A/N: (EDIT: Polished up some stuff and added more content!)
Well.
My team lost last weekend.
Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.
Still feeling a bit loopy from surgery, so excuse any typos. I've got more surgery planned in the future. On another note my birthday is coming up soon! In short, yes! A birthday update just for you guys! WHOOOOOOOO! Still, I'm not too happy about this closer to the big 30. Uggggggh. Still, I survived for another year. That's something to be proud of considering my health issues I suppose~!
DISCLAIMER!
I!
OWN!
NOTHING!
Now onto your questions!
Q: This Naruto is OUR Naruto?! Sweet!
A: Pretty much. His legend isn't twisted in the least; he's one hundred percent the real deal, with knowledge thrown his way by the grail. Death hasn't soured his outlook on life, if anything, it gave him perspective. Not quite mature, but not so bone-headedly naive either. He wants to undo his "death" to be sure, but he's not obsessed with the idea. Really, all that is secondary compared to Hakuno in his mind. She asked for help. He answered. Its just the sort of thing he'd do, wouldn't you think?
Really, this outcome was an obvious one.
Of course he'd help her.
Wouldn't you?
Q: How weak is Naruto presently?
A: As I've said, he's not packing his full strength at the moment due to having Hakuno as his Master. Literally ALL his and Kurama's stats save agility are ranked down to E. That'll soon change once he starts grinding; and we all know Naruto never does anything by halves...
...he's going to be a monster.
Q: What kind of skills are we looking at for Naruto here?
A: This chapter gives a hint towards some. For instance; Promise of a Lifetime, relating to a certain oath made while he was alive. If someone pure of heart asks-begs!-rider to help them of their own accord without ulterior motives, he's not only HEAVILY compelled to do so-to the point that resisting lowers all stats-but gets receives a major boost should he accept. All his stats receive a temporary rank up for a limited period of time. The more difficult the promise, the higher the boost.
Cannot be stacked unless strict conditions are activated.
Breaking said promise inflicts a permanent rank down on all associated stats. Conversely, fulfilling it makes the rank-up permanent. I'm sure you see why this could be so useful...and have several deadly drawbacks.
Q: What're we looking at for pairings?
A: Naruto and Hakuno may well have their own separate harems. Dwell on that.
Q: Don't you dare kill them.
A: Kill who? Theoretically its possible to save a Servant and make another contract with them before they vanish. Hakuno did in Extella. They even stated as much. The strain can prove lethal to an unprepared Master already supporting a Servant, however.
Q: Just what kind of story are we talking about here?
A: Anyone familiar with Fate Extra/CCC/Extella/Link knows there's plenty of material to be had.
Q: What kind of madness as we talking about here?
A: I know Fate Extra and its affiliated games aren't quite as popular when it comes to Grand Order, but they still hold a special place in my heart. Its about story. Heart, you know? Hakuno and her chosen Servant start as the literal WEAKEST of the bunch in the beginning, but by the end she's literally the queen of the Moon Cell. Hell, if you play our cards right, even Gilgamesh takes a liking to Hakuno by the end of CCC.
GILGAMESH!
Let that sink in for a moment!
Q: Wait a hot minute! DON'T YOU DARE EXCLUDE THE UMU!
A: As if I'd do such a thing! No, Nero, Tamamo, and Archer are all present in one form or another. As to whether they'll all survive to the end...well...
As ever, reviews feed my engine of creation, so keep at it~!
Really, sometimes it feels that the kind words-and critiques-of you fine folks on this site are all that keeps me going. That and its always nice to hear from people. Now more than ever, considering the state of...well, my life. I won't bore you with the details, you didn't come here for that. Now then...
Get ready for a feels trip!
"Tch, you're still alive? Just give up and die peacefully, would you? Picking on the weak...I really don't enjoy this sort of thing."
"You're right. I really should give up. I'm not the smartest...the bravest...or even the strongest...but...she begged me for help with tears in her eyes...what kind of person would I be if I turned my back on her now?"
~a battle.
First Selection (Part I)
"C'mon now, just how long are you going to sleep?"
Prodded by the dulcet tones of that soothing voice, Hakuno's brown eyes reluctantly fluttered open to a white ceiling; no, not quite whitewashed she realized. Just...pale. What was she doing here? Had she fallen ill somehow? Taking her surroundings in at a glance, she almost despaired outright. Was it all a dream, then? Her heart gave an ugly wrench at the thought, unable to bear its weight. Those trials and tribulations, that battered effigy, the young man who'd so willingly given her his hand...
She didn't recognize this room; much less this bed.
...Rider?" she croaked out. "Are you there?"
Silence reigned supreme for a heartbeat.
And then, quite suddenly:
"Goodmorningmaster!"
With all the subtlety of a hurricane a flare of golden crimson swung down out of nowhere. Quite suddenly, Hakuno found a warm forehead pressed against hers. Someone's nose brushed against her cheek, turning her pale visage a star shade of scarlet. Her body locked up, refusing to move despite her best efforts. And all the while that cheery, lopsided grin shone out at her. Sheathed in a strange shroud she didn't recognize, the young man shone like a second sun, his very presence filling the room-and her body-with untold warmth.
Crimson blue eyes blazed into brown.
"Hmm? You're awfully warm." a hand rose-or fell-to gently palm her face, those whiskered cheeks pinched in concern. "You running a fever or something?"
The tore it.
Close! Too close!
He was far, far too close!
With a strangled cry born of equal parts embarrassment and something she was not going to speak of, Hakuno sprang forward. In hindsight, it might have been better to simply retreat. Alas in advancing, she unwittingly rang her brain like a bell against the immovable object that was Rider.
Rather, his forehead.
Ears ringing, skull throbbing, she crashed back into the bed with a soft moan and clutched at her now-aching temples. It felt like she'd struck a steel wall rather than flesh and bone; worse, for his part, her ally appeared utterly unfazed by her unintended attack.
"What are you made of?!"
Bemused laughter rang in her ears.
"Determination, stupidity, and sheer will. Take your pick."
It took her a full thirty seconds, and a fair bit of hissing, to realize that, no, her vision wasn't distorted. Rider was genuinely standing on the ceiling and had only just now swung down to greet her. As she looked on he snapped off a smarmy salute but still made no move to dislodge himself from his unorthodox perch in blatant defiance of gravity. Through some strange art she didn't understand, his clothes remained fixed in place when they should have flown all over the place-into his face at the very least!-about his body at the very least. His sole concession to gravity was that unruly golden mane of his, tumbling down around his ears.
"How're you doing that?" she managed, still clutching at the rising wet on her forehead.
"Doing what?" the blond offered an innocuous blink.
Something shifted in young Hakuno.
Perhaps it was the incredulity. Perhaps it was the shock of surviving a near-death experience, only to be thrust into another with nearly no memory of her identity. Perhaps she'd simply been bombarded with far too much in too little time and she couldn't put up with it anymore. Regardless, she was done. Completely, utterly done.
Still, she didn't have it in her to lash out.
"How are you doing that?" Righting herself with an effort, she turned an baffled look upon the blond. "Am I dreaming?"
Naruto tilted his head, considering.
"How am I doing what ?" the blond offered another innocent blink.
She jabbed at him with her finger.
"That."
Confusion flitted across his visage. "Sorry Master, I don't follow you."
"You're walking on the ceiling!" A rare note of exasperation threaded itself into her words.
"Oh, this! Chakra, of course." the young man replied as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "How else?"
As quickly as that brief spark of anger had ignited in her breast, so too did it abate; she simply didn't have in her her to be angry with him any longer. No more than that after all she'd been through she wanted nothing more than to simply lie down and go back to sleep. Unfortunately, that was no longer an option. Her body vibrated with tension, every cell united in the singular desire to understand her situation-and her erstwhile ally-unfolding before her.
Slumping against the pillows, the unwilling magus palmed her face.
"Please...just come down from there, already." she said.
"Right, then!"
In a single liquid movement he dropped from the ceiling and vaulted to the floor to land in a pointed crouch before her. That strange glow lasted a moment longer before abating as he rose, leaving her to ponder if she'd merely imagined it...no, even now that soft ethereal glow warmed her bones with reassurance. She half-expected him to burst out into another dialogue of sorts, but no, he did nothing of the sort. Rather than explode into activity as he'd done before, the young man waited patiently at the foot of her bed.
"I really am sorry about that." he beamed at last. "Didn't mean to spook ya. Its just, you were out for a while, so I had to find ways to amuse myself in the meantime."
A cold snake of dread slithered into Hakuno's stomach.
"Wait," she frowned, "How long have I been here?"
Rider tapped a finger against his head.
"I dunno...three days? Maybe more?" the blond answered. "Really, I was beginning to think you'd never recover."
Hakuno nearly choked on her spit.
"Three...days...?!"
The room reeled around her when she tried to stand; she would've toppled backward were it not for her Servant's steadying hand. Even then she nearly folded around the limb altogether, clinging to it in an furtive attempt to keep herself from fumbling to the floor in an ungraceful heap. Black spots swam before her vision, an undercurrent of fresh weakness threatening to drag her under again. Arms like iron encircled her waist, gently yet firmly ushering her back to bed as though she were made of fine china.
"Easy there. You haven't recovered your strength yet."
To her surprise, Rider stood fast.
"Don't worry," he preened, thumping a fist against his chest. "I didn't leave your side the entire time; your virtue's perfectly intact. Well." and here that smile took on the faintest hint of a tease, "For the most part. While I did respect your modesty, I had to tending your wounds, so...
Brown eyes bulged.
Those lighthearted words made Hakuno sputter anew in more ways than one; once more her pale visage turned scarlet, but this time she all but glowed by comparison. Die. She wanted to die, die, die, die a thousand times! Without thinking she seized the white blankets of her bed and dove beneath them for shelter. Ah, but the damage was already done; even now she could all but feel the steam spouting from her ears. No. That settled it. She was never leaving this bed. Never again. She would die here, and be forgotten. Anything would be a preferable alternative to facing the world after this!
"A-A-Are you always going to be like this, Rider?!"
Gentle laughter answered her, muffled by the thin sheets.
"There's no need to hide from me you know, Master. I was only teasing. I didn't see anything. Scout's honor." to her dismay a hand pried her fingers away and peeled back the blankets, exposing them though she tried-and failed-to tuck them back to her chin. "Geez you can be a timid little thing sometimes...
Hakuno smashed her head against the nearest wall she could find. Once. Twice. Thrice. Maybe if she hit it hard enough she wouldn't wake up again. At this rate, he was going to drive her mad! She didn't know if he was teasing her without intending or if he'd willfully done this to bother her. Bastard. He was probably doing it on purpose!
...I hate to change the subject Master, but do you know what a Holy Grail War is?" Rider's sudden inquiry jerked her back to reality.
"Holy...Grail?"
"That is the reason I'm here, you know." his mouth twitched.
Try as she might, Hakuno could only shake her head in mute response.
To be fair, Rider took her confusion well. "Alright then, I'll give you a crash course based on what I've learned."
Rider proved as good as his word; he explained it to her in no uncertain terms what she would be facing; why he'd answered her call on the verge of death, the brand upon her hand, the many battles to come and the wish that awaited the winner at the end of it all. To lose was to die, to be wiped from existence as surely as life itself. With each passing moment Hakuno felt her heart sink further into despair. She didn't want to die. That was only to be expected of course; every living being wants to continue their existence. But to kill others simply to prolong her own...
"Not feeling too good about it, huh?"
Perhaps sensing her own disquiet, Naruto turned his gaze back to her.
Taking up a watchful position beside her, he propped his back against the wall, the better to keep her within arms reach should the unthinkable occur.
"To be honest, I'm not keen on the idea of killing myself." he admitted sheepishly, pausing to scratch at the back of his head as he gazed down at her. "But these people signed up for it. For the most part, they knew what they were getting into from the get-go. Only an idiot like that Shinji brat would think otherwise. Thankfully he's woefully incompetent. Lucky you~!"
Now it was Hakuno's turn to recoil.
"Shinji?" He was here?
"Your first opponent, little chick." the whiskered warrior elucidated, reaching down to muss her hair affectionately. "As I said earlier, I did not leave this room while you slept, but I was able to put out a few feelers despite that. Unfortunately, that's the extent of the information I was able to gather from here. Haven't seen his Servant yet, but I've seen more than enough of him."
"How?"
Whiskered cheeks dimpled in a smile. "That'd be a secret. Now, then! As I'm sure you already know, I-we-belong to the Rider class." he sketched a faux-gallant bow while somehow managing to remain upright. "I may not be able to use my Noble Phantasm at the moment, but Kurama and I still have a few tricks up our sleeves."
An irritated growl rose from within his upper coat pocket.
...my tricks, you mean."
Naruto dimpled again.
"Aw, still upset about the summoning?"
"Of course I am!" a familiar voice chimed.
Sure enough, Kurama's sullen, fuzzy little head emerged from said pocket a heartbeat later to make his express displeasure known. Once more Hakuno felt the unseemly urge to pet the little creature-she even caught herself reaching out toward him. Baleful red eyes regarded her dolefully, but this time made no effort to flee. Rather, he quietly clamored out of Naruto's pocket and once more claimed his now-customary perch upon the blond's shoulder.
Perhaps he was simply tired of evading her affections. It was difficult to believe that something so small could be so deadly, but after witnessing Naruto's skills in battle she could only assume that the diminished kitsune possessed the same faculties.
"You may pet me just this once, mortal." He preened, peering at her. "I shall allow it."
Thus, it came as something of a surprise when he allowed her to touch him, rather than nip at her fingers.
Hakuno didn't need to be told twice.
Carefully-almost furtively-the fledgling master sat up in bed and silently strained a slim arm towards the small fox. For his part, Naruto crouched down, allowing her to reach him without placing undue strain on her already weak body. Rider looked as though he wanted to say something-very badly!-but held his tongue when she began to stroke his partner's dark crimson coat, even as she gradually worked up the courage to dare and scratch behind his ears. Hmm. Warmer than she'd expected. Rather than the coarse fur she'd thought to find there, this was almost...
...soft."
Kurama made a noise that was dangerously close to a purr. Try as he might to resist her ministrations, his ears still twitched and his tails writhed pleasantly.
"Hrrmph." the once-mighty biju huffed. "At least you acknowledge the fineness of my fur!"
Naruto sighed. "Just don't go firing off a Bijudama at her, we can't afford to waste those...
Presently, both man and fox realized their Master had yet to respond.
...do you even know what a Noble Phantasm is?"
Hakuno shook her head. "Should I...?"
The duo groaned aloud together.
"You're so green...
"Look, a Noble Phantasm is a Servant's trump card." Naruto offered with some embarrassment. "Think of it as...a sure-kill move. I've got a few of them but unfortunately most are sealed at the moment, or limited in some scope."
Shame colored the young Master's cheeks but she stubbornly battled it back and-reluctantly!-took her hand from Kurama's head. She couldn't keep going like this. If what Rider had said thus far held true then no doubt he also held certain expectations of her. She didn't want to let him down Thus she forced herself to meet that stoic gaze and take the initiative in their relationship.
"Earlier you mentioned you were a Rider. What does that entail?"
A flicker of surprised prided flitted through his gaze."
"In a sense, I can be summoned as Lancer or Saber, its just pertains to my legend. For instance!" The blond raised a finger in elucidation. "If I knew how to use my mom's chakra chains, then I could technically qualify as a Lancer. Additionally, if I hadn't lost a certain sword that we will not speak of way back when, I could be summoned as the Saber class. Just be glad you didn't summon me as Berserker. You wouldn't be able to handle it, no," he grimaced, "Actually, I think it'd kill you outright."
"So...you're saying you'd rather be a Saber?" Hakuno posited, touching a finger to her chin.
"Not really." in response her Servant offered a wan shrug. "Rider, Caster, or Archer suit me best in theory, I'm just not at my max right now. Neither is Kurama. You can see that, right?"
See? What did he mean by that? "What are you talking about?"
"Do we have to teach her everything?"
"Quiet, fuzzball. In short, almost all my stats, bar agility, are at an E-rank right now." once more the whiskered warrior was there with an explanation. "I hate to be the bad guy here, but that's partially your fault. Still, that's nothing we can't fix with a bit of polish on your part or training on mine. You're very much a small fish in a big pond right now; thankfully everyone assumes the opposite."
He paused for a fleeting moment, allowing the words to sink in.
"Really?"
"Very much so." Rider declared, bobbing his head in agreement. "If it weren't for their own caution, we'd be in serious trouble. As it stands, I'm confident in my speed if not my limited reserves; so if worst should come to worst I can blitz our enemies in a fight. In the meantime...I'll just have to train again, I suppose. That's neither here nor there at the moment, however...
Without warning, he pounced.
Hakuno yelped and bucked against him, to no avail.
"Hey!" she cried out! "Rider, what're you doing?! Stoppit!"
"What matters now is that you rest!" Strong hands seized the sheets around her flailing form and tucked them firmly against her writhing body. "Just leave the next few days to me while you recover. I wouldn't be a very good Servant if I made you run around in your condition."
"I feel fine!"
"Oho?" a blond brow rose in challenge. "Is that so?"
Just as swiftly as he'd begun binding her, Naruto ceased.
Vaulting off the bed, he tore the sheets free and stalked to the end of the room.
A tan hand stretched out for her, fingers crooking towards her position in a come-hither gesture.
"Alright then, Master. Here's your chance to prove me wrong. You want to leave this room? Stand up and walk over here. Right now."
Kurama offered a reluctant growl.
"Don't you think you're being a little hard on-
"Quiet, you." Naruto clicked his tongue. "This is an important lesson for our little chick. Don't interfere."
The young master met that warm gaze and saw not anger, but expectant pride as he blockaded the door with his body. He awaited her decision, she realized. Be it acceptance or denial, he was resolved to see this through to the end. Why? Why be so stubborn about this? It didn't make any sense unless-wait.
He'd called it a lesson, just now.
So that's how it was.
This was a test.
Hakuno grit her teeth and swung her legs over the edge of the bed, willing her trembling limbs to obey her commands. After being bedridden for so long her limbs nearly collapsed outright under her weight; only through sheer effort did she manage right herself in time and stand. Awkwardly perhaps, clinging to the wall like a puppet severed from its strings, but she stood nonetheless. Fists balled at her sides, she fixed him with a cross look and silently dared him to object to her newfound resolve.
Blue eyes widened in slight, pleasant surprise.
"Yes, that's the way." He crooned, beckoning anew. "Now...come here. You can do it."
Despite the pain, in spite of her exhaustion, Hakuno Kishinami took that first fateful step forward. Then another.
Another.
Another still.
Yet another followed.
With each faltering step her confidence grew; so too, did Rider's smile. She wanted to prove him wrong. More than anything. She wanted-needed!-to show her strength here. Prove not only herself, but remind Rider of one very important fact; shy though she may well be, he couldn't order her around on a whim and get away with it. Of course, she could simply use a Command Spell to force him to step aside, or take her away from here. As he'd explained to her she could force him to obey her twice, at the very least. Three, if she was willing to risk oblivion. But doing so now would only reveal her weakness.
This must be done alone.
On her own strength.
Nothing else.
Rider loomed before her now, larger than life, his smile radiant. Kurama's expression proved more pensive by comparison, the little fox watching her unsteady steps with wary eyes. Still, her gaze remained locked onto the Servant's outstretched hand with frightful intensity. She'd prove him wrong. If for no other reason than because she wanted to. Whether he thought her weak or not, naive or not, she needed to prove this to herself as much as him. On some level she knew she was being tested, but she couldn't tell if he was doing this to torment her or help her in some fashion. Likely the latter.
Rider didn't seem the sort to be willfully cruel.
The moment she drew within striking distance she lashed out and latched onto his wrist with her right palm and squeezed. Such strength likely meant little when faced with a Servant, but her resolve shone through all the same.
Naruto chuckled.
"Congratulations. That's quite a grip."
'I did it!' she exulted, her concentration slipping. 'I actually-
Hakuno's vision chose that moment to swim dangerously and her limbs betrayed her. Yelping, she clawed at the nearest surface she could find, seizing upon her Servant's thick coat for balance. Weakness saw its opportunity and pounced, a wave of nausea sending the room tilting around her as though she were adrift in a storm-tossed sea. In the end it was all she could do just to hold on for a moment more. To her credit, she'd actually made it to him before her legs had finally folded beneath her like wet cardboard.
Through bleary eyes she watched herself pitch forward.
'Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all...
Rider was there in an instant.
"Well done." his breath warmed her ear, sending a pleasant shiver shooting down her spine. "Rest, now. You've earned it. We'll talk more once you've recovered."
Belatedly Hakuno realized she was being carried; even then she wasn't wholly aware of her Servant's presence until he'd laid her back in the bed. Try as she might, she no longer had the strength to resist when she was tucked back in for a second time.
Exhaustion wasn't something so easily overcome, especially after suffering a near-death experience. Least of all when one was trying to support a Servant in the face of such adversity. Silently, the young magus cursed herself for what she viewed as her own insipid weakness. Hot tears welled up in her eyes but she refused to shed them. She'd failed. It proved a bitter pill to swallow and only threw salt the wound of her shame.
'Damnit...
In the end, despite the fevered contradiction boiling deep within Hakuno, a tiny, quiet sob escaped her lips.
Rider must've heard her somehow; because he paused, lingering at the door's threshold.
A lone blue eye peered at her over his shoulder, framing a small, sad smile.
"Do you know WHY I answered when you called, Master?"
She struggled to lift her head.
"No, why?" she asked.
He didn't answer.
"Kurama."
At the mention of his name, Rider's snarky ally abandoned his shoulder and scampered away through the half-open door.
The faintest flicker of light was her only warning; then quite suddenly the bed creaked as Naruto landed beside her. A bandaged hand descended upon her head, not to attack, but to comfort. Strong fingers patted at her head, suffusing her scalp with warmth. Pearly white teeth flashed out at her in a smile pure as sunshine. That smile broke something in her and she sniffled softly. Somehow his pity hurt more than the anger she'd expected. At least she'd know how to respond to that, but this...this...!
"There, there." his free hand shifted, massaging the small of her back. "There's nothing wrong with a few tears. They make us human. Take as long as you need."
"I don't understand you!" the words exploded out of her before she could think to take them back. "Wouldn't you be better off with another Master?! Why're you being so nice to me?!"
"Simple." His head tilted, regarding with a hint of nostalgia. "We're alike."
Hakuno jolted. "How do you know?!"
"Because I've been where you are now." those whiskered cheeks pinched in mild reassurance. "Oh, I've been there." that soft smile turned sardonic indeed, almost bitter toward himself. "I've stood in the very same shoes and overcome it. If anything, I was even worse off in the beginning. I had nothing. No one. Trust me when I say I know what you're going through. You feel weak, don't you? Powerless. Like nothing you do can ever, ever matter.
But that's what where you're wrong!"
In a flash he spun away from her and smashed a clenched fist against the nearest wall. It crumpled like a tin can, folding around those taut knuckles. Those blazing blue eyes never left hers. "It makes you strong. Only the weak can truly know what it means to hunger for victory. Yes, it hurts now. Yes, you're afraid and you're going to be afraid. There will be many battles to come, and each opponent will be stronger than the last. However!"
Without warning, his forehead slammed against hers.
"Endure it, Master!" he roared! "Rise above that fear! Do you want to die?!"
Faced with such intensity, Hakuno could only shrink back.
"W-What?!" she sputtered, utterly horrified. "No!"
Rider didn't relent; no, not in the least.
"Then do you want my help?!"
"That's...you can't just...
"Do you. Want me. To help you." Rider repeated the words emphatically, a rare touch of anger-righteous fury against the forces that had brought her self esteem crashing down-coloring his normally placid visage. "If so, then say it." Those azure orbs narrowed to hooded slits. "You already told me you wanted to live when you summoned me. But that's not enough! Now, once more! Tell me what you want, Master. To survive? To die? To escape? Say it!"
"I-
"SAY IT!"
Fresh tears welled up in her eyes.
For someone so tentatively skittish toward others-indeed, one with nearly no memory of her very self-the notion of accepting help from a stranger should have been an alien one. Hakuno knew next-to-nothing of herself, let alone Rider or the Holy Grail War they now found themselves in. Spirits, even if by some miracle they actually survived until the end, she didn't even know what to wish for. Yet even so...yes, she wanted to live. She wanted to exist. To continue, if not as she was, then as a better person. To survive. To recover her memories. To remember who she was.
If the Servant-no, this person before her-could help her with that then her pride meant nothing. No, less than nothing!
Bowing her head, she dared to speak the earnest wish hiding in her heart.
...me." one had to strain to hear the words.
Naruto shook his head in response.
"I can't hear you, Hakuno!"
"HELP ME!"
With a sharp cry her hands shot up, seizing him by the sleeves. Naruto made no effort to escape; indeed, he allowed her to grab hold of him, to pull him closer. Large brown eyes peered up at him, overflowing with thick tears. A flicker of surprise danced through his gaze, but still, her Servant held fast in the face of her newfound resolve.
"Please, Rider." when next she spoke the young brunette was alarmed to find she couldn't hold back anymore; the words came tumbling out of her. "Help me. Fight for me. I want to survive. I want to make it to the end. I don't know how, I don't know why, but please, I don't want to die...!"
At first, her Servant didn't respond.
Then, slowly, that smile bloomed once more.
"There's the resolve I wanted to see! Well said!" Just like that, the fury fled from his eyes, replaced by placid calm once more. Again Hakuno found herself jolted, this time by embarrassment as those hands closed around her own. "So you haven't recovered yet? No big deal. You will. And once you do...
Blue eyes gleamed red.
...we're gonna tear shit up."
Why did she feel as though she'd just unleashed a beast?"
She was baffled even further by what her strange Servant did next.
"Well, you've really got me fired up now! Here, I think you deserve this for spilling your heart and soul, Master!"
Rather than explain his intentions, Rider reached behind his head. Strong fingers unbound the headband there, effortlessly untying the worn black cloth. As she looked on he did the unthinkable and gave it to her; binding it securely around her forehead as surely as if it were her own. Baffled, she reached up, her pale palms gracing the worn metal plate in confusion.
"But why...?"
Naruto leaned back, surveying his handiwork.
"Hmm." he grinned. "It suits you. Now Just to be safe, I'll leave a clone behind. Holler if you need me. Sweet dreams~!"
Before she could ask what he meant by that, the bond crossed his fingers and barked a strange command she didn't understand. Almost immediately a plume of smoke enveloped them the latter of which caused her to cough sharply. What fresh hell was this? Was he trying to poison her or something? Moreover, what had he said about a clooooooooooohthatfeltrathernice...
Two fingers flew through said smoke to touch her neck, and then she knew only the blessed release of slumber.
Leaving Hakuno with that less-than-silent sentinel, Naruto snapped off a smarmy salute and sauntered out the door into the hall beyond. It would be easy to simply vanish back into the aether and conserve energy, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. The idea of having a body again, even one as...limited as this, was far too appealing.
Besides, he was looking forward to his first real survey of their surroundings...
...and the Servants they hosted.
'C'mon now...any takers?'
Theoretically it should've been easy to pick a fight; though more than a hundred Masters temporarily called this "place" home, that number would be whittled down in the coming days. Everyone knew it. Those he passed bristled at his presence, others turning to flee outright rather than face him. Yet none dared to answer his presence with their own. The air was charged with prana, a telltale sign his fellow heroes were out about. More than a few Masters spared him an odd glance as he prowled the halls...
Alas, none saw fit to take up the gauntlet he'd thrown down.
One couldn't truly call this a "school" in a traditional sense of the word, but it served the purpose of a broken facsimile. Hosting three floors and a rooftop, it served as a preparatory area of sorts. From what little info he'd managed to gather through judicious use of clones and Kurama he understood the basics. Unlike the collosiuem which required two "triggers" the arena wasn't precisely barred to him without Hakuno, but he wasn't willing to simply wade in without assessing his bearings in at least some measure, Kurama or not.
Sure enough, his old friend awaited him near a corner as he departed, nimbly reclaiming his prior perch with languid ease.
"You gave her your headband?" the fox scoffed in his ear. "How unlike you. If I didn't know better I'd say you were going soft."
"Maybe." the blond shrugged. "Felt good to inspire her. Now she won't lose her way."
"You're being awfully mature about this." Kurama rumbled. "I'm surprised at you."
"Probably has something to do with the Grail." Naruto hummed, pausing on the stairwell to consider their next move. "That or dying. Now, what to do first...
"Perhaps we should deal with out tail, first?" his old ally chuckled softly.
A flicker of navy blue in his peripherals demanded their attention.
Naruto turned quickly, but not quickly enough.
"Aha!" he crowed. "Found you!"
"Oh dear~!"
Azure eyes glimpsed a young woman clad in a blue kimono peering around the corner on the first floor. Were those...fox ears? Peeking out of those pink tresses? And a tail? Surely that was impossible. As he looked on, the latter actually moved, swaying happily. The fainest smile blossomed upon her features as he started forward, to no avail. Whomever they were he didn't have the chance to truly glimpse their face before they blew him a kiss and fled; indeed they were already long gone by the time he bounded down the stairs; vanished into the aether even as his feet touched the floor.
"Tch." he swore softly. "Got away."
"Hmm?" a rich, regal voice inquired behind him. "Are you chasing someone?"
For a fleeting instant he beheld startling green eyes gazing back at him within a round face framed by flaxen golden hair. Her lithe, athletic body ensconced in crimson garb, a flowing scarlet dress the like of which he had never see, and one that left little to the imagination at that. The curved crimson weapon at her waist could only be called a sword. Conclusion: this Servant must be Saber. Her blade spoke volumes for her, if not her smile, then that faint air of debauched madness radiating from her.
"I haven't seen you before." something about her charisma sent a pleasant chill through him.
She cocked her head quizzically, regarding him as one might an exquisite dish to be devoured. Such a look might've concerned him, if, well...
...if she weren't so maddeningly short.
"You must be Saber."
"Umu!" his fellow blond beamed up at him, planting both hands upon her thin waist. "I am indeed! And who might you be?"
Kurama snorted.
"Don't answer that, brat."
"What's this?!" Saber nearly jumped. "You speak?!"
The diminutive kitsune bristled menacingly. "I can do more than that!"
"So cute~!"
"What're you, gah! Unhand me!"
In hindsight, Naruto realized, he really shouldn't have told her anything. Rather, it would've been wise to simply turn around and walk away, no matter how rude doing so might seem. But he did. No-he couldn't. He found himself unable to hold his tongue in her presence. There was something innately disarming about the little blonde; an outright honesty that, while perhaps not entirely sane, promised sincerity at the very least.
...I'm of the Rider class, if you must know."
Kurama absolutely hissed.
"BOY!"
"Ha!" His would-be-opponent laughed. "How bold of you to tell me your class outright!"
"Felt it was only fair since I guessed yours." he shrugged.
"Well said! I like that boldness-
The Red Saber stopped short with such force that she all but bit her tongue, her teeth physically clicking together as the words inexplicably stalled in her throat. She looked as though she wanted to say more to that effect but something stopped her short. Rather, it looked as though something-someone?-physically prevented her from speaking further. Saber struggled against it a moment more before relenting, shoulders drooping beneath her beautiful gown in dejected defeat.
"Forgive me," a rare look of sour displeasure flitted across her face, curdling there like spoiled milk. "My Master is calling for me. I must be going. Perhaps we can continue this another time?"
There it was again, that maddening honesty, that simple, earnest desire. He couldn't help but be drawn to it, like a moth to a flame. In the end, he could only nod.
Once more that confident grin blazed back at him; then she was gone, humming softly beneath her breath as she sashayed past.
As he looked on a slender sleeve rose, waving.
"May we meet on the battlefield, Rider!"
Kurama immediately whacked him.
"Ow! What was that for?!"
"I hope you're not planning to pick a fight here." the little fox warned as they watched her leave. "Battles aren't allowed on campus. You'd need to lure someone into the Arena if you want any chance of taking them out and even then, the S.E.R.A.P.H. might still intervene. You DO remember that, right? We were summoned with that knowledge."
A deafening silence followed.
Naruto palmed his face.
...I forgot!"
"Nevermind." Sharp teeth nipped his ear in exasperation. "I retract my earlier statement."
"What?! You can't expect me to remember every little thing! This isn't even our real body!"
Grousing softly, the blond spun and stalked off in the opposite direction.
On one hand he was grateful to be "alive" again, even if it was in a diminished capacity. Death had a funny way of twisting things around afterwards; memories best left on the Throne still lingered with him, but they were a lifetime ago. Regardless, the Grail had provided the information he'd needed; alongside a few obscure references that baffled him, so he counted himself grateful. After all, he was no stranger to war. He'd fought in more than his fair share of battles before his untimely end, and the Fourth Shinobi War had been perhaps the largest of them. Compared to that...
...he couldn't really consider this war.
Sure there were combatants to be true, but under the Moon Cell system combat was heavily restricted. Too orderly. There were ways to circumvent such a system-their always were-of course, but anyone who attempted a cheap trick and was caught would suffer a penalty. Really, it was almost a shame. The idea of honor in battle was something to be admired of course, but not entirely practical. Little did he know that he shared this mindset with a certain Archer.
"Where are you even going?!" Kurama groused. "The arena's not this way."
"Don't wanna go there, runt." Naruto retorted, watching his "pet" prickle at his verbal jab. "Need to do some research. Library seems as good a place to start as any."
...dear gods! You actually want to read?! What have you done with the real Naruto?!"
"Hey!"
As the two continued to bicker, however, a new voice drew their attention.
"Ahoy there!"
'Oh, what is it now...
Turning to face this new challenger, he couldn't help arch an eyebrow.
Bearing a scar upon her face with stoic pride, she was the very picture of a diamond in the rough.
She was in a word, a pirate. No, that word alone wasn't enough to do the newcomer justice. She was a pirate among pirates.
Long wavy crimson-pink hair framed a round face from which blue eyes shone, her beauty only enhanced by the ragged scar running across it. Her clothing was flamboyant in every sense of the word; she wore a brown choker collar almost attached to her dark pink captain vest in such a way that revealed her ample breasts, white pants, and long dark brown boots. An air of strange confidence radiated from her, a proud charisma that knew no bounds, be it land or sea or sky. Now that confident gaze was fixed firmly upon them.
Naruto swooned.
"Shiver me timbers I think I'm in love!"
"God you are so corny...
"I've seen that fox of yours skulking about." her voice held him as she approached. "So he's yours, is he?" she hummed. "Let me guess...Assassin?"
"Assassin?"
Fine.
He'd let that much slip.
"Rider, actually."
"Ho?" a gleam of interest flitted through that bewitching gaze. "Didn't expect you to reveal your class so readily."
...I've been doing that a lot today, haven't I?" Naruto grumbled. "So? What did you want with me?"
"Nothing much, really." she shot back. "Just wanted to size up the competition."
"Well aren't we a sassy one...
He got the sense that here was a kindred spirit; a comrade in arms. Someone who lived solely to live, and didn't concern herself with the frivolities that came with it. He could respect that. Admire it even. He hadn't found that sort of courage until the final hours of his life.
Hmm.
He might be able to get along with this one.
"What the hell are you doing, Rider?!"
Aaaand there went that hope.
If Rider was a beautiful savage then her master could only be called savagely stupid.
Greasy blue hair framed piggish eyes and face that smiled far too often but was only made the uglier for it. His mud-brown uniform did little to enhance his admittedly slender physique, but it was his emotional state that was truly worse than dirt. One didn't need Sage Mode or divine chakra to sense the malaise miasma radiating from his head and shoulders. This man, was, in a word, scum. No matter the time, no matter the place, some things never changed.
"Tch. What kind of weak-ass servant is this? Why're you talking to him?"
"Sorry, Master. "Rather than dispute his argument he pirate offered a small shrug. "I was trying to pass the time."
"Ha!" the boy brayed like a donkey. "This guy?! He looks weak as shit! How could he possibly entertain you? What could he even do?!"
A lone muscle jumped in Naruto's jaw. Yes, some things never changed. Even in his first life he'd never been a fan of this behavior; bullies even less so. Shinji ranked even below that. This. This would be Hakuno's first opponent, the first soul she would be forced to silence in her fight for survival. All told...he was not impressed. This runt reminded him of a certain man, someone who liked to shoot off their mouth with no regard for the feelings of others. And Hakuno didn't want to kill him. Poor little chick. She really was too pure for her own good. Impossibly, the blond's smile grew. Penalty be damned, maybe he should torment Shinji a little.
"Hey, Shinji." he began cheerily. "Have you met my friend?"
The blue-haired boy fixed him with a nervous glower.
"Ha? You got something to say, whiskers?!"
Drake audibly gulped.
"Ah, Shinji? Maybe-
"Kurama. BITE."
"WAAARGH!"
A/N: Pain isn't fun.
Pain of the heart, pain of the soul, pain in general. Reviews keep me writing, feedback even more so. Without them its hard to keep myself coming back; health woes and other issues aside, I've been around this site for more than a decade now, and it breaks my heart to see people leaving in droves. But me? I'm here to stay. Until I draw my last breath. Until my body is dust.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review, Would You Kindly?
It really hurts when I bust my ass writing long chapters for you guys and gals only to get...well...nothing...
...hope you enjoy the previews!
Potential ones at any rate...
(Previews)
Tamamo twitched.
"Soooo fluffy~!"
"I'll bite you."
"UNHAND ME, WOMAN!"
"Nay! I shall keep you!"
"Nope!"
"A truce?! On school grounds?! Are you kidding me?!" Naruto tore at his hair in a rare moment of exasperation. "Grah, this is ridiculous! Why don't they just let us fight the way we want?!"
"I know right?!" Robin Hood seconded, flinging up his hands in exasperation. "If it weren't for my old geezer or your little chick of a master this would've been much easier!"
"Exactly! What place does honor have on the battlefield, oi?!"
"Precisely! Just let us fight to our hearts content, man!"
Both men shared a startled look of realization.
"Did we just become best friends?"
"Bah, why the hell not?!"
Kurama groaned.
"Great...
"Hmmph! Useless, useless, useless! You can't touch me!"
Hakuno took a long moment to sigh as her Servant bowled through a fresh wave of enemies.
...where do you even get these references from?"
"What can I say? The Grail's thrown a lot of them at me."
"Fine, just don't start spouting nonsense on me out of the blue-
"MudamudamudamudamudamudamudamudamudamudamudaMUDA!
"DO NOT!"
"I demand a duel!"
...I refuse."
Nero sniffled.
"Hweh?! You can't refuse an Empress! I'll cry! Seriously, I'll cry!"
"I used to be good at fixing things, you know? Now it seems I can only break them...
"Rider...
"Bah, don't worry about it Master."
R&R~! =D