[Hollow Memories] Naruto/Gudako (Patreon)

Summary- The tolls of Grand Order had been hard. From Solomon, to Shimousa, to Salem. And then there was the Lostbelts… Life for Chaldea’s last master had been hard, traumatic. And when those memories emerge in the night, only one Servant, our resident blonde Shinobi, can help quell the nightmares. (Naruto/Gudako) (Naruto/Fate)

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Fate or any other anime I use in this story. They belong to their respective owners: Musashi Kishimoto and type moon…

Hollow Memories

'Our Homeland. That which Heals all of our Wounds and Grudges… MANIFEST NOW! LORD CAMELOT!— Aaah… Aaaaaahh!'

'Mashhhhh!'

'Musashi! Are you listening!? If you won't come out, then I'm afraid I have no choice…'

'Sanson, he's…'

'One more step and victory is ours! I'll bring up the rear, the rest of you—'

'DA VINCI!'

So many memories, so many singularities, the lostbelts, each grander than the last. But with sacrifice comes casualties… and memories of those who have fallen.

Footsteps made their way through the maze-like walls of Chaldea. Traversing the metallic landscape that was the Observatory set to prevent the eradication of man kind.

Turning the corner, he stopped at the sight that was before him, as his blue cerulean eyes widened ever so slightly.

"M-Master?" He stammered out, surprised at the girl's appearance.

Her usual beautiful tied-up orange hair was disheveled, unkempt as it flailed in every which direction. The girl's glowing golden orbs that once shinned with compassion and joy were now devoid of life entirely. As large, restless, dark bags hung underneath the girl's eyes.

Instantly, the blonde ran up to her, shouting for the girl as he did so, "Master! Are you okay?"

As Ritsuka's head snapped upward, her lifeless eyes widening as she saw who was approaching her.

Of all the people, why did it have to be him?

But as the girl began to try to stand up, her own body betrayed her, as she was once again sent to the ground, with her back against the wall. Giving her servant just enough time to reach her.

"N-Naruto, I-I…" Ritsuka voiced, although it sounded more akin to a whisper. As she turned her head, unable to meet the Foreigner class servant in the eye.

"please… go..." she pleaded in a hushed tone, but the blonde did no such thing.

"I'm not leaving," he told her resolutely.

As Naruto leaned down to sit beside her, giving a comforting hand, as she numbly interlocked her fingers with his own.

"Master, are you alright?" Naruto asked in concern, as the girl once again looked away.

"Naruto, I'm fine, I just—" she tried to explain, before Naruto interrupted the girl.

"Ritsuka, look at you, I know you aren't fine," he argued back, before calming down slightly, using his hand to guide her chin to look her in the eyes in compassion. "Please, talk to someone, if not me, then someone else?" He pleaded, and when the girl wanted to protest. The blonde gave a firm squeeze to their interlocked hands, not strong enough to crush her fingers, but just enough to let her know that he was there.

In some ways, the fight in Ritsuka had left in that moment.

Leaning her head against the wall, all of her movement stopped, and for several minutes it appeared as if she was asleep. All the while, Naruto watched on, patiently awaiting the girl as she tried to articulate a response.

"I-I've been having trouble sleeping," Ritsuka admitted, as she tightened her fist in remembrance. "It's been suffocating. It feels like I'm trapped, and I can't move. I guess… being out here, with my back against the wall, it helps me feel safe." She exhaled, bringing her knees up to rest her chin.

"I see…" Naruto realized, as tears built up in the girl's golden eyes.

The girl leaned her head down, finding her face from the world. "I don't want to see their faces anymore. I don't want to see them die anymore…" Ritsuka voiced, as she felt Naruto let go from her grasp.

So that was it? To be honest, she understood. What kind of servant, a grand heroic spirit from history, would want such a pitiful master like her? She—

As Ritsuka felt a weight resting upon her shoulder, a warmth like no other.

She opened her eyes, as she brought her head out from her knees. The girl realized what had happened, as Naruto's black and orange jacket now covered her back, as well as resting upon her head.

And it was then that Ritusuka's worries melted away, the tears that had once built up fell down across her pale cheeks.

"Naruto…" she sighed, as the blonde brought up his thumb to wipe the droplets from her face.

"Why…?" Ritsuka asked.

"Why what?" Naruto questioned with a smile, even as more tears fell from her golden eyes.

"Why would someone as amazing as you want to serve a master like me? I'm weak, I'm pathetic, I'm a half-rate mage and an even worse master. I—" Ritsuka voiced her inner thoughts.

But, once again, she was interrupted. "Nope!" Naruto told her childishly.

The orange haired girl blinked, "But I—"

"Nope!"

"But—"

"Nope!" Naruto once again interrupted the girl, this time pushing his tanned finger up against her lips to leave the debate no longer up for further discussion. "You're an amazing master, and an even better person. And I won't let anyone talk about you like that, even you," he told the girl firmly.

But the girl still wanted to argue, as she shook her head, but she soon realized any attempts would be pointless. All Ritsuka could do was stare out at her curling fingers that laid upon her knees.

Feeling Naruto's jacket upon her shoulders, "What kind of master lets nightmares scare them?" She voiced her inner thoughts.

"I'm sure anybody will struggle with that," Naruto told her.

As Ritsuka glanced towards him, "Then name someone?" She asked, trying to prove his statement wrong.

Naruto smiled, "well… me," he told her.

The girl blinked, not understanding what he meant. "You?" She questioned.

The blonde nodded, "yes, me."

Before he took a deep breath and continued, he never told anyone this, not even Hinata.

"When I was sending my clones across the Fourth Great Ninja war, I saw everything. All the death, all the suffering, I never forgot it." As the Shinobi took a deep breath, remembering the war had always been hard for him. All those shinobi from all nations who had been mutilated, killed by the foul zetsu before he could reach them in time. Not to mention what Neji had done for him.

After the war, he had many sleepless nights, just like the girl before him. It had taken a while to get over them, and in some ways they stayed with him. It was why he had taken so long to respond to Hinata's confession.

"And I may not be a master, but I had nightmares, just like you do now." He revealed to her.

"Do they… Do they ever go away?" She voiced hesitantly.

Sadly, Naruto shook his head in the negative. "No." He told her resolutely, as she wilted, but Naruto rested his hand upon the back of her palm. She gazed into his eyes, "But it does get better, each and every day," he stated with a smile. "I can assure you, there is no other master I would wish to serve, because you, Ritsuka Fujimaru, are amazing."

The orange haired girl reciprocated his smile. Naruto Uzumaki was always like this, always so bright, always there to pick her up and she fell. He was the one to answer her first summon, and she was eternally grateful for it.

"Thank you, Naruto…" she whispered, closing her eyes, even more tears falling from her eyes, tears of happiness.

And it was at that moment that all the weight upon her shoulders disappeared. As a sudden wave of exhaustion overtook her.

Naruto smiled as Ritsuka's head began to slowly fall upon his shoulder, as she blissfully fell into sleep.

Gently, Naruto carefully took the girl's body into his arms, carefully carrying the girl into his arms as if she were a newlywed bride.

Moving them both into Ritsuka's room, as he slowly lowered the girl into her bed, Naruto only stopped when he noticed something.

As the orange haired girl's hand gripped itself onto his undershirt, as she was still covered into his jacket.

"Naruto, will you… stay with me?" She requested.

"Of course," Naruto answered with a smile, gently laying the girl down into her bed.

But before the girl was finally pulled into a deep slumber, she said something once more.

"Naruto, I… love… you," Ritsuka told him tiredly, unaware of what she had just said.

Naruto's smile grew just a bit, "I love you too," he told her, not that she knew, as he carefully climbed into her bed.

Unconsciously, the girl's lips thinned into a joyful filled smile, even as she was pulled into darkness.

The End.