A/N: Site's finally fixed, so we're back! Unfortunately, poor Ronin is out sick, and Slifer is busy, so I guess I'm writing this chapter myself.

Hope you get better soon, buddy. Wishing you all the best and good vibes!

*cracks knuckles* Here we go! Hope you enjoy~!

As ever, the Embers rule remains. If people don't like this story? If they don't enjoy it? Well...I'll not continue it. That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days with two jobs; basically, I don't have time off. Not anymore. My free time is limited and as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like. Reviews keep me writing in these times, and keep the daily updates flowing. Silence...silence only hurts. I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact.

Looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back from work~!

Now for your questions, comments, and concerns! Its been a bit, so we'll limit it to three this time.

After all, this is the only way to respond to anonymous reviewers and those who have PM's disabled...

Q: Update schedule?!

A: *looks through notes* Trying not to post new stories, but I need to update Arcane, RWBY, Elden Ring, Demon Slayer and Bleach stuff. Not naming any names yet.

Don't want to disappoint anyone.

Q: Are you caught up on the events of Genshin?

A: ...I'm getting there. I can't play the game at present -no space on ANY of my devices- so I'm stuck using the wiki and youtube. Ayaka's "eternal" banner was still a thing when I finally ran out of space. That should tell you how far behind I am. Still, I'm at least aware of the Dendro Archon, seeing as someone spoiled me.

Q: Is Maeve canon or...?

A: As stated in the lore, Zhongli/Morax is a notorious shapeshifter. That's all I'll say for now.

Alright, then. I think I've kept you waiting long enough.

Hope you're ready; because this chapter's got a bit of everything in it!

As ever, I own nooooo references, quotes, memes or themes. Not a wit or a one. They're tributes, one and all~!

"Feeling better, are we?"

~?

Pay Your Dues

He heard them in his dreams.

A piercing crash. Elements clashing.

The panicked screams of people calling out to his Gnosis, to him.

And there, standing above the chaos...they stood. Five figures, swathed in shadow, yet bathed in light. It was an odd contrast, it took him a moment to realize what -who!- they were. What they were. One stood tall and proud, shrouded by by lightning, her eyes a deep violet. The second was small, so tiny as to be a child. She regarded him with open curiosity. The third he could barely see. The fourth turned their back entirely, ignoring him. He knew them all, despite never having met them.

Archons.

One by one, he watched them die.

Pryo sang a song of all-consuming madness and fell into their own flames. Hydro drowned in the deep. Electro mourned and crumbled into grief. Dendro wilted away with loneliness.

They vanished even as he reached for them, until finally, the scene shifted.

"Kurama? Oi!" His voice rang out into the void. "Kurama?! You there?! Answer me!"

All around him the darkness dissolved; in its place a palace of cold ice and stone was born.

He pivoted and found a young woman slumped in a frozen throne. Her face was shrouded in shadow, her eyes like ice. She looked up. The shadows fell away, revealing a timeless beauty he had no hope of describing, so he didn't even try. She saw him. He saw her. Through the dream -or was it a vision?- she stretched out a hand. His legs betrayed him and he found himself stepping forward. She didn't denounce him. Didn't ask him to kneel. She just...stared...

.

..

...and then she surprised him.

"I see you, newblood."

He froze.

"Our long-awaited meeting has come at last." her voice could summon a blizzard, though her smile thawed it. "Still, to think you would intrude upon my very dreams. How bold of you" Pale fingers drummed against her throne. "So new to the power, only a few days with your Gnosis, and already dream-walking." she laid a hand upon her chin, hummed, and tilted her head to regard him further. "Curious. Is this why old Morax took an interest in you? No matter. Just as you see my dreams, I see yours. The path goes both ways. Do you wish to wake?"

He managed an exasperated nod. "I...think that'd be best. I don't belong here." he cast a glance around to the silent soldiers. "Wherever here is."

"Here?" Full lips quirked in a smile. "You are in Snezhnaya, outlander. Welcome to the palace of the Tsaritsa." she raised a hand and his surroundings cleared completely. "To MY domain."

A frown creased his face. "You're acting like I should know you."

"You will, in due time." In a single fluid motion, she stood and laid a pale hand against his face. "As we both despise that blasted bastard Barbatos, I shall let you off with a warning. There will not be a second time. Do not touch my dreams without permission again. Archons may have the ability, but that does not grant us the right."

...who are you?"

Her smile seemed sad, somehow. "You already know my name."

Something tickled the back of his brain. He felt himself start to wake. "Wait!"

"I shall not, dear boy. Go bother the other Archons if you're that curious. Now, then...

Cold lips brushed his forehead.

...awaken."

Reality snapped back with a start. "Gah!"

It wasn't a gradual awakening by any means; one moment Naruto was glaring at the Tsaritsa; in the next, the gnosis in his chest screamed with green light, forcing him back to wakefulness. Dragged from his dreams, he gradually became aware of his surroundings, if only in part. The pounding headache -hangover!- did little to help. Ugh. Felt like Kurama was trying to claw his way out his head.

"I am not, thank you very much. And don't think so loud! I've got a headache, too...

'Right, right. Beidou's ship. We were drinking, weren't we?' He could recall that, at least. 'Think we had too much...

At least the bed was comfy. He'd pegged Beidou as the sort to have a water bed.

Kurama perked up in his head. "Oh? That's interesting."

Whiskered cheeks dimpled in a frown. What is?"

"See for yourself.

Naruto tried to move. Failed, because there was something gripping his left arm. A tremor of confusion shook his body. A faint sigh chased it. Said sigh didn't belong to him.

Baffled, he rolled over to see what it might be.

Who, actually.

He found Lisa nestled into his side, hair tousled in sleep, not a stitch of clothing to her name. Thin sheets concealed her hips from him but left everything else painfully, wonderfully bare. His eyes traveled down. Snapped back up to her sleeping face once more. Realization broke like the dawn and it was a powerful one indeed.

"Urk." he garbled oh-so-eloquently.

Faint breath tickled his right ear in a moan.

Oh, gods. There was someone else there, wasn't there?

"Please don't be Maeve, please don't be Maeve, please don't be Marve. For the love of the log...

He rolled in the opposite direction and opened his eyes Safe! Not Maeve! It was Beidou-wait, Beidou?!

The captain of the Crux clung to his right arm, burying it between her bare breasts. As he looked on she muttered something in her sleep and snuggled closer. Her head tucked into the crook of his neck. Chestnut hair tickled his nose. She mumbled something else and sounded an awful lot like the word mine. Aw. For all her crass language, she really was kinda adorable when she was asleep. Not that he'd ever say it to her face. As entertaining as that might be, he didn't feel like fending off a feisty pirate.

'And speaking of feisty...yup. Not surprised.

He looked down, unsurprised to find himself in a similar state of undress.

So that hadn't been a dream after all. Memories rushed back and for a moment, all thought was subsumed.

Beidou holding him from behind as a half-dressed Lisa planted herself in his lap. Hips grinding against his. Warm lips nibbling against his ear as she ran her nails down his back-gah!

Heat seared through his cheeks in scarlet, but he didn't cry out. There was no panic, no thrashing, nothing beyond that faint flush. Why would there be? They were all of them consenting adults. Sure, copious amounts of booze were involved, but he'd been more than aware enough to say no. To remember almost every moment.

Really, there was need to move at all, really...'cept he had to take a leak.

With a painstaking effort, Naruto raised his arms.

His fingers crossed in a familiar seal.

(.0.0.0.)

Maeve was waiting for him on deck.

Naruto sensed the negotiator long before he saw her; if only because her Gnosis was impossible to miss. It burned in the back of his mind, a blazing brand he couldn't ignore. How he'd been blind to it before, he'd never know. That she was allowing him to see it now, to sense her, implied at least some semblance of trust. Sure enough, he found her perched near the bow on the railing, drinking languidly from a slender glass and bottle of...

Osmanthus wine.

Wait. How did he know that?

He touched a hand to his chest and grimaced. Blasted bloody Gnosis messing with him again...

Still, he didn't much feel like dealing with her right now. She wasn't an enemy. He could accept that much now. Even so he had no desire to get caught up in her schemes this early in the morning. Knowing her, she'd drag him into something else. If he could just slip past, grab a bit of grub from the galley and sneak back...

He made it all of nine steps before a board creaked treacherously underfoot.

...crapbaskets.

Maeve hummed from her perch, oozing silent satisfaction. "Sleep well?"

Naruto turned to face her. His shoulders slumped when he saw her expression. "Not one damn word."

The gnosis-holder didn't grin. She was far too professional for that. She simply smiled and continued to enjoy her wine.

"Come now, its nothing to be ashamed of." Golden eyes crinkled in thinly-veiled mirth when he sputtered. "Affairs such as these were quite common in my day. Still, the three of you were quite loud. I take it you had a rather memorable experience?" She smiled into her cup as heat speared up the back of his neck. "It is good of you to seek solace in these trying times. You will need it, going forward."

"What trying times?"

Her silence was the answer.

Naruto pinched the bridge of his noise. "You're not gonna tell me, are you?"

"You're learning." this time she wasn't quite able to hide her smile in her glass. "If I told you everything that was to come, you'd never learn. Ah, but I'm being rude." she looked past him, toward the dock. "It would seem I'm not the only one who wishes to speak with you this morning."

Naruto craned his head to the left, following her gaze. His senses opened up.

Just a well they did; because she was on him a second later.

"PAIMONIAL WRATH!"

He grunted as a heavy tome crashed down into his head and turned a weather blue eye upward. "Morning, Paimon. Did you sleep well?"

The little fairy hovered above him, borrowed tome in hand. She didn't look much pleased.

"Why'd you leave Paimon alone with Shenhe?! She's all grumpy and whoozy and and...hey! Stop messing with Paimon's hair! Hey!" she windmilled her arms to no avail when he dragged her into his chest and did just that, tousling her white tresses. "Paimon is not a pet!"

"Awww," he nuzzled her, "I missed you, too!"

"Paimon will get you for this!"

Shenhe traipsed up the ramp at speed, distracting him and denying further teasing. It gave Paimon the chance to escape and hide behind Maeve. He let her go. Blue eyes sought Shenhe out instead, narrowing now as she wobbled a little on deck. She was sulking. Wasn't hard to see; she'd always been easy to read, now moreso than ever without her red ropes. He could guess why...

She stalked right up to him -staggered really- and stopped a hairsbreadth away.

He grinned down at her. "Something wrong?"

She scowled. "You smell like them."

...yeah." he winced and scratched the back of his head. "Its a long story."

Shenhe folded both arms beneath her breasts looked away with a huff. "I still kissed you first."

He almost laughed, but caught himself at the last. "That's what you're upset about?"

She turned blazing eyes on him and reached up, threading both arms around his neck.

Naruto knew what was coming when she leaned in. Even he wasn't that dense. It would've been so easy to dodge, to nudge her away, claim he was too tired from his hangover. He did none of those things. Instead he met her halfway, capturing her lips with his. Her mouth was warm on his, the startled noise she made the sweetest music to his ears. Said noise swiftly became a growl as she pushed up against him. Firm hands locked around him and pushed him back. His shoulders collided with the mast.

Shenhe slammed into him.

Without the wine dulling his senses he was intimately aware of everything. Her body pressing up against him, the fullness of her curves under his hands, even the retching sound Paimon made in the background.

"Ewwwww! What're you doing?! Paimon can't unsee that!"

It gave him the strength he needed to draw away. "Satisfied?"

She blinked up at him, eyes glazed. Her fingers fisted in his jacket. "No. Clothes off. Now. I want my turn."

Kurama howled with laughter.

Naruto did not!

"Oi!"

Mercifully, Maeve rescued him before she could make good on her threat. "Would the three of you mind joining me for a walk?"

Paimon rounded on her. "Why?"

Maeve smiled. "Consider it a favor."

Shenhe scowled. "Don't want your favors."

She pounced. "I'll treat the three of you to breakfast."

"Paimon has reconsidered!"

Naruto quirked a brow. "...with what money?"

"Come now, I'm not that poor. Childe was kind enough to leave me some funds."

Shenhe gave him a baleful look. "No alcohol this time...?

"My, still so wary. Worry not. I merely wish to...confirm something." There was an odd hint in her words, a subtle plea for aid. "Your friends shan't wake up for quite some time. Our business will be done long before they stir from their slumber. Although," she touched a finger to her chin, frowned, shook her head. "No, we can deal with that later."

"Deal with what?"

His gaze sought out the adepti disciple. "I believe your friend knows."

Shenhe looked aside. "...I see. You want to deal with the rats."

Paimon tilted her head. "Are you calling Paimon a rat?"

"More a winged squirrel, really, but no."

"Hey!"

Naruto shushed her. "Shenhe!"

"What?" The spear-wielder glared at her feet. "She asked."

Maeve hid a smile behind a gloved hand. "If the two of you quite done?"

...fine. But there better be a good reason for this, or we'll be having words. Remember, you promised breakfast."

"And I shall deliver." she sketched a bow. "I'm a woman of my word. This way, if you please. It won't take but an hour. Help me with this, and you shall have the finest of feasts."

In the end, what choice did he have? Maeve clearly wasn't going to let this rest; if he tried to fob her off now, she'd just keep pestering them. Best to see what she wanted and be done with it. He didn't think she was the sort to stab him in the back, but better safe than sorry. He could take her in a fight, and with Shenhe present...yeah. He liked his chances.

...fine."

They followed Maeve off the boat, down the dock, and into the city proper. Sights and sounds and smells assailed them, but he paid little mind to them. Maeve led them through the market, taking them on a winding path deeper into the heart of the city. He snagged an apple from a passing cart for Paimon -after flinging a bit of Mora their way- and soon enough, the little fairy was mollified.

Shenhe wasn't. He could feel her bristling beside him, expecting an ambush at any moment.

Well, she wasn't wrong. He sensed someone nearby.

Several someones, at that.

"Hmm." Maeve led them into an abandoned alley, paused in the middle, then nodded once as though affirming something. "Yes, this place will do nicely. You may reveal yourself now, miss." Silence reigned supreme. Her eyes hardened when no response was forthcoming. "Nothing to say? I see. Shall I drop a meteor on Mondstadt, then? Will that drive you out?"

Naruto knew the threat for an empty one -there was no killing intent behind it- but their observer clearly didn't. He felt a spike of anger lance through his temples as something or someone reacted poorly to her threat. A sigh trickled through his lips. A blind man could see what was coming.

"I can't take you anywhere."

The temperature plummeted in the next instant.

A lance of ice whistled past and struck the mouth of the alley, freezing it shut and denying them their exit.

Another whistled their way. Paimon ducked behind him with yelp. Shenhe kicked up her lance with one heel, swatting it aside into a nearby building. It struck a wall and coalesced their, tendrils of thorny frost crept across the brickwork. No one was inside, but the gesture spoke for itself. Their assailant clearly possessed a Cryo vision of sorts; and she wasn't above firing off more of those spears.

Maeve tutted. "Some things never change, no matter the era...

Naruto wasn't surprised to see the Nun from before emerge from the fog; he'd already known she was watching them.

And surprise surprise, she barred their path. "Answer my questions and I'll let you go."

He held back a sigh. "What would that be?"

"Are you a threat to Mondstadt?"

That was it? Easy. "Nope."

"Prove it."

He shrugged. "I can't. You'll have to take my word for it."

In his sixth sense, her emotions darkened, like a blackened cloud.

...he really was right about you." she hung her head. "I need more than words." a spear appeared in her palm, dark and twisted. "You say one thing and do another. You command incredible power, yet you use it without regard for others and for what?" without warning she raised her gaze, and something bleak flashed through her pale visage. "You're just the same as them, aren't you?"

Naruto squinted. "Them...?"

Maeve pursed her lips. "Something's not quite right here...

She wasn't wrong about that...

Shenhe bridled at his side. Naruto waved her down. Something ancient stirred in him, responding to the nun's threat.

"Dear girl," he stepped forward, almost felt like something were speaking through him, with him. "If by some chance I were a threat, you wouldn't be able to stop us. Now, move. I'm not in the mood for this. I don't have to prove anything to you.

Rosaria sighed. "Pray, not for the gods, nor the betterment of others. But for yourself."

...pardon?"

She stepped in with liquid speed and slammed he lance at his face.

"Sorry." He slapped it aside, scowled a little when a thin slice of red opened in his cheek. "Never been one for praying...ouch!" his face twisted as she smashed a heel into his side. "That's a mean kick you got there, lady! Aren't you supposed to be a nun?!"

"You want me to act like a nun? Fine!" Rosaria lunged at him. "False god! DIE FOR YOUR SACRILEGE!"

He danced back, fending her off with one hand. "Nevermind! Don't act like a nun!"

Shenhe stepped in behind her, frost trailing from her eyes.

Her halberd screamed down, catching the maddened Rosaria in the ribs. The nun rocketed backward.

"What's gotten into her?"

"She's not alone," Maeve tutted. "You may come out now, Childe.

A beat of silence passed, broken only by the nun's own labored breathing. And then.

"Awww." A long, drawling sigh pierced the air; then a familiar figure sauntered around the corner, rubbing the back of his head with a chagrined expression. "You got me." he stepped over Rosaria's trembling form, wholly at his ease. "What gave me away?"

Maeve tapped her forehead. "You have an exceptional lust for battle."

"Heh." A selfame shrug was his reward. "Guess there's no hiding that, is there?" He looked down at Rosaria. "Wow. They really cleaned your clock, didn't they. Need a hand...?"

Shenhe tutted once. "Working with a Harbinger? For shame."

The nun bristled.

"I am not working with him." Rosaria righted herself with a grimace. "Our interests happen to align. That's all. You're a danger to Mondstadt. The sooner I see you out of the city, the better."

Their eyes fell upon him.

Naruto blew out a sigh, fought down a scowl, and plastered a smile he didn't feel to his face. "Right, you're that guy from last night. Whaddya want?"

"So cold!" Childe feigned a shiver. "And here I thought we could be friends."

His brow furrowed. "I'll be friendly once you tell me what you're after."

"Straight to business, then? Alright." the man cracked his knuckles. "I can respect that. Hand it over." a hand rose, beckoning. "That thing in your chest. Your Gnosis."

He quirked an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Afraid that's a bit of a state secret, friend. Cough it up right now, or we'll have ourselves a fight. Please put up a fight." he almost begged the last bit. "I'm itching for a good brawl. Its no fun when they don't fight back, ya know?"

"Hey! That's my line."

His eyes drifted to the hydro vison he wore. Could he duplicate the feat he'd performed with Shenhe? The blue bauble brightened a little under his gaze. It twitched toward him.

His hand snapped up. The vision didn't budge.

"Well, well! Childe's grin grew. "You're the real deal, aren't you? But you won't find it so easy to take my vision. I have the Tsaritsa's protection.

The woman from his dream...? No, don't think about that right now. "Even though your Vision's clearly a water one...?"

"Even so."

Fine. He was feeling nice and loose after Lisa and Beidou knuckled all that angst outta of him. A brawl was just what the doctor ordered. He shucked his jacket. Paimon caught it a yelp and flitted backward behind Maeve, the latter looking on with a chagrined expression.

"Hmm. Pity she can't protect you from this."

Clenched knuckles snapped forward at speed. Childe crashed bacwkward, tumbling head over heels. His fist caught then tore through a building, steadying himself. He crooked a hand their way with a saccharine smile, making a come-hither motion with his fingers. Water daggers swarmed to his hands-no, a bow now. Could he switch freely between the two?

Shenhe stalked past him. "The nun is mine."

"All yours~!"

Childe was on him an instant later.

"Yes." that smile was still friendly, but now it had an edge to it. "That's more like it."

Naruto grabbed his spear, using it to slap away the offensive attack, pushed Paimon out of harms way, then stopped the second sword with his elbow. All in an instant. The impact rattled his arm and had him gritting his teeth. He held firm, scowling even as it bit into his arm. Still clutching the spear in his off hand, he put both together; fingers forming the perfect position to summon a shadow clone. A faint flicker of surprise was all he saw in Childe's face before said clone swung.

Did he relish the crack of bone that followed? Maybe. Just a little.

His attacker stumbled back, clutching their ribs.

"So you've got some skill after all!"

His spear swept in, smacking him upside the head. He staggered and tried to come about. Too slow. Clenched knuckles barreled up, trailing motes of green light. Childe managed to cross both arms before his face; for all the good that did him. He rocked backward, pivoted, returned the favor.

Naruto's head snapped back in a shower of blood. Bastard was faster than he'd expected.

His eyes sparked green. "Good hit."

Then he struck back.

Childe slashed upward with a laugh.

Their world erupted into a torrent of blinding light

A/N: And we'll cut it there for now.

We've got ourselves a brawl next chapter; and its gonna be a doozy~!

Once more, the Embers rule remains. If folks don't like this story? Well...I'll not continue it. That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days; basically, I don't have time off. Not anymore. My free time is limited and as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like. Reviews keep me writing in these times, and keep the daily updates flowing. Silence...silence only hurts. I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact.

Right then, as ever, Reviews are love, Reviews are Life.

Reviews keep me safe from any and all strife.

So in the immortal words of Atlas...

...review, Would You Kindly?

Every bit helps out!

(FUTURE! Previews?)

Some are very far out indeed...

Hope you enjoy the taste of what's to come. HOLD ONTO YOUR HATS!

(Previews!)

"You're afraid this fight will be boring...?" blood spattered the floor, followed by a throaty chuckle. I'll spice it up for you then!"

What is that...?

"Foul Legacy - The Devouring Deep." Maeve stepped up beside him. "A powerful transformation...and a costly one. He must feel cornered."

Your strength is praiseworthy. I, too, shall use all of mine.

Laughter.

"When did you get the impression I was trying?

Childe was laughing.

It took Naruto a moment to realize he was, too.

Against all odds, he was enjoying himself. The Harbinger, it seemed, was a man of his word.

They ranged back and forth like madmen. Trees flew through the air. The heavens rattled when their weapons clashed. Once. Twice. Thrice. Smash! Smash! Smash! Sparks flew as they crashed into one another time an' again. Gold clashed against baleful blue-violet.

He swept low. Childe, high. Spear met lance as they strove against one another.

"Don't dissapoint me, partner!"

"Wouldn't dream of it!"

She couldn't scry them.

In truth, Mona was almost afraid to try.

"Sneakedy-sneak...

"Paimon, what are you doing-

"Shhh! Paimon can be useful, too! Just watch!"

"Stop! Both of you! You'll wreck everything!

They didn't stop.

...what are you?"

"Do you understand now, little nun? This is order."

~Nz.