A/N: *coughs* still sick...

My health hasn't been the best lately either, sorry about that.

I also had an odd request the other day, someone asked me to take Twyin Lannister (adult) and put him RWBY. I'm mentioning it everything I post, to see what folks think of it it, even if I'm trying to resist that idea. It would be entertaining...hell, I could see him taking over the SDC before Jacques ever got his mitts on it. What would that made it? LDC? Hmm...

No, no, no, mustn't be tempted...

As my fifteen year anniversary on this site draws near, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.

And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.

Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. The recent earthquake in Turkey/Syria serves as a terrible example. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.

This is a rough draft. Time and feedback will determine if this like, "A Long While" becomes a story.

In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know~!

Now then, forward! For best doggo~!

"There is only one god in this world, and is name is Death.

What do we say to death?

Not today~!"

~?

Defying Death

The blond boy had returned.

Maliketh didn't know what to make of him; no matter how many times he chased him away, he just...kept. Coming. Back. Day after day! Night after night! Without fail! For weeks now! Or was it months? Bah! What did it matter?! It was maddening all the same! He could respect his persistence if nothing else, but his persistent presence rankled him to no end! Time and time again this nameless newcomer traipsed back into his home, not to fight, but to talk.

Always with the talking!

At first it was about strange things; where am I, what is this place, how do I get home?

When Maliketh had no such answers, he asked other questions. Who are you? Why are you here? Why are you alone?

As time went on, the questions changed. As did he.

Sometimes there was blood on his tattered orange-black jumpsuit when he came to visit. Sometimes there wasn't. It tended to vary.

He did not fear him, not like the rest.

The demigods did; Marika's children as much as Radagon's brood. He supposed Destined Death was powerful. Any who sought it would be granted great strength, strength to kill even the gods themselves. Many had tried over the decades. None had succeeded. And none would if he had anything to say about it.

Ah, but he digressed.

Today the stranger had brought a basket of food with him.

"Want one?" he held up an apple, whiskered cheeks dimpling in a grin. "You must be hungry."

.

..

...he was.

Strictly speaking, Demigods and Shadows need not eat; they could survive without sustenance but it weakened them. Maliketh was stronger than most. Serving as Shadow to Marika had brought him little joy in life, but he understood his duty. He'd not eaten a thing since she first sent him to Caelid. The Beast Sanctum was his home. He would live here, and one day, if his Queen deemed it, he would sleep here. Sleep, forever. It was his duty to guard Destined Death, a burden bestowed upon him alone, so that no one might ever taste the pain of parting-

"Catch!"

Maliketh barked in surprise as an apple sailed his way with blistering speed. Centuries of bestial instinct took over and he reflexively lurched up to catch it with his teeth. Hunger took over. Strong jaws snapped down as he devoured it, core and all. His mind caught up to him a moment later and he swallowed with a pang of guilt.

It was...surprisingly sweet. How long had it been since he'd enjoyed the simple pleasure of a modest meal?

The blond interloper smirked, triumphant at the last. "Tastes pretty good, huh?"

Maliketh glowered bloody daggers at him. "Where did you find these?

"Aha!" he rejoiced. "So you can speak! If you must know, I grew 'em."

Maliketh blinked. He blinked hard. "...I beg your pardon?"

"I grew them in the garden." The baffling blond set the basket down and clasped both hands behind his head. "Just outside the Sanctum. Took me a couple months to figure out how, an' plenty of mistakes, but gardening's surprisingly fun once you get the hang of it." his grin, surprisingly, was more than a little sheepish. "You'd be amazed what ya can learn, given enough a year."

A year? Had it truly been that long? "And yet you still wear those rags?"

"Hey, hey!" The blond crossed both arms before his ruined attire. "Don't diss the duds! I happen to like these clothes...

Maliketh quirked a bushy brow.

...and I haven't exactly been able to find a tailor around here, alright?"

"You could seek the capital." he had, once, and he hoped the fool would take the hint to leave him be. "I hear they have a great many merchants and tailors there."

"I could," he took another hearty bite out of an apple, "But it looks too crowded. I'm happier out here in the wilderness. 'Sides, I don't like the look of that tree." A shiver shook his shoulders. "Gives me the heebie-jeebies ya know.

Maliketh leaned forward to regard him, even as one hand strayed to the blade at his back. His words were blasphemy against the Golden Order. He would be well within his rights to strike him down for that.

Strange boy. "I must ask, how do you keep evading the dragon on the bridge?"

"Oh, him?"" the boy laughed. "I feed him. He's harmless."

Maliketh scoffed. "I don't imagine he enjoys fruit.

"Nope. But he loves lamb and goat."

"...I never asked your name."

"Naruto. And you?"

"I am Maliketh." the shadow drew himself up to his full towering height, preening a little. "Shadow to Queen Marika, guardian of Destined Death."

...that's nice. Who or what is Marika?"

Maliketh nearly fell over! "You know not the queen?!"

"Not really." Naruto scratched at a whiskered cheek. "You haven't exactly answered any of my questions since I cam here...

"Hrrmph. Then the fault lies with me. I shall tell you of her."

This boy had both the golden smile and a silver tongue to win over entire armies. He could easily win himself a wife -or wives!- if he so chose.

Malenia and Ranni might well enjoy his company should they ever deign to leave their thrones and come to Caelid. Unlikely. Uncle to them he may be, but he knew his nieces as well as nephews. They were young in their godhood and thus somewhat spoilt. Malenia might come with a bit of prodding...but no. He feared her curse more than he did Ranni's intellect. The Scarlet Rot, if ever unleashed, would be a blight upon the lands of Caelid at large. At least he could keep Ranni at bay.

"Telling a story sounds like hungry work." Naruto offered him his baket. "Whaddya say? Another apple?"

Maliketh sighed. "Very well."

Yes, this boy was strange indeed.

That said, he did not appear to be a danger.

Maybe Marika need not know about him just yet.

And from that single choice...the Lands Between changed.

A/N: And so Naruto befriends best doggo.

Good bloody luck getting that fragment of death this time, Ranni...

Do you want this to be a story? Yes? No? Maybe so? Make yourselves heard!

Really need to hear from you guys and gals here; if not this will simply remain a Shard.

Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this particular tidbit, and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? POOF! Gone. Completely. I'm working two jobs -might need a third soon!- so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard!

As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, as such, I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.

Aaaand there we go. As ever, reviews keep me alive. Without them, I cannot write. So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...

...Review...Would You Kindly? And have some previews -potential blot bin things- that I'm working on.

References ahoy~! And ideas for new stories. Hopefully this will sate my muse for the time being.

(Previews)

"Soldiers!"

The army before him bristled.

Naruto grinned down at them. "Tonight! We dine in hell!"

Eight thousand men banged their fists against their shields, creating a deafening cacophony of flesh against steel. He drew his sword and thrust it toward the capital.

"FORWARD!"

"Death to the thieves of Destined Death! You shall not have it!"

He held the little babe in his arms.

His wife laughed. "Well, what are you going to name this one?

"Daenerys has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

"Given that you insisted on naming our son Daemon...no, I do not think I can complain."

"Young lady! You are not riding that dragon. Do not even think about it!"

The gloam-eyed queen stared at him for a long moment. "Will you not bend the knee, good ser? Our cause is just. We wish only to usurp the Golden Order."

"Nope." Naruto shook his head. "Didn't come here for that."

"Unfortunate." Her genteel expression hardened. "Then you came to die, young fool. Maliketh was a fool to send youuuuuuuuuwhatisthat?! He knelt, opened the box in his hands and her words trailed into a startled squeak as she saw the beheld the beautiful blue diamond ring within. "No, no! You cannot! Mine heart is not ready!"

Her pale face went red.

R&R~!