She watched his back. It was always like this. That blonde hair, the extra fabric of his head band. The hand raised in a simple fair well. She always watched him walk into the screams and evil intent.
Who was he?
What did it mean?
The man stopped, turning his head slightly so she could see the grin on his face. It was small, heartfelt. It filled her chest with warmth and the pit of her stomach with worry.
"I'm not doing this to save the world ya know? Just trying to save you." A soft laugh escapes his lips as he marches forward into the fight.
She tried to scream for him. Tell him to stop. Make him turn around. ANYTHING.
Her voice was silent though.
She could see the others screaming as well, smashing on the wall of energy to try and do anything to stop him, but the barrier held.
Damn him. Damn that man! Let her help damnit!
The tears pricked at her eyes, she wanted to be so angry at him!
Instead, she screamed in sorrow.
Kunou awoke with a scream, her mother bursting into the room with a vengeance. The older woman had eyes of blood red, ready to tear the world down for her daughter.
All that Yasaka saw was an empty room, her daughter softly crying while sitting up in bed.
The mother sighed, relaxing her posture. It had been this way for the last few nights. A reoccurring nightmare had been plaguing her little girl. A blonde man, trapping her and a few others behind a barrier and then walking off to fight some great evil. Its all Kunou ever recalled about the dream.
Yasaka tightened the Obi on her kimono, slowly she approached her daughters bed and let the eight year old girl crawl into her arms.
She didn't know why the girl was having these dreams. What it could mean for the future. She just wanted to comfort the sad child as best a mother could.
"Shhh...shhhh...I'm here baby girl..." Kunou hugged her mother tightly, so fiercly, like she was a ghost about to vanish in the night.
Yasaka just rubbed Kunou's back, letting her daughter release her sorrow.
Yasaka rubbed her temples slowly, trying to ease the headache she felt.
This last week had been strafed with issues. From her daughters new fear of sleeping, to the visiting Devil delegation, to her aunt's and uncle's once more becoming active, the ruler of the Yokai Faction had a lot on her plate.
Across from her sat two of the Yondai Maou. Two of the four leaders of the Devil Faction.
Sirzechs Lucifer, The Crimson Annihilation.
Serafall Leviathan, The Mistress of Absolution.
Two TERRIFYING beings, people of unimaginable power.
Right now, Yasaka had them both by the figurative balls.
"So let me re-cap, just to make sure I have this right...The Nekomata have been driven to near extinction, in less than two weeks time, for the crimes of ONE PERSON!?" Yasaka slammed her hands on the desk, snapping the century old piece of furniture like it were driftwood.
The two Maou kept a decent level of composure, and Yasaka hated them for it. Would it kill them to look a little guilty?
"Ah...yes Kyuubi-sama." Sirzechs spoke softly, standing on formality. She had the Devil Faction dead to rights. If she pushed for a confrontation...the Maou was unsure what would happen to the rest of Devil kind. The other factions would use this as an excuse to end what was paused ages ago. And not a person would blame the Yokai for it.
Yasaka sat back and slowly let the truth set in. "How many are left?" She asked, already fearing the answer.
"That we know of? Four. The criminal, two that are twins, taken in by the Phenex family as peerage members, and the younger sister of the criminal. Shrione. A Nekoshou." Serafall spoke softly.
"Shrione has opted to become part of my younger sister's peerage." Sirzechs spoke.
"I want to meet all of them. Even the criminal...Kuroka was it?" Yasaka replied.
"Ah that should...mostly be easy enough to do. My sister loves Japanese culture and would have a field day out here. I can pull a few strings with the Phenex family as well. However..."
"Well spit it out." Yasaka demanded impatiently.
"We don't know where Kuroka is Kyuubi-sama." Serafall spoke, a tint of fear in her voice.
She wanted to go ballistic. THAT was why the Nekomata had been hunted. All for want of a criminal. Instead she just sighed. "So, how do you plan to make this situation right?" She spoke after a moment.
"Ah...we have several individuals that are suspected to be the ring leaders of this atrocity in custody. We plan to put them on trial to-"
"No." Yasaka interrupted.
"I'm...sorry?" Sirzechs replied, unsure of what she meant.
"I would say you are, yes." Yasaka snarked, "You want to put high-class devils on trial, in a court full of their own? You honestly expect ANY justice to be done like that?" Yasaka stood from her ruined desk and walked to the large window behind her.
"We both know where you currently stand Lucifer. The blood of thousands now rest on the hands of your people...for what? One lost soul? No. You will turn over all suspects you currently have detained, and any pertinent details dealing with the accusations filed against them."
Sirzechs stood, indignation written on his features. "Now what just a minute! You can-"
"I. AM. SPEAKING." An unholy anger washed over the two Maou, and with less than a half glance back at the two, Yasaka made her point very clear.
Shut. Up.
"We have lost a large part of our culture. I knew the mother of Nekomata, she is...was a very dear friend. If you think for one SECOND I am going to let this be swept under the rug..." Yasaka took a deep breathe, trying to calm her frayed nerves.
"All the suspects, all the details on what happened. We will conduct our own investigation, and hold the trial. If the accused are found to be innocent or no concrete ties to the event can be established, we shall turn them back over to you."
Sirzechs let a small breathe of relief, even as Serefall seemed to turn to a relaxed puddle of goo in her chair. Unfortunately, that was when the other shoe dropped.
"However. If they are found guilty, we will execute them. Publicly."
Everything froze for the two Maou. Sirzechs wanted to scream out at the cruelty of the act, but he realized he was backed into a corner.
"I will give you one week. One week before The Council and myself come for the accused personally." Yasaka spoke heavily. "I want to meet the survivors in that time as well. Do not toy with me on this Lucifer. You will not like the results."
Give in, or war.
That was the message both Sirzechs and Serafall received.
It grated them. Hurt their pride. Lay them bare.
But there was nothing to be done. If they fought...It would be open season on all Devil-kind.
"...It will be done."
Yasaka didn't turn to honor the Maou with a bow as was custom. She didn't demand that they leave. She stood there, gazing at the setting sun, and tried to come to terms with what she had just sat in motion.
Aijo paced back and forth in front of the bay window leading out to the front yard of the orphanage. At closing in on 50 years of age, Aijo was still quite a beautiful woman. At a modest five foot seven, with nary a wrinkle, most mistook her for someone in her early twenties. However, at this moment in time, she truly felt her age.
Naruto was missing.
She hadn't seen him all day, and that was something HIGHLY unusual. She only took him out on certain occasions, and even then it was to the village market or local library.
Don't miss understand, Aijo loved Naruto like her own flesh and blood, as she did with most other children she cared for, but he was...special.
Aijo knew she would one day likely be in major trouble for hiding Naruto from the world, but she couldn't let others know the truth. Aside from the fact that there should only be two others like him in the world, there was no telling who would try to influence Naruto to commit dark acts with his power, or worse kill him for it.
As Aijo made another pass by the window, she stopped. A figure was at the front gate, cloaked in a dark hood and what seemed to be a body, draped over it's shoulder. Aijo ran outside to confront the strange individual, only to come up short.
The body on the strangers shoulder was wearing a lot of orange.
Only one person would wear that much orange.
"Naruto!" Aijo screamed, before taking a fighting stance. It may have been sometime since her last visit to the world of fighting, but that was her baby damnit!
"Still as hasty as ever, huh pup?" Spoke the figure.
Aijo felt her arms go slack, her jaw soon following. It had been fifteen years, but his voice was still as coarse and sweet as she last remembered.
The figure pulled it's hood back, letting the sun splash along his pale features, his sandy blond hair, a stark contrast to the vibrant yellow of his eyes. Those strange pupils stood out as well, matching the tribal marks that crisscrossed his face almost perfectly.
"...Shisho..?" Aijo spoke weakly.
Shukaku grinned, a little madness seeping into his features. Coming to this world and spending so much time among it's inhabitants had done much in the way of mellowing the sand spirit out, but even know some of that old crazy reared it's head.
"It has been a while Aijo." Shukaku spoke as he slowly walked toward his former pupil. "Are you just going to look at me, or are you going to take this kid and invite me in?" He chuckled lightly, shrugging his right shoulder up and gesturing to Naruto.
"O...of course!" Aijo almost shouted, rushing over and taking the burden of weight from her diminutive teacher. "Please this way Shisho!"
Shukaku shook his head, a bemused expression on his face. Same old Aijo.
Shukaku calmly sipped his tea, something one of the other orphanage assistants had been kind enough to bring him, taking in the small office he sat in. Aijo had insisted he wait here while she put the strange look alike to bed, and Shukaku felt kind enough to oblige her. He would get his questions answered either way.
Still, it did perplex him. Who was that boy? He looked so much like Naruto, and he couldn't miss Aijo's shout.
The eye shade and the facial features had incited his curiosity, but her shout had really made him wonder.
Same look and name? Too unlikely to be a coincidence.
Shukaku turned his head as the office door opened. Aijo strolled through, a hand running through her hair and undoing the bun it had been kept up in. A deep sigh leaving her lips.
"Thank you for bringing Naruto here Shisho. I was terrified when I realized he had disappeared." Aijo flopped into her chair, taking up the cup of tea that had been left for her. Bless her assistant.
"I take it this isn't the first time this has happened?"
"Not even close. That boy is the reason I have so many gray hairs."
Shukaku chuckled, "I wouldn't be so sure, you are getting on in years Aijo." He said cheekily.
"Oh look whose talking you old sand rat." Aijo sniped back.
Shukaku clutched his heart in jest, a hurt expression on his face. "How could you Aijo! I'm still a young man! I mean look at me."
"Just because you're short, doesn't mean you're young Shisho." Aijo deadpanned over her tea.
Shukaku just chuckled, once more taking up his own glass.
"So...interesting lad, that Naruto." He spoke, almost dismissively. Had it been anyone but his student of thirty years, they may have missed his undertone.
"...What do you want Shisho?" Aijo asked, her tone defensive. She loved her Master, truly, but Naruto...
"Tell me about him. Where did he come from? Who are his parents? Why is he still here?"
Aijo cast a critical eye to her teacher, he had always been tough to read, but she had to try. For Naruto's sake.
"The old Matron found him on the doorstep, ten years back. He was wrapped in a soft blanket, It had the name Naruto stitched into the fabric. She left him in my care, seeing our...shared lineage. Her and I are the only too to know what he really is. With her gone now...it fell to me to protect him." Aijo spoke, closing her eyes in memory. The last years had been so very kind to her. Naruto had been a large reason for it.
Shukaku took in his students peaceful expression. "You said protect him...protect him from what. By my knowledge...there should only be Nine people in the world curious about him. All of which you know on some level." He was tipping his hand here slightly, but he trusted his student.
"What are you talking about Shisho?" Aijo started, a little confused. "Aren't you curious as to why there is another Nine-tails in the world?"
"Nine-tails!?" Shukaku jumped to his feet.
"Well yes...I thought that's why you were here?" Aijo stood slowly, ready to fight and be killed by her teacher if need be. She knew she would lose, but damnit she would try.
"Aijo, That boy might be someone FAR more important than a mere Nine-tailed Yokai. We need to go to Kyoto. All of us." Shukaku spoke hurriedly, if this was true..
"Shisho...I can't do that..." Aijo cut him off. "This world...I can't let them use a sweet boy like Naruto..."
"Aijo you don't understand. The Council NEEDS TO KNOW THIS!" Shukaku almost shouted, the fierceness in his voice almost making Aijo flinch.
A moment of silence reigned in the room, a tense stare down between master and student.
"Tell me why. Tell me, and we'll go first thing tomorrow." Aijo demanded softly.
"Aijo I can't ex-" Shukaku tried to reason.
"TELL ME!"
Shukaku looked at his student, the way she stood, her fingers clinched into fists. She would fight him, he realized. She would try to kill him, her own teacher, to protect that boy. Shukaku had to smile softly, even m ore convinced. Even when he wasn't aware of it, Naruto still had that power to make people care for him deeply.
"I need to let the others know...because that boy might be tied to all of our pasts. I told you the story right? Of how Yokai came to this world?" At Aijo's nod he continued. "That was only a myth, a bed time story, that the others and I created. We were brought here, and freed from a great evil by a certain man. He had fought a god to set us free. All of us...the Council of Nine, we owe him a debt, and if Naruto...is truly who I believe him to be...I..."
"You think he is some decedent of that Man?" Aijo asked, unsure of what he meant.
"No...I think he is something much more."
Aijo stood there for a moment, drinking in her Master's face. He was so open right now...so sincere.. "Okay...I'll be coming with you though!" Aijo pointed a finger directly in Shukaku's face as she made her demand.
"I'd have it no other way. After all...a boy needs his mother." Shukaku chuckled.
Aijo just smiled a bit. "Well, as close as one could be anyway."
A.N. Yo guys! Thinks are heating up in DXD, next chapter, shit really hits the fan! Till next time!