A/N: Can anyone see this?
Notifications are still down; meaning I didn't notice the second chapter bugged out when I posted it last week.
Reposting it now in the hopes that'll fix things! Last chapter was a hit and I'm hoping this one will be the same~! It really motivated me to update! So here we go, looking forward to hearing what you think! Do let me know if you want weekly updates; looking forward to your feedback! We'll be upgrading this story to M shortly, but its at T for now so everyone can see it.
Its hard to stay awake sometimes, more and more, I find myself stricken with the need to rest multiple times a day...T_T
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 references, quotes, themes or memes. They're tributes to legends far greater than I. I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild, wacky world, one word at a time. Time and feedback will determine what remains a story and what doesn't. Simple as that.
In other words...the fate of this is up to YOU, the reader. Doooo let me know~!
And now behold the fate of Adam. I'm a man of me word. Behold~!
As for who landed in Hell, we're staying mum on that...
...for now.
"I fear neither man, nor woman, or beast...
...but that...that thing...
...it scares me.
~?"
Pecking Order
"Will he live?"
"I suppose that depends on the definition of the word."
"Must you be so flippant? This is hardly the time for jokes, Naruto."
Said blond clasped both hands behind his head. "...would you believe me if I said I wasn't joking?"
He could feel Sera's glare searing between his shoulders and summarily ignored it...alongside the tiny twinge of guilt he felt.
Against all odds, Adam wasn't dead. Horribly wounded, seriously scarred, mostly maimed and probably wishing he was dead mind you, but alive. They'd left the "First Man" sprawled out on a cot in the infirmary -heaven actually had one, who knew?!- under a ray of heavenly light and left him there to recover. He'd even deigned to heal him out of pity to keep him from dying outright. In theory, he should be fine, but the bastard wouldn't wake up from his coma
In truth, he wasn't sure if Adam was having some existential crisis, just being stubborn, or if some other factor was at play here. He suspected the former. Regardless, he unlikely to recover anytime soon, which brought them to their...
.
..
...dilemma, as it t'were.
"Suffering a defeat like that changes you." Sera clasped both hands behind her back and turned away from the window to face him fully. "His body may have recovered, but his mind...
"Yeah, I get it." he ran a hand through his glowing hair. "I messed up. That's on me."
"Indeed it is." she huffed. "Do be careful next time...for Emily's sake, if not your own. She still hasn't stopped singing your praises, you know.
She was trying to change the subject, and just this once, he let her. She clearly wasn't a fan of Adam-and who was?-but if she wanted to extend the proverbial olive branch, then far be it from him to stop her. "Ya know, I don't think I've ever met anyone so...pure."
Sera preened a little, unable to hide her smile. "Indeed. She is the very embodiment of joy."
"Is she your daughter or your sister? I can't tell. Either way, you seem really fond her."
Sera's dark face flushed. "She's family to me. Nothing else matters."
"Alright," He held up his hands. "Evasive answer. I won't pry.
Adam mumbled something in his sleep.
Naruto twitched.
"I gotta ask though," He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder, "Why show this jerk that much favoritism? Is he that big of a deal?"
She stood a little straighter under his gaze. "He was the very first soul to ascend. It was -is!- the will of Heaven."
"Don't give me that holier than thou crap. How did someone like him even get up here? You must know."
Silence reigned supreme.
"You're kidding me." he balked at her, made incredulous by her muteness. "I thought this guy," a hand waved to Adam's prone form, "Must've done something special to land a gig all the way up here, but you don't even know, do you?"
...I do not." The High Seraphim gripped her wrist and looked away, glowing eyes nervously flicking to the right in an attempt to evade his gaze. "Far be it from me to question the will of Heaven."
His brow furrowed. He'd never been a fan of blind obeisance or dogmatic dogma even when he was alive. "Really? Because I'm thinking we should be questioning everything."
"You mustn't!" He didn't miss the sudden flash of panic as she pivoted back his way. "Lute is already beside herself; the exorcists are demanding answers-
Another question he just had to ask. "Why are they even called that?"
"Enough!" Her wings flared and her halo brightened as she burst into the air, prompting a similar reaction from him. "I understand your dislike of Adam; in that, I sympathize with you. He has few friends here, I will admit. But you cannot simply question everything here without consequence; any more than you can strike someone down for opposing you."
Was that what she thought he'd done? That his actions yesterday had been deliberate? How wrong she was.
"Sera," his smile sharpened, "If I meant to kill anyone here, I already would have."
The ethereal glow around her wings brightened and he mirrored her.
For a moment, all of Heaven seemed to hold its breath.
Much to his surprise, Sera backed down first.
...we mustn't fight amongst ourselves." she let her wings droop, the glow around her fading to a mere flicker of its former self as she returned to the ground. "We're on the same side here; surely you can see that?"
Were they? He shook his head. "All I'm seein' here is a whole lotta confusion. Lucky for you, I'm one of the good guys...
His peace said, he turned, flung open the door and left her to her musings.
(.0.0.0.)
She had to know.
She wanted to know.
She absolutely needed to know!
What in the Allfather's name was he?! The question nagged at Sera for the rest of the day. It burned in her thoughts, churned at her conflicted soul, tore at her routine until it was all she could think of. It dominated her every waking moment; paperwork was pointless, food and drink tasted like ash in her mouth, and her concentration...
.
..
...there could be no denying it. She just couldn't fcous. Not like this.
In all fairness, she would be the first to admit that this new Seraphim -assuming he truly was one- had surpassed her initial expectations. It was a rare thing indeed for an mortal soul to become an angel, rarer still for one to Ascend to Seraphim, but to be reborn in heaven as one? That was nigh unheard of.
Yet here he was. In less than a day, he'd already upset the natural order. Not even He had accomplished such.
Mumbling under her breath, she took her thumb between her teeth and bit it softly, an old habit she'd had since she was but a fledgling, one she didn't dare show in public.
What to do with him, what to do? Emily was quite fond of him and admittedly so was she in a sense...but the questions! Questions, questions, questions! Not even a week in heaven and already he was beginning to poke and prod at the delicate peace here; to realize nothing was as it seemed. If he found a loose thread he'd undoubtedly tug at it and the whole
He rather reminded her of young Lucy back in the old days. Full of life and light and love, but more than willing to throw down when pressed. She'd seen his power firsthand, a soul so powerful it made heaven itself dim momentarily and that...it frightened her. From that fear anxiety was born and with it, kindling an old ember of worry she'd not experienced in eons.
He might be beyond her. Dare she say an Archangel? Not even Michael and the others had ever thrashed Adam so handily as Naruto had.
But by that very logic he deserved to be here. She'd read his List of Deeds, the same list every soul had when they came to Heaven, and found herself flummoxed for it. His accomplishments were long and lengthy; frankly his selfless career quite possibly made him one of, if not THE most selfless soul she had ever met. And she was centuries old. If only he wouldn't question eveything!
Sweet Father, what if he Fell?
Sera could see it now; if a being of his level fell from the Heavens...why, Hell wouldn't simply revolt, it would rise. He would lead a legion to their doorstep and-no. No, she mustn't think of that; that way lay madness and paranoia, she refused to go down that road again.
He must remain in Heaven at all costs. But how to do that? How to assuage his questions? How to distract him? How-
"Sera?
She looked up, startled to find the door open; she'd not heard it, so distracted was she?
And there, standing within the archway, looking ever so concerned...Emily.
"Have you seen Naruto? I haven't been able to find him all day."
And just like that, the answer fell into Sera's lap.
(.0.0.0.)
Lute was lurking in the corridor.
Naruto sensed the exorcist's seething presence long before he saw her; her soul was a wild, tangled knot of conflicting emotions, a tightly wound spring ready to snap, preferably at him. He could've sensed her miles away with ease. He wasn't surprised to find her she lurking nearby; he would've done the same had she hurt one of his friends.
Still didn't make it any less annoying though...
.
..
...Kurama would've said something witty just know. He missed him.
Shaking his head, he readied himself and rounded the bend.
Several things happened at once.
First and foremost?
The ambush.
"DIE!"
He snatched the exorcist's angelic spear by the shaft as it jabbed toward his face, raised it, high and snapped it over his knee, drawing a gasp from his would-be-killer as they found themselves clutching a useless stick. Belatedly he got a good look at Lute then, or rather, what she was wearing; she'd donned a strange horned helm of some sort, the better to conceal her identity from prying eyes. Clever, but utterly ineffective. He knew it was her; her emotions were an open book to him.
"Really?" he casually tossed the business end of her broken spear over his shoulder. "You actually thought this would work?"
Credit where it was due, Lute wasn't the sort to give up easily; she recovered and, rather than retreat in the face of adversity, committed fully. She flung the ruined shaft of her spear at him. A distraction. He smacked it aside with one wing, yet in that moment she crossed the distant between them and threw a series of wild punches his way. Or perhaps she was trying to strangle him? Claw his eyes out? Either way, his opinion of her remained very much the same.
Slow. Sloppy. Sad.
He intercepted one fist with an open palm, and retaliated in kind with with a vicious roundhouse, driving clenched knuckles into her right eye. His attacker reeled. From there he drove a knee into her stomach to wind her, wrenched her arm down behind her back and forced her to the ground. His free hand gripped her helmet, tore it aside, seized her by the hair and kept her there, pressing her face into pristine white marble. She struggled fruitlessly-to no avail. He held fast until she tuckered herself out. Only then did he deign to speak.
"Are ya done?"
Lute wrenched her head back to glare at him.
Here at last, he finally got a good look at her pale face; the stubborn set of her lips, her narrow golden eyes, one of which was already beginning to bruise. Every fiber of her being radiated defiance; and he knew that if he were to let her go here and now, he'd gain an implacable enemy for life. On the other hand...
"Do it, then!" she snarled at him, tears gleaming in her good eye. "Kill me! Just like you killed him!"
Was she that out of the loop? He scoffed. "Adam's not dead, you dolt."
All the fight drained out of her. "...he's not?"
"Go have a look after this if you like." he shrugged one shoulder, but made no move to release her. "I wasn't trying to kill him, ya know.
Now it was her turn to scoff. "Bullshit."
Lute, I mean it-
"Horseshit."
"Listen, you little...!" He leaned down until their foreheads touched, and looked her square in the eye. "You seem confused about a few things, so I'll tell you what I told Sera. If I meant to kill your precious boyfriend," his eyes glowed gold, the very air warping around them, "He would be dead already."
"He's not my-
She tried to speak further and irritated, he clamped a hand round her mouth.
She promptly bit him for it.
Of course she did.
Seriously? What are you, seven? He rolled his eyes and stared her down. "No, nevermind that. You think a Rasengan is scary? You've no idea. Have you ever seen what a Rasenshuriken does to the body?" She glared at him and refused to respond until his fingers bit into her cheeks, drawing a pained gasp from her. "You haven't have you?" He gave her a good shake for emphasis. "Pray that you never do.
Only then did take his hand from her mouth and release her.
Lute didn't so much rise as she did spring backward in her haste to get away from him.
"Please don't attack me again," he side-eyed her when it looked like she might summon another weapon.
Her brow furrowed."You really weren't trying to kill him, were you?"
"No."
"Will he live?"
He shrugged a shoulder. "Most likely."
She clicked her tongue and looked aside with a snarl. "...then I'm sorry."
Lute most assuredly wasn't, not entirely, but it was better than nothing, frankly.
"Are you?" he didn't budge, even when she glared at him. "You could be less of a bitch about it...
"You...!" Her wings bridled for a moment, then drooped as she tucked them back in behind her. "Fine. You're right."
"I am?" Wait, why was he questioning this?! She'd leave him be at this rate! "Erm, I mean, yes!" he coughed into a fist. "I am. And don't you forget it."
Lute looked at him askance, still radiating quiet contempt. "Don't expect me to get down on my knees for you, though.
"Why would I even want that?"
A thought occurred to him then, as he stared her down.
Injuries aside, she looked much the same as she always did, but now that he looked, there was something about her halo and wings that seemed...different since he'd last see her. "Why is your halo black, anyway? It seems darker than before...
Lute blinked. She blinked hard. "By the Father, you really are new, aren't you?"
He flared his wings in response. "Thought that much was obvious."
She palmed her face with a scowl. "...I can't believe you're in charge of us. I can't tell if the Almighty is laughing at me or not?
You should know, Adam had certain responsibilities, duties you'll be expected to fulfill until he recovers.
He didn't much like the sound of that. "What kind of duties?
"I could tell you," she considered him for a long moment with a bitter smile, only to shake her head. "but I think it'll be more painful for you to find out."
She stomped away with a huff, leaving him scratching his head in exasperation.
Why did he have the faintest feeling he was forgetting something?
(.0.0.0.)
"Charlie, my dear! I've found a fascinating individual for your hotel!"
"Alastor?! Wait, you mean a guest?! And they came willingly?"
"Oh ye of little faith! Say hello, my good fellow!
"...no."
"Don't mind him, he's shy."
"Call me that again and I will STAB you."
"Splendid! You and Nifty will get along swimmingly."
(.0.0.0.)
Naruto exhaled slowly and stepped out onto the ledge.
All of heaven lay below him, glorious incandescent buildings spanning as far as the eye could see. His wings bridled below him, itching for action, and he flexed them with a wince. Surely this couldn't be that hard. He'd flown before in the past without wings; surely it couldn't be that hard with them, right? Right. He had this. He could do this, no he would do this. He took a deep breath and stepped off the ledge, spread his wings and-
Cloud.
Faceful of failure.
Very much his fault.
Marshaling his scattered thoughts, he righted himself with a groan and shook his head. Heat speared through his face as a few passerby laughed. He couldn't even blame them for it. What kind of Angel couldn't fly? He could use his Wings as limbs easily enough, so why couldn't he take the skies?
And then it hit him; muscle memory.
He knew how to punch and kick and wield his chakra, those were all ingrained into his soul, but flight? He'd never had wings before, and now he did. It was like flexing a muscle he hadn't been aware of.
'In that case...
Once more, he raised them and focused his willpower. His chakra was still very much intact, but there was more to it now; he could feel it; the chakra of the other Tailed Beasts thrumming through his angelic body. Or was he an angel at all? The wings and the halo -to say nothing of his new complexion- would say yes, but life was full of surprises-
'No, don't focus on that. Concentrate on the here and now.
He closed his eyes and focused further, consciousness tunneling inward. Sand. Balefire. Water. Lava. Steam. Acid. Lightning, wrath and soul-searing light forged from pure might. Each of his ten wings signified something a part of the tailed beast, which was grand, but where was Kurama?
Make no mistake, he didn't want to believe he was gone, more than anything, but all the facts pointed toward his demise.
He couldn't be dead. He just couldn't. If there was an afterlife, then he was surely somewhere.
Sasuke too, probably, knowing his luck.
He let his newfound appendages droop, trailing low to the clouds. Dropped down to his haunches now, took up a runner's crouch and focused anew. Okay, new techniques. He'd need time to get ahold of them, let alone master them. But in the interim, if he understood that, then mabye he could finally fly!
Naruto leaped up into the air, spread all ten of his wings and-
His face met the clouds with a resounding thud.
"Again!?"
(.0.0.0.)
Emily watched Naruto from afar.
At this distance, Heaven's newest Seraphim looked harmless, just another angel among the clouds.
His attack tore through Adam's defenses, sending him sprawling to the ground in a bloody heap.
No. She shook her head, banishing the frightful thought from her mind. He was good! She knew he was! She could sense the kindness in him, the selflessness that had first brought him to the pearly gates. Even now in his frustrations with flight, he didn't last out at anyoneandohwhatwathedoing?!
She watched, awestruck, as his ten wings burst back into life with a frustrated shoun, sending a shower of colorful lights -chakra!- racing into the sky. They exploded there one after the other like dazzling fireworks, each of them drawing startled cries from those looking on from afar.
It was...glorious. Just the sight of it made her want to sing!
Emily chirruped happily, unable to keep herself from clapping as the light show faded into showering sparks. "Pretty...
Naruto lowered his hands, face burning bright red. "...how long have you been standing there?"
She stepped out of hiding with a sheepish smile.
"Just a little while...
(.0.0.0.)
Her smile said otherwise.
Naruto knew it at a glance; she'd been watching him for some time now.
Heat crept up the back of his neck all over again; it made a man feel proper embaassed, ya know?
Don't worry, its a problem we all have at first. Even Sera wasn't born with the knowledge of flight." she settled in beside him with a happy chirrup. "She had to learn from the Seraphim before her, just as she learned from the Seraphim before her. Adam certainly didn't come into heaven knowing half of what he does now...
Heh. That, at least, made him feel better.
"You won't try to kill like that again, will you?" her question was borne not from anger or concern, but simple innocence. It hurt.
He winced. "I didn't mean to hurt him that badly."
She blinked up at him, pure as the driven snow. "You overestimated him?"
"More like I underestimated myself."
"I see. Also that was a very pretty light show earlier.
He sputtered and flushed, smiling at her simple praise. "...thanks."
"But if you'd like flying lessons," Her hands closed around his, shy and tentative. "I can teach you how to fly, if you like?"
His face softened a little; he just couldn't help it when faced with someone so eager. "...I'd like that. Very much."
Emily chirruped happily. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I promise I won't let you down!"
A look of pure and utter joy flashed across the smaller Seraphm's face as she squealed happily and hopped in place. He couldn't quite explain what came over him in that moment. They were still holding hands. Perhaps that was it; because for a singular blinding second, her joy was his joy; more than that, they were connected.
It was too much. Far too much. Couldn't resist.
Emily used smile! Its super effective!
Critical hit! Naruto fainted!
A/N: Aaaaaand scene.
Emily really is adorable, isn't she? We'll pick up here next chapter.
Hope you enjoyed this! Would you like weekly updates? Four slots remain!
Might make an alternate version for this with Naruto down in the hells. I'm torn between "Smile Like You Mean it" or "All Eyes on Me". I've not written anything on that front, we'll see. As ever, we're following the Ember's Rule here. That's no joke. Really, it isn't. If folks don't like this...well, we'll not continue it. Every bit of feedback helps. Reviews are the fuel which keeps me writing in these crazy times. With my tight schedule, I simply don't have time to write a story folks don't like. Without them, my inspiration cannot take wing and I can't write a word. So by all means, speak up!
Reviews are my lifeblood. Without them, I cannot write.
So In the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Revieeeeew, Would You Kindly?
They keeps an old man alive.
And enjoy the previews.
As ever:
SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!
PLOT DETAILS AHOY!
YE BE WARNED!
Get ready to smile~!
Obvious references are obvious~!
(POTENTIAL!) Previews! What can I say? We've been busy.
Emily made happy Emily noises. "Well done! I knew you could do it!"
What do you people do for fun up here, anyway?
Lute began to remove her shirt. When he was alive, he might panicked; even now, he felt a fierce flare of surprise. but it was muted. Distant. What the hell are you doing?
Having fun. He didn't miss the spiteful sparkle in her eyes.
Cut the crap. There other ways to do that.
"Extermination day...?" His hands clenched into fists at his sides. "I'm sorry, you wanna run that by me again? Otherwise...
All of Heaven dimmed around him anew, more than ever before.
"A guy might get the wrong idea, ya know?"
"You want to visit Hell?! Are you mad?!"
Verosika stopped short. Did a double take, now. "Hullo, handsome...
"I want to be better." He gripped his throat, dangling him over the edge. "Don't make me let you down."
"You're insane."
"Ah, but what is madness if not the path to brilliance?"
"You'll learn, or you will be made to learn. Simple as that."
Alastor tittered merrily. "Well, well. This promises to be...entertaining."