WORD STYLE

(Past)

Thoughts

{Billboard/signs}

[Tv/Intercom]

SHOUTING

TwIsTeD

Beasts Speak

Chapter 4

ONE MONTH LATER ON FLOOR 21/WHITE CICHILD FLOO/RESIDENTIAL AREA FOR REGULARS

"Geez, you've become prettier since I last saw you years ago..." Outside a cafe sat Yihwa chatting happily with her caretaker, Ryua who was smiling. "Indeed you are a woman of the Yeon Family, but um..."

She looks down and sitting on Yihwa's lap is Matatabi whose fiery body appears not to affect Yihwa.

"Are you training to be an Anima Position?"

"Oh, it's nothing like that." Yihwa said with a smile and petted the Cat on the head. "This here belongs to my teammate, I'm just-"

"Is this the guy you've been seen constantly together with?" Almost immediately her face goes red.

"W-WHAT?! N-No it's just that we are teammates, why are you saying it like that?!" She demanded of her but Ryua just smirked.

"Oh I see, don't act modest. It's obvious you have him wrapped around your finger and he's offering protection, such is the usefulness of stupid men." She smiles more as Yihwa blushes redder, more so the blank look she was receiving from Matatabi who gave her a raised eyebrow. "So has he already confessed to you?"

Slowly Yihwa looks down at the Cat whose gaze bored into her very soul.

"Well, has he?" Matatabi said mockingly, if it could it would have given her a shit-eating grin.

"It can talk-" Ryua was cut off as Matatabi jumped on the table and extended a paw to Ryua who took it.

"I'm Two-Tails, a pleasure to meet you." They shook as Yihwa had a look of confusion. "I wouldn't say my, uh, Master is head over heels but the exact opposite, this one behind me is the one head over heels even willing to give her body to him."

This causes Ryua to cover her mouth as she mutters 'Scandalous' which Yihwa grabs the cat to cover its mouth.

"LIES!" She shouted as the cat bites her hand gaining an 'ow' as the cat breaks free and lands on the ground, waving its trails.

"I'm going back to my user, remember to buy condoms." With that said, Matatabi runs off leaving the mortified Yihwa and blushing Ryua.

"Oh my!"

"LIES, ITS ALL LIES!"

"I WAS MADE A FOOL OF!" Yihwa shouted back at the hotel where Naruto sat before her. She Towered over him with a tic mark on her forehead. "YOUR DAMN CAT MADE ME LOOK LIKE A PROSITITUTE!"

"Matatabi only does stuff like that if it involves me, what was the conversation about?" As he asks that, Matatabi who was sitting next to him if it could would be smirking.

"Yes, do tell us what the conversation was all about."

This only caused her to blush red and crossed her arms and turned away.

"A-Anyways, just because your Shinheuh wants to hang out with me doesn't mean I don't mind so from now on stop letting them follow me." With that said, Matatabi rolls its eyes and disappears.

Matatabi: She's such a Tsundere."

"Please be nice..."

"Ok." Was all the blonde could say as he gave a sigh and glanced from the corner of his eyes as Prince and Miseng got back to playing a dance game with Goseng drinking coffee and watching the scene between the two of them with a smirk as Yihwa sighed and rubs the bridge of her nose and turns to look at Prince and Miseng still playing the dance game.

"They're still at it?"

"I think they're into it." Goseng smiles at seeing them really into it. "Don't worry, it's a form of exercise."

With that said, Yihwa enters the Kitchen where Arkraptor sits enjoying a cup of orange juice.

"You look annoyed, any reason for that?" He asked the Yeon family member who merely sighed loudly.

"Nothing much, just a stupid Cat know doubt causing rumors in my family to spread that I'm a prostitute..." After she says that, Arkraptor stares at her questionably before he shrugs and goes back to drinking and reading the news.

"And Mr. Viole? Is he out?"

"He went to see someone. He said he was going to the marketplace." Almost immediately she looked at him with concern.

"And nobody followed after him?" Yihwa asked, suspicious of what was happening behind the scenes more so the fact still unsure of what she thought of FUG with Naruto walking in to open the fridge, looking at what to eat.

"He said he'd be back soon. Why would we?" Despite sounding right, she disagreed with him.

*Yawn*

Wangnan entered the room sleepily as he scratched himself.

"I don't think Viole is the kind of guy who does stuff like that." He got Yihwa's attention now. "You know, now that I've spent time with him, he doesn't seem bad...he's gentle." This seemed to have immediately triggered the girl who glared at him only for Naruto to continue while chomping on some fruit.

"And he lets us live in the house that he rented!"

"He even does an equal share of the housework..."

"Moreover! You're such a bad cook that he even does your share of the cooking!" Hearing these opinions offered by them only angered her.

"But he's a FUG member!"

Matatabi: And your bitch, what's your point.

Kokuō: No need for the harsh language Matatabi, we shouldn't treat Naruto's teammates any differently.

"You guys... ALL RIGHT! If that's what you think, I'll be the only one keeping an eye on him! If I catch him doing bad things, I'll take him down, and you guys with him!" At this point, Naruto pointed at himself questionably yet she proceeded to march out of the kitchen area, not giving a response.

RESIDENTIAL AREA/MARKETPLACE

"How did I find myself in this situation..." Yihwa was face-to-face with a man who stared down at her unimpressed while behind her was Bam and a red-headed chick. All four were in the Karaoke bar with the three staring after her.

"So mind telling us who you are?" The man asks the young lady, despite appearing chill his eyes tell a different story.

"Hey, Hwaryun. Didn't you say it's just the three of us today?" He asked, looking at the redhead who merely smiled.

"Of course, we had another, I just felt it was unimportant to mention her." Hwaryun told the man who raised an eyebrow but shrugged.

"I get it...you're from...FUG!" While Yihwa deduced that easily, the man just looked at her hairpin to recognize it, his eyes narrowed.

"By the way, lady...I've seen that hairpin before, isn't that the crest of the Yeon Family?" This seemed to cause an alert for Bam who began to have a bad feeling. "Are you their spy?" This seemed to have set her off while Bam came to her defense.

"Mr. Jinsung! Stop! She's my teammate! She's not a spy!" His words seemed to have caused him to relax thankfully yet Hwaryun suddenly stopped smiling as her eyes narrowed and a look of confusion formed on her face.

"Oh! Are you Viole's teammate? I apologize—" Yet sadly Yihwa's pride ended the peaceful moment.

"Who's your teammate?" This confused the man. "DON'T LIE! You fooled your teammates by coming here secretly to meet with the FUG! WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING WITH THEM, HUH?! YOU TRICK US LIKE THIS AND YOU CALL US TEAMMATES?! RIDICULOUS!" As she shouted, Jinsung began to get annoyed.

"You're worse than dirt! You pretended you were so nice and—" Instantly she felt a cold chill as the man spoke while tossing his jacket on the floor.

"Hey, girl. Isn't that enough?"

"IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS! YOU JERK WITH THE A CHEAP PERM!" This got an eye twitch from the guy but he stopped when he saw someone sneaking in behind Yihwa from the entrance, Bam and the man looked confused yet Hwaryun just stared with wide eyes. "DO YOU THINK I'M AF—" Yihwa froze just as she felt her skirt being lifted.

Shukaku: See, and you said it wouldn't be effective.

Matatabi: What is wrong with you?!

Gyūki: It seems that stupid idea did wor-and now she's beating Naruto...

Currently, the three FUG members just watched silently as a blushing red Yihwa was holding Naruto up in the air as she repeatedly slaps him across the face.

"I'LL KILL YOU!"

"IT WAS SHUKAKU'S IDEA!"

Almost immediately the one-tailed raccoon appears by a puff of smoke, surprising the man and Ryun.

"Traitor-" Yihwa silenced the beast by grabbing its face and stretching it as Shukaku struggled.

"Help me!"

Matatabi: You deserve to suffer.

As this is happening, the man turns questionably towards Hwaryun.

"What the fuck am I-" He stops the moment she spoke.

"I...I don't know..." Her words caused his eyes to widen at seeing the clear unsettling shock on her face. "I can't see anything at all about him."

"What?" The man turns back to see Viole trying to calm, the situation down, as he does the man stares at Naruto with narrowed eyes.

"Who is he?"

"What the fuck..."

That was the single thought running through the head of one sweating Wangnan who sat on the couch between Naruto and Yihwa. There were two couches in the living room with a table separating them with the other being sat on by Jinsung, Hwaryun, and Viole. Viole acted like a teenager who didn't want his parents to meet his friends.

"Ah-Ahaha-ahahahaha." Wangnan's laugh shook as Naruto and Yihwa looked at Wangnan while Jinsung glanced at Naruto. "I see, so you're other FUG members, but you're not a bad guy...Ahaha...but why are you here...?" His nervousness became obvious.

"Well..." Jinsung began after taking a sip of tea. "I came to see if my Slayer Nominee was doing ok. I was his martial arts teacher and I've been wondering about his teammates."

"I heard that it wasn't his choice to form the team so I got worried but I'm glad his team seems to be harmonious." His smile brightens. "I was worried 'cause he's too gloomy. It's nice to have bright non-emo teammates..." This caused Bam to put on a confused expression, not getting it was a joke.

"Oh, it's fine!" Naruto smiles brightly. "I could always tell Viole was a good person, even when he lied."

"Really now, he's that easy to tell?" He asks curiously as he glances at Hwaryun who seems to be entirely focused on Naruto, something Yihwa takes notice of and is slightly frowning.

"Nope, I just could always tell when someone lies." Naruto's smile wavers and turns sad, his words getting a confused look from Hwa Ryun who had recalled something. "Though, I wish I didn't have this ability honestly..."

"So, what Floor are you from?" When he was asked that by Jinsung, surprise appeared on his face while Yihwa's eyes widened.

"Why do you wanna know-"

"Just curious is all-"

"That's none of your concern." Yihwa suddenly said, speaking up and gaining their attention as the Yeon Family member crossed her arms. "Your still FUG, private information like that is irresponsible to just hand to you."

This got a surprise look from Viole and Jinsung who looked between Yihwa and Naruto before a smile formed on his face.

"Can't argue with that..." He simply shrugs just before his ally speaks.

"Yet I would like to know." Hwaryun said, her gaze intently on Naruto whose eyes widened with Yihwa's narrowing with Jinsung trying to speak up to stop her with Viole looking shocked. "Out of all the information we could gather on Viole's teammates, we have practically nothing on you other than you taking tests and stealing food. Trusting Viole's safety with such a questionable-" A hand comes down on the table causing her to finally stop and move her gaze on Yihwa glaring daggers at her.

"Enough!" A red aura appears from Yihwa as she glares at Hwaryun before a puff of smoke appears Matatabi also glaring at Ryun.

"She's right, that's none of your concern so keep your nose out of it you Usotsuki!" The moment Hwaryun heard that last word her eye widened in clear shock, something that Jinsung looked confused and looked at Ryun.

"What's that word mean?" Just after he asked that she shook her head.

"It's nothing..." She moved her gaze onto the uncomfortable Naruto before standing up and bowing.

"I'm deeply sorry if my questions bothered you, I will never do it again." This surprised Yihwa, Naruto, and Viole while Jinsung was shocked before he glanced at Matatabi who sat on Naruto's lap before he suddenly stood up.

"I think I'm gonna call it night." Jinsung said as he glanced to see Goseng carrying Miseng off to bed. "It's getting pretty late."

With that said he makes his way towards the door, walking out with Viole following after him, wanting to speak with him in private which leaves Naruto, Wangnan, Yihwa, and Hwaryun in the same room together with Matatabi taking her leave after shooting the redhead one more glare, Hwaryun silently eats a piece of apple on the table.

"So...um..."

"You're all lucky he decided to let you live." Hwaryun suddenly said, staring at the apple while Yihwa gritted her teeth. "Congratulations, the Heads of FUG want Viole to go up the Tower with a team worthy of his power. Not a team full of defects...he didn't just come to see Viole. He came to eliminate you all and make another-" She was cut off by Naruto.

"Why are you lying?" Wangnan and Yihwa were surprised, yet Hwaryun just smiled at Naruto.

"I wanted to see for myself if you could tell I was lying no matter how hard I tried..." This only caused Yihwa to frown. "But to speak truthfully, there are many in FUG who don't like this situation. They need Viole to keep improving to see their wishes come true."

"Jahad is contracted with the Administrators as the King of The Tower. The contract ensures no resident of the Tower can kill Jahad. That won't change no matter how strong Viole becomes." Hwaryun nods in agreement with Wangnan's words.

"Under normal circumstances that's true but what if there's someone free from that contract? Six years ago, we met a boy on the Test Floor capable of making our dreams come true. We've been waiting for him for a long time. The one who opened the door. The one who is free from the contract. The one who will fill the Tower with the blood of the King, the Irregular." When Wangnan and Yihwa heard those words, their eyes widened in utter shock.

Kurama: That explains that strange feeling.

"Irregular?!" Wangnan mutters as he has a look of realization yet Naruto frowns.

"Viole didn't seem like the kind to want to kill someone..." When he said that, Hwaryun stared at Naruto before smiling sadly.

"Well, he didn't become a Slayer because he wanted to kill Jahad. He did it because he must kill Jahad. FUG knows what's important to Viole. As long as that is in their hands... Viole can't get away from FUG." When she said that, both Wangnan and Yihwa realized what she was insinuating with Naruto no longer looking happy.

"Hostages..."

"Yes, if he fails the test or refuses to live as a Slayer, all of his old friends will die. Viole wants to protect them. Surprised, did you think we-" She was cut off by Naruto.

"Thank you." The moment he said that Hwaryun looked surprised while Wangnan and Yihwa turned to Naruto standing up. "You didn't have to tell us this because it could be used against you guys, so thanks." With a half bow, he walks past Hwa Ryun who turns to stare at his back as he leaves the room but as he does so, she smiles and has a single thought.

"No one but the Red Witches knows of that branded name except for the one who gave us it...who are you?"

It was the middle of the night, Bam was staring at the night sky that had a single large glowing orb that gave light to the floor.

"Yo." When Viole heard that, he turned to see Naruto walking up to him to stand next to him. "Not getting any sleep?"

After saying that, Viole doesn't respond at all but stares at the sky which Naruto sweats.

"Maybe Wangnan should have taken my place..." After he thought that, he turns back to the sky.

"Nice night, right?" After he asks that, Viole doesn't respond again which causes Naruto to sigh and mope before looking up at the sky, an all too familiar sight behind cell bars.

"Viole..." Naruto began, his tone changing which drew the attention of Viole who saw him staring at the sky. "I heard about what happened, why you're a part of FUG from Hwaryun..."

Surprise, this was all he saw on Viole's face as he stared at Naruto staring at the sky.

"I understand why you did everything you could to go up the Tower by yourself, it's because you don't want to end up either losing more teammates or having more of your friends be used as hostages against you." Viole's eyes widen as Naruto turns to look at him with a sad smile. "Out of everyone I've ever met, you're by far the kindest. Maybe one day, when you are finally free from what binds you to be with your friends, we can share a drink and talk about our pasts. I feel like, we are the same."

Viole stares at him speechless while he has a sad which causes Viole to turn away, and a sad smile forms on his face.

"Sure..."

This got Naruto to smile brightly.

FOUR DAYS LATER, TEST FLOOR 21F

[Team: Ramen]

"DAMMIT NARUTO," Yihwa's shouted as she grabbed him by the scruff hos his hoodie. "WHY THE HELL ARE WE NAMED RAMEN?!"

"...I regret nothing."

Yihwa's eye twitches while glaring at the blonde avoiding eye contact.

Shukaku: It was a good idea.

Other beasts: It wasn't.

As this was happening, Miseng asked Bam if he wanted snacks, and both Prince and Wangnan argued that the names they made up could have been better. Akraptor, Horyang, and Goseng just watching the whole thing going down. This finally stops when the Proctor arrives. Now they all stood in front of the one giving the exam called Noma who wore a very noticeable style of red Japanese traditional attire with a red hat that had a yin-yang symbol on it.

"Um..." Goseng began upon seeing something was wrong. "What's going on, sir? Where's our rival team?"

This gained an awkward laugh from the guy who rubbed his cheek.

"Um...well...you see...they ran away." This surprised them all yet Naruto's eyes slightly narrowed. "I think they heard Viole was on your team and they got scared."

"Why lie?" Naruto thought to himself in confusion.

21F INNER TOWER BORDERLINE, OVER THE SEA

"OOOOOOOOHHHH! THIS IS AMAZING!" Wangnan began standing next to an amazed Naruto who spoke.

"It's really blue, I thought it would be clear?" He muttered, seeing the Shinheuh just jump out of the water next to their floating ship.

"Of course it's blue." Yihwa said, walking up to them. "Have you never seen the Ocean?"

This causes Wangnan to give an awkward laugh while Naruto just stares at the Ocean as next to him appears Isobu by smoke cloud.

"It's big..." Isobu said as the two stared at the wide sea, this sight caused Horyang and Yihwa to think about his words.

Their Proctor walks out from inside the ship to reveal swimwear.

"You can't see anything now." Noma told them with a smile. "but the test arena will appear soon."

It was with that being said the ship came to a halt just as they saw the water rumbling before in a mere ten seconds a massive creature rose from the sea that took them all by surprise, Isobu just staring and waving with Miseng bending down and offering it some snacks which it hides behind Naruto, surprising Miseng who tries to get it to come closer before the one in charge spoke, causing Isobu to disappear much to her disappointment.

"That is the stage on which you'll take this test." The Noma said with a smile. "It's Zigena."

They watched the massive creature open its mouth to roar which caused them to cover their ears.

"Do...we..." Wangnan tried finding the words. "Take the exam there...?"

Immediately he got the answer he needed from the supervisor who nodded.

"Yes, that creature is called a Zigena." His smile grows. "It's like a mystical creature to the people on the 21F Floor. Anyways, all you have to do is go inside the body of Zigena and find 'The Flower of Zigena'."

Despite a few being stuck on going inside, Naruto was focused on why take a flower, wondering if there was something he was not saying.

"The Flower is Zigena is a jewel that only grows inside the Zigena. To be specific, it is not a flower but a flower that grows a jewel. There is a blue jewel growing on the flower of Zigena and its color is so unique that it's considered one of the most beautiful jewels. It is valuable because it only grows in the Zigena's body and is hard to find." The supervisor jumps into the water to float on it. "There's a motorboat inside the floating ship. Is the boat to go inside the Zigena's body!"

"I don't even understand!" Wangnan questions no one in particular, all of them on a small boat next to the massive creature. "Why do we have to go inside it...and find a jewel that doesn't belong to us...?"

At this point, Naruto spoke up as Chōmei appeared by smoke surprising them as they watched it fly up next to the ladder.

"He was lying about what happened to the enemy team," This caused the others to look at Naruto. "Not sure what he was hiding but we should be prepared, Chōmei will lead the way." With that plan made, Wangnan, Miseng, Ginseng, and Akraptor climbed up the ladder first while the rest stood on the boat.

"Hope everyone will be ok."

Kokuō: Do not worry, we will be ready.

As this was happening, up on top Chōmei flew around as Arkraptor made it on top.

"You're pretty Lucky that I'm here to help." Chōmei said as it flew in circles with Wangnan just staring at it before Goseng got on the edge to shout below.

"Now, you guys stay back!" Goseng shouted at the edge. "Zigena will flip soon!" With a shout and a wave with Minseng doing the same, they retreat to the opening blowhole with the plan being to split up and go through the one on its back and on its belly. Down below the others were doing their part of the plan.

"Alright, then, should we hurry?" As Prince asked that, he pulled the lever yet nothing, a few more jerks yet still nothing happened.

"Huh?" He gave a few more pulls yet only clicks were heard, this started to worry them with Naruto began to sweat as he looked at the giant creature.

"What's wrong?" Yihwa stepped forward, looking down at the annoyed Prince who was trying to get it to work.

"T-This...isn't working...!"

"What?!" Immediately Yihwa pushes Prince out of the way and into Naruto. "Let me try!"

And like Prince, she pulls it yet nothing but instead of stopping she kept trying with her anger rising.

"Um Yihwa..." Naruto said yet she didn't even register her words.

"Why isn't it working?! Piece of junk!"

At this point, they noticed her hand ablaze.

Matatabi: Oh no...

"Uh, Yihwa!" Naruto began while pointing at her hand. "Your hands—" He was silenced as the motor exploded with flames, gaining only silence as Naruto, Viole, Horyang, and Prince were all worried due to not wanting to test their lung capacity now of all times while Yihwa was frozen as she stared at the flames before calmly turning with a smile.

"Now that it's a black motor...it'll be twice as fast." Naruto's face palms at hearing that.

Shukaku: Ahahaahahahahaha!

Tailed Beasts: She'll kill us all!

"WHAT KIND OF LOGIC IS THAT?!" Shouts Prince, showing disbelief as he points at her accusingly. "YOU'RE AN ARSONIST!"

"Uh...guys..." By the time Viole said that they all pretty much knew what his words meant and turned to see the creature moving while it roared.

Kurama: She's doomed us all!

"RUN! RUN, BLACK MOTOR!" Tearfully shouted Yihwa who began hitting it with her hands.

"Stop obsessing over the black motor!" Prince shouted but they all stopped and looked up to see it was in mid-flip...it resulted in all of them shouting/screaming with Yihwa holding onto Naruto for dear life, yet upon contact his eyes widened and momentarily forgot all that due to his own heart fluttering and face turning red.

"What the-"

"OH MY GOD!"

With that single shout, it flips over atop them all, making a large splash before the silence and an eruption of water being shot out of its belly.

"I think we are safe..." Muttered a soaking wet Naruto having climbed up the ladder with Yihwa hanging from his neck for dear life." Yihwa slumps and slid off Naruto's back to lay on her butt while Naruto took off his shirt to wring out the water, the sight causing Yihwa's face to turn red as she turns away.

"I...uh...thanks, I almost died if you..." She began, still trying to catch her breath, Naruto glanced back at her as their eyes met and they both suddenly turned away, Yihwa staring over the edge and Naruto staring at his hoodie, thinking about the feeling of her body pressed against him still fresh in his mind and with it unfamiliar feelings.

"I would have died if you hadn't saved me...I should have focused more on swimming when I was little, I could barely move towards the surface...thanks." As she said that, she finally caught her breath, her cheeks turning slightly red before looking over the edge.

"I hope they're all ok." She gets up to make her way to the edge quickly yet finds that theirs not a trace of them at all which worry grips her heart.

"Are...they all dead...?" Her eyes widened in shock but Naruto shook his head.

"Isobu went to save them." He said as he was putting his hoodie back on with Yihwa taking a glance at his abs again as their concealed by his hoodie. "They most likely entered the other way."

It was after saying that Yihwa got up to his face, taking him by surprise.

"What are you doing-" She places a hand on her forehead and places it on his own.

"Do you have a fever, your face is all red?" His eyes widen in surprise and touches his face.

"It is...?" He looks up at Yihwa who is staring at him with worry and his face gets redder. "We should hurry and find the others."

"What's going on, why am I acting like this?"

Tailed Beasts:...

xxxxxCHAPTER ENDxxxxx

Author Message: Next Demon of the Second Division chapter will be done in a Few days or sooner.