A/N: Let the updates flow forth~!
Are you ready? This chapter doesn't pull any punches.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story, and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? POOF! Gone. Completely. I'm working two jobs -might need a third soon!- so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.
Now for your questions, comments, and concerns. We'll keep it brief this time.
Q: Is Kurama really...
A: Read and see.
Q: Is THAT night coming? If so, when?
A: You'll just have to read and see, won't you?
Q: Naruto better not be weak forever! I don't wanna read a story with him being pushed around as Miquella. Let him push back!
A:...how little you know.
Alright, then. This old man has kept you long enough.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, memes or themes. Not a wit or a one.
I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.
As ever in the words of Kaif...
...SPOILERS!
"...what have you done?
"I struck a bargain."
"At what cost?"
~?
I Struck A Bargain
"Prove yourself."
"Me?" Kurama quirked a blond brow as he lounged atop a pile of cushions. It was a damn strange sight, seeing his former face smirking at him like that. Didn't feel real, ya know? Less so the venomous retort coming from his mouth. "Right back at ya, brat. Prove that you're the Naruto I remember, or I'll gut you like a fish."
"Easy for you to say." Naruto stepped left.
"It really isn't." The boy who may-or-may-not be Kurama stood and mirrored the motion. "Going by Miquella now, are we? Don't look a damn thing like I remember."
"That's not...ugh." he grit his teeth and stifled a sigh. "Its kinda complicated."
Kurama granted him a grim grin. "Then lets simplify it, shall we?"
They'd retired to his chambers for the afternoon, and for once, he was glad Malenia wasn't here by his side. She'd run off to the smithy with Priscilla -something about finding a proper scythe for dear her Shadow- because their absence here gave the two of them a chance to air their thoughts away from prying eyes....
...for now.
There was a part of him that didn't dare to hope. It couldn't be Kurama. Not HIS Kurama. Surely the Greater Will wasn't this cruel...or strong enough to pull his old friend back from the void. And yet the longer he stared at him the more uncertain he became. They'd both died fighting Isshki. Given their lives to put that horned bastard in the ground. Yet something had reincarnated him. Why not Kurama...?
"On three," he rasped, "We both say something only the other would know."
Kurama's head bobbed in a nod. "Fair."
Naruto growled. "One.
A smirk. "Two."
"Three!"
A beat of silence passed between them.
And then:
"You kissed that stupid Uchiha!"/We fist bumped in the seal!"
Their words rang out, echoing in the enclosed room. Naruto found himself rearing back, flushing at that old, accidental memory. "It is you!"
Kurama flung up his arms. "That's what I've been saying!"
"Jeez, you've gotten tall...
"Taller than you at any rate, short stuff." Piercing eyes fixed on him. "The hell happened to you?"
"Born cursed." he held up a spindly arm and scowled at the lack of muscle there. "Its a long story...and you died, didn't you? Same as me."
His partner granted him a snaggle-toothed grin. "Rumors of my demise were greatly exag-
A heavy pillow smacked him in the face, muffling his retort.
Naruto lowered his arm, glaring bloody red daggers. "Finish that sentence at your own peril."
"Bah!" the reincarnated fox spat out a few feathers and flung it back. "You're no fun." Something of his stress must've shown through; because that whiskered visage softened. "I did die that day, Naruto."
"I figured!"
"Hush, and let me finish." a clawed hand swatted the back of his head. "Apparently there's an afterlife for my kind. Heaven, hell, that sort of thing." he spread his arms wide. "Care to guess where I wound up?"
Naruto clasped his forearm and gave him a had shake for his troubles. "You know, I don't remember you being this snarky before...
"Blame this body." his partner sniped back." I went through a lot of trouble to get it back for us-I believe I deserve a thank you."
"But why...?"
A shrug. "Guess you could say you rubbed off on me."
For a fleeting moment he wondered if it was possible to jump into his old form, but no, something in those words tugged at him just now. Kurama had all but admitted to being dead. So why -how!- was he standing here before him, grinning from ear to ear? No, he was missing a piece of the puzzle and he didn't much like it.
"And you got out the aferlife how, exactly?"
The now-human-fox's grin gained an edge as he returned to lounging. "I struck a bargain."
"Those words...do not fill me with confidence." he sat down beside him, determined to have his answers. "Alright, spill. With whom? The Greater Will? What were the terms?"
"My deal wasn't with the Greater Will." Kurama smacked his lips, producing an audible pop. "Beyond that, I can't tell you."
"Kurama!"
"Sorry." he shook his head slowly, setting his blond bangs swaying. "I'd tell you if I could, but I can't." a clawed finger poked the side of his skull. "Part of the deal I made. I'm literally incapable of naming my patron. But I can tell you this." the finger fell, touching his chest. "Its me. This is no trick." I'm on your side.
Anxiety gnawed at him like a stubborn old hound with a bone. "Unless I turn against those filthy fingers."
And he just might at this rate; the Golden Order
"What of it?" Kurama's grin reminded him of the old days, even with his face. "Flay them bloody for all I care. They're useless."
An ear twitched. "Eh?"
"Don't give me that look." the kitsune crossed one leg over the other, tutting softly. "I'm not foolish enough to make a deal that'll get me killed...again."
"But...the Greater Will must've made that body...or had a part in it...?"
"So it believes." Kurama's retort had him rocking back into a chair. "It certainly crafted Priscilla...but not me. This body, my will, is as much my own as yours. The fingers believe the Greater Will is in control. It is not. It's been...distracted by other matters, for quite some time. It was easy to slip in and give it a nudge. Make it think this was its idea. I've been around for a few days now." he inspected his marked hand with a sigh. "Fingers were just keeping me and the girl hidden. Its been a pain in the ass."
It was almost too good to be true. "...it really is you, isn't it?"
"In the flesh. Or well, lack thereof." he tugged on his arm. "This'll take some getting used to, not having tails or fur. Don't worry, I can fight just fine."
Naruto gnawed at his lower lip, worrying it between his teeth. He didn't like all this secrecy, and he disliked the idea of Kurama wearing his old face even less, but what choice did he have. He'd be a fool to turn him away. At the end of the day this was undoubtedly his old friend.
He sniffled a little. "Stubborn old bastard, you just couldn't stay dead, could you...
"Says the man trapped in a child's body. Speaking of which!"
As he spoke, the old fox offered him his right hand, revealing a weathered palm. There was a mark there, etched beneath the scar tissue, but Naruto found he couldn't see it; his vision blurred out of focus when he tried to concentrate on it. Almost as if something were actively preventing him from recognizing the crest therein.
A silent shiver shot down his spine.
In the end, he was left with no choice but to squint at it. "What's this?"
This time, Kurama's grn was of the brotherly variety. "A temporary remedy for your problem."
Despite his best efforts., Naruto felt his will falter. "What, you're saying a handshake's gonna fix me?"
"Not for very long, but you're burning up your own lifeforce to save that new sister of yours. Surely you know this."
"Joke's on you." he bridled, feeling defensive despite the insinuation. "I've got a lot."
Kurama tutted once. "Not as much as you used to."
"Then I'll use whatever I can to save her!" He bit back, biting down on an ember of anger. "The formless mother, the dragons, even the frenzied flame if need bee. I WILL save her."
"I know you will." A hand touched forehead. "And that's why I'm here. Do you trust me?"
He hesitated. "Giving me some real bad vibes here, Kurama...
"All you need to do is trust me, Naruto." slitted eyes stared into the very depths of his soul. "Then everything will work out...sooner or later."
Quick as a flash he reached out and clasped his hand.
The world lurched.
Naruto felt something back in his back as he grew by several inches; his robe pulling taut around his once slender fame. It didn't so much hurt as it did startle him, like an army of ants crawling beneath his skin. He felt his bones click and pop, bringing with it a strange sense of numbness. He dropped to a knee, righted himself, then stood. A nearby mirror revealed all and he found himself, alarmed to see he actually looked his age-not some weary malnourished child on the verge of kicking the bucket.
"What did you do?"
A low chuckle filled the room. "Call it...a booster, of sorts. It won't last for long; whatever cursed you is pretty potent. I can only push it back for a time."
His face fell. "So its temporary, then."
"I'm afraid so. Not sure how many times I can apply it per day, but...
"No, this is good. Great, even. C'mon," he climbed to his feet, "I want you to meet Malenia. The real Malenia...
(.0.0.0.)
Miquella was taller!
Very tall indeed. Malenia found that required repetition. He was smiling too, grinning from ear to ear as he bantered with his Shadow near the fountain. That last bit shouldn't have bothered her so; her brother was her life, her everything, her all. His happiness was her happiness, his sorrow her sorrow, his rage, her own, so on and so forth.
She'd come back early to find him here in the gardens, more alive than he'd ever been. And did she mention the height?!
To see him in such a silly state should have brought her no small amount of joy. And it did, really! She was glad to see him laughing and out of pain...but it wasn't with her. The distinction shouldn't have mattered, yet she fund her fists balling at her sides as she approached. She left them for only a few minutes, and already they were getting on famously. T'wasn't fair...
"My lady?"
She spared Priscilla a quick glance over her shoulder. "...its nothing."
Priscilla was a dear, but her Shadow didn't know Miquella the way she did, didn't understand the power of their bond...or how terrified she was of losing it.
Still, bond or no, this was new. She hastened to his side, forcing her silent Shadow to follow.
"Brother?" She almost thought it was a trick of some sort when she finally reached him, a cruel prank played by the Greater Will. "Is that really you?" For the first time in years, she found him...taller than her. She actually had to look up at him! She rather liked that. Emboldened by the sight of him, she dared to take his hands in hers. "Have you found a cure for your curse?
"More a treatment for the symptom, not the cause." Dear Miquella's brother's smile cut through all her fears. "I feel...good. Really good. Care to spar?" There was an almost impish light to his eyes, rare indeed. He rolled his right shoulder. "There's something I wanna test."
If that was his wish. "Yes, yes, of course. I'd love to."
"Great!"
He took her by the hand and led her deeper into the the garden, toward the terrace.
She tried to ignore just how damnably warm his hand felt in hers; in doing so, she failed to notice the bemused look Kurama and Priscilla exchanged over their shoulders. She didn't have a proper tutor yet, nor did dear Miquella, but Father had drilled some basic unarmed moves into them. Supposedly her Brother knew a few spells, but she'd seldom seen him use them. None of that mattered now. They were Demigods, after all. To fight was their wont.
"Ready?" Belatedly she realized he'd left her to an open circle near the fountain.
"I...yes." she took a loose stance. "Whenever you are-yipe!"
Miquella exploded into motion, drawing a startled cry from her as his fist flickered past her face. She yelped and ducked back, caught herself, then returned the favor flinging herself into a wide sweeping kick at his neck. He saw it, swayed aside, and cut a jab at her shoulder. It should have landed. Instead it shot wide.
"Hmm." he leaned back, considering his fist. "Balance is off." a frown touched his pale, lovely face. He threw a quick jab, producing another shockwave. "I'll have to get used to it while this lasts."
Sunlight struck his back then, and so too did Malenia's heart hit out at her chest. As he was now, Miquella truly was lovely...no, she mustn't allow herself to think such things. This was her brother. Her beloved twin. She should not harbor such feelings for her own blood, cursed though they were.
"Come on, then!"
She dove at him, red hair trailing behind her like a fiery comet. He stepped aside, and used it to yank her close, drawing a cry of pain from her. A spark of anger blazed through her chest. Her eyes flashed and she reared up before he could get in a headlock; smashing the back of her head against his nose. A sharp pop told her she'd won the first real blow.
He stumbled away with a laugh. "Ouch! You got me good!"
"Don't. She glowered at him, rubbing her head.
"Pardon?" her twin blinked guilelessly.
"Don't pull my hair." she hissed. "It hurts."
"Hurts?" Guilt flashed across his face. "Sorry, didn't think about that.
"No, you didn't." She stepped in. "Be better next time."
They ranged to and fro, back and forth, all but disregarding their surroundings. Block, and parry. Feint and counter. Grapple and throw. She lost track of the moves they went through; soon enough it didn't matter. Gentle laughter rang in her ears and belatedly, she realized the giggling she heard was her own. She was enjoying herself. So was he, if his smile was any indication. Here in this moment, it was just the two of them. Nothing else mattered.
She jabbed at his face, forced a flinch, drove a knee into his ribs...and missed?
Before her very eyes, her beloved brother's body shrank back down to it former age in a haze of steam. His flowing robes pooled around him once more, forcing him to reached for their clasp with a snarl and tighten them 'round his waist anew. Still, the damage was done. He fell to his knees, fingers biting into the ground. A fist slammed down, crater the soil.
"Damnit!" something wild flashed in his eyes, hot and angry, a raging flame. "Barely five minutes in a fight...? That's next to useless...!
"I'm so sorry," Malenia felt it was her turn to apologize. She'd never see him this angry. "I didn't mean to...
He shook his head. "Its not your fault. Better I know my limits now than later.
"How do you feel?"
...fine."
Malenia pursed her lips. She wasn't blind to the sudden change in him, nor the reversion he'd just gone through. It must have something to do with his Shadow. Perhaps this "Kurama" had empowered him for a time with a blessing of some sort, only for said blessing to wear off. But there was more to it than that. In her heart of hearts, Malenia knew. Her twin was keeping secrets from her again. It should have stung; once upon a time it had, Now it was merely an old ache in her heart. Surely he would tell her when the time was right. Wouldn't he?
Unbidden, she found her right arm reaching towards him. "Miquella, I must ask-
"Marvelous!" She jolted as a familiar and all too boisterous voice boomed their way. "T'was nobly fought, indeed!"
She craned her neck back to find Radahn loping their way; long legs quickly carrying him towards them. Ranni was only a few paces behind, with a sullen Baidd bringing up the rear. Her brow furrowed at the sight of her half-sister and her Shadow. Whatever did they want this time? Could they not let them have a moment alone?
The largest of the trio waved their way. "I see thee have thy shadows at last. They look rather strange!"
Kurama scoffed. "This from the giant?"
Priscilla hissed furiously at him. "Don't be rude!
"Oho!" Far from being offended, Radahn took the remark in stride. "He speaks! You and I are going to get along famously."
"Are they truly Shadows?" Ranni's low voice drew a blazing glare her way. "They look more human than beast."
Malenia lifted her chin, meeting the older girl's glower with her own. "The Greater Will made an exception."
Ranni quirked a fiery brow. "Did it now? Perhaps a test is in order-
"Peace, sister." Radahn laid a hand on their shoulders. "You as well, Blaidd. That is not why we are here. Pray tell, hast any of thou seen Rykard?"
Miquella rolled upright in the background. "That slimy snake? No, why?"
Blaidd gave him an odd look. "He's missing.
Her twin shrugged. "Shame, that."
"Miquella!"
"What, Ranni? He's a jerk. Why should I care where he went?"
"Be that as it may," Radahn chided, "he is your blood. Do not be so cruel to him."
Miquella huffed. "He's cruel to me.
"I understand your anger," the larger boy sighed, looked away, ran a hand through his read mane, and finally comported himself. "Rykard...didn't take kindly to what Father did. None of this did. To him, you and Malenia are a sign of Father's faithlessness, proof that he abandoned our mother in her time of need. If you would but get to know him, ye would understand."
Malenia scoffed. "And you?"
"Pah!" a giant hand clapped him on the back, blasting the air form his lungs. "I always wanted a little brother and sister! Do let us know if you find him, won't you?"
His eyes met theirs. "The things I let you talk me into...fine. I'll keep an eye out. Happy?"
"Yes!" Why was he being so stubborn about this?!
Ranni stepped out from behind Blaidd and laid a hand on his arm. "That is all we ask."
Malenia felt her blood boil, rot singing in her veins. She dared...! No. She wouldn't rise to the bait. Wouldn't give her the satisfaction she sought. To do so here and now would be to admit her loss; she refused to do such. She had never known defeat, and she never would, if she had anything to say about it. If that wicked little witch though she could steal her twin away, she had another thing coming.
"Come, brother. She tugged at his arms, but found herself unable to budge him. For perhaps the first time in her life. "We have work to do."
Miquella consented and let her tug him away, waving over one shoulder. "See ya tomorrow, Ranni. Be sure and bring more books."
...you as well, Miquella."
The older girl returned his gesture. It made her heart hut. Why didn't he look at her like that? It wasn't fair.
They walked in silence for a time, just them and their shadows following at a distance. Finally, she could take it no more. "You shouldn't look at Ranni."
"Why not?" She's been nice. Dunno about Blaidd, he doesn't really talk to me, but-
"Nice?" She hissed back, cutting him off. "She's the enemy. She steals you away at odd hours, then you come back exhausted."
"Ranni promised to help me find a cure." his brow furrowed. "For you. What's gotten into you, Mal?"
"Me?!" She tore her arm from his and glared down at him. "What's wrong with thee?!
"Nothing! I just don't see why you're getting so worked up over this."
"Of course you don't." a bitter bite of laughter left her lips. "For all your vaunted knowledge, you never see what's in front of thee. I'm the only one you need to look at. "
"Only you...?
Fire and damnation! Those awful words caught up to Malenia a heartbeat later and she realized what she'd said, the way she'd phrased it. She didn't know what had come over her. A slow heat crept into her face, burning brighter than the rot in her body. Miquella was still looking at her, his eyes impossibly wide. What would he say? What would he do? Would he reject her? Deny her?
She could bear the thought.
Her body trembled. "No, wait, I didn't mean...
There was only recourse for, shameful though it was. Malenia fled.
(.0.0.0.)
Rykard woke slowly.
Where was he? Why couldn't he move?
Why was it so dark...why was he strapped down to a table?
No, not a table, he realized, feeling the coldness of slate beneath his limbs. A stone slab. Terror dawned. Golden eyes flashed as he strained against his restraints, to no avail. Those ghastly heavy shackles coiled round his limbs and throat; they tightened even as he struggled.
"Its no use." a voice called to him in the gloom. "Struggling will only make it worse."
Rykard craned his neck as best he could. He glimpse red eyes in the gloom, heard the footsteps.
It must be him, that boy's blasted Shadow. He'd heard tell that Miquella would be getting one, soon.
"He did this, didn't he?" Rykard tried dragged himself upright, failed, and collapsed against the table anew. "He sent you to torment me. The little coward can't fight, so he sends his own Shadow to ambush me in the dead of night!"
A candle sprang to life in the -cell?- bathing the world in flickering fire.
"No, no, no." Kurama shook his head, shadows dancing off his whiskered visage. "He doesn't know anything about any of...this." he waved a hand, indicating the hideous tools hanging on the wall. "As for me...
Clawed fingers closed around their face. Squeezed. Cracks scrawled across his face.
"I struck a bargain."
Steam bled from his visage.
Rykard writhed in his grasp, to no avail.
Panic bleated in is heart. "Help! Someone! Anyone!"
"No one will hear you scream. We're far beneath the capital, little snake."
He screamed anew.
"I see you, Rykard." the boy-who-was-not-a-boy leaned in, bringing his mere face inches from his own. "I know what you'll become in a few years time. Tell me, do you know what they call a god who does not know worship?" his voice warped as he spoke, shadow twisting as he looked on aghast, writhing into something monstrous. "A god who does not know love," All the while his body grew. "Nor mercy?" It was becoming something else, impossibly large, gaining mass and fangs and claws, and nine, towering tails. "Nor kindness?"
A lone tear rolled out Rykard's eye as death loomed over the boy. "Wait! Whatever I did, I'm sorry!"
His cry came too late. Giant jaws clamped down on him.
"FOOD."
A/N: Aaaaand scene!
If Kurama gave you Terrorblade vibes...well. That's intentional. Be assured, he's on Naruto's side.
Pairing's still very much up in the air here, so lemme know what you think.
Do you want this to be continued? Yes? No? Maybe so? Make yourselves heard!
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this particular story, and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? POOF! Gone. Completely. I'm working two jobs -might need a third soon!- so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.
Aaaand there we go. As ever, reviews keep me alive. Without them, I cannot write. So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly? And have some previews -potential blot bin things- that I'm working on.
Bodies start dropping next chapter.
(Previews)
"Rejoice, little Miquella. You will die, as you were meant to, forgotten and...why do you laugh?"
Naruto chuckled grinning as he gripped the hands currently crushing his throat.
"Because...you're already dead."
Malenia pivoted in darkness. "Who's there?!"
"Poor girl." Laughter rose in the gloom. "Clung to her brother so she might never be alone. Now her world is dark, her allies scattered, her shadow...silent."
"Name yourself!"
"You know me, child. You may have the spark, but you lack knowledge. Understanding."
Her eyes closed. "This isn't real. Get out of my head."
"Isn't it? Your family abandons you, as your brother will abandon you. Your own allies will die, hating you."
She gripped her head. "Its just a dream...
"Dream or prophecy? You know the truth. It rots your heart. Tell me, how many must die before to satisfy your vanity? How many souls will be broken before the altar of your ambition, rotted, then cast aside, all because you refused to accept your destiny? All this, knowing you failed? Knowing you chose to let them perish.
She hunkered down, refusing to open her eyes. "You're not real!"
"But I am." her eyes snapped open and she found herself staring her reflection...and yet not her, rotten and twisted, eyeless. Old. It sneered back. "T'was I who chose you, child. I gifted you with glorious rot. Accept me. Embrace me...or lose them all."
You see, yet you are blind.
You hear the words, yet you do not understand them.
You are given every opportunity, and yet you forsake it. For what? For her?"
R&R~!