A/N: EDIT: feedback really seems to have dropped off this chapter. And here I was, hoping folks would enjoy a character focused chapter with weekly updates... so much for that hope...T_T
Hey, there! Mind reading this author's note? Don't worry, its brief and details my update schedule for this week:
Update schedule is as follows: Running to the Edge and Claws of a Lion are progressing nicely, as is Gotta Adopt Em All, By Any Other Name, and two dozen other existing stories. As such, we're aiming for a triple, maybe even a quadruple update this Friday. I'll not say what up here, wouldn't do to spoil the surprise. Let's do this. Needed to get another update out for this before Invincible kicks off again, while Apples and Atoms is calling my naaaame...that will be updated from February onward.
Looking forward to your reviews~! As ever, the fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others; I don't get paid a single cent to write any of this.
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~!
Also, tribute to THAT scene with Sid and Delta.
"One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it, young master. And on that note, young master...where is MY ring?"
"C'mon now, this again? You'll get one when you earn one, Yukime."
"See? You can be serious. I rather like that side of you."
"Enough. You have your task. Hop to it."
"Yes, yes. I'll see you tonight...
~A bit of banter.
Fifth Deed
Sara was bored.
A bored Sara made for a dangerous Sara.
A dangerous Sara tended to forget her training.
A forgetful Sara often went on...well. Let's call them Hunts.
She was considering going on one right now.
Right this second!
Because!
There was!
Nothing! To! DO!
Even swimming got boring after awhile!
Growling, she flopped over in her bed and glared at the ceiling. "Not fair...
The friction of the sheets against her exposed skin did little to quell her restlessness; if anything, it exacerbated it.
Boss had gone on a trip and brought Yukime with him. Something about hunting down an ancient artifact and possibly finding them a new ally for their fledgling organization.
She hoped it wasn't another therianthrope like her.
Two was company, three was a crowd.
Sara wanted to go, too! But he said she had to stay here and look after the manor. Keep up her training and all that. Chakra wasn't a gift given lightly and in the three years since she'd gained it, she liked to think she'd gotten pretty good at it, you know? Not only had she learned how to use it, but she'd managed to mold it to her body, sharpen her fingers into claws, infuse her very clothes and hair with it. That made it useful; she could even create projections to mow down swathes of enemies if
She was a brawler through and through. No fancy "jutsu" for her. The annoying white fox could have those. Tch. So annoying. Her and her six tails. At this rate, she'd have nine before she knew it. Boss liked the number nine for some silly reason.
No good stinky fox thought she was sooo special.
But she was still weaker than her.
So. Here she was. Waiting.
That left her with Yukime's mother, who, if she was entirely honest with herself, was kinda scary. She didn't possess any specials skills or power, but...
...sometimes...
...when Yoko smiled...
...that lady really terrified Sara.
She shivered a little, rubbing her bare shoulders.
What was the term Boss used? Den mother? Was that a thing?
She didn't really mind that, Boss could have a hundred women and a thousand babies, for all she cared. Yoko and Yukime could be a part of that, if they wanted. The princesses, too.
So long as they knew their place. So long as they respected the pecking order. So long as she was first.
Right, screw this. No more waiting!
Scowling, she hopped to her feet, stretched once, and dropped down on all fours.
"Time to hunt~!"
(.0.0.0.)
So, this was the capital.
Hard to believe he'd be attending school here in a few years.
Naruto drank his surroundings all in with a keen eye, bright blue eyes raking across everything before him in quiet hunger. The walls, the buildings, the streets, even the passerby, he assessed them all, considering them intently. Yukime would've chided him for staring overlong, but she wasn't about at the moment thankfully; she had a task of her own to complete.
.
..
...hopefully the feisty fox could accomplish said task without slitting too many throats.
She'd come a long way from the frightened girl he'd first found in the snow. Sara had as well; but he couldn't entirely trust her to control her strength just yet, which was why he'd given her the command to stay behind in the first place. Poor girl was probably going stir-crazy. He'd bring her back a souvenir. Probably some food, too. She loved meat...
That thought brought a small smile to his face as he skirted around a cart brimming with less-than-fresh cabbages. When the purveyor of said cart thrust a ball of the offending green produce into his face and tried to bully him into buying one, he decided to make a game of it. Playing along, he pretended to barter with him for a time to test his haggling skills. Then, when the greasy bastard inevitably tried to jack up the price in retaliation, he subtly kicked one of the back wheels.
Just a tiny tap, with a subtle spike of chakra lancing through the wood besides.
Enough to weaken the foundation...and create a spark.
The rest was poetry in motion.
With a ponderous crunch the cart crumbled inward on itself and burst into flames. The shady produce seller squawked indignantly and tried desperately to put out the blaze, to no avail. Within a matter of moments, his soon-to-be rotten produce was so much kindly. Wailing, the poor fellow crumpled to his knees.
"MY CABBAGES!"
Naruto sauntered away, whistling under his breath. No one could blame in for the sudden inferno and thus, none challenged him.
Was that necessary?
No.
Did it feel good?
Yuuup.
Still, for the moment, he couldn't afford to be seen. Not quiet yet. It would upset his plans, you see.
If the Cult of his beloved "brother" was beginning to move in this city...well, then.
He had to take action. Quietly, of course.
Slipping through the crowd, he idly adjusted his hood as he went, careful to keep his face concealed. A subtle transformation jutsu on his part ensured that anyone who did try to sneak a peak would see only a harmless, nondescript civilian face, but better safe than sorry.
"Now where's that shop...?"
He'd memorized the map back at base, so he knew where it was in theory; but actually finding the darn place in principle was another matter.
Few paid him any attention as he traipsed toward his destination; as he did, he allowed his mind to wander.
His reasons for disguising himself were twofold; not only did he not wish to be seen, but this was also a test for himself. He had power aplenty, strength in spades, but his stealth skills had...atrophied, to say the least. He wasn't happy with that.
So, rather than go in swords swinging and cause a diplomatic incident, he'd chosen an alternative route. His gaze strayed to a larger building, looming over the rest. For a brief moment, he found himself tempted to go pay Iris a visit, then thought better of it.
She was doing well, but Alexia was getting antsy; probably best to leave those two to hash things out in his absence.
He'd probably have to face their father sooner or later.
Geh. No, thank you!
Yukime would've rubbed her hands together and declared it all part of the Harem Plan.
He wasn't so droll as to miss that; Sara and Yukime didn't always get along, but when they did, he had to watch out.
As "Nathaniel Griffey" there were certain expectations he had to bear, responsibilities heaped upon him. Producing heirs was one of them.
The Griffey family hadn't been a particularly esteemed one when he'd first taken charge, but he'd done much to elevate it beyond its ken in the last three years. Offering a ring to Iris just last week had only catapulted his social standing in the eyes of nobles near and far. Not at all his intention at the time, but there it was.
Some might say he was putting the cart before the horse, there, Perhaps he was. They'd done little more than hold hands. Hadn't even kissed, really,
Regardless, he'd become something of a known quantity.
Ah. And there was his destination. The secret entrance to the sewers should be under it.
His eyes began to glow gold, blood warming at the prospect of a fight. "Time for some fun...
Someone exclaimed happily behind him. "BOSS~!"
His right ear twitched. "Waitaminute-
That was his first mistake.
She waited for no one.
"Gah, Sara!" he grunted as a familiar therianthrope landed on his back, all but sitting on his shoulders. "Why are you even here?!"
"Sara was hunting!" her tail wagged behind her, betraying the excitement in her eager voice. "Wanna go hunting with me, boss?"
...what were you hunting?"
"Strong people!" she chirruped happily. "I hunted them all the way here!"
Oh, Sara...
"...how in the heck did you sneak up on me anyway?"
"Sara is the best and hide-and-seek." she said.
Their reunion ended as most of their interactions did; with him carrying piggyback, and her nuzzling his neck, sniffing him like some juicy cut of meet. With a confused noise, she leaned back and stared at him, sniffed again, frowned now when she caught the unpleasant smell clinging to his clothing. "You smell like cabbage."
"Because I was hunting them." he lied less than eloquently, unwilling to tell her he'd set fire to something.
In hindsight, it was the wrong thing to say.
One did not simply say the "H" word in front of Sara.
He'd done just that. He felt her feral instincts slam into place.
Sure enough, her lively violet eyes lit up. "Hunting?!" She levered herself up, planted both hands on his shoulders and pushed, all but forcing him to walk forward with a hunch, tail slapping against his back as she wriggled happily atop him. "Sara wants to hunt!"
"Sorry, they're already been hunted." he grimaced as she nuzzled closer. "And wouldya get offa me already? You're crushing my spine."
"No!" She nimbly vaulted onto his shoulders instead, literally sitting on them and nearly bowling him forward; in doing so two glorious mounds pressed down atop his head, beneath which she latched onto his hair and started combing her fingers through. "I'm comfy!"
"Why're ya here?"
That got her going, as he knew it would. "Sara woke up early this morning, ate lots and lots of meat, and came to the capital for the first time forever!" She leaned over him, hanging her head upside down, tail wagging a mile a minute.
"And why did you come?"
Her cherubic grinned stirred his soul. "Sara was hunting!"
"And why were you hunting, Sara of mine?
"Sara was bored! Wanna hunt with me, boss?"
Such a one track mind. "Why were you bored I left plenty for you to do."
"Because Sara was lonely!" Her grin grew another inch. "Wanna hunt with me, Boss?
Persistent! "So you were lonely.
Sara nodded. "Uh-huh! Wanna hunt with me, Boss?"
She wasn't gonna let this go, was she? "What're you hunting?"
"Bandits!" She leaned back at last, taking pressure off his spine. "You like hunting bandits, right boss?"
"Sometimes-ow." He grunted as she yanked on the bangs of his hair, forcing him to look up at her, only to get a faceful of her tits in return. "I enjoy that, but-
She dove in and pressed her lips against his, kissing him hungrily, cutting off his air off as she threw her body weight back against him. "Hunt with me!"
Naruto reeled back, head spinning a little as he gasped for air. She'd been doing that a lot, lately; kissing him and rubbing herself up against him whenever she had half a chance. That, or biting his neck.
Almost like she was marking her territory.
"I can't do that right now...I'm on a mission...
She pouted, and he had an instant to plant his feet before she threw her entire body weight over his shoulders, all but hanging upside down off him to glare at him. "No, hunt with me!"
"Hold your horses." he reached up to pat her hair. "Don't you have something else to do?"
Her brow furrowed in confusion. "Like what?"
"Did you read the training list I gave you?"
She paled, then squeaked. "Training?"
Realization dawned abruptly.
"You forgot, huh."
"I completely forgot!" She vaulted off his shoulders and landed on all fours, incidentally giving him a prime view of her hindquarters before pivoting and slamming her forehead into the street with enough force to crater it. "Don't be mad at me!"
"You better hurry up and get back to it, then."
She sniffled and raised her gaze to face him, eyes glistening with tears. "But our bandit hunt...
People were staring.
This was exactly what he wanted to avoid.
Didn't help that she was basically wearing a swimsuit...
Naruto exhaled in a long suffering sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. She wasn't even trying to manipulate him. This was simply who she was.
Simple, smiling Sara.
Sara, who looked to be on the verge of bursting into tears.
Staaaare.
He felt the judgement of nearby passerby intensify tenfold.
'Am I the bad guy here? I feel like the bad guy.'
He made one last valiant attempt to salvage his dignity. "Like I said, I'm on a mission...
"Sara can help!"
"I really don't need help, though...?"
Sara's voice wavered, quavered a little as she clasped both hands before her face. "Please, boss...?"
Naruto looked away with a sigh. He wanted to die.
Sara began to cry.
(.0.0.0.)
The sewers stank.
He'd known they would, but he hadn't expect the smell to be quite so bad. Even with a thin film of chakra draped over the lower half of his face to ward off the smell,
It wasn't hard to find prey.
The capital was a hive of scum and villainy; you just had to know where to look.
And the Cult of Diablos?
Easier still.
For a supposedly "secret" organization, they really weren't all that good at hiding themselves.
Once Sara had their scent, that was it.
Game over.
"Raaaaaaa!"
He tutted a little, wiping a bit of blood from his face as she eviscerated another hapless goon.
"Well, so long as she's happy, I guess
Naruto sighed. She really was fundamentally incapable of holding back. Her brand of hunting was often a one-sided massacre and her poor "prey" died screaming. It made it quite easy to gather resources, but in the same vein it meant he missed out on the element of enjoying a battle himself.
Still, score! Lots of money and jewels down here; enough to fund his projects and schemes for the foreseeable future, easily. Small wonder they were smuggling it through the sewers. No artifacts, though. Seems their tip had been a bust after all...
Which meant Yukime's lead probably wasn't going to turn up anything useful at that.
Pocketing a wad of cash, he idly waved a hand and left a trio of shadow clones to watch over the hoard.
"Catalogue all this and bring it back to the estate," he instructed them. "The usual way."
The duo saluted. "Yessir!"
He was about to give them more orders when someone cried out behind him.
"Stop!" their voice was a pitiful cry. "Waitaminute! Give! I give up!"
Naruto craned his neck back, frowning.
Sara stood triumphant, covered in blood and ankle-deep in sewage, hand over her hip, glaring down at a lone survivor.
"You're Sara, aren't you?" Its me!" the rough looking therianthrope fellow in jeans and a dark shirt had fallen by the wayside, clutching his wound. "Zabra! You remember, don't you, Sara?"
She sniffed, frowning. "You smell like Dad."
Naruto paused, curiosity piqued.
'What do we have here...?'
The survivor laughed hysterically. "That's right! I'm your big brother, Zabra! But how are you even alive? I heard you got possessed and Dad hunted you."
She preened. "Sara is the best at Hide-and-Seek."
"R-Right." The scruffy fellow didn't look like he believed her. "Anyway, Sara, you can just let me go, right? I'm working for some really powerful guys now! Like, a super powerful cult! You should join us! The rewards are great and they'll give you whatever you want! All you have to do is-
A fist slammed through his chest.
It took Naruto a moment to realize it was his own; what had just transpired; he looked down, surprised at himself.
He'd struck without thinking, blasting a hole clean through his chest.
Zabra choked angrily. "You...greedy bastard...!"
He didn't even have time to refute him; the goon's eyes rolled back in his head and he expired, leaving his corpse draped against his arm. Naruto cast it aside, feeling vaguely sick with himself. He wasn't sure why he did that. He just acted. Why? Was it selfishness? Fear of her going back to the clan? Of leaving him?
That was worrying. He hadn't he still possessed darker emotions like these...gotta watch that.
Oh, gods. Sara.
He needn't have concerned himself.
She rounded on him with a fearsome pout and stomped her foot. "Boss! No fair! Kill stealer!"
"Sorry," he muttered." Lost myself there for a second. "Wait, you're not mad...
"Its fine!" she flicked a bit of blood from her hair. "Sara doesn't need a weak brother. Weaklings bring shame to the family." She preened, hands on her hips. Sara's dad is the chief of our clan. He has lots of lovers, and over a thousand children! The weak die. If there aren't enough, we make more. That's the law of the clan!"
...I see."
He really was trying to ween that attitude out of her, but she was a theriantrhope, through and through. They did things on a different scale. Yukime was clever, but she was an outlier. She'd also been raised by a loving mother who clearly was a bit of an exception herself.
"That said...maybe I oughta visit the therianthrope lands again, someday...
Sara spun so hard the water sloshed at her feet. "Really?"
"Well, it was just a whim...
"I just had a great idea!" Quicker than he could think, she vaulted onto his back, grinning from ear to ear. "You can be our chief, Boss! If you beat my dad, you'll be the chief!" Her tail was wagging, ears perked, smile full of wild glee. T"hen you can have lots of babies and we'll be the strongest clan ever!
"Lots of kids? Me? At this age? Yeah, no. Not happening."
"Yes, happening!" she kicked up a fuss, dragging his head back to butt her forehead against his an' kiss his nose." "I'll get a hundred women for you! And Sara will have a hundred babies!
"What about the others?" he tried, seeking an out.
She actually paused to consider his words. "The stinky fox can have ten. I'll let her. As for the rest...a hundred wives and a thousand babies!
"Sara, no. Bad Sara. I really don't need that many.
"Fifty, then!"
...are we bargaining, here? I feel like we're bargaining...
Wait.
He paused, overlooking a pair of crates he'd missed.
One of them was moving.
His brow furrowed.
(.0.0.0.)
She heard voices.
Screams, now; the sound of men dying.
Good. Cultist bastards. She hoped it hurt!
Someone cracked the lid of her crate open, and through the murky light, she glimpsed a face. No, wait, she made a mistake. Two faces. One was a violet-eyed therianthrope with dark hair -enemy, her instincts absolutely hissed, despite her rational mind saying otherwise- the other was a blond bearing striking blue eyes and whiskered cheeks. The latter dimpled in a small smile at the sight of her.
"What have we here?" his voice was warm, soft as a sunbeam. "I don't suppose you're in there by choice, are you?"
After what they'd done to her family?!
Like hell she was!
She tried to speak, but she couldn't; bound and gagged as she was. All she managed was a muffled cry and a fervent shake of the head. Thankfully, it was more than enough. Humming softly, the blond reached down with a practiced movement to break the shackles that held her. Out came the gag, granting her a gasping wheeze.
"Possessed, huh?" he noticed her deformities and hummed once. "Shhh...don't worry. You're alright."
Strong arms took ahold of her and lifted her to freedom.
"What's your name?"
...Lilim." she mumbled, silently awestruck.
"Hello, Lilim. Would you like to work with us?"
Oh, wow. He looked to be the same age as her, maybe a little older. Regardless, he was young. And yet...when she peered past him, she beheld the bodies, bent and broken and bloodied. How did someone like him have that kind of strength? And where could she get it...?
She sniffled once, already prepared to sell her soul if need be. ...will you save my family if I say yes?"
That drew a puzzled blink from him. "Family?"
Was there hope after all?
"Yes!" she perked up, frantic, desperate to convince him. "They're being held somewhere! They were hurt but still alive when last I saw them! There were other girls, too! Please, you have to...you have to...
She swooned, exhaustion overtaking her. She was still weak, and she hadn't eaten or drank anything in days. Sleep beckoned, but she refused.
Must stay awake. Only nightmares awaited her if she slept. Stay awake...!
"Help you?" A warm hand patted her head, and unbidden, she found herself leaning into his palm. "Silly girl. We already intend to."
She hiccuped a little. "We...?
With a snap of his fingers, she found a small army at his back; an army that wore his face, each armed and ready, just like him.
She recoiled, eyes wide. "So many?! What...what are you? Are you a god?"
He laughed. "Now, I wouldn't say that... I'm Naruto." he gestured to his blood-spattered companion. "This is Sara."
"Hello~!" Sara beamed behind him, tail wagging. "Can I teach her the pecking order, boss?"
Lilim blinked, wholly at a loss. "Pecking order?"
"Yup!" her head bobbed. "You're a worm!"
"EXCUSE ME?!"
"Would you rather be the dirt...?
Naruto clapped a hand to his forehead. "I swear, you therianthropes, always fighting with each other...
Little did he know they'd accidentally saved the girl who would've been known as Zeta.
...ooops?
A/N: Zeta acquired.
Let me be clear, this is a chance for other potential members of shadow garden to show up. We can go thet route if you wish...or not.
That, dear reader, depends solely upon you and your feedback.
So, do let me know~!
Would you like another timeskip soon, or should we continue at this pace?
Weeeeeeell~? How was it? Are you not entertained? Should this remain a story? Would you like weekly updates?
Yay or nay! Gotta let me know for the update schedule, ya know. As ever, the Embers Rule Persists; if folks don't like this tale, then... I'll not continue it. I can't bear to write something folks don't like, and working two jobs on a near back-to-back basis leaves my energy at an all time low. So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard!
Reviews are the fuel that sustain me and my team in these darkened times.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...Review, Would You Kindly?
(PREVIEWS!)
And as ever:
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
SPOILERS AWAIT THEE~!
YE BE WARNED~!
(Previews)
Yukime was pouting. "Another? 'Tis not fair. How many wives dost thou intend to take?
You're talkin' kinda funny...
"Because I'm drunk!"
"There's a matter in Midgar I'd like you to look into...
He sighed. "I'm gonna run into Alexia, aren't I?"
And possibly my father.
...eh?"
...you're like me, aren't you?"
Years passed...
A sword tickled his throat, drawing a bead of blood. "...is there a reason you're doing this?"
Alexia smiled at him. It was not a nice smile. 'Yikes, she's pissed.'
"Sorry, but I need you to be my boyfriend for a bit."
...might I ask why?"
"You should've just stayed on the floor where I left you...
Rose Oriana.
It had been years since he'd seen her.
She'd grown up.
Maybe if he just snuck by...
"You, there!"
He froze.
"I know you." Rose paused. Did a double take, now eyes widening. "You look familiar...
Naruto whistled innocently. "Have we met?"
She latched onto his arm with a pout.
"I knew it! It really IS you, isn't it!"
Well, no getting out of this...
"Hey, Rose...
"Hello, dear Cultist-San. Would you mind dying for me?"
"Ha?"
He looked up just in time to see a giant golden fox looming over him.
It bit down.
CRUNCH.
'I see, so that's how it is! He's like me! This feeling...for the first time in forever, I can actually...!'
Cid threw his head back and started to laugh.
"I have an adversary! An antagonist!"
Blades clashed between them.
Grins split their faces.
EDIT: Hey, you made it!
As ever, the Embers rule remains: If people don't like this story? If they don't enjoy it? Well...I' won't be able to continue it. That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days with two jobs; holidays are HERE and basically, I don't have time off. Not anymore.
My free time is limited and as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like. Reviews keep me writing in these times, and keep the daily updates flowing. Silence...silence only hurts. I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact...
Looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back from work~!
Warm regards,
~Nz.
R ~!