A/N: Right, this week's update schedule is messed up due to the site glitches-new chapters randomly not appearing-and me being ill.
I do have SEVERAL updates ready, but things might be out of sorts until Saturday. Rest assured, Practice Makes Perfect will be updated at its usual time and it will be a massive chapter. Likewise for everything else. Sorry for the delay, very sick, still recovering; now then, this episode goes full Toradora, and as such, is a massive tribute to it. If you get the references, great. If not, you're in for a treat.
Can anyone see this chapter? The site, and the app, our glitching crazy with no fix yet in sight... Honestly, it's really saps my inspiration...T_T
But hey, would you look at that? Yet another -almost by two days!- weekly update, FIVE times in a row. I'll try to maintain it as long as I can.
Easier said than done, that, I'm down to one day off a week, and its wearing me out...
Looking forward to your feedback.
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, far, FAR greater than little 'ol me. I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time. Feedback is important. This chapter doesn't pull its punches! Hope you're ready for some chaos!
Last but not least, I hope you've noticed the song-based-chapter-title theme we've got going on here now~!
We needn't use the song names themselves, but rather phrases from within them.
Ergo, we have PLENTY of titles to work with now...away we go~!
EPIC the Musical lines make a resurgence here.
Its fitting, given Hazbin's love of songs...
"As I thought. Its rough. Like a dry wilderness. You're not very good at this, are you?"
"Oh shaddap...its not like you have any experience in this either...
"I suppose that's true. Hey, its cold so maybe one more...
...just one more...
...one more...
...more...!"
~?
One More Time
Heaven lay in utter disarray.
Angels flew hither and yon, babbling madly. Souls scarpered about screaming, demanding to know what was happening. Seraphim questioned one another and found no answers.
All the while, the Archangels remained silent.
Sera had no answers for them.
Nor anyone.
Instead she was tasked with taking stock of the damage, clearing the rubble -what little hadn't fallen to the underworld below- and commencing repairs. At least three towers had been damaged by the blast from the underworld, and while there were neither casualties nor injuries to speak of -Creator be praised!- the psychological damage proved fa more severe. People were afraid.
Heaven was stable.
Heaven should be secure.
Heaven had been created as safe haven!
Yet now there was a hole in the Barrier between realms, one she didn't know how to repair.
Worse, Emily refused to leave her room; none could breach the barrier she had erected. She was meant to bring happiness and joy to their people, but in her absence all they felt was anger and fear. What could she do? What should she do? MorningStar was meant to be her solution, instead he'd made things worse.
How had everything been turned against her? When did this suffering become so endless? When had she become estranged? Did she need to change?
An awful thought occurred to her as she gazed upon the ruined towers before her. Perhaps, had she just let Uzumaki be, none of this would've happened. Her pride bridled at such thought, prickling at the very notion, yet she couldn't deny it. But to even entertain the notion meant this was...that it might be...that it must be...
She didn't know-no, maybe she did. "What if I'm the monster?" she whispered to herself. "What if I'm in the wrong? What if I'm the problem...?"
Biting her lip, she reached a hand out to the rubble and flinched.
"Is this my fault?"
She rejected the notion immediately.
No!
She wasn't the monster here!
Uzumaki! This was his doing, she just knew it...!
High above her, something in the heavens shifted with a sigh...
(.0.0.0.)
The pain paused.
Adam immediately took a chance to catch his breath and unclench his muscles; it felt like he'd been slowly suffocating for eons now; his torment unceasing. Time had long since ceased to hold any meaning for him. There was only pain. Punishment. That single word burning through him as his soul shuddered and his wings were wracked with torment.
Yet now, it had ceased.
Groaning, he dared to creak an eye open. "Make it stop...no more...please...
"Have you learned your lesson, my child?"
Adam nearly wept. Lesson?! What lesson?! Was there suppose to be a lesson in all this?!
...it seems not. No matter. Another of my children requires guidance. You will grant it unto her. Do so and I shall grant you a reprieve."
"Who the fuck are you talking about you arrogaaaaaaargh?!"
More pain, harsher than the last, snatched the breath from his lungs.
"Language. I speak of Sera. Go to her. Guide her away from the path she walks, before she does something foolish."
"B-But what about Extermination Daaaaaaaamnit!" lightning lashed his spirit, leaving him curled inward on himself, yowling in pain. "Ow! OUCH! Okay, okay! Stop! I get it! I give! What's the message?!
Blasted Big Guy burned it into his brain.
Lute was gonna be hella pissed, but he'd happily chop off his own arm if it meant getting out of this prison. If that meant playing nice for now...well, it sucked but anything was better. He'd take probation over this zappy-zap-zaps anyday, so long as it got him outta here!
"I find your lack of faith disturbing."
Adam felt the looming specter of pain again and yelped, warding both hands before his face. "It was a joke! Sheesh! Alright, alright, I give, I'll be good...
"So long as you hold to that you may awaken, my wayward child...for now. Mind your punishment.
"Wait, my wha-
It was like a spell had been broken; a weight left his soul
Adam thrashed his way awake in bed.
Looked down at himself.
Frowned in disbelief.
"What the shit...?!"
(.0.0.0.)
Vox surveyed the destruction, right eye twitching.
An entire city block laid low, the street upended, holes smashed through multiple buildings, the scent of angels and brimstone in the air. Bad enough Alastor had made a fool of him just now and knocked the power out to half the Ring, but this...he'd never seen something like this, not in all his years down here.
The stories were all over the place; two angels, no, a fox and a demon, and a ten-winged-one...none of it made a lick of sense.
Was it one of the sins? No way, they were flashier about this. He hadn't heard anything about a turf war, either. Folks had seen MorningStar fighting some bastard and his bitch, but nobody knew who; only a madman would do something like that.
Either way, it was a disaster.
Yet disasters often brought opportunity, didn't they?
He spoke from experience on that front. Couldn't he use this? After all...
.
..
...misery loved company, and misery was his business.
His static visage flickered as he considered the ruined rubble. A building collapsed as he looked on.
"Heh." a toothy grinned bloomed across his flat face. "Alright, wise guy. Butt his way in on my turf, will he...?
He had eyes and ears all over the city.
He'd find his answers, even if had to bribe the entire Ring!
Snarling, he turned to face his allies. "Valentino... Velvette...I want everything we have on this guy and his bitch. NOW!"
(.0.0.0.)
"Daddy's home~!"
Had he a hat, Naruto would have tugged its brim over his eyes to avert his gaze from the spectacle that followed. Lacking any such implement, and currently carrying Kurama in his arms, he merely rolled his eyes towards the ceiling as Lucy came swaggering into Charlie's hotel like he owned the place. Which, to be fair, he probably did, all things considered. Short bastard owned a ton of real estate down here apparently.
Including this hotel.
Lucy-nope nope nope, he refused to call him by his real name-was actually a pretty swell guy, once you got to know him. Sure, he was a little awkward, maybe, somewhat depressed, and with a pension for all things ducks, but other than that, he seemed all right.
Now, however, he strutted about with a dapper spring in his step, cane twirling in one hand, grinning as though he were on top of the world.
"Where is everybody?" He craned his neck, noting the complete and utter lack of...well, anyone. "Place is a ghost town...didn't you say there were people here?"
Vaggie gave him an arch look, but didn't dare disrespect Charlie's father. "There usually are...
Naruto sighed, his mind elsewhere. He hadn't failed to notice the absence of a certain succubus. Verosika, once more, stubbornly decided to wait at the door. She simply refused to enter the hotel for reasons he couldn't entirely understand. Nothing he said could make her enter and short of carrying her -when his arms were already full!- there was simply no way of making her enter. Honestly, it was more than a little vexing-
"Pretty boy~!"
Without missing a beat, he casually caught Nifty by the scruff of her neck with one of his wings as she leaped from the chandelier. Leaving her dangling there, he fixed her with a flat stare.
She grinned at him, lone eye blinking madly. "You came back! I thought I wouldn't get to see you again!
He chuckled at the mad little monster. "Not going to stab me this time?
"Nope~! You're my favorite."
Kurama bared her teeth and latched on hard. "Mine!"
Naruto blinked, baffled. "Yours?
"You heard nothing!"
Naturally, Alastor's mini-minion didn't miss a beat and turned a tooth grin on the kitsune. "Oooh you're new! Can I stab you?"
All nine of her tails bridled, burning with hellfire. "It will be the last thing you ever do."
"Mesaage received~!"
"Nifty, focus." Naruto snapped his fingers before her face, demanding her attention. "Where is everyone?
She touched a finger to her chin. "Weeeeeell, Angel Dust is working-
Vaggie gagged when Naruto gave her a questioning look. "Don't ask. Ignorance is bliss."
"Also, Husk drank until he blacked out. He's sleeping behind the bar. Snd master went out!" the tiny demon clapped her hands. "He needed his suit repaired after Pentious ripped off a piece."
Lucy quirked a brow. "Who?"
"Ooooh!" Nifty vaulted off his wing and latched onto his coat, grinning from ear to ear. "Ultimate bad boy! Hrrm." her eye narrowed. "You're kinda short."
"Ha. Haha. Hahaha." he knew MorningStar was less than pleased because the little bastard deliberately pronounced each laugh. "Would you like to be kinda dead?"
Nifty gulped. "No, please!"
Naruto exhaled heavily. "Lucy, please don't kill the help."
"Sure thing, best buddy."
"Dad?!"
Nifty saw her chanced, bounced off Lucy and bounded away. "Oh, there's Charlie! Time to clean~!"
Vaggie dove behind him.
Charlie must've heard the ruckus they were making; because the dazed girl scrambled down the stairs at speed, bless her pure little heart. Naruto rolled his eyes but stood his ground, content to let her have her little reunion like the simple soul she was. He still wasn't quite sure where the whole soul basis bought into things here. After all, she was born down here, child of two incredibly powerful beings, and yet, despite that, or perhaps, in spite of it, she was pure.
Like Emily.
He missed Emily.
It hadn't even been a full day!
Kurama poked his chest and coughed pointedly.
Right, he was daydreaming again. With one last longing look toward the heavens above and the peace they offered, he turned his gaze back to focus on the matter at hand.
-are you even doing here?!" Charlie was babbling, arms flailing as she broke free from her father's hug. "I didn't expect you! You didn't even call!"
Lucy laughed nervously. "Oh, you know, I was in town and thought I'd surprise you-
"Daaaaad."
He'd never seen a father blanch so fast.
"Aaaaaanyway," he spun about, grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him in against his side, accidentally reeling Kurama in with him as he did. "Meet my new bestie!"
His daughter balked, utterly out of sorts. "Dad...what?"
"Never you mind that," Naruto squirmed free with a huff, reached around behind himself, and heaved. "Here. One runaway angel, as ordered."
Vaggie scooted forward, arms tucked behind her back hands clasped.
Charlie froze.
Vaggie's feet practically grew roots. "Hey...
Charlie winced, blinked, then noticed something that hadn't been there before. Several somethings, actually.
"Your eye...!"
"Yeah," she turned away, red-faced. "I kinda got it back.
"And your have wings now, too? Were you hiding them somewhere or...
"There's a story behind that...
Kurama rolled her eyes. "Such children. Kiss her already!"
Charlie heard her voice and rounded on her, easily distracted. "You got me a guest?!"
Kurama's ears flattened atop her head. "Guest?!"
"I mean," Charlie talked right over her, energetic as ever. "She's been in and out of here a time or two. I think she's friends with Alastor-
If looks could kill, she would be ashes in the wind. "We are not friends!"
-but she never really stayed here so, um...welcome to the hotel...?" she tried valiantly.
"Bold of you to assume I need redeeming, child...
Naruto coughed into a fist. "Aren't we forgetting someone, hmm?"
Charlie turned back to Vaggie. Charlie wilted a little, uncertain of what to say. In the end, she felt back on her tried and true method. Being herself. "So...um," she scuffed a shoe against the floor. "I'm sorry I shouted at you...
Vaggied averted her gaze, idly toying with a strand of pale hair. "And I'm sorry I lied...
"Can I touch your wings?"
Like father like daughter, he swore!
Vaggie facepalmed. "Seriously? That's the first thing you ask?"
Charlie squirmed in place, anxiously wringing her hands. "Please, please, please~?!"
With a put upon sigh, Vaggie flared her wings.
"Fiiiiiiine."
Charlie squealed and promptly began petting them. "Oooooh! So soft!"
Now it was the fallen's turn to squirm. "Babe, please, that tickles...they're sensitive...
"Don't care! Must touch!"
"Ooooookay!" Lucy tapped his cane against the floor. "I've seen all I need to see. If anyone needs me, I'll be at the bar...doing bar stuff.
"Drinking, you mean?"
"Yeah, that. I'm entirely too sober for this...
"Your bath." Kurama coughed, commanding attention. "Where is it?
Charlie paused. "Oh, we've got one upstairs."
"With hot water, I trust?"
"Yup~! I was gonna take one but then you guys got back and-
"Hush, chatterbox." Kurama held up a hand. Considered her for a moment, now. And then, much to Naruto's surprise, she began to pat her head, smiling fondly as she stroked her hair. "Be nice to your angel. She means well."
Charlie's face went red.
Vaggie sputtered. "Did you just back me up...?"
Kurama huffed and lifted her chin. "I haven't the foggiest idea what you mean. In any case, the bath awaits! Take me there this instant!
Naruto resisted the urge to drop her on the off chance that she might actually be hurt. "You have legs, ya damn dirty fox. Your feet can't possibly hurt that bad."
"They do indeed!" she huffed, kicking her long legs in the air. "Hence why you must carry me!
"That's not-you know what, forgot it." he sighed. "I'm still not giving you a bath."
She quirked a brow. "What's wrong? Scared?"
"You cheeky little...!
Charlie tilted her head with a sigh and palmed her cheek. "They're a cute couple.
Naruto's resultant shout shook the building.
"WE ARE NOT A COUPLE!"
(.0.0.0.)
Kurama levered herself into the bath with a blissful sigh.
Submerging herself deeply, she stretched both arms above her head, luxuriating in the warmth of the water. It did...fascinating things to her breasts. Naruto did his best to avert his gaze from the latter, but he couldn't ignore the noises she made.
A bar of soap whistled his way. He caught it. Glared at her now.
"Well?" she tilted her head, one arm over her bountiful bosom, not quite looking his way. "What're you waiting for?"
He flinched. Why was he hesitating? It was just Kurama.
"Scared?"
A muscle jumped in his jaw.
He'd never been one to back down from a challenge.
"Bitch...!" He began washing her back with gusto. "How's this?!"
She squeaked and squirmed, giggling girlishly. Not so rough! My skin is sensitive! You're tickling me!"
He tweaked one her of her ears. "You were saying?
"I'm not sorry."
Pinched her, now.
"I'm sorrrrrryyyy~!"
"That's what I thought!"
People, and souls as a whole, were squishy. If he wasn't careful with them, they tended to go squish if he wasn't careful. Take Carmine's men, for instance.
Kurama, even in this form, was sturdy.
"We've been together a long while, haven't we?" her voice became oddly soft as he washed her. "You aren't the longest host I've had, yet you're undoubtedly my favorite. There was the old man, followed by Mito Uzumaki and your mother after that. But you and I...we fought like cats and dogs, didn't we?"
He chuckled. "We really did."
...oh." She suddenly sounded very small. "Was I that bad?"
"Nah." He briefly clasped both hands behind his head to dry them. "Sure, you caused trouble for me, but you saved me life a buncha times too."
"Idiot." She drew her knees into her chest. "If you died, I died."
"Yet here we are."
"So we are. It truly is strange, possessing a human shell like this." she took a moment to marvel at one of her hands as he began washing her back anew. "I can experience the world as I haven't before, without fear of breaking it with my very presence...
"Shame its down here in the underworld, eh?"
"Indeed." her head bobbed in agreement. "What's heaven like?"
"Bright. Noisy, but also kinda peaceful and...
"And?"
"There's this girl. Emily. You'd like her, I think."
Kurama's ears drooped. He wondered why, but she didn't give him time to.
"You don't seem to understand." she said. "There's another reason I want out of this body.
"And that would be?"
"You."
"Me?!" he squawked unhappily. "What did I do?!"
"You died!" She rounded on him, splashing water in his face, so furious that he couldn't look away." There were tears in her eyes. You died and left me alone in the dark!" Her voice hitched. "Then I fell down here, got trapped in this infernal shell I feel emotions so strongly now and I hate them! I hate them, I hate them, I hate them! This is all your fault!"
"Didn't you die, too?"
One of her tails batted his head. "It's no fault of mine! This infernal body and its hormones are driving me mad. See you now why I want out of it?
Because you're weaker?
"Precisely!" She splashed at the water furious. "I don't feel all that weaker in the physical sense of the word but that bastard backhanded my bijudama-
"Or he could just be that powerful"
-Or you could be full of shit-gah!" she bit her thumb with a curse." See what I mean? Its these emotions." She clutched a hand between her boss, growling under her breath. They weaken me. They ruined me. I detest them. Everything is so...amplified...so sensitive...
"Is it that bad?"
"You don't know what it's like." she hunched over, clutching her shoulders. "Being trapped in a body not your own, bombarded by all these strange sensations, to feel desire for the first time in an age...
He laughed, not quite comprehending. "Well, you were a pretty grouchy bitch before we had our talk."
She jerked an elbow back, ribbing him. "Please, you only won me over because I allowed you to."
"Yeah, after I kicked your ass."
"What was that?!" She sprang to her feet, shedding water as she went.
Naruto clapped a hand over his eyes. "Clothes, woman!"
"I am not a woman!"
"Your body says otherwise!"
Her eyes practically glowed, tails, thrashing furiously behind her, scattering beauty products to the floor with a harsh clatter. "Careful now I'm not going above going round two with you, bub."
"Why are you so eager to fight, eh?!"
"Because I'm still pissed at you!" she jabbed a finger into his cheek, tweaking it painfully. "You left me!" The words tore out of her in a shout. "How did it feel, living the good life up there while I was trapped down here?!
He winced despite himself. "I didn't know-
"You should have!" She smacked his chest with an angry hiss; the blow stung less than her words. "We are partners, you and I! Had the situation been reversed, I would've ruptured reality itself to find you! But you, YOU took your sweet time finding me!"
He chuckled, more than a little chagrined. "I am sorry for that, you know."
"I know...
So speaking, she drew back, chest heaving-eyes up!-and glared bloody red daggers at him, burying her head in his chest as she grabbed his shoulders.
"Wow," he whistled, "You weren't kidding about being emotional."
"Its this body." She hiccuped unhappily, whining a little. "I feel far for more strongly in this form, and my emotions run amok. Its just...Do you love me?
Where had that come from?!
He guffawed, incredulous at the question. "What kinda question is that? Of course I do. You're my buddy, my pal, my-
"Partner?"
"Well, yeah, that too." He began toweling off her hair as he spoke, trying to distract herself. "You've been a part of my life for so long now; I couldn't imagine living it without you."
She was trembling. Why? Had he said something wrong?
Shrugging, he continued "I really am glad I found you again, ya know...
At length, the kitsune sighed and batted his hands. "Not the answer? I was looking for. Turn around."
He did and in his peripheral vision saw her struggle back into her ill-fitting shorts. Her top was still ruined, so she donned a large fuzzy red bathrobe and clutched it close around herself.
"You may turn around now."
The garment hung over her head, drapped over her body like a veil.
His throat closed.
"Sorry?" She glowered at him, indignant. "Really not used to this body of yours."
His heart was beating so damn fast.
"Naruto...?"
"Stoppit." he covered his eyes with one hand. "Don't look at me like that."
She dragged his hand away, forcing him to see her. "Like what?"
"...!"
His body had enough of her torment; he moved without thinking; in an instant he had her pinned against the wall, one knee between her legs, pushing into her hips. She growled and grabbed his wrist, stomping down on a foot, but made no effort to extricate herself from him.
Instead eyes flitted up to his, then down to his lips. "You shouldn't. Don't get attached to me. Not like this."
Was what she said, but she was leaning into him, twining a leg within his.
Damnit.
This wasn't lust. He could say that safely. He'd always loved her, but it had been more of a platonic sort of thing, the love one might have for a best friend, a rival-turned-ally, a comrade who fought beside you in battle. It was always a distant, dim feeling, one he'd taken for granted.
Until he died.
Until Kurama vanished.
Until he found his partner again.
Now the sight of her like this, trembling against him, looking like that, in that body...! He couldn't control himself. He wanted to hold her, to touch her, to chase away all her fears and let her know she was loved; that he'd never leave her alone again.
Perhaps she felt something similar; else she would've broken free by now.
...I really do love you, ya know."
Her face went red and her ears drooped atop her head. "Idiot! Don't say it aloud!"
"But didn't you want me to?"
"Idiot, idiot, utter idiot." Averting her gaze, she mumbled something else under her breath. "...you, too.
He tilted his head. "What was that?"
"I said I love you, too!" she beat against his chest with an angry wail. "Happy now?! Are you going to keep holding me like this and driving me crazy or-
Their lips met.
The breach between them closed.
Someone moved first; in hindsight, he never knew who.
Kurama hummed and drew back with a startled gasp, smacking her lips. "As I thought. That was rough." she touched a finger to her mouth, pink in the cheeks, utterly adorable. "Like a dry wilderness. You're not very good at kissing, are you?"
Heat spiked through his face. "Oh shaddap...its not like you have any experience in this either...
She laughed a little. "I suppose that's true. Say, its cold out, so maybe one more...
No need to say more, he met her halfway, lips covering hers. She buckled against him and dropped the bathrobe, breasts pressing into his chest, flinging her arms around his neck. She held on for dear life as he stepped in and pushed her back into the bath. Water sloshed everywhere but barely noticed, he was too busy hooking his fingers in the waistband of her shorts, dragging them down to expose her hindquarters. She kicked them off with gusto, practically tearing them apart in her haste to free herself; only to gasp as he grasped her rear and drew her close to him. She rumbled against his chest, making a noise vaguely akin to a purr.
"Hmmm. That feels nice. Very, very nice, yes indeed!" she guided his hands to her breasts, allowing him to caress her bountiful mounds, rubbing soapy suds in. "Is this what intimacy feels like?" a gasp parted her lips as her back arched. "Touch me more, please...don't stop!"
He drew back in the water and she came with him, nuzzling her nose against his. Her face was red, her eyes unable to meet his, whether through shame or desire, he knew not; until quite suddenly they did.
She latched onto his face and kissed him furiously, tongue plundering his mouth until she had to breathe.
Even then, she barely drew back, nose nuzzling hers as she broke for blessed breath.
"If having a human body is this pleasurable...I want to experience everything!"
Kurama licked her lips and dove forward onto him, grinning as she pushed him down into the tub, tearing away his tunic as she went. From there she mounted him with intent, legs spread on either side of him to pin him in place. Her tails wrapped around them, forming a crude blanket of sorts against the porcelain; again, he didn't notice, because she'd sprawled her body atop his, hands on his chest, nails digging deep. He'd have marks come morning. He didn't care. Neither did she.
She mumbled something softly as she went down on him again for another kiss, hips moving against his.
"...just one more..."
Another kiss came.
"...one more..."
A second, now.
"...more...!"
(.0.0.0.)
Emily lifted her head from her pillow and sniffled once, drying her eyes with the back of her right hand.
She had the strangest feeling her position as best girl was being challenged...
.
..
...nonsense, she wanted to say. And yet the feeling persisted. She didn't like it.
Not one bit.
Nope!
A/N: We all saw that coming a mile away~!
Hope you enjoyed this! Would you like weekly updates? One slot remains!
Felt the need to keep the disclaimer down here since the idea of Heaven and Hell has become so hotly debated.
Naruto isn't so much furious at Extermination Day as he is at the idea of it. He's never been to Hell. He doesn't know what its like, only that it amounts to literal angels -of whom Adam is a poor example- are killing a bunch of souls and keeping it secret from the rest of Heaven. And Lute deliberately framed it in the WORST way possible just to upset him.
Of course he doesn't understand. Of course that would upset him. Of course he feels the need to go and see for himself.
After all, we KNOW there are some monsters down there, but there are a food good folk amongst them all.
You can save some, sure, but you can't save everyone.
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.
Don't mind the X symbols, Fanfiction app doesn't like the scene break lines down here for some reason...
Charlie opened the door without knocking.
"Hey are you guys alright in here I was wooooooooohmygoodness!" her voice piqued into a delighted squeal as she saw the state of them. "Vaggie! Come quick! Get the camera!"
"Your second mistake was thinking this tactic would give you an advantage over me...your first was your choice of target."
x
Verosika tilted her head. "Ticklish, you say...?"
x
Carmilla pinched his cheeks and scowled at him. "Stupid boy, are you really so dense that you don't realize you're holding the answer?"
Naruto beamed, wholly unfazed by her anger. "Heh. You kept your hair down. Looks nice."
She swore angrily.
x
There is great peril considering this, even as a hypothesis, because thoughts lead to actions, whether we intend them or not. Before you know it, we reach disaster, all from good intentions. They used to say that. About roads to bad places. Paved with good intentions. I want to be better." He gripped their 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?"
x
"You'll learn, or you will be made to learn. Simple as that."
EDIT: Hope you enjoyed! Looking forward to your feedback!