Author's Notes I: T was also written by Helel and me. A few things are missing in this compared to the original because they are spoilers. Enjoy.
I have been here for a year now. Yet I am nowhere near to officially claim I own Naruto, or High School DxD for that matter.
xXxXx-ADM-xXxXx
Fear wracked her nerves.
An inhumane chill was present in the air, making Rias shiver from its frosty embrace. The light breeze wheezed as it died.
Here she was alone, with a dead teen painting the ground with his blood and a stranger. From what Rias guessed, he was old as her, yet the young man's posture betrayed his age. His eyes bore no warmth. A face devoid of all emotions.
An aura of death loomed around him. Dark, bleak, and suffocating.
It was like he was luring her into a trap where only her doom awaited. She tried to muster courage. To speak up and show this human – he was human from what she could tell – that she, Rias Gremory, was not afraid.
She'd fought Stray Devils, Fallen Angels, Exorcists and foul beasts. Looked them dead in the eye before erasing their existence. Surely she could face him.
Then as if feeding on her turmoil, she felt gravity weighing down on her. Her throat tightened, she suffocated. It tormented her, commanded her and instilled the fear of God within the descendant of Gremory and Bael.
She failed.
Her Devilish heritage seemed as threatening as a child armed with a rubber duck.
"The longer you take, the more time we'll waste," she heard him say. The sheer absence of emotions in his voice made her more nervous.
'He's just human,' she kept reminding herself. Distraction was a method to stave off fear. Her brother often told her so. If she could fight him, hit him with her Power of Destruction then he would be no more.
One shot, that's all she needed.
But, then she noticed a strange object in her enemy's(?) hand. Metallic, sharp, black. A kunai. She hadn't seen it in his hand before, unless...
'He let me see it.'
"This is starting to become troublesome," he said and for a moment, the Gremory heiress swore she saw his lip slightly twitch. Like a ghost, it disappeared before the deadpan expression settled again. She'd seen that look before.
She had definitely seen him before somewhere. It was after a while that her mind finally remembered who he was.
How could she not recognize him?
There was no one else with whisker-like marks on their cheeks.
Naruto Uzumaki.
'The Misanthropist' as so many called him. A person who minded his own business, spared his attention to no one and simply went about his days. Rumored to be connected to criminals due to some rumors about being seen with the police.
Now aware of who stood before her, Rias started to form a plan.
"You're Naruto Uzumaki, right?" she asked, mostly to calm herself down first and to delay whatever he was going to do. Especially with that kunai.
"You're the Gremory girl," he said. The blank voice was disconcerting. He pointed a finger at her lap. "What were you about to do with that chess piece?"
Ordinary humans should never be aware of the supernatural. Nor should the supernatural let humans know they exist.
A fundamental agreement between the Underworld, the Grigori and the Heavenly Host. Here she was, on the verge of gaining the key to her freedom and the only obstacle in her path was a human. Her Devil side advised her to be done with it and erase him. Yet a part of her did not want to.
On top of that this human unnerved her. He kept her on guard and his horrible eyes didn't move away from her. Not even for a second.
She had only one clear choice. Rias would deal with the consequences later.
"This will bring him back to life," she said.
Perhaps appealing to this man's human nature would help. In the end, all humans liked to believe that deep down they were good. They always strived for something that helped them go on with a clear conscience.
"You showing up moments after he died was too convenient," he said, crushing her hopes about him becoming a bit partial to her. "Who are you?"
"I'm Rias-"
"My bad. I asked the wrong question," he cut her off, his voice cold as harsh winds in winter. "What are you? I saw you coming out of a red circle with sigils. You're anything but human."
"I'm a Devil," she replied, hoping to divert his attention elsewhere.
Instead he eyed her, as if he was reading her mind. Raping every shred of secrecy that she kept hidden from everyone. It made Rias deeply uncomfortable. Then the pressure increased. The fear kicked back in and ice ran in her veins. Her eyes widened in fear, a choking cough threatened to escape her throat before…that feeling disappeared.
All of it.
It was as if she never felt threatened at all. Rias' breathing became normal and she found the blond sigh. He then slowly turned around and began to walk away. She stared dumbfounded as he distanced more. Not a single word.
Was this normal to him?
She had been scared out of her wits a few moments ago. It was reminiscent of the tales she heard when the Underworld had been torn apart by the civil war. The feeling of death. Rias didn't know what it felt like until now.
Hesitantly, she stood up and followed him. Rias didn't know why. Her mind was in a trance and his presence called out to her. Pulled her towards him. But rationality was still there. The heiress needed to sort this out.
"Wait," she said, hoping to use some of her magic and remove this memory from his mind. If that didn't work, since this human clearly had a Sacred Gear of some sort, or at the very least some magical reserves – she would have to 'keep the peace'.
"Gremory," she heard him speak. It held no malice. There was no comfort in it either. "What you do is your business. It doesn't concern me in anyway. Don't bother me, or try to find me and I'll forget about meeting you here today."
She couldn't even reply as the man exploded into smoke. Rias coughed, shocked at what happened. It was the first time she'd seen something like this. Thankfully, her mind was working – properly – and she still had a future member of her Peerage to resurrect.
Naruto Uzumaki was something she would deal with later. Still, something needed to be done about him. He knew too much and…
'Wait,' her eyes darted around. 'Where's the Fallen Angel?'
Rias had come here with plans to kill her. She was sure the woman would smile and gloat over Issei Hyodou's rotting, reeking corpse. Yet, she was not. But Uzumaki was here instead.
"First things first," she said, heading back to the corpse. Summoning her Evil Pieces, she placed three Pawns upon his chest. She chanted the incantations of old, told him to rise from the dead and serve under her. They glowed, a circle formed before disappearing.
She smiled widely when her attempt failed. She was right, had been all along. Placing all eight Pawns upon his chest, her heart skipped several beats when two of them began to glow a bright red shade.
Rias Gremory was one step closer to freedom.
xXxXx-ADM-xXxXx
Wrath, pride, envy.
They were her sins.
She fell because of them.
How she envied the hairless apes the Seraphs adored and loved. It was distasteful. With time, her wings darkened as her distaste towards Yahweh's 'greatest' creation increased.
On and on she let her vanity fuel her hatred until finally, her white wings became black.
Again, she blamed the humans for her disgrace and chose to collect her debt. They were nothing more than pawns in her eyes. A flock waiting to be lead by a shepherd. All of them. Nothing more than flawed scum.
And today, one of them battered her into the ground as if she were nothing more than a fly. The moment she lunged at him with her Spear, he caught it with his bare hand and crushed it. Before she could gasp, he placed his hand over her mouth.
The next thing Raynare knew, she was outside the skirts of Kuoh Town and was slammed against the cold surface. She was surprised and shocked at this human's strength. But it was nothing compared to the way he looked at her.
As if she were a pest.
She wasn't such a lowly being. The former Angel never was and never would be.
Letting her wrath loose, she flew and decided to skewer the human with her spears. However, the man seemingly disappeared from her view. The Fallen Angel felt a violent tug at her wings. He had appeared above her and with one hand, twisted her right wing.
She felt the pain, each of her nerves emphasizing the anguish he was putting her through. Then he grabbed hold of the other wing, proceeding to torture her more in midair before she crashed into the ground. Her face caked in mud, dirt and grass.
Defiantly she rose once more, and he told her to stay down. Warned her, that if she continued – he would break her. She refused the offer, spat on it and assured him, that she – Raynare – would tear him apart. He simply replied that he would keep his word.
It was her greatest mistake.
Now, Raynare was broken, beaten, scarred. She couldn't even see him move, he was but a blur in her eyes as he kept disappearing and reappearing.
Between each interval, she felt miniature explosions hit her. The human only hit her nine times, but each of those blows felt as if Mjolnir was striking her down. They shattered her bones, tore her muscles from the inside and shredded her skin. Here she laid ruined, in a puddle of her blood and urine.
She couldn't control herself when the pain became far too great. Her amethyst eyes looked up to see him standing near her. Looking down on her. Perhaps he would end her now.
"I told you what would happen," he spoke with a slothful tone. He stretched his neck, looking away from her. "I gave you a chance. But you didn't take it."
Silently, she acknowledged those words. Her voice would come out as nothing but a whimper if she tried. Her throat was one of the places he had struck in the beginning. She saw how he reached for his back, and a small blade rested in his hand. He bent down to her level and looked at her.
The Fallen shook in fear. Something invisible choked her. Winds screamed in agony. The moon was hidden by blacker clouds. A shadow of darkness loomed over her. It told her how pointless her efforts would be against this man.
No, this monster.
The blade came down to her throat and she felt the cold metal press against her. It cut through her skin and some blood began to leak out. The damned feeling that was putting her into an abyss was not going away.
Raynare looked at his eyes and prayed to Yahweh, to Michael, to the Holy Spirit.
She saw her own death in those eyes.
"I should kill you," the blond said. His hand reached around the back of her head, taking a fistful of her hair and lifted her face up to meet his. The blade was still there, and Raynare knew her time was at hand.
Until the hopeless feeling disappeared when he threw her back into the ground.
Once more, the Fallen Angel found herself surprised at this human. She was sure he would end her now. After thoroughly ruining her in battle, this was the only conclusion she could draw.
An eye for an eye. The one true rule of the world.
"But then," his voice broke her out of her stupor. He stood over her. "That would be something you probably do. Distasteful I find you, you're not worth the effort. Hardly someone I need to kill."
Raynare felt worse now. To be called worthless, it was her greatest fear. It was why she joined Kokabiel's troupe in the first place. To prove she wasn't just another foot soldier in the Grigori. The rogue Cadre had promised her power and she took his hand without a second thought.
"However, there is something I want to tell you crow," he said, not even bothering to look at her. His gaze was fixed upon the night sky, a wistful look on his face. "Don't cross my path again. I don't feel like killing anyone. I simply want to be left alone. Should you come after me, hoping to get some pitiful revenge, rest assured of one thing."
She gulped, unrest built up at his hanging words.
"I will end your existence, Raynare."
Another promise. One that he would carry out.
Her wrath quivered under his cold eyes.
Her pride was crushed by his bare hands.
Her envy humbled by his words.
"Do you understand?" he asked. Raynare nodded lightly as she laid there. He disappeared as the winds picked up.
And for the first time in a century, maybe more, Raynare began to cry. Silently, she sobbed at her state. Her pain. Her utter humiliation.
xXxXx-ADM-xXxXx
Akeno felt amazing since she woke up.
She hadn't felt this bright since she was taken in by Rias. As if something she deeply desired had happened. On second thought, perhaps it was because that her King finally obtained the aid of a Longinus wielder that made her feel ecstatic.
It was likely that. Regardless, she had gotten up quite early. Last night, Rias had sent her a short, but meaty text message that made her go to bed early.
'Eight Pawn pieces,' she thought with a smile on her face. He was strong, the young pervert of Kuoh.
It seemed Rias' assumption held merit after all. She was also thankful to the other owner of Kuoh Town, Sona Sitri, didn't take the boy into her Peerage. The Sitri was a friend of Rias' since childhood and understood her plight. Akeno made a mental notes to somehow make it up to her.
And now, here she stood near a ramen store that opened up roughly five years ago, but hardly caught her attention until the first year of senior high. Uniform on, with a few adjustments that she and a few others had due to exceptional perks, Akeno Himejima looked nothing less than an angel carved by the very hands of God. She ignored the looks sent her way as she stood by the two storied building.
There was a ramen shop below and a modest apartment above. A stairway outside led up to it. While not overly large or famous throughout the country of Japan, Ichiraku's had a rustic feel to it. Homely, if she was to put it. A certain warmth that the small food store represented and a place she visited quite often. Mostly since last year.
Though she couldn't say the same thing for the last four months.
Her occupation as Rias' Queen required her to go to the Underworld for reports, requests and missions the Peerage got. Stray Devils were turning up more nowadays; an exam needed to be taken after young Devils received their Evil Pieces. Then, one of the three members of Kuoh's Pervert Trio showed signs of having a Sacred Gear came up. A powerful one no less.
It was a mess really. The whole damned affair all because one lust driven Devil couldn't simply cancel a contracted marriage.
Akeno's musings were swatted away as she heard the sound of a door closing.
Footfalls echoed in the small area as a young man walked down the staircase. Soon enough, Naruto Uzumaki stood in front of her. His hair had grown larger. Now it was past his shoulders. Not that he looked bad with long spiky locks, but the look didn't help his reputation one bit.
Delinquent, misanthropist, foreigner, creep and so many other things they called him.
He ignored all of that, again amusing her. Not all humans, teenagers no less, could simply shrug off the comments, the slants and the misgivings people said about him in earshot. Yet, surprisingly he never failed his exams. A minimal effort was all he gave, but he got through. Always hanging by the skin off his teeth and openly defying their opinions of him.
Perhaps he was an unorthodox genius; those sort of people had their own unique flaws in addition to their quirks.
"Good morning, Uzumaki-san," Akeno said, smiling and looking at him daintily. He stared back intently, completely focused on her. She felt a bit flustered.
This was maybe the longest the blond looked at her. Akeno couldn't help but get lost in the deep, twisted blue of his eyes. She almost shook at the sight of it.
Her sadistic side whispered her to take him. But that's not all that made ther became infatuated with him. Naruto Uzumaki, human though he was, made her feel something. Something she couldn't quite place.
After what seemed like an eternity to the black haired Queen, he finally spoke. "What are you doing here?"
"I simply came to greet you, Uzumaki-san."
"No," he paused, "you didn't."
Well, she couldn't very well lie to him all the time.
"My, my," she said, giggling. Putting a hand on her cheek, her eyes lidded and a smile formed. Akeno tilted her head as she continued. "You seem to have caught on to my intentions Uzumaki-san."
He said nothing, and Akeno knew he was waiting for an answer.
Since last year, she understood some of his quirks. This silence he let out now meant he was waiting for an honest answer. Shido-sensei hated him for this. Then again, Shido hated Naruto Uzumaki for reasons nobody knew. The blond himself didn't mind openly disrespecting the man.
"I simply wanted to walk to school with you," Akeno told him. After a few moments he looked away from her. Naruto started walking and the Queen followed suit.
It would be some time before they reached the school, so she let the silence reign for now. Akeno noted how some of the people, and the occasional Kuoh students, stared at them. Gawked at them. A few even expressed their shocks, quite loudly if she was to put it.
She didn't care. 'Let them have their own thoughts.' Akeno was enjoying this small moment far too much.
"So, Uzumaki-san," she began. "Have you made any plans? After finishing high school, of course. This is our last year."
She saw the blond look at her with a raised eyebrow. While he was still retaining the blank look he was known for, the evident confusion was genuine.
"You're not going to ask me if I'll get my shit in line?"
Akeno couldn't help but laugh at his crude answer. In all honesty, she expected it. He was a bit of a cynic, something she learned from her past interactions with the loner. This was not out of character for him.
"No. Why would I ask that?"
"Because everyone else does," he stated the obvious for her. But, that wasn't the way she saw it.
"No, I have faith in you Uzumaki-san," Akeno said. "You may not look like it, but you do pass the exams every year. A bit slightly average, but you never give up."
He closed his eyes for a moment as they walked. If it was possible, Akeno swore his eyes looked darker now.
"What are you really here for?" Naruto asked after a pregnant pause settled in. His voice seemed a bit stern to her.
"I told you," Akeno replied. "I came to walk to school with you."
"Again, what for? You're not gaining anything from it," he said. His voice seemed curious.
"Well, that's not entirely true," she said, a playful smile formed. "I am gaining something."
"I'm going to regret this," she heard him say as he stopped, staring into her eyes. More precisely, he was gazing into her soul.
It was surreal. Her breaths became shallow. The heart skipped a bit, hammering against her chest. Cheeks flushed red, unable to hide the blood rushing to her face. The act ravaged her mind over how he could do this to her merely by looking at her.
"What exactly are you getting from this?" he asked.
She recovered herself and focused on his words. Sometimes, the truth was better than a lie and Akeno Himejima didn't have any intention of lying to him. Why should she? Drawing a breath, she spoke as her violet eyes stared deep into his blue ones.
"Because," Akeno said, "I like spending time with you Uzumaki-san."
Instead of walking away like usual he stood there, glued to her words. Neither of them moved or looked anywhere else. Until finally, he spoke once more.
"You," he said, drawing out a pause. "You're going to start bothering me again, aren't you?"
Akeno laughed again. Melodic in nature, her elegant, silky voice made every passerby stop to simply see her radiance. Finally she ceased and looked at the man's back. She learned another thing today.
Naruto Uzumaki said the most unpredictable things.
"Am I that overbearing?"
"Yes," he walked along with her.
"Well, it's a burden you'll have to bear."
"I wish you wouldn't bother me, woman."
"That's not happening, unless you live in your own world."
"I do. Unfortunately, I have to share it with you." The fact that he said it in such a bland and obvious way made her want to write these things down. Naruto Uzumaki had a strange way of seeing things.
"You know," Akeno said after sometime. Her eyes fixed on the clear sky, "I'm surprised you didn't run away this time."
"I don't run away," he said. "I just don't like talking with people."
"That's sad, Uzumaki-san," Akeno added with a bit of seriousness. She smiled nonetheless. "Not talking with people. Being alone. It's never a good thing."
"It is for me," he said, sagely.
"Then I'll simply have to change that."
"Change what?"
"Well for starters, making sure you talk to someone," she said. "And, then you finally getting some friends."
"And by 'someone' you're referring to yourself," he pointed out.
"You know me too well, Uzumaki-san," Akeno tilted her head. "Perhaps, I'll get to know more about to."
"No need to," Naruto replied. "There's nothing interesting or good about me."
"I'll be the judge of that," Akeno replied, defiantly.
Did he think he could brush her off?
No. She would punish him regarding this later. But for now, she needed to tell him something. Something she thought about him, but never had the chance to say it to him.
"You are interesting, Naruto Uzumaki," she said. "And you are a good person, otherwise you wouldn't have fed those homeless people at the park."
"…Have you been stalking me?"
"I prefer the term 'observing'."
"School's here," he said and Akeno realized just how much distance they had covered. The stares, the surprised shouts, revolts and curses flying around was something she expected. Before long, Naruto was walking ahead.
"See you for lunch, Naruto-kun," he stopped hearing her words.
"'kun'?" he asked. She nodded her head. "Since when did it become 'Naruto-kun'?"
"Since now. Calling you 'Uzumaki-san' was becoming too formal for me," Akeno replied. "Besides, we're way past that point, Naruto-kun. After all, we're friends. Aren't we?"
She expected an answer. After their small walk and conversation together, Akeno didn't expect him to strafe away.
One day she would get to him. She then headed towards the direction of the Occult Research Club in the old building. First she needed to visit Rias, and congratulate her. Their Peerage had after all, gained a new member.
Opening the door, she found Rias sitting at her desk. A worried frown marred the features of her King, her friend and Akeno spoke up.
"Is something wrong, Rias?" she asked.
The redhead looked at her, nervously. "Akeno," Rias said before pausing, "how do you know Naruto Uzumaki?"
With those simple words, Akeno Himejima felt a pit forming in her stomach.
xXxXx-ADM-xXxXx
He couldn't in class today.
Despite his attempts he failed at such a simple task. His mind was fogged. Obscured with thoughts he couldn't shove away.
Last night, he fought an 'Angel'. Saw the Gremory girl claiming to a be a Devil – recognizing the heavy signature he sensed – and stated she would bring the dead boy back to life. Which she did, as he saw the boy running around in the building today.
The brown haired teen looked healthy as a horse. In fact, Naruto could feel his energy. It was similar to the redhead's, but there was something else. Something he couldn't quite place. That wasn't a major concern. He died, he came back and it was frankly speaking, not worth a damn.
Everybody won, as long as they would leave him alone.
The only thing bothering his mind was a girl.
Akeno Himejima. That woman was troublesome -Shikamaru's tic couldn't describe her better.
The 'Onee-sama' started to talk to him since last year, one of few who ever did. Always striding forward with a smile on her face, the black haired beauty seemed enamored with him. Akeno would talk to him at least once a day, and Naruto would give the necessary amount of answers.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Four months ago, that had stopped. Naruto was internally grateful to God, or whoever was up there for this divine intervention.
Despite staying alone, old habits were never easy to kill. No matter how much time passed. He was still himself. Naruto Uzumaki, the man determined not to make the same mistakes he made before.
Then came Akeno Himejima, clobbering him with conversations. This morning, when she appeared, waiting near his house – he became surprised. Though he didn't show it.
His sensei, the Copy Ninja, would've been proud.
Her presence was similar to the Gremory girl. It was also similar to Raynare's and, lastly it felt human too. Before today morning, he noticed there was something unique about Akeno, but never took note to sense her life force. She always did seem a bit perfect to him.
Far too beautiful to be human.
Last night's events made him raise his guard a little. So, he kept his sensory perception activated. The night went peacefully, but this morning someone was outside his house. Just waiting there.
Hoping to face an enemy, shock hit him when Akeno of all people turned out to be that person. Just like with everyone else, he kept her at arm's length and looked for lies, deception, false notions under her words.
He found none. The woman meant him no harm. However, it wasn't the fact that she was a Devil, or a Fallen Angel that bothered him.
No, it was the fact that she cared about him.
When he was reborn, the first thing he was was a door. The door of an orphanage. He was a baby then. Naked as the day he was born.
It wasn't easy, growing up all over again. A few perks included no large populace hating his existence. He grew normally as he could. However, he was still truly alone and over the years, the blond came to enjoy the isolation.
So when a girl, a beautiful one no less, was interested in him and went out of her way to meet with him, talk to him and tell him he was a good person –it got to him. By God it did. Much more than he thought he would. She stalked him from time to time too. His profession gave him away.
Years ago, he opened up a ramen shop, mostly as a means to earn after certain events took place. One day, a large group of policemen entered his shop to eat. After learning of his orphaned status, they forced him to go to Kuoh Academy. They even made a petition to see that he would receive a scholarship -should he pass.
If he didn't, he'd be placed in a system where someone would look after him. Naruto didn't want that. So he took the exam, cheated in it as well, and studied here free of cost. He would finish high school and then do something with his life.
The policemen's genuine act of kindness and large tips were the only reasons he let them go. After that, everything was still going well. Then, Akeno barged into his life. Naruto thought he finally won when she left him alone for the last four months. It was just a delay.
And now, he sat with a dilemma.
Lunch time had come and gone before he found himself in the last class of the day. Naruto knew why he found today a bit more bearable than usual.
Akeno Himejima.
The damned woman. She called him a friend. He didn't want to be friends, with anyone for that matter.
That feeling of being close to other people, where a sense of conformity and caring about other people settled in. Where he would stake his own life for the sake of others. How he would worry about them later.
No, it was better to not have them at all.
After all it was a proven theory.
People close to Naruto Uzumaki died all the time.
It was his curse. He didn't want the lives of more people on his conscience. Naruto couldn't believe himself at the moment. To be slightly affected by simple act of kindness from her, who just wanted to be friends with him.
'No', he said in his mind. 'I don't need anyone. I've done it before. I can do it again.'
He had his own demons. They were his to bear. Letting people get in his life would only complicate things.
"Naruto Uzumaki and Akeno Himejima. Please report to the Student Council Room."
The voice blared throughout the school's comms system and everyone in their classroom stared at him. Mostly at him, as his name was mentioned alongside one of the school's idols.
Groaning, he got up and didn't bother waiting for Akeno. He had ignored her for the entire day since entering the classroom. Opening the door he walked forward, and much to his inner ire, Akeno had caught up with him. She was faster than he gave her credit for.
Akeno's face, didn't have that smile anymore. The one he saw this morning and countless of other times. She looked better with it.
"Do you know why they called me?" he asked. She didn't reply. "Are all of you going to kill me?"
Again, silence was the only answer he received. Soon enough, he was standing outside the Student Council Room with Akeno. He placed his hand on the knob, getting ready to twist it and enter the room. It was then his black haired classmate spoke up.
"I won't let anything happen to you."
A few simple words. That's all it was. He closed his eyes, shutting them tightly. 'Stubborn woman.'
"You don't need to concern yourself," he told her. He meant those words for himself as well. The blond was getting soft. "You don't know me that well. Leave it at just that."
"I want to know you, Naruto-kun."
Naruto Uzumaki once craved for such words. For such interest. It was a drive that shaped him into becoming the person he was known for.
Now, now he hated and despised it. To have someone comfort you, to have someone reassure you that they would be there for him.
It made him feel afraid.
xXxXx-ADM-xXxXx
Author's Notes II: There done. And, that's really it for this chapter. For those who read the original - hopefully forgotten about it by now - know that there are some differences. For those new, don't read the original version. It sort of takes away what I'm building towards. Well, I've said all I can. Make sure to review guys. Take care.