AN: I had someone tell me that Excalibur was split into seven pieces, not eight. I am well aware of this, but this person apparently wasn't paying attention when I included Avalon in the set, which makes eight. So... Mister/Miss/Missus UR, might I suggest taking a bit time out from whatever else you are doing, and actually pay attention to what you're reading? Here, I'll even do the math for you: 7 Excalibur Swords + 1 Avalon Sheath = 8 pieces.
Thanks.
Disclaimer: See chapter 01.
Chapter 13: New Siblings, Confirmation, New Pawn.
"Let me get this straight," Temari said as she and Gaara stood with Naruto in the Asmodai ritual chamber. "You want to use a ritual to turn Gaara and me into your siblings?"
Naruto nodded.
"A ritual that you have admitted to having a few bugs, like an increased libido?"
Naruto nodded again.
"Are you insane?" Temari asked calmly.
Naruto quirked an eyebrow, "I asked someone else that question not too long ago."
"And what did they say?"
"Nothing really pertinent to your question."
"Oh... so?"
Naruto sighed, "I'm a devil, former shinobi, I got my two original companions pregnant before becoming a devil, I've been building a group to fight alongside me, my devil father apparently had a chummy relationship with the powers of Heaven, said powers now almost seem to view me as a little brother, and I've been living in this madhouse for almost seven months. What do you think?"
"Fair point."
Breaking into the conversation, Gaara asked, "Aside from the increased hormones, is there any downside to this?"
Far from annoyed, Naruto was thankful for the interruption as he shrugged, "Not that I've noticed. The hormone thing seems to be a kind of adaptation that devil-kind underwent to try and counterbalance their low birth rates. Probably something along of the lines of 'if we fuck more often, maybe we can get more offspring'."
"Wait a minute!" Temari exclaimed, "aren't you hiding the fact that half of you were originally human? What about us? Dad may have been an enormous prick, but I don't wanna just ignore him."
"It's simple, I'll just claim you both as my adopted siblings. It'll be fully legal, and while there will be mutterings that this ritual was used on me, the only father I have memory of is Gressen Asmodai. I know, on an intellectual level, that he wasn't my birth father, but I honestly don't care." He said with a shrug. "As far as the Underworld community will be concerned, I just found a couple of lost branch members and brought them back into the fold."
Gaara and Temari blinked. That sounded like it could work.
"Any other advantages?" Temari asked. If she was going to do this she wanted to know more.
"You mean aside from the longer lifespan, the political might needed to protect our people, the wings with which to fly..." Naruto paused to see if this made any change in her posture. It didn't. "Well there's the family magic, which could become damn near anything, I guess."
"What about Summoning contracts? I have one with the Weasels, and I don't really want to lose it." Temari said.
Naruto shrugged, "Nothing really happens. I still have the one for the Toads, hell I train over there at least once a week to keep Ma from hitting me with that pan of hers. So as long as you retain your chakra system, which you will being only half-devils, then it should be fine."
Temari raised an eyebrow. "Ma?"
"Shima, the wife of Fukusaku. Together they're known as the Toad Sages, and she just has everyone call her Ma. No matter who you are, she'll treat you just like one of her own kids." Naruto explained.
"Ah," she turned to her brother. "What do you think Gaara?
The red head glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "I am going to take the offer."
"What?" Temari spluttered in shock.
"I owe Naruto a great deal, my very life and even my sanity. Now he has asked me to become his true brother, not just one in spirit. I will accept. You do what you feel is right for you, Temari."
Temari looked torn, but then sighed. "Yeah, right. Like I could leave my only brother alone in a choice like this. I just hope I find a good guy before my new hormones break down my will."
Naruto shrugged, "Hey, I managed a bit more than four months, so I suspect you could do at least that much."
"... Let's get this over with," Temari muttered.
"Oh, I should mention that the markings for the ritual for the recipient go on their torso. Much like certain high-level fuinjutsu."
Naruto looked into the eyes of Death's Avatar at that moment. He gulped. Well, if he survived this he'd have seen a sight he doubted any man other her eventual lover or husband ever would again. He was never so thankful for his ability to Dominate Time as he was at that moment. If nothing else it would give him the opportunity to run and hide. He may not be inferior to her in skill or power, but every man of his world knew that a pissed off woman is one the scariest things around, and a pissed off kunoichi was worse.
Now he was going to make her into a kunoichi with magic? What the hell was he thinking?
Upside, after this she'll be my sister, and even devils don't do incest without some serious reasons, so it isn't as if someone will expect her to end up in my bed... right? Oh God *wince* I hope that doesn't come to pass...
XxXxXxXx
It took Gaara and his sister five days to wake up from the ritual, and now Naruto sat on what he thought was an overly pretentious throne in a grand hall. Temari stood to his left while Gaara was to his right, and both his peerage and Gressen's stood arrayed before the dais.
Naruto cleared his throat, "I'm sure you're all wondering just what I've been up to the past few days. Well I will answer that question now. I have adopted these two as my siblings. Through the use of the ancient ritual they are now my brother and sister respectively." He paused for a moment to let that sink in, and oddly he could see no outward reactions. "They will be introducing themselves now."
"Gaara Asmodai," Gaara said as he stepped forward. "I will not betray the expectations of my new brother or this House."
"Temari Asmodai," Temari followed on Gaara's heels. "I will not betray the expectations of my new brother or this House."
The two of them didn't look much different save that their eyes now had the same silver flecks that Naruto did in their teal depths. In effect it wasn't really a big difference, but Temari said it might take her a bit to get used to.
Naruto stood up, and for the first time since he gained his position he unleashed his full presence. "I am Naruto Asmodai, I have accepted these two as my brother and sister. What say you, my servants?"
Unsurprisingly they all knelt in tandem to presence they felt inspiring awe in them, but it was Albedo who spoke first. "As our Lord desires, so shall it be. Glory to the House of Asmodai!"
The rest of Gressen's peerage echoed her, "Glory to the House of Asmodai!" In their eyes he was finally showing his potential as their lord, as their master, and they could not be happier for it. His presence was heavy, powerful, and it showed them his true might, that which he subjugated so as to not draw attention to himself, just as his training as a shinobi would dictate. While concealing his presence may have slowed his progress in his training, as he most likely had to continually suppress it, they had little doubt it would pay off even greater dividends.
Plus, if it meant that they also had more to hold the blood of the Asmodai, then that was even better! Though Albedo was fully aware that she was about to cream herself from the dominating aura her lord was letting off.
The Sleeping Dragon has awoken. Not in rage, but in his true mind. Long may He reign! Albedo thought to herself. Her devotion to her master knew no bounds, and she would gladly follow this master of hers into the very depths of Heaven itself should he desire it.
Tier followed shortly, "As Queen of your Peerage, I, Tier Harribel, welcome your new siblings from the bottom of my heart." This was the man she had fallen in love with, this forcefulness, this awe-inspiring presence. This was the presence of the man who had filled her Hollow Heart with emotions and showed her that there was so much more to her existence than mere sacrifice.
"Your Bishop, Rias Gremory, welcomes your new siblings, Naruto-sama. May they bring good fortune to this House." The young girl said, her respect for the blonde man upon the dais reinforced with the authority his words were laced with. This was a man she could follow, even born to another of the noble Pillar Houses as she was, for this was the man with the authority to save her from a fate worse than death.
"Your Knight, Aayla Secura, welcomes your new brother and sister, Master Naruto." The twi'lek said, her questions about whether this young man was worthy to follow were answered. He had gone to a world of strife and rescued what life he could, and now he was going to assist that life to flourish. His elevation of these two as his siblings also told her that he still trusted people. It was all good to her.
"Your second Bishop, Akitsu, welcomes your new siblings with all my heart, Master." The Sekirei said. This was her Master, the man she had been determined to love come Hell and high water. If these two could aid in lifting his heart free of the burdens she sensed he had, then she would gladly welcome them. All for the sake of her beloved Ashikabi, her Master, her Dearest, her Naruto-sama.
"Artoria Lily Pendragon, thy second Knight, welcomes thy new siblings into the fold, My King. May thy lineage continue to grow and flourish." Lily said as she brought her sword hand over her heart. This presence, this was that of a King, a man who would make the difficult decisions needed to bear the weight of his kingdom. This was a man worth following for the force of his ideals alone, and she knew without a doubt that she would never follow another King as long as she lived. Even if they held the mantle of Asmodai, only Naruto would ever be her King.
"Your Rook, Titania of Crimea, welcomes these new additions, my Lord. May they be a blessing upon your name and House." Titania said formally. The presence he gave off was surprising to her, having never felt anything like it. The closest was her former commander, Ike, when he was in battle. But even that fell far shy of this feeling. It was as if, if she were to voice anything but compliance, he would be disappointed in her despite accepting her judgment. Thankfully she really didn't mind this new development, so there was no reason to withhold her welcome.
"I, Pyrrha Nikos, Pawn of Naruto Asmodai, also welcome them." Pyrrha said shortly, her breathing a little difficult due to her sudden desire to grab Naruto and run off to the bedroom to do things. This aura of power and authority was intoxicating to her, sending shivers straight to her very soul. She wasn't typically the kind of girl to be swayed by such things, but she remembered that this was a new life and as such she could allow herself to change on that score at least this once. And if nothing else it proved to her that her feelings weren't just manufactured by their Bonding.
Naruto nodded and sat back down, his aura dispersing back down to more tolerable levels. "Tolerable" in this case meaning that Albedo was no longer looking at him like a starving man would a well-cooked steak. Now? Now she was undoubtedly just horny, if that expression of frustrated-near-rapture was anything to go by.
"I'm glad to know that those I trust are in agreement with my decision." Naruto said with a smile. "Now, to get them adjusted properly for their new positions I'll be assigning some of you to tutor them. Demiruge!"
"Yes, Lord Naruto." The red suited demon replied instantly.
"You will be of greatest use in tutoring Temari. I know you have many other projects, but this is more important right now."
"As you command, my Lord." Demiurge replied with a bow.
"And Albedo," Naruto said. "I wish for you to teach Gaara. I believe your guiding hand as a fellow defence-minded individual will be invaluable."
"As you desire, Lord Naruto." The demoness replied. Dammit, now she'd have to wait to cool off! But it was the order of her master, so she'd just put up with it.
"Sebas, between your duties I would like you and the Malachite sisters to make the rounds of the new arrivals. Get their predispositions, see what we may need for staff around here, who wants to stick around, who doesn't, and bring them up to speed on the human realm. The technological differences alone are immense."
"As you say," the elder devil said.
"Then, that concludes this meeting. I will be out meeting with the refugees personally. Lily, you shall accompany me. While I do not fear these people, for the most part they do not know me. I wish to rectify this. Who knows? Maybe it will make Sebas, Melanie, and Militia's task easier."
"As my King wishes."
XxXxXxXx
"Why exactly are you doing this, Master?" Lily asked as they left yet another small band of grateful refugees. The people had grouped up primarily by... actually, it seemed as though they were just sticking around those they were comfortable with as they definitely weren't grouped by nationality, gender, age, or any other method she could see.
"My dear Lily, I may be a devil, and head of my house of relative evil, but I am not without compassion. These people need to know the face of their benefactor, the one who will aid them in starting new lives, either here or in the nearby human realm."
"Relative evil?"
"Well this is undoubtedly a humanitarian action, so the evil in it is somewhat hard to see."
"... You're using it as an excuse to get away from the paperwork," she accused.
"Don't have to do that," he replied promptly. "I have a couple Kage Bunshin working on that as we speak. They'll sort out the pieces that I actually need to deal with, and do the rest themselves. Some of the papers I've been dealing with otherwise could have simply been dealt with by someone of the blood of the Asmodai."
"Which is where Gaara and Temari come in," she realized.
"Partly, yes." Naruto admitted freely. "The fact is that I chose them because I know them. Of all the people we saved they are easily the ones I trust the most. Koyuki has gotten better since she took over as Daimyo of her country, but I don't think she wants that level of responsibility again. That and I am bound to increase the amount of Asmodai blood out there, and without children this is perhaps the easiest way."
"You may ruin your father's name," Lily pointed out.
"Yes and no. Gressen never actually said he was unfaithful to Kethry, he simply let others think it. In this case I will merely tell them I have adopted these two, which is perfectly legal."
"True enough," the white-themed Knight allowed.
"So you have two new siblings, hm?" A voice said from behind him. Naruto stiffened, he recognized that voice.
"Hello, Tiamat," Naruto said as he turned around to face the human form of his dragon business partner. "Yes, I have two new siblings. I was going to introduce them to you in a couple days when we had our next scheduled meeting."
"Is that so?" Tiamat said as she drank in his unleashed presence. She had sensed it all those months ago, briefly, the rage and power to contend with a dragon. Now it was in plain sight, but not in anger, but rather in calm contemplation. It was simply there, like a dragon that was watching you stumble around its lair in amusement. It was... intoxicating. Nowhere near her level, but impressive nonetheless. In a few short years it could be of an appropriate level for her to submit to, which impressed her greatly. "Well then, my young dragon, as I am already here..."
"Yes, of course," he picked up her meaning easily, even as he decided to file her new nickname for him away for future contemplation. "I am in the middle of something, but if you wish to tour the people here with me, you would be welcome."
"Very well," the dragon replied magnanimously as she fell into step beside him. "I see you have acquired new members for your peerage since I last saw you."
"Naturally," he said as they moved on. "This is Artoria Lily Pendragon."
Tiamat raised an eyebrow, "so you managed to collect King Arthur?"
"You're not surprised King Arthur was a woman?" He asked curiously.
"You forget, I was around during that time," Tiamat pointed out. "I know that Arthur was actually a woman, and that Morgana used an ancient ritual-even by that era's standard-to create Mordred after acquiring some of Arthur's genetic tissue. I just never bothered to learn Arthur's real name as at the time I was a little preoccupied trying to figure out how to become the Third Heavenly Dragon."
"Ah, yes," he mused. "Well Lily here is from another universe, one where she never lost the right to Caliburn and had to get Excalibur as a replacement."
"But Caliburn and Excalibur are two of the original Four Holy Swords..." Tiamat trailed off.
"In this universe, yes," Naruto agreed. "But not in hers. In this universe Caliburn, Excalibur, Durandal, and Ascalon are the Original Four Holy Swords. In hers, well... I believe another sword, Dwrnwyn, is said to be the basis of all Holy Swords."
"Not quite," Lily murmured, "but the original in my universe was never named. It was held by a man who became known as the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh."
Naruto blinked, then shrugged. "I stand corrected."
Tiamat rubbed her forehead as Naruto made some quick small talk with another group of Elemental Nations refugees. All this talk of other worlds was annoying, and induced a rather large headache. While Tiamat would admit to a preference for intelligence in her desired master, the level of confluence and potential paradox was getting a little ridiculous.
"Just... just tell me you left whatever sword she was using behind in that world," the dragon said quietly.
As they left the group of refugees Naruto gave her a quirked eyebrow. "Of course I did. I have no idea where Caliburn is in our universe, but I was absolutely certain that adding a second one would be a big problem."
Tiamat snorted in disbelief. "'A big problem' is putting it lightly, Naruto. Two copies of Caliburn in the same universe? The only reason we don't have paradox issues with the Excalibur fragments is because each of them is recognized as a single blade and given its own designation; Destruction, Mimic, Rapidly, Nightmare, Blessing, Transparency, and Ruler."
"Those names kinda give away what they do," Naruto commented as they approached the final group and he saw a face he had hoped to never see again. Shizuka of Nadeshiko was a beautiful girl, long black hair in a high ponytail and hime cut bangs, large chest that many a man would kill to touch, long legs and lithe body that was covered by a form-hugging bodysuit with a bit of extra armour to cover her chest... though she left a hole right over her cleavage, presumably to take advantage of the idiots who ogled her instead of fighting. In that area alone Naruto was glad to have had Jiraiya as his teacher, the old man got him desensitized to beautiful women pretty damn quick.
"That was probably the point of them," Tiamat agreed agreed quietly.
It was then that Shizuka managed to put a name to the face she was looking at, "Uzumaki Naruto?"
"Naruto Asmodai," he corrected. "Used to be Uzumaki, but adoptions via ancient rituals kinda supersede previous names."
"You won our match." She said, foregoing the usual niceties. He liked that about her.
"I did."
"You declined to become my husband."
"I did. You and I had others in our hearts."
"My other is dead."
"My condolences. My own is as well."
"Will you still refuse me?"
His eyes narrowed as he took in her slightly red eyes and cheeks, as if she had just been crying. "You still grieve, and I have new responsibilities. Your village is also gone, and with it your laws. You are free to choose your own heart's path, as am I."
"And if I was to insist?"
"I think I may have to ask my friend Kurama to eat you."
"Your friend?"
"A rather large fox with nine tails."
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Quite the friend."
"I'm aware. Will you insist?"
Her gaze softened, "a month ago I would have. Today? Well, today is the start of something new, so no, Milord, I will not insist."
"Milord?" He asked incredulously. His reaction was mirrored in the raised eyebrows of the two women accompanying him.
"You saved our lives, brought us to a new world, and I would guess that you are going to help us further as well, possibly by helping us settle into new ways of life. For the first one alone I would have sworn myself to your service," she fell to one knee, her head bowed, "together they cement my choice, Milord."
He looked down at her and resisted the urge to facepalm. "This is gonna be the part of your village you cling to, isn't it?"
Shizuka looked up at him with a mildly impish grin. "Yes."
Naruto let out a pent up breath, "Alright. If you know of any others that wish to follow your example, find the purple haired pregnant woman named Yugao. She and another woman called Konan are to bear my human offspring soon enough, and as such I'll leave the organizing of any shinobi to them."
"As you wish, Milord."
With that Naruto turned and left, Tiamat and Lily in tow. "If I just inadvertently created a new Hidden Village... I blame Konan," he muttered quietly.
Lily didn't know what he was talking about, but she nodded along with Tiamat anyway. It was a safe bet to blame one of the two human women for Naruto's random unintentional effects. Tiamat would personally just add it to the list of strange shit about her potential contractor.
"By the way, Tiamat, have you decided on what to branch into after our conquest of the publishing world?" He asked innocently.
The dragon narrowed her eyes in suspicion. No devil was truly innocent. "Not yet, why?"
"I just thought you might be interested in the area of movie production," Naruto said blithely. "I recently found an actress of rather extraordinary talent, but she's an unknown in the human realm."
"Why do I feel like I'm going to regret this?"
XxXxXxXx
"Yo! Brat! That mirror of yours is slowing down again!" Kurama's call to Naruto a few weeks later as he sat with Gaara and Temari going over some of the family finances. Getting a large group of refugees up to speed and integrated with the Asmodai family servants-none of them decided to leave-wasn't cheap. So the money of the family had to be balanced against the gains so as to hide the new influx of people.
They did not want to explain where all the new chakra empowered humans came from.
Naruto blinked, "Seriously? That was quick. Should I take a guess, or is it another knight-type?"
"Oh, no. This one breaks that pattern I'd say."
Naruto was up and running, Gaara and Temari on his tail in curiosity. They had heard about the Mirror of Remote Viewing and how it had played a role in helping to save their group, now they would actually get to see it. It didn't take long to get to the Mirror's room, honestly it was in a large antechamber just off Naruto's office.
Looking within the depths of the Mirror, Naruto started chuckling, then burst into full-on laughter. "Oh yes! This breaks the pattern alright! About bloody time, too!"
While Rias and Akitsu were nice breaks, they were also his Bishops. If a magic-caster, a wizard-type, didn't get the Bishop Piece... well, something was obviously not right.
... Or there was a cosmic joke going on that no one was willing to tell him about. That was possible, too.
Kurama peered at Naruto out of the corner of his eye. "You gonna take a few with you? Might need 'em."
Naruto shrugged, "Yeah, I think Lily should join me at the least. Other suggestions? Let's keep the group kinda small for now."
The fox snorted in agreement. "Sword and Destruction wouldn't be amiss."
Naruto nodded thoughtfully, his mind already sending out silent summons. "Lily and Rias... good choices."
Kurama huffed and pointed his snout into the air haughtily. "Of course they are. I made them."
Naruto wasn't going to touch that comment with a thousand-foot pole. Too easy.
XxXxXxXx
In the once-dark capital of Ostrheinsburg a woman sat propped up against the inside wall of a castle, dying of horrible injuries. Her tight red bodysuit was now liberally darkened with her blood, and her slight pieces of armour were utterly demolished. She might have been beautiful, but with the blood caking her features it was difficult to tell. Yet she had a calm and accepting smile on her lips.
My task is finally complete, she thought to herself. My clan is avenged of the wrongs done in its name, my leader free and clear to make his way to the Pure Realm, and that damnable sword is destroyed. And while evil will always be within the hearts of mankind, that is not my worry.
Slowly and carefully she opened one eye to reveal a dark orb. Already her strength was waning as her vision blurred heavily. Yet despite this she could still readily see the form of an armoured man laying upon the ground not too far away.
Sigfried, I am sorry it had to be this way. She thought sorrowfully as her strength continued to bleed out of her. You were a noble man, once, twisted by your need for revenge by that detestable shard of Soul Edge, then saved and manipulated by Soul Calibur. I can only hope that I have freed you of that curse.
A faint sensation of wetness fell upon her face, and her bleary gaze drifted upward to the cloud-covered sky. Rain? I see, so there will be those who will mourn my passing. I am truly blessed. Though I wish I didn't have to die to complete my mission, so be it...
Sophitia, my friend. I am sorry, but it seems I will be going on ahead of you. I pray you managed to save your husband from the Evil Seed, and have reconciled with that sister of yours. Cassandra is too stubborn for her own good. I wish I could have seen you raise children of your own, but it does not seem to be in my fate.
The woman's eye drifted closed again. Her strength gone, finally abandoning her.
Her world then lit with a brilliant golden light and she felt her strength cease leaving her. In fact she felt fully mobile. That didn't seem right. She was dying, right? Shouldn't she be weak? Yet she felt a new strength fill her.
"I don't normally do this," she heard a young man's voice mutter, "but I normally also have the time to explain things. For what it's worth, I promise to explain when you regain consciousness."
The woman let herself be carried away on the tide of power and strength. It was pure, untainted by evil. Only a desire to be understood and loved tinged the energy, and she could readily agree with such sentiments. Deciding that she could always reverse her course later, she let the power wash over her, and felt it be bolstered a few minutes later by another, greater well of energy. She swore that greater well had to be the true source of what was saving her life.
In the end her mind slipped into restful slumber.
XxXxXxXx
She didn't know how long she drifted on that ocean of golden energy, but eventually she awoke. That alone surprised her somewhat. She had interfered in a duel to death and been horribly wounded in achieving her mission. She should be dead, yet she awoke. Her eyes were gummy with exhaustion, but she was awake.
With what felt to be a great effort she opened her eyes, wincing slightly at the light filtering in through the open curtains of a window to her left. Her eyes stared blankly at the sky she could see for a moment, trying to explain what was wrong with it...
She jolted into a sitting position as she realized the sky she saw was purple! That wasn't right, sky should be blue. So why was it purple? A rather lovely shade of purple, but purple?
"Where am I?" She muttered.
"The Underworld," a young man's voice answered her from her right. Her head swivelled around to see a blonde teen picking himself up off the floor, a chair he had most likely been occupying fallen to one side. His charcoal grey suit set off the natural tan of his skin and the brightness of his hair nicely, while the white shirt he wore was pressed tightly against a rather impressively toned torso. The woman found herself licking dry lips as she made eye contact with silver-flecked blue.
Those are not the eyes of a mortal man.
"I'm sorry, it seems my manners are lacking again. I am Naruto Asmodai, head of the Asmodai family." The young man introduced himself as he picked up the chair.
Her eyes widened in shock, "Asmodai? As in the ancient devil of the Key of Solomon?"
Naruto's eyes scrunched up with amusement, and he sat back down in the chair facing her, arms crossed. "The very same. Not that devil himself, but his clan at least."
"Devils have families?"
"Probably not where you come from, but here? Yes."
"What do you mean?" She demanded.
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "You know, while I don't mind answering, I believe that I have introduced myself. Has Japanese etiquette dropped so badly that you will not name yourself?"
The woman grimaced. "I do not wish to give a devil my name, but you are correct. I am Taki of the Fu-Ma."
"If it makes you feel better, Taki-san, the very fact we are having this conversation is proof that I am not a demon." Naruto said reassuringly.
"How so?" Taki responded warily.
"I did a little research on your world. Your demons are, for the most part, either corrupted humans or mindless beasts. Neither of which are very loquacious."
Well, he's right about that much. She admitted silently.
"As to your other question, it is really very simple: you are no longer in the universe of your birth."
"... I'm sorry, could you pass that by me once more?" Taki asked shakily.
"You no longer reside in the universe of your birth." He repeated calmly.
"I thought that's what you said," she replied softly. Then she did something she never thought she would. Taki, of the Fu-Ma clan of shinobi, destroyer of the evil weapon Soul Edge, fainted.
Naruto blinked, then chuckled as he rose to reset the sheets to cover her unconscious form. From what he had been able to discover about this woman in the past week since he reincarnated her with two Pawn Pieces this was not something he had expected. He had expected more along the lines of her reaching for her weapons and demanding to be released, not a dead faint.
Oh boy, did this ever break the curve of his Pieces to date.
While the fainting spell was unexpected, Naruto didn't really mind. It gave him more of a chance to admire her, something he had done a fair bit of over the past week. He was right, she was beautiful once all the blood was cleaned off and the wounds closed. Her body type was definitely that of a kunoichi, and her chosen weapons spoke volumes about her as well. Well-maintained dual kodachi, each with its own spiritual affinity, though one seemed to be weakening.
We'll have to see what can be done about that, Naruto thought with a frown directed at the two blades sitting on the bedside table near him. Can't very well have my new member weakening because of her tools, now can we? But why is one sealed into its sheath? Unless...
He picked up the second kodachi and examined it a bit more closely. He hadn't really had much time over the week to take a look. First he had been engaged in healing Taki's injuries so they didn't scar, then he had to recharge himself, and finally he had to assist in setting up the refugees by approving the budgets. It was just today that he had managed to get his schedule cleared enough to sit by her bed, and her sudden awakening had surprised him enough to topple him over backward.
"Hm... there is a strange energy to this blade..." He mused quietly to himself. "Though the power is weak, I can tell it used to be much stronger. It's almost as if it is fading without its original source. Interesting..."
He carefully placed the weapon back down. This was something to bring up with the sleeping woman. Whenever she woke up again, that is.
With that in mind, Naruto settled himself once again in a comfortable position. He might as well, it could be a while. As such, he pulled a large tome up from where it had fallen on the floor earlier, and opened it to a marker about mid-way in. If he was going to have to wait for her to awaken again, he figured he'd opt to read one of Gressen's earlier journals.
He didn't get very far as Taki began to rouse again a few minutes later. Her eye blinked open as he softly closed the book and set it aside.
Her gaze panned over to him. "So... not just not my world, but not my universe, huh?"
"Yep."
"... What now? I assume you didn't just save me out of the kindness of your heart." She paused a moment, "assuming a devil has a heart, that is."
Naruto grinned, "Oh, we have them. You have to dig pretty far with most of us, though. My house, however, is known to be somewhat more... affectionate, I suppose. As to why I saved you..." He shrugged, "well, you aren't wrong, but not quite right either. I'm gathering people to help me, walk with me, fight with me, live with me. In short, I'm kinda creating my own set of companions."
"Why me? What can I add to this group of yours? What made you choose me?"
He raised an eyebrow. "I do not know," he admitted, catching her off-guard. "I sent out what are known as Evil Pieces into the metaphorical ether, and set those pieces the task of locating people that not only deserve a second chance at life-you really were dying by the way-but those that were intelligent, strong of mind and body, and could mesh well with my personality. There were a few other optional settings, but in general those were what I was after. Two of my Pawns-the Pieces are designed after those of chess, you see-found you, and thus I came around to recruit you... only to find that you were a little farther along in your death scene than I usually deal with."
Taki frowned as a thought struck her, "I remember hearing a voice, yours. You said something about explaining something?"
Naruto shrugged again, "that's kinda what I'm doing now."
"So I wasn't just hearing things," she muttered. A shift of wind breezed in and ruffled the sheets covering her, which brought to mind a certain point. "Naruto-san, why am I naked?"
"Part of the process I used to heal you requires as much skin contact as possible," he explained with a sigh. He was really getting tired of having to tell people this.
"So you have seen my unclothed, naked body?" Taki asked with a neutral expression.
"Ye~s," Naruto drew out the word warily. "Is that a problem?" He was honestly gambling every time they woke up like this, hoping that they wouldn't try to kill him for being a 'pervert'.
"In a certain regard, it certainly helps me make the choice to join your group," she said quietly.
"And what regard would that be?" He wasn't sure he liked where this was going.
"My clan has many different practices, some reaching back into antiquity so ancient we aren't sure where they originate." She replied, her voice never rising in volume, which honestly worried him. "One of those is the traditional practice that a woman's naked body should not be viewed by any man other than her husband. Children are discounted for obvious reasons."(1)
Naruto winced, then vented another sigh. "Let me guess, to set things right with that tradition, you must now become my woman? My bride?"
"Yes." The word was said through grit teeth. She apparently liked the idea about as much as he did.
"Okay, I will admit my research on your world was hasty at best, as I did not know your clan held to that tradition. Otherwise I would have taken a different route in your healing, probably by letting Tier-chan practice on you." He said sourly. "Unfortunately, I already have three women who share my bed and heart, and another I have little doubt is attempting to do so. So you see, I am not looking to make it five."
"My honour as a Fu-Ma kunoichi demands no less of me," Taki said firmly, her gaze turning to meet his. "The only other option is to kill you."
"Yeah, that would not go over well," he said dryly.
"So then, Husband," she said, "Taki of the Fu-Ma will join your group, and your harem. Please be kind to me."
Naruto sighed heavily and slumped. Daikoku, I really hate you right now.
XxXxXxXx- Omake – the other side of things.
Lily looked over the fallen man in silver armour in thought. "Well, this is certainly following the curve. Another knight-type, my King?"
"Actually, Lily," Naruto said as he moved past the unconscious man, "he's not the target. This woman is."
Rias blinked alongside Lily. "But... she's not conscious..."
"I noticed," Naruto replied dryly, though he was frowning as he knelt down beside the dying woman. She could have been beautiful, but she was covered in blood and wounds that marred her countenance. Well, if nothing else, those should at least fix themselves if he extends his own energy to heal her.
He held out his hand and two small red statues of dragons appeared, quickly sinking into the paling body before him. "I normally don't do this," he muttered, "but I normally also have the time to explain things. For what it's worth, I promise to explain when you regain consciousness."
"I wonder, my king, whether she will be one to find her way into your bed," Lily noted idly with a slight bit of jealousy in her voice. She was used to seeing bloody bodies on the battlefield and was easily able to see the woman's beauty beneath the bloody visage. Not to mention that the bodysuit left nothing to the imagination, leaving Lily to stew and wish she had this woman's curvature.
Naruto shrugged, "I do not know. Tier and Pyrrha would be the better ones to ask about that. As it was their idea, I left it up to them to allow or disallow my possible partners."
"What about Akitsu, then?" Rias asked impishly.
"As I said before, it's a peculiarity of her species."
"You're going to stick to that story, aren't you?"
"Like white on rice."
XxXxXxXx- Ending Notes
1- This tradition is really freaking old, and so is her clan apparently. To assist with the merging of such a strong character I have decided to use this old tradition.
Current Peerage (Familiar):
Queen: Tier Harribel (Undine)
Bishop: Rias Gremory (Devil Bat/Magic Bat), Akitsu
Knight: Aayla Secura (Gryphon), Saber Lily
Rook: Titania (Celestial Charger)
Pawn: Pyrrha Nikos (Magic Wolf), Taki
And Naruto's Sacred Gear strikes again! Daikoku's Blessing, I'd bet that a few of you even forgot he had it. But it just complicated his life with his latest gamble on his Pieces, so much fun ^_^. And the fact that it's Taki of Soul Calibur! A hotter kunoichi I dare you to find! On second thought, if you can honestly think of a kunoichi out there who is hotter than her... keep it to yourself. I love Taki, and she was honestly one of my first picks for the peerage.
Now, to keep things in perspective: With the addition of Taki, Naruto has 5 Evil Pieces left to him; 3 normal Pawns, 1 Mutated Pawn worth 2 points, and one normal Rook.
~Dreaming of the Phoenix