A/N: Tada~! I wanted this to feel like a Jujutsu episode. Hopefully I succeeded on that front.
Speaking of Jujutsu, Surpass Your Limits will be updated on Wednesday/Thursday.
Its a long chapter already, given Gojo's part in it, and I NEED it to be perfect.
...that said, I can't hold back anymore on this request.
After the recent slaughter in Jujutsu Kaisen, one came through.
It was simple, a chance to put *SPOILER* down for offing *SPOILER* and *SPOILER* as well as *SPOILER*
Then my muse snatched up this little idea, threw on her running shoes, and raced straight to the endzone, as it were.
Result? This absolute whopper of a story and the vicious, no-holds-barred BEATDOWN that occurs within. Prepare yourself.
With my fifteen year anniversary on this site finally here, 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 ahead and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.
Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch lest it poison my mind; 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. 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.
As ever, I own no quotes, references, themes, or memes. Not a wit or a one! They're tributes to legends far greater than I.
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~!
Naruto's been broken in this, but he's still our boy.
And he keeps his promises.
Even after death.
On a final note, I had Dark Hero (Accelerator) playing as I wrote this chapter. Really helped set the mood.
"There is nothing so sacred in this world, nor so fragile, as a promise."
But what happens when we ignore our promises, hmm?
When we don't keep our word?
When we forsake our oaths?
When we break our vows?
The answer is simple.
THIS HAPPENS."
~?
Can't Be Erased
A promise cannot be erased.
Words spoken from one soul to another hold meaning, even if they fade.
I kept each and every one of my promises. I never broke them. Not a single one.
For the longest time, I thought there was honor in that. Dignity. Promises, oaths, vows, all pretty window dressing for the same thing. When you give someone your word, you damn well keep it, come hell or high water. Even if something extraordinary happens to stop you, ya pick yourself up and try again.
But promises...promises didn't mean anything to the Otsutsuki.
They only cared about one thing.
And they got it.
I hate them.
I truly hate them.
I hate, hate, hate them!
I gave up everything to beat them. I kept my word and it wasn't enough! Kurama and I sacrificed everything we had! Our body! Our chakra! Our very souls! But it wasn't enough. The power we achieved was fleeting. Brief and bright, it burnt out before we could achieve victory. The moment it did, we died. Both of us. Together.
I hated.
I was hated.
I kept hating in return.
Hell, I died with so many regrets choking me, I couldn't even think straight. Maybe that had something to do with it. Hate. Guilt. Regret. To this day, I don't understand it. I...remember my heart being crushed. That awful tearing sensation as Otsutsuki bastard tore it out, crushed it in his fist, threw it down, and moved onto my family. There was nothing I could do. I promised I would protect everyone..but I couldn't.
I know I died. I looked down at my broken, brutalized body.
My sons died. My wife died. My daughter died.
And then, quite suddenly, I was alive.
I don't know how to explain it. I was so angry at the time. And that horned bastard looked so surprised...so I killed him.
Killed them all.
But I didn't stop there. I tracked down each and every last one of Otsutsuki, on this miserable planet. When more came from the stars, I killed them, too. I kept killing and killing and KILLING until there was nothing left to kill. Our battle ravaged the world...but they got their wish. The continent is a barren, shattered husk, the survivors scattered to the winds. It'll take hundreds of years to recover, assuming it ever does. Yet I did what I set out to do.
Keep your word.
Honor your promises.
Never go break your vows.
I promised I would eradicate every Otsutsuki from this world.
And I did. But at what cost? Was it too much? Did I go too far?
Its so quiet here without you, Kurama. I can't stand it. I just can't.
My memory is fading. I'm less and less like myself every day. I can't live like this. But I can't die. What am I supposed to do now? There's nothing left for me here. I'm not human anymore. Most people can't even see me at all. But these instincts remain; gnawing at me. Who am I?
I don't know sometimes.
I have to remember.
I gotta remember.
How do I?
Its...like an itch in the back of my brain. Quiet now, but I can feel it still there. I'm losing myself to it, and not just me, but my sense of self. I am neither Naruto nor Kurama. But I am...aren't I? I'm dead. I died. I have the memories of both, the body of neither.
Am I stuck like this?
.
..
...I've decided. I'll seal myself away. Bury myself deep and sleep. Better to swim in a sea of dreams than sit atop a mountain of corpses. Maybe I'll find some solace there. You can't break a promise in your dreams, right? After all, it doesn't count if you're asleep. Don't wake me up. Please. Let me sleep.
Never forget. I am still here.
Never forget. I kept my promise.
Never forget. I am Naruto Uzumaki.
Must...
...never...
...forget that...
(.0.0.0.)
Mahito broke his Binding Vow.
In short, he did not keep his promise.
His vow to Kokichi Muta had been shattered.
Really, he said he would heal him, and he had...
...but he hadn't said he would heal his everything, not perfectly not all.
Surely screwing up his lungs "accidentally" and letting him choke on his own blood didn't count, right?
(.0.0.0.)
Awake.
Why am I awake?
I didn't want to wake up.
I've slept for so long now. I wanted to keep sleeping. Dreaming is easier. I kept my promise. I said I wouldn't wake while the world didn't need me. I threw myself into the river and buried myself beneath the bank to make sure no one would find me. There's no one down here. Can't I just go back to sleep? No? I can't? So why...
Oh.
I see.
Above me.
Its their fault.
That guy woke me up.
He...broke his...VOW...!
(.0.0.0.)
Kenjaku wasn't prone to anger.
It was a part of his innate nature, you see.
He considered himself a calculating soul, given to fits of emotion and excitement, yes, but seldom anger. Never anger. Not in the all the years he'd been alive.
Until now.
Now his smile was nowhere to be seen.
Kokichi Muta writhed on the ground at their feet, struggling for breath, wasted and gasping for air with his half-formed lungs. Mahito lay sprawled beside him, not for any lack of breathing on his part, but rather the vicious backhand that had delivered him there a moment before. Under any other circumstance, he might've taken pleasure in his horrified expression. But now?
"You little fool...
He'd told Mahito not to break the vow; not once, not twice, but thrice, even going so far as to command him. Heal the boy in exchange for spying on his fellow Sorcerers, and then kill him to prevent him from turning around and doing the same to them. Simple, really. But the vicious little idiot was a child at heart and so difficult to control. The disaster curses had their purposes, their uses, yes, but this twit was pivotal for his future plans and he couldn't afford use Curse Manipulation to absorb him just yet.
Instead he'd deliberately disobeyed him, seeking to flaunt the rules of the Vow.
There was no way of knowing what might happen now.
Even he couldn't predict what would transpire.
There was a reason you didn't break a Binding Vow with someone else; in part, because you had no idea what might happen. It was one thing to end a pact with oneself; in that instance, one only lost the inherent benefit they'd gained. But when you violated a promise -a sworn pact!- between yourself and another cursed user?
Who knew what might transpire?
All hell could break loose.
And it might!
The symptoms of breaking a Binding Vow were many and myriad. One might suffer immense damage to their physical body. Or worse find their cursed energy halved; and in doing so have their innate technique stripped away. Likewise, a series of unfortunate events might occur as the World itself lashed out at them for breaking their word. He'd seen so many different instances of violated vows in his heyday. Some dropped dead on the spot. Others lived to tell the tale.
"Finish healing him!" he all but barked the words. "Now!"
"Its fine, isn't it?" Mahito flounced to his feet. "He's going to die anyway."
Fool of a boy! Was he trying to tempt fate!
Kenjaku held his breath and prayed.
Nothing happened.
He dared to hope.
And then the world screamed.
That was the only sound he could equate with the utter roar that rattled everything around them. It came from above, below, all around them. From the very earth itself. His gaze snapped downward just in time to see the stone crack and shatter underfoot and then-
The ground rattled. Shook. Burst.
Something came through.
"...?"
At a glance the newcomer almost looked human, but only at a glance.
Kenjaku felt he could be forgiven for that mistake.
Perhaps humanoid was the better description.
His hair was a bedraggled blond mess, his black and orange clothes a messy tatter, clad in clods of dirt. Fitting, given he'd clearly clawed his way out of a tomb. Yet for all his rough appearance his eyes were alive; they were sharp and red, marred by myriad black marks flowing around his face and into his glowing golden hair. Clad in some sort of strange red cloak, he stood tall. Four tails flowed atop the collar, five upon the bottom. No, not a cloak, he realized-it was alive. He could see it writhing and twisting despite the lack of wind, almost shimmering, really.
The Cursed Energy hit a second later.
It was the air. Wind itself, howling at them, threatening to drag the very airy from their lungs if they so much as twitched.
Kenjaku almost found himself almost grinning despite the circumstances.
This was not a human.
This was not a Jujutsu Sorcerer.
This...was an Ancient Cursed Spirit.
It had been so long since he'd last seen one! He'd thought them extinct! Could it be from that era? No, its cursed energy was even older...! Had someone sealed it away? No, judging by its hale and healthy state he would wager it had been a voluntarily imprisonment. People did that sometimes when they were reborn as curses; the "good ones" those scant few who retained their sense of self often tried to hide away so as not to harm their loved ones. Which made him wonder if this was one of those-
A flicker and he was past them.
The hairs on the back of his neck stood up.
Just now, he hadn't seen a thing. 'When did he move?!'
The nameless blond knelt before Kokichi Muta and laid a hand on his back.
"You kept your promise." his voice was rough, hoarse even from lack of use. "Good boy. You get to live."
His hand pulsed with eerie red light and the boy coughed, sucking in a ragged breath.
The blond patted his shoulders once, as a brother might their younger sibling.
"Message!" The boy rasped. "Satoru Gojo...they're going to seal him!"
A slow blink was his reward. "What's a Satoru Gojo?"
"Tch." Mahito made a noise and reached for him. "Don't go blabbing-
The boy vanished.
Kenjaku frowned thoughtfully. Another trick? He'd seen a hint of movement that time, but it had been almost too quick for him to comprehend. The Blond Curse had slapped a hand against the boy's back. He'd seen a brief flash of light...then nothing. A cursed technique perhaps...?
"Hey, don't go spiriting him now!" Mahito whined, distracting him. "We're just going to kill him again-
This time, the Curse didn't so much flicker as he did blur.
Between one blink and another, he stood.
Took one step forward...
...and...!
One step, and quite suddenly, he snapped into existence before Mahito.
He leaned down and glared at him, eyes wide. "Was it you?"
"Ha? the human curse spirit balked.
"You." Those blank red eyes seemed to stare into the very depths of his soul. "Did you break your Vow? Your promise?"
"Well, I wouldn't exactly say that-
Kenjaku tensed. 'Idiot!'
A hand closed around Mahito's throat at speed and whipped him around him into the nearest wall with such force that the stone cracked against his back.
"Hey, now! We're both curses. Lets get along-gack?!" he choked, voice cutting off with a squawk as a clawed thumb dug into his larynx. "Not so rough! You trying to kill me?!"
He was, Kenjaku realized. Killer intent bloomed in the air, all focused firmly upon him. For some reason, this particular Curse took promises seriously. A remnant of his time as a human, perhaps? He was almost tempted to intervene...but thought better of it for now. Mahito hadn't simply upset him; he'd disappointed him. For that, he deserved t suffer a little.
"It was you," the blond rasped. "You're the one who woke me up! You look human, but you're not, are you? You're like me, but worse; you delight in what you are."
"And what's wrong with that...?
It was the wrong thing to say and he knew it.
The blond's crimson cloak bloomed tenfold. "DIE."
"Yeah...not happening." Mahito looped an arm down and touched the blond's chest. "Idle transfiguration."
What happened next was strange indeed. Kenjaku felt the technique take effect, watched the blond's flesh bubble in response...only to settle back down a moment later as he skin mended and healed. He'd done something just now, and it made him proper curious. Not nullification per se, but whatever it was, it rendered Mahito's technique moot. That shouldn't be possible. Unless...
Did he regenerate his soul as well as his body?
Mahito made a disbelieving noise. "Seriously?! What are-
A snarling sphere smashed through his torso and sent him flying outside.
Kenjaku grinned. He'd seen that attack just now! Such a masterful work of art!
An attack that destroys at the cellular level! Such power! He wanted it! He had to have it-no, he would have it!
Grinning ear to ear, he raised his right hand and focused his will upon the. "Curse Manipulation."
The Ancient Cursed Spirit rounded on him with a scowl.
And just like that, Kenjaku found himself airborne.
.
..
...am I missing something? I didn't even see him hit me! Fascinating!
His curiosity was piqued; even moreso when the blond curse didn't pursue. He alighted outside, perching upon the very dam he'd been blasted out of. This one didn't seem stronger than Sukuna, but then again, he'd only just awoken after what must've been centuries of hibernation. He longed to fight and acquire him-no, perhaps it was best to retreat for now and reasess...but he couldn't do that, could he?
They had ten days until Shibuya after all, and it wouldn't for Muta to reveal their plan ahead of time...
.
..
...wait.
He'd left Mahito down there, hadn't he?
Losing him would be...inconvenient.
A massive explosion anwswered.
"Aaaaaiiiieeee!"
Oh, dear, but it sounded like he was in pain.
"Geto! A little help?!"
And afraid, too. Quite terrified, really.
But fear was an excellent catalyst for growth, he found.
He could have leapt to his defense. But he didn't have the best opinion of Mahito in this moment...and so he chose to watch and wait.
Below him the brawl unfolded.
Mahito lunged, lashing out with a bladed arm, only for the Blond to tilt his head, let it rush by, and slam an open palm into his chest. Red light rushed in through his palm, striking his soul. The younger Curse choked and stumbled back, throwing a halfhearted punch as he went for distance. The blond caught it and his head snapped up, teeth clenched, hair swaying in a sudden breeze that hadn't existed only a moment prior. At this range he couldn't hear what was said between them, or if anything was said at all.
But he did hear -and see!- what followed.
Mahito's right arm gave way with a sickening crunch, buckling in three separate places, wrist, elbow and shoulder. Dislocated, it slumped down at his side, useless for the moment. The Blond didn't given him time to heal or reshape his soul to accommodate for the sudden injury. He waded in like a boxer and barreled a fist into Mahito's face, sternum, lungs, liver, whaling on him relentlessly, battering him every which way.
Kenjaku winced despite himself. My, my, if he keeps pushing him likes this, then-
A panicked shriek filled the night. "DOMAIN EXPANSION!"
"Ah," he settled a fist against his chin. "There it is."
Crossing both legs beneath him...
...he settled in to wait.
(.0.0.0.)
Mahito laughed.
How could he not?
This was such wonderful inspiration!
Because you see, this was death! Destruction incarnate! Not since Sukuna himself had he experienced sheer fear like this, such primordial terror! Whoeve this "Blondie" was, he seemed hellbent on trying to kill him. There was no witty banter here, no playful exchange of remarks, only the furious, relentless assault that came with two curses trying to curse one another. It wasn't quiiiiite as fun as tormenting Itadori Yuji, but beggars couldn't be choosers he supposed.
It seemed almost a shame to kill him.
But he had him now.
Game over.
Idle Transfiguration hadn't quite worked before, but now it would; his technique was stronger here; wouldn't miss here and there was nowhere for Blondie to run. He had him, quite literally, in the palm of his hand. Even if he tried to lung at him he still wouldn't be fast enough. He had no ranged attacks, no way to reach him from way over there.
A smirk stretched across his marred face. "Its been fun, pal but you're done. Idle Transfiguration-
The Blond brought both hands up, finger splayed, red cloak lashing at the air.
Black light swelled before Mahito's vision.
And with it came a word:
"Bijudama."
Mahito didn't even have time to scream before everything burned. The blast was fast and half-formed, no larger than a person; a testament to its owner's quick reflexes. He'd sensed the inherent danger of his Domain and reacted instantly. Had it been fully formed he would've perished on the spot. But it wasn't and ss such, death was not instant. Perhaps it would have been preferable it were.
Because it hurt like hell.
He'd split himself at the last moment, but even then his soul shrieked as he hurtled away.
His double disintegrated outright, eradicated before it could even contemplate a counterattack.
Time! He needed time to recover! His arms sprouted wings to fly away, was still flying in fact when a hand closed around the back of his head and smashed him into the ground. Stars burs before his vision but his foe was wasn't done; even as he tried to wriggle free-no, even as he thought to grab at the hand holing his face together, the berserk blond smashed him down again.
'What is this?! What is he?!'
A snarl was his only answer before the Blond took off running. He barreled forward, dragging him along the ground, carving a furrow in the earth as he went. If it weren't for his own innate strength, his face would've been sheared clean off within the first ten seconds
Even then it hurt, it hurt, it HURT!
When it became clear that wouldn't kill him, Blondie threw him upright and kicked him away. Stunned, he didn't even think of dodging and went limp instead. In a bitter twist of irony that saved Mahito's life. Bark and sap burst before his back, then he was through, leaving him with a serious case of road rash across the whole of his face. The pain was humiliating, the experience degrading in a way no self-respecting curse would wish upon their worst enemy.
But the brief haze meant his foe couldn't see him. It gave him time to breathe, marshal the tattered threads of his thoughts
Focus. There had to be a way out of this. Surely he wasn't going to die here to some mindless curse.
That's right. Its me he's after, not Geto. He's fighting mad, not smart.
Strategy had gone flying out the window, which meant he could win! But he had to be careful; a few more hits like that might actually kill him. Ha! Him? Be killed? Not happening. He was meant for greater things than this- no curse fresh out of a dirt nap was going to put him down. Gathering himself up with a groan, he righted his aching body and came up with the bare bones of a plan. Fight smarter, not harder. That was the way.
This guy isn't Satoru Gojo. He's not invincible. I just have to find his weakness. He parted his hands with a grin. Don't let him get close. Use a more inspired shape, one honed for murder...! Maybe use some transfigured humans, split yourself again-
Movement behind him!
Mahito whirled in a panic, arm forming flail.
Nothing was there. "Oh, c'mon. Its just my own shadow.
The Blond leaped out of that shadow and barreled into him. Clawed finger clashed his chest open, slashing at his soul with it.
"Are you kidding me?!" he howled furiously as they went down in a tangle of arms and legs. "Who taught you that?!
Blondie didn't speak. There were no words from him, only silent fury, seething ire, quiet rage.
Clenched knuckles barreled down into his face, forcing him to block, the sheer heat of his blows blackening his limbs. Blondie didn't stop. He just kept swinging and with each punches he felt his soul shriek in pain. Those fists of his were really starting to hurt. In a panic he bucked and kicked out with both feet, blasting the blond backward. The moment he was free he slithered away, only to find the whiskered warrior righting himself once more.
He wasn't getting anywhere like this.
An idea dawned. 'Well, nothing ventured...
A grin split Mahito's face. "You don't like to talk, do you?"
The blond twitched. Aha! Finally! A reaction in that stony facade.
"There we go!" He clapped his hands with a merry grin. "Why so serious? With a face like that, I bet you didn't have any friends when you were alive."
A muscle jumped in Blondie's jaw. 'Now they were getting somewhere!'
"Did I touch a nerve?" he crooned, delighted by his reaction as much as the respite. "Poor thing. What an awful life you must've led."
His nostrils flared ever so slightly, and his shoulders twitched. 'Just a little bit more, now...
"Awww, I know that look. Was someone counting on you? Did you let them down?"
The twitch became a spasm.
"Don't tell me, did you lose your family? A wife, maybe?"
The ominous silenced that followed was all the answer he needed.
One more nudge and he'd go flying off the handle, Mahito just knew it. "Was it your children?"
Blondie threw his head back and roared at the sky; his voice echoing outward in a singular cry. He screamed and howled and raged against the heavens until the earth shook and the skies darkened, until the clouds rolled in to blot out the moon. Mahito saw his chance and lunged. Let him holler his lungs out for all he cared, his guard was down, he was wide open and-
His open palm struck a massive surge of cursed energy and disintegrated outright.
Mahito balked at his ruined limb. "Ha?"
Then came the pain.
It was the worst feeling he'd ever felt; like countless fire ants marching under his sin, biting, biting, biting. And it was absolutely everywhere. Agony raced up his arm and into the nub of his elbow, followed by his shoulder, shooting into his chest. A scream tore out of him as he clawed at himself. Surging his cursed energy helped; if only just.
A shadow fell over him.
'I've made a terrible mistake.'
His newfound contrition didn't save him from the absolute pummeling that followed; those scarred fists swept in for him and they swept hard. Left, right, center, up, down, and every cardinal direction in between. He had no chance to shape his soul, much less his thoughts. It was only a particularly powerful punch that saved him, sending him tumbling away.
Righting himself, he reshaped his soul to heal.
"Jeez, he's mad! What got into him?! Temper much-
Blondie's head swung back down to snarl at him, teeth clenched. Scarlet sparks skittered around him as he stalked forward, his already glowing hair jagged and standing on end. The air grew thick around him, forming the telltale shape of a golden fox's snarling head over those hunched shoulders. For an awful moment it almost seemed alive; sneering at him like some mad god of war. Surely not. He was imagining things-
"Fall."
That was all it took; a single word and his knees buckled, betraying him in an instant.
Was he kneeling?! To him?!
'How...?!'
A kick caught his chin and sent him sprawling into the muck.
"You wanna talk?" Blondie walked after him, crimson cloak and nine terrible tails swaying in the wind. "Fine. We can talk." his voice was eerily calm, despite the harsh tears glimmering in his eyes. "My voice will be the last thing you hear."
Mahito lunged at him. If he could just touch his face-
The blond scoffed, swayed aside, and repaid him in kind. An open-palmed smack cracked across Mahito's visage, sending an eye and three teeth whistling through the air besides.
'It doesn't matter! So long as he doesn't hit my soul-bwack?!'
"You're just like them, aren't you?" a fresh kick shattered his body, driving a lance of scarlet energy into his chest. "Those damned horned bastards." You say one thing and do another, you take and take and TAKE!" He grabbed him by the face and clawed at him furiously, sharp teeth flashing in fury. "All with that vapid smile of yours...! No more! I'll wipe your kind off the face of the earth-no!" he stomped a bare foot and the earth shattered for miles around, sending him tumbling into a crevasse.
The reprieve was brief. Blondie barreled in after him and stomped him down, wedging him against the dirt in the dark.
"Killing you isn't good enough." he leaned forward, eyes ablaze. "I'll tear that smile off your face, feed it you, and eat you! I'll take that twisted soul and devour it, everything you are, everything you were, everything you'll ever be! You won't even be a memory when I'm through with you!"
Mahito tried to grab at him, only for Blondie to stomp on his hands. Cheeky little...!
"Well?! Where are your words now?!" he growled down at him. "Go on! Laugh! Tell your jokes! Play your games!"
Huh. So this was what anger felt like. He didn't enjoy it. "You're just a lowly curse like me! Don't you dare look down on-
Wind lashed out, lopping his head from his shoulders. He'd detached it at the last second, but the pain persisted, rendering his words a warbling whine as he bounced away.
'I felt that in my soul! It was all I could do to regenerate-
BOOT!
A kick collided with his skull and sent him rocketed out the crevasse. His head struck the ground, bounced once, and grew himself a new body. Even then it took far more curse energy that he would've liked. He felt his already dwindling reserves plummet tenfold. Vomitting up more transfigured humans didn't do him any good. They outright melted in his hands, like so much morning dew.
"Oi, Geto!" He cried into the night. "A little help?!"
The night rendered him no aid.
...where are you looking?"
A hand closed around the back of his head and tossed him away.
The Blond Curse stalked forward after him, his red aura forming the grisly guise of a fox once more. This was different than Sukuna. The King of Curses was an apathetic monster who enjoyed tormenting all those beneath him, but he didn't particularly care about anyone. He was above it all, doing as he pleased, when he pleased, how he pleased. He would kill you if you bothered him, but beyond that he just didn't care.
Not so Naruto.
This...thing wanted him dead.
Nothing more, nothing less. And he wouldn't stop until he was.
"Not bad." he righted himself with a confidence he no longer felt. "You're full of surprises aren't you? But I've still got a few of my own to taaaaaaaaaaaeeerrgh?!" His words warped into a squeal of pure agony as the blond flickered into existence before him, tore his arm off, grabbed him by the face again, and drilled him into the dirt once more.
Blood bloomed in the air.
Oh. Confidence began to wane. This isn't going to end well, was it?
It was not. Then again that might have been his arm talking as Blondie beat him over the head with it and smashed his face in.
He swept a hand down, conjuring an eerie rod of black iron, and stabbed it into his gut. Mahito blanched despite himself. Whatever it was, it froze him, paralyzed him. He couldn't muster up any cursed energy, let alone use his technique.
And then he heard it.
A keening whine filled the air and his good eye rolled up in search of the answer. He found the source clutched tight in the blond's hands, a keening, spiralling sphere growing larger with each passing second. The wind rose with it, loud, louder, loudest. His spirit sank at the sight of it; the damn thing was already larger than his head, his entire body now, and it was still growing...!
No.
There was nothing he could do.
Not now.
He couldn't die here, right?
Not like this.
He'd been looking forward to Shibuya! It was supposed to be so much fun!
I don't even know his name! I'm not supposed to-
A bare foot stamped down on his skull, holding him fast.
Baleful red orbs gazed down at them, filled with fire, burning with hate.
A wise man once said eyes are the windows to the soul. Indeed they were. And what Mahito saw there terrified him.
His eyes.
It was those damn eyes.
There was no mercy in them. No hesitation.
In his hands, the sphere had now grown to titanic proportions. He could no longer see anything past it, such was its size, and its light. The sheer force of it was already starting to cut into the blond's arm, but that didn't even seem to bother him. He just held it there, staring at him. Something broke in Mahito in that moment.
"Wait! I'm sorry!" his voice rose in a childish wail. "You have to forgive me!"
...I will not forgive." red orbs met his. "Nor will I be forgiven."
Horror dawned in all its entirety.
His eyes bulged. "Noooooo-
"RASENSHURIKEN."
Let there be light.
The pain that followed went beyond description; it overloaded Mahito's senses even as it ripped him apart at the cellular level. Blacking out was a mercy-meant he didn't have to feel the pain-but the reprieve proved brief and the agony would not be denied. He came to after what felt like an eternity and found his body was devastated, his legs blown clear off, with most of his upper and lower torso besides. All that remained was a broken, twisted body, bearing the ruined nub of a left arm. But at least the blond was gone...
His mangled face twisted in an agonized smile. "Ha...still alive...Blondie...
Something slammed into his chest. He looked up to find the object of his ire back with a vengeance, one hand sheathed in the melted remains of his chest.
"My name," he rasped, clenching his fist within him. "Is Naruto."
Mahito felt something be tugged free. It wasn't his heart. Couldn't be.
What was that; was that his soul? It looked so small...smaller than he'd thought it could be.
His vision was beginning to dim around the edges. Everything was growing dark. So very dark...
Even then, he still saw the moment the Blond Curse -Naruto- lifted his soul up, opened his maw...and tossed the morsel into his mouth. Then he bit down. Mahito cried out, to no avail. He couldn't see it proper, but he felt the moment those teeth came crashing down on his very being. A stabbing pain filled his heart, followed by a sudden start. His world went white and he flopped down in the dirt.
But even then, death wasn't instant. Not for him.
He could see them staring at him now.
All of them.
Everyone he'd ever killed. Everyone he'd ever tormented. Everyone he'd ever trampled upon. They were all there standing there, all staring at him with their solemn faces, even Sukuna's vessel was there somehow, which didn't make a lick of sense because he knew the bastard was alive and kicking. He looked happy, not at all the traumatize wreck he should've been.
Itadori Yuji! Damnit...! I was supposed to break him! It was gonna be...so much...fun.
A bare foot stomped down on Mahito's skull and he knew no more.
His life was snuffed out. Like a candle in the wind.
(.0.0.0.)
...unfortunate.
Kenjaku heaved a small, disappointed sigh as he descended the damn
By the time he'd realized what the Blond Curse intended it was too late. The Blond Curse -Naruto!- was too quick for him. He'd glimpsed that massive attack fromfar
With this, his plan was...no, it wasn't in ruins, but all he'd prepared for threatened to be undone.
All because that idiot Mahito couldn't do as he was told and keep his bloody vow.
Mastering his rising ire, he mustered a smile and turned to face the Curse. Calm. He must be calm. His temper wouldn't serve him here. He had no desire to kill this one, certainly not if he had somehow managed to consume Mahito's technique. It was unlikely of course; a one in a million chance, but even then...if he played his cards right, he might gain a powerful pawn in the future. Stronger than Mahito, easier to control, and more amenable to reason... or so he hoped.
He would need to be terribly careful about that whole Promise aspect of his.
It had the potential to backfire spectacularly if he wasn't careful.
But what was life without a little risk?
"Well, that was bracing." he stood his ground as the reborn blond disaster stared at him. "I believe we got off on the wrong foot back there. Might I have a moment of your time?"
All or nothing. He'd played his final card. This was the moment.
Would they fight to the death? Or would they converse?
A slow blink was his reward. "Do you like ramen?"
Kenjaku blinked. He blinked hard. "...no?"
Naruto vanished in the blink of an eye.
Kenjaku heaved a sigh.
"Unfortunate...
(.0.0.0.)
Kokichi Muta hadn't expected to open his eyes.
In truth, he'd been prepared to die.
How...unexpected.
Yet in opening them he immediately wished he hadn't; because the first thing he saw was that Cursed Spirit from before crouched over him -staring at him!- with its otherworldly red eyes glowing in the gloom. He knew it had healed him properly, if not necessarily why. Something about a promise of some sort. It had even spirited him away, again, for reasons he couldn't comprehend.
Was it going to attack him now?
He didn't have the energy to move, let alone defend himself. Mahito might've granted him a new body -treacherous bastard, breaking his Vow!- but the fact remained that he'd come perilously close to death back there thanks to his halfhearted efforts. That they had been healed didn't matter; his body was still recovering and while he'd retained his vast resources and cursed energy left behind, physically, he remained spent. He could barely lift a finger at the moment and they both knew it.
...where am I?"
"Safe." came the brusque reply. "Does it matter?"
...I suppose not." he sighed. "What happened to the curse who healed me? Is he...
"Dead." It wasn't a question but a statement of fact, for those red eyes did not waver. "I killed him."
That got an impressed blink from Kokichi. "And his companion? What about him? Did you kill Suguru Geto?"
"No." again with the clipped response. "I was tired."
Kokichi slumped into the floor. Well, one was better than none he supposed. Did that mean he'd exhausted most of his energy killing Mahito? Or was he simply weary from sleeping for so long? It felt like he was missing a vital piece of the puzzle here, but try as he might, he couldn't figure it out. No, that wasn't important right now.
Memory crashed down, swamping his thoughts.
Satoru Gojo. Shibuya. The sealing.
All in ten days time.
He struggled to rise and succeeded only in flopping about like a fish. "I have to warn them...!
Whiskered cheeks dimpled in the beginnings of a frown. "Why?"
He glared at the Cursed Spirit. "Because they're my friends!"
A pause followed.
An ember of light cam back to those dull red eyes."Will you keep your promise to them?"
"Of course I will!" he mustered up enough strength to glare at the Curse. "Even if Miwa hates me for it, I-
"You love her." Also not a question.
Kokichi groaned into the ground. "Why am I even telling you this?"
"In that case have just one question for you." A hand gripped his head, forcing him to look up at him. "Do you like ramen?
Kokichi managed a baffled blink. "...yes? I've always wanted to try it...?
Naruto smiled. "Good."
A/N: Aaaand there we go.
Naruto's a shipper. Who woulda thought?
Hope this chapter put a smile on your face.
That said, would you like weekly updates? Possibly?
Hopefully, someone, somewhere, enjoyed this. I just don't know anymore these days. If folks don't enjoy it, I'll likely delete it.
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 YOU!
YE BE WARNED!
(Previews)
Jogo sputtered.
"He killed Mahito?!"
"Devoured him, really. He may have consumed his technique as well...
Kenjaku couldn't remember the last time he'd been this baffled.
His grand plan would never work now-no. He must adjust.
But how to go about it...no, wait. An idea dawned.
"Find him, Jogo. Our plan may well hinge on it."
Sukuna opened an eye. "Interesting."
He closed it again and slept.
Until then.
Naruto walked.
Well, shuffled, really.
He didn't know where he was going. What he was doing.
By sheer chance, he found his way into Shibuya. Just as all hell broke lose.
Miwa yelped as the Curse dropped a sullen boy in her lap.
"He kept his promise. Be good to him."
"Tch. I said I didn't need your help."
"Wait...are you...Meachamaru?!"
"You want to keep your promise, even after all this time." His hand patted her head as no one hand since she was small. "Good girl. You live."
Nobara blinked. "Ha?"
His peace said, the curse walked past her.
"Oi!" she fumbled for her hammer. "Get back here! I was gonna exorcise you!"
He just kept walking. She launched a nail at the back of his head, only for him to walk around the corner. Her nail wedged itself in a stop sign -where his head had been a second ago!- with an audible clang. In hindsight, she should've taken that sign as...well, a sign, and let bygones be bygones.
Her right eye began to twitch. Oh, hell no. No way in hell was she being ignored!
"I AIN'T DONE WITH YOU!"
He stared at him for a long moment.
Gojo peeled back his blindfold. "Friend or foe?"
"Neither." A yawn answered him. "M'sleepy. You haven't broken any promises. Not fighting you."
His enthusiasm dimmed. He wasn't going to fight? Really? "You're a bit odd. Just what kind of curse are you?
Another yawn. "The kind that keeps his promises. Can I go now...?"
Huh. So they weren't going to fight.
Neat.
Her ax whistled in at his face.
He saw it coming this time and swayed aside, giving ground steadily, almost lazily-until a crow slammed into his back and blew off his shoulder alongside a good portion of his torso and ribs besides. It should have killed him. Instead he growled...and before her very eyes, the wound mended itself in an instant.
His right hand flicked out, clawed fingers clenching. "That hurt...
Mei Mei frowned. "Oh, dear."
Then he was on her.
R&R~!