Just in case people have read the last chapter. I know I tease here and there with bits of the bluenette in Rome, Italy, and people are having high hopes for them finally seeing each other. It IS coming, I just want to set things up in a way that makes it all meaningful and intense. You just need to wait and see. The best things come when they're patient.
Unlike the last one, this one is fairly short like Part I's Finale but will have small parts added into it like DLCs to a video game, so it'll be safe to come back here and there. While it feels rushed, again, I will edit it here and there.
Maki's Promise List
1. Go camping (Done)
2. Try out a bikini (Done)
3. Go to an amusement park (Done)
4. Go to space
5. Go sing karaoke
6. Meet Kaito's family
7. Order the Royal Sovereign Burger at Burger Queen (Done)
8. Go to a beach
9. Learn how to dance (Done)
10. Visit a zoo
11. Hike in the mountains
12. Scuba diving
13. Seeing the Milky Way in a clear night sky (Done)
14. Wing-suit flying
15. Spelunking
16. Watch 2001: A Space Odyssey
17. Go trick-or-treating
Need 3 more for the list. Do this for Maki!
Several years ago
A young Naruto happily chased after his friend Moka in the latter's backyard as Akame opens the back door and calls them inside.
"A few more minutes, Akame," said a smiling Naruto.
"Naruto, it's getting dark out, and I don't want you to catch a cold," said Kushina. Turning towards her friend, Moka grabbed his hand as she smiled at him and said, "Let's go in and blow out the candles, okay Naruto?" Red in the face, Naruto nodded as he followed her inside.
Now inside, everyone (Naruto, Moka, Akame, Chelsea, Kokoa, Akua, Kahlua, Issa, and Minato) gathered at the table as Kushina and Akasha brought out a large chocolate birthday cake. After Akasha puts on the candles and lights them, everyone sings Happy Birthday to her before Naruto asked Moka what she was going to wish for. With a smile, she closed her eyes and blew out her candles before telling him, "It's a secret."
Now
A day after Riser's Defeat
Sunday (5/8)
Akashiya Residence
Feeling the Sun warm her face, Moka gets up, yawning as she blocked the Sun's rays with her left hand. As she got ready for today, Archer was happily cooking breakfast for the vampire girl as Kokoa ate a plate full of pancakes, bacon, and sunny-side-up eggs with a glass of 2% milk. 10 minutes later, Moka comes downstairs and says good morning to them.
"Moka, you're looking...really happy. Why's that?" Moka tells her Servant it was her birthday today, surprising her. "It is!? Then I should prepare a large breakfast feast immedi-"
"No it's fine!" said Moka. "I don't need anything special...much."
"Of course not. After all, you only need Naru-" Red in the face, Moka covers Kokoa's mouth, confusing the Servant.
"Anyways, what's for breakfast Archer?" The vampire girl was treated to a plate of chocolate chip pancakes, with a side of 5 slices of bacon, 7 sunny-side-ups, 18 breakfast sausages, and a tall glass of orange juice. Moka had stars in her eyes as she looked at her breakfast (This is her usual breakfast, with chocolate added as a special XD). She thanked the Servant as she stuffed her mouth.
"So what are your plans for today?" Archer asked her Master, curious. Taking a sip from her orange juice, she tells Archer, "I plan to go to Naruto's to see if he can hang out with me for today."
"Naruto? You don't have anyone else in mind?" asked Archer, raising a brow. "I don't mind hanging out with you and Kokoa but-"
"But she hangs out with Naruto every birthday." Moka turned red as she glares at Kokoa. "It's true..."
"But doesn't he..." Archer stops when she sees a sad look on her Master's face. "I-I'm sorry...I know-"
"It's fine...really. As long as I can still be close to him...I'll be fine," she told them. "Although..."
"What is it?" With a fake smile, Moka told Archer it was nothing. However, the Servant was very perceptive and knew that something was on her mind. Finishing her breakfast, Moka got ready to head out as Archer looked on.
Namikaze Residence
Ringing the doorbell, Moka waited until Shizune opens it for her.
"Oh, hello Moka. What brings you over?" asked the smiling woman. She forms a surprised expression on her face when she told her it was her birthday. "It is!? Happy birthday Moka!"
"Thank you very much...Is...Is Naruto home?" she asked Shizune.
"No, he's not home. He left for his job with Kotomi." Shizune's response surprised Moka, not expecting her friend to be out working today. "He didn't say when he was coming back. Should I call him?"
"No, it's fine. I'll go see him at his job. Thanks, Shizune." As Moka left, Shizune made a call.
"Yes, she's on her way there, you better get things ready. She can't know what's going on." Hanging up, Shizune sees Archer running up to her and asking where Moka went. "You just missed her."
"I see..." Looking at her trouble expression, Shizune asked her if Moka was okay. "...Is there something wrong?"
"It's just a hunch, but..."
Agares Corp Building
Seekvaira's Office
"Miss Agares, you have a visitor." Seekvaira raised a brow. She wasn't expecting anyone to come over. "She said she knew you, and that she was part of your commercials."
"Oh, send her in," she told her secretary. A few minutes later, Moka enters the Agares girl's office. "Moka, it's been a while, how've you been?"
"Great...Do you know where Naruto went? Shizune told me he went over here, but the secretary told me he left half an hour ago." When asked if she needed Naruto for something, she told Seekvaira it was her birthday today. "It is!? Well Happy Birthday! If I had known, I would've given you a custom-made Mobile Suit Gunbr-"
"No! No I'm good!" said Moka, red in the face.
"O...Okay...Well, Naruto came here to pick up his check and left in a hurry. He said he needed to do something important. Something about...going to a mall. I think it was AEON MALL Kyōto-Gojō...I forget why he was-"
"Thanks Seekvaira!" said Moka as she left for the mall. "...Bye?"
Namikaze Residence
"So that's why huh?" Archer nods as Shizune hands her a cup of coffee.
"Yes...I fear that if she doesn't find him until nighttime...she'll get hurt even more." Hearing what Archer had to say, Shizune tells her she should call Naruto about it. Tell him what she just told her as she called the blond and offered it to Archer.
"Hey Shizune, what's-"
"Hello Naruto."
With Naruto
AEON MALL Kyōto-Gojō
"Krista? Why are-"
"Do you know what today is?" she asked the blond.
"Of course, it's Moka's birthday." Archer was surprised to hear Naruto say that. At least she didn't have to worry about him forgetting it. "Why?"
"Nothing..."
"Is something wrong?" asked Naruto. With a sigh, she told Naruto she wanted him to spend time with the girl and stop whatever he was doing. "But I need to-"
"It's important that you hang out with her, Naruto Namikaze," Archer interrupts, sounding very demanding. "I don't know what you're trying to do at the moment, but make time for your friend."
"But I do. At school I-"
"No, no you don't." Archer's interruption surprised Naruto, not saying anything after and letting the Servant continue. "I hate to tell you this, but it's not enough. She...She doesn't tell you this, to not upset you, but she...hurts. A lot."
"She hurts?" Archer tells her how he and Moka would always spend time together every day, every birthday. But after the Rook had his accident, she felt distant, the distance becoming larger as Naruto started dating Shino, occupied himself with helping the Student Council, despite not being part of it, and working for Seekvaira.
"When you invited her to do a commercial with the others, she was happy to spend the whole afternoon with you. When she found out you brought your girlfriend, that Maki girl, and Joichi, to your family camping trip, she was hurt that you didn't ask her to join. Listen to me when I tell you this: You've been neglecting her." Hearing this hurts Naruto as he can't find any words to say. All of it was true. He never made time for his best friend, the one person whose friendship he didn't want to lose. "Look...I'm not saying this to hurt your feelings. I'm saying this to help you realize what you're doing wrong to her."
"...I was going to keep this a secret and plan something special for her for tonight. But...It seems that plans have changed...Archer, if it's no trouble, I need you to complete these tasks for me."
35 minutes later
"I've called Naruto three times and he hasn't picked up...What am I doing?" Moka asked herself. "I'm following my best friend, hoping to spend time with him. He's either left the mall or...maybe he's out with..."
"Moka!" The vampire girl's ears perked up once she heard Naruto calling to her as he ran her way and stopped in front of her, catching his breath after. "Hey..."
"Hey...How did you know I was here?" she asked, looking bewildered.
"Uhhh...You see...I was running some...errands here and there and was planning to head towards your house to see if you wanted to hang out and...it looks like I don't have to head there?"
"You suck at lying sometimes. She is not going to-"
"Oh, you were?"
"You got to be shitting me..."
"Yeah...So what brings you to the mall?" Turning red, Moka looks away and tells Naruto she was planning to do a little shopping by herself until it was time to get home, leaving the fact that she was actually looking for him. "Mind if I join you?"
"No...Not at all," said a now-smiling Moka.
Black Dog BAR
Shizune, Shino, Joichi, Fujino, and Akame found themselves helping Tobio make the birthday cake as Shirabi, Kokoa, and Chelsea helped decorate the place. Kotomi made sure to invite others like Seiko, Koneko, Eu, Maki, and Seekvaira. Momo was the only member of the Student Council who was able to help out and attend the party since the others were too busy to show up. Illya and her maids/bodyguards Sella and Leysritt even came in to help set up the entertainment. As for Archer, under Naruto's instructions, she was tasked with supervising them and making sure everything was ready before Naruto and Moka came.
AEON MALL Kyōto-Gojō
Arcade
The two friends found themselves racing each other in the Initial D Arcade Stage 4. Moka dominated her friend, who was struggling to get past her, only to have the vampire girl block him at every turn before she crossed the finish line. Victorious, she got up and yelled "Shōri (勝利) Victory!" as she pumped her fists in the air, surprising Naruto and everyone present. Realizing that all eyes were on her, Moka turned red as she silently sat back down.
"You always had the habit of doing that," Naruto comments.
"I can't help but do that whenever I play competitively..." said the pouting Moka. After cashing in the tickets they won, Naruto asked her what she wanted from the prize counter. Looking them over, she saw a chibi bat keychain and points at it. "That one."
Black Dog BAR
Looking at everyone, Joichi lets out a sigh. Tobio, noticing this, asked him what was wrong.
"Do you not see this? The guy/girl ratio is, at the moment, 2:18. There are not enough guys here. I'd ask some members of my club, but they're all busy."
"I know that feeling, Joichi," said Tobio. "Just endure it until tomorrow, when you go back to school."
"I swear, we need an all guys night," Joichi adds, with Tobio commenting on how he doesn't see that happening any time soon.
"Oi, Joichi, stop complaining and get back to cleaning the counters!" yelled Archer, scaring Joichi as he resumes his duty.
AEON MALL Kyōto-Gojō
"You think you can wait here? I have to go use the restroom." Moka tells him she can wait at a bench for him as he quickly ran to the men's restroom. Looking at the bat keychain Naruto won for her, Moka smiled to herself. As she focused on the keychain, a girl sits on the bench opposite of her and compliments the cuteness of the keychain. (JP: Yui Ishikawa, EN: Brittney Lee Harvey)
"Thanks..."
"Did your boyfriend win it?" Moka turned red as she told her Naruto was a friend and that people have mistaken them for a couple many times. "What a shame. You're a very beautiful girl."
"Th-Thanks...I appreciate the compliment."
"Oh, look at the time, I should get going. Tell Naruto "I'll see him soon."
"Sure, I'll-" Moka's eyes widen once she mentioned her friend's name. "How do you-" By the time she turns around, the girl behind her was gone.
"Moka!" Turning back around, she saw Naruto approach her. "Did I keep you waiting?" Moka answers with a yes as she turned to the spot the girl was sitting. When asked if she was okay, Moka told him she was fine. "...Right before you came out of the restroom...there was a girl who told me "She'll see you soon."
"See me soon? What did she look like?" Moka tells him she didn't see her face. "Hmm..."
Train
Nighttime
7:45 pm
After spending the rest of the afternoon at AEON MALL Kyōto-Gojō, Naruto and Moka took a train back to Kuoh Town. At the moment, the train was crowded, pushing the two teens together, their faces red from the contact.
"Thanks for hanging out with me...Naruto."
"It's no trouble at all..." he told her. "...Moka?"
"Yes?"
"...Archer told me about how you felt."
"She told you!?" yelled Moka, red in the face. Did Archer tell Naruto about the crush she (Moka) on him? When did she tell him about it? How did she him about it?
"About not spending enough time with you."
"Oh..." said Moka, sounding disappointed. "I mean, OH! she told you about that?"
"...Moka...I'm sorry that I haven't been spending much time around you like I promised before the semester started. I won't make an excuse like it's because it wasn't planned, or that there was so much going on for me. It may be true, for the most part, but that does not excuse me from making you feel neglected and hurt. Even if it was unintentional...I still made you feel that way..." Hearing the last part, Moka's eyes widen as she is brought to tears.
"If I could...If I could just tell you...I-"
"Naruto..." Hugging a surprised Naruto, the smiling but teary-eyed girl told him, "You always drone on when it's unnecessary. Just say you're sorry and that you'll do better with me...It's enough for me if I hear you say that. And it's enough for me to have you here to myself..."
"Very well...I'm sorry, and I promise, I'll do better, for you, Moka." Finished, Naruto hugs Moka back as the train continues to move towards their destination.
Black Dog BAR
"Naruto, why are we coming here?" asked Moka as Naruto opened the door to the bar, telling her he forgot his present for her here. Once the door closed behind them, the lights went up as confetti flew down on them.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOKA!" shouted everyone present (Archer, Shizune, Shino, Joichi, Fujino, Akame, Tobio, Shirabi, Kokoa, Chelsea, Kotomi, Seiko, Koneko, Eu, Maki, Seekvaira, Momo, Illya, Sella, and Leysritt) as Moka has on a surprised expression on her face.
"Everyone...I...I don't know what to say..."
"You don't have to say anything," said Shirabi, her "scary" expression on her face.
"Naruto had planned this whole birthday out for you," said Shizune as Koneko and Kotomi bring in a large chocolate birthday cake.
"You planned this?" asked Moka, turning to Naruto, who smiled at her as he nods yes. After taking a large group picture, everyone gathered around the table as Shirabi placed sixteen candles (Get the reference XD) on it and lit it up. After singing Happy Birthday to her, Naruto, sitting next to her, asked her what she was going to wish for. With a smile, she closed her eyes as she happily blew out her candles before telling him, "It's a secret."
[ED Special 2: 水樹 奈々 - Please Download]
Next chapter (officially) starts the Shatter Excalibur Arc! In this chapter, I wanted Naruto to realize that, by fulfilling his duties for people like Shino, Seekvaira, and more, he has neglected the one person who's been at his side more than them: Moka. I got this idea after watching the 3 Part Episode of DBZ Abridged. Plus I wanted to do a birthday chapter.
The girl who talked to Moka is the same one from Part 0 Chapter 11 and Part I Chapter 6. It's just that I found voices for her.
The song, Please Download, is played by Nana Mizuki, who plays Moka Akashiya in the anime Rosario + Vampire. I picked this song since it perfectly explains Moka's feelings of love from the beginning to now, which...WILL be revealed in Part II. Everything comes crashing down, good and bad, but mostly good. Plus, not all the songs I pick should sound dark and sad. Sometimes it must have an amazing beat and a hopeful feel to it. I DEFINITELY recommend listening to this song and downloading it.
