Naruto melted into the kiss. It was clumsy and unpracticed, but to them, it didn't matter. Raven, her arms around Naruto's neck, was surprised when she felt him wrap his arm around her waist to pull her closer. Now practically in his lap, Raven reveled in his muscled physique. He wasn't bulky or overwhelming, but he was firm, without an ounce of fat on his body. She felt secure… safe, for the first time in forever, wrapped in his embrace. She poured all her emotion into the kiss, all the love, fear, and hope that she'd felt but bottled up for the past month. For once, she allowed herself to feel full force, without worrying about the consequences. Surprisingly, nothing blew up. She didn't question it though; instead she deepened the kiss.
After a minute of heated kissing, they reluctantly separated to breath. In his eyes, she could see her own emotions reflected back at her. "I love you." She had never thought she would say those words, to anyone. Yet, as she spoke them now, she found that she'd never uttered a more true statement.
Naruto teared up a little. Having grown up alone and hated, he could count his remaining hand the number of times he'd heard those words on. As far as he knew, aside from Sakura's false confession, none of them had been meant in a romantic sense. Yet, here was this beautiful woman, who by now knew him better than anyone still alive, confessing her love to him. "I love you too." He replied as a tear of joy slid down his face.
Naruto sat, writing in a scroll. After Raven had eventually gone back to her room, he'd felt a new resolve fill him. Trigon WOULD NOT get her! He refused to allow it. The problem was that even with his around-the-clock research, he still hadn't found a way to stop him. He'd been about to wake Kurama up from the seal, when the obvious occurred to him. 'Stupid!' Trigon was a demon of immense power, just like his friend. He didn't need to find a way to defeat him, he already had one. He awkwardly rolled up the scroll with his left hand. He didn't sleep with his henge and after Raven had arrived, he hadn't wanted to put it on. While the temporary hand was great for doing things, he couldn't feel with it. And with Raven, that was exactly what he'd wanted to do.
While it was still a bit difficult to wright with his left hand, he'd managed. Sure, he could have just henged a new one after Raven left, but he wanted experience writing with his own limb. If he was going to do this, it was better if he wasn't reliant on such a fragile construct.
He bit his thumb and executed a few rapid one-handed seals before he slammed his palm on the ground. "I need you to get this to Tsunade. It's important." Even though Kakashi had recently become Hokage, something he'd had mixed feeling over, he didn't trust the man for a quick response. Tsunade, at least, wouldn't take several days.
"At this time of night? Are you trying to get me killed?" Apparently, this part of Earth conveniently shared the same day-night cycle.
"Just tell her that I'll get her some of Gamabunta's special sake."
The toad whistled appreciatively. "How ya' gonna manage that!?" Gamabunta had a stash of the most potent sake Naruto had ever seen, and between Jiraiya and Tsunade, he'd seen a lot. The chief toad made it himself as a sort of hobby; well, that and drinking it. Unfortunately, he was extremely protective of the stuff. He had no problem sharing a drink, but he rarely let anyone take a bottle with them. Not even his sons knew where he kept it all.
"I'm sure I'll think of something."
"If you're sure…" The toad said before he disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Satisfied, Naruto went back to bed.
Raven walked onto the roof with a smile. They'd held each other for a little over an hour last night. She hadn't wanted to leave, but she was worried that the others would get the wrong idea.
When she saw him, her smile grew. "Good morning Naruto."
He looked up at her with his toad like eyes. "Morning Raven-hime."
"What does that mean?" She asked, sitting down. Usually, she'd meditate across from him, but this time she sat right next to him, almost touching shoulders.
"Oh," Naruto responded as he remembered that suffixes apparently didn't translate for her. "It means princess."
Raven blushed. "But I'm not a princess."
"To me you are." Naruto said sincerely.
Raven took a quickly glanced around to make sure that they mere alone before she leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Thank you." She sounded almost shy, as she was still unfamiliar with displaying her emotions.
"For what?" Naruto asked, his head tilted in confusion.
Raven smiled. "For being you."
Naruto sat peacefully, immersed in the calming energy of nature. As had become normal, thoughts of Raven dominated his mind. Last night had been amazing. Raven loved him. She loved him. It was exhilarating, to love someone and have them return the feeling.
He had to focus though. She was in danger. He'd already taken the first steps by sending his request to Tsunade. But what if she couldn't find them? What if he couldn't do it. What if he failed her? What IF- He forced himself to take a calming breath. Something wasn't right. It felt like when Kurama was still fighting him, like another's emotions were influencing his own. But it wasn't anger this time, it was fear.
The source was outside himself, but it seemed familiar. It kind of reminded him of- "Raven!" He exclaimed as his eyes shot open. He quickly turned to face her and saw that she was shaking. Sweat shown on her meditating body as her mind struggled with something. Worst of all, Slade's mark glowed brightly around her gemstone.
'KIT-'
He grabbed her shoulder, intent to snap her out of it, before his vision shifted.
Raven looked down upon the Mark of Skath while surrounded by the ruins of the city. "Tick-Tock Raven, time is running out." Slade's voice echoed.
"I'm not afraid of you!" she defiantly claimed.
"Silly girl," Slade said as he appeared behind her. "I'm not the one to be afraid of." She faced him to find him stalking towards her. Slade forced her to back up towards the edge of the roof. "You know that." He added, disappearing in a flash of lightning.
She looked around in concealed panic as fire rained from the sky. "What you have concealed you shall become!" Trigon's booming voice demanded. Two large fireballs hurtled towards her; however, she was able to erect a barrier just before impact.
"It's a lie!" Raven defied as the fire burned around her. "I won't let this happen! I'll find a way!"
A menacing shadow walked through the fire towards her. "Your optimism is really adorable."
Before Slade could continue his speech, a cheerful voice sounded from behind Raven. "I know! It's one of her best qualities."
"Naruto!?" Raven exclaimed in shock.
"So, your name is Naruto. I must say, I'm quite impressed that you're here. It takes a lot of skill to subvert the will of Trigon."
"Heh," Naruto scratched the back of his head. "It was kind of an accident, ya know." If Slade had been a lesser man, he would have face faulted. Even still, he was sorely tempted.
"Insolent mortal! How dare you interfere!"
Naruto turned to the still stunned Raven. "Was that Trigon?" he asked, to which he received a nod in return. "Oi, Trigon!" He shouted to the sky. "I have a bone to pick with you!"
"And just what might that be?" He asked, slightly amused by the tiny human.
"How dare you treat Raven like this, you bastard! You have no right!"
"I am her father! She exists only because I allow it. Her sole purpose is to serve me!"
"That's a load of crap and you know it! A father is supposed to love their kids, to care for them! Yet here you are, trying to make her kill herself for you! Until you start acting the part, you have no right to call yourself her father!"
"What you say matters not mortal. Her destiny shall be fulfilled. The portal must be opened!"
Two pairs of eyes shot open, before Raven launched herself into Naruto. He pulled her close with his henged arm while stroking her hair comfortingly with his real one.
'Kit! Where were you!'
'I was just having a chat with Trigon.' He replied.
'Of course you did.' Honestly, why was he even surprised at this point. 'And how did that go?' He asked in resignation.
Naruto looked at the crying Raven in his arms. 'He's a bastard.' He mentally growled. 'If I ever see him, I'm gonna have to beat some sense into him.'
'Of course you are.'
Back in the real world only a few seconds had passed. "It's ok, Raven-hime. He's gone." Naruto said softly.
"Naruto… I'm… afraid."
Raven was one of the strongest people he knew, and to see her like this… Naruto felt his heart break. "I know, but he won't get you." He lifted her chin so she would look at him. "We'll stop him. Together."
After Raven had calmed down, the two of them had headed to her room to do some research. "How much time do we have?" Naruto asked as they looked at a book.
"Not long. The mark's a warning. It means he's coming."
Naruto could tell that she was working hard to keep her composure. He could practically feel her turmoil. "Ok, so we just need to be ready for when he does." He said optimistically, before turning somber. "Raven," He said gently. "I think we should tell the others."
"What! No! They can't get involved!"
"They already are." Naruto spoke softly as ever. "They are your friends, and they will always protect you." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "They won't leave you. It's ok to be scared, but have faith in them. We'll need their help to get through this."
"I- I don't know." She answered, conflicted.
"That's alright. I won't make you do anything. I'll support you no matter what you decide." He smiled comfortingly. "I'll always be there for you. That's a promise of a lifetime."
Encouraged by his support, Raven made her decision. "You're right." She pulled so she could see his face. "There's something I need to try first. After that, I'll tell them." She walked around her room, gathering supplies. "We're going to Azarath."
They sat facing each other inside a circle of powder and candles. "You don't have to come with me."
"Do you want me to come?"
"Well, yes but-"
"Then I'm coming. I promised, didn't I?" He grinned.
She had to smile in response. It felt nice, to be loved. "Place your hand on the cover, and get ready." Upon his doing so, she began to chant. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos...Carazon Rakashas Endere...Vaserix Endrien Azarath...Azarath, Azarath!" As she chanted, a field of energy formed from the powder circle, streaching to the roof, where it formed a portal. Upon her final words, the duo was sucked into the portal.
Naruto looked around in awe at the tunnel of light flying past them. That awe was ruined, however, as several apparitions screeched past them. "Tell me those weren't ghosts." Naruto pleaded.
"Those weren't ghosts." Raven obliged, making no effort to hide the fact that she was lying. Suddenly, they felt a heat from the rear, and looked back to see a wall of fire headed towards them.
"Oh, that's not good." Naruto said.
"You think?" Raven asked sarcastically. She grabbed his hand and flew faster, trying to outpace the flames. Unfortunately, she wasn't fast enough as they began to envelope them. "Hold on!" She called, summoning her soul-self to protect them.
Naruto watched from within as the flames failed to penetrate the black energy. 'Huh, kind of reminds me of our transformation Kurama.' He thought idlily as the ethereal bird lashed out. In several swift strikes, it dispelled the fire before vanishing.
They flew further until their path was blocked by a large purple runic barrier. Undeterred, Raven charged forward, still dragging Naruto. As she strained against the barrier, her gem glowed brightly. "Let us in!" She shouted as she breached the wards. In a flash of light, they were ejected from the spell, landing at the edge of a cliff.
"Ow." Naruto said as he looked up from the ground. "Wow." Unable to say anything else, he just gazed at the sprawling metropolis in front of him.
"Welcome, Naruto, to Azarath. My home."
"Hello!" Raven called as she walked down the empty streets.
"Uh, Raven? Is it usually so… quiet?" Naruto asked. So far, they had yet to see a single soul. Honestly, it was a little creepy.
"No. It's not like I was expecting a parade, but…" She trailed off as she caught sight of a dove flying overhead. "Follow me." She said as the went after the bird. It led them through the streets until it flew to the top of a large structure with a glowing depiction of a dove. There, it landed on a figure clad in a white robe. "Arella!" Raven called as she flew, carrying Naruto by the hand, to meet her. The woman attempted to enter the building before she arrived, but to no avail. "Wait! I've come back." She stopped upon hearing Raven's words. "Mother, please. Help me."
'That's her mother? Then why was she avoiding us?'
'I don't know kit. Something doesn't seem right.'
"You always had a home here, my child." Arella finally turned to look at her daughter. "But help we could not give."
"The prophesy… it's happening. You have to tell me how to stop it." She pleaded, holding the book out to her mother.
"Nothing could be done. The promise of your birth was absolute."
Unable to stand by, Naruto spoke. "You're wrong. As long as you don't give up, there's always something that you can do!"
"Young Sage," She said, addressing the surprised Naruto. "Surely as a child of prophesy you know that fate is absolute."
This elicited a laugh from him. "That's exactly why I know that you're wrong. Everything I accomplished, all my victories, were not because of some prophesy. Destiny did not help me. I had to give my own sweat, blood, and tears every step of the way! I did it all because I never gave up! Sure, I fulfilled the Toad's prophesy, but I've defied fate more times than I can count!" They both stared at him in surprise, and in Raven's case, hope. "As a failure, I should never have defeated Neji, but I did. As dead last, I shouldn't have been able to survive as a ninja, much less defeat a Goddess. I have defied Priestess Shion's vision of my death. I befriended Kurama, the kyuubi no kitsune, and the other Biju after centuries of hatred. And most of all, as a Jinchūriki, I was destined to live my life alone. But back home, I had the entire Elemental Nations fight on my side! I had a whole village full of friends! And here," He looked at Raven with immeasurable adoration. "Here, I've found something that should have been impossible. I found love." He turned back to Arella with determination burning in his eyes. "And I'll be damned if I let fate take that away from me! So don't tell me that nothing can be done!"
As Raven listened in wonder, Arella remained resigned. "Your words are inspiring, but futile. It is too late for Earth, just as it was too late for Azarath." She vanished, as did the city. In its place was a fiery wasteland.
"No." Raven breathed in horror as Trigon's sinister laugh echoed around them. As they stared at the four glowing eyes hovering above them, they were enveloped in a flash of light.
"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry." Naruto comforted Raven as she cried into his chest, both of them on their knees. Her home, her people, her mother. They were all gone.
"I can't," Raven got out through her sobs. "I can't stop him." She locked her tearful gaze on him. "I'm not like you. I'm not strong enough to defy fate."
"What are you talking about? You do it every day."
"What?" She asked, confused.
"You were born for a purpose, to destroy the world. You were supposed to be a force for evil, right?" She nodded, looking depressed. "And yet, here you are. Here, in this tower full of heroes. Here, where you spend your time risking your life to help people. You were supposed to be evil, but you are one of the best people I have ever met." He smiled. Not his usual wide grin, but a smaller smile that somehow conveyed even more. "If that isn't defying fate, then I don't know what is. You are strong enough, and you aren't alone. We will stop him."
For the first time, Raven believed. She believed that they had a chance. "Thank you." She dried her tears and stood up. "Let's-"
Before she could finish, there was a knock at the door. "Any luck finding the symbol?" Robin's slightly muffled voice asked.
Raven took a deep breath. "Yes." She said resolutely as Naruto looked on with pride.