A/N: I'm still alive~! Just wanted to thank everyone for their heartfelt support.
Hopefully this feels like an episode of Chainsaw Man. Really tried hard on that front.
...I slept for a good bit after that untimely collapse last week, and although it did help a bit...
...needless to say it ruined my update schedule. I'm mostly recovered now, although with more appointments -blech!- coming up quite soon. In other news, -at the time of writing this note- its finally my birthday~! Huzzah~! Another year older, another year wiser...and now I finally have a PS5 meaning I can FINALLY play Baldur's Gate 3 and Honkai...once I finally get the bloody things downloaded. That might take a bit, seeing as my internet is slow as hell on this old router of mine, but I'll get around to it eventually.
In other news, Slifer and Advent really stepped up these last three days; Advent's helping crank out more chapters for the big categories" while Slifer's working on "A Golden Soul" and the like.
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..
Basically, very busy and my muse is dragging me all over the place.
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~!
SPOILERS FOR CHAINSAW MAN MANGA AHEAD:
Power absolutely hijacked this chapter.
As expected of that chaotic girl...
"Control is not the same as love."
...isn't it?"
"NO."
~Naruto and Makima.
The Cat's Meow
"Help me retrieve Meowy!"
.
..
...
Naruto took a long drink of his orange juice. Drained it down to the very last drop. From there he set the glass down, tilted his head back in his chair, closed his eyes, an' pinched the bridge of his nose for good measure. It did little to stifle his oncoming migraine, but it made him feel a little better regardless. From there, he took a deep breath, opened the newspaper in his lap and turned to the next page. Oh, hey. They were opening a new orphanage downtown. Maybe he could convince Makima to pay a visit with him-
A hand tore the newspaper away, distracting him from that pleasant thought. "Don't ignore me, human!"
He looked down to find the face of a certain exasperating Fiend only an inch from his.
Makima's place really did have a stellar view from way up here.
One could see almost the entire city.
A shame Power was ruining it.
"I was reading that." he heaved a sigh. "How did you get up here, anyway?"
The blood fiend leaned back and planted both hands on her hips with a triumphant grin. "I climbed!"
All the way up here? Wow.
Kurama whistled. "Points for persistence."
His lips pursed in a thin line. 'Not helping right now, fuzzball.'
"But nevermind that!" the horned girl leaned forward with a growl flashing pointed teeth at him. "Help me get Meowy back!"
That actually got a blink out of him; it was a strange request; one he'd not expected, much less from Power herself.
It also begged another, far more important question. "What in the sage's name is a Meowy?"
Powder slammed both hands down on the table. "Meowy is Meowy, foolish human!
Silly girl. "That doesn't answer my question."
"Were you not listening?!" she gripped him by the shoulders and gave him a vicious shake. "Meowy is my cat! You help people, don't you, human? Makima said so! Now help me!"
Inwardly, he seethed. 'Makima meddling again!' Outwardly, however, a blond brow rose. "Ha? Who do you think you are, givin' me orders, oi?!"
While her anger might've gotten the better of her, fear always was, and always would be, a sure bet. Power's eyes went wide. "M'sorry...
"Not good enough." he flicked her forehead. "You interrupted my morning. It was a very nice morning."
Had Power a tail, it would've been tucked between her legs right about now. "I'm really sorry!"
Still she didn't run. He'd give her credit for that. Did "Meowy" mean that much to her?
He glared at her until she faltered.
Just how durable are you?"
She preened. "Plenty!"
Then you won't die if I kick you off this balcony?
"Of course I won't! I'm not some weak hu-
BOOT!
(.0.0.0.)
A terrified cry echoed across the city.
Aki looked up, cigarette in hand.
"What's that idiot doing now?"
(.0.0.0.)
Makima tilted her head.
"Power wants you to find her cat?"
"Demanded, more like." Naruto flopped down into the bed beside her. "Booted her off the balcony for it."
Credit where it was due, Makima managed to control herself as her body tucked in tight against his...if only just. It was tempting -terribly, horribly tempting!- to just jump Naruto then and there, chain him to the wall, and have her way with him. But she mustn't. He would resist, which would lead to a fight between then, and she knew full well how that would end, just as it had before...
.
..
...with her down on her knees before him.
Hmmm. Maybe that wouldn't be so bad after all-no, focus. She must keep control.
"Come to think of it," she hummed, tracing her fingers over his chest. "She did mention that little creature of hers being taken by the Bat Devil shortly after I captured her...
Naruto made an annoyed noise and rolled over. "So she wasn't lying, then."
"She was not." She moved with him, draping an arm over him. "You see, Power is very much like her namesake. She has little respect for the weak and powerless. Continue to prove yourself to her as you did before, or she'll try to walk all over her."
He palmed his face and heaved a sigh. "Easy for you to say...
"Would you believe there was a time when she didn't listen to me, either?"
"Really?" he took his hand away to squint at her. "How'd you solve that debacle?"
The ghost of a smile crossed her lips. "I did something rather similar to what you're doing what right." She steepled her hands and laid her chin atop them. "I disciplined her. She's quite submissive to me nowadays."
"Nice try." His brow furrowed. "I know what you're up to."
She tilted her head. "Am I up to something?"
Such a suspicious warrior he was.
"Makima."
"Alright." She wrapped her arms around him, gently chaining his body to hers with her limbs. "I want you to understand that true happiness can only be found by siding with me. To that end, I'm willing to grand you free reign to do as you please...with whomever you please."
"I'm still not working under you."
She smiled. "But you're willing to work for me."
"With you." He held up a finger. "Possibly. There's a difference."
...I suppose so." It was a step in the right direction. She snuggled closer and pressed her hear to his chest. "You have a strong heartbeat. Its...strange. You're definitely not devil, but neither are you entirely human, either.
"I could say the same for you." he laid a and atop her head, fingers idly stroking her hair; it almost felt like he was petting her. "You've got a lot on your plate, don't you?"
"Its nothing I can't handle."
Such was the burden of leadership. Being in charge meant dealing with the politics of Public Safety, answering to the higher ups, negotiating with government, foreign powers and the like. Few knew that she was the only thing standing between them and complete chaos. Society still functioned because of her. Because she kept everything under control. She was a necessary evil. Naruto would understand that someday.
...despite that," she came back to herself with a start, realizing he was still talking. "You want me to help you."
"Your cooperation would be appreciated, yes." she dared a quick kiss against his chin, drawing a grumpy grumble from him, but he didn't shove her away this time. "If you did choose to help me, you'd be doing humanity a great service, even if you feel the need to keep your abilities under wraps."
"Is that what you actually think I'm doing?" Naruto's chuckle and the grin he gave her was slightly...concerning. "That's adorable."
She wouldn't mind getting a closer look at that grin as he pushed up against a wall and-bad brain! Behave!
"If that's the case, I wouldn't be opposed to you showing off a little. But not too much."
"Will my fists be enough?"
He had a tendency to speak roughly when he was excited, she noted. Makima didn't dislike that. He spoke plainly, did what he wanted, and was clearly beyond her ability to control...for now. At best she could give him a nudge and even then he wouldn't be forced into anything
An idea dawned, delightfully insidious.
She leaned into him. "Shall we make a wager, then?"
Naruto tiled his head. "Betting against me, now? Not very smart of you."
"On the contrary." her fingers fiddled with the buttons of his shirt, idly toying with them, but not releasing them. "If you agree to my little gamble this once, I'd be willing to go on that "date" you mentioned. I'll even lend you some of my power to sweeten the pot, as you humans say. But in exchange...
Naruto squinted at her, not trusting for an instant. Clever boy. "In exchange?"
Makima grabbed him by the face and slammed her forehead against his.
"I want you to break the Bat Devil." she spoke slowly and purposefully. No contracts with him. No sparing him. Only death."
Power was one of her tools after all. One of her toys. She -and possibly Naruto- alone should have control over her. No others. Certainly not some upstart devil. Really, bats? Bats. That was a minor fear at best. The fear of blood, now, that should be far more powerful. Power never would've been caught off guard by such a weakling had she taken herself seriously. If not for that cat, she never would've been taken unawares.
An example must be set.
'Aren't you just as vulnerable?' an awful voice -her own!- crooned in her hear. 'Power has her cat, yet you have Na-
Makima scowled and stomped that traitorous thought down into the bloody pulp it deserved to be.
...I'd also like you to tame Power." she retorted in turn. "That would be more than enough."
Naruto looked like he'd sucked on a lemon. "You must be joking. I don't need a contract-
"I know you don't. Just humor me this once. As for Power, breaking her to your will wouldn't be hard, and it would prevent incidents like this morning." she wriggled against him until he was the one holding her; his hands resting on her hips as she faced. It left her feeling oddly vulnerable; a most pleasant sensation. "She's the Blood Devil. Retrieve her cat and let her drink some of your blood; she'll be head over heels for you.
Naruto fell silent at that. Strange. Had she said something wrong?
"In my world," he began slowly, "I was a shinobi. Its another word for Ninja. I was good at that. Not at first, it took awhile, but once I got the hang of it...I did it, and I did it well. I was built to be...this." he held up a hand before her face and his entire arm burned a bright, beautiful gold, like the light of heaven itself. "From the moment I was born, I was meant to be this. You could even say its my purpose."
"That's good." She stroked his cheek. "A purpose is like love; its always important to have in life."
"It is." he nodded slowly. "But now you want me to live my life by your mandates." his hand came up to cup hers. "To dedicate my life according to your mandates. To only ever do what you ask of me, be what you tell me to be, jump as high as you say. Makima...that's not love." his fingers gripped hers, preventing her from pulling away. "That ain't love at all. Your idea of love is so far removed from the very concept of love...its honestly a little sad."
"I disagree." her lips pursed. "Control is the purest form of love. It shows someone how much you care."
Her baffling blond berserker shook his head. "You're doing it again, Makima."
She glared at him. "...what am I doing exactly, Naruto?"
"Deliberately misunderstanding my words." the smile he granted her seemed almost...sad. "Do you even know what its like to be a human?"
"Of course not." she granted him a long, languid look, slightly confused. "I'm a devil. I fear nothing."
He chuckled roughly. "Ya know, its awfully easy to forget that sometimes, looking at you."
Going to be clever, was he? Two could play that game. "What do you fear, Naruto?"
His face closed down. Oh, dear. Had she overstepped?
"Nothing." he gave her a blank look. "That's what I'm afraid of."
"You're not making any sense. Stop being obtuse. Help me understand."
"I just told you." those deep blue eyes threatened to swallow Makima whole, to drown her in a sea of emotions she couldn't comprehend. "I fear nothing." she couldn't bring herself to look away from those dark depths, no matter how much she might wish to. "As in nothingness. Being no one. Being helpless. Being alone."
Understandable. No entity in heaven or hell liked being alone.
"...oh. That's a rather common fear among humans and devils. We all fear such." she hid a smile behind her hand. If there were a Loneliness Devil, I suspect it would be rather powerful. For instance, did you know? Even Power fears being alone."
Naruto recoiled. "That crazy girl?! She only fears you and me."
A laugh. "Does she? Perhaps you should ask her."
...maybe I will."
Aha! Victory! "So you'll help her, then?"
"I'm considering it." he gave her an even look. "On one condition."
Makima perked up, mildly intrigued by his request. "Name it."
"I'd like to ask you a question.
She waved him on.
All too easy.
"Do you really think Controlling someone equates to love?"
Odd. Makima did and said as much. What other answer was there?
He shook his head. "So you weren't lying, then. You really do believe that.
Her smile thinned, edging close to a frown. "Then what is it? What do you call love, Naruto?"
"...that's easy." he threaded his fingers through hers. "I call it being human. I'll teach ya later sometime. But before I forget...
Without warning, he sat up.
Makima turned to face him quickly.
He beat her to the punch in an instant.
Strong arms closed around her, holding her close. His chin came down over her shoulder. She froze, terribly startled.
"You're not the only one who can play the touch-feely game," his mouth brushed the outer lobe of her right ear; she could feel his smile in the quirk of his lips. "I learned from a master." Warm breath ghosted the back of her neck, quickening her pulse. "All's fair in love and war."
Her heart damn near skipped a beat when he pressed a kiss atop her head. "And which is this?"
His sunny smile as he drew away said it all. "I'll let you figure that one out."
He bounded off the bed and leaped out the window with a whoop.
Makima was left to slump down in her bed, heart hammering.
Why was her face so red?
'Yikes...
(.0.0.0.)
Power yelped as a hand plucked her up by the ankle and dragged her out the dumpster.
Dangled upside down, she blinked blearily up at her savior.
Naruto's bright blue eyes beamed down at her.
His smile was wonderfully sharp.
"Where's your cat?"
(.0.0.0.)
The house awaited Power.
Standing at the end of a worn dirt road rimmed by telephone poles, it looked harmless enough to any passerby. Old, too. There was only the one door from this angle; place looked like it had seen better days. Of course it had. One could only reach this place by taking several busses, and even then the trip took the better part of an hour to bring them to the outskirts. It had not been a comfortable ride.
No one thought to come this far out into the boonies; indeed, for all intensive purposes this place appeared to be abandoned.
Appeared being the operative word.
"He's in there, is he?"
She flicked a quick glance Naruto's way and fought down a shiver.
"You can sense him? Terrifying though you are, it seems your instincts are sharp."
A grunt was his reward as he hefted his staff. "Do you wanna be this close? Don't want him using that cat as a hostage on us...
This was it. Her moment. One way or another, she would see Meowy free. If Naruto was anything like Makima -scaryscaryscary!- he wouldn't let his guard down on a whim. Meaning she wouldn't be able to knock him out with a blood hammer to the back of the head. He was much too sharp for that. Which was both good and bad, good because she was afraid to face him head on and bad because she might not be able to get Meowy back without a proper sacrifice.
And then Naruto looked at her.
Really looked at her, as he hadn't before.
For a terrifying instant, she could've sworn she saw a giant crimson fox looming over his shoulders.
Much to her horror, said beast leaned in and smiled at her. "Don't even think about it."
Power jerked back with a yelp. "What was that?!"
The wild whiskered warrior didn't deign to explain.
Instead, he offered her his hand. "Power, if this is going to work, you need to trust me. I won't be able to fight if I have to worry about you stabbing me in the back."
Power recoiled despite herself. Trust a human?! As if she could do such a thing! She recoiled from the very concept of it.
And yet.
Those deep blue eyes did not judge her. Yes, there was a tiny tinge of annoyance glimmering in their depths, but none of the eerie blankness she'd come to associate with Makima. His emotions it seemed, were something of an open book. That should've put her at ease. It didn't; somehow, it only terrified her all the more. He could kill her a thousand times over and she knew she wouldn't be able to stop him. There was no point in even trying.
...don't you hate me?"
Naruto blinked once. "Why should I bear any hatred towards someone obviously weaker than myself? All I feel for you is pity."
He looked up to the sky; she followed his gaze and found a crow wheeling above. Strange bird. Why was it here?
"Makima, eh? Naruto thumbed his cheek. "Nosy girl. Guess she wants to keep an eye on me.
Rolling his shoulders, he shrugged off his jacket and handed it to her. She didn't even have the wherewithal to squawk in surprise, such was her shock.
"Watch closely, now." he warned her. "I'm only gonna do this once."
And then his body began to burn.
Every fiber of Naruto shone a bright molten gold as though lit from within, setting his very hair aflame. His body burned with black marks. His eyes snapped into a shade of wild amber, bearing savage cross-shaped pupils that seemed to see the entire world at once. And his scent...changed. What was once one became eight, no, nine. It fascinated Power, terrified her, aroused her in equal measure.
"What are you, the Fire Devil or something?!" she shrank back, quivering in place. "A Natural Disaster?! One of the Primordials?!"
"Nope." He winked an amber eye her way. "No devils here."
He flickered forward at speed.
The door to the House slammed open; then he was back out again, holding a cage in his arms and said cage contained...
"I'm guessing this is yours.
...he thrust it into her arms. It purred. "Mrrew?"
A delighted gasp burst forth from Power's lips. "Meowy!"
Wait, where was the Bat Devil-
The house burst behind them, erupting as the creature in question emerged, thrashing about with His one arm. He was just as large as she remembered, and still just as wounded. Even down a limb, it nevertheless fought its way free from the dilapidated housing and lumbered their way. Blech. His face was just as ugly as she remembered. But she wouldn't let him take Meowy again! No! Never! She'd sooner die!
In a matter of moments his great bulk towered over them both, casting them in his shadow. Power found herself shrinking back despite herself.
"So you found a friend, did you, Blood Devil?" his very voice set her teeth on edge." A pity. Now you'll both die together."
Naruto quirked a golden, burning brow at the Bat. "Hey, this guy's weak. How the hell did you lose to him?"
"He snuck up on me and took Meowy!" she whirled, glaring at him. "I wasn't prepared-
A massive fist filled her vision. Shit! She'd let her guard down!
"Hey, now." a golden palm diverted it with ease and flipped the Bat Devil over his shoulder, sending the towering creature tumbling to the ground. "We were having a nice conversation there. Don't interrupt."
The monstrosity righted itself with a snarl. "You dare defy me, human?!"
"I'm about to do a whole lot more than that." He dug a hand in his pocket. Makima told me you devils recover from drinking blood. That true?"
Power nodded numbly. "Yeah, we do. Why?"
"Good." He withdrew a large vial of blood from his pocket and flung it at the bat devil's feet. "Drink up, monster. That's my blood in there blood; should be more than enough to grow back your arm and bring you back to full power. I don't want you making any excuses before I kill you."
It hesitated. "Do you think me a fool?"
"No," the whiskered warrior drawled, "I think you're dead. You just haven't realized it yet. Die as you are now, or die at full strength." he slashed a thumb across his throat. "Your choice. I ain't got any mercy in me for a monster like you."
"Are you stupid or something?! Power rounded on him, clutching Meowy's cage to her chest for dear life. "Why would you give him such a thing?! You'll only make him stronger!"
Rather than retort immediately, Naruto looked up to the sky, where the crow could still be seen, now perched upon a telephone pole.
It was still watching them.
"Well, y'see," he dug a finger in his ear, "I promised Makima a show...and if this guy's as bad as I think he is, he doesn't deserve a quick death-
A low roar behind him put paid to that statement.
"Delicious!"
Power whirled with a start.
"What a feast!" The Bat Devil loomed large, his mangled arm rapidly regenerating as he cackled, body bursting with power. "I've never tasted blood like this before!" Was it just her, or was he larger than before? "Foolish human! You shall rue the day you crossed me-
Naruto reappeared before him in a rush of gold.
All the world held its breath. And then:
"You're wide open."
Three fist-shaped holes appeared in Bat Devil's lowers torso, perfectly spaced in shape of a triangle. He crashed backward with a wheeze, struggling to hold his innards in, but only for a moment. The wounds began to heal almost instantaneously. Wait. That didn't make any sense. Devils shouldn't be able to heal that fast without blood and he'd already drank...
"So that's what my blood does to devils." Naruto thumbed his chin, considering him. "Interesting. I'll have to be careful going forward."
"Arrogant oaf!" The Bat Devil righted itself with a ponderous groan. "With this power I cannot lose-
WHAM!
A spinning kick sent him skidding across the ground. He was still tumbling when a second kick launched him skywards; once there, a third found his spine and drove him back to the ground once more. He left a lovely bat-shaped crater behind. Power found herself applauding despite her fear. She'd better! That might be her if she pissed Naruto off again! No, thank you!
And if this was a little cathartic after the hell that bate-brute had put her through...well. She wasn't complaining.
Catharsis, thy name is Power~!
The Bat Devil dragged itself out the crater, missing an eye and several teeth besides. "Damn you...!"
Naruto alighted atop his head and stomped him down into the muck with a merry hum.
"You're lucky I don't feel like using a Rasengan or Rasenshuriken today...
The bat devil reared back and bucked, momentarily dislodging him. Almost immediately it drew in a deep breath, lungs expanding...and aimed at her!
Power tensed.
She needn't have.
Naruto reappeared before her and held up his right hand.
"Stay behind me." he winked over his shoulder. "This might get a little rough."
An explosion of sound followed as the beast screamed. Slicing wind spattered on either side of them, parting before his golden palm to savage the ground around them for miles in every direction. Power gave no thought to herself but rather curled around Meowy's cage and held tight, trying her best to protect her feline friend from the stinging plume of dust that followed. A painful cut opened on her shoulder when she tried to peek out and see, to which she hissed angrily and ducked back under Naruto's protection once more. Lesson learned!
"Do you have any idea who I am?!" through ringing ears, she heard the bat devil bray at the two of them. "I am the bat devil! Humans flee when they hear the sound of my wings! They fear the night because I dwell in it! All cower before my might-bwack?!"
Power didn't see Naruto move -he was much too fast for her eyes to track- but she certainly heard him as the smokescreen blasted
When she looked up, she found the Bat Devil doubling over, clutching its torso.
She grinned despite herself. "Nice punch~!"
"Hey bat devil. I'm Naruto. Gonna kill ya now." His lips quirked in a small satisfied smirk. There it was again, that quiet terrifying confidence of his. "I've got Power watching, so I'm gonna show off a little." he dug his fist in, drawing an agonized gasp from his prey. "Hope you don't mind. After all, you like toying with you prey, right...
"Impudent brat...! You're just another victim of the week for me! Another meal!"
A stinging backhand sent him sprawling face down in the muck.
...so its only fair that I toy with you a little, ya know?"
The Bat Devil lunged at him with an enraged roar, swinging wildly without purpose. Naruto swayed left, right now, then left again, weaving his way closer. Bounding between blows, his fist came up as he flitted from one foot to the other and for a moment, just a brief moment, Power found herself reminded of something she'd once seen on the strange devices humans called television. What was it called again? Oh right! She remembered now.
Boxing.
Naruto waded in.
Right hook. Left hook!
Body jab! One-two-three-four!
He absolutely decimated her fellow devil, beating him black and blue and bloody without remorse. It was complete and utter destruction. Humiliation at its worst. He didn't even let it touch him; didn't permit his opponent even the most basic dignity of landing a single hit, until finally...!
Power saw the precise moment the Bat Devil broke.
That fear in its eyes, that raw, naked terror.
"No! I shan't die here! Next time...!
It backpedaled with a gust of wind and took to the skies in frenzied flight.
Naruto flung a hand out after it with a lazy smile, the proverbial fox playing with is meal.
"Who said you could leave?
Chains burst from his outstretched palm to ensnare Bat's arms; and his wings with it. Then he dragged him down. From there, it was a foregone conclusion. Deprived of momentum necessary to fly, the larger devil had a fleeting moment to flail in the air, to scream in absolute horror before it found itself slammed down into the earth once more.
"Huh. So that's what it feels like to use her power." Naruto glanced at his hand. "I could get used to this."
Power's smile died an ugly death.
That...that was Makima's power. No doubt about it. She recognized those terrifying chains anywhere. He'd made a deal with the devil. Literally. If he'd been a monster before, what kind of beast must he be now that he'd made a contract with her...?
Nope! No chance! Not fighting him!
The Bat Devil whimpered. "What did you do...?"
"I struck a bargain." the very air seemed to shiver around the blond as he intoned the words. "Made a deal with Makima, just for today. No fancy explosions, no earth shattering jutsu. That's right." A wry grin split his face, lending those whiskered cheeks a most menacing air. "Just me, Kurama, her power, and my fists.
The Bat Devil doubled over and vomited blood.
The moment he did, Naruto grabbed him by the snout, hooked two fingers in the demon's nostril and dragged his face upright.
"Tell me now, what did you call me?" he hauled him closer. "Victim of the week, was it?
"I'm sorry...
Naruto stomped down on his head. "Apology not accepted!"
His free hand swung back. Then he began swinging.
From there he just kept whaling on him.
Right, right, left, right, and right.
He hammered home hit after hit until the awful monster finally fell to its knees and ceased all resistance. From there it did the only thing it could.
Bat bowed its head and begged for mercy. "Please let me go...I'll do whatever you want! I'll even enter into a contract with you!"
Naruto paused, blood dripping from his fists. "And what would the terms of this contract entail?"
Power stiffened. He wouldn't. Yet such a bargain would surely...
"I would give you my powers! All of them!"
"Well, that sonic scream of yours did seem pretty cool...
The Bat raised its head as its eyes shone with hope. "Then-
His head vanished in a spray of gore, as did the rest of his upper torso a heartbeat later.
...but I can already do that.
Blood rained down and Naruto grimaced beneath it. "So this is what Devil blood tastes like. Yuck...
Power's heart hammered heavily.
Thump.
Thump. Thump.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Her mouth went absolutely dry.
Demons respected strength. It was a well known fact of both worlds. And what she'd just seen...it terrified her, yes, but it also enticed her.
She squirmed a little, hips twisting fro side to side as her legs rubbed together.
"For saving Meowy and help me, I'll give you a reward! Anything you want!"
Naruto scowled at her. "Don't want anything."
"Too bad!"
"Oi!" He might've said more then, if he hadn't noticed her grisly shoulder wound. "...wait. You're hurt? Did that last attack hit you?"
"This?" she tried to shrug, only to wince a little. "'Tis nothing. I feel no pain!"
...I can see the bone."
She blanched. "Don't tell me that!"
...
There's a big difference between average blood and my blood. Here.
She began to drool. "Don't need it...
"Yes, you do. You're badly hurt." Naruto gave his collar a tug, exposing his neck to her wanting eyes. "Here. Have some of mine.
"I shouldn't...
Makima would murder her.
She's the one who asked me to share if you got hurt...
Did she now? Why? No, none of that mattered. Her self control shattered.
She set Meowy's cage down and dared a tentative step forward. When he didn't resist, she latched onto his neck and drank deeply.
Sweet! That was her first thought as his blood flooded her mouth. It was fire and power and hot and oh gods she couldn't stop she was drunk on it, she wanted more, even after her wound mended, no she needed more, she would do anything for more oh dearsweetbloodmineminemineMINE-
"Hey, hey!" Naruto bonked her on the head, causing her to jerk backward reflexively "Don't get greedy! That's enough...
He noticed her longer, sharper horns.
...is that a bad thing?"
Power dove at him. He tensed, half-expecting an attack.
It never came.
'Mine~!'
"We are magnanimous! She buried her face in his chest and and tight as she embraced him tightly, arms clenching around his chest. She was trembling, but she didn't dare show it. "You did well!"
His scowl softened, if only somewhat. "You were afraid, huh?"
"Afraid?!" she scoffed. "Me?! I fear nothing-
"Oi."
He quelled her with a look and she subsided with a whine, but even that couldn't quell her raging emotions.
She beamed up at him, sharp teeth flashing in a grin.
"Shall we mate now?"
Had he been sitting in a chair, Naruto would've fallen clean out it. As things stood he did a double take. "Power!"
"What? That is a thing you humans do, is it not? The act of coupling after a victory?"
He palmed his face with a sigh. "Power, no."
"Power yes! Mate with me!"
"No, just no...
A/N: Aaand Powder's gone and gotten herself smitten~!
All according to Makima's plan; if you can't woo a man with one, woo him with MANY.
Would you like this to continue? Moreoever, would you like weekly updates? Ya or nay! By all means let me know!
So...in the immortal words of Atlas... ...Revieeeeew, Would You Kindly?
And enjoy the previews. You'll see them soon enough.
If this remains a story, of course.
Ya'll ain't prepared for Power.
(Previews)
You're one of those mature, teasing types aren't you?
Himeno winked at him with her good eye. Bingo~!
Right, you're going to be a handful.
Is this everyone?
Well, we're missing a few at the moment.
One look at Kobeni and he made up his mind.
"Alright."His hands clamped down on the skittish girl's shoulders, effectively anchoring her in pace. "I'm adopting you."
"Hweh?!
"You don't have to call me "papa" or anything, but I'm gonna help you deal with those nerves of yours, okay?"
"Oi, Power. Kick his ass.
Power didn't need to be told twice. Vengeance shall be mine!
Denji tilted his head. "Wait, if Makima's basically the mom, does that make Naruto the dad?
Aki absolutely choked on his spit. "How can you even say that?!"
"I mean its obvious, ain't it? They got that parent vibe, yo."
"...do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused me? Now be a good boy and die."
"Makima, no."
"Aww, not even a little?"
Naruto began to tap his foot.
...boo." she dropped her victim with a sigh.
"Denji, my man, trust me when I say you DON'T wanna stick it in crazy."
"Ain't that what you're doing?"
"Yes," Naruto flicked his forehead, "But the differences is I can beat Makima's ass if she does something stupid. I've done so several times. Here, lemme tell you a story...
"Oi, oi, oi...just what the hell are you?"
"Annoyed is what I am." Naruto dug the bullet out of his forehead with a sigh. "Really? Guns? You thought guns would stop me? I'll let you in on a little secret. Makima's pretends to be nice. I don't." he made to run a hand through his hair, only to realize he'd gotten blood all over it. "You just ruined a perfectly good suit and tried to kill Himeno." huh. the world was tipsy. Was he drunk after all? "Time to die."
He swept past and tore a gunman's head clean off their shoulders.
The girl panicked and raised her right hand. "Snake-
"I don't think so. Kurama! BITE!"
EDIT: Hope you enjoyed~! Have a great day~!
R&R! =D