A/N: Read this note, would you kindly? We've got some important info to go over!
God of War is trying to devour my free time. Send help.
First! The M-rated version of this story is now live over on A03. Same account name as my original. Not too many changes over there...YET. Second! I've returned from the Shadows of Rose DLC with ideas and plot bunnies aplenty! It was an absolute trip! Third! I may-or-may-not be coming down with the flu. Bleuuuurgh...
Holidays are here too, which keeps me busy, busy, busy~! 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? If folks don't enjoy it? If I'm not entertaining people? Well...I won't be able to continue it.
I'm working two jobs with ever-increasing hours 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 sustains me. Without them, I cannot write a single word. Simple as that.
Not many questions this time around, so we'll keep this brief. Granted, these were from last week:
Q: Do you use discord?
A: Sadly, I do not. Not really my thing.
Q: Dunno if you've played the DLC but if you did, you know *SPOILER* is back.
A: Mate, *SPOILER* never went away. Neither did *SPOILER* Hell, *SPOILER* is still around! How'd they pull that off?! Though I feel they could've included more of *SPOILER*... Also helps me wrap up "Not My Lady"...
Q: Yoooo...Miranda's even more ducked up than we thought.
A: She certain lyis. Here's hoping for more DLC...
While we're on the topic of said immortal, I feel the need to reflect on Miranda's modus operandi, as it were. She's both a researcher and schemer. She can fight, make no mistake, but she's not the sort to wade in fists swinging. Not like Naruto. She'll plot and plan, study you from a distance, observe and only move in once she's certain of all outcomes. If that didn't make her dangerous enough, consider her shapeshifting, nevermind the fact that the bloody woman can conceal her presence.
Hell, Orochimaru could probably learn a thing or two from her...
Q:...so how big be these changes, eh?
A: As stated and see, Naruto already brought changes to the cast, both with his chakra and very presence. Bela, Cassandra and Daniela are essentially superpowered humans now. Hence the black butterflies and proper bodies instead of their traditional parasitic fly swarms. Problem is, the Dimitrescu family has changed Naruto, too. We've glimpsed it in part before, but now...We're about to see it up close and personal.
Alrighty, then I've kept you waiting long enough. As ever, I own no quotes, references, themes, or memes. Not a wit or a one!
Seriously. I mean that. They're tributes to legends far greater than a measly writer like me...
...hope this puts a smile on your face in these crazy times.
"My whole life, I've been chasing after all these things that I didn't have. Influence. Status. Power.
I wanted people to look at me. Recognize me. See me. Understand me, ya know?
Now that I'm here...what do I do with it? I'm still trying to figure it out.
Ain't easy running a castle, but I'm gonna try...
...same goes for the Village, too."
~?
Fourth Bite
He was changing
Naruto couldn't fault himself for that.
Hell, he wasn't sure he wanted to, anymore.
For if he had changed the Dimitrescu daughters, then so too had they begun to alter him in return. One man could only receive so many "love bites" before they began to sustain certain...side effects. He'd not noticed it at first, busy as he'd been with things in the castle, but eventually he did.
"Sure," Kurama snarked. "And it only took you a week."
Naruto rolled his eyes and continued his work. Skrtch-skrtch-skrtch went his pen, scribbling another note into his journal. A rare gift from Alcina, its hidebound cover was dyed a lovely black edged with crimson, its pages a pristine white in the waning light. It made the ink stand out all the more. Nothing truly insidious, mind you. He was still himself. His mind was his own.
"Side effects," he muttered to himself as he wrote. "Found another white hair today...
"Well, at least you're not going bald."
"I better not be!"
Growling softly to himself, he went back to writing, squinting by candlelight.
His abilities were expanding. Best scribble that down while had a clear head, too. He'd been able to sense people at a distance ever since his pact with Kurama, but now he found he could discern the location of Dimitrescu and her daughters near instantaneously. Not just that, but their emotions. Not always, not all the time, flickers of it, really. Like leaves in the wind.
The reverse also applied in a sense. Sometimes they could even sense him, too.
Case in point, Bela was smugly sunning herself on the rooftops. Cassandra was lecturing the servants and seemed all the more cross for it. Daniela had delved into the library in search of...oh. Oh, dear. Probably best not to pry on that front.
Bela seemed to be was moving again. He could feel her reaching out, searching for him.
"Na~ru~to~!" He heard her sing from the floor above. "Come out, come out, wherever you aaare~?"
Aaaaand now he could sense Cassandra moving to intercept her. Well, It was only a matter of time until she and Daniela cottoned on.
The ghost of a smile had him laughing. She wanted to monopolize him today? Fine. She wanted to go out in the snow? Alright. She wanted to bite? Sure. And the sex. His face grew warm at the memory. Oh gods, the sex. How did people live without this? How had he?!
He caught himself rising from his chair to find her and stopped short.
"No, no," he shook his head, plonking back down with a sigh. "Gotta focus. There's work to be done. Self-control's not what it used to be either...better scribble that down, too...
Best to catalog all this while he had a clear head. In many ways the Dimitrescu daughters were still learning; not only the limits of their newfound powers, but his as well...among other things. They were drunk on him.
Love Bites indeed.
Still, they could focus on him all they liked. Time spent on him was time she wasn't using to torment the villagers. Time for the people within to build back up again, raise cattle and prepare for the coming winter. Time for him to figure out how to approach these reverent, superstitious locals.
'Wonder where Alcina went?' he strained his senses further. 'Ah. There she is.
By contrast, Lady Dimitrescu wasn't hard to find. She'd not left her chambers for the last three days.
'She's still in there?' his lips pursed into a thin line. 'Is she hiding from me? Maybe I shouldn'ta sent her those flowers...although, I thought she liked the color red.
...you cannot be this dense. You sent her roses! Red roses! She's obviously hiding from you."
"Why?" he frowned. "We made a deal. I thought we were on good terms."
"You are...somewhat. Therein lies the problem."
Naruto made a baffled noise. "Haaa...?"
(.0.0.0.)
It was the small acts that undid Lady Dimitrescu.
No grand effort or gauche stupidity won the day; things did not change overnight. No, it was something altogether slower.
Downright insidious.
He'd already saved her dear daughters. Now he seemed hellbent on doing the same to he her. For you see, Naruto Uzumaki was determined. It didn't matter how hard she worked, how much she tried to avoid him, or the excuses she fobbed him off with. He just kept coming back for more, pecking away at her defenses with all the patience of the tides. Day by day, hour by hour, until finally...!
"I will not be wooed!"
Her head smacked her bed pillows. The same bed she'd not dared to leave for the better part of a week, now. It wasn't fear that kept her here. No. Nay. Never. It was something else together.
Flowers.
He'd gotten her flowers.
Of all the absurd, insipid things.
Alcinda never had a man try to woo her before, even when she was human. For one to do so now...no!
Dimitrescu palmed her face. Sentiment. How silly. She wouldn't falter. No. Nay. Never.
"..."
She peeked through her fingers at the vase sitting on her nightstand. Red roses.
Her head hit the pillow with a groan. "Wretched man thing...
She didn't mean the words. Not at all.
...something must be done."
(.0.0.0.)
"Heh. You'll see it soon enough."
Meh. He'd figure it out later.
Back to writing.
His mind had gradually became sharper in other aspects as well; better able to discern annoying items like numbers, supplies, and logistic work. He still couldn't understand the Dimitrescu family half the time, but at least they weren't going to starve, now. New faculties aside, they were an enigma he'd have to puzzle. Mildly concerning, that.
His stomach growled, reminding him of his hunger.
Not for blood -thank the log!- but he found himself downright voracious for meat these days. Fruit and vegetables were all well and good, but for some reason he craved a different kind of chow. Three meals a day didn't cut it anymore. Even eating four left him burning calories like a madman.
He scribbled that down, too. "Appetite?"
It was a small price to pay.
At first his goal had been just that. To save the Dimitrescu family. Still a work in progress, that.
But over time his goal evolved. He wanted to help the village, look into the remaining Four Lords, maybe even...
.
..
...an idea dawned.
"A way to help the village, huh...?"
He still had a few tricks up his sleeve.
Naruto began to scribble his latest idea down.
The door swung open behind him. He jumped to his feet.
His guest yelped. "I'm sorry!"
A tray went flying as they flung up their arms in a panic, hurtling a goblet of wine and a cut of venison of into the air. He caught the former with in a whirl and balanced the latter upon it. In the same instant his right hand flitted out, catching the chalice before it could spill even a drop.
"Gods above...
Naruto rounded on the speaker. He took her in at a glance, dark eyes and darker hair, wrapped up in a plain green-on-brown dress. He recognize the servant garb, if not necessarily her face. Someone new? Alcina had said something about "new help" in passing, but he'd not paid much attention to it that the time.
Confusion left him tilting his head to regard this quiet, quivering newcomer. "And who are...?"
She set the tray on his desk with trembling hands and withdrew. "Elena, my lord."
Damn Dimitrescu for throwing that title at him. "Sorry for scaring ya, there.
"No!" She all but jolted on her feet. "It was my fault, my lord. Sorry, my lord...
Fear. He could sense it. Smell it on her. The poor waif was absolutely terrified of him. Why? He hadn't done anything to her.
"Hey, its alright." he said. "I don't bite."
"Truly?" She whimpered a little at that. "I've heard terrible rumors of this place. That its full of nothing but blood and death...
A blond brow rose. "Then why are you here?"
"I...well." She faltered a little, but recovered with admirable speed for a farm girl. "My father is old, sir. He can't look after himself. I need a decent wage to support him."
Understandable. One should always care for one's parents in their twilight years. He certainly would've done the same for Minato and Kushina.
"Hmhm." he hummed his agreement. "That's why you became a servant here?"
"Y-Yes." A glum nod was her answer. "I also wanted to seeeeeek?!"
A cloud of black butterflies burst into the room and swirled around Elena before she she could finish, rendering her words a startled yelp. She ducked her head, slapped at them for all the good it did. Naruto made no move to intervene. The girls knew better by now. No harm would come to her in his presence...he hoped.
Daniela manifested a moment later, her face writ in a thunderous scowl. "Elena, stop bothering him. I need you to draw my bath."
Despite her curt words the poor girl managed to rally a little. "But you told me to bring the Master his food...
"And you've done that, haven't you?" The redhead tutted. "Now shoo. I need a moment with him.
"Wait." Naruto held up a hand before she could scarper. "She's your maid, Daniela?"
Her golden eyes fixed on him pleased by the attention. "She is~!"
Naruto grimaced. Thought so. "And you're being nice to her?
"I am!" She chirruped. "I'm heaving her read to me."
Better than bleeding her dry. Still, reading? "Which books?"
Daniela only grinned as Elena's face flushed anew.
Naruto winced. "The romance novels?"
"The very same!"
That poor girl. Daniela's taste in literature was certainly...unique. He supposed that was a torture all its own. Still better than bloodletting.
"She's also teaching me a few traditional dances." the pride in Daniela's voice almost hurt; if only because she was treating the poor girl like a pet. She stepped in and ran a hand down his arm, sending tingles of warmth shooting through his jacket. "Perhaps you could sit in on our lessons sometime...?"
He knew a baited hook when he saw one. It was painfully obvious.
Why not throw her a bone? It was the least he could do.
...I just might."
"Yes!" The glee in her eyes as she gripped his hands and bounced in place was far too pure for a murderer. No, no, don't look down. Eyes up. Whatever was he going to do with her...? "Its a promise, then. I expect you in the library first thing tomorrow!"
"My lord...?"
Right, right, they'd forgotten Elena. He waved a hand her way. "Forget the bath. Go have a rest."
Daniela pouted, but didn't protest his command.
Elena smiled prettily at him and sketched a timid curtsy. "Thank you. If there's anything else you need, don't hesitate to let me know-
Daniella gave her a foul look. "Don't test your luck, new meat. I'll bite you."
Elena couldn't have fled faster. She all but darted out the door.
Naruto sighed as her footsteps receded. "Did you have to scare her like that?"
"Of course I diiid." she rolled the last word on her tongue. "She volunteered. I take good care of my staff...
A blond brow rose.
...these days. Daniela scowled after her. "Though I admit, she's getting a bit uppity."
Well, that was a mercurial shift in mood. As expected of Daniela.
"That's your prerogative," he frowned down at her, "But she's not here to cause any harm. And you did pick her." she squirmed a little at that. "You can't get rid of her just because she upset you."
"Can't I?"
He scowled. "Daniela."
"Hmmph!" Alcina's youngest daughter stomped a foot and faced away from him. "Fine, fine. She isn't one of us, anyway. She's normal." she spat the word like a curse. "She'll never be anything more."
Normal, eh?" A faint smile touched his lips. "Ain't nothing wrong with that...
"No fair!" a finger poked his chest. You're favoring her just like you...favor...
Daneila leaned in. Sniffed once. Scowled now, as she caught a faint scent.
She all but burst into a swarm and raced down the hall.
"BEEELLLAAA!"
(.0.0.0.)
Bela was on cloud nine.
And why shouldn't she be? Everything was going her way. She had never truly been intimate with a man before, not in the truest sense of the word. Now that she had...it felt nice. Not simply the act itself; but the pleasant realization that she'd gotten the better of everyone. Pulled one over on Mother and her sisters, right and proper. Sure, she was pleasantly sore in all the right places. And yes she hadn't been able to walk well for the better part of a day, but the rest was well worth it. The longer she could keep this secret, the longer she'd have him all to herself.
Hmm. The thought warmed her. She wouldn't mind having him again. Right now, even.
If she could just track him down again, surely it would be a simple matter of-
A door slammed open behind her. Cassandra sauntered through.
"Sister, have you seen-
Paused, now.
Scowled.
"Wait!" her eyes blazed. "I know that look!"
"What look?" Bela made a show of inspecting her nails. "Perhaps you're imagining things, sister of mine?"
A crazed snarl said otherwise. "Am I, now?! I think not!"
Cassandra seized hold of her face with both hands, dragging her face around to stare into her eyes. Bela willed herself to meet them without reaction. No dice. Her sweet sister must've seen something in her eye; because she let her go and recoiled with a hiss.
"You filthy cheat!" a finger stabbed against her skull, practically seeking brain matter. "You got to him first, didn't you?!"
Ooops. Deny, deny, deny! They could prove nothing! "I haven't the foggiest idea what you mean.
Cassandra went for her sickle. Bela blew out a sigh. Boo. Seemed her fun was already up.
"Yes, I laid with him, dear sister." she planted a fist on her hip. "It wasn't hard."
"BEEEELLLLAAAAAA!"
A faint buzzing shout reached her ears. It was her only warning.
Daniela was upon her a moment later, materializing from a black swarm of butterflies.
"How?! her younger sister marched up to her and flung up both arms with a howl. "I've tried everything and he's been thick as a brick! How did you bed him?!
Poor choice of words. A hint of pink hit Bela's cheeks. "Well, you're not wrong about that last bit...
Cassandra absolutely hissed at her. "There it is again! That look! Share your secret at once!"
Daniela nodded rapidly, red hair lofting about her head like a bloody halo.
Her sisters leaned in, awaiting her words.
Bela nearly burst out laughing then and there. What secret was there to share? They acted as if she'd concocted some grand scheme to woo him. In truth, she hadn't. It had been a momentary lapse on both their parts in the snow; an act of passion. Yes, she'd taken advantage of it -of him!- but he'd not pushed her away that one time. Her body tingled just think about it. She'd acted...what was the word...normal? Aha! That was it. They'd simply enjoyed one another's company, until finally, things escalated into intimacy.
There was just one problem.
She didn't know how to be normal.
If she could but find a way to a reproduce that miracle once more...
In the end, Bela shrugged and settled for the truth. "I took him outside, had a snowball fight, and mounted him in the snow."
Her sisters fell deathly silent.
Daniela found her voice by lack of patience first. "You...what?"
Oh. Ohh. Ohhh, this was grand. Bela hadn't wanted to gloat before but she certainly would now; dangle it over their heads until the day she died. And so she grinned at her siblings. "Did I stutter? Perhaps you should clean out your ears, dear sisters...
Cassandra huffed. "You cheater! We didn't know we could go outside!"
"My, my." She hid a smile behind her palm. "Did you think to ask?"
Daniela wilted. "No? Nevermind that! What was he like?! I'll track him down and rip his clothes off!"
Bela shook her head. "I wouldn't. He's not the sort you can just pounce. He'll run, remember? You have to take your time with him, sisters."
That was the fun of it. They had to chase him, not in the conventional sense of the word, but pursue him emotionally.
Daniela perked up first, beating her to the punch. "Shall we draw lots, then? See who comes next?
A curious proposition. Bel rather liked it. She grinned a challenge of her own.
"Try to seduce him, if you like. You'll find he's not so easily swayed."
A/N: Run, Naruto. Run hard, run faaaaast.
Bela had her turn, now comes Cassandra and Daniela...
Ah, but is that Elena the REAL Elena, or is it a meddling mother disguising herself?
Plots are a moving, Alcina has begun to crumble, and Heisenberg's laughing his ass off at it all.
So? Should this continue to be a story? Yay or nay! Really need to hear from you guys and girls here. Helps a lot.
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...? Well, I'll not be able to continue it. I'm working two jobs with ever-increasing hours 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 matter! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustains me. Without them, I cannot write a single word. Simple as that.
So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews matter!
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review Would You Kindly?
And enjoy the previews!
They're mostly the same. Mostly, but not all.
And spoilers for the DLC, though I'm sure everyone's played it by now.
(Previews)
"Fascinating. I didn't know such a thing was possible...
A most curious experiment indeed.
Perhaps I shall...partake.
There was a girl there.
"Hey, wait a sec-
Donna most assuredly did not, she squeaked and bolted.
Naruto was left scratching his head. "Who in blazes was that? Why'd she run off?"
"Stupid, stupid, stupid!"
Donna cursed herself. She'd been seen!
"What's eating you?"
Her "brother" wasn't
"Why are you here?"
"Running out of test subjects." the madman shrugged. "Came by to see what all the fuss was about."
Heisenberg howled with laughter. "Ha! I knew it! You're sweet on him! Oh, this is riiiiich!"
"Don't worry." he winked. "It'll be our little secret."
"I know monsters."
"The hell's that supposed to mean?"
Heisenberg tipped his hat and walked away. "From one to another, good luck."
He sauntered off with a laugh.
"You must be pretty tough, huh?"
"Take a swing at me with that hammer. See what happens."
Donna peeked through her fingers. Her face was practically pink.
Alcina peered over his shoulder. "What ARE you doing?"
"Making something." He held it up for her. "See?"
Her eyes widened.
Moreau glowered at him. "We don't need you here. Leave."
"Whoa, hey! Where is this coming from?"
"You can't just take a kid!"
"I did her a service. The poor girl's practically feral. No one in the village wanted to look after her."
Little hands reached for him. At least, he assumed he was reaching. Naruto sighed.
"Well, she is kinda adorable-ouch! She bites!"
"I was first!"
"First at what?" He sat beside the girl.
She tucked her knees into her chest, bunching up her blue dress. "...who're you?"
EDIT: Hey, you made it!
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? Well, it won't be continued. 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.
Looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back~! Have a great day~!
R&R~!
