A/N: Foxfire and Orange Blasphemy aren't quite ready yet -they're long chapters- so I'm updating a slew of other stories today. Terribly sorry about that.

Hours got cut at one job, which meant I had to turn around and pick up MORE hours at the other job, which means no sleep today. *head spins*

In other news...

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 becomes a story.

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

Lets see if anyone recognize this reference right here.

As to which Grail War this is...well.

Feel free to guess~!

"Everyone will be your enemy, Naruto! There's nowhere left for you to run!"

"...Run? Who's running? Where?

AND WHY?!"

~?

A Most Unlikely Whistle

Humans were fragile.

It was an undeniable fact of life, Naruto found. No matter how hard one fought or struggled or trained...their bodies broke all too easily. One good solid blow-that was all it took. A sharp twist of the neck. A quick thrust through the chest. Stomp on their head and they burst like a rotten grape. He'd seen it all. If injury or insanity or illness didn't claim them, old age eventually did. Sooner or later, Death came a whistling, and when it did, that was it. You were...done. Damned. Doomed.

Really, the only difference was how you went out.

His life had been a good one all things considered. He'd kissed his loved ones goodbye and gone off to his final battle with a smile on his face. When he went out it was in a blaze of glory, surrounded by the corpses of his enemies, knowing that his demise brought the world peace. He'd heard that whistle in his final moments, the sound that all men and women fear. But he hadn't run from it. When death came for as he lay there, bleeding out he greeted it as an old friend, grasped its hand, and went to the hereafter.

.

..

...

Which was why it came as something of a shock, yes, a very startling surprise indeed, to find himself summoned into this Holy Grail War. But not from the Throne. He was a Servant, and yet not a Servant. Naruto, and yet not Naruto. Life had let him go, it seemed. Granted him a stay of execution, as it were.

Likewise, He'd taken one look at his pitiful wretch of a master and promised him victory. He could do no less. For you see, his Master wished to save someone. A girl. Was it not his duty to save him then, in turn? Perhaps that was the Madness Enhancement talking. Oh, yes. He was well aware. He wasn't quite sane in this current form.

Yes. Humans were fragile. He'd always found that strangely sad. But servants...Servants were sturdy.

.

...

...or they should have been. This one was a disappointment.

"What...are you...?"

Right, right. He'd forgotten all about his victim.

Caster writhed in his grasp, a madman choking out his last breaths. Ugly. Hideous. Deformed. Bulging eyes bulging yet further as he choked the life from is body. This one had annoyed him, hiding away in the sewers with his master, preying upon the innocent. So he had to die. Nothing simpler. Death came for Gilles de Rais, and it came with a whistle. It did not speak to him. Did not grant his please for mercy. Did not save him. He killed him, as he had killed before, silently and without mercy. If only he could erase him completely, remove him from the very throne of heroes itself.

By contrast, crushing his throat was a mercy he didn't deserve, but one he granted to him nevertheless.

He cast aside his crumbling corpse, tugged up his hood and walked on, whistling under his breath.

"One down."

A/N: Whistling death, eh? Wonder who inspired that. Once more the fate of this teaser depends on you, and its bloody obvious where it comes from.

And there we go. With luck, I'll see you guys and gals again in a few hours, time and life permitting.

Or not. I don't know. Need to have a word with my bosses(s) about all this extra work.

So...in the immortal words of Atlas...

...Revieeeeew, Would You Kindly?

Enjoy these previews!

(Previews!)

"You..mongrel...!"

"All things must die, Gilgamesh. Even the king of kings."

The whistle grew louder in Saber's ears.

"Honestly, I pity you...

"I don't want the wish. I want to save people.

R&R! =D