Ranger24: Decent length chapter. But still this will give me one hundred reviews hopefully! Also have changed Zar'roc to the sword Yamato from devil may cry.
Chapter 32: Diamond tomb.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Naruto was shaking from head to toe at Ranger's body. Tears rolled down his cheeks while Cortana continued to moan a lamentation. Slowly Naruto rose to his feet.
Naruto: We have to bury him.
Ichigo: We might be seen.
Naruto: I don't care.
Slowly Ichigo lifted Ranger's body up off the bed they had made along with his blade and knives. Cortana followed them to the caves mouth. Naruto's voice was dry.
Naruto: To the top.
The top of the cliff was solid sandstone.
Ichigo: We can't dig a grave out of stone.
Naruto: I can do it.
They climbed to the top, Naruto struggling due to his ribs. There Ichigo lay Ranger on the sandstone. Naruto wiped the tears from his eyes and reached for his power. He looked at the stone about Ranger and raised his hand.
Narutoo: Moi Stenr!
The stone rippled and spilt down the middle forming a seven foot long hole in the cliff that was two feet deep, just large enough for its occupant. Naruto shaped the stone like it was wet clay and raised waist high walls around the hole.
They laid Ranger inside the unfinished sandstone vault with his weapons and cloak. Stepping back, Naruto again the stone with magic. It joined over Ranger's motionless face and flowed upward into a tall faceted spire. As a final tribute, Naruto set ruins into the stone.
HERE LIES RANGER
Who was a Dragon Rider
And like a father
To me.
May his name live on in glory.
He reapted it again in the anceint language under neath it. Then he bowed his head and mourned freely. He stood like a statue until the mon began to move away from the cliff.
When they went to bed he dreamed of the woman in the cell again.
He could tell that something was wrong with her. Her breathing was irregular, and she shock- whether from cold or pain, he did not know. In the semidarkness of the cell, the only thing clearly illuminated was her hand, which hung over the edge of the cot. A dark liquid dripped from the tips of her fingers. Naruto knew it was blood.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
When he woke up Naruto felt stiff all over. The cave was empty of all save the horses. There was no sign of Ranger having ever been in the cave. Naruto walked to the caves mouth watching the sun come up.
Naruto (Thinking): So Chibi was right. There was death in my future.
Naruto slumped to the floor and scratched the floor. When he looked down at what he done he saw the words WHY ME?
He was still sitting there when Ichigo climbed up to the cave. Without a word he seated himself next to Naruto.
Ichigo: How are you?
Naruto: Very ill.
Ichigo: Will you recover?
Naruto shrugged. After a few minutes of reflectioin, Ichigo spoke..
Ichigo: I dislike asking this at such a time, but I must know... Is your Ranger the Ranger? The one who helped steal a dragon egg from the king chased it across the empire, and killed Minato in a duel?? I heard you say his name, and I read the inscription you put on his grave, but I must no for certian. Was that him?
Naruto: It was.
A troubled expression settled on Ichigo's face.
Naruto: How do you know all that? You talk about things that are secret to most, and you were trailing the Echoplasmares right when we needed help. Are you one of the Varden.
Ichigo: I'm running away, like you. I don't belong to either the Varden or the empire. Nor do I owe allegiance to any man but myself. As for rescuing you, I will admit that I've heard whispered tales of a new Rider and reasoned that by folllowing the Echoplasmare's I might discover if they were true.
Naruto: I thought you wanted them dead?
Ichigo smiled grimly.
Ichigo: I do, but if I had, I never would have meet you.
Naruto: Are you coming on to me?
Ichigo: NO!
Naruto sighed.
Naruto: Where's Cortana?
Ichigo: No idea. SHe folowed me for a time when I went hunting, then flew off on her own. I haven't seen her since noon.
Naruto stood and walked back to the cave Ichigo following him.
Ichigo: What will you do now?
Naruto: I'm not sure.
And he really didn't want to think about it right now. He went to his bag and rolled up his bed roll Ichigo began to make some soup. As Naruto shifted things around he found Yamato, Zar'roc's name in common speach. The red sheath glimerred in the dimm light. He took the sword out and weighed itin his hands.
He'd never used the sword or carried it except when he spared with Ranger. Primarily because he did not want people to see the sword. That concerned him no more. The echoplasmares had feared the sword and that was more than enough reason to use it. With a shudder he removed his bow and belted on Yamato. Let all the world see him for what he was now. A rider.
He began to look through Ranger's bags. There wasn't much just some clothes, Ranger's book, a few odd items, a teddy bear, a small pouch of coins, and the map. Naruto took the map back over to the cooking fire. Ichigo looked over at Yamato hanging from Naruto's belt.
Ichigo: That sword, can I have a look at it?
Naruto was reluctant to hand his weapon over but did so. Ichigo examined the symbol near the hilt and his eyes darkened.
Ichigo: Where did you get this?
Naruto: Ranger gave it to me. Why?
Ichigo shoved the sword back to Naruto and hunched his shoulders glaring at it!
Ichigo: That sword was once as well known as its owner. The last rider to own it was Minato!
Naruto's heart skipped a beat.
Ichigo: I thought you were an enemy of the empire but here you are with one of the forsworns bloody swords!
Naruto stared in horror at the weapon he now held! Ranger must have taken it in vengance for the death of the orginal Cortana!
Naruto: I never knew it was Minato's! Ranger never told me.
Ichigo: He never told you? That's strange. Why would he have kept that a secret?
Naruto: I don't know but he did keep a lot of secrets.
It felt unsettleing to use the sword Minato had used to betray the riders. He knew, with a sickening feeling, that the sword had killed many riders and dragons in its time. He sighed securing Yamato's sheath to his belt.
Naruto: Even so I'm stuck using it. I don't have a sword of my own and until I do I'll use Yamato.
Ichigo flinched at the name.
Ichigo: It's your choice man.
H returned to his cooking trying to avoid looking at the sword. After the meal was ready and eaten Naruto leaned against a rock.
Naruto: I'll have to sell my horse.
Ichigo: Why not Ranger's?
Naruto: Because of a promise. And I'm going to keep it.
Ichigo sighed.
Ichigo: Well if that's what you want. We might have trouble finding a buyer in a town though.
Naruto raised an eyebrow.
Naruto: We?
Ichigo flashed him a calculating look.
Ichigo: You won't stay here forever. The Echoplasmares are nearby and Ranger's Tomb will be like a beacon to them.
Naruto winced. He hadn't thought about that tiny detail with building Ranger's tomb.
Ichigo: It'll also take time for you wounds to heal so you'll need some back up. I warn you though, the empire is trying to find me. There'll be blood over it sooner or later.
Naruto shrugged.
Naruto: You can come. Just keep you're weapons close.
At that moment Cortana entered the cave and crawled over to Naruto.
Cortana: You okay kid?
Naruto: Not quite.
Cortana sighed.
Cortana: I'm going to miss the old geezer.
Naruto: Hey he wasn't a... Okay so he was but seriously. I never suspected Ranger was a rider! He was an old koot- as old as the forsworn. Everything he taught me about magic he must have learned from the Riders themselves!
Cortana barred one of her fangs.
Cortana: I knew what he was when I meet him back at the farm.
Naruto: And why didn't you tell me? And don't say...
Cortana: He asked me not to.
Naruto sighed dropping the topic.
Naruto: It's not all he kept secret.
Naruto quickly detailed Ichigo's revelation about Yamato.
Naruto: I understand now why Ranger didn't tell about where he got Yamato. If he did I would have run off at the first chance.
Cortana: You would do well to rid your self of that sword. I know its really powerfull but it would be better if you used a normal sword than Minato's butchery tool.
Naruto: Tell that to Ichigo's sword.
It was true that Ichigo's sword did look like a giant butcher knife. Naruto sighed,
Naruto: The question is where do we go from here? Ichigo is willing to go with us anywhere but where do we go? To the Varden? Only I don't no where the hell they are. Ranger never told us.
Cortana: He told me.
Naruto: What! Why'd he tell you and not me?
Cortana shifted slightly.
Cortana: After we left Teirm and were attacked by the sanghelli Ranger told me many things some of which I can't speak of unless nesscary. He was concerned about his possible death and whatt might happen to you after. One fact he told me was of a man named Vic who lives in Gil'ead. He can help us get to the Varden. Ranger also wanted you to know that of all the people in this world he believed you were best suited to inherit the Rider's Legacy.
Naruto smiled. Even though Ranger hadn't said it to his face it was the highest praise he could ever get from the old man.
Naruto: A responiblity I will bear honorably.
Cortana: Good.
Naruto: We'll go to Gil'ead, then.
Naruto could feel his strength return with his new resolve.
Naruto: What about Ichigo?
Cortana: We do owe him. But even if it wasn't that, he has seen me and you. We should keep him around at least to keep an eye on him.
Naruto: Right.
Then he told her about his dream of the woman in the cell.
Naruto: I'm starting to fear the worst for here. I know she's in mortal danger but I don't know who or where she is.
Cortana: What does your heart say?
Naruto: That thing died a while back.
He smiled.
Naruto: Humor aside, I think we should head north to Gil'ead. With any luck one of the towns on the route is where she's being held. I'm afraid that my next dream might show me a grave. I couldn't stand that!
Cortana: Why?
Naruto: I don't know. Its just like... My stomach does a little back flip or something when I see her.
Cortana laughed silently leaving Naruto perplexed. He sighed and went over to Ichigo and toldd him of their plans. Ichigo frowned.
Ichigo: If you find this Vic and go on to the Varden I will have to leave you. Going to the Varden is about as dangerous for me as going into the capital unarmed with a fanfare of trumpets to announce my arrival.
Naruto: We won't have to part anytime soon. It's a long road to Gil'ead.
He glanced out the caves mouth. The sun was passing miday.
Naruto: We had better leave soon if we want to cover any ground today.
Ichigo: Are you well enough to travel?
Naruto: I have to do something or else I'll go nuts! Sparring, practing magic, or twiddling my thumbs aren't great options right now so I choose to ride.
They doused the fire, packed their bags, and lead the pokemon to the mouth of the cave. Naruto handed Al and Demonwing's reins to Ichigo.
Naruto: Go on ahead. I'll be down in a second.
Ichigo sighed and began the descent from the cave.
Naruto meanwhile made his way up to the top of the cliff right next to Ranger's tomb. Cortana was already there to pay her last respects.
Naruto: I can't believe he's really gone.
Cortana snaked out neck and touched the tomb with the tip of her nose. She hummed slowly her scales vibrating. Then the sandstone shimmered like water and to Naruto's shocked turned into pure Diamond! Sparkling shadows were cast upon Ranger who was visible inside. To Naruto's eyes he looked as though he was only sleeping.
Naruto: What did you do?
Cortana: I gave him the only thing I could. Now time will not ravage him. He can rest in peice.
Naruto smiled and rest a hand on her flank.
Naruto: Thank you.
And then together they left the grave of Ranger.
Rnger24: DAMN! That took along time to write! Read and review all the same though.