A/N: Sorry for the delay! I am alive!
And with a double update day at that! Hope you appreciate it~!
Somehow, this surged past 1,100 hundred reviews very quickly while I was recovering, so here we are, ANOTHER early update!
Feedback really does kick me into high gear; if this chapter gets a good reception as well, then I'll do my best to update early once more, as I've been consistently doing for weeks now. Do let me know! In other news...
...I wanted to thank everyone for their support.
My health's been all over the place and now I'm being told I may have an irregular heartbeat due to COVID. Waiting on word from my doctor on that front.
I'm aiming to get back to "Apples and Atoms" "Doctor of Demons" along with my other categories. "Shed No Grace On Me" is also calling my name..
With my sixteenth-year-anniversary on this site rapidly approaching, 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. Feels like everyone's lost their minds sometimes. 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.
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 remains a story. Simple as that.
In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know~!
And remember, as stated prior, the names for Naoya's brothers are:
Naome (Eldest Son)
Natsuo (The Middle Child)
Natoshi (Second Youngest Before Our Boy, Now Very Much Dead)
Here we go! You've all been waiting for this chapter, I know.
I'll do my best not to disappoint you.
"Naoya Zeni'n. Its a pleasure to finally meet you face to face...
...I have awaited this moment for so long...
...so very long."
~?
You Are Cordially Invited
"An invitation from the Kamo Clan...?"
Maki and Mai scrutinized the letter over Naruto's shoulder; eyeing it like the riddle it was.
It was the former who adjusted her glasses and found her voice next. "Do we have relations with them?"
"Not particularly, but the clans have often set themselves against one another in the past." he looked back to the fine parchment and considered it anew, then reread it aloud for their sake. "Naoya, Maki, and Mai Zeni'n are hereby cordially invited for tea at their earliest convenience. I look forward to making your acquaintance. We have much to discuss."
How unlike the Kamo clan to reach out to the Zeni'n in such a manner.
But that was undoubtedly their seal etched into the wax.
"Is this a trap?"
"Could be," he shrugged, "But we haven't really done anything to tick them off, so...
Mai scoffed. "Do they even need a reason? The clans are always looking for a chance to one up each other...or knock one another down a peg. Its always been like that since the golden age of Jujutsu. The strong and crafty survive. The weak and naive get crushed. The Kamo themselves have always been known for their Blood Cursed Techique but little else, which is why they often take in anyone with a reputable curse technique. No one really cared until recently, but they've been experiencing an influx of skilled individuals as of late and-what?" She flushed beneath his and Maki's gaze once she realized they were staring at her. "Hey! Don't look at me like that! I did a bit of reading, alright? Forewarned is forearmed and all that...
Clever girl.
Naruto patted her head, drawing a pleased noise from his surly cousin.
"We have good relations with the Gojo clan, and the Kamo might not like that." he looked to Maki, saw her pout, and tousled her hair as well. "I've barely heard anything about this so-called princess of theirs."
"She has special eyes," Maki pointed out as he withdrew his hands. "Like you and Satoru."
His own eyes shimmered softly. "I know that much."
Really, this reeked of a setup. He was tempted to send Naobito ahead in his stead, since the old man was still nominally the clan head -for now!- but the letter was clear. Why did they want to see him, let alone Maki and Mai? When asked, neither had any answer and the three of them were left to dwell on it for some time.
"How boring." Sukuna's yawn echoed through his mind, piercing their doldrums. "If there's a trap, spring it. Make your enemies cower in their own domain...or yours, before you slaughter them."
His lips pursed at the thought. 'No. I'm not you; its not my way to butcher those who haven't raised a hand against me.'
"Yet you'd happily kill most of your clan."
'Most of my "clan" are old fogies and idiots clinging to past glories; imbeciles actively trying to handicap me or harm those I care about. That's different. They've more than earned my wrath.'
Dark laughter rippled into his thoughts. "Cheeky brat. Wake me when things finally get interesting."
The world snapped back and he found Mai tugging his sleeve. "What about Megumi and Tsumiki?"
Blast it all. Had she been saying something while he was distracted?
"What about them?" He feigned a shrug. "Toji can watch them."
Another thought occurred to him.
"Shukaku. Matatabi."
The little Biju appeared beside their respective masters in a plume of smoke, heeding his commands. Heh. They were growing but they were still just so small. Made him wanna pet them, ya know? They might not take too kindly do that, but he still wanted to nonetheless.
Mastering himself, he gave each of tiny beasts a stern look.
"Don't reveal yourselves to the Kamo clan unless they attack us, alright?"
That drew the inevitably expected protest from both Maki and Mai as well as them, of course.
"Awwwwwww!"
"But why?!"
As if he needed to explain...but better safe than sorry. "Because I'd rather not reveal you to the world unless I absolutely have to. Most might think you're Shikigami until you open your mouths. Talking cursed spirits are supposed to be rare, and I don't want them to try and take you. Am I understood?"
The quartet -human and biju alike- bowed their heads and muttered their assent.
"Good." he waved them on. "Go get ready. We leave within the hour."
No need to tell them twice; the twins scarpered.
He watched them flee with a rueful sigh; it was actually kinda nice when people took his advice, realized he was actually trying to help them, did as he said, and reaped the benefits. He could count the few who listened on the fingers of one hand. Maki and Mai, Satoru, then Hanami. Toji might be the fifth, but it had taken him years just to make him listen, let alone force him to be a proper parent. Mei Mei couldn't count for obvious reasons. He'd bribed her back then and was still bribing her now. So long as the cash kept coming, things would go smoothly between them.
Now if only things went so well with the Kamo...
.
..
...yeah, right. Just thinking of it threatened to tempt fate.
But then again, he'd fought fate before, and won, hadn't he?
He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Medusa."
The air rippled behind him as she appeared before him on bent knee, head bowed, still wearing her human guise. "You called?"
Opening his eyes, he looked her way. She wasn't going to like this. "I need you to keep an eye on Megumi and Tsumiki while I'm meeting with the Kamo Clan."
Her head snapped up as disbelief flashed across her face. "My place is with you."
"I'll be fine."
"You will not!" she burst to her feet, hair rippling ominously. "This is a trap. Can you not see?! For them to send you an invitation now of all times...!"
It was probably the work of his brothers, yeah. He'd figure as much.
Naome was a bit of a maniac as the eldest, but Natsuo was crafty. He had to be; he was the middle child after all, which made his position in the clan all the more tenuous. He wouldn't put something like this past him.
But last he checked, he didn't have the clout to pull of something like this.
Was he missing something here...?
"It probably is a trap," he temporized, steepling his fingers, "But if we spring it, we can figure out what our enemies are after." when her eyes flashed mutinously he held up a hand to ward her jujutsu off. "The way I see it, if they're after me, I can fight my way free while protecting Maki and Mai. If they want Megumi and Tsumiki, you and Toji will be more than enough to fend them off. Nobody will get hurt. And besides," he held up his hand, flashing the wooden ring Hanami had given him, still worn on his finger to this day. "I've got a few aces up my sleeves. And if push comes to shove...
Her hands balled into fists at her sides. "I do not like it."
Aw, jeez. She looked like he'd slapped her. "Medusa-
She stomped a foot, cutting him off.
"I said I do not like it! You should rely on me more!" she flung up a hand to her chest, voice breaking. "Trust me more! I'm stronger than her! Smarter! Faster! I'm better! I have been by your side all this time from the moment you gave me this power! But where has she been?! Nowhere! We haven't heard a word from her since she left! And now you trust her to swoop in and save you if things go south?!"
His face softened. "I do."
Medua's pale visage went red with rage. "Naoya!"
"And I trust you, too." he spoke over her outburt before she could build up steam. "Hanami swore a binding vow before Maki and Mai, but you didn't. That's why you're the only one I can trust with this. You adore Megumi and Tsumiki, don't you? I've seen you watching over them like a mama hawk ever since they came to the Zen'in clan."
Her mouth clicked open. Closed. Opened again. On and on it went, as she failed to find words.
Finally, a small whine escaped her lips.
"That's not fair...
"I know it isn't." he rose from behind his desk and circled round it to face her fully, knowing she wouldn't hurt him. "You've come a long way."
"No thanks to you." she looked away from him with a huff. "Must you walk into the jaws of the beast like this?"
He quirked a blond brow her way and threw her words back at her. "Must you phrase it like that?"
"Yes, we must." she crossed both arms before her bosom. "Fool of a boy...
He patted her arm and tried to reassure her the only way he knew how.
"Don't worry. I'm the strongest."
"You are not!" Medusa grabbed him by the face with both hands and hissed at him; flashing her fangs furiously. He let her, knowing she needed to vent. "There are monsters out there you haven't seen, horrors you cannot comprehend! You and Satoru are strong, I do not deny that, but even the strong can be toppled with careful planning."
"Which is why I have a plan," he reassured her. "Did you really think I'd walk into this blind?"
"Is that so?" she set her forehead to his. "Tell me your plan, then."
"Happily," he preened. "Lemme go and I will."
She relented and he did just that.
By the end of it, her eyes were wide indeed. "You're absolutely insane."
"Maybe." he shrugged one shoulder as she balked at him.
"Promise you'll summon me if need be."
"I will. But before I go...here." He held out his right hand, took hold of his pointer finger and flooded it with cursed energy, mingled with chakra...then tore it off. "Ow! Still hurts like hell!" Pain flared through his knuckle at the sudden separation but he grit his teeth against it and humbly offered the severed digit to his curse. "Take this."Just in case."
Her eyes lit up. "For me?"
"Yup." he regrew the lost finger With this, you might finally become a proper special grade."
She wouldn't be on the lower end of the spectrum anymore.
"And you're trusting me with this power?"
This would be her third finger. He wasn't sure if she could take a fourth and frankly, he wasn't willing to risk it. Every cursed spirit had a limit. Some had imploded outright after taking in a single finger. Others went mad. A few even tried to turn on him, drunk as they were on their newfound power. Medusa was the sole success for the time being, until he found a fox spirit. Maybe he should ask Hanami someday.
The band on his finger tingled at the thought as he rubbed it absently.
Medusa raised his offered finger to her lips and bit down.
"My thanks for the meal."
Crunch.
(.0.0.0.)
"So he's taken the bait, then."
"Of course he would."
"Now it begins."
(.0.0.0.)
The Kamo clan compound appeared harmless from the outside.
In terms of appearance it rather resembled the Zeni'n clan at a glance; in that it was isolated from the city and built in the traditional Japanese building style. A long winding stone staircase wound its way up the mountain leading up to a series of large buildings replete with beautiful flowing arches and towering crimson pillars, the very height of beauty...
.
..
...so why did he feel so anxious?
"..."
Sukuna was of no help at all naturally; bastard was sound asleep, just like he'd said he would be.
"Naoya?"
He looked down and found Mai gripping his right hand, while Maki had seized upon his left. The twin's expression mirrored the anxiety he felt within. He looked up the stone steps to the gate beyond. Something -someone?- was waiting for them up there. He could sense it; a quiet, brooding anticipation, a long placed yearning about to be realized. Worse, he couldn't tell if that emotion was negative or not, so nebulous was the feeling.
Whoever was pulling the strings here, they'd been looking forward to this for a very long time.
Was this really a good idea?
For a moment he was tempted to sweep them up into his arms, flood the place with shadow clones and bolt, to hell with his plan...but no. He couldn't do that now, could he? Well, he could, but he wouldn't. He'd planned this out painstakingly, down to the very last detail, and given Mei Mei a hefty bonus besides. Backing out now would only put all his hard work to waste and make him look bad. More than that, he'd feel like a coward and he'd never hear the end of it.
Rather than retreat, he knelt instead and drew the girls in for a quick hug.
"No matter what happens, stay behind me." he made a point to look each in the eye. "Alright?"
Maki and Mai nodded wordlessly over his shoulder. They trusted him implicitly, believed in him wholeheartedly; he could see it in their eyes as they drew back, even if he wasn't entirely sure he deserved said trust. That settled it. He'd make sure to get them out first if things went south. His safety was secondary. After all, he could heal himself. They could not.
Mustering up his courage, he released them, drew himself up, and marched up the mountain without looking back.
A spindly fellow with a pale face and long hair met them at the gate, wrapped in somber robes of black.
The moment he saw them, he smiled bowed deeply at the waist.
"You must be Lord Naoya."
...I am." what else could he say;here was no point in antagonizing a poor doorman. "We're expected."
"Yes, yes, of course," the strange man tittered eerily. "How very polite of you." his beady eyes narrowed upon Maki and Mai and his pallid visage stretched into a smile. "And these are your cousins, I trust?"
"They are." he wasn't giving this one anymore than he needed to; not with a creepy smile like that.
"Hmm. Younger than I expected. More's the pity, I suppose."
His brow furrowed. "Why's that...?"
The pale man smiled at him. "The young ones seldom last long here."
Maki and Mai shrank back behind him.
Naruto absolutely twitched.
Must. Not. Punch.
"If you'd be so kind as to let us in?"
"Yes, yes, of course." The doorman beamed. "Wherever are my manners? You must forgive me, its been ever so long since we had such esteemed...guests."
The gate creaked open behind him with a ponderous groan.
"If you'd be so kind as to follow me?"
Right now, he wanted to anything but that...yet he had no choice in the matter.
The man led them through a maddening maze of twisting corridors that only seemed to lead them deeper into the complex.
Occasionally he glimpsed some small signs of life; he even spied a nearby pond filled with koi fish at one point, flanked by a beautiful garden, yet both were devoid of people. Why? Where was everyone? He could Maki and Mai's mounting tension, mingled with confusion. They dared not speak a word. He couldn't even blame them. There were people here, he could sense it, but only a few dozen people, far from the hundreds he'd expected. Surely the Kamo had more people than this?
Something's off.
Something's off here.
Something's not right at all.
Abruptly the Pale Man stopped before a large good and stepped aside, bowing low. "My brother and the Lady of the Kamo clan await you within."
Maki and Mai tensed behind them.
The door swept open and in short order the three of them were ushered through,
He didn't miss the fact that it all but slammed shut on their backs.
...is someone there?"
A girl with short-cropped dark hair awaited them at the end of the room, sat before them atop a raised dais. Her eyes closed, her small body clad in a white robe.
Naruto nearly scoffed outright. Lady? She was just a kid! Like him!
But her eyes...
They opened as she raised her head and he beheld her gaze; a beautiful prismatic blue, yet something more, as though another light were lurking within. Movement shifted behind her as someone stepped out of the dark, emerging from the shadows at her right. They couldn't have been more different. This girl was small...
By contrast her guardian was terribly...Tall.
With a capital T! Taller than Toji even!
T-A-L-L~!
At a glance he looked lean, but looks could be deceiving, as he well knew. Clad in dark trousers with matching shoes and a loose green jacket besides, he radiated an eerie presence. His eyes lay hidden behind a pair of dark shades, darker even than his close-cropped hair, yet there was something strange about his cursed energy.
It wasn't human, but it wasn't quite a cursed spirit either, rather, it felt as though all his energy were trapped somewhere between. What was he? And why did it feel like he was actively suppressing the lion's share of his power? He didn't think him weak for a moment. That was his first thought as he beheld the stranger standing guard over the girl. No, if anything, this guy was strong. Dangerously so...
Sukuna perked up in his head. "Well, this is interesting. You attract all sorts of freaks, don't you?"
Naruto ruthlessly ignored that remark.
Because the girl had moved.
"Greetings, Naoya Zeni'n." she smiled up at him, having somehow crossed the room between one blink and the next. "Its a pleasure to finally meet you face to face."
When had she...?!
Maki and Mai jolted back with a yelp.
"I have awaited this moment for so long." The nameless girl's hands clasped his gently, little more than a brush of a feather. "So very long, now." She was the very picture of ethereal grace and for a fleeting moment he had the strangest sensation that he wasn't talking to a girl at all, but something...more. "You are exactly as I imagined you would be."
Still holding his hands, she bowed her head low in startling deference.
"My name was, or I suppose you could say still is, Shiki."
The very air shivered as she said her name.
Shaking himself out of his stupor, his gaze flitted past her, to the "And this is...?"
"Oh, him?" Shiki straightened and looked back to the massive man with a fond smile. "This is Toguro. He protects me."
At the mere mention of his name, the giant strode forward at lazy gait. Naruto wasn't fooled for a moment. He didn't see a single missed movement.
"Nice to meet you, Naoya Zeni'n." his voice was akin to a slow-moving avalanche rumbling its way down a mountain, yet it gave nothing of his intentions away. "I hear you're quite strong for your age."
Maki and Mai clammed up.
"Is there a reason you asked us here?
Shiki tilted her head to regard him as one might some shiny trinket. "Do I need a reason to make friends? You've been doing that yourself, lately. And besides," she looked to her minder once more. "Toguro asked after you so insistently. I thought it would be nice for you to meet."
...you honor me." Her bodyguard rumbled a sigh. "It was a passing interest, nothing more."
She granted him a small smile. "That's not what I recall."
"You're worse than Genkai, I swear...
Naruto blinked. "Gen-who?"
...its none of your concern." Toguro looked them over intently, considering each of them in turn. "I see the Sorcerer Killer isn't with you today. A pity. I would've liked to fight him again."
He removed his shades, revealing dark, almost soulless eyes.
The hairs on the back of Naruto's neck rose.
"I would like you to k-
The door crashed open, cutting him off.
"Sorry I'm late!" a light, breezy voice sang out. "Traffic was murder~! I ran into a stray curse on the way and killed it for you, too~!" Your welcome~!"
A lovely blonde blood-spattered. woman sauntered, clad in a black sleeveless top with blue jeans, boots thudding against the wooden floor.
By contrast, she didn't make any attempt to hide her cursed energy from anyone. It rippled forth from her in waves, strong and purposeful, enough to make even Toguro take notice. He didn't miss the way the man's lazy posture instantly snapped to attention at the sight. He couldn't blame him! If that man was a mountain hiding its peak in misty clouds, then this woman was an utterly unrestrained force of nature, someone who lived by her own rules, and all others be damned. He'd never felt cursed energy quite like this before.
This woman's a wild beast!
"Oh!" her eyes lit up at the sight of him. "Fancy meeting you here. You're that Zeni'n boy, right?"
Naruto looked left.
Naruto looked right.
Naruto didn't see a single soul to save him in sight.
Maki and Mai shook their heads, wanting no part of this madness.
"I'm going to say yes," he hazarded reluctantly. "Against my better judgement...
"Great!" the baffling buxom blonde brought her hands together with a delighted clap. "Then I have just one question for you. What kind of woman is your type?"
Naruto blinked at his fellow blonde.
He blinked hard.
"Ha?"
A/N: Aaaaaand cut!
And yes, Toguro is THAT Toguro.
I'll let you guess at what point he's here from; before or after his defeat.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter~! That said, 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 THEE~!
YE BE WARNED~!
(Previews)
Yuuki beamed. "Well, I was just passing through. The Kamo Clan's princess is quite the wonder, she might be able to make my dream a reality..
The ability to fear your enemies is one of your strengths. It forces you to reach your potential; pushes you beyond your limits.
But you haven't been scared enough. You're not ready for what lies ahead. You need some motivation.
That's why I've come here...
Toji planted a fist on his hip. "What have we learned?"
Megumi and Tsumiki groaned at his feet, thoroughly exhausted, unable to form words.
Well, they'd gotten the gist of it. If not, they'd pick it up sooner or later.
Naoya though running for ten miles was enough, eh?"
Twenty-mile runs it was!
"You will come with us."
Mai ripped her revolver from her belt and began loading the chamber with bullets.
"Did you not hear me, child?!"
"Hush." she held up a finger. "Almost done."
Her task complete, she closed the chamber and pointed her pistol their way.
"One of these six bullets is special." she smiled, mimicking a shit-eating grin she'd once seen Naoya use. "You feeling lucky punk?"
She mentally pumped a fist.
Yes! She finally got to use that line!
No way was she wasting his gift on a scrub of a kidnapper.
"Listen. That technique of yours is powerful, sure, but its also risky. And I told you to call me Gojo-senpai~!"
"I categorically refuse! Does it matter anyway? You have your Limitless, I have my Creation of All Things. We were born with these abilities."
"Maybe, but think of it like this. Dying to win and risking death to win are two completely different things. With a strong foundation, and a little bit of sense, imagination, even a pinch of regret, it just takes the slightest trigger to change a person...after all, this isn't your first life, is it, Naoya?
Wait, you know? How did you figure it out? I thought I did a good job hiding it from Maki and Mai.
You did for the most part, but its the eyes. People say eyes are the window to the soul.
Now, that we've determined that. Are you going to tell me you really are?"
Alright, fine. You win. My name, my real name is...
"Oi, now." his eyes began to glow. "That's my friend. GET YOUR FILTHY MITTS OFF HER."
"Listen to yourselves! Have you all bothered to think about what kind of person you're trying to curse?!
EDIT: Hope you enjoyed! Looking forward to your feedback~!
Hope you have a great day,
~Nz.