A/N: ...this darn site.
Email -aka desktop/web- notifications have been down since the tenth and they're still not fixed.
Meanwhile it works in the app, but none of us have been getting our emails. I think this might be it; I've been in talks with several writers, and a bunch of them are leaving/migrating to A03 and other platforms over the glitches/lack of response. Damn shame. In the fifteen years since I've been here, we've never had radio silence like this. I want to believe that the Admins will wake up and fix it, yet the pragmatist in me has begun to worry about them. Hope they're alright over there.
It has been, quite literally, a week since the site broke.
In other news...depression's starting to hit reeeeaaaal hard these days. Sometimes I wonder why I do anything at all. I can't claim to understand what's going wrong with my head. I don't even know why! One moment I'm fine, then my mood craters for a few hours, then I'm back again for a bit, and the cycle repeats. Its rather annoying; as though I've become a prisoner in my own mind sometimes. Sure, what's one more mental problem on the pile. Not like I don't have enough, what with already being this old. Feels like every day is a battle sometimes. But when I go to the docs, they say oh no, you're fine, you're just tired. HA!
Writing helps fend it off the worst of it times, but when I come back to myself, its still there. Waiting for me.
*siiiigh*
Don't mind the rambling of this geezer...I'm still here, still trying to beat this thing.
So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others.
I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.
Time and feedback will determine if this little ficlet remains a story. Simple as that.
TFS Alucard vibes are real and intentional. I own nothing~!
Also, Tengen is a girl. Huh. Didn't know that.
"You think you know what a monster is? You've no idea...
But that's alright. Watch veeery closely now.
Lemme show you."
~?
Blessings and Curses
Geto was wary.
Not of Gojo, naturally.
Really, why would he ever be?
His old friend had done nothing to rouse his own deeply-rooted paranoia today, nor Amanai or Kuroi. Not even that silly police girl; they were all harmless...to him, at least. He watched them race across the sand with a faintly bemused smile, silently smirking at their antics.
It was a smile he didn't quite feel.
Instead, he found his attention drawn to the only other male in their little party...the madman currently sitting beside him. He was the one who truly concerned him. Because you see, Naruto Uzumaki reeked of death. And not just of the human sort, or no, he'd killed curses, so many of them that the smell had seeped into his very soul. The scent clung to him like a miasma, a stench only he could discern; he, whose very technique involved capturing and controlling curses, a miasma so pungent it made him want to gag.
And yet no one seemed to notice.
Riko Amanai and Misato Kuroi are or even Satoru Gojo himself.
The older man made a bemused noise. "At least buy me a drink before you undress me with your eyes."
Geto choked on his own spit. "Wha?!"
"Kidding! I'm just kidding." The colorfully clad blond waved a hand and took a long swig from the strange orange gourd he'd brought with him. "Look, if you're having trouble or need someone to talk to, here's my card." He flicked a blood red rectangle from his sleeve into his hand, etched with black letters. "Seems you've got a lot going on in that head of yours."
Several things, really. Key among them..."What are you?
"Bored, presently." Naruto looked to Gojo and Amanai playing in the water, one smacked the other with a sea cucumber and down they went, laughing and shrieking like a pair of schoolchildren." If you're going to glare at me like that, then do something interesting. Hmm. That's surprising." He watched the laughing duo drag Kuroi in after them and smirked. "She's a screamer, you know."
Geto tried to rally. "Who?"
"Who do you think?" Naruto waggled a blond brow at him. Kuroi.
He felt his face blaze red. Ha?
"Yup." the monster smacked his lips with an audible pop. "Best lay I've had in the last hundred years. You should try it sometime. Having somebody around really takes the edge off." he slung an arm around his shoulder, keeping him from running away. "You're too pent up. Maybe get yourself laid. It does wonders for the mind, if not the body. Find yourself a nice girl and settle down."
The heat spiked down his neck, next. "I don't need your advice-
A clawed finger tapped his wrist and the world went cold.
"You really do."
Geto looked to Riko's purported "uncle" and froze where he sat.
Naruto's facade had fallen away, the carefully careless act he'd cultivated cast aside. In its place was a look of pure steel.
"You know," he rumbled, voice dropping an octave, "My mentor Jiraiya, he acted like a lech. His enemies never took him seriously. Me? I'm a little different Everyone thinks a bastard is harmless. Everyone underestimates someone who just doesn't seem to care. But I do care. That's the problem. I care so damn much it hurts. Why do you think I'm taking the time to talk with ya?"
"...!"
"What's wrong?" the bemused blond gave him a nudge. "Fox got your tongue?" When he didn't answer, the whiskered warrior released him and leaned back. "You think you know what a monster is; what a curse can do. You have no idea. One day you will, and you'll wish you never knew."
He shifted aside, subtly pulling cursed energy into his hand on the off chance this lunatic decided to attack. "Why tell me this?"
"Why not?" the slightest of shrugs was his reward. "Because you're interesting. I already know what Gojo will be, but you?" a clawed finger wagged in his face. "I can't see what you'll become." he looked back to the beach where even poor Seras had been drawn into the fray now, and his weary face lit with a small smile. When you've lived as long as I have, you amuse yourself as best you can. You find reasons to live."
Geto tucked both knees into his chest. "And when you can't?"
"You make them." A bright iris winked his way.
"Humans are fascinating creatures, don't you think?" his gaze swiveled back to the sea and the endless bounty beyond. "I hate some of them, even call them monkeys at times, but I love others. After all, I used to be be mortal, long ago." He raised a hand, letting the light splay over it. "Even now my memories of those days are hazy. It feels like I lose more of them every year. But its people like you and him that make me curious again. You're on the brink of a metamorphosis, Geto, even if you don't realize it. I wonder which way you'll turn.
For a fleeting moment, Geto thought he almost understood.
Loneliness was a burden known only by the strong.
Small wonder he gravitated to him and Goo.
"But enough about little 'ol me, and enough with being serious for one day." And then Naruto facade slipped back into place, as though it had been there all along. "You'e young. Enjoy your youth...
The blond grabbed his shoulder:
...AND GO SWIMMING!"
He tossed him in.
(.0.0.0.)
Naruto laughed, watching Geto flounder helplessly in the water.
He kept smiling, even as he sent a thought inward.
"Are they still watching us, Kurama?"
"Yup."
"And they haven't moved in the last five minutes."
"Yuup."
"Must be pretty brave...or stupid. Probably both."
"Yuuup."
"Well, lets not keep them waiting. Is it Yorozu or Yuki, I wonder...
Gojo could keep an eye on Riko until they flew back. And when they did, he needed to have a word with Tengen about her...habbits. But until then, he might as well kill some time. Wasn't like he had anything better to do while Toji was cooling his heels. And so he stood, brushed the sand from his coat, shrugged once and set a hand to the side of his mouth. "Be right back!"
"Ha?" Gojo called after him. "Where you going?"
He waved one hand over his shoulder, already gone. "For a walk."
Gojo's sigh echoed in the silence that followed. "Fiiiine. Don't make too much of a mess!"
"Whatever you say, best buddy."
Planting both hands in his pockets, he sauntered away with a merry whistle in search of his prize. It wasn't hard to find them; they weren't making any effort to hide. He located them less than a block away perched on the rooftop of a nearby apartment complex. Just far enough to remain unseen, yet close enough to intervene should they deem it necessary.
He had his fair share of allies, admirers, and enemies.
.
..
...reality is often disappointing.
In short order, he found his little voyeur.
It was not who he had expected. Not at all.
Rather than old friend or amusing adversary, he himself facing a dark-haired woman wearing a dark maroon blouse alongside faded blue jeans and pale shoes. She looked downright normal...right until he beheld her blank eyes and scarred forehead. The very instant he did, his smile died an ugly death.
"Aw, and here I was hoping Yuki had come to visit." whiskered cheeks dimpled in a scowl." "Hello, Kenjaku, you little leech. I thought you knew better? Whose life did you snuff out this time?
"No one at all." the woman smiled in return, though it didn't reach her eyes. "She was already dead before I took her body. When did you notice me?
"Awhile ago. Why are you here?"
She only smiled. "Merely observing."
Ohhh, no. No, no, no. Not having that.
"That girl is my niece." He loomed over the monster masquerading as a woman. "What your plans for her are, drop them."
"She's one of yours, then?" the ancient cursed spirit looked past him to the beach below. "A pity. And I was so curious to see what Tengen would become without her...she would've been something wonderful."
A sudden gust of wind burst between them, carrying dead leaves with it. Two monsters gazed upon one another.
"...you really think you've figured everything out, don't you? But you haven't.
Kenjaku tilted her head. "And what makes you say that?"
"Because," His lips moved slowly, mouthing the words. "I know all about your..." The rest were stolen away by another gust of wind.
The cursed spirit before him went deadly still, eyes growing wide. "When did you...how did...?"
"I've been around longer than you. Don't test me. It won't end well."
Please test me. I'm so bored.
"It true, I've been cultivating a rather interesting experiment." she touched one hand to her cheek. "This body was a necessary sacrifice to that end. You could've been a part of it, you know." a dark tongue flitted out, licking her lips. I would've preferred you as my partner rather than that...louse."
"Pass." he swiftly crossed both arms before his chest, forming the distinctive shape of an X. "Hard pass. Sukuna will return when he's good and ready, with or without your meddling. I'll talk with my old friend then. Not before." There was something in her smile now, however, that irked him further. "You're getting too big for your britches again, Kenjaku. I've let you live because this world would be boring without a little chaos. Don't go mistaking my mercy for naivete, nor my laziness for generosity."
...as you wish. I shall withdraw for now. A shame I can't say the same for your comrade."
The barb stung. "You leave Toji to me. Now scram!"
"Very well," she sighed. "I can see when I'm not wanted."
An awful thought occurred to Naruto before she could escape
"One last thing, Kenjaku. Don't touch Geto. Find another shell for yourself."
My, my," she touched one hand to her face, the corner of her mouth twisting in a dead smile. "So demanding today. But I'm afraid I won't be able to do that-ack?!"
A spike of ancient killing intent drove the cursed spirit down to one knee. When she tried to stand, he drove an iron spike through her thigh, pinning her to the street. A savage twist broke it off several inches well above the wound, ensuring the mad puppeteer and his puppet body wouldn't be able to escape.
Only then did he deign to look down on the wretch.
"Don't get cocky, you inferior creature."
"Is that a threat, old friend?"
"Friend?" The notion appalled Naruto, so much so that he finally let himself smile then, revealing row upon row of sharp teeth. "We've never been friends."
"A pity." the entity's smile faded. "You do realize, of course, that this mean war."
"Is that what you're callin' this?" a low chuckle rumbled in his throat. "Bring them, then. Jogo, Hanami, Mahito and all the pawns you can find." he ticked them down on the fingers of his free hand. "I'll kill you all. It won't be fast. It won't be quick, and it won't be pretty. But if you don't believe me...
A blur flickered past his head, faster than the leech could see.
Naruto reappeared at his flan and walked past him, twirling the top of his skull over one finger, leaving the living corpse's brain exposed to the elements. Rivulets of blackened blood ran down Kenjaku's skull, spilling across his startled visage like so much rain. The startled noise Kenjaku made was sweet, sweet music to his ears.
"Here's a little taste of what will happen if you actually start a war with me and mine."
He dropped the brain cap and whirled, pivoted, really, muscle clenching as one.
There was ho time for his foe to react, much less vacate the space.
Clenched knuckles barreled into the cursed spirit's face.
"Know your place!"
(.0.0.0.)
Riko heard the explosion from afar.
It was something akin to a distant sonicboom; one moment she'd been playing happily in the shallows with her new friends, the next a dull "whump!" of sound filled the air and something shot across the horizon. If one were but to squint, they might've seen a distant figure crash into the sea far, far away.
Thankfully she was quite human, and thus quite ignorant of what just transpired.
In her mind, all was well, just as it should be.
Speaking of well, where was her-
Aha!"
"Uncle!" She saw Naruto a split second before he alighted in the shallows beside her. "You're back! How was your walk?"
"Enlightening." he granted her a parental smile and patted her head. "Are we having fun, dear niece?"
Gojo frowned. "That was pretty damn quick."
Geto seconded him. "Suspiciously so."
Uncle only smiled at them.
"Gojo. Geto."
Both boys turned to face him.
He grabbed them by their heads and-
CLONK.
They slumped at his feet, quite thoroughly stunned.
"There, that's much better." Still smiling, he slung the two thoroughly dazed boys over his shoulders, then turned to face miss Kuroi and her as a gobsmacked Seras looked on. "Now, then! I believe we have a plane to catch...
A/N: Enjoy your dip in the ocean, Kenjaku~!
I'm sorry, did you think Naruto was the good guy here?
Much like a certain Crimson F***er he does what he wants, when he wants.
Would you like weekly updates? Do you want this to remain a story? Yes? No? Maybe so? Make yourselves heard! Really need to hear from you, here.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this particular story, and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself isn't popular? Well...I'll not continue it. 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, and 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? Hope you enjoy the previews.
We've got some new ones and some are...intense.
They've been expanded and then some!
I cut down on them to not spoil things.
Read at your own risk:
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
SPOILERS AWAIT YOU!
YE BE WARNED!
(Previews)
He took Koroi's hand and kissed it.
Her eyes widened just so. And then she smiled.
"So you can be a gentleman when you want to be."
"Amanai! Duck!"
She obeyed without hesitation.
A bullet whistled harmlessly over her head...and landed in Naruto's palm.
Geto watched two monsters duke it out. Monsters. Yes, that was the word. They were just so damn fast...!
So this is what pain feels like. I'd almost forgotten."
"Seras! Time to use the canon~!"
"These are children, you idiot. Not monsters." Naruto looked away from the cage. "Where are their parents?
The portly man beside him bridled. "Dead, as they should be! Those two are the source of our village's woes! They're responsible for it all! If you won't kill them, then WE WILL-
Enough.
He slashed a hand backward, casually obliterating the man's skull before he could finish speaking. The woman beside him shrieked and tried to run, only to burst into blue flame before she could reach the door. She fell to the floor, shrieking, flinging herself around in a mad frenzy, trying to put the blaze out. He left her to that, uncaring as she expired; as the fire from her body began to engulf the room. Idiots, the lot of them. Sometimes he forgot how STUPID humanity could be.
Another flick of his fingers shattered the bars of the cage, freeing the occupants within.
"Well aren't the two of you just adorable!" he crouched down before the twins with a smile. "What're your names?"
...Hanako. the smaller girl mumbled.
"Mimiko." answered the other, warily meeting his eyes.
"Hmm. Alright then." he patted their heads. "You work for me now. How's that sound?"
...I've only ever met a handful from the Zen'in clan that I liked. Maybe we should teach the rest a lesson."
Geto sighed. "Naruto, no."
"You gonna stop me? What about you, Gojo? You saw what they did to Maki. Doesn't that make you angry?"
Satoru tilted his glasses down. "What're you suggesting?"
"Let me go for a walk."
"Isn't it obvious? You're weak.
"DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME! I'm going to enjoy swallowing up that smug face of yours!"
"Hey, Sukuna! Long time no see!
An eye creaked open.
"You again...?"
R&R~!
