A/N: By popular demand, here we are.
I wanted to update Shed No Grace On Me today, but I just didn't have the time to finish the chapter...T_T
That's the problem with longer chapters, they take time, and loads of it. I'll find some, don't you worry, it just won't be until the weekend. Possibly Saturday or Sunday.
So I'm going around updating the more hotly requested stories now that I've got a few co-writers helping me out out.
As ever, the Embers rule persists. If folks don't like this? Poof! Gone! To the void it goes. So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews -your voices!- matter! Really, they do! That's no joke. I don't have days off anymore -two jobs will do that to you- and I'm working myself to the bone.
Now for your questions, comments, and concerns. As ever Feel free to skip this bit, if you like.
Q: Update schedule?
A: Rise of a Beast Hero is coming, but beyond that, its a bit of a tossup this week. For once, I genuinely don't know what I WANT to update this week or when. Nothing's concrete yet. Ideally I'd like to update everything weekly, heck, DAILY even, but with two jobs I'm pressed for time and quality. That said, I might be quitting one of said jobs very soon -had just about enough of all that verbal abuse- and in turn taking up another, more accessible one in its place, so hopefully things will get easier.
Because honestly? It feels like I'm losing my mind here...
Q: How broken is An's semblance?
A: VERY. She's rusty from a life of peacetime, but quite dangerous. Of course she is. This is Ren's future mother, after all...
Q: Oi, oi, oi! Jut how big is this harem?!
A: Small at best, smaller than what I usually do, and a bit of a slowburn at the moment. Right now, raising little Yang and keeping her safe is Naruto's main priority. He hasn't had the TIME to even consider romance, hence why he's so baffled to have three -possibly four- ladies after him.
I think we all know who they are by now.
Alright then, I've kept you waiting long enough now, haven't I? Lets jump back into things.
As ever, I own no quotes, references, themes or memes. Not a wit or one!
Hope this brings a smile to your face in these crazy times~!
"HA!"
"Why do you laugh?"
"Don't you see? I was right. At the end of the day, Naruto really is-
~Invincible.
Train the Girls
Be wary with she who holds her words, for they are biting as a blizzard.
Be wary when making deals with a sly spider. You're like to get tangled in their web.
Beware the raven, for she is a flighty and often craven creature, prone to fits of madness.
Be very ware indeed of the woman who who once dipped her hands in blood, for they will never truly be clean again.
But fear the fox above all. He's likely to trick you without you even realizing it, to win you to his side before you realize what's happening.
Which is more dangerous, I wonder?
(.0.0.0.)
The dagger slammed up at Naruto's throat.
Less than a second to glimpse his reflection in that ebony steel it, even less to move. And so he acted. Rather than retreat like any sane person he slammed his head forward. Stainless steel struck the fortified metal of his headband and skittered hard to the right, forcing the dagger-and the hand grasping it!-out of balance. He followed through with a grin, using the headbutt to carry his momentum forward, spin under the counterstrike that followed and thrust an open palm at their torso.
His hand passed through empty air.
Far from being dissapointed, the whiskered warrior felt his spirits soar at the near miss. Fly now, when his foe grasped his wrist using it as leverage to swing her body around, up, then over. An ankle smashed into the side of his neck, bending his head to the left and producing an almost pleasant ache. This time he couldn't quite contain his grin. He flicked a kick of his own her way, only for her to meet it with her knee. For all her speed, she was still weaker than him, however. He heard the creak of bone and felt her aura sizzle. The impact drove her back half a pace; he used the brief lull to harry her, striking at her vitals.
She dropped flat to the floor and swept his legs. The world went sideways, steel flashing out as he fell.
'Cheeky little...!'
An open palm slapped against the mat as he took the full weight of his body and pivoted into a flowing handstand. What was once a lurching fail morphed into a vicious spinning kick; one that caught his foe full on the chin and sent her sprawling. She went down for all of two seconds. He knew, because he counted them.
Then she was on him again; knife weaving a curtain of steel death before him.
Her fist sought his chest and he smacked it away, only for her to return in kind with her dagger. He slapped it out her hand. That only made her even more dangerous. On and on they went, ranging back and forth like a hurricane; a deadly dance that promised defeat or death to the first who faltered. She gave ground when he picked up the pace, forcing him to pursue her, and he in turn.
Counter. Feint. Block. Riposte. Grapple.
It was, in a word, glorious. He just couldn't pin her down!
...enjoying yourself, are we? Haven't seen you smile like this in a while."
Naruto bit his tongue to stifle a smile. He really was, strange as it might sound. His adversary was skilled; quite possibly the most skilled close-combat fighter he'd ever seen. She could've taught Lee and Neji a few things in sheer technique alone. Her form was some mad blend between the two, with bits of knifeplay interposed between. Just how many daggers did she have up those long sleeves of hers?
It proved a worthy challenge.
She leaped in and kicked him again, smashing a slipper-clad foot into the the side of his head to bend his neck to the left. This time, he didn't let her escape.
"Thanks for that." five firm fingers flitted up, snatching her leg and holding it there she could vault away again. "Had an awful crick there. You cleared it riiiight up."
An Ren glared back, bright eyes flashing with mirth as held her. "Sturdy bastard."
Naruto laughed in return. "Slippery witch."
He was still laughing when she twisted her other leg around his thigh and lunged, and all but mounting him. Her dagger flicked in at his eye, forcing him to twist aside and fling her toward the ceiling. Credit where it was due, she didn't let it phase her. A quick twist in the air gained her the high ground for a moment; she used it to rain knives down on him. Faced with such a deadly hail, discretion proved the better part of valor, causing he kicked he batted them aside.
Only took his eyes off her for a second, really.
The moment he did, she was behind him.
There! An opening! Swing!
"Owowow!" An Ren tumbled to the floor, clutching her chest with one hand. "Right in the boob! Damnit, you hit hard!"
"Shit." a stab of guilt pricked at him as he lowered his stance and rushed over to her. "I'm sorry-
A knife tickled the inside of his left nostril. He froze.
"Stop." her smile was still there, but the words proved a dangerous purr, a gentle reminder of what she could do given the opportunity. "I'm rusty, not weak. There's a world of difference between those two words." soulful pink eyes regarded him intently, half-lidded and brimming with thinly veiled desire. "Don't take it easy on me like you do Raven."
Yang's mother swore from the sidelines, still struggling with her crutch. "Piss off! Once I get my legs working proper, you're next!"
"Brrr." the former killer lowered her weapon and feigned a shiver. "I'm quivering in my slippers."
Raven made angry Raven noises. "Just you wait...!
"Less talk, more walk." Naruto ushered her forward. "One foot in front of the other."
His words achieved the desired effect; if there was one thing Raven hated, it was being babied. Her good eye flashed as the one-armed woman dragged herself onward, determined to make another lap around the ring or die trying. They really did need to get her a prosthetic one of these days. He would've by now, if it didn't mean deepening his debt to Miss Malachite...
"Speaking of which," An continued on apropos of nothing, "How's the Schnee doing?"
Willow skated past them on a road of gleaming glyphs, carrying little Weiss in a sling at her chest. She was the very picture of poise.
An clicked her tongue. "And they say my semblance is broken...
Naruto hid a smile behind one hand. Miranda had been as good as her word; Raven was all but recovered from her injuries. Still it would take time for her to walk without excruciating pain, much less train herself back the fierce fighting form she'd once had. Until she could fend for herself without falling over every five seconds...well. Better safe than sorry, as they say.
Really, what was six more months compared to that? In truth he didn't care, so long as Yang was kept safe.
An underground gym sounded cliche on paper, but where else could they go to train? An was rusty after years of peace while Raven remained a wanted woman, which made him wanted by association. His agreement with the Malachites didn't exactly do wonders for his reputation. Really, Willow's prestige wasn't much better than theirs. Head of the SDC or no, she could hardly be seen with them. Honestly, the only ones who could even be remotely called clean were-
A hand tugged at his sleeve. "Ahem."
Naruto looked down. Speak of the devil. Winter glared up with baleful blue eyes, cradling Yang in one arm. The little blond was all but thrashing in her grasp, determined to escape. Didn't take much to guess why. Winter was a good babysitter when it came to looking after Yang and Weiss, but Yang was every bit her mother's daughter. In short..
"She's getting fussy again. Wants you."
He quirked a blond brow. "Does she now?"
Her right eye twitched. "Take her this instant or so help me, I will stab you in your sleep."
"Da!" Yang cried and flailed pudgy little arms at him, heedless to the byplay between them. "Up, up!"
He took her with a smile...and one last parting jab. "You know Winter, if you keep scowling like that, you'll crack your face."
Winter flipped him off, huffed, and stalked over to her mother. Poor girl. She really was too easy to tease. Maybe Raven was rubbing off on her after all...
"I think she's warming up to you."
"Sarcasm does not become you, Kurama." A rueful smile touched the corner of his mouth.
Even now, more than a year after the fact, he wasn't quite sure Winter would ever forgive him for what he'd done to Jacques. He wondered if she ever would. Monster or not, the man had been her father after all. She had mourned him in her own way, grieved as her mother hadn't. In many ways he'd deprived her of her future. Nothing short of time and affection could mend that wound...well, that, and maybe a few gifts. Ought to stop by the bookstore later and get her something. That might help-ow!"
"Da!"
Yang got a handful of his hair and yanked, demanding attention as only a toddler could. His gaze swung back to the lively little lass and found a few stray strands of golden hairs in her hand. She waved them about like a badge of honor. Lilac eyes sparked with intermittent bursts of violet flame as she grinned up at him. Gods, she was growing so fast.
"Whose daddy's strong little girl~?" He cooed and nuzzled her nose with his own, drawing a giggle from his ward. "You are~! Yes, you are~!"
"Boop!" She swatted him on the nose hard enough to make him see stars. It drew a startled blink from him.
His eyes narrowed. Then his fingers danced across her ribs. "This means war!"
Yang squealed. "Tickles!"
An's scroll clicked behind him. Great. Another photo for the album.
"You've gotten better at this." she sidled up to him, leaning against his arm. "Not bad for a first time parent."
"Really didn't ask to be a parent, but meh," he shifted his grip on Yang and tucked her into his chest, letting her play with his jacket. "Maybe its not so bad."
An quirked an eyebrow. "You did not just say that."
"Shadow clones, remember? Eaaaaassssyyyy."
She fell silent for a moment, and he with her, a comfortable pall broken only by the sound Raven's laps, little Winter's training, and Willow's glyph-work. Neither spoke. It felt...nice. Not perfect, nothing in life was, but still this serenity was his. He knew it couldn't last forever, but there was a part of him that wanted to cling onto it regardless, hold to it with all of his heart...
.
..
...
Which was why it came as something of a shock when An stood on her tiptoes, leaned up, and kissed his ear.
...would you like a son?"
Naruto's brain fizzled.
His face burned red.
"Kidding!" she danced away, grinning like the cat that caught the canary. "I'm kidding." A merry pink eye shone over her shoulder as she sashayed to a safe distance. "Or am I~?"
He didn't think she was. There had been something in her words just then, a hint of longing he'd almost missed. She wasn't pulling a Malachite on him, was she...? He could hear her heart racing in her chest, but as ever, her emotions were a tangled knot he couldn't hope to decipher. Miranda made sense, at least. An just confused the hell out of him.
"How about another round?" As though sensing that very thought, she pivoted to face him fully. "Whaddya say we make a game of it?"
He handed a cooing Yang off to a shadow clone and bid his doppelganger step back.
...I'm listening."
"If you manage to knock me on my ass in the next...hmm...thirty seconds, I'll watch Yang and the girls for next...lets say two days. Let you get some sleep." when he didn't interrupt, her smile gained an edge. "Sounds fair, right? But if I win...you have to take me to dinner."
His lips pursed in a thin line. "This sounds oddly skewed in my favor...
"Here, I'll prove that I can handle you." she spread her arms wide. "Hit me. Full strength. I'm ready this time."
Naruto winced, imagining it. "Bad idea, even for you. I'll tear you apart."
She grinned, and it was the smile of a killer. "Chicken?"
"An, no." he shook his head. "I'll break you in half."
"Coward, then."
She was baiting him and he knew it. Still stung, though. "Oi!"
An Ren flapped her hands at her sides and made clucking noises. "Bwack-bwack!"
He snapped forward. His fist slammed into...an open palm?!
Kurama chortled. "Well, that's certainly something...
Naruto disagreed! "How did you just...?"
"Survive?" She hummed a little, black marks still scrawling across her skin, swarming up her neck and chin and now her face like eldritch vines. "Told you I don't break easy. My semblance ain't a one trick pony, buster. It makes killing easy an' all, but it also gives all sorts of benefits...including strength from each kill." Her eyes flashed as those writhing marks continued to creep up, lending her visage an almost demonic apppearance. "Care to guess how many guys I offed when they came for Raven and Yang?" her voice took on a merry, almost lilting tone. "There were an awful lot of 'em...
...uh-oh.
Naruto swung at her with his other hand. She caught that, too. Barely. He could see the sweat beading on her brow, but still, she held him, if only for a moment.
It was enough. She tilted her head slightly, long hair falling over one bright eye. "My turn."
Then she launched him through a wall.
A/N: Feels good to write another chapter for this.
As ever, the Embers rule persists. If folks don't like this? Poof! Gone! To the void it goes. So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews matter! Really, they do! That's no joke. I don't have days off anymore -two jobs will do that to you- and I'm working myself to the bone.
So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews matter!
That's no joke! I can't write without feedback. Guess that makes me weak...T_T
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review Would You Kindly?
And enjoy the previews!
Potential ones at that.
Also, references.
(Previews)
Boss wants to see ya."
"How was your day, dear?"
Miranda Malachite looked far too smug.
Sat in a simple high-backed chair, she smiled at him, crossing one slender leg over another.
And what she was wearing...his mouth went dry. "Won't you come in?"
"Congratulations. You've earned some peace and quiet. But how long will it last, I wonder?
How long until the next problem comes along? What then?
I have a proposal for you."
"Twins."
He plonked down into the seat.
"Have a drink, they said. You'll be fine, they said...
Qrow kept drinking. It kept the pain away.
Fuck Mistral. It took his sister and his niece. Whole damn place could burn for all he cared.
If there WAS a Maiden in Mistral, she was doing a damn good job at keeping her head down. Better than the other ones-
"Watchoutwatchoutwatchouuut~!"
Buzzed or no, Qrow still had a Hunters instinct; he heard the vice and stepped aside with seamless grace; dodged a tiny flash of long, tawny blond hair, watched it kick off a nearby wall and keep running. Lively lilac eyes flashed over her shoulder as she grinned back at him, never once pausing.
"Sorry!" her voice trailed after as she hurtled around the alley and out of sight.
"Bah. Cute kid. He ignored the girl's halfhearted apology and drank deeply from his flask. "Seems familiar...
Realization clicked. Red eyes bulged.
Booze sprayed the wall.
"Waitaminute!"
Lionheart quivered before the Seer. "I'm still searching, my queen. I am ever your loyal servant."
"You've already failed me once, Leonardo. Perhaps I should send Tyrian to keep an eye on you...?"
That madman?! He'd make a mess of Mistral! "No, no!" he yelped. "That won't be necessary. I can handle this, you'll see. I'll find the Maiden...!"
Naruto's head snapped to the side, a sole grunt of pain her only reward.
Bemused blue eyes blazed a baleful red. "You call that a punch?"
Little Yang gulped. "Aw, crapbaskets...
"Fair."
R&R~!