Chapter 2: Friends Forever
"I did it Cox! I pass the next stage and now where finally home!" Naruto said flying quickly to his house. Cox gave out an excited buzz.
"Your right mom will be proud of my beautiful radiant halo." Naruto said touching said halo as he spoke.
"It's so great to be back in Angie Town again." Naruto said to his little lady bug as they continued to fly together.
"Mom it's me Naruto! I'm back!." Naruto said as he open the door to a strangely dark house. He looked around in confusion. "She's not here?" Naruto said out loud if only to fill the eerie silence. Naruto continued to fly around the house looking for his mother. Cox flew up to Naruto's ear and buzzed in a low and dark hum.
"Don't say that Cox! Not even as a joke!" Naruto said frowning at his small lady bug. Naruto flew even faster through the house now after what he had said.
"I get it now she's playing a little practical joke on me by hiding. Then she'll jump out and surprise me." Naruto said in denial as he flew up to his own old room.
"Mom are you in here?" He asked with a smile hoping she would jump out at any moment. But Naruto's smile was soon wiped off his face by the large amount of dust that filled the room from his absents. It was so thick it made he cough for a few seconds. When it had stopped Naruto seem to finally except his mom was gone.
"I guess mom is really gone." Naruto said to himself sadly as he walked further into the room.
"I just don't understand." Naruto said confused and hurt by his mothers absences. Naruto then heard a evil, annoying, and familiar laugh coming from the teddy bear next to him. It was his favorite one except it was a little different it had a star shaped mark over it's right eye much like someone else Naruto knew. He just couldn't quite place from where.
"Your starting to understand." The bear said in deep familiar voice and as frightening as this would usually be that voice brought more obnoxiousness then fear.
"She finally got tired of waiting for you and left. Your all alone. No one wants to be with you Naruto. No one!" The bear said cruelly.
"That's not true! Be quit! I'm not listening to you!" As Naruto said these words a flash seem to take over the room for a split second much like a camera. "Now what?" Naruto mumbled. This day was bad enough.
"Your alone Naruto. They're all gone. Your alone." The bear said in a much calmer tone now. Which seem worse then it's earlier laughing. Naruto couldn't take it anymore. He felt tears well up in his eyes and dropped to his knees letting them fall as he buried his face in his bed.
While Naruto did this things slowly began to disappear around the room. Until nothing but the bed, the bear, and himself remain. Soon a thick fog seem to fill the room. But it wasn't the dust from earlier. It was real fog.
"What? What is that?" Naruto said raising his head to ask the seemingly all knowing bear. But all the bear said was "All alone forever." before it too disappear. Leaving Naruto all by himself. Exactly what he didn't want to be right now.
Finally the bed disappear and Naruto seem to fall through the ground at an incredible speed.
Naruto tossed and turn in his sleep until finally he was released from his nightmare. Sitting on his bed watching him worriedly was Hinata.
"Guess you had a bad dream huh." It wasn't really a question more like a confirmation. Naruto nodded sadly tears still falling from his eyes. Hinata handed out her purple handkerchief for Naruto to wipe his eyes. He took it gratefully.
(A/N: This is the enter thoughts I was talking about. It's basically Naruto writing in a journal)
Naruto's journal
I didn't know what to say to her. I still didn't quite appreciate that with a good friend sometimes you don't need a lot of words.
"It's alright if you don't want to talk about it. I know how you feel. You know I've got my own bad dreams. I guess every body does." Hinata said sitting at their small dinning table. That was centered between the ends of their two sides of the room.
"Hinata how did you know I had a nightmare." Naruto asked.
"I saw you tossing in your sleep and... and... I didn't know rather I should wake you up or not." Hinata said as she printed out a photo from the side of the camera in her hand.
"I knew it! You took a picture of my nightmare with your diga-dream camera. Now I know what that sudden flash was! I can't believe you'd invade my privacy like that. Your suppose to be my friend." Naruto said very angry at Hinata. But Hinata just sighed guiltily. This was exactly the opposite of what an angel should do. Angels don't invade friends privacy. Though there were a lot of things angels didn't do. Being bad as a whole mostly. It's not that they couldn't do it it's just that an angels guilt was like a million times worse then any other species and could easily break their spirits.
"Please forgive me Naruto. I know I crossed a line. Please forgive me won't you." Hinata said the horrible feeling of guilt already making her want to just through her halo away because she no longer felt like she deserved it. Naruto knowing this feeling well didn't hold it against her long at all because he said not seconds after her apology:
"It's alright. Let's just forget it." As Naruto said these words he took the photo of his nightmare from Hinata's hands. It was him facing the bear yelling at it in anger, but it only showed him from the back. Hinata put a hand over the picture to cover it. Not wanting her friend to relive the moment. Sometimes dream pictures could make things seem too real.
"It was just a nightmare. Naruto you wait and see you will pass to the next stage. Promise." She said with a reassuring smile.
"Thanks for the pep talk, but remember whatever happens to Konohamaru is my responsibility. It doesn't change the fact I was defeated by devils." Naruto said sulking. He would never get his radiant halo!
"So what?" They both heard coming from their side. They had been so into their conversation the hadn't notice to other two angel girls coming in. They didn't startle or demand why they came in because all angels trusted all angels. They probably just came here to make some friends. That's why angel dorm rooms tended to never be locked. The only people they had to worry for were devils and they never came on their side. It was forbidden not like they would want to anyways. It's too much good they say. Makes them itch.
"If you only knew how many times I've been beaten by devils myself. I'm Temari." She said holding out a hand to Naruto with a kind smile. She had beautiful dirty blonde hair sky blue eyes or maybe they were gray Naruto couldn't really tell. But would stood out the most were her pretty golden wings unlike Naruto baby blue ones. Naruto took her hand to shake without a thought knowing she wouldn't do something rude like pull her hand away at the last second like that dumb devil partner of his. "Hi." Naruto said happily.
"And this is Tenten." She said pointing to the girl behind her. The angel came walking up with a happy smile on her face. She had pretty pink wings on her back that seem to twitter a bit ever now and again much like a bird. Just by looking at her she seem to be on a permanent sugar high.
"Hey guys! The names Tenten. I like cakes, crème puffs, candies, sweets, and anything else that covered in sugar. I also like ice cream which I think is sweet? NO sure because I haven't really tri..." Tenten was cut off by Temari putting a hand on her mouth with an affectionate smile on her face. Too use to her friends babbling habits to be bothered by them. Not that she ever would to begin with. It was very hard to annoy and angel... well unless you were a devil.
Naruto smiled at the two he could already tell they were going to be great friends.
"Thanks I'm pretty sure we got the idea sweet." Temari said using her friends nickname. (A/N: This is her nickname because the original characters name was sweet and it tied into a lot of the dialogue. But no one will call her this that often except Temari or when it's brought up in the dialogue). Naruto with held a chuckle from Temari words with a smile.
"Oh I finally got a smile from him." Temari said making her way to a seat at their table. As she sat Naruto took the time to introduce themselves.
"I'm Naruto. She's Hinata. She was just listening to my complaining." Naruto said Tenten walking to stand between his and Temari's seat seeing as they didn't have enough chair. Naruto made a mental note to buy another.
"If my hunch is right the devil you fighting against is a real bastard." Temari said with a fake concentrating look on her face. Making all the other angels chuckle at her antics.
"His name is Sasuke and he definitely plays dirty." Naruto said just barley suppressing a scowl. Angels don't scowl.
"As do all the devils I know. Now listen carefully the stage your at now is really difficult and many angels don't succeed on their first try." Temari said trying to get Naruto's spirits up. A depressed angel was a weak one. And Naruto would have to be strong to beat his devil enemy.
"Really? Do you know anybody who failed?" Hinata asked Temari.
"I do!" Tenten shout her two cents before Temari could even register what Hinata had ask. Tenten leaned over and pointed to Temari "She did! Temari is repeating this stage." Tenten said oblivious to the slightly angry face Temari was giving her. Not that she was really mad it was more for show. Tenten looked confused at Temari's mad face. Before she determine it wasn't real and just sent Temari a smile. Which just made her huff. It was hard to be intimidating when you literally wore a halo and wings on your back.
"Unfortunately she's right, but if I've learn anything it all it's that you don't lose your courage just because you lost a battle. Therefore my only advice is that you stiffen your wings and show that devil what your able to do." Temari said as she walked out the room. Naruto watched here leave and was sad to say he was no more encouraged.
"And if I don't succeed? If I lose again?" Naruto asked himself.
"It's not use sitting around and crying about it. And always remember one thing if you need help you can count on us right?" Hinata said taking Naruto's hand as she looked up at Tenten for confirmation on her statement.
"She's absolutely right. You call and will be right there." Tenten said with a large smile. Helping each other fight was what angel's did from the very beginning of their battles with devils. It was in their very nature to always help a fellow angel out. It's why they always beat devils in the past. Devils were always against asking for help. Only ever seen as strong by their peers if they could handle their own fight. So they would always stupidly charge in on a group of angels alone. "Devils were so dumb." Tenten thought to herself.
"But that won't work. You can't bail me out every time I have a problem." Naruto said seemingly refusing to see the bright side to all of this. That was very un-angle like. Angels always saw the bright side.
"Well of course not every time, but when you really get into trouble don't hesitate call us and well fly. Well be right by your side." Tenten said with as much energy as ever. Finally managing to make Naruto smile.
"Angels friends together forever!" Tenten said grabbing both Hinata and Naruto's hand as she shout it. It was so cheesy yet it succeeded in making them all happy.
"I hope your ready Sasuke cause here I come!" Naruto said full confidence back. He through the handkerchief he had been clutching behind himself without look accidently covering poor Cox with it.
"And that the reason why you can never never trust anybody." The female devil professor said to her class. Sasuke was leaning back in his chair barley listening as he yawned. In the back another devil girl had large headphones in and was happily listening to music. The devil girl to her side was currently painting her finger nails. The only one who seem to be listening at all was a heavy weight devil boy who was taking notes.
"Your the only one you can trust. That is the essential lesson we must teach the humans." The professor went on seeming unbothered by her classes behavior. "Any questions?" She called and Sasuke gave a large stretch with another yawn. This class was so boring. Like he didn't already know how to corrupt somebody.
"Sasuke I'm glad to see your bored that's the attitude I want to see. Choji you could learn something from you friend your friend Sasuke." The professor said to the large devil. Now known as Choji.
"I get what you saying prof. but I find I am unable to completely distract my attention when you speak." Choji said back to his teacher.
Sasuke stood un and walked over to the front of the class. "Hey teach don't get mad at Choji. We can't all be made of my superior quality." Sasuke said as he sat on the table in the front row next to Choji.
"Megalomaniacal as usual." The female devil painting her finger nails said with an eye roll at Sasuke.
"Thank you so much Ino." Sasuke said. Insults were compliments for devils. And they really were to Ino meant no ill intention to her friend it was an honest compliment. Not that she would say that out loud. Besides Sasuke knew.
"And what about you Sakura? Don't you have some compliments for me." He asked the devil sitting next to Ino who was listening to music. When she didn't respond because of it Ino knocked her head phones off.
"Excuse me but did I miss something." She said as snobby as possible.
"The entire lesson. Very good." The professor said.
"We were talking about selfishness. Mr. Selfish is on top again." Ino told Sakura. Sasuke just smiled cockily.
"I'm sure you must mean the bottom. Oh yes that's right I'm the best." Sasuke said bucking his own ego more and more.
"That's because you've beaten that angel who's always got his head in the clouds." Sakura said explain why everyone was acting like he was such an asshole (In a good way). For some reason hearing someone else insult Naruto besides himself didn't sit well with Sasuke. Without thinking about it Sasuke said back harshly.
"His name is Naruto." His friends seem shocked by this.
"Naruto? You call him by name?" Sakura asked and Sasuke back tracked immediately.
"We must know our enemy am I right teach?" Sasuke said.
"Exactly right. But be on your guard or you could fail Sasuke." The professor warned.
"There's no risk of me failing teach. And as for that angel I going to make sure he regrets having come down to earth." Sasuke said walking out the class room clenching his one gloved hand in determination. He wouldn't admit it but he was actually kind of nerves for their next challenge. Not because he thought he would lose but because he was afraid to touch Naruto again. What if he got a star mark on a place he couldn't hide as easily lik ehe did with the one on his hand. Or what if something new happens all together.
"But right now on this matter I have no time to waste." Sasuke said touching the button next to the door to open it.
"I don't know =. Sometimes that boy just looks strange to me. And that glove is just not a good look for him." Sakura said when Sasuke was gone.
In the hall Sasuke had taken his glove off and was staring at his hand while he replied the memory of how they touched in his head again and again.
"This just doesn't want to go away." Sasuke mumbled angrily as he clenched his fist looking down at it.
"Hi." He heard from a familiar angel voice that made him look up to see Naruto standing in the hall in front of him.
"Well hello there. Nice bumping into you here. Didn't think you'd get rid of me so easily did you?" Naruto said with a confident smile on his face. All it took was a little pep talk and he was back to himself again. No he was more confident then he ever was. Sasuke gave a smirk as he slid his glove back on.
"I really didn't. I enjoy seeing you lose and I adore seeing you get angry." Sasuke said with his usual wicked smile and Naruto got closer (careful not to get to close) with a face covered with rage.
"Alright asshole, if it's a lesson you need I'll teach you one right now." The bell rung as Naruto said this.
"I'm sorry angel. Lessons are just not on the schedule." Sasuke said chuckling as he flew up off the ground to avoid the teens leaving their classrooms.
"Ahhhhh!" A boy cried out as he was pushed into the school fountain by three bullies.
"Nice dive Udon!" The one of the bullies teased as they all laughed.
"You'd make it big in a circus!" The much heavy weighted one said.
"Your just bullies!" Udon said as he checked his glasses for cracks. The bullies shared a look with each other.
"Didn't you here what Darius said? Keep on training." The smaller of the three bullies said as he push Udon again. Sasuke who was in the background with Naruto was cheering them on.
"What do you mean three against one that's not fair!" Naruto said pissed off at Sasuke's cheering for the bullies.
"Let me think about it. You could slap a fine on them?" Sasuke said just to get under Naruto's skin. But his tease worked a little to well when Naruto flew off. Sasuke followed not wanting his fun to end just yet.
"Oh finally! Now Konohamaru will give a hand to that poor boy." Naruto said having complete faith that his human would do the right thing.
"You sure about that?" Sasuke asked making Naruto frown at his words. Naruto's frown only stretched Sasuke's smile. Spending time with his angel only seem to make the devil smile more while making the angel frown. It was actually kind of funny to see out of context. The happy devil and the angry angel. A bit unbelievable.
"Hey Konohamaru! Let's teach theses bullies a lesson!" Udon said to his long time friend. Knowing that he would have his back like he would always have his.
"There's not hope od that Udon. Nobodies crazy enough to mess with us. Especially for you." The bullies said looking at Konohamaru seeing what he would do. Udon was also looking expectantly with the same look Naruto had believing he would do the right thing. Sasuke was lounging back in the air with his legs cross and hands behind his head watching it all happen. Either way he was happy. If Konohamaru said no then he didn't even have to bother trying to corrupt him to day. If he said yes then Sasuke got to see a fight. Win win.
"I... I.. um..." Konohamaru stuttered trying to think of a way out of this. Understanding he was about to leave Udon said.
"But Konohamaru what about our friendship?" His face was contorted in betrayal. It wasn't even about the bullying anymore. He just couldn't believe Konohamaru wouldn't help him on the spot. Naruto was also getting fed up with his human hesitating.
"Come on Konohamaru!" Naruto shouted.
"He can't here you." Sasuke said in a singing song tone of voice. Naruto just glared at him before turning back to the scene.
"I... Umm... I can't help you! I got to get going!" Konohamaru said before running off. Udon sighed in disappointment. It seem like he really didn't have friends.
"You see this time I won even before the fight started." Sasuke gloated.
"Choose the Challenge!" Naruto said pissed off at Konohamaru's choice Pissed off at Sasuke's gloating! Pissed off at his first lost! And PISSED OFF AT ALWAYS BEING PISSED. Sasuke almost fell out of air in shock at Naruto's words. Wasn't it clear he already won.
"What!?" Sasuke shouted in disbelief.
"You really want to do this?" Sasuke said chuckling slightly wondering what Naruto thought he could possibly do to change Konohamaru's mind.
"I want you in the challenge room now! And we'll see who gets the first mood with Konohamaru this time!" Naruto shouted and the real rage that was reflected in his eyes simply made Sasuke stare for a second. If Naruto was a devil Sasuke was sure he would fall for him. But he wasn't so that immediately took that thought and threw it away never to be thought about again.
"Well if you want a challenge why don't you come over to my place." Sasuke said with an extra wicked smirk. He new just what to turn the challenge room into and t would pay Naruto back for last time too.
Sasuke flew in front of Naruto gesturing and a presentation way to the space around them. It was dark and red covered with fire and brim stone. The air was unclear and their was trash and pollution everywhere. Not that it stayed long it burned almost immediately on contact with the hot ground and lava rivers. Adding to the smoke in the already blackened air. Though despite all of this it had homes, buildings and other constructions all around.
"I'd like to welcome you to sulfur city!" Sasuke said doing a turn in the air coming back to stand float next to Naruto who was looking on in shock at the challenge room.
"There's fire, volcanos, and a light sulfur perfume in the air." Sasuke said as if he were describing a tourists spot.
"I can't believe you actually turned the challenge room into devil city." Naruto said devil city like it physically hurt him to have to say.
"I told you I'd take you to my house." Sasuke said jokingly.
"It's almost as ugly as you are." Naruto said which only made Sasuke laugh. It was hard to take any insult seriously coming from such loveably and cuddly creatures like angels.
"Your so clever with words." He said after composing himself.
"Don't tell me we're here to talk. I can do that with the girls." Naruto said teasingly he had to say he enjoyed the banter.
"Okay angel. The time for take is over." Sasuke said just barley keeping the 'my' from in front the 'angel'.
"Let's see how good you are with your wings. This time there's only one goal. If you want the first move with Konohamaru get passed me." Sasuke said with complete confidence he couldn't be beaten especially after last time.
"That's it?" Naruto asked shocked at how simple it sounded. Until he caught a wiff of the sulfur gas in the air. He pinched his nose and back up a bit from the volcano he was next to.
"The sulfur smell here must have dulled your brain. You know I'm faster than you." Naruto said excited for his win.
"Well see about that." Sasuke in his tone that meant he was scheme something. Before he flew off beginning the challenge.
"Speed fly." Naruto said and his winds grew three times their regular size and lite up so bright the baby blue looked almost white. They beat fast and strongly together like a humming birds wings. When Naruto was close on Sasuke heals he turned his head back to say.
"I'd like to introduce you to my pet flame, but don't be jealous." Sasuke said as a large demonic creature that resembled a dragon in ways flew out of no where blocking Naruto's path.
"You can't change the rules in the middle of something! It was just a speed race!" Naruto yelled at the still laughing Sasuke who was quickly flying away.
"And it still is. I want to see how fast that dragon is able to break you into pieces!" Sasuke shouted back so the scowling Naruto could hear him. Though Naruto didn't get to glare for long because a blast of fire came at him from the side the dragon was on. Naruto back up before ducking under the flame trying to fly away.
"Shit! I can't out fly this thing for long!" Naruto thought as he flew as fast he could while dogging fire as he was chased the huge beast. Sasuke completely forgotten. While dogging another blast of fire Naruto ran into a wall and fell to the hot ground managing to turn on time he landed on his feet. Sadly so did the dragon right in front of him.
"Naruto!" Sasuke thought in an alarmed panic. He had been watching until this moment. He really thought his angel could out fly this thing! At least until the time ran out and he won!
"I must be strong! I have to do this for Konohamaru! He needs me I'm his guardian angel. I have to protect him from the wrong choices. for evil." Naruto face morphed into a look of rage as he thought about his human. He would not let his soul be corrupted further by Sasuke!
"Rock fly." Naruto called out and his wings stretched large and bug covering him fully as they harden stronger then steel. He stayed like this as the dragon continued to blow fire at him. He could feel himself losing strength and knew he didn't have much longer to stay like this. That when Naruto remembered his talk with Hinata and Tenten earlier.
Naruto released his rock fly when the dragon stop breathing fire. 'Angel's friends!" Naruto shouted the stupid call signal Tenten had come up with for him to summon them. He really thought it was kind of silly and almost didn't say it out of embarrassment but Tenten seem to be really proud of coming up with it so Naruto said it anyways and wouldn't ask her to change it.
The moment the words left his mouth he could see to pretty pairs of wings coming down from the sky. Tenten pink one and Hinata yellowish gold ones.
Sasuke was too shocked to see them there to even bother teasing Naruto about the dumb catch phrase. How the hell did they get in!
"You guys came!" Naruto said happily he was scared they may have been busy and wouldn't be able to help.
"Didn't we promise." Tenten said like it was all the answer Naruto needed. And it was for angels.
"So what's the problem?" Tenten asked just as the dragon flew up to try and bite them all which they manage to dodge on time.
"So rude!" Tenten said as she fixed her now crooked halo.
"Sasuke said we were having a race then he sticked the friendly neighborhood fire breather on me." Naruto explain as they continued to fly away from the dragon.
"Heavens! What a total bastard!" Tenten said a look a disgust on her face. Why couldn't devils just play fair?
"What do you expect from a devil? But don't you worry you deal with Sasuke and we'll deal with the dragon." Hinata said the last part to Naruto.
"Okay time to calm down big dragon! Medium fly! Thunder storm!" Hinata said and her wings seem to turn to lightening as she made thunderclouds form from the pollution clouds above striking the dragon many times but not quite bring it down. Tenten took this as her chance.
"Is that all you got. I'm going to show you what a real roar is." She said the dragon that was trying to scare them off with it's roars.
"Sound fly!" Tenten said and her pretty pink wings seem to cover themselves and a deeper pink music noted all over. Tenten warned Hinata to plug her ear as she activated her power. The high pitch sound waves throw the dragon through the air knocking it to the ground.
"Damn it! Naruto you didn't win yet you still have to..." Sasuke was cut off by the sight of Naruto's feet appearing in front of him as he tried to fly away.
"Pass you? I just did." Naruto said triumphantly as he looked down at Sasuke.
"Three against one isn't fair!" Sasuke shouted out of rage at losing his wining streak.
"Slap a fine on me." Naruto said with a cruel smirk remembering Sasuke's earlier words.
"Well the first move with Konohamaru I your but I'll have the last. Konohamaru will make the wrong choice!" Sasuke shouted making Naruto's face contort In shock from Sasuke's just absolute need to make their human evil. Naruto just didn't get why! Devils are weird!
In a foggy world where our regal prisoner sits a screen is paused in that very face Naruto had by the hand of the woman herself.
"Minato!" She summoned her servant. He came running down the path as fast as he could.
"I am at your service my lady!" He said not even giving himself time to catch his breath. The queen point at the screen of Naruto.
"His tears. I want his tears! Don't you dare come back empty handed!"