Broken Faith 13
The Bad, The Good, The Great and The Legendary.
Disclaimer : I don't own anything, Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto as much as his screwing it up nowadays anyway, Negima belongs to Akamatsu Ken.
Just one little point of contention. I have received some comments regarding my spelling, "his to he's", "their to they're" etc. I would just like to say I can't help it, the stupid auto correct changes the words very often, and when I type very fast, I subconsciously know I typed it correctly so I don't make an effort to go back and change it, so they stay as mistakes. It's not just those words either, I noticed the auto correct also changed words like "Anytime to any time", "anywhere to any where", "anyway to any way" you get the gist.
So I ask you guys to be patient if you see stupid mistakes like those. I try my best to root them out, but the smaller stuff like his and he's are rather hard to find especially since they don't show up on the spell checker.
Oh….. Umm…very dark fight at the bottom. I felt the need to bath after I was done with this.
Soundtrack List
Nickelback – I'd Come For You
Gundam Seed Destiny OST – Honoo No Tobira
Gurren Lagann OST – Omae no XXX deTen wo Tsuke
Cruel Angel's Thesis – Yoko Takahashi
Gundam Seed Destiny OST – Kimi Wa Boku Niteiru
****Broken Faith****
Setsuna and Konoka choked. He hadn't been exiled. He had been executed. Setsuna suddenly realized something. She glanced at everybody who had been present at the fight between Naruto and Fate and saw they had come to the same conclusion as well. Evangeline noticed the glance and the unspoken question. She reluctantly nodded. And the comments Naruto and Fate had made about Death not taking him thousands of years ago and him still being alive suddenly made horrifying sense.
The book closed shut with a snap and the array on which Asuna and Negi were kneeling on disappeared with a glow, causing the people around it to jump slightly in shock. Most of them stared at the trio that were stirring, none of them knew exactly what to do or say. Then again what could on say after such revelations?
Asuna and Negi looked at each other, admittedly uncomfortable, before observing the blonde who had just gotten up quietly and looked in the distance with a stoic expression on his face. Everything was silent, not even Chachazero dared make a sound.
The blonde turned around, "You guys hiding behind the wall; you can come out now."
Asuna started as the girls trooped out, all of them with various expressions, some shamed, some thoughtful, but almost all had tears. They had been there? What were they doing?
Naruto asked the same questions within the confines of his thoughts but when he noticed the floating book beside Nodoka, he immediately put two and two together and his face hardened. "You were watching the memories of me and Negi?" his tone was frosty, causing more than one person to flinch.
Asuna started along with Negi, "What! You guys were watching?"
The group of girls, dolls and gynoid looked at each other, wishing for one of them to answer but no one dared. That alone answered Naruto's question. Finally Setsuna gathered enough courage to reply, seeing as no one was going to, "I-I'm sorry, we didn't know we would see your memories, we thought it was just Negi-sensei's…"
Naruto pinched the bridge of his nose, this wasn't how he envisioned letting everyone know about his past. Asuna and Negi were a different matter entirely; he had chosen to let them see those very personal memories. Well more Asuna than Negi anyway. At least he hadn't shown them the more gory parts, just those that defined who he was today, and more importantly, why he acted the way he did towards Asuna. He turned his gaze at each of the girls, all of whom squirmed in place as those blue eyes took on a coldness they weren't accustomed to seeing.
The blonde kept his mouth tightly shut, if he opened it, he knew he would regret what came out of his lips, it wasn't entirely their fault, they had expected only Negi's memories, not his. Spinning around he turned to leave without a word until a desperate cry stilled his feet.
"Wait!"
He glanced over his shoulder at the person who had spoken, it was surprisingly Konoka.
"Yes?"
Konoka flinched again, this was the first time he had spoken to her in such a cold impersonal tone. She guessed this was the tone he had used when he…uh… dismantled the black haired person. Scared as she was, she forged on anyway now that she had spoken. "Ho-how, did you survive? We saw you get stabbed and…" she trailed off, having no idea how describe being stuck in a tree.
"How I was stabbed and submerged in wood, and yet I stand here today?"
Everyone silently nodded, even Negi and Asuna.
Naruto was silent for a while, contemplating whether he should answer or not. He admitted that he wanted to leave, just to spite them all but leaving them without an answer would just complicate matters later on. He took a deep breath so that he didn't say what he didn't mean to before laughing a bitter laugh. "I wasn't meant to. Under any other circumstances, being stabbed and turned into wood like that would have killed me. Ironically the only reason I didn't die was because that silver haired man stabbed me with this sword. He only meant to cause me more pain before my death but his spite was what guaranteed my survival." The blonde reached behind him and summoned the Totsuka no Tsurugi. He twirled it around, enjoying the familiar weight in his hands once again before trailing his finger along the edge. Red fluid stained the blade's edge before it was stabbed into the ground.
He caressed the undecorated gold hilt, "Despite how plain it looks, this sword isn't a normal one. Under unique circumstances its powers will activate and seal what it cuts. Doubtlessly Kakashi didn't know what it could truly do, which is why I survived, it sealed me into the tree in a state of suspended animation." He gave a bitter laugh, "It fits doesn't it? A monster cannot be allowed to die so easily without paying for its sins."
He showed them the cut he had inflicted on himself seconds earlier, it was already gone.
He took another deep breath, "If that's all, I would like to rest. It has been a …troublesome night." The blonde faded into the darkness without another word, the upright sword that was stabbed into the ground the only proof he was ever there.
Most of them wanted to rush and find the blonde, to do whatever came to mind, console him, cry with him maybe but a thin arm barred their progress. Konoka's eyes travelled up the thin arm to a small shoulder and into the pale blue eyes of Evangeline.
The vampire shook her head, "I know what most of you are thinking, you want to go to him, cry, tell him how sorry you are that his life was bad."
She breathed to stop the guilt raging in her chest, "Don't. He doesn't want your pity. It will just be an insult to him." The blonde vampire's gaze turned to the only girl that hadn't moved from her spot and continued, "I think the girl with the katana will understand what I am saying the best." before gesturing for her servants to follow her and leaving silently.
Chachamaru paused for a subdued Akako to leap into her arms before following her Master, the only thing that showed her hesitance was a last glance at the lone sword standing in the moonlight.
Everybody else just glanced at each other uneasily, before an unspoken decision was reached together. They would go to bed.
Nodoka walked silently beside Negi, before quietly stuttering, "Negi-sensei…. I'll do whatever I can to help you find your father. I promise."
Negi smiled sadly at her in thanks, all the fuss about Naruto's memories had distracted him from his own goals. His hand slipped in Nodoka's and squeezed it gently in thanks.
****Broken Faith****
Chizuru looked out at the window to see stormy skies. For some reason she felt unsettled. Shaking her head slightly to clear her uneasiness she turned to the boy at her room's dining table that was currently gorging himself on a week's worth of groceries.
The busty brunette smiled, "Are you feeling better Kotarou-kun? Can you remember what was so important to you?"
Kotarou paused from stuffing his face with a scrunched up expression, "Yeah, I feel a lot better, but I still can't remember what was so urgent. It's like my head is filled with haze." A shadow covered him causing the wolf boy to look up. He gulped whatever was in his mouth without chewing.
"Hehehe…. I see…. Looks like we have to use traditional methods after all," Chizuru said with a menacingly sweet smile and a shadow covering her eyes, while brandishing a leek in her hand. "Don't worry; you'll get your memory back very easily like this…. Eheheh…"
Kotarou gulped again.
Outside Mahora Academy
Two men stood in the rain, both wore trench coats, but the taller one had a fedora over a weird hairstyle and a shirt while his companion's trench coat was open, showing his muscle bound chest.
"Oi oi, you sure the guy's were supposed to attack are here? I can't feel anybody with any worthwhile power around." The shorter one asked the taller one.
"Be calm, this is the place, and the wolf boy's presence is here as well. There is no mistaking it," the older one replied, "This is the place, now let us do what we were ordered to. It has been a long time I have been home."
"Tch, only an old foggy like you would want to go home, there's nothing there for us, this world on the other hand… hehehe, so many innocents, so many people to fight and hurt."
"Enough! Keep your bloodlust under control. You can do what you want after this mission is over, I don't care, just don't jeopardize my way home." The taller one barked at his companion.
"Hmph, whatever."
Back inside Evangeline's Resort
A shadow sneaked out of the dormitories where all the rooms were held. A slight squeak from what seemed to be the fur scarf around the shadow's neck told her that their target was no longer in the resort. Nodding her head in concurrence since she couldn't sense the blonde's presence anywhere either she headed for the surface by way of the stairs.
The shadow emerged from the recessed stairway and stepped into the moon light. Everything was still; the only thing that stood out was the sword that was still thrust into the ground in the middle of the courtyard.
The shadow walked over to the sword and laid her fingers on the cold weapon before grasping the hilt and pulling it out. She cradled it like a baby and moved towards the exit of her Master's resort. Once she was outside she could see a storm raging outside. The gynoid frowned, she didn't like water and would rather avoid going out in the rain if she could. Rummaging around in the store room, she found a rain coat and draped it around her, making sure to cover Akako and the sword completely.
She ran out into the storm.
A few minutes later the rest of the people emerged from Evangeline's resort. Ku Fei stretched while Kazumi looked around for a clock. "Whoa! Look at the time! We slept a whole night in there, then spent another day and it's only been 2 hours since we went in! Magic is awesome!" the red head happily declared.
"Heh, of course, the Great Evangeline can do anything!" The vampire smugly replied.
"Can you make this heavy rain stop?" Konoka asked with a sweet smile.
"Ehh…ah…um, sorry I can't use magic here." Came the embarassed reply.
"Fufufufu… anyway, how are we supposed to go back, we only have one umbrella," the princess said while gesturing at the lone umbrella Negi was holding.
Evangeline stood at the doorway and watched the group of teenagers leave, running in the rain. After a while she glanced north towards the forest near her cottage and sighed, "You better take care of her Naruto…." She turned back in, intent on napping before her blonde head suddenly perked up and she frowned, a fleeting flare of demonic energy had flared up on her senses but it was muted by all the rain.
"I feel uneasy, something bad is going to happen tonight." She muttered to herself under her breath before closing the door.
A few minutes earlier
A figure wearing a raincoat ran in the rain, careful to avoid running into any trees with the bad visibility and not to jog her passenger too badly. It didn't take long for her to burst into the clearing which she had been heading towards. A lone tent sat in the clearing, battered by rain, but a single light in the tent showed her that the occupant was not asleep.
Cautiously walking up to the tent, she slipped Akako out from under her rain coat and coaxed the small fox to enter the tent alone. Akako, shielded from the rain by her pseudo mother, moved towards the tent's opening but when she sensed Chachamaru wasn't following she turned around to see the green haired gynoid had no intention of going into the tent, moving towards the gynoid, the kitsune gently bit one hand and tried to tug the gynoid towards the tent.
Chachamaru smiled sadly and shook her head before gently pushing Akako into the tent, when the fox was safe and dry, she settled into a straight backed stance, ready to wait the night out under the rain with the sword cradled in her arms.
Inside the tent, a slightly wet Akako hesitantly looked at the tent's opening again before turning to the occupant of the tent. He was just sitting in one corner, caressing a picture of some sort in his hand, seemingly ignoring the rest of the world. Akako dashed over to him, and bit his arm, trying to tug him out to her mother. Growling when it didn't work, she bit harder. That snapped the blonde out of his funk and he looked down at whatever was biting his hand, "Akako? What are you doing here?" he could also sense the gynoid standing outside.
Almost sighing in relief the tiny kitsune alternated between tugging Naruto's hand and gesturing at the entrance with her paws or snout and cries of "Okaa-san!"
Naruto only looked sadly at the small fox, he couldn't bring himself to meet Chachamaru face to face, not now that she knew what he had done in the past, and he still felt slightly upset that she had invaded his privacy like that. True it was unintentional but he couldn't help the slight resentment.
Akako finally gave up with one last harder than normal bite, anger burned in her chest and she wanted to say something to her Otou-san and his stupidity, but her jaws in this form was incapable of true speech. In her anger and desperation she failed to notice she had started to glow with a red aura, all she was thinking off was that something was wrong with her Otou-san and Okaa-san and she needed to fix it. Giving up she was going to shout at him one last time in desperation before waiting with her mother outside in the rain.
"Otou-san no Baka!"
Her jaw dropped, that… wasn't the angry yip she was expecting.
Looking down at herself, she noticed where her paws used to be were…. pale pinkish fingers and hands, looking down further; all her cute warm fur was gone to be replaced by pale pinky human skin, and small stubby toes; Where were her cute paws and their cute pads? She wiggled them a bit then she looked behind her, forget her paws, where was her cute tail!
Wait nevermind that, she had more important things to do at the moment. Waddling up to the shocked blonde, she slapped him with her stubby hand and placed her hands on her hips like she had seen that long black furred human do. "Otou-san no Baka! Okaa-san Outside!"
"Bu-but Aka-"
"Outside!"
Naruto admitted to himself the sight of the miniature Asuna look-a-like was incredibly adorable, the sight of her frown and the hands on her hips on the other hand was incredibly scary for some reason. At least he could start buying some cute kimonos and dress her up though…
He gave an amused sigh and held his hands up in surrender, "Ok ok you win, Otou-san can't say no to you can he?"
Akako worked her jaw a bit, before giving her father a toothy proud smile.
Play Nickelback – I'd Come For You
Naruto wearily stood up and steeled himself before opening the tent slit to see a lonely figure standing in the rain stoically with something cradled in her arms. "Chachamaru? What are you doing standing outside, come in, it's raining like mad out here!"
The figure shook her head.
"Whatever it is, come in and tell me Chachamaru, you can't just stand out here!" the only response he got was the figure stubbornly shaking her head again.
He sighed and walked out into the rain, grasping her arm he tried to pull her in but she wouldn't budge, "Come on Chachamaru, I don't know if robots get sick, but I doubt it's good for you to stand out here in the rain."
The gynoid stubbornly refused to budge and just whispered something that was blown away by the howling wind.
"What? What did you say? I can't hear you!" the confused the blonde put his ear near her.
"I-I can't go in…. I made you angry. So I have to stay here until you forgive me." her whispered answer drifted to Naruto's ear. The sad tone was obvious.
Naruto felt a grip araound his heart tighten. He should have had listened to Akako sooner. Instead he let himself brood in self pity while ignoring the two people that had wormed themselves into his heart and left the green haired girl to stand alone in the rain. Ignoring the rain he enveloped the bedraggled figure in his arms. "I've already forgiven you." He quietly whispered to the girl.
Chachamaru dropped the sword and returned the hug tightly, burying her face into his chest. Tears of relief that she didn't know she was crying mixed in with the rain.
Naruto hugged her tighter, "You're an idiot; you didn't have to wait out here in the rain for me to forgive you. That's what guys are supposed to do, not girls." He gave a sad chuckle before caressing her cheek, "Why are you crying?"
The gynoid wiped her face with one hand and looked at the water pooling in her hand from the rain, "Is it not rain?" she asked the blonde currently holding her with an innocent tone. When she saw him shake his head negatively, she frowned slightly, "I do not know why I was crying. I'm sorry."
Naruto smiled at her, "Nothing to be sorry about, come on in, we'll get sick standing in the rain like this," He pulled the gynoid along with him to the tent.
"Ah! Wait." The green haired girl pulled free and ran towards where the sword was left in the rain before cradling it to her chest again while Naruto watched in confusion but shrugged it off.
Together they went into his tent where Naruto took off her wet rain coat before handing her a towel and a shirt of his own with an embarrassed blush and turned away from the girl before taking off his own wet clothes, "Here, take off all your wet clothes, and use this towel. You can wear the shirt for now, I don't have anything else that might fit you."
"Ah."
Chachamaru quietly stripped and changed into the overlarge shirt before sitting down quietly, it was then did she notice a newcomer. A small naked girl with fire red hair was poking at her toes in what looked like fascination.
Confusion reigned.
"Naruto?"
Said blonde looked up from his corner of the tent, "Hmm?"
"Who's that?"
Naruto looked at where the finger was pointing and chuckled. "Akako, come here." Chachamaru's eyebrow rose while the red haired child perked up and waddled into Naruto's bare chest, "Otou-san!"
Her eyebrows rose even higher. "Akako?" she questioned lowly. The child perked up again, and this time she waddled to the gynoid and hugged the green haired girl before nuzzling her, "Okaa-san!" her bewildered eyes locked on to Naruto's amused ones. Naruto smiled slightly, "Akako unlocked her shape shifting abilities because I was being stupid."
"Stupid?" Chachamaru tried to clarify with a cocked eyebrow.
Naruto scratched the back of his head with a slight blush, "I was being stupid, that's all." the blonde tried to hedge.
"I see…." The gynoid replied. They sat in silence while Chachamaru stroked the child's hair until she yawned slightly. A slight glow enveloped Akako before her form shifted again. The glow receded to show a sleeping fur ball, causing Naruto smile again, "She doesn't know how to control it yet so she'll get tired easily from using it, I'll try to teach her in the morning. Let's go to sleep for now."
The gynoid agreed and shuffled into the futon but stayed as far away from Naruto that she could with Akako in her arms. Naruto smiled sadly, before joining her in the futon.
Awkward silence filled the tent until Chachamaru spoke again, "I'm sorry."
Naruto shook his head even though Chachamaru couldn't see it, "You were never at fault, it was me. I let myself get angry over something stupid; you guys didn't even mean to see my memories."
Chachamaru shuffled closer, causing Naruto to smile, "It was just…. I'm used to being alone and hated by anyone that wasn't my wife. So being angry and leaving is sort of a knee jerk reaction since it would have been better than to hope that people would accept me and having that hope stepped on... I'm sorry it made you so sad; you shouldn't have stood out in the rain for me… I'm not worth it, just another failure and a mons-."
Cold fingers landed on his lips before he could continue. Chachamaru sensed that underneath that commanding front, for all the strength and skill that he showed everyone, this was a side of him he rarely showed anybody, after seeing his memories, she knew the reason why. She knew he was just another wounded person looking for acknowledgement.
Chachamaru shuffled closer, "Monster or not, I'm not leaving. You asked me if I was afraid of you and Akako once, the answer hasn't changed, there is no logic in it changing and you can stop trying to persuade me to change it; I believe you said it best before; 'You can quit trying to make me give up, because I'm not giving up'." The gynoid said with a small smile.
Naruto softly gripped the fingers and smiled sadly, "You say the sweetest thing in the weirdest monotone."
There was silence for awhile, "Yo-you don't like my v-voice?"
Naruto wrapped his arms around her and gently kissed the nape of her neck, "No, I like it. Don't change."
"Understood."
****Broken Faith****
Everyone that had been in Evangeline's resort finally arrived at their dorms, most of them completely soaked, "Negi-sensei, if you need anything just asked. Everyone here wants to help you as much as possible!" Kazumi cheerfully called over her shoulder as she, Haruna, Nodoka and Yue left to get a bath.
Negi, Asuna, Konoka and Setsuna were left behind, hearing a sigh from behind her Asuna turned around, "Hmm? What's wrong Negi?"
"It-it's nothing, I was hoping that since they saw my past, they would be discouraged from helping. But it only got worse, how troublesome."
Asuna conked Negi on the head, "Don't call it troublesome, you're being impolite, everyone wants to help you but calling it that only means you are scorning their good intentions. Choose another word. Like stubborn."
Behind her Konoka snorted at the interesting choice of words.
"Bu-but, those kinds of dangers really exist! I can't let them get into danger like that…. No… this just means I'll have to get stronger, so that they'll be safe even if they want to join. I swear it." He looked up from his monologue, "Ah, sorry, I have to go get ready for tomorrow's class."
The three girls watched him leave. "Sigh, I worry for that idiot, he's working himself too hard. Normally kids his age should be fooling around…."
Setsuna interjected, "Yeah… but there isn't anybody his age around us, and all of us are girls. Naruto….. isn't exactly the best role model for him."
All three girls looked at each other before sweat dropping. If there ever was an understatement, that was it.
"Ahh! So much difficult thoughts, I'll just have to get stronger to help him." Asuna finished with a shrug.
Konoka broke into the conversation, "That's right Asuna, and if he still insists on being stubborn…Fufufufufufu…. There are many methods of persuading naughty boys." Konoka trailed off with a very sweet smile and a dainty laugh that fooled no one.
Setsuna and Asuna shivered at the smile, inwardly they prayed Negi got to his senses soon, because he probably wouldn't like what Konoka had in mind. That was another thing, Konoka was different somehow lately, more…open? And less prone to behaving like a proper princess like she had been before.
And more sadistic.
Asuna blamed Naruto.
Why? She didn't know, she just knew he had something to do with it. He always did.
Setsuna looked at her watch, "Ah! It's getting late; I have to go bath before getting ready for bed. See you two soon." She left with a good bye wave.
With the other girls
"Ahhh… a nice hot bath always makes me feel so much better." Kazumi sighed as she soaked in the water of the bath, beside her, all the other girls agreed.
A lot of the other girls in 3-A also happened to be in the bath, "Neh, where did you guys go? I couldn't find you after dinner." Makie asked the timid librarian with the Narutaki twins bouncing behind her.
"Eh… um…. We, we were with Negi-sensei studying." Nodoka replied timidly.
"Ehhh~ you got to spend time with Negi-sensei? I'm so jealous." Makie pouted.
"Eheh, um… Mid semesters are soon, so I was preparing with Kazumi and Yue."
"Geh, don't remind me," Makie slumped into the water when Yuuna interrupted cheerfully, "But the school Festival is soon after that! That's something to look forward to isn't it?"
"Ye-yeah… hehehe."
Beside her Ako grumbled to herself as she massaged her arm, "My arm is swelling up wit hall the exercise I've doing recently, its unsightly."
Yuuna switched her attention, "Swelling? Hehehe, I know how you can keep your arm smooth and silky." The basketball player reached behind her, "With this! NuruNuru X, super slimy, honey like lotion that can make your skin as beautiful as any model's!" she declared happily.
Makie felt chills run down her back, "Eh? Bu-but I don't like slimy stuff…uguu…"
The rest of the girls crowded around Yuuna, "Ehh, really? I wanna try, I wanna try!"
Yuuna grinned, "Sure! I ordered 2 bottles from the show but for some reason they gave me 8! Come on, Makie, don't you want Negi-sensei to look at you and see a beautiful woman?"
Makie glanced down at her arm and cried anime tears, her once soft hands had slight calluses and her biceps were almost noticeable. Damn Evil Naruto. The small pink haired girl squared her shoulders, "No pain, no gain. Alright Yuuna! Hit me!"
Yuuna slapped her.
The girl stared at her in shock, "Wh-what was that for?"
"You said hit you?"
"Nuuu….. I meant give me some of that…."Makie gulped, "Slime."
She slapped some on her body as fast as possible as retreated as far as possible from Yuuna as she could to wait the slime out. Soaking in the water beside Ku Fei, she shivered, even if the water was hot, the slimy feeling was there, "Brr… when I get out of here I'm going to kick Naruto's butt."
Ku Fei perked up, remembering yesterday, or was it 1 hour ago's event. "Hmmm? You er….know Naruto-san?"
Makie shivered again, "Ye-yeah, he's teaching me how to fight," Makie looked at the water, "Is it just me, or is the water swirling around us?"
Chisame heard her words, "Hey…yeah, the w-water seems to be moving strangely….. and there's a slimy feeling…..Kyaaahh! something touched me!"
With Negi
Negi was running down the hallway, thoughts about getting stronger and worried about how Naruto was spinning about in his head until someone greeted him, "Good evening Negi-sensei!"
He greeted the source of the voice in return, "Ah, good evening to you too Iincho, you're dressed very beautifully tonight, are you going somewhere?"
"Ohoho, this is how I always dress, but I thank you anyway."
"Aahaha, well I'll be going see you later Iincho!"
"Fufufu, what a well mannered and polite child Negi-sensei is," Ayaka muttered as she strolled to her dorm, "In contrast with my own noisy housemates," she grumbled at the noises coming from the door to her apartment.
She was just about to open the door when it was flung open and a dark haired boy charged right out her room, and crashed headlong into the stunned blonde, "Ooof!"
Kotarou stared at the twitching body on the floor that had stopped his charge, "Wha?"
"Kyaaa! Iincho!"
Few minutes later
"So? What's this rude kid doing here?" a disgruntled Ayaka spoke from her seat.
"Fufufu, this is Natsumi's little brother you see…" behind Chizuru, two people gaped at the brunette's boldness, "Chi-Chizu-"
Before Natsumi could say anything else Chizuru had turned to face them with a menacingly sweet smile that Ayaka couldn't see, "He's your brother…Riiight?"
Kotarou and Natsumi clung to each other and frantically nodded.
Ayaka rubbed her temples, her frustration settled slightly, "So? What is Natsumi's brother doing here?"
"Oh my, you see…." Chizuru dabbed a few fake tears from her eyes, "You see, Natsumi's family has some…. Problems…. So the only person Kotarou could ask for help was Natsumi, such sibling love is beautiful isn't it?"
Ayaka started to get teary eyes, "Yeah, it's so beautiful!"
Behind her hand Chizuru smiled at Natsumi and Kotarou again before they could interrupt.
'Like hell I'm going to do anything with Chizuru watching me,' was the simultaneous thought that crossed both their minds.
Kotarou desperate to remove that burning gaze from him, changed the subject, "A-Anyway, who is this Obaa-san that keeps yabbering?"
Ayaka face faulted, before grabbing the boy, "Wh-Wh-Who are you calling Obaa-san! Kiii! I'M 14, JUST 14 dammit."
Chizuru watched with a quiet 'Fufufu.' behind her hands as she and Natsumi watched the two of them roll around on the ground shouting insults at each other isnt Ayaka cute when she blushes like that Natsumi?
Natsumi looked at her taller housemate weirdly, "Err..yeah…. wait that isnt the point! Shouldn't we stop them from fighting?" a vase broke from the two of them rolling around as if to punctuate Natsumi's words.
"Fufufu, why? Watching them like this is so fun."
"Crash!"
Natsumi gulped, that was Chizuru's favourite plate.
Ayaka grabbed the boy's lips and stretched them violently while Kotarou returned the favour, "Grrr you stupid uncouth little boy! You're nothing like Negi-sensei." The fingers stretching her cheeks sudenly slackened, "Eh? What you concede defeat to the great Ayaka Yukihiro? …Oi, say something. What are you looking at?" a shiver suddenly ran down her back as she felt something behind her.
Jerkily she turned around, "Um…Chizuru? Why are you smiling like that?"
She pointed at the porcelain shards on the floor in reply.
Ayaka immediately recognized them, "Hehehe….Mercy?"
A few minutes later
Ayaka and Kotarou sat beside each other at the dining table, both of them displaying a large lump on their heads. Chizuru's onion was fearsome indeed. Stiffly they ate silently, trying not to draw the innocently smiling Chizuru's attention anymore than necessary while Natsumi grinned. Kotarou watched the three girls eat and the way they were so familiar with each other. It caused him to smile sadly.
"Ara? Whats wrong Kotarou-kun?" Natsumi was the first to notice his expression.
"Hahah.. its nothing, its just that I never had the chance to eat like this before, I mean, where everyone is close, there is this warm feeling and everyone feels like family."
Chizuru sniffed, "Oh my, Natsumi's family must have had a lot of problems….."
"Chizu-nee!" Natsumi cried anime tears, "My family is normal! Normal!"
Suddenly the door bell rang.
"Ara, who could it be at this time of the night, and its raining too." Ayaka stood up, "I'll get it."
The elegant blonde strode the door before opening it slightly, "Who is it?" she looked up to see a weird old foreigner. "Hmm? Who are you?"
"Hmmhmmhmm, just an old traveller in search for beauty."
****Broken Faith****
Naruto's eyes snapped awake, there was something wrong. Glancing down at the girl nestled in his arms he saw she had also sensed the same thing he had. No surprises there, she was probably better at it than him. Reluctantly removing himself from the two of them he quickly got dressed before turning to look at the green haired girl. "I have to go, something's up." He said rather unnecessarily.
Chachamaru nodded, "I have to go to Master, she isn't weak but I can't let it get that far."
Naruto agreed readily, "Can you take Akako with you?" he glanced at the small sleeping bundle of fur nestled in her arms, "I don't want to leave her alone in the tent here and I can't bring her with me, it might get dangerous."
"Understood."
Naruto smiled at her and gave her a light peck on her cheek before running out of the tent.
Chachamaru watched him go with a hand touching her cheek before seemingly shaking the daze off and changing into her now dry housewife kimono. Gently picking up the slee[ing fox she cradled her securely in her arms before leaving.
****Broken Faith****
A red head hanging from a tree with ropes dazedly opened her eyes, "hu..huh? Wh-what is this…?"
She looked around blearily, trying to clear the confused haze from her head, "Huh? Th-this…isn't this the university festival stage?"
"Indeed it is, miss."
Asuna snapped her head up at the new voice and saw a figure shrouded in a shadows, absently she also noted another figure standing further back with a bored pose, "WH-what? Who are you?"
"Hmm… who I am doesn't matter, but as you said this is a festival stage, a fitting arena for what will happen soon." He dark figure replied.
"Wha? Whats going to happen soon? What the hell are you talking about, wait, what the hell am I even wearing?"
Wilhelm assumed the young girl had just discovered her new costume, "Ohoho, my apologies, I simply thought it was only fitting that the heroine should be properly dressed for the coming eve- Buhah!" he was cut off by a foot kicking his jaw.
"Gahhh! Not another pervert magician! Does everybody activate some stupid pervert mode when they start studying magic? And what the hell does my clothes have to do with anything!" the red headed ranted furiously.
Wilhelm ignored the outburst, "Ohoho, its good to see that Negi-san has such energetic companions."
Asuna stilled, "Wait, Companions?" she stared around frantically but the cry for help from directly behind her confirmed her fears, trying to look behind her, "What the hell are you guys doing here too? And why the hell aren't you guys wearing anything? Wait! Why are Setsuna and Chizuru here as well!"
"Maa maa, it's not fitting for a lady to curse to much Asuna-chan," Konoka replied with a dainty laugh.
"Quit laughing dammit, and you aren't one to talk, you're practically naked!" Asuna cried at her housemate, only to get a dainty "Fufufufu," in return. She gave up trying to reason with the flaky princess and tried for another source of assistance, "Setsuna! Chizuru, you ok! Wake up dammit!"
"its no use, the swordsgirl is a dangerous opponent, so I put her to sleep, the other girl….well she interested me."
"Interested you?" Asuna gave him a weird look, "You really are a pervert with a weird fetish aren't you?"
Everybody trapped in the water bubble aside from Konoka cried anime tears; at least she was practically naked; they were NAKED. Ku Fei banged on the surprisingly sturdy water wall ("Hey, let us out Pervert Jiji!") alongside Kazumi, Nodoka and Yue while Makie stood by with wide eyes.
Asuna struggled against her bonds futilely while Wilhelm watched her, "Don't waste your energy young miss, the ropes, like the water cage that are trapping your friends can only be broken by strong magic."
Everyone glanced at Konoka who was leaning against Makie for some reason. She gave them all an innocent smile and whipped out a small practice wand but made sure the old pervert and his assistants couldn't see it.
Everyone crowded around Konoka, "Come on, let's do this, we have to get out, I refuse to be an obstacle to Negi-sensei again, especially after we promised him we'd help!" Yue urgently whispered.
Suddenly a new arrival drew everyone's attention.
"Wilhelm…. I thought it was you I sensed. It's been a while isn't it? I didn't think I would meet you so soon either."
Everyone stared in shock for various reasons.
"Naruto-sama/kun/san?"
Naruto ignored the girls, "So? It seems you have found some disturbing fetishes in my absence. So what ARE you doing here?"
"I-I…."
Everyone stared in shock as the previously confident and powerful man stuttered, "I was ordered to test the power of Negi and his companions….. We were warned about a new member in his group that was above average. When I heard that his name was Naruto…I dared not to hope…."
Naruto stared at the older man. "You have changed Wilhelm, where is the proud man I used to call a comrade? The man who stood beside Akane as her right hand man in the Demon Realm?"
Wilhelm looked at the floor in shame, "Naruto-sama….. You don't understand…. The Akuma race fell into ruin after our Lords and Ladies were sealed away. You were our last hope, but then when even you disappeared, the protections surrounding our realm failed. Many of the other nobles and I searched for you, but we lost hope…. It has been 4948 years since then…. And the once great Akuma race has become nothing more than summoned servants… no better than our Oni cousins, without the protections the Nine Demon Lords presence gave us, with the proper ceremonies, mages easily summoned us and bound our free will gone with magical chains, our realm plagued with disputes and fights for power."
Hope suddenly shined in Wilhelm's eyes, "But you have come back! You can come with me back to Makai, Naruto-sama! You can fix everything!"
Everyone was silent, the girls tried to digest the sudden influx of information while Naruto's blank face opposed Wilhelm's hopeful one.
Naruto was first to look away, "I-I can't Wilhelm…. I refused your offer the last time after Akane passed on because I had something to do, and now, I have to refuse it again, I have a promise to keep here," he glanced in the direction of the girls, "But I can hel-"
His words was cut off by the last figure who hadn't spoken until now, "Hmph, come back? Fix everything? What is there to fix? Our world is perfect as it is, so much carnage, we can fight all we want….. and even if he did come back, what can this wishy washy blonde do?" the figure stepped into the light, showing a black haired, muscular male with tight trousers, boots and a black trench coat that was open to the world.
The newcomer continued, "I can't believe this is the Dai Youkai you spoke off Wilhelm, his just another squishy human, I'd rather die than live under his rule. And I intend on making sure that doesn't happen, as per my orders of course." The black haired man charged, laughing insanely.
"Wait! Dietrich! No!"
The newcomer identified as Dietrich ignored the order and continued his charge at the stoic blonde who just watched him come nearer impassively.
"Naruto! Get out of the way!" Asuna yelled but suddenly the reason why he didn't bother to move became obvious as a huge beam of yellow lightning and green cutting winds lanced directly at Dietrich and Wilhelm. Dietrich jumped away while Wilhelmina only raised his hand with something in it that completely blocked the incoming beam. Behind him, Asuna jerked helplessly in her bonds as pain and pleasure alike lanced through her body.
"Tch, dammit. Who was that?"
Two small figures landed beside the impassive blonde, causing him to smirk, "You're late Negi."
"Sorry nii-san, my passenger wouldn't wake up."
"Hey!"
Naruto looked at the small red head out of the periphery of his vision, "You would still call me nii-san? Even after watching my memories?"
Negi gave a small grin, "You watched mine as well. We were both stupid. End of story."
"Indeed." He turned back to Wilhelm and a look passed between the two of them.
Wilhelm lowered the brim of his hat, the look he had received had given him his answer, 'This is what I'm here for, Wilhelm; this is what I protect. Years ago, I failed to protect your Queen. This is my atonement…And my reward. To watch and nurture the next generation.' And his reply to Naruto, 'Very well… I accept your request, but instead I ask for your forgiveness for what will happen next.'
Naruto smiled at his answer before glancing at Negi again, "They threaten your students Negi, what is your response?"
Negi went stony, "Let's kick ass."
Naruto quirked his lips, "Kick ass indeed, take your pick and show us how much you have grown."
Negi charged at Wilhelm while Kotarou hesitated, wondering what he should do until a voice cut into his musings, "Go help Negi. He is unused to the subtleties of teamwork, each time he fought before he has always fought alone, while in practice his companion was always more powerful than him, which in turn becomes a crutch. Working with someone similar to his own age and level of power ought to broaden his horizons."
He looked at the blonde who had spoken and was about to argue until those blue eyes cut into him and his words died in his throat, not knowing why he had the sudden need to be submissive; he pushed the urge aside and followed Negi into battle silently.
He turned to look at his opponent who was seething at being ignored and tensed his muscles; his priority was to get the girls to safety.
Naruto charged forward.
Play Gundam Seed Destiny OST – Honoo no Tobira
With Negi
Negi charged forward, a silent and delayed spell hidden in his left arm but before he could reach the passive old man he was jumped on by three small girls that grew tentacles to restrict him, "Wha?"
"Negi! Duck!"
Doing as the voice ordered he ducked, allowing a foot to sail over his head and smash into one of the girl's face. It didn't work since she immediately dissolved into water but it was enough for Negi to move his left arm, slamming it into the ground he released the spell, "Fulguratio Albicans!" by shooting it into the ground, rather than a spear of white lightning, a cage of lightning instead appeared around Negi, shocking the remaining two girls that held on to him. Both of them immediately retreated but a fist hit Negi's head, "What the hell are you doing idiot? You shocked me as well!"
"Ah…hehehe, sorry… Wait, what are you doing here? Fall back; you already lost once to the old man!"
Kotarou blanched at the reminder, "Wha-what? Come on I lost because I couldn't use my Wolf Spirits! And you're just a mage! You can't beat that guy with a one on one fight!"
While the two of them were arguing the three water demons regrouped and healed themselves before charging into the fray again, Pudding wrapped around their feet unnoticed while her sisters kicked the two of them away with great force"
Both of them slammed into the stands, "Guhh….. How can such a small body hit so hard?" Kotarou grumbled, "Its your fault, you should have just stayed back! You even lost to me before, you'll just get in the way!" A dazed Negi shot at the equally dazed wolf boy.
Before they could start arguing again, the three sisters attacked them again, Kotarou immediately deflected one kick before bashing the small girl away from him, behind him Negi parried two punches, twisted their arms before stepping into their guard, gripping the limbs tightly and slammed both of them together before flinging both of them into the air where Kotarou was waiting with an axe kick.
Kotarou landed beside Negi and took a deep breath. He glanced at the boy beside him, "Heh, so you do have some skills, that wasn't too bad."
Negi smirked, "Same to you,"
Both of them watched the three girls get up, seemingly completely unharmed, "What are they? They don't seem hurt at all!" Negi asked frantically.
"Tch, their slimes, physical attacks don't work very well against them, but magic attacks, especially lightning or ice ones work pretty well."
"Hmm…. Can you buy me some time?"
"Can you say yes?"
"Yes."
Kotarou charged before splitting his body into three while Negi moved to a better position and chanted under his breath.
Kotarou's clone attacked each of them separately, preventing from using their superior team work, but unnoticed to the three sisters, the wolf boy was herding them into a straight line, they only realized it too late when another "Fulguratio Albicans" speared through all three of them before heading to its main target, Wilhelm.
The old demon raised an eyebrow before raising that same hand he had earlier to nullify the attack with a bright flash, only to feel two hands grab the hair by the side of his heads and pull his face into a knee strike while somebody else landed blow after blow on his abdomen. He lashed his leg out to kick the second offender before he tried to break the grip on his hair only to fail as another delayed spell, this one a "Flans Carcer Venti Vertentis"
His limbs snapped to his sides and he was completely immobilized but before anything could be done about it, Negi used the Demon Sealing Bottle and was blinded by the subsequent bright flash from the bottle. At the same time he heard a "Kyaaa!" from behind him, "Wha-what?" he spun around to see what made Asuna shout like that, but a sudden bright explosion behind stopped him in his tracks as the Demon Sealing Bottle backfired.
Negi dropped to his knees, "Gah! What was th-"
A loud laugh stopped his words, "Not bad, not bad at all young Master. Has Naruto-sama been teaching you a lot?"
'Na-Naruto-sama?' "Wait! Why aren't you sealed? What happened?"
The old man lifted one hand to show a necklace, "This is an experimental artefact that was given to me to use in this fight, in particular to see if it was possible utilize the young Miss's peculiar Magic nullifying abilities, I am sad to say it worked. Now.. I can see that you have indeed improved a lot compared to the information given to me, I'll have to step this up, please accept my apologies."
"Wha- what apologie-" He was cut off when the old man disappeared and reappeared behind him with a cry of "Demon Fist!"
"Gwaaah!"
Kotarou and Negi were both blown away by the force of the punch, but did not sustain any major damage due to their barriers, Kotarou struggled on his knees beside Negi, "What the hell? That was insane! Whoa! Incoming!" he dodged another Demon Fist beam.
"Tch, what can we do Kotarou-kun?" Negi said as both of them danced around the attacks.
"Erm….. throw our strongest attacks at him like in shounen mangas and hope it does something?"
"…. I hate you…."
"Yeah yeah, go for it!" both of them started chanting under their breath while dodging as best as possible.
"Inugami Ryuu Kuu Ga!"
"Fulguratio Albicans!"
Two bright attacks exploded towards the stationary man only to slam headfirst into a barrier with no visible effect. "Dammit….. even something like that didn't work?" Kotarou grunted before looking behind him; two of the slime sisters had already healed themselves from the paralysing effects of the earlier Fulguratio Albicans and were approaching them while the third had just thrown Chamo into the water bubble. In front of them the old man was casually striding towards them, "Now that I have proven that none of your magic and projectile attacks work thanks to the artefact, the only thing left is melee combat isn't it?"
"Damn… this really isn't looking good." Both of them looked at the blonde, he was busy fighting his own battle.
Negi gritted his teeth.
The two slimes jumped at them.
"Damn."
"Booom!"
Play Gurren Lagann OST – Omae no XXX de Ten wo Tsuke
Two lengths of pink ribbon suddenly lashed out and ensnared the two Slimes that were in mid air, "Wha?" was all they managed to get out before being jerked back and slammed into the ground violently.
"Tch, Konoka, you were so damn slow." That was Makie.
"Fufufu, gomen gomen, I was enjoying the fight too much." Konoka replied as she froze the third slime sister before throwing the chunk of ice around like a kitten would play with a toy with gusts of wind. All the while she had this small innocent smile.
"Pffft, yeah right, you've just been spending too much time with Evil Naruto-sensei, and his need to show off rubbed off on yo-Gakk! Watch where you shoot that wind!"
"Fufufufu... Ooops?"
"Makie? Konoka? What the hell?" that was everyone else except Naruto who smirked quietly.
"Konoka? Where did you get your Pactio from?" Asuna shouted.
Konoka turned around and lifted her hair to show a small sigil that seemed to be painted on the back of her neck, "Fufufu, think of it as an invisible bag."
The rest of the girls who had been confined with them were watching from behind the stage, none of them could help the fight since they were naked and Nodoka didn't have her pactio with her. Ku Fei could have helped but she was currently naked. However they still couldn't help the sleeping Chizuru and Setsuna.
Makie who was wearing some sort of outfit that seemed to be made from her ribbons to protect her modesty ran at her opponents while shouting, "What are you just standing around for Negi-sensei?" she flicked the baton in her hands and two ribbons lashed out like whips. "Aren't you supposed to be fighting? Don't you have a goal to reach? So why are you dawdling around and letting your students surpass you?"
The ribbons wrapped around the two sisters but failed to get a grip as both of them dissolved into puddles that rapidly moved at the small pink haired girl before the slimes jumped out of the puddle, one kick aimed at her head while the other tried to trip her only for the gymnast to flip and bend at a weird angle, one hand to support her weight while the rest of her body was horizontal. The kick completely missed while Makie used the momentum from the peak of her movement to stomp on the one that was trying to trip her. While the one at her feet was dazed, the pink ribbons leapt into action again at the remaining slime, this time instead of curling around the slime it wrapped the slime completely in a small ball of ribbon.
Makie grinned before slamming the ball repeatedly in the ground with a very familiar sadistic smirk. Everytime the ball hit the ground her left foot stomped on the Slime's head at her feet.
Asuna suddenly felt the urge to face palm but failed since her arms were currently tied. She looked at the blonde on the opposite side of the arena, even from here; she could see the male version of Makie's smirk on the blonde's face.
She looked back at Makie, if she didn't know any better, it looked like Makie was performing one of her Gymnastic repertoires, only everytime she landed, she landed with extra force on a puddle and everytime she gracefully swung her arms, a ball made of ribbons and currently contained a hysterically screaming girl followed. Turning her head she looked at Konoka, the princess had one hand to her mouth and was laughing this dainty "Fufufufu," while her target was being thrown about like a rag doll by gusts of wind coming from the fan in Konoka's free hand.
Forget face palm. She wanted to crack his head. He corrupted Konoka and Makie!
"Oi Konoka! What are you doing? Didn't Evil Naruto-sensei tell us not to play around?" Makie shouted at her training partner, under one foot was a completely out of it puddle while behind her was a Slime that couldn't even walk straight much less think straight enough to reform.
"Fufufu, gomen gomen, I can't help it. I love cute things and she looks soooo cute with that shocked expression frozen in ice."
Everybody sweat dropped.
"I swear to Kami I had nothing to do with that!" someone shouted from the opposite side of the arena, "She was broken when I got her!"
"Oh my, did you say something Naruto-sensei?" Konoka smiled sweetly as she brandished her fans.
"Shutting up now."
Wilhelm watched as his three subordinates were systematically taken out with ease, he couldn't help it and let loose a loud barking laughter as all of them stopped to stare at him in shock.
"Very good, very good indeed. I can see why Naruto-sama refuses to return to the Demon Realm. However, I have to apologize, it seems I have to push forward with my plans." The man charged.
"Tch, How impolite…. Not waiting for us." Konoka grumbled before swinging her fans about, sending gouts of flame and wind to cover Makie, Negi and the black haired boy.
"Ahahah, you can't blame him Konoka, his impatient now that he can play with someone as pretty as me!" Makie bantered with her partner.
"I swear to Kami she was Broken too!"
A ribbon lashed against his butt, "Oi!"
The ribbon retreated before heading for the old man with a flick of Makie's hand; instead of wrapping around him the ribbons suddenly twirled all about, blocking his line of sight. He barely managed to get out a short "Wha?" before two figures slid under the ribbons, one of them suddenly bounced up in a handstand; he received two kicks, one to the face and another to the torso while the remaining figure swept his feet out from underneath him. In mid air he was surrounded by a burst of intense fire that was barely managed to singe his clothes but before he could react, the ribbons burst through the fire and wrapped his torso up and Makie performed another rendition of her earlier body slams minus the slime.
Behind them, their ranged support noticed Asuna trying to suppress a yelp of pain, probably so that she didn't distract them, "Negi! Makie! We have to get that necklace away from Asuna or we won't be getting anywhere!"
"Understood!" Makie's ribbons uncoiled from the prone old man before she leapt forward, a gust of wind from behind enhanced her speed.
"Bah! I had enough you kids!" a red beam attacked Makie who was in mid air, the girl grit her teeth before flicking her ribbons to form a shield around her. The beam clashed against the ribbons but luckily they held although Makie was thrown into the stands where she lay prone. Unlike the rest of them the only advantage she had were the her special ribbons created by Naruto, but her body wasn't enhanced by magic, so one hit was more than enough to hurt her badly even with the strengthening he put her through.
"Makie!" Negi, and his students shouted but as they rushed towards the prone girl an large explosion distracted them from Naruto's side of the stadium, allowing a large body to suddenly flash in front of them before punching Konoka straight in the abdomen with a 'Demon Fist', "Guh!" the girl flew back to crash beside Asuna.
"Dammit! Don't hurt them!" Negi and Kotarou charged the old man only for the old man to evade Negi's attacks, before spinning on the spot, a "Demon Uppercut!" landed directly on Kotarou, causing the wolf boy to fly back before crashing high in the stands while he stomped on Negi hard enough to form a crater on the floor.
All of them struggled to get up, "Bwahahaha! Not bad, you and your companions put up a truly great fight. But it's a pity this is as far as you can go Negi."
"Wh-wha do you mean!"
"Hahaha…. You lack a proper reason to fight. Your attacks are powerful but without a resolve, without a reason to fight they cannot do anything!"
"What the hell are you blabbering about old man? I've been fighting my best since the start, saving my students are all the reason I need!"
"Ahh…. That's your motivation. But you see, wanting to 'protect'… to 'save'….those motivations cannot give you enough strength. They are weak reasons. Unlike 'Hatred', 'Vengeance', 'Anger', even taking joy in other's pain. They all give you far more strength than protecting someone ever could. Look at Kotarou, he is strong because he enjoys fighting. Compare him with that pink haired girl, she fights for you, thus she is weak."
Negi gritted his teeth and clenched his fist.
"And those aren't even the best examples, what do you know about Naruto-sama's past?"
Negi looked up in surprise, how did this man know about Naruto? He looked at the side to see a wrecked stadium, flames were everywhere but two silhouettes were visible. The blonde silhouette was standing calmly and stoically over a large demon that was blubbering to itself.
"Ah… I see by your expression you DO know about him and Akane-sama. He lost Akane-sama because he was weak. Once he lost that obstacle, he embraced his 'hatred', his 'anger'. You saw it didn't you? Look at him now. That is the result, such magnificent strength."
Everyone looked and flinched.
"Ahahahaha! I see that you did. Yes! He embraced those motivations, and he became strong, NOTHING could stop him from then on. That is what you need Negi Springfield. Otherwise all you will remain is a foot note in history, in the shadows of your father's fame."
Wilhelm's words drilled into Negi's mind, creeping into his subconscious and he found deep inside, he agreed.
Wilhelm stared at the trembling boy in front of him, "I see that what I said is not enough to make your resolution," he lifted his hat and faced the pink haired girl who was still struggling to stand up, "Maybe this will help, a demon from your past, destroying your present."
Negi stared in shock as the old man's face morphed into one that always appeared in his nightmare. The demon that took away Stan-jiji and hurt his Nekane-onee chan.
He fired a beam at Makie.
"YAAAMERROOOOOO!"
Strength and anger filled his body as he charged forward at incredible speeds that he had never reached before and slammed his fist into the demon's jaw, causing the attack to be deflected away from Makie.
"Arrrggghhhh!"
He continued his combo, every part of the demon's body that he could reach he pounded as hard as possible; the skin on his fists broke on Wilhelm's face. Negi hammered the demon as hard, as fast as he could, intent on killing the demon.
"Bwahahaha!" Wilhelm managed to choke out even under the furious onslaught, "That's it! Become angrier! More powerful, take what you want! Try to kill me as ruthlessly as possible! Taking you out at the height of your powers will be my greatest achievement!"
"Fuck, what is that idiot doing, charging in like an idiot!" Kotarou grunted as he struggled to get up.
"That's it! Come to your death!" Wilhelm charged his strongest beam at the oncoming Negi.
"DIEEEEEE!" both of them roared at each other
Ribbons suddenly wound around Negi and jerked him out of the way while a fist punched Wilhelm, causing his beam to lance out uselessly into the sky, "Wha!" they both said before the same hands grabbed both their heads and smashed them together, dazed and conked both of them crash landed on the ground.
****Broken Faith****
Earlier with Naruto
Naruto dashed forward straight at where Chizuru was being held before leaping away to avoid an axe kick. "Tch, so what were your orders? Attack and incapacitate me?"
"Hmph, I didn't need any, unlike that bumbling old demon all they wanted me to do was attack people in Mahora Academy, and as a reward they would allow me to rampage freely in this dimension. What a treat! So many people to hurt unlike in Makai."
Naruto ducked under a punch and bulldozed into the demon's torso with his shoulder, "I see, so you're just another adrenaline junkie that loves to fight? Let the girls go, I'll fight you as much as you want then."
Dietrich staggered back before slamming a hammer fist onto Naruto's back, "No can do, we went through a lot of trouble catching these pretty girls, it's a pain to catch them again later when I want to have fun with them."
Naruto spun around to sweep the demon of his feet before flipping along with the momentum and landing an axe kick on the demon, causing him to crash hard enough to create a crater. Once that was done he immediately ran at Chizuru again, before gritting his teeth to avoid a large block of cement that had been thrown at him from behind.
They kept it up for a while, Naruto trying to avoid confrontation, his main priority to rescue the girls while Dietrich did everything he could to stop the blonde.
"Will you stop running and fight like a man dammit?" Dietrich grunted as he landed another glancing blow to the blonde's ribs, "I don't want to fight you Dietrich, you heard Wilhelm, I know that your free will is bound!" the blonde shouted in reply.
"Gahhh! You make me so mad! Someone as weak you has the respect of an old timer and our summoner? Why? Bound? I'm not fucking bound, I want to kill, get that into your damn head."
Naruto kicked the demon back but didn't reply when he suddenly felt a flare of magic from behind and saw that Konoka had brought out a wand and was focusing an insane amount of magical power. He quietly smirked.
"Wha-what is that power? That innocent looking girl? Fuck, I'm not letting them get away." Dietrich fired a intense red beam out of his mouth at Naruto to get him out of the way before he charged at the water bubble while Naruto was distracted, only to be blocked by a sudden wall of Earth.
"Doton : Doryuuheki!"
"What?" a kick from behind slammed him into the wall face first. It was very solid as his broken nose attested.
Still dazed he could barely hear another shout, "Doton : Ganban Kyu!" as more earth walls suddenly slammed up all around him and enclosed him. What the hell? None of the intel said ANYTHING about the blonde using spells, eastern or otherwise!
"Katon : Hibashiri!" a gout of intense and rapid flames surrounded the earth coffin and baked it into super hard earth and everything inside it, but Naruto made sure that it was only hot enough to burn all the oxygen inside the coffin.
Behind him, he sweat dropped as he heard Konoka's words and face palmed, oh yes, he was going to give Jiraiya a handshake when they finally met, "I swear to Kami I had nothing to do with that. She was broken when I got her!" he yelled over his shoulder.
"Oh my, did you say something Naruto-sensei?"
Even if he couldn't see her, he could feel the stare burning into his back and his imagination provided the rest. Naruto gulped, "Shutting up now."
He ran at Chizuru, barely managing to stick his hand into the water and touch her shoulder before a large flare of energy erupted from behind him and a hand suddenly grabbed his shoulders before throwing him back, he landed with enough force to create a furrow on the floor. "Dammit, what the hell? That should have put you down for at least an hour!"
He got no answer, in fact, he couldn't see Dietrich anywhere until a roar from above caught his attention, the demon was falling from above like a meteor, intent on crushing him. The demon had already changed into his full demon form, big, black, and ugly just about summed him up. Rapidly forming handseals again he put a hand to his mouth and took a deep breath, "Fuuton : Shinkyu Taigyoku!" and spat a great ball of sharp wind at the incoming demon.
The demon slammed head first into what felt like solid air, the G-Force from his downward movements crushing him into the ball from above while the ball of wind cut into him mercilessly from below, "Gwaaaah!" the force of the attack was enough to cut even his thick hide in demon form.
Below Dietrich, the blonde was watching his opponent warily, just then he heard Makie's words causing him to smile, at least they were having fun bantering, "I swear to Kami she was broken too!" he yelled at Negi's group.
A ribbon stretched all the way from Makie to hit him. Damn, he regretted making those ribbons.
Cricking his neck after the lull in the fighting, he formed more handseals, time to put that demon down, "Raiton : Ikazuchi no Utage!" two glowing orbs formed in his hand before he smashed both his palms onto the ground, sending racing towers of electricity to where Dietrich was about to land. The resulting flash and the pained scream caused him to relax abit before running at Chizuru again.
Just as he pulled the girl out of the water another familiar roar came from behind, "Tch, dammit."
"Why are you insulting me by using only techniques to subdue! IF you won't fight like a man then die like a woman with that girl you are so desperate to save!" a great ball of youki formed at the demon's mouth triple the size of the earlier one Naruto desperately looked around, he couldn't leave, even if he jumped away with Chizuru, Setsuna was in the path of that attack. Gently placing Chizuru down, he braced himself.
"Fuck."
The resulting explosion destroyed the entire right side of the stage while fire raged.
Play Cruel Angel's Thesis – Yoko Takahashi
"Bwaahahah DIE YOU STUPID INSECT!" Dietrich laughed in triumph at the wreckage.
An incredible aura filled their side of the stadium causing Dietrich to gape, "Wha…what? What are you? Why won't you die?" a silhouette walked out from the flame, an unconscious Chizuru cradled in his arms bridal style, everything to the sides were destroyed, his entire top had been burnt off and he could see burns on the blonde's torso. Everything behind the blonde was unscathed.
But that wasn't what got his attention. It was the blonde's eyes and countenance. Before, they had been light hearted, almost joking albeit professional despite the situation he was in along with his classmates.
Now they were purple with concentric rings and burning. His face was cold and blank.
The blonde placed the girl in his arms near somewhere safe before gesturing the others to get her. Behind him Ku Fei dashed out from her hiding spot and grabbed Chizuru before running back to their spot.
"I really don't like it when innocents are threatened; especially when it's for some stupid reason, at least Fate was polite enough to say he didn't like doing it. Had you left it at that, I would have been happy to just fight you. Now, before you die, can you tell me your name?"
"Grrrrr! My name is none of your business!" the demon charged at the stationary blonde, a fist cocked and ready to rearrange the blonde's face, only for it to be stopped by one hand.
"You are proud of your close combat skills are you not? Very well, let's start there."
Before Dietrich could say anything, the hand that stopped his fist had grabbed one of his fingers before spinning it swiftly and violently, ordinarily, the move would have just thrown him on his back but the speed and strength at which the move was executed brought a different reaction especially since his body was too heavy.
With a series of eye watering cracks and disgusting crunching sounds, his entire fist went first. Then his forearm. Then his arm.
The entire limb looked like a grotesque drill twisting around itself with bones poking out here and there.
Dietrich roared to the heavens before cocking his other fist to retaliate only for the blonde to move his head slightly to the side, the fist rushed harmlessly at his side.
The fist lodged into the ground with a violent crash but the blonde was completely unfazed, his eyes still peering deep into the demon's, until his jaw opened wide and a bluish orb formed, 'Raiton : Gian Yari'.
A lightning spear punched completely through Dietrich's good shoulder, leaving a foot wide hole in his shoulder.
"Gwahhhh!" the demon tried to crawl away with his two useless limbs until two stone spikes suddenly pierced both his knees, pining the floundering, screaming demon to the spot.
"Had you just wanted to fight, I would have obliged, I would have given you a nice fight, then we could have all gone home, but now that I can see your heart….. I can see that all you wanted to was to cause pain and show off your superiority... and for that. You die today. My greatest strength isn't my ability to fight with flashy skills, to predict movements, to control the elements, to protect. No…. my greatest strength is the clarity of my vision…."
"And I can see you…. Dietrich Josenheim."
A fog suddenly rolled in from nowhere, climbing up from the ground to obscure everything around the two of them. Deitrich blubbered; a dark voice whispered in his ear, "You remember your mother don't you? She hated you…..she beat you….. all because you were the runt of the pack."
A woman slowly formed out of the mist, "Tch, all this years and you are still as useless as you were back then." The woman dug her hand into the hole in his shoulder.
Dietrich screamed. At the pain and at the grin on his mother's face.
Another dark voice whispered in his ear, "Do you remember Anna? That sweet little girl? The first person you raped?"
A small blonde girl walked out of the mist, hatred and anger burning in her eyes, "DO you like it? You got off from raping me didn't you? The first time in your pathetic life that you felt powerful? Now how do you feel? As the one being stepped on? Being raped?"
The pain of being penetrated and beaten surged through Dietrich's mind as the raping took place in his head, only this time he was the one being victimized by a younger version of himself.
"No….No…. Please…. Stop….. Stop!"
The voice whispered again, "Awww? Is that all you can take? Just two? I expected better from you, it seems you can give it but you can't take it… don't worry, all bullies are like that….. I have at least another twenty lined up for you….. Do enjoy…."
The mist receded, but the demon on the floor kept blubbering with unseeing eyes as his mind was being plagued by all his victims.
Naruto stood over the demon with a blank face, he took no joy in doing this, but people like Dietrich had to be punished, and his method was the most fitting. It was the same method he used with Chigusa, but since she was human, it was far easier to do it compared to a demon, so he had to….. break him in reality before his curse could take hold.
Up in the trees Evangeline shuddered while Chachamaru had a sad look on her face. She doubted anyone had noticed, but she could see the sadness in Naruto's blank expression. Sadness that when the darkness in people that grew unchecked, the burden of stopping it fell on his shoulders. When one fights monsters, one should be careful he doesn't become one himself. It was no wonder Naruto always insisted he was a monster. With such power and an intrinsically good heart, he could not allow himself to stand by and watch others suffer, but at the same time, to fight others with that power…. he risked becoming just like them. He probably thought he already was one of them.
Evangeline just shuddered, the librarian's artefact never mentioned or described exactly what Naruto had done to the black haired boy, but now she knew, having just seen it firsthand. She was just happy during their spars; he would never use it on her willingly. 700 years old or not, people like her, people with traumatic pasts and secrets. They were the ones that succumbed the easiest to this particular technique. And she knew, Magia Erebea or not, she wasn't walking away from a hit without a fractured mind. How ironic that his strongest skill was so similar to her own forbidden technique.
Below with Naruto, he watched the blubbering demon stoically. Between his fits of nightmares and imaginations came clarity. He crawled to Naruto's feet and continued his frantic mumbling, "Pl-please, Please, Ki-kill me, I don't wa-want to live. I ca-cant live, KILL ME!"
"So be it."
He lifted one arm and summoned the Totsuka no Tsurugi, the sharp point above Dietrich's head. Said demon watched the tip of sword with fascination and hope.
He closed his eyes in almost blissful peacefulness just as it surged down but his end never came as someone tackled his executioner.
Naruto stared in shock at the girl on top of him. Or rather at the girls on top of him.
"Chachamaru? Chizuru? Wha-wha-?"
Slap!
"What the hell are you doing you idiot! I asked you to forgive yourself not go dig a bigger hole to bury yourself in you stupid fool."
"Chi-chizuru?"
Smack!
"Ow! Chachamaru! What was that for?"
"No reason. I just felt like doing it since Chizuru-san was doing it as well…..Of course it was because you were an idiot, you idiot."
Naruto chuckled, he sat up and hugged the two of them tightly, "Thanks…. I almost went too far again. Thanks for pulling me back." He whispered. He couldn't find it in himself to speak any louder.
Chizuru pulled a leek and brandished it menacingly with a very sweet smile, "Oh don't worry, you're not going anywhere if I can help it, and we're going to have a very nice talk with a cup of tea right after this mess is dealt with."
Naruto gulped, "Ahaha…. Wait is that Negi? I think he's in trouble. Talk to you later. Djane!"
Not that he could run, he had a pseudo death sentence waiting for him in the form of Chizuru and her leek.
****Broken Faith****
Makie struggled to stand up desperately, seeing Negi-sensei going berserk like that was horrible. Dammit why was she so weak? She was about to give up and cry until a firm hand helped her up. "You ok?" the owner of the hand asked as said hand started to glow green and Makie slowly started to feel better.
"Ye-yeah." She replied shakily.
"Think you can help me knock Negi out of his funk?"
She furiously wiped the remnants of her tears, "If I can't, I don't deserve to be called your student."
"Hmph, Lets go then, you get Negi. I'll deal with the Old pervert."
"Understood."
The pair of them charged forward, Makie unfurled her ribbon that was still miraculously in pristine condition and flicked the baton while her teacher leapt high into the sky, once her ribbons had got a good grip she immediately jerked her classroom teacher away from the immediate blast radius while her other teacher punched the demon before grabbing both Negi and the demon before slamming their faces together.
Eewww…. She was going to make Negi brush his teeth at least twice tonight.
All three of them landed, one on his feet, the other two on their faces.
The one on his feet strode to Negi, "Can you think clearly again?"
Negi punched the floor hard enough to create a crater, he didn't know what he was angry at, Naruto for stopping him? The demon? Himself?
"Yeah… I think so..."
Wilhelm got up and dusted his trench coat casually like nothing had happened before glancing off the side where an unconscious Dietrich was slumped on the floor.
"I see you are done with Dietrich, Naruto-sama. Did you come to fight me as well?"
Naruto stared at Wilhelm, "You really have changed Wilhelm... That speech about hatred and anger…." Naruto trailed off.
Wilhelm barked a harsh laugh, "You're one to talk Naruto-sama! Not 1 minute ago you embraced that hatred and anger towards Dietrich's actions and you nearly killed him. In fact you would have if it wasn't for those two pleasant ladies sitting there."
Play Gundam Seed Destiny OST – Kimi Wa Boku Niteiru
Naruto laughed to the sky before disappearing from his spot in a burst of speed. Wilhelm's eyes widened before a fist was shoved into his gut.
"I agree, I'm a complete hypocrite."
He spun and axe kicked the old man into the ground.
"Listen to me Negi. Listen to the words of a broken man. The world has many kinds of people, but everybody falls into four categories."
"The first category," he flicked the old man up from the ground with one foot before slamming his elbow onto the old man's head, causing him to smash face first into a waiting knee.
"The bad and the normal, these people, follow what everybody else is doing or just do what they want. People like Dietrich."
Naruto slid to the side to avoid a punch, "The second category; the good people, these people do what is right. Even if they are sacrificed in the process, all because what they are doing is right. People like Makie, like Asuna, like Chizuru."
He grabbed the outstretched punch before spinning around in a judo move and throwing the demon onto the ground, but Wilhelm retaliated by stopping his fall and violently kicking Naruto away.
"Guh…. But Negi. one day the people in the good category will have to face a choice. It's a different choice for everybody, for some it's the question of what are they fighting for? Some ask themselves whether its worth continuing. They can run from that choice, run because of their fear or whatever but by running they will remain where they are, stationary, mediocre in relation to everybody else."
"Those who choose to face that first choice will come to a second choice. People like me Negi. We face that first choice and advance into the third category; those who are great. But we lacked the strength to continue and succumb to the second choice, whether it comes the form of fear, of anger, we fall into the abyss. We use that hate, that anger. It gives us incredible power to do what is necessary."
Naruto struggled to his feet and held his hands out with a sad smile, "But that's as far as I can go Negi, that is as far as this blood stained hands can take me. This is my limit. I can go no further."
He looked straight into Negi's eyes, at Makie's, at Asuna's, at all the girls who were there fighting alongside Negi, "But you. All of you. All of you have the potential to go even further. To achieve that last category. You have the potential, when you face that choice and you find the strength within you to overcome that anger, that fear, that hate in you. Once you overcome that anger, instead of falling into it and using it like I did, all of you will advance into the fourth category; those who are legendary. All of you will be legendary…."
"All of you have that potential, the ability to scale that wall, to achieve far greater power then I ever could. Enough power to do what is right AND what is necessary. You have BOTH power and strength. Don't mistake one for the either like I did Negi."
Naruto ducked under a punch and tripped Wilhelm before kicking him into the sky. The blonde vanished from his spot, before appearing again behind Wilhelm, "Omote Renge!" grabbing the old demon; they start spinning violently and slammed into the ground in front of everybody.
A figure leapt out of the dust cloud, right in front of Asuna before a swift gesture cut her free and the necklace on her neck was ripped off.
Crushing it in his hands, he looked up at everybody, "That is all a hypocrite like me can teach you. All of you can learn better from someone who isn't broken."
"Everything else….. is up to you."
They watched him leave.
****Broken Faith****
AN : Ahh…. Thirteen chapters, more than 100k words, 120k Hits and ONLY 239 reviews? Something isn't adding up. Oh btw, does anyone know how to get my fic listed on Tvtropes? Eheheh *blush sheepishly* it was one of my major motivations to start writing, seeing my fic listed on Tvtropes, mostly because I was searching for more information on Negima at the time. So is there any requirement? Like number of words or number of reviews before it gets on there or something?
Oh btw…. That little mind fuck episode was actually even gorier and darker than I published but I toned it down a bit. After I sort of almost puked when I reread it. No offense to people with abusive parents and rape victims. My most sincere apologies. Although….originally I included about 3 other people but then I noticed the word count and ehehehe…..
Yamero – Stop
Doton : Doryuuheki – Earth Style : Mud Wall.
Doton : Ganban Kyu – Earth Style : Bedrock Coffin
Katon : Hibashiri – Fire Style : Racing Fire
Fuuton: Shinkū Taigyoku – Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere
Raiton: Ikazuchi no Utage - Lightning Release: Lightning Burial ~ Banquet of Lightning
Raiton: Gian Yari - Lightning Style: False Darkness Spear
Hint : When I wrote this story, the summary was Naruto's broken faith in Humanity. In this chapter the coup de grace is revealed. I never meant or said anything about him losing his faith in HUMANITY, THE PEOPLE AROUND him in general.
What I meant was the humanity in him.
Enjoy the chapter.