"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Magic"

Chapter 8: Fateblessed

Naruto's vision blurred as the pain from the dagger intensified. Brandish twisted the blade, her expression cold and determined. "I'll make sure you suffer just as much as she did!" The girl hissed with nothing besides rage in her voice.

Through the haze of pain, Naruto felt anger and confusion bubbling up. His mother a killer? That made no sense to him, but now wasn't the time for answers. The dagger in his stomach was a much greater issue. With a surge of adrenaline, he grabbed Brandish's wrist and yanked the dagger out of his stomach, blood spilling onto the bathroom floor.

"Damn it!" He growled, shoving her away from him. Brandish stumbled back, but she quickly recovered, glaring at him with venom in her eyes.

Naruto staggered forward, clutching his bleeding wound, and, with one swift movement, swept Brandish's legs out from under her. She fell to the floor with a sharp gasp, but even as she hit the tiles, she swung her arm to retaliate. Her hand glowed with magic, and the room distorted slightly, the space around them shrinking as she was trying to crush Naruto under the weight of the room.

Naruto gritted his teeth, fighting the oppressive pressure. His vision swam, and his body screamed for him to stop, but he wasn't giving in. He needed to get control of the situation before things escalated further.

Brandish, now back on her feet, lunged at him again, but Naruto was ready. With a burst of strength, he grabbed her and slammed her to the floor pinning her arms to her sides. They struggled, her magical power pressing against him, but Naruto wouldn't back down. The two rolled, kicking and grappling in the confined space of the bathroom, their bodies dangerously close. The bloody dagger knocked away in the exchange slid across the floor.

Just as Brandish raised her hand to shrink the space even more, a powerful gust of water burst through the door, slamming into both of them.

"Enough!" Came a commanding voice, echoing through the room.

Naruto barely had time to register what was happening before the familiar figure of Aquarius stormed into the bathroom, her usually serene expression twisted in annoyance.

"You idiots are going to destroy this place if you keep going!" She shouted, her voice filled with frustration. The torrent of water separating Naruto and Brandish forcefully knocked them apart, and Naruto collapsed against the wall, breathing heavily.

Brandish, drenched and disoriented looked up at the Celestial Spirit, wiping wet hair from her face. "M-m-mistress!"

"Well look who it is." Aquarius in her full form grabbed Brandish by the chin. "You've grown into a wicked little freak." She turned to Naruto, her tone softening just a bit."You're injured, idiot. You should've called for me."

Naruto coughed, wincing as his hand pressed against his stomach. "Didn't exactly have the time." He muttered. glancing at Brandish, who was slowly standing up again. "Do you know this girl Aquarius? She says my mom killed hers."

Aquarius pointed her finger at the green-haired mage, sending another jet of water that pushed her back down. "This was my first brat before you. Layla entrusted my key to her mother."

Naruto watched as Brandish growled under her breath but didn't move to attack again. For the moment, Aquarius had diffused the situation. He wiped the sweat from his brow, exhaustion catching up to him now that the adrenaline was fading.

"And then she killed my mother to take your key! Or maybe he's the killer!"

Aquarius glared at Brandish with an expression that made the girl sink back in fear. "Neither Layla nor Naruto harmed your mother brat. So I would get your story straight before harming MY wizard."

Aquarius turned to Naruto with a concerned expression, kneeling beside him. "You're losing too much blood. We need to get you some medical attention."

"I'm fine, I promise. I need to know what really happened to her mother. I need to know why she would accuse me or my mom of murder."

Brandish watched in silence, her earlier hostility dimmed for the moment. She stared at Naruto with a mixture of anger and something else, something uncertain. As Aquarius glared at her, she took a step back, weighing her options.

"That's not important." Aquarius began softly. Almost as if she wanted to change the subject.

"It could be linked to my memories." Naruto argued with a pleading tone, which made Aquarius frown.

"Naruto there is a portion of your memories that you don't remember, but I do. Pulling those out will give her answers, but it will do nothing except bring you more pain." Aquarius glanced away from Naruto and found her eyes moving to Brandish. "I wont do anything to place him in danger. Understood?"

Brandish frowned at the spirit, but Naruto coughing in pain earned her attention.

"Aquarius, please tell us what happened." Naruto pleaded softly, his hand pressing hard against his bleeding wound. "I need to fill the gaps in my memories and she deserves to know what happened to her mom."

Brandish eyes softened on the bleeding boy, while Aquarius huffed in annoyance. "She doesn't deserve shit. If I didn't intervene one of you would probably be dead."

"It was a misunderstanding." Naruto replied with a forced smile. "No hard feelings, right Brandish?"

"I'm sorry." Brandish spoke softly, but sincerely.

Naruto laughed and gave the girl an infectious smile. "Hey no harm-." Naruto paused and slightly winced in pain. "Well no major harm. So no foul."

Brandish inched forward slightly, guilt covering her face. Aquarius watched the girl and prepared herself to attack Brandish if she displayed the smallest intention of harming Naruto. Instead the girl merely moved Naruto's hand away from his wound and pressed her own in its place.

Blood covered Brandish's hand, but with a surge of her magic. Naruto was completely stunned to find his wound actually closing.

"You're a healer?" Naruto asked.

"No. My magic lets me grow and shrink things. I'm just shrinking your wounds to the size of a paper cut." Brandish explained in a rather matter of fact tone.

"That's how you caught me by surprise earlier." Naruto began as he kept his eyes directly onto Brandish. "You shrunk the dagger and then returned its size before stabbing me."

Brandish gave Naruto a bored look. "No. You just wouldn't stop looking at my boobs."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Naruto replied with a smirk. His eyes never once moving from her chest.

Aquarius growled and slapped Naruto in the face. Her hand rested against his eyes. "You're still looking at her boobs you little perv!" Aquarius then shifted her fury to Brandish. "And put some fucking clothes on you little freak."

Brandish shimmered into a bikini with a fur lined jacket overtop of her. "Sorry mistress."

Aquarius still having her hand on Naruto's face pushed the blonds head into the wall in anger. "How in the hell is that any better!" The spirit roared as Brandish whimpered and Naruto grumbled with a lump on the back of his head. "Seriously you two brats are hopeless! You'll be single forever!"

Aquarius paused her eyes looking back and forth between Naruto and Brandish. Realizing she could work with this.

"Sorry mistress!"

"Ah fuck Aquarius are you trying to kill me too?" Naruto grumbled in annoyance, while Brandish looked horrified by how Naruto spoke to the mermaid.

"Don't upset Mistress." Brandish warned in a whisper as she leaned in close to Naruto. "She'll punish both of us."

Naruto scoffed and glared at Aquarius. "Seriously Aquarius what did you do to traumatize her?"

Aquarius folded her arms and huffed. "Nothing you brat! She just understands how to give proper respect. Actually you know what? She's now my favorite of you two."

"Oh really?" Naruto replied back with a sneer. "We are playing that game huh?"

Aquarius, realizing what was coming next, jabbed a finger at Naruto. "Don't you dare Naruto Heartfilia!"

"Fine Virgo is my favorite spirit. Then Libra and finally you."

"Oh you fucking brat! You haven't even summoned Libra yet!"

Naruto twisted a grin. "And your point, bronze medal?"

Aquarius visibly fuming jerked her head to the side. "See if I tell you shit now brat!"

Naruto dropped his smile. "Okay. Jokes aside Aquarius. Please tell us about her mother."

Aquarius glared daggers at Brandish. "I've already told you. This information isn't anything you need to hear about. All it will accomplish is pulling painful memories out and maybe even reverting back to how you used to be."

"Aquarius, it's her mom. Think about if this was about my dad or my sister. You'd want someone to tell me what happened." Naruto argued back, which made Aquarius sigh.

"Fine, but you don't have to be present to hear it." Aquarius began as she pointed her finger at him. "Leave and I'll tell her everything."

"No." Naruto replied in defiance. "This involves me and my mother. So I'm going to stay and listen."

"You're an insufferable stubborn brat! You realize that right?"

Naruto laughed with a wide smile. "It's one of my best features."

"Fine, but if you break again. Don't expect me to fix you!"

Naruto simply nodded back. "I'm stronger than I used to be Aquarius. Even you've told me that."

Aquarius closed her eyes and shook her head. "After Erigor attacked you and stole Virgo's key. Grammi arrived and summoned me to protect you. Grammi was trying to return me to Layla as you already know to open the Eclipse Gate."

"The what?" Brandish spoke up, which made Aquarius snarl.

"Are you interrupting me you fucking brat?"

Brandish's eyes grew wide in terror. "Sorry mistress!"

Aquarius glared at Brandish with anger, but Naruto's voice cut through the small bathroom.

"It's a gate that requires all twelve golden keys to open. Aquarius told me my mother decided to open it so I wouldn't have to. Unfortunately my mom was only able to gather eleven of the twelve needed keys. She used her own life force to supplement Aquarius… My mom grew sick and died because of that."

Brandish, still having a blood soaked hand against Naruto's wound, looked at the boy. Surprise etched across her face, while a feeling of emptiness washed over her. She hated Naruto and Layla. She blamed them both for her mother's death. Yet right now it sounded like her mother had caused more damage to the Heartfilia family.

"Are you trying to say the reason your mother is dead was because of mine?" Brandish whispered softly.

Aquarius opened her mouth to speak, but Naruto's notorious chuckle came first.

"Of course not. My mother didn't have to open the Eclipse Gate, but she chose to do so. She made that choice because she loved me and wanted to protect me. If anyone should take the blame it would be me." Naruto said before he surprised Brandish by reaching out and gently patted the top of her head. "She would also scold me for blaming others for her death."

Brandish blinked at the boy's compassion. Hating herself for stabbing him.

"Can I continue with my story? Or are you brats going to ignore me?"

Brandish yelped and Naruto rolled his eyes. "Go ahead, bronze medal."

Aquarius flicked a ball of water into Naruto's head. "Like I said. Me and Grammi saved Naruto from Erigor, but he escaped with Virgo's key. We then took Naruto back to his mother."

(Flashback)

The Heartfilia estate was cloaked in an eerie stillness, the only sound the occasional rustle of the wind through the trees outside. Grammi walked through the grand halls, holding Naruto in her arms. He remained motionless, a husk of a child, his eyes distant as they stared blankly ahead.

Grammi finally reached the room where Layla lay bedridden, her once vibrant figure now frail and weak, a shadow of her former self. The light of the afternoon sun filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over her pale face. Layla turned her head slowly as Grammi entered, a small, tired smile forming on her lips.

"Grammi." Layla's voice was hoarse, barely more than a whisper. "What a lovely surprise. I'm glad to see you."

Grammi nodded, gently setting Naruto down on the edge of the bed. He didn't move, didn't acknowledge either of them. It broke Grammi's heart to see the boy like this.

"I found him." Grammi said quietly, her voice thick with emotion. "I found Naruto being attacked by a dark wizard. His gate key was stolen, but me and Aquarius fought the man off to protect Naruto."

Layla's smile faltered, her eyes lingering on Naruto. She reached out with a trembling hand, brushing her fingers across his cheek. There was no reaction. Her son remained as still as a statue, his once bright eyes empty.

"Thank you." Layla mumbled weakly as tears cascaded down her cheek. "You have my gratitude for saving my son."

"What happened to him? I've never seen anyone like this before."

"I don't know what happened to him." Layla said softly, her voice filled with anguish. "One day, he was full of life, running through these halls. Then after I returned from opening the Eclipse Gate. Naruto was like this and my husband was missing. Zoldeo had found Naruto and taken him back home, but even Zoldeo had no idea as to what happened."

Grammi bit her lip, feeling helpless. "I've never seen anything like this. It's like he's here, but he's not. No magic I know can explain it."

Layla coughed weakly, the sound rattling through her chest. "I've tried everything, Grammi. I've reached out to every healer, every mage… but no one can help. They all say the same thing. That it's beyond them. I feel so useless as a mother."

Grammi glanced at Layla, noticing how frail she'd become. She hadn't seen her friend in this state before. "Layla, please don't say that. You're a fantastic mother!"

Layla closed her eyes, sighing deeply. "I don't have much time left. My illness… It's progressing faster than I thought. Soon my little Naruto will be all alone."

Grammi's heart sank. She had suspected Layla was getting worse, but hearing it confirmed was a blow. "Layla, this is all my fault. I should have been here faster with Aquarius."

Layla smiled softly. "It's not your fault Grammi. I made my choice and I did it happily for my son."

"This isn't fair to you or Naruto."

Layla's eyes fluttered open again, locking onto Grammi's with an intensity that belied her weakened state. "Naruto needs a family. He needs someone to care for him… to bring him back, if that's even possible. And I can't do it. Not like this. So that's why I need you. Grammi will you raise my son?"

Grammi blinked, stunned by the request. "Layla, I…"

"I know it's a lot to ask." Layla interrupted, her voice breaking. "But I trust you. You were always more than just my servant. You were my friend, my sister. I need you to take care of him. He's going to need someone when I'm gone."

Grammi felt her throat tighten. She looked at Naruto, sitting silently on the bed, and then back at Layla. "But I don't know how to help him. I'm no healer."

"I don't think it's about healing." Layla whispered, her eyes filled with both sorrow and hope. "It's about giving him a home, giving him love. Maybe that's all he needs to find himself again."

Grammi hesitated, the weight of the responsibility pressing down on her. "I'll do it, Layla. I'll take care of him."

A weak smile spread across Layla's face, relief flooding her tired features. "Thank you, Grammi. You've always been there for me. Now, you'll be there for him too."

She paused, her lips twitching with a hint of her old playful self. "Who knows… maybe one day, he and your little Brandish might even fall in love. Have little babies. Maybe a girl named after her foolish grandma."

Grammi blinked, caught off guard by the comment. "Layla, you're half delirious."

Layla chuckled weakly, the sound hollow but filled with warmth. "More wishful than anything. After all, I'll never get to see my son's future. So please make sure it's a wonderful one for me."

Grammi squeezed Layla's hand, her heart heavy. "Rest now. I'll do what I can."

As Layla drifted off into sleep, Grammi stood by the bed, watching over both her and Naruto. She didn't know how she would help the boy, but she knew she couldn't let Layla down.

(Present)

The bathroom was still, save for the occasional shift in the water as Aquarius' form hovered, her gaze soft but serious as she recounted the tale. Naruto sat on the ground, his hands wrapped tightly around his knees, his mind absorbing the words, while Brandish sat by him, arms folded, a mix of disbelief and confusion written on her face.

"Grammi was going to raise you. She promised Layla she would give you a home and you two brats would have been raised together." Aquarius continued, her voice quiet but firm. "But Naruto… you never made the trip. Something awful happened. A tragedy that left you both without a mother."

Naruto's brow furrowed as he absorbed the information. He looked down at his hands, which still trembled slightly from the ordeal with Brandish. A girl who tried to kill him only moments ago, but who was almost his childhood friend.

"Grammi… she was supposed to raise me." Naruto muttered quietly, though no one was sure if he was speaking to himself or to the two women in the room. He wasn't looking at either of them as he spoke, his voice distant. "What happened to her?"

Aquarius' gaze darkened, her features momentarily hardening with the weight of a painful memory. "Grammi was… killed shortly after taking you. We were traveling back to Grammi's home country when it happened."

(Flashback)

The wind rustled through the trees, carrying with it the scent of earth and rain, as Grammi stepped carefully by a large ravine. Naruto walked silently beside her, his eyes distant and unfocused, his gaze locked on nothing in particular. His presence beside her, though quiet, offered a kind of solace that she didn't fully understand. He was still in his strange, emotionless state, his voice never once breaking the silence that hung between them.

Grammi glanced down at the boy, a deep frown knitting her brow. Her heart aching with the weight of what was to come. She had promised Layla, but keeping that promise felt harder than she could have ever imagined. She had never expected to take in a broken child who had no more words than a cold shell. But she wouldn't give up on him. Grammi couldn't leave him alone.

She sighed heavily, adjusting her grip on the child, feeling the burden of their journey ahead. They had to leave the kingdom and travel back home to Grammi's daughter. Slightly hoping that having someone his own age to be around could help him. But before they could get any farther, the faintest disturbance in the air made her pause.

A stomping of feet rumbling the ground before a sharp pain erupted through Grammi's body. Stunning the woman as she looked down to the blade peeking out of her stomach.

"This is all your fault!" A familiar voice accused loudly into her ear. "Layla is dead because of you!"

The blade pulled from her backside, Grammi felt a hard shove throw her into the dirt. Making the woman let go of Naruto's hand to avoid pulling the boy down with her. Pain screamed throughout her body, but she had a duty to protect Naruto. A duty to return back to her daughter. That duty made her roll onto her bleeding backside. Locking eyes with her attacker.

The man's expression was dark and malicious, and it sent a shiver down her spine. Slowly, she narrowed her eyes at his wild, unkempt hair falling in front of his face. His eyes were bloodshot, and his posture was hunched, as if something had snapped within him long ago. The man was holding three Gate keys. Gripping them tightly as if they were extensions of himself.

"Zoldeo." Grammi breathed, her heart sinking as the name rolled off her tongue. "What are you doing here?"

Zoldeo's eyes locked onto her with a twisted look of hatred, his lips curling into a sadistic smile. "You run off for years and cause lady Layla to sacrifice her life! Then you get rewarded with her son and key!" He spat, his voice low and trembling. "You abandoned her! You'll just abandon him too! I was there for Naruto!" His voice cracked, his sanity slipping further with every word. "I should be the one to have him!"

Grammi blinked and looked at Naruto. Finding the boy just watching on without reaction to anything going on. Her body burned with pain as she held her wound closed with her hand. Taking her free hand to pull Naruto protectively close.

"You will NOT have HIM!" Grammi breathed with difficulty. Blood leaking out of her hand and dripping into Naruto's backside.

Zoldeo gripped his dagger with white knuckles. "You have a lot of nerve saying that."

As the chilling wind swept through the ravine, Grammi clutched her side, blood seeping through her fingers as she tried to steady herself. Her breathing grew more labored with each passing second, and the world around her seemed to blur as the pain became unbearable. Naruto, still expressionless, stood close to her, oblivious to the chaos unfolding.

Grammi with the love and strength of a mother pulled Naruto protectively behind her. A hand grabbing Aquarius for support, but she found it difficult to summon any magic. Her aching body made her entire frame rattle like a tree in a storm.

Zoldeo's eyes gleamed with madness as he stalked toward her, a twisted grin spreading across his face. "You think you can protect him? You can barely protect yourself." His voice was filled with a venomous glee as he twirled the dagger in his hand. "Layla died because of you. Now, you'll be next!"

Grammi's heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to stay upright, her body trembling from blood loss. "I… I won't let you take him." Her voice was weak, barely more than a whisper, but her resolve was clear. She would protect Naruto, no matter what. She just needed to gather the magic to summon Aquarius.

Unfortunately she was too slow. Zoldeo closed the distance and batted Aquarius out of her hand. Making the key bounce across the ground. Meanwhile his dagger found a second spot into her chest. Making the mother blink in pain. Her mind hardly registered what happened before she slumped over. Dying right in front of Naruto who merely gazed at the woman. Yet their eyes met for a moment.

A pair of emerald eyes meeting a pair of dull blue. A weak frown passing through Grammi's lips. "Please. Protect my Brandish."

Naruto didn't respond. Instead he stood there motionless as the woman took her final breath. The last words being a request to protect a girl he didn't even know.

Zoldeo cackled, kicking Grammi's body. "Useless whore. I'll be taking care of Naruto and your little daughter."

Suddenly, a cold gust of wind rushed through the ravine, a chilling voice cutting through the chaos.

"Let me save him!" The voice was unmistakable. Aquarius. Her words echoed through the air, filled with urgency and desperation.

Zoldeo paused, his eyes scanning the area for the source of the voice. "What?" He muttered, his expression faltering for a moment, uncertainty creeping in. His eyes scanning the area with a frantic panic.

Then, another voice boomed, far deeper and more authoritative. "No. You cannot interfere in the realm of mortals unless you are summoned." The voice of the Celestial Spirit King reverberated through the air, shaking the very ground beneath them. "That is our binding law!"

Aquarius's voice rang out again, louder this time, filled with defiance. "I don't care! I claim him! He will be my wizard!"

In an instant, the water in the ravine surged upwards, forming a massive wave. Out of the torrent, Aquarius appeared, her form towering and filled with fury. Without hesitation, she lashed out, knocking Zoldeo back with a powerful strike. The man's eyes widened in shock as he was flung through the air, his body tumbling over the edge of the ravine.

"No!" Zoldeo screamed as he fell, disappearing into the darkness below. A bright pillar of light erupted from where he had fallen, illuminating the ravine for a brief moment before everything went still.

Aquarius stood in the center of the scene, her chest heaving with anger. Her normally calm and collected demeanor was gone, replaced by an almost primal rage. She turned her gaze toward Naruto, who was still standing motionless beside Grammi. Her eyes softened as she knelt beside the boy, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.

Aquarius turned her head toward Grammi, her expression conflicted. "Damnit Grammi." She muttered, but there was no anger in her voice. Only sorrow.

Aquarius clenched her fists, her eyes narrowing. "You fool…" She whispered, her voice trembling. "Now who will watch this boy?"

Naruto, still silent, looked up at Aquarius with empty eyes, as if he was detached from everything happening around him. For a brief moment, his gaze met Aquarius's, and something flickered in his expression, but it disappeared just as quickly. Yet his hand reached out for Aquarius. The mermaid frowned, but accepted the hand. Naruto was her responsibility now.

Aquarius lifted Grammi with surprising gentleness, her water magic swirling around them as she prepared to transport them to safety. "Rest now, Grammi. I'll make sure Naruto is safe."

Aquarius's voice wavered as she recounted the final moments of Grammi's life. The bathroom was quiet now, save for the soft sound of dripping water from the faucet. Naruto and Brandish sat side by side, their eyes fixed on the Celestial Spirit, whose gaze was far away, lost in memories from long ago. Yet oddly enough their hands were overlapped one another by each teenager's side. Something that the Celestial Spirit took extra interest in.

"I couldn't save her." Aquarius murmured. "Zoldeo's madness took her life before I could intervene. The only thing I could do was protect Naruto… and that's what I did." Her tone was resolute, but there was a deep sadness beneath her words.

Brandish's hands were clenched into fists, her green eyes wet with unshed tears. She tried to speak, but the words caught in her throat. She had always thought her mother had died because of Layla. That hatred had been her driving force for so long. Now, hearing the truth, the weight of her anger crumbled beneath the reality of her mother's sacrifice.

"After Zoldeo's attack I took Naruto home to see his mothers grave." Aquarius continued, her voice soft but steady. "But I couldn't leave Grammi there. I made sure her body was delivered back to your home. It wasn't much, but I knew she deserved peace. After that, I stayed with Naruto, traveling with him as he grew. In time, he became the man you see now. I didn't foresee you taking this as a sign to kill Naruto. I should have included a note that explained everything, but even I make mistakes."

Naruto, who had been silent throughout the entire story, stared down at the floor. The memories of his past were distant, fragmented, but hearing them laid out like this made them feel more real. He had always known there were missing pieces of his life, and now, he had one more piece of the puzzle. Aquarius was just glad that piece didn't seem to break him again.

"Naruto." Aquarius said, her tone sharp once more. "Go make some tea. Brandish needs it."

Naruto blinked, pulling himself out of his thoughts. "What? I'm not really…"

"Now." Aquarius cut him off, her eyes narrowing. "You're her host and she could use a cup. And it'll give me a moment alone with her."

Naruto frowned but didn't argue further. He gave Brandish a quick glance before leaving the bathroom, the sound of his footsteps echoing down the hall as he headed for the kitchen.

Once the door clicked shut, Aquarius turned her full attention to Brandish. The young woman looked up at her, uncertainty flickering in her tear-filled eyes.

"You hate him." Aquarius began bluntly, crossing her arms. "Or at least, you thought you did. But it's time to let that go."

Brandish swallowed hard, wiping at her eyes. "I… I don't know what to think anymore. My entire life, I blamed him, blamed Layla…For everything. Now, I find out it was all a lie."

"Your mother's death wasn't a lie." Aquarius said firmly. "She died protecting Naruto, just as I've been doing ever since. She wanted you both to be safe, to be together. If fate hadn't torn things apart, maybe you two would have grown up side by side."

Brandish shook her head, her emotions swirling inside her. "Why are you telling me this now?"

Aquarius moved closer, her gaze piercing. "Because you need to watch out for him, Brandish. I'm not always going to be here, and Naruto needs someone who understands the weight of what he's been through. Stars above I know that boy more than anyone. He has an awful streak of blaming himself for things far out of his reach. I know he blames himself for Layla's death and I guarantee he's in that kitchen blaming himself for Grammi."

Brandish looked down, her thoughts racing. "Why should I stay with him? There has to be someone better"

Aquarius's lips twitched into a faint, knowing smile. "Maybe because you're more alike than you think. And maybe… because if things had gone differently, the two of you might have already been together."

Brandish's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. "What… what are you saying?"

Aquarius raised an eyebrow. "I'm saying fate works in strange ways. Grammi loved you and her final words to Naruto were to protect you. She saw a future where the two of you looked out for each other. Maybe it's time to consider what she saw. I have an inkling that idiot could do as much good for you as you could for him."

Brandish bit her lip, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. Everything she thought she knew had been flipped upside down, and now, for the first time in her life, she wasn't sure what to believe. But something in Aquarius's words struck a chord deep inside her. A sense of belonging, of fate, that she couldn't ignore.

Aquarius turned toward the door, her back to Brandish. "Stay with him. He's a good kid despite what I may say to his face. You could help ground each other and grow."

Brandish sat in silence, her heart heavy with the weight of everything she had just learned. When Naruto finally returned with the tea, the room felt different. Like something between them had shifted.

Brandish sat quietly, sipping the tea Naruto had made, her thoughts still racing from Aquarius's words. The weight of the decision pressed heavily on her, but there was a strange sense of clarity that came with it. She glanced over at Naruto, who seemed equally lost in thought, though likely for entirely different reasons.

Finally, she set her cup down and took a deep breath. "I've decided… I'm going to stay with you, Naruto. I won't return to my home kingdom."

Naruto blinked, clearly taken aback. "Stay with me? What do you mean? Why would you want to do that?"

Brandish hesitated for a moment, struggling to find the right words. Unsure how to explain the strange sense of duty she now felt toward him, toward the memory of her mother. To what Aquarius truly wanted for the both of them

Naruto scratched the back of his head, his confusion only deepening. "Is everything okay?"

Before Brandish could respond, Aquarius's voice cut sharply through the air, startling them both. "Naruto, don't be an idiot!" She scolded, her arms crossed and her eyes glaring down at him. "A young lady just told you she's staying with you. You don't refuse that! I've taught you better!"

Naruto flinched, his eyes widening at Aquarius's sudden outburst. "Wait, what? I'm not!" He stammered, trying to figure out how to respond.

"I don't care what you think!" Aquarius snapped, her voice filled with authority. "This is happening, whether you understand it or not. Brandish is staying with you, and you'll both learn to deal with it."

Naruto's mouth opened and closed, at a complete loss for words. He glanced at Brandish, who had the faintest hint of a smirk on her face despite the seriousness of the situation.

Realizing he had no real argument to stand on, especially not against Aquarius. He sighed in defeat. "Fine… if you really want to stay, I guess I can't say no. But I don't get why Aquarius is so adamant about it."

Aquarius shot him a sharp look, one that promised more scolding if he kept questioning her motives. "Just be glad I'm not hitting you with my vase right now."

Naruto winced at the mention of the infamous vase. Something that even made Brandish rub the top of her head from a phantom pain. "Okay, okay! You don't need to threaten me."

Brandish let out a small, relieved breath. She hadn't realized just how tense she had been waiting for Naruto's response, and now that he had accepted it. However, reluctantly she felt a sense of calm wash over her.

"Well then." Naruto said, trying to shake off the awkwardness. "If you're staying with me, I guess I should introduce you to the Fairy Tail guild. They're like my family now, and… well, they'll want to meet you."

Brandish raised an eyebrow. "Fairy Tail, huh? The loud, destructive group of misfits?"

Naruto grinned, the first sign of real excitement lighting up his face. "Yeah, that's them. But trust me, they're the best family anyone could ask for. You'll fit right in."

Brandish nodded, the tension between them easing for the first time. "I guess we'll see, but I'm only staying with you. Don't expect me to join some random guild."

Naruto smiled, a sense of excitement bubbling up inside him at the thought of introducing her to his guildmates. Whatever their past had been, whatever pain and misunderstandings they had shared, there was a chance now to start fresh. To start a relationship intertwined by fate.

As they stood to leave, Aquarius gave them both one last knowing look. "Take care of each other." She said softly, her usual sharpness replaced by a rare moment of sincerity. "You might not see it now, but you're going to need each other more than you think."

Naruto and Brandish exchanged a glance, her words lingering in the air as they walked out of the bathroom and toward whatever lay ahead. Together. Yet a final shout from Aquarius called out before she shimmered away.

"And no sharing a bed you little perverts!" Aquarius heard them both yelp in embarrassment and she laughed before muttering under her breath. "At least not yet."

(Chapter End)