Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or Naruto…
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…DID I NOT SAY TO VOTE?*looks back at authors notes*I SAID TO VOTE, AND ONLY ONE PERSON DID! I'M GOING TO CRY NOW!*sniffle* …I'll think up better stories, since apparently everyone hates Danny Phantom crossovers…you can vote later…anyway, I'd like to apologize for my stories being un-updated for so long. I'd just like to let everyone know that neither I or my stories are not dead. My life has been pretty busy as of late, with school and all, so…on with the story! I hope to have Demon's Shadow updated by…I dunno, but very soon!
Chapter 8
Dimidium-Cruor
:::Squad 13:::
To say that Yoruichi was angry that Naruto had fought a Hollow right after being released from the hospital was an understatement. To say she was furious that he fought a Hollow right after being released from the hospital without a Zonpaktou was an understatement as well. She had practically exploded with raw fury after she had found this out when Ichigo and Naruto were recounting the tale(excluding the part about their new powers, of course) to the Uryuu, Chad, and Orihime; apparently, she had been approaching them to ask them how their day had gone, and she had overheard the part of Naruto springing into action after Ichigo had been thrown to the ground, along with the part of Naruto fighting a Hollow with his bare hands. The other three were impressed - not only because of their obvious victory over the Hollow, but also with being able to stand up to Yoruichi without dieing or fainting on the spot.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DID SOMETHING SO…SO…RECKLESS!" Yoruichi roared for the fifteenth time in ten minutes; it was fifteen exactly, for the group had kept count after she had hit five in three minutes.
"It's not that unbelievable, Yoruichi." Uryuu called from where he sat in a low, soft chair. "Ichigo and Naruto are pretty reckless." Yoruichi turned a blazing, yellow eye from the glasses-wearing boy, to Naruto and Ichigo, who instantly cracked out grins.
"…you two aren't out of trouble yet." Yoruichi growled softly. Naruto rolled his eyes.
"Like we don't know that." Naruto said, before laughing nervously as Yoruichi turned another glare on him. He rubbed the back of his head, and glanced hurriedly at Ichigo, who did the same at almost the exact same time, their gazes saying, "Is the new stuff noticeable on the outside?"; it was a look that Yoruichi didn't miss. The two had agreed to keep their new powers, lightning and teleportation, a secret from the others until a later date; being able to manipulate lightning at such a late time in life was impossible for a demon, and complete teleportation was unheard of, even for a Soul Reaper. They did not need Mayuri to have another reason for chasing after them all day; he already did that enough because of Ichigo's unique talent and Naruto's demon blood. But there was still one question that remained at the front of Ichigo's and Naruto's minds.
Will we get other powers? How did they come to be in the first place, anyway?
They were determined to get the answers, and would stop at nothing to get them. So, that night, Naruto decided to speak to Ichigo about the mark that they shared.
Naruto knocked lightly on the door to Ichigo's room in the Squad 13 Barracks. There was thump and a crash, followed by a hissed curse, and a snort of laughter on Naruto's part. Ichigo opened the door, rubbing his right knee where it was pounding from crashing into the low table in the room. Ichigo's eyes widened in surprise, and he instantly froze. "Naruto? What're you doing here? Did Yoruichi find out about the-" Naruto slapped a bandaged-wrapped hand over Ichigo's mouth; he was once again covering his foxish arms with white bandages, to avoid the constant stares from other Soul Reapers.
"Don't speak lightly of it, Ichigo." Naruto muttered, before slowly drawing his hand away from Ichigo's mouth. "May I come in?" Naruto asked, keeping his voice low. Ichigo took one look at Naruto's serious face, and then nodded, stepping aside to let Naruto into his room. The Vulpes walked in, his fox ears twisted around backwards in apprehension. Ichigo shut the door, and locked it, before turning to Naruto, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Why do you look so serious?" Ichigo asked, taking a seat at the short table in the room, and motioning for Naruto to do the same. Naruto fell into a seat heavily, breathing out in a loud, low sigh.
"…I know that you've noticed it already…" Naruto muttered. Ichigo raised an orange eyebrow in questioning.
"What?" He asked blankly.
"The Mark. That lightning bolt-like one with the star on top; the one you have on your forearm. I know that you've noticed that I have one to…" Naruto pulled part of his top away from his chest, revealing most of the star, and part of the upper half of the lightning bolt. "…and that it's on my chest while I'm in human form." Naruto released the shirt, letting it fall back into place on its own accord. Ichigo raised an eyebrow, unconsciously rubbing his forearm where the park was present.
"So? I've seen people throughout history with this mark to; it might have looked a little different, but they had it as well. It doesn't mean anything." Ichigo protested. Naruto shook his head, his fox ears laying flat in his spiky hair.
"Have you ever noticed that these humans, and it was only humans that got the Mark, were the only ones with it at a time? That there were never two?" Naruto questioned in reply.
"…now that you mention it…there really weren't two people with the same mark at the same time…" Ichigo mumbled in thought, looking to his bare feet.
"I know demon history, and no demon has ever had the Mark." Naruto added. "…I think it means something bigger…and Urahara gave me an idea to what it's supposed to mean." Naruto whispered this part, almost reluctant to say it. Ichigo raised an eyebrow, his scowl growing more evident on his face.
"And what is it supposed to mean?"
"…we're supposed to save the world." Naruto replied, looking up with his strangely-colored eyes. Ichigo's brown eyes shot open wide, and he looked like a bass out of water.
"We're supposed to…what?" Ichigo asked quietly.
"We're supposed to save the world. That's why all of this shit is happening; global warming, animal extinction, increased terrorist attacks, wars…it's all happening because the world is coming to an end. And we have to stop it." Naruto inhaled deeply. "According to Urahara…two creatures, on a human and one a monster of darkness and flames, have to bear that mark at the same time, and be the same age. The 'creature of darkness and flames' fits perfectly for a demon. Their job is to save the world from being destroyed; how they're supposed to do this, though, is still unknown. One more thing…both of these creatures must be half-breeds." Ichigo's eyes were wide as he stared off into the distance.
"This is totally insane…I'm a half-breed!" Ichigo whispered, before pausing. "Wait a minute…I'm half-human half-Soul Reaper…but you're a demon, not a half-breed." Naruto blinked in surprise, before looking off to the side, almost guiltily.
"Uh huh…" He muttered. Ichigo's eyes narrowed.
"…Naruto…is there something you're not telling me about this prophecy?" Ichigo asked. Naruto looked down to his hands, which rested on his knees, beneath the table.
"Mbrthmtherwzhmn." He muttered quickly, his words all one jumbled mess.
"…huh?" Ichigo asked, leaning forward on the table.
"My birth mother was human! I'm not a full demon, I'm part human!" Naruto responded, before standing up, turning around, and huffing, crossing his arms over his chest.
"…are you messing around or something?" Ichigo asked slowly after a few seconds of silence. "Is that even possible? A human and a demon having a child?"
"So many of your writers know so, most of them are demons that decided to take up a life of making stories for the humans while being peaceful, instead of wanting to kill everyone. Their ideas for stories about half-demons come from knowing that one already exists: me." Naruto muttered his replied. More silence entered the room; so much so, it was almost deafeningly quiet.
"Well that's…" Naruto closed his eyes, waiting for Ichigo to call him a freak, to scream at him to get out, to leave and never come back. "…AWESOME!" Naruto stumbled, turning halfway around.
"W-wha?" He asked in surprise.
"That's so cool! I always thought that the people who wrote those stories were insane or over-imaginative, but to find out they were real? And they were inspired by one of my friends? I feel like I know a celebrity…" Ichigo trailed, grinning. Naruto blinked twice in rapid succession.
"…you mean you're not freaked out?" Naruto asked in a low voice. "You don't think I'm a freak?" Ichigo snorted in laughter.
"Naruto, in case you forgot the conversation we were having seconds ago, I'm a half-blood to. If anyone in this world cant judge on blood status, that'd be me." Ichigo jammed a thumb into his chest, as if to further prove his point. Naruto smiled slightly.
"Yeah, I guess…thanks for not freaking out, though." Ichigo just flashed the universal thumbs-up, grinning madly at the Vulpes. Suddenly, his smile fell, as something dawned upon him.
"…so…how old are you?"
"Ugh."
:::The Next Day:::
"…where's Ichigo and Naruto?" Yoruichi asked. Uryuu, Orihime, and Chad all pointed stiffly to Naruto's room, where the door was open a crack. Yoruichi waved to Rukia, who was coming for one of her first visits since she had recovered, and walked towards the room. She pushed open the door lightly, with Rukia following. What they found was surprising. Naruto was curled up as a fox on the floor, a literal fort of books piled around him. His head rested on his paws, and a book lay splayed open in front of him, with a pad of paper and a pencil near it; the paper had notes and dates written on it, along with the time of night a few times. The latest time was 6:35 a.m; that was about three hours ago.
Ichigo was on Naruto's bed, hanging halfway off, with his left hand, which was dangling off the side of the bed, clutching a blue book. He was partially covered in a 'blanket' of books, and more books were thrown on the floor around him. Even more books were piled along the walls, and a pad of paper and a pencil lay near the Soul Reaper. The latest time of night on his paper was 6:30 a.m. Each book was along the same lines. 'Mark of the Chosen', 'Prophecies of the 3rd Century', 'The Day Earth Ends', and 'World-Saving for Dummies' were just some of the titles of the books. They all followed the same criteria; how to save the world, prophecies, how the world was supposed to end, two saviors of the world, demon destruction, the final war, hell on earth, true half-breeds…that type of thing.
"Why would they be reading these?" Rukia asked, picking up 'Prophecies of the 3rd Century'. Yoruichi began to shuffle through the books, scanning the titles and the date that the books were written.
"I don't know…but I have a sneaking suspicion that these two know something that's important…" Yoruichi walked over to Naruto, and nudged him with her shoe. He just growled softly, and shifted the position of his head on his paws. She sighed, and slid over to Ichigo, shaking his shoulder. She nearly jumped when he growled like Naruto had, and moved his own head in the same way; both now were facing away from Yoruichi and Rukia, with their heads buried in either their book-fort or book-blanket. Yoruichi blinked her yellow eyes, and looked to Rukia. "Umm…" She said slowly. Rukia just shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't think these two are going to be getting up any time soon…they look like they were up all night." Rukia said, motioning to the times written on the pads of paper. Naruto's ears suddenly twitched, and his eyes opened slowly. He looked around the room without moving his head, as if searching for anything that might be threatening to him. His strangely-colored eyes suddenly shot open, and he leapt to his feet.
"Ichigo, get your ass up! We fell asleep!" Naruto yelled. Ichigo groaned, and buried his head deeper into the books on the bed. Naruto growled, but filtered rietsu through his body, giving him an orange glow. He then lifted his right front leg…and bit it. Hard. Ichigo jumped into the air, yowling in surprise, and clutching his right forearm. He dropped back to the bed, rubbing his unmarked arm gingerly.
"What the hell was that…for…" Ichigo looked to the clock on the wall, before his eyes bulged out of his head. "Naruto, we fell asleep!" Ichigo yelled, and began throwing books around the room, his eyes wide with shock.
"That's what I just said! Quick, where's that Maximum Ride book? The 'Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports' one?" Naruto asked, almost shredding the books as he tore through them.
"Why would that book help?" Ichigo asked, handing it to the fox. Naruto, somehow managing to hold a pen in his paw, underlined the words 'Saving the World', and shoed it to Ichigo, tapping it rapidly with a sharp claw.
"SAVING! THE! WORLD!" He yelled, before opening it, and flipping through it, taking quick, sloppily-written notes, looking as if he had just learned how to write.
"Naruto, have you seen 'War Strategies of the Centuries'?" Ichigo asked, looking at titles of books, three books in each hand, before throwing them over his shoulder.
"I think it's over by 'Battles of the 19th Centuries'. It's over in the right corner." Naruto replied, looking deeply engrossed in the Maximum Ride books. "Ah ha! Battle strategy, right here!" Naruto yelled, jumping up and down, his tails wagging happily.
"Really? What is it?" Ichigo asked, whirling around.
"…you'd need wings for it, Ichigo." Naruto replied, quickly drawing a detailed diagram of a humanoid with wings performing a corkscrew in mid air to slam their interlocking fists into the back of the head of their opponent to make the flying enemy drop to the ground below. "Unless you somehow grow them, I don't think it'll work that well…hm…if I fly you up into the air, and then drop you, you might be able to perform a corkscrew, and do that move…write that down, Ichigo!" Naruto shouted, going back to reading the thick book. "Hey, start thinking about getting wings grafted onto your body! These Maximum Ride books are, like, a treasure trove for fighting while in mid-flight."
"Where would I get wings?" Ichigo asked, chewing on the eraser of the pencil that he held. "Hm…I never thought to fight with a bayonet attached to each fist…" He muttered to himself.
"I dunno…ask that science-freak of Squad 12. Mayuri." Naruto responded, flipping the page of the book with his muzzle. He quickly jotted down some notes, muttering: "Brilliant!"
"No way! That guy's insane!" Ichigo responded. "In order to get wings to actually work, they'd have to be fit with the muscles and bones in my back, and to do that, I'd probably have to be unconscious. I don't want that guy to be anywhere near me while I'm unconscious, especially when he has a scalpel and bird DNA."
"…fine, I'll go see if any other demons know how to do the genetic recombining thing." Naruto grumbled, slamming the book closed, and pulling a different book to the front of his body.
"Um…what's up with these books?" Yoruichi asked. "Why do they all have to do with wars and prophecies, and world-saving?"
"No reason." The two half-breeds responded in a low mumble. Rukia cleared her throat.
"Hi guys!" She said cheerfully. What she received was not what she expected.
"Hi." The two mumbled again, not looking up from their notes or books. A vein bulged in Rukia's forehead.
"'Hi'? I come all the way here, still injured, and all I get is a 'Hi'?" Rukia shrieked. Ichigo and Naruto looked up to Rukia, their eyes wide.
"Sorry, Rukia. We didn't mean to be rude." Naruto said, his ears twisting around to the sides innocently.
"Yeah. We've just…got a lot on our minds and our plates right now." Ichigo added vaguely.
"Really?" Yoruichi asked. "What's wrong?" Ichigo and Naruto looked down thoughtfully.
"Nothing for you to be concerned about…and definitely nothing that you can help with." Naruto responded. "We know what we're doing, so you two can just calm down. Can you leave us alone? We're almost done, and then we need silence to meditate; Ichigo's going to try some new sword moves with Zangetsu, and Arashi's going to try to help me with these new flight movements." Naruto said, pointing rapidly to all the diagrams he had drawn in the past twelve hours. Yoruichi's jaw dropped.
"You guys sound like you're preparing for a full-scale war." Yoruichi said. Naruto looked out the window at the rising sun. The bright, yet soft light cast shadows on his demonic face, giving him a fierce, yet gentle look.
"You never know what's coming, Yoruichi." Naruto muttered.
"But it sounds like you two do." Naruto smiled at the woman, the act looking strange on his long muzzle.
"That's the thing about us, Yoruichi. We know more then we probably should." Naruto then lay his head on his muzzle. "I'll be with Kitsuneryu no Arashi, Ichigo. Have Zangetsu contact them if you need anything." Naruto's eyes closed, and he seemed to stop breathing; the slightest rise of his chest was what gave away the fact that he was breathing. Ichigo sighed, and leaned back against the white wall near the bed.
"Sorry, Rukia, Yoruichi. But the fox has spoken. I'll talk to you all later." Ichigo then let his eyes closed, and he nearly stopped breathing as well, leaving the two females alone in the paper-covered room.
:::Bright, Unknown Area:::
Naruto's eyes opened, and he grinned. Before him, was Ichigo, with Zangetsu behind him. The only difference of the two, was that they were chained to each other by an Orange metal cuff on Ichigo's right wrist, and a Black metal cuff on Zangetsu's left. "…I'm not sure if I like this arrangement…" Zangetsu muttered, looking to the chain on his wrist.
"I think the chain can extend if you and Ichigo will it to; at least, according to the book written by K. Ami it can." Naruto shrugged at the end; he had been forced into his human form when he arrived in this area. It was nothing but blank, bright white. Even though it was blindingly white, it appeared that they all could see forever - not that there was anything to look at - and the light didn't hurt their eyes. "Also, according to this book…" Naruto pulled out an old, leather-bound book from nowhere. "…we also have a telepathic connection that we can access when we want to. That's why I mentioned Zangetsu getting into contact with Kitsuneryu no Arashi. It would be through here, since this represents our telepathic connection." Naruto waved his clawed hand around at the blank scenery.
"…so this is our 'mental connection'? …kinda boring…" Ichigo muttered. Naruto walked forward, and whacked Ichigo across the head with the book.
"It's a telepathy thing, Ichigo, it's not supposed to be all gummy bears and rainbows." Naruto turned away, even as Ichigo shouted:
"That's not what I wanted!"
"And besides…it's not like this'll stay all white…it usually is white, but apparently, we can change this place to the way we want it to be. I thought it'd be useful to train in." Naruto turned to Ichigo, waiting for a response. The orange-haired boy shrugged.
"Alright." Naruto grinned.
"Good, 'cause Kitsuneryu no Arashi is coming." Naruto chuckled, as three forms began to twist and take shape; one being made out of wind, one being made out of fire, and the other being made out of ice. Soon, Kitsune, Ryu, and Arashi, all in human forms, stood behind Naruto. Around their throats, were metal collars. Kitsune's was Blue, Ryu's was Red, and Arashi's was Dark Gray. Connecting the three, were strong chains, and keeping the three bound together even further, was another chain, running from them to Naruto, who now wore a similar collar, which was Dark Amethyst Purple in color. The Vulpes looked down to the collar, tugging at it with slight distaste. "I feel like a human's pet now."
"That would be human abuse." Ichigo pointed out with a smirk. Naruto glared, but grinning right along with him.
"Screw off." He laughed, before turning to his Zonpaktou Spirits. "Is it done?" Naruto asked. The three nodded.
"Yeah, it's done. Go ahead and see if what this 'K. Ami' wrote in that book is correct." Arashi spoke. Naruto closed his eyes in concentration, and using the image that was resting firmly in the Spirit's minds, the bright white landscape began to morph into what looked like a giant field with waist-high blades of grass, a giant, beautiful lake, a large weeping willow growing from the shore and hanging over the lake gracefully, and a vast mountain formation in the distance. Ichigo's and Zangetsu's jaws dropped in unison.
"…no…freaking…way…what is this place? Naruto, is this where you lived or something?" Ichigo asked, looking around. Naruto smiled, shaking his head.
"No, not really. There was a place pretty close to this near where I lived, but it was different…at least, it's different now; humans moved in, and destroyed the land there. I was a just a young kit back then, so I don't really remember it to much. But this is an exact replica of my Inner World, where Kitsune, Ryu, and Arashi live." Naruto swept his arm around. "This is usually where I come when I'm asleep, and we all usually talk, explore, or go swimming. We've trained in here before as well, so I thought it might be good to train in here again. There's a lot of room, so you and Zangetsu would be able to fit here to…it's missing that special something my real Inner World has, though…" Naruto trailed off. Ichigo smirked, pulling his Zonpaktou from his back.
"Let's get started then!"
:::Later That Day:::
Naruto groaned as he opened his eyes, before sitting up, his body morphing into human form as he did so. He rubbed his head with his hand, groaning once more. "…'ey, Ninjin…" Naruto called. Ichigo moaned in pain as he rolled up into a sitting position, finally waking up. "…let's agree to never do that again…" Ichigo nodded.
"Training: Good. Resting: Good. Swimming: Good. Jumping off Mountain: Bad." Ichigo agreed shortly, before flopping back onto the bed. "I feel like I just did a belly flop from over 1,000 feet in the air…"
"Isn't that what you did?" Naruto asked, looking up from where he swore he had broken his arm.
"…oh yeah…" Ichigo groaned, grinding the heels of his palms into his eyes. "Who's idea was that anyway?"
"…Zangetsu's…" Naruto responded, staggering to his feet. He looked to the orange-haired teen, his eyes half-closed. "I think we've kept the others in the dark for long enough." Naruto said slowly. Ichigo spun towards Naruto, nearly falling over his own feet as he did so.
"You mean we're going to tell them? Everything?" Ichigo asked in shock. Naruto's eyes bulged out of their sockets.
"Of god no. I meant that we've been in here for to long, and we might as well get out and go around Soul Society, just to let the others know that we're not dead or something." Ichigo just stared. "Okay, seriously, don't even think about that. It's a gay joke." Naruto mumbled as he walked towards the door, pushing his way through it. He and Ichigo walked swiftly down the long, narrow hall, and into a blank, square room with only a few chairs and a low table decorating it. Uryuu, Chad, Orihime, Yoruichi, Renji, and Rukia were all in this room, sitting in chairs to either play or watch the others play Old Maid.
"So the sleeping beauties are finally awake." Rukia called chidingly, looking to Ichigo. Naruto's fox ears turned backwards on his head, and his eyes narrowed in annoyance.
"We weren't sleeping." He grumbled. Rukia turned to look at Naruto, and just stared.
And stared.
And stared.
"Who are you?" She asked. Ichigo snorted in laughter, before holding his nose, grumbling an 'ow' from the sudden force of laughter. Naruto nearly gagged on his own tongue as he tried to swallow.
"You're serious? You don't know who I am?" Naruto asked. Rukia shook her head slowly.
"No…am I supposed to? Are you a noble or something? Have you come to one of the dinners my brother has had with the other nobles." Rukia asked. Naruto stared blankly, blinking rapidly.
"…I would never be a noble, even if you paid my full-size weight in squirrel meat." Most of the occupants(in other words everyone by Naruto and Yoruichi) made disgusted faces at that. "Here's a hint, Rukia. I apparently always land on my feet." Rukia looked to the left in thought, before suddenly jumping in recognition.
"You're that fox!" She yelped, pointing dramatically.
"Ding ding ding! We have a winner!" Naruto clapped, smiling slightly.
"But…but…you're a fox!" Rukia protested. Naruto crossed his arms.
"Supposed to be. What. You thought that demons had to stay in their animal form? We have human forms, you know. It'd be kinda hard to write death threats to invading humans with only our paws…" Naruto trailed, as if thoughtfully. He then shrugged. "Yeah, I can morph to." He finished, rather blandly. Renji lifted an eyebrow.
"You didn't know that?" He asked the raven-haired girl.
"No! I saw him about two times before I was taken back here, and both times, he was a frickin' fox!" Rukia responded, waving her arms in the air. Naruto looked to Ichigo.
"Is she serious?" Naruto asked, jabbing a thumb in the girl's direction. Ichigo nodded.
"Yeah. Remember, I officially meeting you a few days before we came here, and that was definitely after Rukia left, so she never got to meet you, or find out that you have a human form." Ichigo responded. Naruto wilted.
"Well shit. Now I'm going to have to explain things about demons to her…" Naruto mumbled, and looked to Rukia's 'I'm listening' expression. "…or I could just do this." Naruto finished, before grabbing Ichigo's shoulder, and using a quick Sonido to flash away. Rukia stuttered, before pointing.
"That's freaking cheating!" She cried.
:::Near Squad 3:::
Naruto reappeared in front of Squad 3, and instantly released Ichigo's shoulder, his eyes wide. "That was close!" He breathed. Ichigo whirled around.
"What'd you do that for?" He yelled. Naruto put his hands on his hips, one ear tilting to the side awkwardly.
"Well I don't know." Naruto responded. "Maybe it's because I don't know the entire makeup of a demon, and with the gaps in my knowledge, it'd become suspicious, and then I'd be forced to explain that I'm a half-breed. Trust me, it's hard to kill someone when you know they have human blood in them." Naruto muttered. Ichigo was about to speak, but he paused, and looked to Naruto in confusion.
"What're you talking about?" He asked. Naruto inhaled deeply.
"Well…you might have to kill me." He responded. Ichigo blinked blankly.
"…you're kidding…right?" Ichigo asked incredulously. Naruto shook his head solemnly.
"No. With Half-Demons, at least with me, we have two halves. And if those two halves are taken up by two different types of demon blood, then its fine. For example, if you're a Half-Demon with Canis(1) blood and Insigne(2) blood, then you're completely fine. But if you're a Half-Demon with only Vulpes blood and Humanus blood, then you're basically in deep shit. Your Demon half and Human half is constantly fighting against one another, because it's been instinct for Demons and Humans to battle against one another for thousands of years. Right now, my Human half is the victorious one, which is the only reason why I'm basically sane right now. But there are times when my Demon half beats back my Human side, and takes control. When that happens, I basically attack anything in my sight, and I can barely remember what happens afterwards when I pull out of it, and my Human side wins; funny, since Humans are always thought to be weaker then Demons. Either way, one day, I wont be able to pull out of the transformation, and when that happens…" Naruto trailed off, and turned. "Well, it'll be easier for the people around me to kill me if they don't know that I'm a Half-Demon." He looked around at the bright sky. "…so…what do you want to do now? I guess you don't have to stay out here, since they're not going to pester you for answers. Hell, you cant even give them any; you don't know much about demons." Naruto chuckled.
"Are you kidding? What if something happens and the prophecy is supposed to be carried out while I'm back with the others? We're supposed to be close to each other when the Apocalypse happens, and if we all suddenly start dieing, and I'm on one side of the Seireitei and you're on the other, then what'll we do?" Ichigo responded. Naruto looked over his shoulder, pausing as he reached into one of his pockets.
"Die along with the others?" Naruto asked. Ichigo leveled a strong glare on the Vulpes, making Naruto sweat drop. "Sorry." He laughed, rubbing the back of his head. Ichigo rolled his eyes, and looked around at the blank walls of the Seireitei; well, most of them were blank. Others were still covered in paint from when Naruto had taken a little 'painting spree'. The orange-haired teen suddenly grinned, and turned to Naruto.
"…I think we should help these guys make these walls one color again…" Ichigo trailed, pointing to the partially-scrubbed walls. Naruto wilted.
"But that painting took such a long time…" He groaned. Ichigo crossed his arms.
"Who said we were erasing it?"
:::3 Hours Later:::
"UUUUGH! NARUTO! ICHIGO!" Yoruichi yelled, staring at all the walls painted bright greens, oranges, and pinks, with hippie flowers stretching across the walls. Naruto and Ichigo, however, had painted the entire front half of their bodies orange, and were standing against a wall, nearly invisible with the camouflage.
"…I thought we were only going to do one color." Naruto whispered, before falling silent as a pissed Yoruichi charged passed.
"I know, but I guess we got carried away…nice touch with the flowers by the way." Naruto smirked, his fangs standing out against the orange.
"Thanks." He whispered. He suddenly froze as a hand wrapped around the back of his neck.
"There you two are." Yoruichi hissed, her mouth close to Naruto's right ear.
"Oh…heh heh…there you are Yoruichi…" Ichigo laughed, backing away slightly from the enraged cat-woman. Why was she so mad? It wasn't because the Seireitei was painted, oh no. It was because she was painted in bright colors, with many pink hearts and green flowers painted on her clothes and face. "Naruto, run!"
"How, you idiot?" Naruto yelped, flailing to get out of the woman's hold. Yoruichi stalked forward, and gripped the back of Ichigo's neck, dragging him and Naruto back towards Squad 13.
"I swear to Kami, I'm going to kill you." Yoruichi growled. Naruto and Ichigo could have sworn they heard light, feminine laughter from the sky. But then again, they weren't crazy…
:::The Next Day:::
"Not only do you defile our rules, break into the Seireitei, put many powerful Reapers into the Hospital, and break the Sogyoku and its stand…but you also paint all the walls, let three traitors escape, keep information from us, and gave my Vice-Captain a wedgie!" Soi Fon yelled, glaring heatedly at Naruto and Ichigo, who stood before the remaining captains.
"Super wedgie, actually." Naruto responded blankly.
"Naruto!" Ichigo hissed through clenched teeth.
"Well there's a difference!" Naruto responded in the same, low voice. He turned his attention back to the Captains. "And I never held any information from you guys; and, just for reference, we didn't exactly destroy the Sogyoku. Shards of it can still be found if you dig deep enough into the ground." Naruto pointed out.
"You are withholding information! First, about your kind! You wont tell us anything about demons!" Soi Fon protested.
"And you wont let me perform experiments!" Mayuri chimed in with a pitiful whine.
"Damn straight!" Naruto responded angrily. Mayuri crossed his arms, pouting.
"I don't see how anybody could refuse my offer…"
"Yeah. Limiting genetic experiments to five times a day, and no brain dissection for the first week; that's a great deal." Naruto grumbled. Mayuri held his hands out.
"Exactly! So will you let me?" He asked hopefully, his eyes taking on an almost insane sparkle.
"Kurotsuchi! There will be no experimenting with this…demon." Yamamoto nearly tripped over the words, as if refusing to say them. "We didn't gather here to let you two argue about experimentations. But we did gather to discuss what we shall do with the demon." Yamamoto announced. Murmurs began to ripple through the Captains; the Vice-Captains, who were also gathered, remained silent.
"What? You cant decide anything for me!" Naruto snapped, his ears laying flat against his head.
"Oh, but we can." Yamamoto responded in his old, yet strong, voice. "We are the Rulers of both Life and Death. We govern both worlds. Whatever we say goes." Naruto crossed his arms.
"So you think that whatever you say is absolute law." Yamamoto nodded. "Then why, pray tell, do you let so many humans get killed by Hollows. Why do you let weaker humans starve, while the wealthy get every article they want? Why do even you, the so-called Gods of Death, die after a while? Why did you not know about Demons until one, and Arrancar none the less, came knocking at your front door with its fangs bared and its claws sharp? Why is a mere child older and wiser then you?" Naruto responded. A few Captains nodded in agreement. "If I may ask, how old are you?" Naruto asked, his eyes blazing with anger.
"1,984." Yamamoto deadpanned.
"I'm a child." Naruto said to the gathered high-ranking Reapers. "To demons, I'm a mere child. And look here. THIS is your oldest soul, and me, a child might I remind you, has lived over four of his lifespans. You all die after you reach around 2,000. Am I not correct?" Naruto looked to Mayuri, who was forced to shake his head. "And yet I am much older, and I'm barely into my late teens. You think that you govern Life and Death? You all never truly understood life, and you haven't even begun to experience death. As a Vulpes, I walk the border of life and death; so much so that my kind is even called a Spirit. And having a soul that is an Arrancar? That brings me even closer to the side of death. I understand much more then you humans ever will, and yet you all think that you have the right to tell me what to do. We demons are much more powerful then you, and we know much more then you. We understand the elements of nature, right down to its very composition; so much so, that we've learned to control it! Face it, Reapers. You aren't at the top of the Food Chain; Kami, Demons, and Angels are. As Ichigo and my friends would say…we trump your asses." Naruto finished. All was silent.
"…fine then." Yamamoto finally called. "All in favor of wiping out the Vulpes race?" Yamamoto called. Naruto's eyes widened, as did Ichigo's.
"What?" Naruto hissed, his hands clenching into fists. "I just told you that you are inferior. And you have the gall to call out a genocide? Are you FUCKING MAD?" Naruto roared. The air was suddenly filled by a choking power. But it wasn't the heavy rietsu. It was pure killer intent and malice. All of the Reapers, even Ichigo, watched in shock as frost began to creep up Naruto's bandaged-covered arms, forming types of crude gauntlets over his fists. Smoke began to slip past his bared fangs, and electricity crackled around his body, giving him a truly frightening and insane appearance. "Don't even think about going against the Vulpes, Soul Reaper. We control the elements of the world, right down to the air that you breathe! Did you know that a Vulpes with the affinity for wind could pull the air right out of your lungs, and suffocate you without touching you…from 300 feet away? You will never even begin to understand how much power we Vulpes as a race have, and going against us is practically suicidal! Starting a war with us is the same as securing the apocalypse for the entire world!" Ichigo placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, and instantly received a shock from the silver lightning. He was almost forced into a teleport, but managed to push the power back.
"Naruto, calm down." Ichigo muttered. Naruto closed his eyes, and suddenly flexed his hands, shattering the ice around his fists. He inhaled deeply, and the smoke around him suddenly formed a ring that slowly rotated in a circle around his body, before flying back into Naruto's mouth, and down his throat. The lighting suddenly froze, as if time had stopped, and slowly melted right into Naruto's skin. Quietly, Naruto counted from one to nine in Latin, and then back down, from nine to one. He slowly opened his eyes, raking his strangely-colored eyes over the crowd.
"You all…you will never begin to understand anything about the world…and you want to go against one of the oldest races of the world…no…the oldest race of the world, our age rivaled only by Kami and her Angels. You want to go against a type of demon that has had so much longer to grasp an understanding of life and death. You say you govern both worlds, and therefore, you have the right to judge me for what I was born as. But you all, who claim to be the smartest beings, seem to willingly forget that I didn't choose to be born like this. And you're so willing to just judge me on that? I'm not threatening you with the end of the world by demon…but I am warning you…don't go against the demons. The different races may not see eye-to-eye…but the fact remains that most of us hate humans for taking our beautiful land and tearing it apart for your stone settlements. They would not think twice, before marching into your homes, and tearing out the throats of your children. Don't think that we cant get here, either, Soul Reapers. The world of death and the world of life are not under your control, you're just living in it…and Demons, who are originally from a dimension apart from the one that holds your cycle of life, death, and rebirth, can easily bridge the gap between Soul Society and the Living World. Even you wont be safe from the forces…" Naruto trailed off, before turning.
"So heed my warning, Reapers. I will not give you a second one. Try to go against us, try to rise up to slaughter us…" Naruto looked over his shoulder, his eyes hard, the shadows playing across his face in such a way that made him look like some unearthly being. "…and we will kill you." Ichigo looked between where Naruto had once stood, and where the Soul Reapers were still frozen. He then raced out of the room, snickering.
"That was kinda badass…"
:::Squad 13:::
"We saved Rukia…so WHEN CAN WE GO BACK TO KARAKURA?" Naruto yelled, close to flailing where he lay on the floor, his fox ears laying flat in his hair. Yoruichi looked over from where she was eating un uncooked fish; where it came from, nobody knew, and they had a feeling they didn't want to know.
"…spoiled-brat-syndrome much?" She asked, swallowing a large hunk of fish flesh. "Why do you want to leave so badly?"
"All of this spiritual particle crap is messing with my heightened senses." Naruto grumbled, rolling onto his stomach. Ichigo smirked.
"Awwwww…is the wittle foxy's nose hurtin'?" Ichigo asked mockingly. Naruto looked up to him with a blank expression.
"So I'm a flower." He deadpanned, making Ichigo choke in surprise at the sudden, unexpected comment. Naruto flipped onto his feet, using the palms of his hands to launch himself to Yoruichi's side. "But I was serious about the senses thing. And knowing…certain things…" Naruto glanced over to Ichigo, who adopted a grim look, and nodded in understanding. "…I'm going to need my sense of sight, smell, and hearing at their peaks; I cant have that if this place screws them up, and makes them revert to the weak senses of the normal human." Yoruichi sighed, before swallowing the rest of the fish, bones and all.
"Fine. I'll see when the soonest we can leave is. Urahara will probably want us back soon, anyway, so he can know how it went. He doesn't even know what happened ever since we got here, or that we succeeded in saving Rukia." Yoruichi spoke, going off on a tangent as she began to list all the things she'd have to do once they got back, and what she'd have to tell Urahara. Naruto, staring at the dark-skinned woman as she rambled, edged away from her, until he was by the door, before sliding out. He turned, breathing a sigh of relief, when he almost shouted in shock. Ichigo gazed back, his eyes wide.
"You're running from her rambling, too?" Ichigo asked. Naruto nodded.
"I thought cats were supposed to be quiet…but that woman can really start rambling…"
:::The Next Day, Senkaimon:::
"…you've got to be kidding me…" Naruto trailed, staring forward blankly as the giant Cleaner of the Senkaimon chased after the group as they passed through the area. "You guys knew that the Cleaner came through here every seven days, and it was obvious that today was that day…so why in the hell did you choose today to try to pass back to the human world?" Naruto shouted over the dull roar of the giant, rock-like machine.
"Because you wanted to go home, dipshit!" Yoruichi responded, looking over her black, furry shoulder to glare at the Vulpes. Naruto blinked, his eyes dull.
"I said find the soonest time! That means find the safest, and this is NOT THE SAFEST!" The Fox screeched, nearly swinging his arms about in exasperation.
"Not my fault! I lost track of time!" Yoruichi yowled. "And stop complaining! There's a light up ahead!" Naruto looked up, his bi-colored eyes landing on a small rectangle of gleaming light that was growing larger and larger by the second. Right before the cleaner ran the group over, they all crashed into the cool night air in Karakura town…correction…over Karakura Town.
"SHIT!" Naruto snapped as the group began to plummet, all screaming their lungs out at the unavoidable fate of crashing into the ground; he had done it before, and Demons wouldn't get hurt that easily, but humans…they tend to be soft and squishy…in other words, they'd break themselves.
"We're gonna die! We're gonna die we're gonna die we're gonna die!" Ichigo wailed, spinning his arms like a pinwheel. Naruto suddenly smirked, and idea forming in his head. He flipped his body around, and, shoving his feet out beneath him, focused his energy into the soles of his feet. Instantly, his falling halted, and he stood perfectly in the air. As the others grew smaller and smaller, Naruto cocked his head.
"Hey, Ichigo, Yoruichi! You know you can stand on air, right?" Naruto called down to them as he mentally counted down the time until they would meet the ground, up close and personal.
"You know Orihime, Chad and I cant, right?" Uryuu cried back up. Naruto chuckled, shoving his bandaged hands into his pockets.
"That's your problem, not mine, arrow-boy!" Naruto responded, not a single concern lacing his words. His thoughts were different, though. Arashi, give them four seconds. If they don't catch themselves, send down an air current to cushion the blow, okay? The Vulpes thought.
'Hrrm.' Grunted the Fox-Dragon Spirit. Even though his reply wasn't one of words, or thoughts, in this case, Naruto knew his reply was a positive one.
Four…three…two…one…okay Arashi, n- Naruto began, but was cut off, as a giant white sheet shot out of nowhere and wrapped around the group of falling spirit-aware humans, making them fly again, but not towards the ground. They flew parallel with the earth, to the west.
"JINTA HOME R-"
"TESSAI DEATH CATCH!" Naruto blinked with wide eyes, confused at the scene unfolding before him. First, the sheet. Then Jinta, that annoying red-haired boy who worked for Urahara. He had appeared out of nowhere, a giant metal bat in his hands, swinging it back as if to hit the ball of people and sheets. Yet before he could injure the people inside the ball farther then they probably already were, Tessai, the glasses-wearing shop helper of Urahara's jumped into the air, and grabbed the ball in a giant bear hug, wrapping Jinta up with it in the process. Within seconds of this, Tessai pulled the sheet back, dumping the people out onto what looked like a giant floating sheet that Urahara rode on.
Naruto blinked again. "…everything made sense in the Forest…I think I'll go back now, bye bye…" Naruto muttered, slightly shocked. "Since when did bed covers fly and carry people? Isn't that something that only those humans in India believe in? Flying rugs, or whatever?" Naruto thought out loud as he walked down the air as if they were stairs. "I really need to study up on humans and their contraptions more…"
"Ahh! Naruto! So nice of you to join us!" Urahara said cheerfully, breaking off from his conversation with the others as Naruto touched down onto the sheet. Naruto looked up to the fan-waving man, who grinned playfully from behind the rice-paper foldable item.
"Why do I sense a note of sarcasm in your voice?" Naruto sighed heavily, wilting slightly. Urahara clapped his hands mockingly, his fan suddenly gone from his possession.
"Naruto learned the gift of sarcasm! Not you can go home and show your fox buddies that you actually learned something!" Urahara exclaimed. "And you can tell them that the Great, Amazing, Handsome, Hunky Urahara taught you this!" Naruto stumbled slightly at that.
"One…you're none of those things. Crazy, Devilish, and Gay, maybe, but not Great, Amazing, Handsome, and Hunky…why you'd want to be known as something similar to a chunk, which sounds disgusting, I'll never know. Two…why would any of the Vulpes' care about sarcasm? Since we didn't know about it in the first place, it's obviously something that's not important. And third…you didn't teach my sarcasm! Ichigo and his friends did! You tried explaining the basics of it when I asked you what the hell it was, but all I got out of that conversation was blaaaaah blaaaah blaaaaaah." Naruto slowed down as he neared the end of his sentence. Urahara frowned, faking a hurt expression.
"You think I'm gay…?" He asked in a small voice. Suddenly, his expression took a 180. "Well, doesn't matter! I'm as straight as an arrow!("Which aren't always straight…" Naruto muttered blankly.) But I heard that you released your Zonpaktou! …so! How'd it go?" Urahara asked. The jaws of Uryuu, Ichigo, Chad, Orihime, and Yoruichi dropped.
"You didn't know what the outcome of releasing his Zonpaktou would be…and you still sent him?" Yoruichi asked, her fur bristling as she remembered how injured Naruto had been just because of the transformation. Urahara shrugged, still smiling.
"Well, I knew he was used to transforming because of his Demon form…trust me, if he would have been a human, then he would have been far worse, what ever his condition must have been. That, and I was sending a human boy who had only ten days of actual experience to a place that would most likely get him killed…so what's the harm of sending a demon that knows combat, even though he doesn't know how to reach the height of only a portion of his power? If it came down to it, I figured he could use some of his demonic abilities to win a fight. He's not like Ichigo, Uryuu, Orihime, Chad, or even you, Yoruichi. He has more then one source of power to draw from, and with that, he has a different set of powers." All was silent as the floated lazily along in the night sky. Naruto slowly turned his head to Yoruichi, a feral grin spreading across his face.
"Told you the laughing idiot has his moments." Naruto laughed lightly. Urahara's smile grew.
"Why, thank you!" For a second, his smile stayed, before it suddenly fell. "Hey, wait a minute!" Laughter erupted into the air, a state of calm and relaxation falling over the group. If only they knew that it wouldn't last for long…because if they had, they might have basked in the relief for a few seconds longer.
I guess I'll end it there, then. Have to end it somewhere, right? Not to mention I'm tired, and I really want to get this out! Why am I tired? Maybe the seven hours that I just spent sitting on my ass, trying to type this out, and the fact that this is my fourth night without a smidgetum of sleep. See? I'm so tired, I'm making up words. That's not healthy, you know. When I put this up, it wont be how late it is now(2:45 a.m., school night!), but still, I'm tired. I'm sorry that this all took so long!
I have a form of a challenge, for you people! If you have a DeviantArt account, and you love to draw, this is for you. My friends who read this story have wanted to see some pics of Vulpes Alveus, and one gave me this idea. So, I ask you awesome drawers out there, to make some fan art of Vulpes Alveus! Whoever draws the BEST picture(chosen by me and my closest friends, of course), will be able to plan out a scene for a chapter. Whether it's a fight scene, or just a random one that would fit the story, and is easy to lead up to, it doesn't matter! But one thing does: There will be NO character death! Sorry, but I already know who's going to die and when! For the pic, if anybody decides to take up this challenge! It has to be something from Vulpes Alveus, of course. It could be a character, or a scene, or even what you imagine Kitsuneryu no Arashi to look like in sword form. It doesn't matter what the picture is, but it MUST fit with Vulpes Alveus.
If you take up this challenge(…thingy…), please tell me in a private message that you have, and send me a link to the picture. Remember, it has to be on DeviantArt, because I have an account on there, so it makes everything easier. Please try this thing out! I'd really like to see how you guys picture some of these things!
I guess that's all…sorry for the long delay in this chapter!
~Kitsune-242