me 'bout where you lived-yo!"

"As expected…" Chrono drawled airily.

C'mon, c'mon! Take the bait!

"But there's something more important…"

"That is?"

Clap.

"O-O-o-O-one-O-ONEGAI shimasu! Please, Chrono-shirei! Make me your subordinate!"

PFFFFFFFFFFfttttttt!

"Blugh, WHAT -- Wha -- WHAT YOU SAY?!"

Got 'im!

The sun was setting in the city of Yokohama, casting a brilliant orange hue over the great city. Such light filled the Spartan room of Brother-Captain Gabriel, wielder of the Daemonhammer "Daemonbane." The man in particular was leaning into a desk chair, focused upon a single sheet of paper he had received earlier in the day.

A number of weeks have passed without incident, drawing righteous suspicion from city's ever vigilant. It was strange for so much time to pass and not a single problem arising. In fact, the only surprises were ones that brought good news.

According to these reports (compiled no less by the Sisters of the Black Barrel, Empress bless their diligence), Lady Nanoha was training hard by herself in secret, her magic prowess growing by leaps and bounds. The Daemonhost seemed to show some improvement in his combat abilities (granted, the Sisters did not approve of the Grey Knight's methods), extending the amount of time it took for one of the Grey Knights to beat the boy down – what once took five minutes now took ten. An impressive, if a little slow, development; also, those pair of boy mages have not made a single complaint yet, keeping the blissful peace; in fact, the Daemonhost had been seen in their company more often, and seemed to be building a working professional relationship.

The biggest surprise (and in Gabriel's opinion, least appreciated) was Lady Nanoha personally visiting the Daemonhost and inviting him on a trip to a hot springs resort. In just a few days was what the Japanese called "Golden Week," a series of national holidays that freed many from work and allowed them a brief vacation. Thus, the Takamachi family and friends would be taking a vacation of their own.

Lord Takamachi had grimly explained during work: the boy was allowed to go under the provisions that he remain on his best behavior and a chaperone present over him. Gabriel was left with a sheet of paper containing the hot spring's address and other bits of pertinent information, as well as handwritten notes of what Lord Takamachi had said. There were many hidden threats behind the message, and Gabriel was loath to disappoint the High Noble anymore. He would have gone personally, but that was not possible.

Thus, there was one other he could trust completely.

"Brother Ezrael, a word, if you please," Gabriel poked his head out his personal quarters, addressing the smallest (but by no means the weakest) of his group. "Privately."

The Justicar in question was taking a rare break from his duties, sitting on the couch and reading a book of sorts (Hyperion, the novel was called). With a nod, he closed the book and made a beeline to his commander's (and his) room. The Grey Knights' apartment, while it was indeed large, possessed only three bedrooms, and thus forced the Space Marines to share them with two to a room. Gabriel and Ezrael were one of these groups.

"I have a mission that only you can perform. As such, this will be solo work."

Ezrael nodded, cool eyes boring into the Captain.

"The Daemonhost has been invited to an extended trip with Lady Nanoha and her family, along with family friends. You must go as the boy's guardian and chaperone."

"……shift," Ezrael spoke softly, his voice ever calm and fair sounding.

"I have already called in to your supervisor. Your place of work will not expect you for the rest of the week."

"……selection."

"Alas, Brother Michael and Raphael's work is very demanding, more than any of ours. Chaplain Uriel is occupied with 'crunch week' at his employment, and Apothecary Ramiel is constantly on call. Brother Chamuel is unable to tear away from his work without disappointing many. I alone must watch the Midoriya while the Takamachi family is away; I am expected to maintain the usual volume of customers. From want I know, you do not have any pressing engagements currently, correct?"

Slowly, Ezrael nodded in confirmation and resignation. There was no choice; only he was mission capable.

"……self."

"You will not be able to bring your Aegis, but there are provisions to bring your scythe and Liber Daemonica. Your orders are to observe and remain vigilant, acting as the Daemonhost's uncle. I know it is abhorrent, but please bear with it."

It was an amazing sight to see the two converse. Before Ezrael could ask any questions, Gabriel already knew; with only one word, Gabriel understood what Ezrael asked. No other had a degree of understanding than these two together.

The shorter of the two nodded. He knew his mission, and he would carry it out.

"Be ready to leave at 0600 hours the day after tomorrow. You are dismissed, Brother. Oh, and be sure to remain discreet. If you must act, use discretion. Lethal force only if absolutely necessary."

"Sir."

The Justicar of the Scythe stood and exited the room, leaving Gabriel alone to his thoughts. One could hope that entire trip would go without a hitch. However, considering his luck and the nature of the situation, he doubted there would be no problem. At the same time, he prayed that Ezrael would be adequate in handling whatever crisis may pop up. After all, he was a Space Marine, a Grey Knight, the finest of all of the Empress's children.

Letting out a small breath, the Brother-Captain returned to the data-slate of paperwork that never seemed to end. The most annoying in particular was the file containing the apartment's budget report.

They would be in the red again this week…

Author's Notes:

And there we have it. After way too long a period, another chapter down and another in the works; life goes on and I keep typing. Your reviews fuel the fire, so please do not hesitate to leave some feedback. Hitting that little button down there and leaving a message tells me that people want more, thus I will reciprocate. In regards to the folks asking me what other series I will be crossing over into this, you all will just have to wait. One never reveals his hand early, after all.

Ahh, actually there is a way you can figure it out. I propose this challenge to all my readers: name every cameo character I have brought in thus far. Test your otaku knowledge! Whoever can guess them all or guess the most, the reward I shall discuss with the winner -- maybe a cameo of your own? As the story progresses, more subtle hints will be dropped, as well as new cameos appear. If you can get them all as of the current chapter, then you win. It's up to you, dear readers, to find them all. Are you up to the challenge?

I'll give you guys a few hints, just to start it off:

Only Ramiel is an original character.

Cameos are not limited to anime – video games are open too.

Courage, Faith, Honor, Strength, Love; they are the building blocks of a hero.

Please email me your answers! I will ignore any that are placed in reviews! Don't worry; you can try as many times as you want, and I'll reply in email with which ones are correct and which ones aren't.

Until next time.

I'll take this time to thank my beta / partner / James "Ray" Edwards. His work and assistance is highly appreciated, and I probably wouldn't have gotten this far without him. I will also take this moment to direct you to his current story: An Idiot's Guide to Nindo. It is an epic story spanning dimensions, universes, and features many series. A warning, however: it is not for the faint of heart. And he's prohibited from taking part in the "guess the cameo" contest.

Imperial Thought of the Day: Excuses are the refuge of the weak.

Omake…?

"Hey, did you hear? We got a new nurse!"

"Yeah? What happened to the old one?"

"I hear the new nurse is a total babe."

"I hear she's got freaky eyes!"

"She must be some old hag…"

The rumor mills of Seishou Auxiliary Elementary School churned on with the various he-said-she-said gossip concerning the newest addition to the faculty. Regardless of what was said, the only known truth was that the new nurse was a woman; elected to investigate more were two male students from the older class.

To the Nurse's Office they went, brainstorming an excuse for treatment. They would have to have a decent story lest they be sent back in shame and without the needed intelligence.

It was to their slight confusion that they entered the office only to find no nurse. The room was empty save for the two of them; the window was open and letting in a comfortable breeze. Were the rumors completely wrong?

"Ara ara, it seems I have visitors," a silky voice flowed over them like cream, rich and smooth. Turning around, the two students were stunned to see their new nurse.

Oh man. She was freakin' HOT.

Luxurious raven hair trailed down a spotless white lab coat, name brand skirt and blouse that seemed a size too small on a body that was oh-so-glorious, but what amazed the two boys were her brilliant golden eyes. They seemed to stare right into them, tearing every layer away and leaving only the naked truth – the boys shivered in her gaze.

"W-we had heard that there was a new nurse, so we came to greet her," the first

"Is that so? Well, it is a pleasure to meet you two. My name is Dinah," she smiled gracefully and beckoned them to come deeper into the office. As she approached her personal desk, the two students' eyes were drawn to the most outlandish contraption propped up high on the wall.

"Whoa…" the students drawled out in awe. It was a strange amalgamation of a guitar and three-barreled gatling gun, though it did not just seem like someone took the two and bolted them together. No, the instrument was of solid deliberate construction, the two parts blending smoothly together to make one instrument of musical doom.

"Oh that? Worry not about it. It's something a friend of mine made for me as a joke," the nurse grinned, sitting demurely at her desk and crossing her legs. "It isn't loaded, so it isn't dangerous."

"Ahh," the two nodded in understanding. Wait. Not loaded?

"So what is it can I help you two with?"

"It's Tanaka-kun, ma'am. He's been feeling pretty bad since lunchtime. I think he just ate something bad," one of the kids spoke up. At the cue, the other boy clutched his stomach and tried to look pained.

"Ah, is that so? Come here then, young sir, and let me take a look at it," she patted a bed, smiling as the boy scrambled quickly on.

The nurse hummed thoughtfully as she examined the sick boy, purposefully ignoring the blissful look he had on his face. Dinah was of course no fool, seeing right through their minor ruse the moment she made eye contact. Still, boys will be boys, and children were entitled to a little mischief. Even so, adults were allowed to be a little mischievous themselves…

"Well, I believe I have a good medicine for you to take. It's a little bitter, but I'm sure you can handle it without a problem," Dinah gave a reassuring smile and opened a drawer on her desk. Retrieving an unlabeled bottle, she also brought out a small medicine cup, filling it with the bottle's contents.

And it was the most disgusting thing ever. It was a thick black-brown sludge, almost gelatinous in consistency. There was heavy, pungent and bitter smell that seemed to grate against the senses. Though the "sick" one could not smell it, his friend could, and it made his face go green in an instant. He abandoned his post quickly.

"Maa, just swallow this down and you should be feeling better in an instant," Dinah held out the small cup to the boy. He had turned pale just by looking at the stuff, and consider how his buddy ran off so quickly, he was beginning to regret staying behind.

"Oh my. You're so pale! You'll need more of the medicine," the nurse made a move for the bottle again.

"A-a-a-actually I'm feeling a lot better now, Dinah-san!" the boy stammered, eyeing the sickening concoction. He was feeling sick just by looking at it! "T-thank you for your help!"

Quickly pulling his clothes, the boy stumbled out of the bed and fled the room, following his already retreating friend.

And back at the office, Dinah giggled quietly to herself. The concoction was completely harmless, if a bit disgusting looking and smelling. And it was so cute how those boys tried to find out more about her. Really, they could have just simply asked.

Sighing contently, Dinah enjoyed the light breeze as she idly wondered when she would be able to meet the rest of the faculty, particularly two junior teachers and their blond-haired student.

Ahh, such a wonderful place… She could get used to this…