Naruto came out on the other side to find thick forest with towering trees. A buzzing sound and he found a group of small winged humanoids heading towards him, spears clenched in their hands.
Then they sensed what was within him and their headlong rush choked.
"Demon... and death god?" asked one of those little spear-carriers, looking to her fellows.
"Mortal... and not so mortal," answered a second.
Naruto was familiar with the protocols due to his studies. "I ask permission to cross your realm in search of one who was stolen from MY realm."
"Oh," said one of the pixies, deciding that immediate destruction wasn't pending and moving closer. "Seek no harm to any of our kingdom or we'll seek vengeance no matter what you are."
"I have no intention of hurting anyone, with the possible exception of whatever took my companion," answered Naruto honestly.
"Fine," said the pixie. "You lot - back on patrol. I'm escorting this one myself. Let the big folk fight it out amongst themselves."
"Nice to run across an intruder that is at least courteous about the whole thing," added another of the pixies.
Naruto felt the presence approaching. So did the little pixie, who yeeped and made sure that she was sitting on HER side of whatever invisible border there was.
Dark power increased, growing thick and heavy in the air.
Naruto simply stood there and let it wash over him until the presence was actually there. "Do you mind? That's a bit much, isn't it?"
The Being stopped and considered him briefly before dropping the effects. Revealed was a human-looking woman with very long hair.
"The Vampire Queen," groaned the pixie, currently trying to hide behind a tree. Not that anyone was paying much attention to her.
"And you are?" asked the woman.
"Naruto Uzumaki," said Naruto. "And my name's protected. Conjure with it at your peril."
"Likewise," said the woman, smiling and revealing fangs. "Moya Akashiya. What are you, Uzumaki?"
"A ninja, a necromancer, the jinchuriki of the Kyubi, and disciple of the shinigami," said Naruto.
"A disciple of a death god, interesting," said Moya. "I am a princess of the clan of vampires, Ayakashi."
"You have something that belongs to me and my world," said Naruto.
"She opened the gate of her own free will, not my fault she didn't put a protective circle up first," pointed out Moya. "Such a delectable morsel. I could hardly keep myself from tasting her. Unfortunately, I had to pull one of my underlings off of her. She's a bit... damaged."
"What do you want, Princess?" asked Naruto.
"Blunt, aren't you?" asked Moya.
"I'm twelve," pointed out Naruto. "And a ninja. If we go with the full pomp and ceremony of an Elven Court, she'll be dead of old age before we get to it. And the gate will close in an hour - and it does not look as if it is a static gate."
"No, it isn't," admitted Moya. "By the way, she's already reached an agreement with me."
"Does this sort of thing happen often?" asked Kakashi, sending a kunai through a large vine that had begun feeling its way through the door. Since the vine immediately retracted, he felt thoroughly justified in his attack.
"Define 'often'," suggested Sasuke.
"Frequently?" asked Kakashi.
"Things like that tentacle monster are the rare ones," said Sasuke. "Once we were attacked by a teapot."
"A teapot?" asked Kakashi.
"Yeah, it had been used by a family for over a hundred years," said Sasuke. "Souls apparently rub off on things. So I ended up fighting a teapot."
"Was it a tough fight?" asked Kakashi, trying to figure out what attacks a teapot could do.
"Not really," said Sasuke. "Naruto calmed it down. It thought it was avenging the family who'd cared for it for so long."
"Oh," said Kakashi.
The two were silent for a time.
"It gets weird sometimes," said Sasuke thoughtfully.
"Yeah, that much I got," admitted Kakashi.
"So, in summation, Sakura will wear that amulet. While she's doing so, you'll just be able to see and hear and experience her life without otherwise influencing her," said Naruto.
"Oh, I left in a section where I can communicate with her at time of great need," said Moka.
"Not unless you alter that to HER great need," responded Naruto.
There was the usual growling and exchange of threats, but both of them knew that this basically how the game was played and there wasn't any true hostility being displayed. This was business in the Spirit Realm, particularly the areas marked out by the Fae.
"Removing the rosary-seal will allow her to channel your personality and a measure of your power," said Naruto after Princess Moka had agreed to the addendum.
"Yes, and she already agreed to all this," pointed out Moka. "And it can only be for brief times. Otherwise the stress on her body would be too much to handle."
Naruto considered what he knew of the Fae Courts, and supposed this was about as good as he could get it. The Vampire Princess got something to break her ennui, and could potentially be a great asset to Sakura. The downside was that you had to be DAMN careful about that contract.
"So, young Chosen of the Death God," said Moka, inclining her head. "She entered the contract. I've allowed your points, now will you take her back to your world?"
"It appears that this will have to do," admitted Naruto.
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(Posted Thu, 07 Jun 2012 18:08)
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