A/N: A man keeps his promises!
Sorry for the rather lengthy delay here, lost my notes and had to build them back up again, and then I didn't want to rush the chapter or make it short, which led to one thing and another...
...but I'm back, for the time being.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story.
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 during the holidays 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.
Two jobs keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.
Q: What are you updating next?
A: In no particular order? Take the Girl, Rise of a Beast Hero, Doctor of Demons, New Archon, Serving a Schnee, Gimme that Fire, Everybody Wants to be my Enemy and other genres...as well as that Ranni story I promised.
Q: That book is more than a portal, ain't it...?
A: It is not. Someone's already guessed at what it is. For the rest...by all means. Read on. You'll learn, sooner or later.
Q: Will other characters from different franchises appear in here?
A: Nope. This is purely a Naruto and RWBY story.
Q: Can we have more bonding time with the parents? Pleeeaaaase? I wanna see Ghira grill Naruto!
A: Funny you should say that...
Q: Wait, wait, wait. If Sasuke tamed Cinder, who the hell's the villain here?!
A:...have you been reading the same story? There's still many dangerous lurking about. Salem, Watts, Arthur, Tyrian, ADAM, Merlot...and that's just naming a few.
Alright them, I think I've kept you long enough.
Hope you're ready; because from this point on? Weeell...!
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. Now off we go.
"Ah, love...
...such a weakness.
~?
Heart to Heart
"Do you intend to marry my daughter?"
Naruto nearly choked on his bottled water. "Big cat daddy say what now?"
Its a simple question, son." Ghira settled into the seat opposite him. "I'm asking what designs you have on her."
"I ain't got no designs." he flailed his arms. "Blake and I are...
Heat rose to his cheeks.
...complicated."
"Then what are your intentions toward my daughter?"
Urk. Naruto's throat closed, stifling his reply. Say what you would about Ghira Belladona, but the Faunus was a big guy. It didn't help that he loomed head and shoulders over him. More than that, he was a Father. Fathers were scary. Physically, he wasn't a threat to him. He could break the man in half if it came to a fight, he knew that, really, he did.
But there was just something truly, terribly, terrifying about the wrath of a parent.
To be fair, he'd seen this coming an hour ago; indeed, he'd already known he was in for a good grilling the moment the man cornered him. Kali and rest of RWBY -including a now sorely thrashed Yang- were fussing over Blake only a booth away, which meant he'd have no help from that corner. He was, in every way, alone with her old man. And it terrified him.
"Let me rephrase the question." Bloody hell, the man was relentless, glaring down at him. "Do you love her?"
Naruto felt heat sear up the back of his neck. His mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.
...can I have a second?"
Did he? It was a fair question. He felt strongly for Blake, more than he'd ever felt for anyone before. He'd fight for her, help her, fling himself on an enemy blade it it meant saving her life. Was that love? If you were willing to die for someone, did that mean you loved them? He didn't know; if only because he'd never felt this feeling before. But he cared for her. A lot. A helluva lot. Sure she could be fickle and skittish and frankly too paranoid for her own good at times, but he truly enjoyed her company.
"I think so." the answer startled even him. "I don't really know what love is, but I'm pretty sure this it."
"I see." Ghira met his gaze intently. "She cares for you, as I'm sure you're aware."
"Yeah," he raised his bottled water, "no kidding."
The two of them watched fondly as Blake yelped in response to something Yang had said. Kali giggled and that set off a host of denials from the younger girl, which in turn drew Ruby in, and from there Weiss just had to get involved. Golden eyes met his for a moment, narrow and intent, before they whisked her away to try on another outfit. Poor Blake. She'd make him rue this day.
"If she has a child, will you still care for her?"
Naruto spat out his water. "Where did that come from, old man?! She's not pregnant!"
"My question stands." Ghira was a rock, unwavering beneath his glare. "Will you? Or will you abandon them?
Naruto twitched.
Here at last an ember of anger sparked in his heart.
"Why would you even ask that?" the words were a rasp, raw and painful even to him. "Are you trying to make me angry?"
"Mere curious, that's all." Ghira kept his eyes on the girls, but his words were stern as steel. "My daughter put her trust in the wrong man once before. I would prefer she not do so again."
Head bloomed in his chest, rousing a roaring flame from the ashes. "Don't you have any faith in her?"
"I do." Here at last, the Belladona patriarch turned to look him in the eye. "But Blake's judgement isn't in question here."
Left unspoken was the threat. Yours is.
Naruto inhaled in a slow, shuddering breath. Counted to three. Exhaled again. Let the rage slip through his fingers, the fire fade.
"Don't lash out. He's trying to provoke you."
He knew that. "I'd never betray Blake."
"But are you prepared to start a family with her?" Ghira pressed the attack, needling him in a way that only an overprotective parent could. "You're both young. Are you willing to accept the responsibility -the privilege!- of bringing a new life into this world? Or will you abandon that life when things become difficult? Will you leave them alone?"
Naruto hung his head. "..."
Loneliness. A boy on a swing. Sadness and sorrow. Guts gripping in the dark. Why do they all hate me? He'd gone through that hell once before; a life without parents, without anyone to acknowledge him; until he'd finally made them. Rough didn't even begin to describe it. Looking back, it was a miracle he'd turned out the way he had; he could've betrayed the village, turned on them, become a monster. But he hadn't. To suggest that he might turn tail just because things might become...inconvenient...? To even imply that he would willingly put anyone through that awful childhood...
That angry flame frenzied in Naruto's chest, eating him alive.
"Never!" he rounded on Ghira with wild eyes, teeth bared in a rictus of a snarl. "I won't let anyone suffer that kinda fate! Not like me!" a furious finger flicked forth, stabbing the larger man in the chest. "Ever again!" another poke, driving the startled faunus back one step, then two, now three. "Don't you dare say otherwise!"
Silence stretched between them, low and ominous. Naruto seethed up at him, chest heaving.
And then Blake's father smiled. It was a warm, gentle thing.
"You pass."
Just like that, the frenzied flame guttered out of his heart, smothered by confusion. "Big cat daddy say what now?"
A low noise rumbled through the air; deep and bemused, akin to that of a slow-moving landslide ripping its way down a crumbling mountainside. Baffled as he was, it took Naruto a moment to realize what it was, let alone to whom it belonged. Laughter. Ghira was laughing. Not at him, but not with him, either.
"Please forgive me my rudeness." a heavy hand came down on his shoulder, stern-yet-fair. "I wanted to get the measure of you...to see if you were like him."
A blond brow rose. "Who?"
"Adam."
The word shivered between them. Almost sounded familiar, somehow.
Naruto scratched his chin. "Could sworn I've heard that name somewhere before...
Ghira glanced back, making whole certainly Blake was preoccupied -currently shaking her head as Kali thrust a revealing little black number her way- before turning back to face him anew. This time, his expression was nothing short of grave.
"They cared deeply for one another." he said. "It was a simpler time, back then. I had thought he might be the one for her...
"Oh." Naeuto winced a little despite himself. Why did his chest hurt?
...unfortunately," the old cat barreled on before he could take umbrage, "They did not part under the best of terms. If he is anything like what I remember, he will not stop." here at last a note of regret wove its way into his words. "Adam is passionate, misguided, and now...the very monster I tried to keep him from becoming. He will not stop now; no, rather, I think he does not wish to stop. He's incapable of it." Those golden eyes fixed on him, stern as a storm. "He will come for her. You must protect her from him, no matter what."
Aaaaand just like that he felt words better. "So he's a crazy ex, then?"
Ghira grunted. "An apt description."
"Ugh," Naruto ran a hand through his hair, wondering why he felt so good about that last bit. "Times like these make me miss my parents. Blake's lucky to have you." his gaze sought out his intended again, just in time to see Weiss shove her into a booth, clutching...was that lingerie? No, no, ignore! He saw nothing! "I'm not used to dealing with stuff like this. Feels like I missed out, ya know?"
A heavy hand clapped his shoulder again. "They would be proud of you, son."
Son? His inner jester perked up at that. He couldn't help himself.
"Ready to welcome me to the family already-Ooomph!" Ghira's resultant slap drove the breath from his back. "Kidding! I was kidding...!"
Ghira grumled and looked away. "Have you at least considered names for your children?"
"Again?!" Naruto sputtered. "Ain't that a little far off? I mean, she's not, is she?"
The silence was telling. Was this vengeance? Had he been pranked?
"Oi! Big guy! Stop yanking my chain!"
When he didn't answer he turned and flung his sixth sense toward the gaggles of girls. Ruby, Yang, and Weiss, he ignored. His focus lay on Blake. Unfortunately, he found no answers there. In his mind's eye she was much the same as she always was. It was impossible to tell. If she was...expecting, it was much to early. Of course it was. It had only been a day since...well...you know. His face burned anew.
"Aw, you're being shy."
"Shaddap!"
Naruto was still pulling his senses back when he caught sight of Kali. A little light burned in her stomach. Tiny, so close that he had to squint just to see it, but nevertheless present. Life. His throat closed up for an entirely different reason. Oh. He wondered if she even knew. Well, he'd walked right into that.
In nine months time, Blake was going to have a little brother or sister.
Did they even know? It was early, so they might not...
Well. He'd keep quiet about that.
...why are you smiling?"
"No reason~!" he whistled, changing tack. "But you really want grandbabies, don't you?"
Ghira turned aside with a rueful grin. "Kali, more than I. We would've given anything for a second child, to give Blake a sibling, but it just doesn't seem to be in the cards...
'Oh, it will be...give or take a few months...
That settled it. He didn't know. That, or Kali hadn't told him. Either way, point to him. He knew something the old cat didn't. Ha!
A chuckle slipped through Naruto's lips. Ghira quirked a brow.
"Might I make a suggestion?" he bulled on. "If its a boy, name him Blaidd." a rueful smile tugged at his face. "That would've been the name we gave to our son, if we had one."
"You might still have one, but sure, I'll be happy to take that name." he tried to push it a step further. "And if its a girl?"
"Hmm?" Ghira saw right through, clever old feline that he was. "No, I think I'll leave that one to you and Blake."
"Me?! I'm horrible when it comes to names!"
A smirk. "Precisely."
Huh. Ghira really could tease when he felt like it. Alright, he'd show him. Taking the thought in hand he wrought his mind, turning it over in his head. A good name for a girl...a boy he could have just thrown names at until something stuck, but this...? Unbidden, two came to him, like twin star flashing through the cold night.
"Ranni." he shrugged. "That, or Melina."
"An adequate name. You'll have to discuss it with Blake, of course.
...you could always name your daughter Kyu. Means nine, after all."
"Kurama, I'd love to have you as a godfather, but I ain't naming a kid after a number.
"Feh, spoilsport."
"Naruto."
"Yeah?" he looked up.
"Take care of my daughter."
Blue eyes sought out Blake, now stomping their way. Seemed she'd cottoned onto them at last.
"Don't have to tell me twice...
(.0.0.0.)
To be Sasuke Uchiha was to suffer.
Truly there could be no other saying for it. One might even argue that every Uchiha had an awful run of bad luck since the days of Madara. It wouldn't be much of a stretch to call them a cursed clan. Indeed, it seemed to be their fate to suffer. How else could one explain the situation before him?
Because you see, Sakura had finally found Cinder.
In hindsight, he'd known it was going to happen sooner or later. Kakashi had warned him after all. Really, he had. He just hadn't the time to prepare;, he'd barely managed to get the three of them into a secluded room before all hell broke loose.
Even now the two were butting heads, looking fit to kill one another...or have his guts for garters. Whichever came first.
"No good man stealer.
"Senseless slowpoke. You snooze, you loose."
"Bitch!"
"Ah, but this bitch had him first." Cinder leaned back, and crossed both arms before her bosom, supreme in her smugness. "I could be bearing his child even now for all you know."
Sakura stilled, eyes gone glassy.
"She's not." Sasuke interjected quickly before they could come to blows. "It only happened just the other night."
He wasn't that unlucky, surely. He couldn't be.
...but you did sleep with her." it wasn't a question.
"To be fair," he raised his lone arm to ward off the punch he feared was coming, "Sensei spiked the punch. Things escalated...
No attack came.
Before his very eyes, something cold flashed across Sakura's face; Sasuke received the merest glimpse of it before it was gone. He didn't much like the look of it. Sakura had a temper. He knew that. Everyone -sans a suicidal Cinder!- had seen it firsthand. She wasn't the sort to sulk. Her anger burned bright and hot; always had. She was usually liable to smack you if you did something stupid. Even now that they were older, she was still known to let her fists do the talking.
But now, the look in her eyes...it was nothing good.
"I see." she smiled then, a wintry smirk so cold it would've given Haku frostbite. "Well in that case, there's only one remedy I can think of." green eyes met his. "Would you mind leaving us alone for a bit?"
Cinder paled, realizing her peril, and shrank behind him. "I think now would be a good time to reset our tempers.
"Sakura, no." Sasuke kept his arm up all the same. "You can't kill her."
"I'm not gonna kill her. I just want to rearrange her face.
A knock echoed on the door before she could make good on that threat.
"I beg your pardon for the intrusion," a strangely familiar voice called from without, "But I'm coming in, Sakura." a pause followed therein. "Please don't be surprised."
The medic rounded on the door with a hiss, eyes hooded. "Don't you dare-
It swung open. Her words turned to ash as she saw them.
"Neji?!"
Sasuke slapped a hand to his forehead. Were the dead walking, now?! What manner of madness was this?
Surely he wasn't the only one suffering from this book's insanity, right?
.
..
...right?!
(.0.0.0.)
Qrow gulped.
Had he really slept with this broad? What a rack!
...got anything to drink?"
Qrow offered her his flask. "Sure...?"
She ripped it from his hand and knocked it back. "Speak of this, and you die."
He gulped a little. "Yes, ma'am!"
The door crashed open. "Hey, Uncle Qrow! I wanted to ask-AAARGH! MY EYES!"
(.0.0.0.)
There was a redhead sitting on Roman's couch.
Why was there a redhead on his couch?!
Who the hell was this?!
Had he pissed off the gods? Was that it? Had he been cursed? Or was this just bad bloody karma for the life of crime he'd committed?! He didn't know; in truth, he'd very much like to, but the woman before him seemed a little...less than predisposed toward him at the moment. She'd come out of the book. Of course she had. Couldn't keep the blasted thing closed it seemed. No, suurrrrre, that was fiiiiine! More madness for Roman. Wasn't like he was suffering our anything.
Hadn't stopped her from wringing information out of him like a sponge, though.
"I see." she lifted a cup to her lips and drank slowly, the very picture of a refined lady. "Thank you for your hospitality. You know my son, then? Where is he?"
"Look, lady." Roman edged back, not at all liking the look in his eyes. "I know where the blond bastard ran off to, but to be honest, I don't care. So long as Naruto and Sasuke are far away from me and not causing me any more trouble, I ain't-ack?!
Nine chains of pure energy burst forth from her back, ripped him off his feet, and pinned him to the wall.
"You said Sasuke just now, didn't you?" the woman set down her teacup and stood, looming over him. "That's Mikoto's boy, if I recall correctly." she giggled a little, concealing a smile behind the palm of her hand. "Oh, I'm sure they must be the best of friends by now. I can't wait to see them!"
Roman tried to groan; a task made somewhat difficult by the chains constricting round his throat.
"The hell is a...Mikoto?!"
"You don't seem to understand." the woman smile was small, but the light was undoubtedly there in her eyes. "But that's alright. I'm alive again...for the time being at least." she gave herself a once over, as though to make sure everything was still tin the right place. It was, thankfully. Nothing else matters. Unless my dear husband managed to find his way back, too...
His world was going grey. He couldn't think. Couldn't breathe...!
"Oh, dear." the chains loosened around his neck. "I'm sorry about that, ya know." He had time enough to draw in a ragged breath; then firm hands closed around either side of his head.
"Where. Is. My son?"
"Neo!" Roman kicked out, to no avail. "A little help?! Get me outta here.
The little hellion tilted her head. Was she taking notes?! No, she was writing something.
Much to his relief, she held up a sign.
"In town." it read." Bagged himself a catgirl. Let my dumb-dumb go, please.
Roman fell with a squawk. Kushina Uzumaki blinked. Once. Twice. Thrice.
"He...my baby boy finally got himself a girlfriend?!"
Neo wrote again with all due haste.
"A wife, probably."
An awful silence followed. And then:
A delighted squeal of joy was a heard all across Vale.
A/N: We're barreling toward the conclusion...or are we?
Supposed that depends on you, the reader.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story.
If folks don't like this, it'll be deleted. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? POOF! Gone. Completely. 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.
Seriously, I work EVER DAY now and feedback keeps me going.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review..Would You Kindly?
And enjoy some previews!
Yup. Portal's gone bonkers.
(Previews)
"MY BABY BOY! COME HERE!"
"Excuse me, miss! Would you please go out with me?!"
Yang's brow shot int her hair. "Ha?"
Rock Lee bowed low at the waist.
"So? When's the wedding?"
Blake wilted, ears drooping atop her.
Mom, no!
"Mom, yes!
R&R~!
