AN: Please see the AN at the bottom for some important stuff. Until then, enjoy the chapter! ^.^
Raynare was kneeling right next to her mother, carefully wiping away some of the grime that was on her face.
She looked pretty banged up, but from what she could tell...nothing debilitating was done to her body.
She supposed she should be thankful for small miracles.
"Hey...Raynare-san right?"
The fallen woman looked up to regard the human who has foiled her mother's plans, she expected a harsh gaze from him...
But unexpectedly he seemed to be looking at her with a quizzical expression rather than a harsh and demanding one.
"...What do you want?" Raynare asked warily, he was dangerous and she didn't feel comfortable in his presence. Naruto just nodded at her tone and continued.
"Well...do you mind if I ask you something?" Naruto asked with a curious tone.
The female fallen's confusion began to grow, what was he doing right now? Especially when considering the circumstances.
"...Sure?" Raynare responded, her confusion causing her to phrase her response as a question. But the blond seemingly ignored it and continued.
"Why did you give up? I mean not that I'm complaining that you've given up but...I saw that you were about to keep fighting on before. Then you just randomely changed your mind at the last second. So I'm a little curious." Naruto said while sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.
Raynare gave him a dull stare.
Just because she was beaten didn't mean that she was just gonna give out her personal information. This guy was just...
"Sorry...that's personal information. I don't feel like sharing it to the guy that just beat up my mother." the young woman spoke somewhat bitterly.
The shinobi simply nodded at her reasoning. "That's fine, you didn't have to answer. Like I said, I was just curious." Naruto said easily, before casually moving past her towards Issei.
Issei was busy holding on to the nun like his life depended on it. She was obviously still unconscious...but it looked like she was going to be fine at least.
Naruto just walked up beside him and crouched to check on the petite girl for injuries. As far as he could tell there was nothing but you never know...
"Thank you."
Naruto blinked for a moment before looking towards the trembling form of Issei.
"Thank you for saving Asia...thank you so much..." Issei spoke while holding back tears of relief. Naruto just patted him on the back in response, he himself knew about the feeling of pain when you lost someone close.
He definitely wanted to make sure that other people wouldn't have to feel such pain.
But before the shinobi could try and lighten the mood with something silly, he twisted his head to look at the at the stairway and narrowed his eyes.
Someone was coming.
He stood up and walked away from Issei and ignored the small group of fallen angels that were congregated around Raynare and Vretiel in order to face whoever was coming.
Though admittedly, he knew who was coming. He just wanted to make sure that the man treated the captured fallen without mistreating them too much.
He opened his mouth to greet the man that descended from the stairs...
Then slammed his mouth shut in absolute shock at what he was seeing.
All of the conscious fallen angels were gaping like fish.
While Issei just looked on in confusion, hell shouldn't Naruto be happy that his friend was so effective?
Naruto finally spoke after staying silent for a few moments.
"...Azazel-san?"
A few moments earlier...
Azazel was staring at the very much weakened barrier surrounding the abandoned church, he truthfully had no idea what was going on in there exactly.
But he could speculate.
Considering how battered and cracked the purple barrier was, it was a safe bet to believe that there was quite the battle inside. He was also willing to bet that his new 'friend' had been involved in that battle.
But he didn't want to bet. He wanted to find out what happened.
But at the same time, he didn't want to go inside the barrier when there were fallen angels still conscious in there.
So after waiting a suitable amount of time since the barrier cracked, he decided that since the barrier has not received anymore damage recently, he could enter without fear of discovery.
So he casually flicked his arm at the weakened barrier and shattered it utterly to allow the contents from within to be revealed.
What he saw honestly shocked him.
The entire forest which once stood inside the barrier was completely flattened, it looked more like someone thoroughly carpet-bombed the area than the arena of a fight!
He also couldn't help but nervously look around for the conspicuously absent fallen bodies that should have been littered across the battlefield...
Ah!
There they were.
He saw all of the fallen angels that were probably standing in the mysterious blond man's way stacked on top of one another. Really, they were just haphazardly thrown on top of each other like some weird game of jenga.
He supposed that he could hazard a guess on where everyone else were. There was only one thing standing in the entire area.
So he spread his wings and flew towards the abandoned church at a casual pace until he touched down in front of the battered structure.
He made sure to put away his wings before he spooked anyone.
Although he didn't really expect anyone to be waiting for him.
He especially didn't expect for a hero to be waiting for him, the cape was sort of a big give-away. He hasn't seen one of those in a long time...wondered how that old bastard hero was doing?
"Another fallen angel...? You are here to help your allies I presume?" the young woman asked rhetorically while holding her blade up in a defensive position.
Azazel just grinned in amusement.
"You remind me of a disrespectful brat that I had the unfortunate pleasure to meet once upon a time. Ah well...I doubt you could stop me even if you tried to hero-chan. So why not let me pass by without any trouble eh?" Azazel spoke with a sly smirk on his face.
Yuki's only response was the activation of her Sacred Gear.
That only elicited the raise of a single eyebrow from Azazel.
"True Sight? Man it's been a while since I've seen that one...but..." the fallen said with mocking smile.
"You do know about the many weaknesses of that Sacred Gear right? Because I sure as hell do. I fought against one of them during the Great War after all." the elderly man finished with a small grin.
The hero didn't respond, instead she bent her legs in preparation to fight.
Azazel just sighed.
He forgot how ridiculously hardcore heroes could be. Well he knew how to handle this.
"Alright alright...look, if I put my hands behind my head while you stay behind me and hold your sword at the back of my neck...will you let me go down there and talk to Naruto?" Azazel asked with an easy-going smile, hoping that the young hero would allow this at the very least.
Besides she was no threat to him, if she released killing intent for even a fraction of a second...he would be ready.
That and he was too lazy to fight right now. Really, the world was too cruel to pacifists.
Yuki looked at him suspiciously, but quickly decided that the compromise was acceptable. The simple fact that he knew Naruto's name at all seemed to indicate that he had some relation with her friend.
That, and she was moderately sure that she could kill him if he tried anything funny.
Suffice it to say, she had no idea who she was talking to right now.
"Very well, but no funny business fallen angel-san." Yuki said seriously, before tilting her head and allowing him to pass.
Azazel just scoffed.
She was very much like that old bastard.
Present...
"...and that's how I have been captured against my will." Azazel finished his small story dramatically.
Everyone who wasn't a fallen angel just deadpanned at him.
The fallen were still mostly wary, they were still on the proverbial chopping block for this man after all. No luxury for humor when they could be facing punishment.
Naruto just sighed.
He could be forgiven for being shocked when he saw Azazel being led to the underground cavern at sword-point by Yuki. Essentially...Yuki was manhandling the leader of the fallen angel faction.
Whoever was the leader of the Hero tribe would undoubtedly be proud despite the strange circumstances.
Yuki by this point, had moved around Azazel and to Naruto's side when she realized who she was threatening exactly. To say that she was nervous was a bit of an understatement.
This nervousness increased slightly when the fallen leader spread all six-pairs of his wings and his playful expression dropped.
He turned to the remaining fallen that were still awake and addressed them. "Well...what should I do with you lot hmm?" the fallen leader asked rhetorically, with an annoyed glare at them. This in turn just caused the traitorous fallen to gaze at the floor as if they were being reprimanded by their parent rather than their leader.
Azazel just sighed.
Then he gave Raynare a sly smile.
"Well...I think you should be thankful to your former guardians Raynare. If it wasn't for them, then I would have probably placed you under house arrest until further notice." the older man spoke with humor laced in his tone, and to the relief of most of the fallen angels.
But much to the confusion of one of them.
"What are you talking about...? Kalawarner-nee, what is he talking about? Mittelt-chan? Dohnaseek-sensei?" Raynare asked hesitantly, not sure if she really wanted to know.
The three fallen in question looked at each other hesitantly before looking at Azazel in confirmation.
Said fallen angel just shrugged his shoulders in indifference. "Shit already went down. What information leaks out later is of no concern as long as it doesn't enter the ears of anyone...unsavory." he spoke while picking his nose.
Kalawarner just sighed and looked to Dohnaseek for support.
Dohnaseek just pushed his fedora down to cover his face.
She then turned to Mittelt for back-up.
Mittelt found the ceiling really interesting at that exact moment.
"...Thanks for the support you two..." Kalawarner spoke with sarcasm, then she turned to face the inquisitive stare of her former ward.
"Raynare-sama...please understand that what we did...we did because we wanted to make sure that you were safe. We knew that if Vretiel-sama's plan was discovered...that your future would be ruined irrevocably so...we..." Kalawarner tried to explain, but her nervousness was preventing her from spilling it out.
"What did you do guys do?" Raynare asked quietly, feeling a rising dread fill her up. "What did you all do?"
The three humans that were still conscious were looking at one another uneasily, unsure of what to make of the drama occurring right in front of them.
Naruto especially, he was just expecting to wrap things up by making sure Azazel was gracious in his victory. He didn't really expect for...well...this to happen today.
Kalawarner just kept stumbling over her words until Azazel sighed dramatically and walked up to the group. "Your former guardians actively gave me information about your mother's plans as well as any other useful information." Azazel drawled out to Raynare.
The room was silent for a moment at the wake of this revelation.
Raynare just turned to Kalawarner in absolute shock and opened her mouth, only to close it due to how speechless she was. How could they do this? How could they sell out her mother? If it wasn't for them...then...
Her mother wouldn't be face down on the floor, battered and bruised as she was.
"Raynare-sama! Please! Just for one moment...hear us out. We had a just cause to do what we did!" Kalawarner cried before bowing to the younger fallen, in hopes that Raynare would give them a chance.
The fallen woman just stared at her comrades mutely, before nodding quietly. She was felling numb and wasn't at the stage where she would feel overwhelming anger at the betrayal of trust. So until then...
Kalawarner just breathed a sigh of relief, then she straightened her back in order to explain herself.
"Raynare-sama, first you must know that we were loyal to your mother and we would never betray her so easily. We only did it because we saw no other way to make sure that she would live from repercussions of her actions when Azazel-sama inevitably found out...and to make sure that you had a future afterwards." Kalawarner began, then she raised her hand out in silence when Raynare opened her mouth. "I understand you are confused Raynare-sama so let me elaborate. Do you remember the incident at the abandoned factory a couple of days ago?"
Raynare frowned as memories of the other powerful human emerged from her memories. "Yes...but what does that have to do with this? How could Azazel-sama have known about any of this? Aren't you at fault for alerting him?" the fallen woman accused her former wards with a glare.
But Kalawarner shook her head.
"No, the explosion caused by your mother alerted him."
Raynare widened her eyes at this revelation. But how could the Governor General of the fallen angels have figured out that her mother was involved in this at all?
"You really shouldn't be surprised Raynare-sama. Vretiel-sama was a very powerful woman that was being considered a position in Grigori right? Well what happens when such a famous woman disappears for a period of time without a clue of her whereabouts? What happens when a considerable amount of fallen angels disappear without notice? Kalawarner explained quietly, ignoring how her younger friend's fists were clenching tightly.
"Well I'll tell you. The higher-ups began to place their collective ears to the ground to find them. That means following any lead that sounds even remotely of fallen angel activity in places they shouldn't be...like an incident where powerful light energy was used to destroy an abandoned human structure in devil territory." Kalawarner continued to explain somberly.
This caused Raynare's eyes to widen. Was it really like that? Was her mother accidentally laying the seeds of her own destruction? Of their own destruction?
"We quickly came to the conclusion that while the incident wouldn't be connected to Vretiel-sama immediately...it would be eventually. Even if her plan had succeeded without any problems, her next phase would involve overthrowing Grigori with your new power under her control. Even if you became several times more powerful from whatever power your mother sought, it didn't change the fact that you would need to train yourself in it's use. In short, you needed time...time that you didn't have because of Vretiel-sama's foolhardy decision." Kalawarner finished somberly, looking down at the floor in shame.
The daughter of Vretiel just stared at the floor in silence for a few seconds before speaking.
"So...you fed Azazel-sama information in the hopes that he would be more lenient in victory...is that right?" Raynare asked quietly with her fists clenched.
The worst part of all of this for the young fallen...was that she knew that Kalawarner wasn't wrong.
She knew that her mother was taking a lot of risks.
She knew that her mother was becoming more power-hungry.
She knew all of this...she was just afraid to admit it. That her actions would cause her to end up as she was now.
So she said nothing. There was nothing to say.
Naruto, who was watching everything play out, just stared at the daughter of Vretiel with sympathy. But what could he do? He couldn't save everyone...he learned that lesson, and this was one of those times where he couldn't help someone he wanted to help.
At the very least, he figured out how Azazel knew of him. No doubt that those fallen angels gave Azazel information about the powerful human and how similar their energy signals were to one another.
"Welp! This was a fun little drama! But I'm afraid that we must end it here. Now if you will all excuse me." Azazel spoke up, before walking towards the still unconscious Vretiel.
Naruto widened his eyes before getting up to sprint to the prone fallen angel in order to plead her case, even if it was slightly deserved. He still very much wanted to make sure that nothing too terrible would happen to her.
But someone beat him to it.
"Wait Azazel-sama!"
Raynare managed to get in front of the Governor General of the fallen angels and used her body to block Azazel's path to her mother.
Azazel just raised an eyebrow in amusement.
"Come now Raynare. Surely you don't really think that you can actually stop me now do you?" Azazel asked with an easy-going smile, obviously completely at ease despite the situation.
"No...I want to bargain for a lessened sentence for my mother." Raynare retorted seriously.
This raised eyebrows all across the room in surprise.
"Hooo...now what can such a young fallen angel offer me in exchange for this woman's freedom? She nearly started a war you know? That would have been capital punishment if it wasn't for the fact that your guardians have asked me to be lenient. I'm only going to erase her memories and strip her of her powers now. That's fair enough right?" the Governor General asked rhetorically.
Naruto narrowed his eyes at that, but couldn't really fault the fallen leader for his decision. He really didn't like it though.
"...My mother wanted to unlock a power deep within me, she claimed that it was a power that hasn't been seen in over a millennia. Apparently this power has been undocumented and has never been researched properly. You like interesting things right Azazel-sama? Well...if I become your student and test subject willingly...can you please lessen her punishment?" Raynare asked seriously, before bowing her head towards the fallen leader.
Everyone's eyes widened at the young fallen's words.
Even Azazel widened his eyes at that. But then he placed his chin on the palm of his hand in contemplation. Her proposal actually did sound pretty attractive, as delusional as Vretiel had become over the years...he knew that she wasn't stupid. She must have based her ambitions on something concrete. While he had no idea if what Raynare had was truly powerful or not...there were still a lot of unknown things to discover in this world.
Hell, weren't they standing next to one of them right now in the form of a blond human?
Also, it wasn't like she would betray the deal or anything. To put it bluntly...he did have her mother captured after all.
Besides that, the cost of her willingness to become his test subject was...what? To lessen Vretiel's punishment?
Yeah. He can lessen her punishment for this.
"...Very well. I accept your terms Raynare. Although I have to ask...your mother was prepared to throw everything away just for her own selfish ambitions...yet here you are throwing away your future as something worthwhile in order to make her sentence less severe...why?" Azazel asked with genuine curiosity. He didn't really understand the younger woman's line of thinking, since he was actually a very selfish individual. He did things because they were good for him or his people as a whole, outside of his responsibilities...he didn't do things for other people willingly.
He abandoned Heaven for the pleasures of the flesh.
He abandoned women who loved him because they grew wrinkly and old.
He wanted peace for the sake of his curiosity in interesting things.
So he couldn't understand why this young woman would do what she was doing.
Raynare just smiled a sad smile.
"Because I love her." she said simply.
The Governor General just scratched his head in confusion and shrugged. "That's fine...but love won't help her 'affliction' that's for sure."
Raynare frowned at that. The way he said 'affliction' was...weird.
"...Azazel-sama. I apologize for asking but...do you know something about my mother?" the younger fallen asked hesitantly.
This also drew the stares of everyone else towards the fallen leader. Everyone was very much focused on the drama occurring in front of them.
Azazel just slapped his face with his hand in annoyance. He spoke too much it seemed.
"Look...I 'may' know something about what is wrong with your mother. But unfortunately...that is very much classified information." Azazel stated seriously while crossing his arms on his chest.
The female fallen bit her lips in order to stop herself from prying further. She couldn't risk it, she couldn't risk angering Azazel-sama when her own deal could be the price of his annoyance.
"Ok. I think I've had enough of being on the side lines in all of this."
Raynare flicked her eyes to regard the blond human who boldly walked up to them to enter the conversation.
Azazel just looked at him blankly for a moment.
"...You're still here?" the fallen leader asked dubiously.
Naruto ignored his question in order to face Raynare with intense blue eyes.
"You...you want to help her right? You want to help your mother right?" Naruto asked with blue eyes staring her down, much to the fallen's discomfort.
"What does it matter to you? Why the hell do you care human?" Raynare retorted with a glare, this was the human that got them in this situation to begin with after all.
Naruto just continued to stare at her, prying her for answers to his question. She held firm for a moment before acquiescing.
"...Yeah...I do want to save her. Despite everything that happened...she is still my precious mother. I can't just leave her as she is." Raynare mumbled quietly, refusing to face the human's stare.
"Alright then. All I wanted to know." Naruto said easily before turning to Azazel. "Hey Azazel-san?"
The fallen leader regarded the blond with curiosity. "What do you want Naruto?"
Naruto just grinned.
"I want to cash in my favor." he said with a shit-eating grin.
Azazel stared at the blond with wide eyes in shock.
He wasn't the only one, as fallen angel and human alike were staring at Naruto as if he just asked for something absolutely incredible.
The eldest fallen angel recovered first.
"...Wow. I was legitimately speechless there for a second kid. I'm honestly surprised that you would use up your favor for some random fallen angel. You...just what are you exactly? Azazel asked in slight amazement at the human boy.
Naruto smirked at the fallen leader with amusement, he's been getting that question a lot lately.
"I'm Uzumaki Naruto." Naruto said with a cheesy grin plastered across his face.
Yuki shook her head at that, but couldn't stop the small smile on her face. She supposed that Naruto would always be like this, it wouldn't be Naruto if he wasn't.
Issei just flat-out gaped at the blond, but couldn't help but admire the sheer guts he had for demanding something that was clearly stated to be 'classified' information from someone so powerful. Seriously, who couldn't help but admire that?
But the one who was most surprised was Raynare herself, she was staring at the back of Naruto's head as if trying to burn her way inside it to answer the questions swirling around her head.
"...Why? Why would you waste your favor like that? Are you an idiot? We were just enemies! You don't do that for someone you just met! That's just...completely illogical!" the fallen woman shouted at the whiskered man.
He just glanced at her with the side of his eyes with a wry smile. "Now now...when someone lends you a hand without any ulterior motives...you should probably just take the damn hand." Naruto drawled.
Raynare just continued to stare at him, completely unsatisfied with that. Naruto just rolled his eyes at her and decided to explain himself.
"Look...I'll be blunt. I thought that you were a spoiled brat that used your mother's achievements and your own talent to cruise through life. I also thought that you had a massive pole stuck up your ass." Naruto stated bluntly and without remorse.
Issei guffawed at the statement and Raynare was clearly insulted by the words but didn't say anything.
"But...it seems that you have your own problems to deal with. Problems with acknowledgement. That's...something that I can sympathize with. More so in the fact that you did what you could to prove that you were worthy of that respect that you sought. Even more so when you gave that up in order to help your mother. So what I'm trying to say is..." Naruto said while giving her a light smile.
"How can I not help ya?"
Raynare just threw her hands up in the air.
She gave up! Trying to understand the guy in front of her was impossible! He just did things whenever he felt like and did whatever he felt like doing! Consequences be damned!
She sighed and rubbed her forehead with her palm and looked at grinning teenager in front of her.
"...Thank you. Although I really don't understand why...thank you." Raynare said sincerely, honestly touched by his gesture. She turned to Azazel in order to get the information she required.
Azazel for his part was somewhat regretting the fact that he didn't really put 'conditions' for what can be asked by his favor.
"Alright alright...sheesh. Kids these days are so..." Azazel grumbled while rubbing his scalp in annoyance. "But! I need you all to promise with your lives that this information will not leave your lips! Am I understood? If you break this promise...then I get to butcher you in the most horrific ways possible." the fallen leader finished with a bloodthirsty grin.
Needless to say, everyone agreed to the terms.
The Governor General nodded at this and began his explanation.
"To be blunt, your mother is a very sick woman Raynare. There is also very little anyone can do by this point in order to heal her as well." Azazel started, he immediately raised his hand up in silence in order to forestall the younger fallen's objections to his words.
"Let me finish before you say anything, I will only say this once. Your mother...according to your guardians, she wasn't always been like this am I correct?" Azazel asked, which got a hesitant negative from the younger fallen. "She very much acts power-hungry now, as if she craves more and more despite the fact that she can't handle it...quite greedy don't you think?" the eldest fallen asked, but received blank stares in return.
The fallen leader sighed and continued.
"Your mother is a victim of one of the Seven Deadly Sins; Greed." Azazel finished and received a wide eyed stare from his audience.
"Eh!? But I thought that the 'Seven Deadly Sins' were just one of God's many impossible expectations for us! That's what we were taught while in fallen territory in the Underworld!" Raynare shouted in shock. But Azazel shook his head and continued his explanation.
"We thought so for the longest time...but it turned out that there was more to it than that. We only discovered this after the end of the Great War, where there were several fallen angels that exhibited...an abnormal amount of hatred towards our former enemies. To the point where they wouldn't even listen to my own orders...some of them even had to be terminated because of it." Azazel said somberly, before shaking the memories away.
"Anyways, we eventually learned that the symptoms were very much correlated with the 'Seven Deadly Sins'. The 'disease' would result from an overabundance of one of the emotions among the 'Deadly Sins', which would then begin to warp the personality of the individual to fit the criteria of the 'Sin'. If you feel too much 'Wrath' then eventually you will begin to feel nothing but 'Wrath'. The same applies to each and every 'Sin'." the fallen leader explained quietly.
Raynare was speechless, she never heard of such a disease that ran rampant among her people before. But suddenly...quite a few things made sense.
Like why her mother changed as much as Kalawarner-nee claimed she did.
Why there were so many fallen that would fall into many negative extremes...even when compared to their devil counterparts.
"Wait, I can kinda understand why angels don't fall into these 'diseases'...but why don't the devils?" Naruto asked with a confused facial expression. This stuff was really complicated for the blond right now.
Poor Issei was pretty much getting his brain fried right now too.
"I'm not too sure myself. Perhaps it was the fact that the original Lucifer and his followers gave up their right to the power of light energy and the protection it offers. We fallen angels have light energy without the protection of God...so maybe that's why we are susceptible to it. But that is me just speculating, the fact is that we have no idea. We also have no idea how to actually help those who are victim to the 'disease'..." Azazel responded, but looked up at the furious Raynare who stood up and was now towering over someone who can squash her like a fly.
"So that's it!? You hide the fact that there is this impossible to heal disease occurring and that it's hopeless!? Fuck no! Why don't you spread the word of this disease so that people could actually be aware of it!?" Raynare snarled at her superior in anger.
The Governor General just regarded her coldly for a moment before responding.
"Hoh? Tell me...how long do you think fallen angel society has been existing? If you don't know... quite a bit more than a millenia, while still retaining the culture of the first group of fallen angels. Our society was built on living life without any constraints or any true moral qualms...how much of a shock do you think that that society would go through if they learned that they have to restrain themselves unless they want to get this new disease? Let me answer the question for you...the answer is a very big shock. Really...I'm pretty sure that a civil war would start because many would believe that I'm lying. But rather than pointing fingers at me...I think you should be more thankful Raynare." Azazel finished with narrowed eyes at the younger fallen.
Raynare looked taken aback for a moment before looking at the older fallen warily.
"Um...why do you say that Azazel-sama?"
Azazel gave her a cryptic smile before replying.
"Because there is a correlation for many who fall to a 'Sin'...and their parents. This trend is only broken when the offspring personally see the 'sin' transform their parents into something they're not. In short, perhaps it's because you saw what 'greed' has done to your mother...that you subconsciously stayed away from it this whole time. If you weren't aware of that danger on the other hand...it's very likely that you would have turned out just like your mother." Azazel finished bluntly.
The thought genuinely scared Raynare, she could have turned out just like her mother if she didn't see the consequences of 'greed'? Her life could have been very different...
The eldest fallen finally turned to Naruto in annoyance, obviously displeased that he had to give out the information that he had.
"Happy now Naruto?" Azazel asked with a slight glare.
"Very much so. Thank you for your cooperation Azazel-san." Naruto retorted smartly, he then glanced at the currently introspective fallen angels. "But what are you going to do with them now?"
Azazel scratched his head for a moment before replying. "Well I've accepted little Raynare's proposal...so I will take her with me, her former guardians will not be harmed either. Vretiel will be placed under house arrest as well without being harmed. As for every other fallen angel involved with this...well I think I better try and find the source of their dissatisfaction. After all...there are undoubtedly more of my subordinates who think this way."
Naruto nodded at this logic, he wouldn't make a fuss about it then.
"Welp! This was fun Naruto! I've learned about a few interesting things today, so I think it's about time we take our leave...come on Raynare. You three come as well, I have use for you lot yet." Azazel spoke up while grabbing Vretiel's unconscious body.
The weaker fallen looked at each other warily before moving to their leader's side. Raynare glanced at Naruto for a moment before giving him a nod of acknowledgement and moving to Azazel's side as well.
"Hey Raynare-san."
Raynare looked at Naruto quizzically.
"...Even though I was talking to Issei at the time...I think you should know." Naruto began with a grin.
"Nothing is over...until it's over."
The young fallen just regarded the blond for a moment, then she nodded and turned away from him resolutely.
With them all gathered around him, Azazel spread his wings and enveloped them all before winking at Naruto.
"I'm expecting to hear great and interesting things from you Naruto! Don't let me down!" he called out before disappearing, with black feathers being the only proof that he was ever there to begin with.
The room was silent as the fallen angels left the scene, but the silence was broken when Naruto turned around to address who was left.
"Well, this was a very eventful day I think. So I think it's best that we leave this place so that we can all get some rest right? Especially before the civilians of Kuoh Town realize that a forest is gone." Naruto said while scratching the back of his head.
He quickly turned to leave the underground cavern so that he could go home.
"Not so fast Naruto."
Fuuuuuuuu...
Naruto internally cursed as Yuki grabbed his shoulder before he could leave, he was really hoping that she forgot...
"Don't forget our promise for helping you today Naruto. We will begin our tutoring sessions after school tomorrow." Yuki said seriously and with a dark glare, she wasn't joking around.
Naruto grit his teeth and turned to Issei who was now holding the nun on his back and moving towards them. He grabbed the perverted boy on both of his shoulders and gave him a heavy stare.
"...I gave up a lot to help you today you know? I had to give up my academic-free after school activities...! You better pay me back for this later Issei...!" Naruto shouted at him while trying not to cry at the injustice of it all.
Of course, Issei was just baffled at Naruto's supposed 'sacrifice'...all he saw was that the blond was getting personal lessons from a beauty.
But before he could retort, Yuki's cellphone went off, she checked out the caller id before widening her eyes in surprise. She turned to Naruto but was cut off before she could say anything.
"Hey hey...it's all good Yuki. I can handle this from here, but for what it's worth...thanks a lot. You really saved Issei's butt over here." Naruto stated humorously much to Issei's chagrin.
Yuki smiled. "That's what friends are for...right Naruto? I'll see you at school tomorrow." she said, before turning around and running up the steps to get home.
"Man, whoever was calling Yuki must be pretty damn important eh? Well, ya need help bringing your friend to your house Issei?...As long as you don't molest her anyways." Naruto said while giving the perverted boy a suspicious glance. Though Issei hotly denied the charges much to Naruto's amusement.
He then made a clone and had him carry Issei while he carried Asia. They had to move before people noticed the devastation, so no relaxing walk back home it seemed.
Well...at least for Issei anyways.
Raynare was staring up at the night sky.
It was fake of course, the Underworld didn't have a 'night' like the human world did...it was a big illusion. But nevertheless, it was very pretty.
She had a lot to think about, so much has changed in such a short time that she was still at a loss.
Her original life's goal was now essentially...unattainable. There was no cure for her mother's current state. So she could never be the mother that she internally craved since she was young.
"Disease of the Seven Deadly Sins huh..." the young fallen muttered under her breath.
'Nothing is over...until it's over.'
She couldn't help but think over the mysterious blond's words.
He originally spoke that phrase to the other human...the weak human. In regards to whether the nun would live or die that day.
It was a phrase that encouraged the boy to not lose hope.
So why did he speak that phrase to her?
What was he trying to say?
"Whatcha thinking about kid?"
Raynare turned her head to regard the Governor General of her people. He transported all of them to the main Grigori HQ in the Underworld, in order to prep them as his 'new assistants'.
But at the very least, he didn't seem to be interested in making their lives miserable...more like he was genuinely curious about her inner power.
Whatever it was.
"I'm just thinking Azazel-sama...no need to worry yourself over my concerns." Raynare said quietly. This caused Azazel to just roll his eyes at her attitude.
"Hey hey now, no need to be so formal. Let's make this a pleasant experience huh? I made sure that your former guardians will stay with you as your assistants and that your mother has proper accommodations for the foreseeable future. Hell, as I am now...I'm technically your guardian. So let's make the most of the situation ok?" Azazel said easily, while placing his hand over her head.
The young fallen blinked as she felt the elder fallen rub his hand on her head. The feeling was...nice.
Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.
"...Azazel-sama. Is there really no hope for my mother? For her to get better?" Raynare asked quietly with her bangs shadowing her face.
Azazel sighed at the question, he really didn't want to let the girl down but... "No, there is no cure for her. I'm sorry."
All was quiet for a moment.
'Nothing is over...until it's over.'
...
Then Raynare stood up and faced the night sky with a resolute stare.
"Then...that is my new goal in life. I will be the one to find the cure of the 'Seven Deadly Sins'. I will heal my mother and all who are affected by it!" Raynare shouted with determination lacing her voice.
She turned around to face the elder fallen angel.
"So please Azazel-sama...please teach me not only on how to be strong and control my power...but how to be a researcher like you!" she implored while bowing her head.
The man in question just blinked.
Then he grinned.
Interesting...very interesting!
"Very well...let's get started kid." he spoke with a grin, before turning back and heading inside HQ.
Raynare immediately made to follow, but she stopped for a moment to look at the sky.
She was sure. She was sure that this was what he meant...
She wouldn't give up on her mother. Not until there was absolutely no hope left...and even then...!
It wasn't over.
She got up from her spot under the night sky and walked towards the bright building to follow her new mentor.
She moved forward to grasp the future.
Naruto was jumping from house to house with his passengers in tow, they were about to take a break before they continued.
He didn't want Issei to lose his breakfast this time.
They stopped at a secluded fountain that was surrounded by trees so that there wouldn't be any witnesses to their landing.
He was pretty damn tired, he figured that when he got home he would get himself a nice ramen buffet for a job well done. But first he had to-
"Naruto."
The shinobi looked at Issei when he heard his name called, he couldn't help but notice that the other boy had resolute eyes trained on him.
"...Can you teach me to be strong Naruto?" Issei asked with hard eyes, though Naruto was slightly caught off guard by the question.
In retrospect, he shouldn't have been though.
"Uh...to be honest. Probably not, no." the blond replied bluntly. Though Issei remained persistent.
"Huh? Why not!? You're human right? You became very powerful right!? So surely you can train me so that..." Issei started before stopping himself abruptly and glancing at the ground.
"...So that what happened to Asia today...can't happen again." Issei finished with his eyes clenched shut.
Naruto sympathized with his situation...he really did. But the fact was not only did Issei not have any chakra for the blond to even train him in his own abilities...he also had no idea how much longer he would stay in this world. For all he knew, he could be ready to leave next month. Way too short a time for the blond to prep...what is essentially a civilian without chakra to fight supernatural beings.
He briefly wondered if Yuki could train him as a hero...but shelved that idea when he remembered that the Hero Tribe very likely wouldn't take the training of a new hero lightly. Especially one that the devils were aware of. Rias knew of him after all and that could cause another crisis altogether.
That only left...
"Then...I'd like to talk to Rias-senpai about becoming a devil!" Issei said desperately while bowing his head.
Naruto stared at the back of Issei's head as he continued to bow.
"Oi oi...you do know about the consequences of joining Rias-san's Peerage would be right? While I trust her enough to deduce that she would treat you well...it doesn't change the fact that you would become her servant. You would also lose your humanity and lose any right to deny her anything...you do know that right?" Naruto asked with a stern look.
Issei nodded while raising his head from the floor to look at the blond in the eyes.
"As long as I get Rias-sempai to agree to my condition of protecting Asia...then I'm ok with that!" he said without any doubts in his eyes.
He was serious.
Naruto nodded slowly, he supposed he shouldn't be surprised at this. He very nearly lost someone very close, if he was in Issei's shoes...he'd probably do the same as well.
He cared far more about his loved ones than he did about his identity and freedom, that's simply how he was. He suspected that Issei was similar.
The shinobi nodded towards his clone to pick up the sleeping nun and he grabbed Issei's shoulder. "Alright Issei...but first you should get some rest and let the girl rest in your home...you two went through quite a bit after all. We'll talk about this tomorrow ok?" Naruto said while preparing to jump again.
Issei nodded at this reasoning and looked over at the sleeping Asia.
She seemed to be smiling a little bit in her sleep...
He wanted to protect that smile of hers...as a human or as a devil. It didn't matter to the boy, as long as she was safe...then that was all that mattered.
Naruto slowly opened the door to his home, he really hoped that everyone was asleep right now. All of the drama and action of today had drained the teenager and he wanted to just eat a quick ramen buffet in peace before hitting the hay.
Though it seemed that fate was just shitting on him today.
The shinobi walked inside to see that the living room lights were on and that Mio and Maria were waiting for him.
They seemed quite serious too.
"Hey you two! What are you guys doing staying up so late? Hope you weren't waiting for me? I seriously had one of the most craziest nights that I have ever-"
"Naruto." Mio interjected seriously.
Naruto blinked at the girl's serious and thoroughly 'non-joking' tone. What was this all about?
Before he could actually ask, Mio placed down an item that he was sure shouldn't be outside of his room.
"Naruto...what are you?"
The blond was seriously beginning to hate that sentence.
AN: Ok! So that was the last chapter for the 'Vretiel Arc'. I think it got wrapped up pretty decently don't you?
Ok, serious time. First wanted to quickly thank all of the support I've received in this story, especially the reviews. They really helped me to write the next chapter faster :P
Now for the actual announcements. I'm sure most of you know that the story that you are all reading is my first ever attempt at fanfiction. I've been reading around for at least a year or two and found that there are a few things that an author really shouldn't do in their stories if they want either a meaningful story or a good fanbase. One of them was supposed to be 'don't have more than two crossovers at once'. Yet here is this story that is doing pretty well for itself all things considered.
Now don't worry, I know that a lot of people are now invested into the story that I am crafting and would come at me with pitchforks if I destroy their now...what? Weekly entertainment I suppose? So nothing crazy is happening. I am gonna quite simply see what I can get away with without destroying the story. I hope most of you trust me enough to know that I won't wreck it since I just want to try and do something unique...or at least more unique than what I'm already doing.
One of those things are coming up soon, it has to do with the Riser Arc. Most of you will like this one I think however, but before we get there, there will be a bit of an interval. Mostly so that the story can thicken and new bonds can be forged.
Another thing, I've been reading a couple of fics try and use themes or osts in order to help make important events stand out as more badass/sad/epic depending on the event. But I sometimes found them troubling as they break the 'flow' of the story, but I still thought that the idea was at least interesting. Then I thought; 'hey, why not leave a suggestion of a certain theme or ost for specific moments throughout the story in the AN at the bottom? That way it won't break the flow of the story and it can bring those moments to life if they want to use it afterwards?' The idea intrigued me, especially since the times that I will use any type of music will be few and far in-between. Just an idea so tell me what you think?
Also, I now know what I want to do with the question of the harem. The info for that is in my profile now and hopefully most of you understand my reasoning when I chose what I did.
Lastly, the next chapter will come a bit later than usual since I want to go back to my first few chapters and rewrite them since I think my writing skills have improved quite a bit. Hopefully it will all be comprehensive enough so even grammar-alert people can read ^.^
-RekkingPride