A/N: EDIT: Expanded some scenes because folks wanted a longer chapter. Hope ya enjoy~!
Blast it all, Untraveled Road needs a few more days in the oven. It shaping up to a right monster of a chapter, and I don't want to disappoint any of you. Feels good to have co-writers(s) again though, really lets me go nuts with the updates and focus on multiple projects at once.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story.
If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? POOF! Gone. Completely. I'm working two jobs during the holidays 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.
Two jobs keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.
Lets keep the questions brief this time:
Q: Oi! Is the book alive?! Because I'm sensing a Trinity Seven moment coming...
A: *zips lips*
Q: So is the book a portal for the dead, too?! Because if Neji's up and about, and we saw HER last chapter...
A: The "book" comes with a couple caveats, which most of you have figured out. I'll not say it here for spoilers sake. Lets just say one should be careful what one says around the book. Alas, Roman learned that lesson the hard way.
Q: When will we see HER again?!
A: Right now~!
Q: What are the villains plotting?!
A: That's the question, isn't it? Sasuke may have tamed Cinder, but Adam and the rest are still out n' about, and we're barreling towards volume three...
Alright them, I think I've kept you long enough.
Hope you're ready; because from this point on? Weeell...!
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. Now off we go.
Here we are, the moment you've all been waiting for. That "book" really does have a mind of its own...
"I sense a presence. Something I've not felt since...
"Nopegoodbyegoodluckyeronyourown!"
"Oi, Kurama?! What the hell?!"
~?
Mama Said Knock You Out
"Do you intend to marry her?"
Blake groaned into her palm. "Weiss, why?!"
"What?" the Schnee didn't flinch. "I feel its a valid question."
Yang saw her chance and pounced. "Soooooo...we're invited to said wedding, right?"
Naruto choked on his own spit. "Yang!"
"I mean, I hope we are...
"RUBY!"
Blake felt her right eye begin to twitch. No. Bad Blake. Calm. Be calm. Her heart was still, a placid pond. She wouldn't rise to the bait-no matter how much she might want to. Doing so would only give Yang the satisfaction she sought. She was trying to get a rise out of her. Anyone could've seen it.
"Nothing to say, huh?" a finger poked her ribs. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"
She took a deep breath.
.
..
...Naruto?"
Her significant other perked up from where he lay beside her, blue eyes sparkling with mischief. "Yeeesss?"
A finger stabbed forth. "Get her."
"Say no more~!"
Faster than light itself, a feathery pillow smacked Yang dead in the forehead and sent her tumbling to the floor with a squawk. Credit where it was due, she tried to climb back to her feet-
THUNK.
Another pillow struck her face, sending her sprawling. She glared bloody red daggers at the culprit. "Ruby?! What the hell?!"
The little reaper grinned and pelted her with another pillow to keep her down. "Swear jar! Also not sorry!"
Blake hid a smile behind her hand. Good girl. She'd see about buying her some cookies later.
In hindsight, she thought things would've calmed down by now; what with her parents staying in town and all. They'd met Naruto, better yet, they'd approved of him. All was well. Safe and secure in their team dorm once more, the last thing she'd expected was to be subject to any sort of scrutiny.
She should've known better.
The moment they'd gotten him away from the prying eyes of her parents. Weiss and Ruby came with their questions. Questions, questions, so many questions! They wanted to know who Naruto was, where he came from, why he was here; it made her head spin!
Yang at least knew a little, but her teasing wasn't helping any!
"So you're like a ninja?" Gleaming silver eyes focused on him. "As in wham, bam, kapow?" she windmilled her arms in wild motions that didn't make a lick of sense. "That sorta thing?"
"Not like," Naruto danced a shuriken over his knuckles. "Am. I fought a lotta people to get this title, and I deserve to be called as such."
She grinned. "Can we see some ninja tricks?"
...not in an enclosed space."
Ruby whined. "Aww...
"Geez," Naruto's face twisted in dismay. "Its like kicking a puppy. A small, adorable, scythe-wielding puppy. Fine, fine! Twist my arm why don'tcha. Here." He held out a hand, much to Blake's bemusement. Oh, she knew this one. "Watch closely, now."
Ruby and Yang crowded in. Weiss deigned to lean over their shoulders. "I don't see any-oh!"
Blue light swelled in Naruto's open palm, gradually taking on the likeness of a small sphere as his brow furrowed. He ran his free hand over it and an unseen breeze swept through the room. Louder, now. The wind keened at his call, lifting their hair into the air as the tiny ball of light rose from his hands. Ruby leaned closer and he cast her a withering look for it.
"Don't touch it, now." he cautioned them. "Might lose a finger. Got something you don't mind losing?"
Yang hefted an old boot with a hole in its sole. "Here ya go. Knock yourself out."
She set it down, he flicked a finger at it, and...well.
The results spoke for themselves.
That tiny sphere struck the boot and annihilated. Destroyed it, right down to the very last scrap of leather, and tore a tiny hole into the floor besides. Nothing remained. No surprise there. There was no kill like overkill and Naruto specialized in that area.
Yang offered a low whistle as she regarded the smoking ruin in the floor. "Damn. Remind me to stay on your good side...
Naruto favored her with a merry smile. "Needless to say, I can make 'em a lot bigger, but-
Ruby cut him off with a squeal, all but bouncing in place. "So cool!"
"Indeed." Weiss proved more demure in her inquiry. "How did the two of you meet?"
Heat. Burning. Embarrassment.
Blake coughed into a fist to hide her blooming blush. "I'm afraid its something of a long story."
"Why not tell 'em? We've got plenty of time...wait." Naruto perked up, paused. Paled. "Wait a minute...
Yang quirked a blond brow his way. "You alright there, loverboy?"
"Yeah," he swallowed, casting a wary look toward the door, "No I am not. For a second there, I coulda sworn I sensed...nah. Maybe it was my imagination."
Blake ran a hand down his shoulder and leaned into him. He relaxed a little, wrapping an arm around her in turn. Tasteful about it, too. He didn't try to grab or grope; he simply held her. Somehow, that mattered more to her than anything else. This close she could smell his scent, a familiar aroma she'd come to know all too well during more...intimate moments. Her ears flicked up as a pleasant little thrill shot down her spine. She did not purr. Certainly not. No matter what anyone might say.
"Sorry," he laughed, "Must be getting paranoid. It was probably nothing. Anybody wanna see me walk on walls?"
Ruby squealed. "You can do that?!
"Yup. Ceiling too, if ya want."
They hit without warning.
One moment all was well and right with Blake's world; she was leaning against him, happy and content, her hand in his as she plotted bloody vengeance against Yang.
In the next, Naruto hissed and yanked her into his lap.
"Everybody get down!"
Just as well they did; because the door came flying open as someone kicked it clear off its hinges. They nearly took her head off. Ruby squeaked and dropped flat to the floor. Her speed saved her. Not so the others. Yang got a faceful of splinters for her trouble it was worse for Weiss; she took the damn thing straight to her face and chest besides. A dull crackle of Aura followed as she slid down the wall. A glance told he the poor girl was out like a light. She wouldn't be waking up anytime soon.
Just as well too, Something -not something, someone!- stomped into their room.
Blake had all of an instant to take the beautiful woman in; that determined face, lively violet eyes framed by a curtain of crimson hair, a body wrapped in green-and white dress that had clearly seen better days. Her gaze swept over Yang and Ruby. Dismissed them. Utterly ignored Weiss and waitwhywasshelookingatthemnow-
Naruto broke the impasse with a dry rasp. "Mom...?"
The woman's head whipped toward him.
Ruby squeaked. Yang balked.
The woman did none of these things. "MY BABY BOY!"
She dove on them, catching them both in a flying tackle. Blake found herself sandwiched between the two of them, trapped with nowhere to run. There was no escape. They went down in a tangle of arms and legs before the woman went and did something that righted them again. Wait. Were those chains coming out her back?! They were!
Some small, tiny part of her whined. "...why can't my life be normal?'
Naruto writhed out of the woman's grasp, taking her with him by proxy. "But..but you're dead!"
Much to Blake's chagrin, the woman -Naruto's mother!- bulled her aside and buried head in his shoulder with a pleased sigh. "I got better!
"Gonna need a bit more detail than that!"
"Not important! My, just look at you!" she drew back thrice as quickly, cupping his face, pinching his cheeks as only a mother could. "My little boy, all grown up. Have you made lots of friends? Are you eating properly? Oh, dear." she laid a hand on his forehead. "Your face feels warm. You haven't been sleeping outside, have you?"
"Moooom...! I'm the same as the last time we met!"
"Nonsense!" she huffed and drew him into another bone-crushing embrace. "You were a boy, then. Now you're a man. Your father would be so proud!"
"That's your mom?" Yang flicked her an up-and-down look. Up now. Down again. "Daaaamn. I see where you get it from."
"Oi!" Naruto glared at her over the redhead's shoulder. "Don't go making eyes at my mum!"
"C'mon, I was just appreciating the goods, miss...?"
"Kushina, dear." the woman chirruped happily. "Stare all you like. I don't mind." Her eyes sharpened, suddenly, taking in each of them in turn. "Now then, which one of you is Blake?"
Yang winced. "Not me."
Ruby shook her head frantically. "Nope."
Weiss managed a string of gibberish from where she lay.
Blake felt her ears flatten atop her head. Danger, danger, danger! Defcon five!
Rather than speak, she took a step backwards. Then another. Another now. The woman wasn't looking her way; she was still distracted by the rest of her team and...checking Weiss's hair? If she could just make it to the door, she might escape from this madness with her dignity intact. It wasn't that she was afraid of Naruto's mother, or any such thing. No. Certainly not. She just needed to...ah...reassess the situations. Yes, that was it. Find the high ground. That sort of thing. Yup. Definitely not running away, no sir, not her. She'd explain herself later, for now it was paramount that she got the hell away from this crazy broad!
She took a fourth, tentative step backwards. Nearly there now.
The floor creaked underfoot. Damn you, floor!
Kushina mother rounded on her.
"And you must be Blake!" Quick as a flash she stepped in, taking her by the hands. "My, you're lovely!" She yanked her forward into her arms, damning her. "I've heard so much about you from Roman!"
Ruby sputtered. "Torchwick?!
"Yes, I believe that was his name." the redhead didn't look her way, not once. "Such a nice host he was; he was even kind enough to tell me where you were staying." Those lively violet eyes flitted up to her hair and grew wider still. "Oooh~!" So you do have cat ears after all! He was right! Your children will be just adorable! When's the wedding?"
Yang absolutely cackled.
Weiss gurgled on the ground, still out cold.
Blake cast a glance for Ruby, the sole sane person in the room...
.
..
...Ruby shrugged.
Blake wilted, ears drooping atop her head. "Not you, too!"
Naruto palmed his face with a sigh. "Mom, no!"
"Mom, yes!" Kushina rounded on him with shining eyes, still clutching her close like some precious jewel. "You two owe me at least three grandbabies! But before, that, how did you meet?!" Blake croaked in her grasp as she squeezed her tighter still. "Tell me everything!"
Everything...?
Blake felt all the color drain from her face. Oh gods, she'd never hear the end of this if he spilled the beans now...
She shook her head frantically at Naruto, to no avail. He scratched the back of his own with a sigh.
Then he folded like a house of cards, the absolute traitor. "Well, its a bit of a long story...
A/N: Sorry, Kushina really stole the show here.
We're still barreling toward the conclusion...or are we?
Supposed that depends on you, the reader. By all means, speak up.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story. Ergo, if folks don't like this -and its hard to tell sometimes- then it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? POOF! Gone. Completely. 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.
Seriously, I work EVER DAY now and feedback keeps me going.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review..Would You Kindly?
And enjoy some previews!
Yup. Portal's gone bonkers.
(Previews)
He hummed a little in the dark. "Your parents are in the next room over. They'll hear."
Gold eyes met blue. Oddly enough, that casual remark excited her.
...then we'll have to be quiet."
Somone tapped her shoulder. "Excuse me, miss! Would you please go out with me?!"
Yang's brow shot into her hair, face flaming bright red. "Ha?"
Rock Lee bowed low at the waist. "Please! I beg you!"
"You let your mom meet my mom?!"
"It'll be fine, Blake...what's the worst that could happen?"
Sasuke was looking at a ghost. What else did one call the dead?
"Hmm. She'll do, Sasuke. I approve of her."
Cinder flushed.
Adam grit his teeth until they creaked.
"Kill him. I'll kill him...kill him...!
If only he had more power.
"Alright, you." Naruto jabbed a finger at the tome. "I don't know what you're up to, so I'll just ask. Why ya bringing the dead back to life?"
The book radiated a strange sense of satisfaction. Odd. Books didn't have emotions. Did they?
He ran his palm against the tome.
"Just what are ya...?
"Just don't say any words starting with "W" or "F", and we'll be just fine."
Ruby hurtled around the corner in a storm of petals. "Roman was right! We found a crater and White Fang and a train!"
Blake whirled, eyes wide. "White Fang?!"
Naruto slapped his forehead. "Look. Look what you've done!"
R&R~!