Original Posted On: June 7, 2021

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OKAY, LETS READ THIS SHIT! I DON'T OWN NARUTO OR D. GRAY MAN!

"Hey" = Speaking

'Hey' = Thinking

'Hey' = Memory

"Hey"= Noah Memory

Chapter 7: Sad Goodbye's

The Ark…

Road stood outside the Ark in Edo, holding a giant stuffed fox with large button eyes and patchwork limbs.

"Naruto, hurry up." Road muttered as she squeezed the toy.

"Oh-ho. It is rare to see you worried, Road." Wisely spoke as he walked up and stood next to his sister.

Road didn't reply, not really having anything to say.

"Just a bit anxious about the new Ark." Road admitted. "Sure, it will be nice to leave Edo, but with everything going on, I feel like it might be going too fast."

Wisely smirked.

"I can agree, especially with the construction of the New Ark being on your shoulders as you are worried about Naruto." He stated with his smirk not vanishing even as he was surrounded by Road's Candle Missiles.

"I am not worried about Naruto. I trust in his abilities." Road stated calmly and coldly. "I believe he will be able to return safe and sound. Then he will follow me and ask me how I am, worried I was unable to do anything without him."

Wisely laughed.

"You treat him like a slave."

Road didn't refute, but acknowledged this claim.

"True, but that can change." Road stated as she walked back into the Old Ark. "See you, brother."

Deep within the Ark, the Millennium Earl stood before the Akuma Egg with Lulu Bell beside him.

"Ah, this should be able to grant Young Naruto dreams." The Earl chuckled as he held a formless blob of power in his hands. "Hopefully, this doesn't damage or weaken the seal I placed on his memories."

"If that happens, Lord Millennium, you can just strengthen it, can't you?" Lulu Bell inquired.

"I can, but it isn't a simple process." The Earl replied as he put the blob into a special canister. "The Mind is a fragile thing, you should know, with the Noah genes trying to take over when we are emotional."

Lulu Bell nodded.

"If it wasn't for Naruto's Soothing power, many of us would not be here right now." Lulu Bell stated in gratitude. "But I also have to thank you for giving him that ability."

"Yes, it was an ingenious idea, but that doesn't mean it was a perfect idea." The Earl mumbled as he returned to creating normal Akuma, Lulu Bell standing nearby to act as a guard.

Krory Castle…

Naruto smiled as he ate dinner with Arystar and Elaide.

"What a beautiful full moon." Eliade muttered as she looked out the large windows that let the light of the celestial body into the room.

"Yes, but…" Arystar started to say, red in the face in nervousness. "But… But… yo… you are…"

Elaide blushed as she smiled, standing up and closing the gap between her and Arystar and hugged him, their faces close.

"Thank you, Arystar. I love you." She said with a sincere smile as she pecked his cheek.

The Lord of the Castle blushed harder, blood shooting from his nose before he shot off his chair.

"Well, it is getting late." Naruto mentioned as he looked at his watch. "I guess I'll be going…"

"It's dangerous out in the forest." Arystar warned in concern as Elaide helped him up. "Please, stay the night."

"Well, if I won't be a bother…"

"Not at all." Arystar assured, happy to have a friend.

Naruto and Elaide smiled as Arystar led Naruto to his room.

After the lights were put out and all was quiet, Naruto made his way to the roof, violin in hand as he tuned it before he started to play.

As he played a sad sonata, its tune echoed through the woods, the wind carrying it to the town's people.

The sad humans heard it and became frightened.

"It's coming from the Krory Castle." The Leader of the Town stated. "We need to deal with this vampire or else we shall all die!"

"We need an exorcist!"

Back at the Castle, Naruto didn't stop as he felt Elaide's presence behind him.

"Is there something troubling you?" Naruto asked his comrade, still playing his violin.

"No, just wanting to listen to your music again." Elaide answered as she sat down. "Krory is out again, hunting akuma."

"Hm, does it have to do with the Innocence?" Naruto asked curiously.

"Yes, you saw his teeth. They are fangs. He was bitten by a strange plant and his teeth fell out and the fangs took their place." Elaide explained clearly. "Ever since then, he has been attacking the hidden akuma in the village, making them think he is a vampire even more."

Naruto shed a tear.

"He is truly a beautiful soul." Naruto said as he finished his sonata.

"Yes, Arystar really is." Elaide replied.

Next Morning…

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" Arystar cried loudly as he clung to Elaide, who was rubbing his back to sooth him as Naruto helped water Arystar's plants.

Before them was a dead 'human' body that Arystar had brought in the night before.

"I am… I am a monster…" Arystar cried heavily.

"It's okay, master Arystar." Elaide soothed. "It's okay. I shall go dispose of the body."

Arystar wiped his eyes, nose running as he nodded.

As Elaide took the corpse by the leg to head to the cemetery, Naruto and Arystar watered the massive plants in silence.

"So, you lived here your entire life?" Naruto asked curiously as he moved closer to the wall. "Seems like it was fun, especially with this massive collection."

Arystar went still, a deep-rooted sadness building in his guts.

"Yes… you could say that." He replied sadly. "I mean, who wouldn't want to be forced to stay here, in the cold dark castle and be treated by others like a monster."

Naruto blinked, guilt clenching his stomach.

"I… I am sorry." Naruto apologized.

Arystar shook his head, waving off the situation.

"It's okay." He replied.

As they continued to water in silence, Elaide walked through the castle, dragging the corpse.

*BAM*

Elaide turned to see a red head male and a white-haired male being held by the monstrous plants, fighting them.

"WAKE UP, LAVI!" Allen shouted as he swung his Innocence to push back some of the flowers.

"Oh, my." Elaide mumbled as the dust flew into the air as she stood her ground. "What are you doing! Those are Master Arystar's precious flowers!"

The now named Lavi, the red head, opened his eye, Elaide in his vision, his eye widening as his heart skipped a beat.

Elaide took notice of their jackets.

'That cross emblem…' Elaide thought before she recognized it. 'Exorcists.'

She blushed and became antsy.

"I can feel a lusty gaze on me." She muttered before she glanced over at Lavi.

His only eye was heart shaped in lust.

"Lavi?" Allen asked in confusion as he deadpanned at Lavi's expression. "HEY, LAVI!"

"Oh, my." Elaide giggled, an idea coming into her head as she posed, winking with her index finger over her lips. "Tee-hee."

Lavi's heart eye bulged out.

"LAVI!"

"Hm, What a cute kid." Elaide replied as she changed her pose, her hands behind her head pushing her elbows up into the air to accentuate her breasts. "How about it? Wanna be my lover?"

"Really?" Lavi asked before Allen punched him in the head.

"LISTEN TO ME!" Allen shouted angrily. "We are going to get eaten and you are concerned with THAT!"

A tic mark appeared over Eliade's forehead as Allen and Lavi argued.

'That…' She thought angrily, dropping her pose and putting one hand on her hip. "I am Master Arystar's assistant, Elaide. Why are you here?"

Meanwhile…

"This is my grandfather…" Arystar stated as he motioned to the giant portrait of Arystar Krory the First, who had his tongue out.

"You resemble him greatly." Naruto replied as he looked at the portrait.

Arystar looked down as he shamefully smiled.

"You… you could say that." He replied weakly. "I… I just feel like I am not my own man. I am nothing… just a piece of my grandfather's collection."

Naruto's eyes widened slightly.

'Just a piece of a collection.' Naruto repeated in his mind. 'Does Lady Road or Duke Millennium care? Does Uncle Mikk care? Or am I just a pawn to them, handling their other pawns?'

Naruto felt his heart waver, but took a deep breath as he forced his negative emotions down.

'Master Fourteenth. What about you? Did you care, or was I just a tool to you?' Naruto thought as he was overcome with a cold wash of doubt, his control cracking.

"Why am I crying?" Arystar said, snapping Naruto out of his thoughts. "I have Elaide, so I can be happy. Even if I am forever cursed to stay here in this castle, with Elaide, I am content."

Naruto started to reach out to Arystar, but Elaide slammed the door open, her clothes disheveled and coated in dirt as she ran in, making Naruto and Arystar turn before she collapsed into Arystar's arms.

"ELAIDE!" both men shouted as they comforted her.

"What happened, Elaide?" Arystar asked in worry.

"T-two men called exorcists came to exterminate you, Master Arystar." She cried, tears in her eyes. "They attacked…"

Arystar gasped.

"And they burned down the flowers in the central stairs…" Elaide cried, wiping her tears. "I was so scared."

"What?" Arystar stated, his demeanor changing completely. "Those Bastards! They… grandfather's precious flowers…"

"Please, fight, Master Arystar…" Elaide begged as she cupped his cheek.

"No… but…" Arystar stammered as he felt flustered at the thought of purposely fighting someone.

"They'll kill you." Elaide continued, pulling him into her neck. "Please, drink a little of my blood, and defeat them."

Arystar shuddered, looking at the portrait of his grandfather, memories of people ostracizing him because of his appearance, and then he looked at Naruto.

"If you do go, I'll take Elaide out of the castle and we will hide." Naruto promised.

Arystar teared up as he shook in Elaide's embrace.

'Grandfather, it has come to this point… I have nothing left, but Elaide and Naruto…' Arystar thought before he sank his fangs into Elaide, drinking a small amount of her blood.

As he removed himself, his appearance changed.

His gentle face was in a vicious smirk full of confidence and power.

"Naruto, go. Take Elaide somewhere safe." He ordered before he left to fight Allen and Lavi.

The two stayed quiet after Arystar left.

"Who were the exorcists outside?" Naruto asked seriously.

"I got their names." Elaide stated as she got up, the bite wound on her neck healing. "They are two teens called Lavi and Allen."

Naruto's eyes widened before they became sharp.

"Did this Allen have a monstrous weapon arm with white hair and a red pentagram above his left eye?" Naruto asked Elaide.

"Yes, he did." Elaide replied, tilting her head in curiosity. "May I ask why?"

Naruto walked over to a nearby dresser and opened it, seeing something he could use.

"Because, he is important to the Earl, so I need to help Arystar." Naruto said as he pulled on a long cloak with a hood, the cape going to the ground, and a scarf, which he wrapped around his neck and face.

"No, my Shepherd." Elaide said as she put her arms around his neck. "It isn't safe for you to stay here. You need to leave."

Naruto looked at her.

"You really do love him." Naruto muttered under his breath.

"I do. True, I am an akuma, but…" Elaide stated as she touched her chest above her heart. "The soul within me and this body… I want to continue to experience love. Arystar is the only one I am willing to love, beside you, my Shepherd."

Naruto clenched his teeth.

Memories of Kazekiri, Pang, and Ice dying flashed in his eyes.

"I don't want you… any of you… to die." Naruto replied softly. "But… I can't stop you, because Love will triumph anything I could ever do."

Elaide smiled and gave Naruto one last hug.

"This is the last time I shall see you, my Shepherd." Elaide stated before she left,

"Elaide…"

The Akuma stopped, waiting to hear his words.

"It will be okay."

Elaide smiled as she felt an old feeling of calm and soothing warmth envelope her.

Naruto opened the window as Elaide walked to the library, the soothing affect Naruto had on the Akuma fading as she got further away.

Elaide became irritated as she entered the library, her Akuma pentagram on her head as she ran across Allen.

As they fought, Naruto watched from above on Sui-long the flying Akuma he arrived on.

A tear fell from his cheek as he turned, making the akuma fly back to Edo.

"ELAIDE!" Naruto shouted at the top of his lungs, tears streaming from his eyes as the wind whipped across his face.

Chapter 7, DONE!

From here, the Vampire arc is pretty much the same, now that Naruto is gone.

I feel sad just writing this.

If you enjoyed, or didn't, please leave a review so I can learn and do better.