Okay, I'm alive. Excuse? I lost my work on this chapter awhile back.
Which sucks. A lot.
This chapter had over six-thousand words to it before I lost it. Doesn't seem like much when compared to my other chapters, but it really put a damper in my mood to write.
Plus, I got a job. So my time was kinda focused around getting my life together. Making money, apartment, working on a script for Warner Bros. (very hush-hush), I had a lot of me-work to figure out.
Now, I feel motivated again. So without further ado, here's the best I could do at remaking my work.
Yay…
CHAPTER THREE: GOD'S GOT ONE HELL OF AN ALARM CLOCK PART 2
The Underworld
Nine years ago…
As was perhaps no great surprise to anyone, the Lord of Lucifer Mansion was an important man. A man of deep responsibilities.
The title of Great Satan did not come with countless parties, pleasures, and time to oneself. It was a name given only to those able and willing to uphold the requirements of long duty and service imagined by its label. A designation bequeathed only to those who have sworn to attend to their fellow Devil with the utmost of their abilities.
Such importance to the four worthy brought wonders to many. Children dreamed and pondered about the idea of becoming a Satan themselves one day, while adults imagined what responsibilities could only be upheld by their powerful rulers. What efforts must have been needed. But as what may have come as a surprise to some, the labors of the Satans were not always of some magnificent, worldly significance beyond the contemplation of the common Devil. Often, the quotidian necessities of the Underworld came off as somewhat uninteresting, or even tedious, as Sirzechs Lucifer was only too familiar with.
It was a sort of labor he had found, admittedly, a small comfort with in the last five centuries but would admit to some boredom towards, only in private with his lady.
Rare were the times when the Lord Lucifer found a moment's reprieve from his daily labors, but today was unique.
Presently, the matters of the Underworld had been settled early. His maids and servants brought in an unusually small quantity of required duties for him to put his hands into. He almost wondered if they'd overlooked some larger piece from delivery, or maybe forgotten to mention a meeting with a Household of status.
It was barely nearing midday and his papers were given their proper signatures and organized accordingly. His desk was cleared of all things even remotely under the sentiment of 'urgent' and even the more minute obligations of his position seemed to have been settled with swiftness. He couldn't remember the last time such a day had occurred. It must have been some ten years, at least. Which, even for someone as long-lived as him, was a very long time.
And so, with a satisfied grin to his lips, the Lord Lucifer left his office without a plan or action in mind.
He simply felt like taking a walk.
The Sakura Clearing
Present Day
For Naruto, Ruruko was the obvious choice when it came to deciding who to attack first.
By and large, she was the weakest of Sona's Peerage. Her overall ability was practically flaunted by her wary eyes and fidgeting form. Whereas her fellow guard held herself firmly down, Ruruko possessed nothing in the way of such confidence. Her personal history lacked the foundation of physical training that her fellow members held and it showed.
He saw this easily.
She offered her own punch when he narrowed the short way between them, catching her fist without issue before giving her the most casual toss away he could.
He didn't hurt her. At least, nothing severe. She stumbled, screeched a little, then fell into the dirt clumsily.
It was a simple move. Like dealing with a child.
Tsubara was less inefficient. Her strength was more significant than his. Her speed, not as troublesome, but Naruto still curved his body to avoid her first attacks.
He stepped back. Once. Twice. Thrice. They were obvious attempts; her training wasn't as conventional or precise as some of the others. It was informal, rough and aggressive. Basic. And in a way, she reminded him of what he was once like: no tact, 'flailing angrily' in the hopes of hitting something or anyone. Though she lacked the belligerent growling or yelling he used to be so fond of. No doubt hunger had some measure of detriment to her performance but additional training would serve her well. Sona would see to that in the summertime.
She overstretched on the sixth move. And he caught her extended limb, giving her a quick spin before tossing her to the earth.
Or, rather, onto the still downed Pawn. Ruruko's hunger seemed to be forcing her back more than it showed, and she was too slow to stand back before the toss.
The two fell neatly to the dirt. A Rook piled onto a Pawn.
And that's when Tomoe, Kiba and Tsubaki came.
Tomoe was first. She was of a similar speed to Kiba but less hindered by injury. Though he did not let it show openly – less it wound his pride – the Devil male was still nursing himself after his airborne encounter. His reflexes were marred to match that of Tsubaki now. Which meant Tomoe, the now designated fastest of the three weapon wielders, was the first to strike down on him.
She should have kept with her makeshift group.
She attempted a wide swing, again. She was of a proper distance; her weapon would easily cut him from such a length. But her opponent would not have it. He stepped forward, fast, and had his hand out to catch the handle of the weapon even as it swung forwards. His fingers wrapped around her own, somewhat proving troublesome in her wanting to release herself from the weapon's grip.
It stopped her. She was apprehended.
"Can I borrow that?" Naruto wrenched the sword from the Knight's hands. Tomoe only gave a small squeal of surprise as the weapon was removed from her grip with a relaxed ease before being tossed with a lack of gentleness to the side.
Perhaps purposely, she fell onto the still downed Rook and Pawn.
Their moans echoed obvious discontent.
Naruto brought his newly acquired sword overhead; holding it with but a single hand as two pieces of hardened steel slammed onto it. The sword held back the power of a Queen and Knight's attacks without so much as a chip in its make.
Huh. Good sword. The former ninja thought approvingly.
There was the gritting of teeth and silent grunts of effort as the two Devils pressed themselves down onto their weapons, hoping the leverage would work to their advantage. And Naruto, for his part, admired their efforts. His expression would almost seem entertained, in a way. As if their attempts humored him.
Kiba and Tsubaki did not share in his amusement.
Giving a light push, Naruto threw the two Devils back. They landed, returning their outstretched wings to their hidden confines before moving with increased vigor to strike down their opponent. Their movements were as coordinated as two individuals without prior practice in combat together could be. It was admirable and showed a clear trust in the others ability to silently move and react with the other's moves. But their opponent was not indifferent to their efforts. He met their quickened attacks with enthusiasm; finding a somewhat satisfaction in using his only just acquired weapon to challenge the two unquestionably talented weapon users.
They tried to surround him. Attack simultaneously. Throw him off his guard.
Kiba would stab. Tsubaki would slash. Naruto would weave and block.
How curious, really, for those watching from the Gremory House. The Uzumaki was by no means a swordsman. Kiba acknowledged this fact, even as he was pressed by his quick movements. By the way of the human's swings, his attacks seemed less towards technique and more about keeping the two Devils at bay. His movements were akin to as if he were swinging a large stick or bat, rather than an elegant weapon. He gave no care for whether he made contact with his foes – only if he pressed them back.
He was successful in those fronts. There were no openings. No missteps or feints to exploit. His simple waving of his sword proved wearying even in its lack of skillful use.
Tsubara was back to her feet. Ruruko at her side. Tomoe looked peeved at the loss of her weapon but made no efforts to leap into the mess of swords and steel.
Koneko still stood away; calmer and more relaxed than the Sitri Servants. Like a predator: waiting for her moment to leap.
And perhaps she would get her chance soon. Kiba was tiring. Tsubaki, by glance alone, was looking more worn than before. Her finesse had steadily fell. She needed a moment's breath – or food, better yet. They would run out of energy long before Naruto would even break a sweat.
Then, Kiba saw a transparent shine of blue.
"Everyone! Back!" He yelled, already in the state of moving from his enemy as fast as his feet would allow.
Those nearest to Naruto did not seem hesitant to listen. Even to an opponent such as he. They moved and not a moment too soon as great torrents of water – as wide and large as a bus – twisted and spun not like some great cyclone over the dirt and grass towards the human boy. Gravity be damned, it seemed unhindered by the rules of nature, as even its appearance seemed to contradict the rather dry environment around.
Naruto raised his arms, sword still in hand, and guarded against the onslaught.
But it was not over.
From above, Akeno had waited. She readied herself a moment before to strike down her human friend whilst he fought against the Servants of Sitri. Even if their common goal was the same, they were her enemies still. And were it not for Kiba's sudden rush into the thralls of Naruto's competition, she might have already struck down at both human and Devil teens.
But then, the teens scattered and Sona's magic came into play.
The Himejima girl saw no better opportunity. She allowed the lightning to move from her fingers and rain down onto the earth; striking the arcane liquid with little resistance. It shook and fizzled with the electricity, jolting everything from the earth to the boy with its terrifying power.
Naruto yelled from inside. His voice only just being heard from outside the rushing liquid. Akeno enjoyed his pain more than she would admit. His shakes and tightened figure brought an excited grin to her lips. A red tint to her cheeks. And while some might have called this amusement cruel, let it be of mind that this was simply in the young girl's nature to enjoy the fruits of her violent handiwork.
But the brunt of both arcane powers merging to attack a single foe was not yet over. For as the twisted laws of magic did dictate, two mystical elements conjured from two individuals now conversing within a limited space must be adeptly controlled to work under such conditions. Especially when in the circumstance where these powers proved to be strong opposites of the other.
Unless the merging of two energies was done intentionally, the usual result from such a feat could be…destructive…
With Rias and Asia…
Even to those of power and strength, caution must be kept at all moments, as even the Crimson Princess felt need to cover herself from the wind and light the Queen and fellow King's respective magics brought. The illumination and harsh brush of air was thrilling and intimidating, almost seeming as overwhelming as the two Peerage's first brush against the other at the start of this little challenge. Grass and dirt rose high once more, covering the area in its plume, while leaves on trees shifted and flew from branches, unable to endure this unstable blast.
As a warning to all who seek mastery of the arcane: while the impact of two powerful energies might have seemed vibrant and exciting to those watching from safe distances, their devastating effects on the nearby area should not be ignored. Entire forests and towns have been wiped from maps because of the improper implementation of magic. And while the Sitri and Himejima magics held nothing near the sort of power needed to level the surrounding area in their might, the chain reaction which followed their energy convergence could not be ignored.
Rias dared not look away even as she made out her nephew's form, screaming from within Sona's flood. His body writhed through the liquid whilst the arcane power of Akeno's magic danced around his skin and in his veins. His teeth were gritted tight, seeable from even her position, whilst his eyes were shut and his fingers tightened into fists. Lightning flew from his chest to his knees to his hands and even to his head, while liquids pressed tightly around his lips in a move to drown.
It all seemed quite painful.
As for Asia, the young Bishop had taken to hiding behind her King, unable to view her roommate's suffering without being allowed to assist him. Like many things, it seemed that this happening was still too much for her.
But Rias would have none of it. "Open your eyes, Asia," she commanded, "do not look away. This is something you will have to grow used to while in my service." Asia only shook her head, refusing. "I do not do this to be cruel, Asia, I do this to be kind," Rias moved her eyes away from the fight to pull her Bishop forward.
She struggled, a little, but Rias was stronger. She was moved with little effort to the front of her but still refused to open her eyes.
"I guarantee, this will not be the first time you see this," Rias went on, "I plan to fight many battles in the future. With you by my side."
Rias slipped her hands from the girl's slender arms to her shoulders, giving a light squeeze for small comfort. She watched the scene still; Sona's attack had relented, the water now falling to the earth to form puddles, while Akeno hovered high above the rising dust. She appeared little better than Rias would have liked; she was undoubtedly weakened, as the two had agreed to forego breakfast that morning and save face incase if the others thought negatively of their vomiting. A stupid move, Rias acknowledged now. And even for one so adept in the forms of magic, the conjuration of lightning was no doubt tolling her Queen, as was likely a similar case with the Sitri King and her water.
"Open your eyes," she ordered her Bishop again, "and don't look away."
The holder of Twilight Healing could not even shrug her body away as her shoulders were held forward by smooth fingers. The voice of Rias continued to coax her into obedience by her ear. She did not wish to observe whatever she was being commanded to see; the pain of others was something she never liked to witness. And whenever she saw pain, Asia sought to ease it in whatever manner she believed would be necessary.
To friend or stranger, she was kind and always offered a hand with good intent.
But the King's beckoning rang into the former nun's ear. And for a moment, Asia did not relent to the order. Her face remained contorted and eyes held tightly closed. She did not enjoy her master's words, but a part of her worried mind did recognize the truth in them. She nursed no delusions to the reality of her position; the past month had been an experience of learning on a life she once scarcely even considered and never dreamt of having. She knew what was expected of her, which included obeying her red-haired friend command and looking out to whatever was now happening.
This acceptance of fact helped a little. Enough to press the teen into opening her eyes – slowly at first – and allow the barest of pieces of the morning's light to pass through and create a vision for her.
The first sight her eyes viewed was that of the earth. The grass was gone. Ripped or burnt away by the arcane eruption. The ground underneath was looking little better as if a part of the clearing had been eroded away to make a small dent into the planet. The dust in the air was still thick and difficult to see through. Too difficult to even see her friend and roommate. This might have been a worry for her as it was difficult to say whether this meant he was in trouble or simply biding his time. The day seemed only too willing to prove on how little Asia truly knew of the boy she lived beside. Personality, ability and capability together.
So, against her intentions or usual state of mind, her eyes wandered the clearing.
She was searching, with nervous gaze and worried face, for an opponent she would call friend later.
It was a strange look for the girl. Very strange. Rias only caught the barest of her appearance from behind but seemed to approve of whatever she was doing.
"You'll see more of this," her grip loosened around the young girl, coming off now as more of a caring touch, "and for that, Asia, I am so sorry…"
Akeno needed a drink.
Preferably tea, although water would have been just as appreciated.
Her throat was parched and she was starting to sweat. And while normally, a bit of sweat was of no issue to her – in fact, she usually preferred it; the way her clothes stuck to her skin was somewhat exciting – she now felt worry that with each bit of perspiration falling from her brow, another piece of her energy was lost as well.
The reason for her sweat was obvious; besides the clear energy-draining implications of conjuring arcane forces on an empty stomach, Akeno's body was beginning to overheat whilst performing taxing magical attacks on the hot, spring morning. Her figure was attempting to compensate for the increasing temperature by way of cooling, which only brought further sweat and the feeling of dehydration as her body worked itself with extremity to keep herself comfortable. Her clothes offered little in the way of ventilation and were, in fact, worn with the hopes of taking advantage of the cooler air the morning held. They were light, comfortable, and insulated. Preferable in use to colder days, not so much under a rising sun.
But she was not the only one to suffer.
From her place above, Akeno looked down to her friends and fellow Servants warily, taking notice of their wearied looks and, more importantly, similar outfits. Sona's Peerage wore similar outfits to herself and her friends, but this was of little surprise to her. Rias and the Sitri heiress were alike in many ways. Their choosing of similar clothes in the hopes of one-upping the other might not have seemed so odd for those familiar with the connection between them. Which meant, by her observation, it would only a matter of time before they felt the full force of the warming day.
And undoubtedly, the effects would only worsen with the day.
She could have laughed at the 'oh so' simple situation her peers had placed themselves in. These outfits were meant to aid themselves in the early morning cold which they assumed the two Peerages would be fighting in. Not in the increasing heat of the morning. It would not have surprised Akeno if Naruto had set this challenge's time to make use of this advantage. To make use of their hunger, their thirst, and now even their own clothes to weaken the numerical advantage the Devils had over him. All before he even stepped into the clearing.
That sly boy. She thought to herself, moving her tongue over her lips to taste the salty sweat coming over them. She could not see through the haze of dirt below just yet; the eruption had rendered her blind to the teen and now waited in the air for any sort of visual on the orange-clothed youth.
But she needn't wait long.
From the top of the plume dust, a shimmer of silvery steel flew towards her. Tomoe's weapon, Akeno quickly noticed, was moving towards her.
The youth's eyes did widen for a moment. The weapon's sudden appearance caught her unaware and unexpected.
But it proved inconsequential; the Queen of Gremory had many years' experience with flying about. Avoiding such a slender tool – quick and aimed properly towards her, though it might have been – required little more than a quick brush to the side to see it avoided and soaring past her figure.
Akeno paid it little mind after its missing. Her violet eyes moved to watch the floor below, attempting to discern where the weapon originated. Her vision loomed over every twitch of the dust as it began to wane, estimating the arc and point from where the sword came forth from while her fingers turned a shade of indigo as a small course of what seemed like electricity danced through her palm. She felt ready to send her attack forward in a blind manner of hopefully striking her opponent, yet hesitated still. Were this any other circumstance, the area around have been alit by the explosive prowess of her magic. But her weary mind and fatigue were giving her pause and worry, and so instead felt caution instead of delight in her wayward method of attack.
But then an unsettling sound came from above.
Poof!
In that moment, Akeno decided it was one of the worst sounds she would ever hear.
The Queen had no time to even turn before several tense fingers wrapped themselves into her wings. Her expression turned from shocked to worried as her airborne control stuttered, as a sudden feeling of nausea took over her thoughts and prevented what was once so easy for her.
She found it difficult to fly. And that feeling did not go away.
The control of her wings weakened, but did not give out just yet. She fluttered overtop the clearing with obvious intent to remain afloat. The pull on her wings begged her against such an action. They twitched and wreathed around in the grasp of the unseen attackers, while waves of discomfort and nausea followed the uncompromising grip.
The Queen felt an imbalance in herself.
She fell for a moment, but only a little.
Admirably, Akeno gave a last effort to hold herself midair. Her face was tightened while her hands tried to wrap themselves towards whatever force now had her closing the distance between the herself and earth. The attempt was admirable, with her body shaking as it fluttered in the air, but proved a fruitless effort.
She fell again. But this time, the Queen would not correct herself and so began a final, uncontrolled descent towards the green tops of trees.
The branches welcomed her into their pointed embrace.
In the trees…
Sona saw it all happen.
Well, obviously, she saw it happen. Almost everyone around the clearing did.
The glint of steel shimmering as it flew towards her peer. The nimble avoidance followed by the metal bursting into smoke. Naruto falling from the plume to wrap his fingers around Akeno's leathery wings – ripping the control from her body with a simple tug before gravity brought both friends towards the tree line.
In a matter of seconds, a Queen was rendered defenseless and beaten in a most effortless show of force.
A feeling began to grow within Sona's stomach which could be described aptly as 'disconcerting.'
The dust cleared soon after Akeno went into the trees. Naruto became visible; his clothes were a little dirtied and scratched, his hair had a little dust in its pointed locks, and maybe his left cheek had the tiniest showing that something violent had passed through him. But in all fairness, he seemed little worse than before his encounter with the magical forces. He looked untroubled, eyeing the direction where his copy sent the girl crashing towards the forest edge. Perhaps to appreciate his handiwork or maybe to see if she was alright, Sona couldn't say for certain. On most days, it would have been for the latter reason, but this weekend was causing her to question years of foreknowledge.
She made plans, of course, to deal with whatever she assumed would be brought by the boy. Lengthened strategies; envisioned outlooks; ideas towards victory – a week's worth of planning all based around prior knowledge of his personality and abilities. Even with the second condition being somewhat limited to background knowledge, Sona assumed she held at least a modicum of understanding on how he would pursue this conflict. Even if this 'bell game' was not within her vision of expectation.
Humans were capable – there was no denying that. A species doesn't survive a war between two obelisks of unfathomable power if there wasn't at least some ability to endure, adapt and press forward when opportunity appeared.
And the Uzumaki showed these traits in spades.
Under this worrisome forethought, Sona spent the week wondering and theorizing the ways to go about meeting her newly-made foe without mess-ups. He was outnumbered; a statistic she would work with. Numerical superiority won battles more often than those who won through pure ability alone. This didn't even count the advantages magic and inborn flight naturally gave to Devils. By all rights, the rulers of the Underworld logically had advantages over the average human. Advantages Sona was only too ready to make use of.
But now, flying was seeming less impressive or useful. Their magic barely left a smolder to his clothes – not to mention being costly to their already waning strength. And whatever benefit their numbers would have initially brought them was being rendered mute by his superior offensive and defensive capabilities. Add on the starvation, the weariness the early day and wait had brought her Peerage, and the increasing heat that the Japanese sun was pressing down onto themselves-
Yes. This situation was really starting to suck.
But such thoughts needed to be put away, for now, as Naruto made a slow move to raise his sword overhead. No surprise he still had it; Sona was aware he could make himself, or those who bared a likeness to himself, appear alike to items or even people with a profound likeness. Undoubtedly the weapon he threw before was another of his hidden copies and the weapon in his fingers presently was the true sword of Tomoe.
He held the steel in the air for a moment. Unmoving. Garnering an intense attention from those around.
What are you planning? Sona wondered, eyes looking over the field. Her Peerage began to move back to surround the boy, alongside Rias's own.
They were rightfully still worried and wary.
But then, Naruto swung the sword down, only for it to slip from his fingers and fly towards the forest's edge-
Fwish…
The air whistled for only a moment. Quietly. Very. Sona only heard it because the noise was made just by her ear; where the weapon moved, sharpened point first, just past her ear.
Twang.
The noise which followed was more obvious. It made her Bishops jump and yelp in surprise. The weapon had notched itself into the wood of the tree behind her; going a few inches in, perhaps.
Sona didn't bother to check. Her eyes were too wide and full shock, staring at the boy.
From her point, Naruto was easily visible. The clearing offered little in the way of hiding his position. But on the other hand, the foliage around the forest's edge offered a natural cover to her movements or person.
She thought herself hidden.
He remembered where my attack came from, she concluded quietly. She hadn't moved. She wanted to see how he was and dared not move after the magical attacks erupted the area in a violent shine. But then her attention was to Akeno, then to her Peerage moving, and then back to curiously wonder what the boy was doing with the weapon.
She'd been distracted. It was her mistake.
She felt her heart miss a beat. Her fingers shook and lips twitched. Her legs felt unusually limber and threatened to give way.
She then made a move; her hand went to a branch and gave it the lightest holds.
It helped solidify herself.
But for all her troubled mind, Sona appeared quite cool. Her eyes were still hard and calculative. Her posture was already beginning to straighten; her mind unraveling from the prospect of what a less merciful or kind opponent might have done under the circumstances present. The strategist within began to think of a next move while she silently made sure to return towards an outwardly appearance of calm.
She needed to keep that notion up that she was still a King.
"We need to regroup," she said. Compliments to Sona, her voice didn't hitch or sound any different than its usual controlled tone. Her Bishops would feel oddly comforted by this in a short moment, "call everyone back. We need a plan."
In the clearing…
As a note to sooth any wayward worries, there should be no doubt that Naruto had complete control of the sword as it left his fingers and flew off towards the Sitri girl.
This was hardly the first moment he needed to give a great toss of something unfamiliar to his fingers towards a purposed target. In fact, he might have even considered himself an expert by the standards of this new world; there was an almost-impossible precision to his weapon throwing that might have been considered superhuman. But truthfully, in a past life, the sword-throw would have been viewed with little more than an appreciated nod at his accuracy. Not as anything special.
Still, he got his point across to her; Sona gave her position away.
She needed to move. Now.
And she began to. Just as a quiet sound began to ring around him. Focused at the members of the Sitri Heiress. Light blue sigils, glistening softly, formed around each member's ears. It grabbed their attention promptly. "Fall back," came a silent voice. There weren't any further words given. Or any arguments offered.
Tsubaki, Tomoe, Tsubara and Ruruko made quick movements towards the 'Sitri side' of the woods. All sense of caution was thrown to the wind. They simply wanted to get out of the clearing with what strength they still had left. All too eager to follow their retreat command to the T.
And now, of that makeshift encirclement, only Kiba remained. Koneko was some yards behind him.
The Knight had the grace to at least look sheepishly dismayed at the lacking of his previous backup while the ashen-haired teen called out a quiet curse to the retreating members of Sitri; calling for their heads on this betrayal.
To no one's surprise, a reddish glyph appeared by the two Devils' ears swiftly after.
And then, they ran.
The Gremory Side of the Forest Edge…
Sometime later…
"Okay. So," Rias began, "that could have gone better."
"I couldn't agree more, Buchou!"
"That's not helping, Akeno."
"We had our asses handed to us. Thoroughly."
"Koneko, please."
"I thought you all looked really great out there!"
"Asia, that's…thanks." The Bishop was trying, she really was.
Rias would not fault her for it, even as her hands went to rub her soring temples.
Asia helped Akeno and Kiba to a tree sometime after she sent her order to retreat. The Bishop helped clear away twigs and leaves from her Queen's roughed form, as her less than elegant and largely forced landing had done a number to her. While her clothes took the brunt of her damage when landing into the trees – now supporting holes and tears in its fabric – there were still small cuts and bruises around her person to which Asia eagerly went to work on fixing with the wonderful blessing that was Twilight Healing.
Rias's Knight, gentleman he was, placated Asia to his Queen first. His wounds could be healed after, he said, and claimed they looked worse than they felt.
Rias doubted his word but chose not to argue it in front of the others.
And finally, her Rook; though unsuccessful in her first bout against the human boy, Koneko was largely unhindered and awaited a return to action. Though with perhaps a lack of eagerness than before.
Which left only herself and Asia.
The Bishop, obviously, was not combat ready. At all. And Rias knew her own limits against the boy even on the best of days.
So, in summary:
"Shit," she cursed, "shit shit shit shit shit."
Stressful. This whole thing was so stressful.
She moved to stand by her Rook – still cursing – and glanced through a small opening between the woods and foliage towards the proprietor of her stress. Koneko decided quickly to take watch and see what move the blond might have made during their wait. To ensure their friend hadn't decided to change his mind and begin playing the offensive.
The sight of Naruto relaxing by the Sakura tree, reading his somewhat shredded magazine with a contented look, was both comforting and irritating at the same time.
Comforting in that, most likely, it meant he was not actively breathing down their necks.
Irritating because…well, that was still smut he was reading.
Oh, for certain, Rias was aware now that the material was less for his viewing pleasure and more to garner a reaction from the primarily female population. A tact which worked splendidly, she would admit with some humiliation. But the idea of seeing her nephew perusing such material gave her such an irritable feeling which readily showed on her crossed features.
By comparison, Koneko's expression differed little from her own, though she was more vocal in her distaste.
"I'm going to smack his shit."
"Not alone, you're not," Rias said, placing a hand to her shoulder to stop any unnecessary actions she might take. "Wait for the others. Going in now would be stupid."
Her words were blunt and offered little room to argue. Koneko may not have liked it, but she understood her place. She was a proud, but loyal Rook and the odds of her winning against Naruto were less than she would have otherwise admitted.
She and her wise King knew this. And so, Koneko would wait; soon joining in conversation comprised of soft whispers around plans and moves and tricks which needed implementing in the near time. All the while taking back their lost strength and morale and proving the fortitude and heart of the Lady Gremory's small Peerage was not to be misjudged.
This challenge wasn't over. Not for Rias or her friends.
Not by a long shot.
On the Sitri Side…
"We left Saji-san."
"He's fine."
"He doesn't look fine."
"He's breathing."
"He isn't moving much."
"He had four fingers rammed up his rear. I don't imagine he'll be moving around for a while."
"He flew really high…"
Closing her eyes and counting to a quick ten was all Sona could do to remain somewhat in control of herself over her youngest Servant's concerned whispers.
The mentioned boy still laid in the clearing, having missed the order to move back to the woods. After his running into Naruto and being sent into the sky with a following lackluster fall back the earth, Saji did little to correct his appearance. His rear quarters were still raised pointedly in the air. His expression was pained with a small twitch around his right eye. His fingers fidgeted as if still in shock and wanting to move to ease his struck behind but failed to find the energy to do so.
Saji was out of it. For how much longer, no one could guess.
It was a rather awkward look. Pride-wounding without question. And honestly, had this occurred to anyone outside her Peerage, Sona might have offered an amused smile at the view.
Naruto's attack was 'effective,' if nothing else.
Still, while Sona understood her Pawn's plight, she was also aware of her inability to remedy the problem at the moment.
"Ruruko," she said, "if you would, please stay focused."
The young teen who stared out into the clearing did turn back towards the center of the small opening of the woods to meet her King's gaze. Beside Sona, gathered around a small part of forested dirt, the rest of her friends stood while gazing towards her with focused eyes.
She realized quickly they were waiting for her.
Now, somewhat humiliated by being so distracting, Ruruko moved back to the circle her friends made and attempted to look busy and interested. Even if the corners of her eyes belied the worry of what the others thought of her then.
Sona said nothing. The Pawn was a sweet girl who was very fond of Saji. Her caring for a fellow member of her Peerage was nothing to critique.
Instead, Sona decided her focus was better put to her next plan.
Between the members of the Sitri house was what might have been best described as a makeshift strategy table. The heiress held a stick in her hands and casually drew small patterns and gestures into the ground to organize and provide her thoughts visually on her Peerage's first skirmish against the Uzumaki boy. It was a rough method to work with, but with her magic reserves somewhat weakened and worried a magical projection of her plans would drain her further, she decided this was for the best.
Her Peerage watched her work. And together, they conveyed thoughts and opinions on what occurred and what needed doing. Many of these plans were whittled down or discarded soon after conception by way of discussing their opponent's abilities. Naruto had the effect of making most ideas seem quickly ineffective or wasteful after initial conception. His arsenal for avoiding conflict or dishing out punishment against those of even reasonable and competent ability was staggering. Alone, even more so. And worse even yet was the gnawing idea brought up that maybe he was going easy on them; the thought bringing disheartening feelings of what he might have fully been capable of to the back of their minds, should he decide he was bored with this easy-going conflict.
However, Sona would not allow such thoughts to fester.
To every strategy, there was a flaw to exploit. To every defense, a weak point. To an offense, an opening.
For years, such a mentality had been pressed deep within her. Since she took her first steps. As was custom and befitting the one who was heir to the name Sitri.
Sona told herself she would find a way and held little doubt of that.
Fwwshing.
Although, maybe, it would not be without assistance.
By the Sitri King's left ear, just as the girl began to draw yet another optional plan of forward movement towards the bells on the boy's hips, a soft glow of red appeared at the corner of her vision. She recognized the glow quickly; the hue was a familiar dark shade to almost as if blood and when she curved her head she could see the familiar shape of a Devilish glyph made by the members of the Gremory House.
"Sona?" The floating red symbol spoke.
"Yes?"
"I think I have a plan."
In the clearing…
She can't be real. He told himself, staring. It has to be…photo-fixing crazy stuff.
He twisted the magazine around.
…Yes. Def-definitely crazy photo stuff.
He twisted it. Again. Again. And again.
…Or magic. Powerful, powerful magic.
Maybe he needed an expert on this. Someone who knew the ins and outs of imagery tomfoolery. Gasper would know. He would. He'd show him…no, wait, no he wouldn't. Gasper would tell Rias he showed him this. Rias would yell at him. And there was no limit of the level of crap which could be made from that little asking of an opinion.
But oh, this was all of small concern.
His eyes caught the shift in the woods. From both his sides.
Sona led her team onto the field. No hiding, no sense of ulterior intentions. He counted the members – they were all there (minus Saji, the poor man). No one hiding in the grass or trees. A full team walking onto the field.
Rias was no different. Kiba, Koneko, Akeno and even Asia walked beside herself. They had a look of no-nonsense, but Asia was obviously nervous. She kept moving her eyes from everyone, looking unsurprisingly careful to what or why she was there to begin with.
The two teams met at his sides. Encircled him.
Closely knit, but still holding ground. Magic coursed and moved between fingers, weapons were drawn, an aggressive Koneko made crass comments. A full-frontal assault, maybe. Power in numbers. No attempt at subterfuge or strategy against a foe that obviously had the upper in skill and energy.
And oh, was there an energy to them now.
When all else fails, sometimes a suicide rush head on might suffice. It used to be one of Naruto's favorite strategies, once upon a time. Rias might have come off as unsurprising in such an approach, but Sona? Naruto could only wonder what manner of persuasion or thought-provoking measures must have been done to move the infallible Sitri heiress into this position.
The blond human smiled at the sight around him, casually tossing the publication over his shoulder and out of the way. There would be no reading now.
"Alright," he said, lowering his position slowly, "I might actually be a little nervous now."
A joke, maybe? The Devils weren't sure.
In response, the two Kings raised their hands instead, mirroring the other.
Then through them forward, pointing to their opponent.
And the fighting started again.
Time Remaining: 1 hour, 37 minutes, 12 seconds…
"Ugh…urr…oooh…"
Saji was sore.
Not in the good sort where hard work was proven through aching muscles and the feeling of sweat. This was more of the kind which dealt with pain. Unhindered, unkind pain. Of a manner, he wished never to have felt in his life.
How long had he been out? Felt only like a minute.
His body felt odd, too. Laying funny. He turned himself over to the side, falling rather ungracefully to the grass. Still sore, it hurt to even move. There was no quick rising from this teenager, that was certain.
He opened his eyes once somewhat comfortable. Took his eyes a second to adjust – the grass, the light, they raided his senses first – but he started to make out patterns moving some ways off. His ears did pick up the sounds of grunts, the tapping of hard materials, the chimes and whistles of familiar magic whistling around. He might have been a novice of Devil still, but he was not unintelligent, and his mind quickly found remembrance in that, yes, there was a fight being fought now.
An objective to be had.
Naruto. He could see him. One hand was clinched around the Gremory Knight's back shirt, lifting him around and forcing him into a makeshift shield against an aggressing Tomoe and Tsubara, while his still free arm caught and forced his Queen to stall in her further attempts at piercing his side. And all the while, some various colored energy fell past at every side, with only just narrowest of misses to be seen at his character.
Narrow avoidances? Or lucky misses?
Saji watched as Naruto tossed Kiba at his friends. He measured himself against Tsubaki and leapt over her, meeting the Rook Koneko midair with fully-intended contact. Then came Ruruko to aid her – when had they decided to fight together, the downed Devil wondered – and for a second, it looked like they might have had him. Two against one, closely quartered, two aggressive fighters battering down a human.
It was so close. So very close.
But Naruto seemed pressed and moved away. Right into a pair of Sitri Bishops' blue fire.
He was an animal trapped. Naruto did not seem so interested in making distance between those around him. Difficult to say if he even could. One moment after another, the combined efforts of the Devils kept at him, not allowing more than a second for him to breath before her was battered by steel, fists or magic itself.
Saji noticed he wasn't smiling anymore.
A good sign? Maybe. And Saji did feel something like hope building up in his chest.
"Gah. Come on, come on!" He found his voice again. The soreness remained, but the pain was dulling. He felt control of his legs. He moved to stand, feeling disjointed but not incapable of holding himself. He wobbled for only a moment or two, but tenacity was something teenagers of any species have in spades. The attitude to ignore irritations and follow through with their self-made plans, no matter how flawed they might have been.
Injured and largely unable to fight? Moving to stand and aid his comrades against someone tried and truly a warrior bred in the Underworld?
He might have been capable of doing very little to help, but he felt for his power still.
His hand raised.
Above the noise, above the shouting and grunts and fiery moves, the objective chimed to his ear. The bells, still wrapped around the boy's clothes, were tantalizing. And motion after motion by both teams bore no fruit in their attempts to relieve the tiny orbs from his side.
Saji had a good feeling, though. It was possible.
All it would require of him was aim, focus, and a small bit of luck.
"Come, Vritra," he beckoned, "Absorption Line!"
The familiar dark and violet creature wrapped itself around his hand. It wasted no time in opening its mouth, the tongue shooting towards the center of conflict without issue to the distance or length it needed to stretch forward. It was similar to how it happened before, but with a minor twist. Where before, the tongue of Absorption Line went off to the side of his opponent to see him wrapped accordingly in its tendril – a failed move, ultimately, and one Saji had neither the intention of pursuing again or feeling off put by again – now, instead, the shot went forward. Straight and narrow. Aimed carefully and precisely as could be.
Right to the side of his opponent. Right along his pants.
Thwap!
He only missed marginally.
A partial success and partial failure. Absorption Line moved by will and focus of its user. A perfect aim, so long as Saji was of a capable state of mind. He was only partially so, but still managed the power and strength to have himself attentive in his gaze purposely locked onto the silvery bells.
Distance would only be a minor irritation. His opponent had been stopped for a moment to deal with the Gremory Rook, who took to wrapping her tiny hands around his waist and holding him steady for however long her move could manage. He also seemed to need a moment to deal with the sharpened steel and fists going at him from several opponents; where the teen managed to find himself the skill to survive such motions then was beyond the Pawn's mind. He couldn't even imagine some of the most powerful of beings within the Underworld being so impossibly proficient as he was.
He already thought it before. But now; Saji was certain he and his friends had underestimated their blond opponent.
But that was neither here nor there, now. His attack had met his mark. The sticky and adhesive tongue of Vritra took hold of something – he could feel it through the link of his Gear. Something small and round. A singular hold, not a pair, sadly. But he felt the Line tighten around it's mark and already begin to return. The tiny string would give way soon enough.
But this move did not go unnoticed.
Obviously, an attack such as Absorption Line was easy to predict and see. Especially when the user felt such a tug at his side.
Saji wasn't sure when his opponent lost the Rook at his side, or fended off the front-line fighters of both Peerages. All he saw, even through his wavering focus, were the two blue orbs pointed his way. Everyone else seemed to have given some distance to the boy, or been tossed away by the most recent of attack, and watched as Absorption Line did its work. It was the closest any had gotten to the bells; maybe they wished to see if it was even possible to have them removed.
All Devils watched quietly.
But Naruto only smiled, looking at Saji. Not making a move to remove the Gear's hold on him. He waited, for a long second. Not moving an inch to stop him.
Saji felt this weird or maybe testing. Unnerving, to be sure.
He ordered the single bell back to him. Absorption Line answering his command.
Not a moment later, the tongue fell back to his side. And with the minutest of efforts, he forced the adhesive thing to release its hold on the silvery chime, depositing in his hand.
And that's how Saji got the first bell.
If there was any sort of moment of quiet appreciation, acknowledgment, or amazement in how Saji, of all Devils, managed to snag the first victory on the field, it was cut off by the sound of clapping.
"Nice one!" Naruto yelled. "Ha-ha, very good, Saji!" More clapping. "You really surprised me there! Never saw it coming." He continued to shout. Loud, easily heard, and garnering the attention of everyone around. Forced to be listened to.
Saji noticed, looking awkwardly between the bell and the human. "Uh, thanks," he did sound appreciative, still, if weirded. "I, uh, couldn't have done it without…anyway, uh, does this mean...are we done here?" He stuttered, but managed to ask his question innocently enough. His stomach almost growled. It wanted to, severely. He couldn't stop the look of his eyes going over to the Sakura, where a bag of food waited for them.
Worry overcame hunger when Naruto shook his head. His smile moving just a little wider. "Sorry, but I'm afraid the game's still going," he tapped his side. The single bell rang. "Remember my rules: the game will go on until the clock stops with one team having a bell, or one team has both of my bells. That's how you win."
"Oh," yes, Saji seemed to remember those rules, "uh, then…does that mean I'm winning?"
"Yep," the human answered, "your Peerage is ahead. So long as you keep hold of that bell, and I have my bell, Sona-chan will win when the time runs out." Naruto paused for a moment, curiously turning his eyes to the sky. "Hmm…though, I guess," his tone turned thoughtful, "if Rias were to get ahold of your bell, then she would be the one winning now. I guess if you were nice enough, Saji, you could give it to her. I mean, it's not like your competing against each other, right? How else could she, Rias, get a bell?"
He smiled a little wider, turning his head away from the boy with the single bell, and towards the two Kings.
Both staring at him with dawning, frightful acknowledgement.
"What do you think, Rias-chan? How should you get a bell? From me?" He pointed to himself, looking positively relaxed and confident, then down to the tired, pained, and unsettled Pawn. "Or do you wanna ask Saji really nicely to give up his?"
That brilliant bastard.
"What do you plan to do?"
Alright, so, yeah. I am not dead.
Obviously.
Look, pointless excuses aside, I have been busy with the real world. Trying to get myself organized for creative pieces I hope to make a profit off of soon. My first job in the real world. And I lost this chapter's first draft, as mentioned in the before chapter Author Note. To make sure I can actually keep living and moving forward with my life, plus to get over the first draft loss, I needed to focus on other things.
I thought it would only take me awhile. Turns out, it took me several months.
To all my fans, seriously, I CANNOT express enough how sorry I am for taking as long as I have.
Now, thankfully, I have a bit more free time to work with. AND I have been working on finalizing this story's details for the future. Oh, AND I have some possibly good news! I have been working on another story! And I have already worked up to 14 CHAPTERS I plan to start getting posted tomorrow (and possibly only on Sundays. They will be shorter chapters then this story, but I like the work I've put into it).
If anyone appreciates humor, worldbuilding, quick chapters and character-building, then I think you will enjoy it. And similar to The Beast of Gremory, it's my write-up on a story that, while the world surrounding it is full of potential, the characters and implementation are lacking. This is my version to remedy the flaws shown.
Anyway, I'd like to ask anyone who likes my work to PLEASE go check it out. Even if you don't like it, it would still mean a lot to me. It's something I've actually been working with my brother on for the last couple months. I know he's excited to hear how people like it.
It's posted now, so PLEASE GO CHECK IT OUT! Two Brothers; hope to hear from some of you then!
P.S. Just got back from seeing Spider-Man: Homecoming. 9.5/10, would recommend HIGHLY.