[Broken Crown] Naruto/Cinder (Patreon)

Summary- (A challenge from BlazeRaptor54) "Heavy is the head that wears the crown." With ambition comes sacrifices, to gain something you must loose something in return. But what happens when the ghosts she had given up come back to haunt her? Will her soul find refuge in the path or will she continue down her dark path she swore to uphold? (Naruto/Cinder)(One-shot) (Naruto/RWBY)

Broken Crown

'I want to be strong.'

'I want to be feared.'

'I want to be powerful.'

Words she lived by, words she taught. Those who had no power in this world were nothing. And those with power never shared.

She knew that, she taught that. Without her, both Mercury and Emerald would still be nothing. They would have nothing and their lives would be for naught. Emerald would have starved in the hole she had crawled her out of. Mercury would have bled out, or he would have been crippled for the rest of his life. Both would have been worthless.

She had saved them. Why shouldn't she use them? She gave them purpose? What was a life without?

She wasn't in the wrong, No! She only did the same as everyone else. She didn't do it! She didn't mean to...

She had only seen him five times since she left. A ghost, a vestige from her past that she had long since tried to forget. It didn't matter, she told herself, he didn't matter, all she had to do was forget, and then all the pain and it would go away.

The first time she saw 'Him,' it wasn't dark like one would expect, nor was it a cloudy day. No, the sky was clear, in fact it brighter than it had ever been in a long time.

It had been just like any other day. They had been traveling, tracking down their target in the bustling streets of Mistral.

Asking the nearby vendors if they had seen their 'friend'.

The roads were crowded, as they usually were. And yet she still saw him, she knew she did.

People crowded around her, moving in each and every direction as if they moved with the unpredictable current.

Out of the corner of her eye, as a cloaked figure bumped into her shoulder. She recognized their face almost instantly.

Spiked golden blonde hair, a rounded cheeks, tan skin. But the most peculiar, or striking feature depending on who you asked, were the set of three whisker-like marks across his face.

But the thing she never caught sight of were his eyes. No, they were shrouded in darkness… but even so, judging from the aura he gave off, she knew what lay beneath

Crack.

She froze, even as the flow of people tried to push her aside, she was unwavering. She didn't know how long she stood there as people passed her by, but it wasn't long before one of her companions called out to her over the crowd's blaring uproars of the crowd's chatter.

"Cinder, what's wrong?" Her green-haired companion asked in concern, noticing her own hesitation. As a young silver haired male stood by her, their bodies unmoving against the crowd's current.

"No," Cinder shook the thoughts off, "it's nothing, keep moving," she ordered, over the flock's constant babbling.

As they soon kept moving forward.

"The eyes are the window to the soul"

The second time she saw him, the world around them was completely opposite to the first. The sky was covered, as the clouds darkened.

But today was supposed to be a special day. Yes, it was a day she had longed for some time.

She knew she was on the cusp of victory. Weeks of planning, hours of patience, and years of pain had all led up to this moment. She would get what she deserved.

One carefully placed illusion by her dear little pawn, a distraction in the form of the other. A storm was summoned, only fueled by the galling air that covered the sun. Their enemy's eyes glowed a fiery red, as thunder and lightning struck down from the very heavens themselves. Whirlwinds collided with the leaves as they were frozen over and hardened as strong as stone. Screams of agony sounded as metal was struck, piercing through Mercury's prosthetic legs.

Giving her the opportunity to strike as inky dark glass formed with but a wave of her hand.

The maiden fell from heaven.

Forced-bleariness couldn't pinpoint their exact location, just what she had wanted. A flurry of fists and kicks from her companions struck down between each other, giving her enough time to make her move.

Three shots, that's all it took.

Don't get her wrong, those three shots were never aimed at the girl. No, they were aimed at the ground, aimed right at the maiden's feet. Her target was soon engulfed in a fiery inferno, one powerful enough to drain the girl dry of all her aura as she was sent sprawling onto the ground in a cry of pain.

But even as they approached, the maiden's tenacity didn't waver. No, the downed girl struck tried and true with a vicious gale. As she commanded the winds to then strike her team down.

As the maiden limped over to her fallen mint-haired comrade, she raised her wizard-like staff to send Emerald into an eternal slumber.

What the girl didn't expect for her to take an arrow to the back for her efforts, as she was sent tumbling to the ground once again.

She dropped her bow, as she walked steadily towards the fallen maiden. The girl was then propped up to meet her at eye level.

She held the white glove in her hands, the one that had been supplied to her by the vile queen herself. Putting it on, as she raised her hand towards the maiden's face. The girl's eyes widened in horror as a corrupt insect made its presence known.

"P-Please don't," the girl begged, but it was already too late. The vile beetle spat a foul obsidian-colored ooze that encroached upon her face.

The maiden's eyes glowed a fiery red, as soon, her own did the same.

She had won.

She felt like smiling, it was a joyous occasion after all. Her eyes should have never left the maiden's gaze, and yet…

That was when she saw him out of the corner of her eye.

His face, his whiskered cheeks, but the thing that caught her attention were his eyes.

Cerulean blue orbs stared into her soul, it was as if those eyes that once glowed as bright as the full moon faded and fell into a deep and darkened abyss.

She hated it. No! She loathed that look, she didn't know what it was, but she could tell with every fiber of her being that that look should not be there. That those ocean-blue orbs should not be contorted to such an emotion.

One look.

Crack.

One look at him was all it took for her resolve to waiver just a bit.

Her attention was soon brought to the rushed footsteps that could be heard as they neared her. A large broadsword sliced through the line of inky spittle that connected both hers and the maiden's soul.

A huntsman! She realized, as this particular huntsman, she knew, would prove to be a nuisance.

The dark haired man clutched the brown haired maiden close to his chest, as he quickly checked her vitals to make sure she was okay.

A blazing glare was sent his way, as with but a flick of her wrist, she summoned a swarm of fiery embers that conjured a large explosion that the huntsman easily dodged.

But that hadn't been her plan, as her mint-green haired companion soon cast an illusion to conceal their presence long enough for her to escape

She had failed.

But even so, she had gained a power to aid her in retrieving what was rightfully hers.

And yet… she still cast a single glance toward the nearby foliage, the figure she had once spotted having long since vanished from her sight.

XXX

Years of planning led up to this.

She had tracked down the lost maiden, reclaimed her power. And now, months of infiltration and espionage had coalesced into a massive invasion upon Vale. Soon the relic would be hers, she could almost taste it.

But there were still a few nuisances she had to deal with.

She locked eyes with the green-eyed girl she was facing, as the redhead spun around and threw her only weapon, a golden shield, at her like a flying disk.

She readied her bow, and her aim rang true as she fired.

Their two projectiles met in the middle, but her arrow didn't collide with her opponent's shield. No, it seemingly shattered, reforming around the disk as it kept its momentum and struck her target. Striking her opponent right in her heel as she was sent kneeling on the floor with a cry of pain. The girl tried to get up as her legs gave out, and she was sent sprawled out on the stone roof once again. And yet she still tried to fight on.

"It's unfortunate you were promised a power that was never truly yours" Cinder told her, as she walked around to face the girl. She had fought well, she was stronger and more talented than most, and yet that didn't save her when things came down to it.

"But take comfort in knowing that I will use it in ways you never have imagined," she told her. As she brought down a hand to meet the redhead's murky green chin, her complexion ailing from the overexertion she had pushed her body though, raising her head to meet her eyes.

"Do you believe in destiny?" The invincible girl suddenly asked.

"Yes," the blackette told the girl resolutely. How could she not? Destiny was what led her here. Destiny is what gave her this power she had been rightfully owed. If not for destiny, she'd still be alone in some hotel's vent's with—

She cut that line of thought off, as Cinder's eyes hardened.

Raising her hands up, an obsidian glass bow formed out of ash, as a darkened arrow operated not long after.

She readied her bow, her aim rang true, and she fired, landing straight into the center of the girl's chest.

As the invincible girl quivered. She laid a gentle hand across the redhead's forehead, as soon the girl was engulfed in a blazing array of light.

But not before the girl gave her a look.

One look, that was all it took for her resolve to break for just a moment.

She recognized that gaze, she looked so so defeated, so accepting of her fate, a look that she hadn't expected for one such as her to have in her gaze.

Her form changed, as flashes of a boy with blond hair and blue eyes overtook her… he had the same eyes.

Her breath hitched, as the boy's body crumbled to dust and smoke within an instant.

Crack.

Cinder stepped back, she only barely registered out of the corner of her eye a girl. One who was dressed in blacks and reds, with silver eyes that glowed like the moon, staring at the scene in utter horror.

"Pyrrhaaaaaaa!" The girl shouted dismay, as soon the entire area was engulfed in a heavenly light.

"What?!" She exclaimed in shock, not able to understand what was happening to her vision.

But soon she was engulfed in an ever reaching light.

"…"

Pain scorched through the entire left side of her body as her breath was left heaving for much-needed oxygen.

"Do you feel it?" Her pale-skinned queen asked, "don't fight it girl," she instructed, in a tone that was only but a whisper, and here she demanded such power and obedience with that tone alone.

A cry of pain couldn't help but escape from her lips, it was as if her very soul was being encroached upon by a foul poison. As if a hammer and nail were being driven into the stub that had once called her left arm.

"It can sense your trepidation," Salem told her, "you must make it… dread you," she instructed.

A faint crackling noise reacher her ears, as she soon turned her head, a seer. A grim not strong, but powerful in the influence it gave Salem. A grim forged and built by the immortal witch herself in order to communicate long distances to her followers.

The jellyfish-like grim approached them at the table, as its large fish bowl-like head relayed a message that only the queen of grim could see.

Her master interlocked her fingers, looking down at her as if she were on some sort of pedestal, and in a way she was.

"Cinder, I am going to ask you this one more time and I expect a clear answer." Her voice was soft, motherly even, but that is what gave it so much power, and truly, her queen was powerful.

"Did you kill Ozpin?" She questioned, in a tone that shook her to her very core.

She tried to speak, but her throat couldn't form any words. Attempting to call over her green haired companion, as Emerald rushes over she—

"No!" Her queen shouted, as she slammed her ghostly palms onto the table in outrage. "I want to hear you say it," the witch ordered.

Her one good fiery gold orb stared into the ebony black and crimson red one's of her master. As she tried to speak, what came spewing out of her mouth was more akin to a harsh breath. But only after several failed attempts was she finally able to do so.

"… yes," she told her, in a voice so raspy it was a far cry from what it had once been.

Her queen seemed to accept her statement, as well as the absolute certainty that leaked through her own ragged voice.

"Reinforce our numbers at beacon. The relic is there." The queen of grail told her dear, as it then made off with its leader's messages, passing by both her silver and green haired attendants.

"What are you planning?" Her queen questioned aloud.

XXX

She was in her quarters, that was the fourth place she saw him.

The walls were dark, but not overly so, and yet they still contained a small amount of transparency within them. But even so, the room cast a reflection upon her, of herself, of what she had become, of what she was not.

She had always held a sense of pride within her appearance, she was considered beautiful by many, that feeling only gave her another sense of power. She held sway, a sway that left many believing she was something she was not.

She could command a person with word alone, surely that was power in or itself. And when she couldn't, she didn't need words to make people do her bidding , force was always an option on the table.

But now? Ever since that silver haired girl had gazed at her her voice was gone, so was her left eye, as well as her left arm. All that remained was a stump, one that now had a darkened limp arm flowing from it.

Some would call her a shell of her former self.

But didn't take long for her appearance to change, as the figure she had always seen had made its presence known. Those blue eyes looked down upon her.

Her! As if she were still the same foolish little child she had once been.

His lips were curved into a frown, but they soon contorted to form words. Yet she could hear none of them, but she could still get the message he was trying to relay.

"What have you become?" He mouthed.

He was mocking her! She knew he was.

Anger spiked through her very being, she didn't want to see that look in his eyes ever again, never again!

Crack.

One hit. Two hits. Three hits. Four—

It didn't take long for her fist to be shoved straight through the wall. Her left hand to completely splinter the reflective surface completely.

Soon her mint haired attendant entered the room. "Cinder, are you alright?" Emerald asked in concern.

But she paid her no mind, blazing gold eyes stairs at the cracks in front of her in anger.

She didn't care that she'd finally gained feeling in her left arm, nor the fact she had once again activated her maiden powers. No, all she cared about was the face that the blonde-haired mirage that had been plaguing her mind was gone.

"She hated that look in his eyes… she hated him."

The ceiling collapsed upon them, sending them both to the ground as both of their auras caves under the pressure. Her breath was raged, as she only barely had enough energy to gaze upon the face of her enemy, long black hair, with a set of red eyes that glowed a burning crimson.

"Had enough yet?" Her opponent asked, as she had risen to her feet.

Burning red gazed into fiery golden, as she looked down upon her.

"Shut up!" She cried out in rage, as her fist soon met the floor.

"If you were stronger or more clever, then maybe…" the black haired woman smirked. "You'd remember to watch your back!" She warned.

Cinder only stared at her in confusion with ragged breath, until she heard the faint rustling behind her, as she turned to see what she was talking about.

Vernal, the false maiden Raven paraded around to lull them off her trail. The girl raised her cross bow, as she only had the strength left to fire a single arrow as she had already been pierced through the chest.

Engulfed her own hand in an inferno, she immediately swatted the projectile away. That gave her opponent the perfect opportunity to make her move.

Her lone eye widened as she saw the spring maiden rush past her, as she laid a single hand across her broken left side of her face. The glass that once covered it shattered, as she was soon pushed off the edge of their platform in a shower of blue.

Left falling, she could only watch as the spring maiden raised her palm, it emanating a royal blue as she gazed down upon her.

There was that look.

That dreaded look that she despised so much, the look he always showed up with. She didn't deserve to be pitied. No! She didn't want to be pitied, she wanted to be feared, respected.

That look was a mockery of all that she had worked for, all that she had become.

And the worst part? The thing that bugged her the most!… was that she knew 'he' would never have that look.

Her opponent vanished, overshadowed by the boy who had plagued her mind.

It was ironic, her final thoughts, and she could only think about him. The person she had tried to forget for so long.

It pained her, even more so than the ever-increasing chill that ran up and down her entire body… and she soon saw darkness.

She wondered about the events that led her here, if things would ever be like they were.

Cinder wished she could go back, that was her only thought as she soon fell into the dark abyss, her body growing cold to the touch.

Shatter.

"She hated him!"

"She hated him!"

"She hated him!"

"… she loved him."

"I'll take her"

Words that changed her life. Words that fueled her future.

She marveled at the building in front of her, it's sheer size being one of the largest she had ever seen in her life, but judging by the surrounding architecture, it wasn't even the largest on its block.

But even so, within the dusk of the night sky, its rustic lighting style it held an aura of refinery, something she had never even thought of experiencing back home.

She was so lost in her thoughts, she only barely registered the woman who was giving her a message, "come now." The voice told her, as her head snapped in the direction from which it came.

She witnessed a messy blonde/brown-haired woman in distinguished clothing open the shining golden stained-glass doors that revealed what lay beyond.

Walking inside, she was once again left astonished. A main room with ceilings higher than anything she had ever seen, made from both dark woods and light bronzes that gave it just a hint of elegance, as well as having a rustic feel to it.

Large states of crystals shaken in the form of grim were used as decorations as the many bustling aristocrats chatted about. Many of them sporting large blushes across their faces, courtesy of the large amount of alcohol they'd consumed within the peaceful environment.

She was so enraptured that she took her time in following the blonde woman, her new stepmother, to where she had led her.

"Ahem," the woman said to gain her attention, as cinder turned around to witness the small back room she was now in.

She spotted a set of sisters, each wearing a white button-up shirt with either a gray knee-length skirt or a set of gray pants. They both had blonde hair, blue eyes, and sported a haughty expression on their faces.

Behind them, she spotted something that caught her eye… a tray of food. Dozens of bread rolls, bundles of grapes, the best aged cheeses from all four kingdoms. It all looked so delicious and so close that she could almost reach it, like she—

"You are to make sure the laundry is folded, the dishes are spotless, and the floors are clean enough to eat off of," her stepmother instructed, uncaring of her current thoughts.

As the woman went to leave, she made a single request, a hollow statement with barely any life within it. "F-food," she asked, as the set of sisters giggled arrogantly at her request.

Surprisingly, the brown-haired woman obliged her request. Elegantly walking towards the tray, she palmed a single bread roll. Observing it for only a second, she then tossed it towards her, and when it hit the tile floor as it pattered across the room.

"Now hurry and get to your chores," the woman ordered, and she left. Her daughters doing much the same, giggling all the while as they followed after her. Their mother, however, made one last comment before her exit, "the floor looks filthy," she complained.

As cinder reached down, grasping the single piece of food that had so 'graciously' been given to her, in the harsh darkness of the room.

She had hoped things would be better here... they weren't.

XXX

Get dressed, fix her hair, deliver the food to the guests, decorate the cakes, eat what little meal she had been given in the halls, unclog the toilets, dust the sculptures, bring towels to all the rooms, wash the dishes, so many chores she felt as if she were going to—

Break.

The sound of broken porcelain rushed to everyone in the lobby's ears, as many of them turned their heads to witness a dark haired girl hoisting herself back up from her sitting position. A tray of dishes now broken, strewn about in her path.

The sound of girls giggling could be heard as an irate stern looking brunette diligently standing over the young girl, she was not happy.

XXX

"Ahhhh!" Screams of pain left her body as she collapsed to the ground in a heaping mess.

Her whole body felt as if it were on fire, her fingers curled as her legs gave out. Her whole nervous system screamed at her, screams that were louder than the ones that were emanating from her mouth.

"Now, that wasn't very ladylike of you," the brunette woman who towered over her mocked. "I suggest you learn your place," she growled, as her thumb pushed the small buzzer that connected to the necklace she was forged to wear.

As hundreds of volts of electricity coursed through cinder's entire body. "Now, say it!" She roared, as she let off on the electricity for only a moment.

Cinder, who was left a heaving mess as she had been forced to her knees by the electrons that hand been coursing through her.

She was forced to say the familiar demoralizing words that would be made to remember for the rest of her life. "without you… I am nothing."

XXX

Heavy grunts filled with anger could be heard emanating from a young girl, as she, rather forcefully, pushed her sponge across the floor of the second story's carpet that was laid across the balcony.

Sweating from the exertion, she took a small break, a sight caught the corner of her eye. As she turned to see many of the guests marveling at a particular figure.

He was a tall man, with spiked blonde hair as radiant as the sun, with ocean blue eyes that contrasted nicely. As well as tanned skin, that was evident of his harsh work in the sun. To many of the women, he was seen as handsome, but that wasn't why they were staring at him.

He had strange clothes, a set of navy blue pants and a matching long-sleeved shirt. But over that, he had on a strange long coat, one with a burning red flame design licking the bottom. At his side, he had a small pouch, one that seemed to be filled with strange looking knives.

The man had this strange aura around him, one that commanded respect… Perhaps he was a huntsman?

The loud plopping sound of wet footsteps caught her attention, as she then turned her head once again. Witnessing her two stepsisters, each wearing a set of muddied boots, as they intentionally dragged their feet along the carpet to dirty it even further.

"You missed a spot," one of the sisters said rather loudly, emphasizing her words as she stomped her foot onto the carpet, mud splashing across the floor.

That only sent her anger to new heights, she hated them, she hated her! She wanted them to go away, to never see them again, she wanted them to burn.

Unknowingly, in her anger, it was as if her hand was sizzling to life, as the soaked sponge within her palm steamed as it reached higher temperatures. If she kept this up, she knew she was going to—

"Hey!" All of their attention was brought to a voice behind them.

As the twins turned, they were left to witness a young boy, who looked to be of a similar age to them.

He had a striking resemblance to the strange foreign man in the lobby. Blonde hair, blue eyes, tanned skin, and were those… whisker marks? Perhaps he was a faunus? No, he wouldn't be allowed here if that were the case, it was in all likelihood that they were some kind of birthmarks. Whatever the case, it didn't matter. He also appeared to be wearing a strange set of clothing. But whereas the man in the lobby had an obvious sense of style, it was clear that this boy did not, as he was adorning a strange set of orange garments.

As well as contrasting the aura of the man from before, this man had an aura of a mischief like a fox. He almost looked… cute?

Pushing those thoughts aside, she realized that the boy was now continuing with his earlier statement. The boy rubbed the back of his head, "I'm sort of new here, I was wondering if you could tell me where this room was?" He asked the set of sisters politely.

Her stepsisters seemed to have been mirroring the set of thoughts she had been having previously. As their once scornful features melded into a set of sweet and serene smiles, ready to charm any man.

They both walked to his side, being careful to try and hide their muddied shoes and previous actions. And if the boy noticed, it was as if he didn't seem to mind at all.

"Of course we can," one of the sisters chirped.

"All you have to do is show us your key, and we can take you right on over there," the other sister told him politely.

"Really? Thank you," he told them, as he began reaching into his pocket. Taking out the key he had been given, he showed it to them, as they began gracefully leading him towards his destination.

Meanwhile, cinder sat stunned at the entire ordeal, only barely registering what had happened.

She did, however, catch the boy turning his head towards her as he was being led away. Flashing her a dazzling smile as he winked towards her.

As she was left to stare at their retreating figures, her anger returned full force, as she stared at the muddied footprints that her two stepsisters left as they went.

As aged blue eyes watcher her in the distance.

XXX

"Dad, have you seen my kunai?"

"Huh? Did you end up losing them?!"

"What! No, I didn't lose them, they should be right there, where I put them."

"Did you put them there before or after you pranked those girls?"

"Well I—How'd you know?... Well anyways, it was before and now they're gone."

Cinder smiled at her haul as she climbed out of the vent that led into her room. Tying the small pouch she had stolen to her leg as she opened it up to look, what was inside.

Small knives, ones that appeared to have small cross guards. Although she would have preferred something like a sword, these would do for now.

Palming one of her small blades in her hand, she adjusted her grip as she performed several test slashes that cleaved through the air.

"Now, that's not yours, is it?" a voice asked, startling her. She hastily turned around, to face the intruder, hurling a set of knives toward the approaching figure.

The man easily deflected the projectiles with his own set of knives, as their course knocked them within a nearby wall.

Looking back towards the figure, Cinder released a startled breath. It was the man, the one she had seen in the lobby. Blonde hair, blue eyes, he was exactly like the man she had seen before.

Surprisingly, the man held his hands up in a placating fashion. "Don't worry, I'm not here to hurt you," he told her, throwing his weapons to the ground.

Cinder didn't buy it, this man didn't know a thing about her. He was probably from atlas, and she knew what happened to those who stole from people like him.

As she took out another set of knives from her holster. Adjusting her grip, she went in to attack. Charging forward, she went to slash at him, but the man easily caught her wrist.

"I've seen you around, and I think it's safe to say you haven't been getting the most…fair treatment," he spoke. "Yeah, I can't really blame me for what you're thinking."

Cinder seethed, this man didn't know a damn thing! "You don't know what I'm—" she was interrupted.

"But hurting them isn't going to make your life any better," the man told her. "You can run, but, you're going to be running for the rest of your life," he let go of her wrist, as Cinder looked down, contemplating his words.

"Or… you can find another way of handling it." He said.

"Like you? You can do whatever you want, go wherever you want," Cinder said spitefully, as her head was held low. Tears spilled from her eyes, at the reminder that she was well and truly helpless.

She had no freedom, no ability to do anything… she was alone.

The blonde man sighed, "how old are you?" He asked, changing the subject, as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Ten," cinder answered.

"Ten?" the man repeated in surprise. As the man's understanding of the situation grew just a little bit more. His eyes looked at her in sympathy. "I have a son about your age," he sighed.

"And you want to have those freedoms, to be a huntress?" He realized. "Then you've got about seven years," the man told, as he went off to the side, retrieving the blade that had been embedded within the nearby wall.

"For what?" She asked, not understanding what the huntsmen meant.

The man ripped the kunai out the wall, holding it within his palm. "For the huntsman exams, of course," he answered, gently tossing the kunai towards her. As she hastily tried to catch the blade, only barely able to grasp it within her palms.

The loud sound of banging metal could be heard, as both their heads snapped in that direction. They both were left to witness another blonde, one much smaller. As the boy clumsily climbed out the air vent that cinder had previously entered through.

Quickly standing straight up, the younger blonde rubbed his hand on the back of his head, similarly to his father before him. "Uh… hi," he greeted, trying to cover up the fact that he was spying on them. "What were you guys talking about?" The boy asked nonchalantly

Minato chuckled slightly at his son's actions, before he walked towards the both of them,

"This is my son," the older blonde introduced to the girl, as he brought them close together.

The younger blonde sent her a bright smile, one that radiated as bright as the sun. "Hi, I'm Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki," he introduced, as he raised his hand up.

Understanding what he wanted to do, the black haired girl hesitantly brought her palm up to meet his, as she slowly shook his hand. "Cinder, Cinder Fall," she told him.

The oldest blonde, Minato Namikaze, Naruto's father, clapped his hands, "good, now that you two are introduced, I think it's time for you two to start your training. You two do want to become huntsmen after all," he told them both.

Words that would change their lives, hopefully for the better... I only that were true.

XXX

As the years went by, things began to change. The father-son duo would come and go. But as many times as the left the Glass unicorn hotel, they would always return.

But as things began to change, the abuse would stay the same. No, that wasn't it, it felt like things were getting worse. For every little mistake she made, her stepmother would punish her, each time being more and more painful.

Hundreds upon hundreds of volts coursing throughout her body… But she didn't have to think about that.

Her training with Minato had been great, the man had brought in several different weapons, ranging from the shortest of blades to the heaviest of objects. She'd found that a pair of twin swords fit her style the best. The man had even given her an actual sword! One that she'd been training diligently to master them.

But not just her, after meeting the blonde, the one who was of a similar age to her, she could say he was interesting.

Unlike his father, who was usually calm and collected. Naruto was anything but, he was brash, loud, a prankster, an idiot, a—

A slash brought her out of her thoughts, as she carefully dodged to the side.

Eyeing her opponent, her golden orbs met his own cerulean gaze. This was another one of their midnight sparring, ones they did completely alone with each-other when Minato had business elsewhere.

As the full moon could be seen off into the distance, they danced to a tune only they knew.

Blocking a volley of knives, she showed him a slight smirk, one that her sparring partner reciprocated. "Not bad," Naruto told her. "… princess," he added as a slight jab.

"Idiot," Cinder growled out, angered at the nickname he called her, and it was then she went on the offensive.

Charging forward, she slashed down, with the sword she held in her palms. As Naruto dodged to the side, as she turned over to block the blonde's incoming strikes, as he sent a jab at her with one of his tri-pronged kunai.

She managed to intercept his kunai, but given that she only had a single weapon, she was at a disadvantage. Naruto used the other kunai in his offhand to attack her, and she was forced to try to send a kick towards his direction.

He fell back, but that gave her ample opportunity to attack. Given that she had a sword, whereas he had a pair of blades, it was obvious that she would have a longer reach, something she took full advantage of. Slashing forward, he was able to adjust his grip, and catch her blade, something that got caught on his knife's prong.

She turned her head to see Naruto smirk, but his face etched itself into a more worried expression, as he realized what she had done.

Channeling her semblance into her blade, she'd superheated it to scorching hot, something the short sword had been manufactured to do. Minato having put a lot of time and effort into creating such an effect, one that she greatly appreciated.

Her blade quickly turned red-hot, and given that it was connected to Naruto's own, it also inadvertently heated the blade within his palms.

Choosing to back off once again, he threw the slowly heating blade towards her, as he reacted into his kunai pouch and pulled out another.

Cinder was able to block them with her sword, but he still continued his onslaught, even if they were in such a small space.

"You can't keep that up forever!" She growled out.

As Naruto gave her a faint smile, "maybe, but I can keep it up for a few minutes." He told her, as he continued throwing his knives at her, as she continued to block them. Dodging and moving to the opposite end of the room as she tried to slash at him, that was, until…

Naruto's face grew into a worried expression, as he noticed that the kunai pouch was unfortunately empty.

"So, you mind if we call this a draw?" Naruto asked sheepishly, as she raised up her sword to point at him.

Cinder smirked, "not a chance," she told him.

Naruto sighed, "I was afraid you'd say that," he admitted.

As it was then that he sped towards her. This action was so surprising that she wasn't able to react in time. He had managed to push her to the ground, as she had accidentally managed to drop her sword with his palms.

He'd pinned her down, kneeling onto her sprawled out form as his hands gripped both of her wrists onto the ground.

She struggled to move, as she tried to force herself out of his grip.

He only smirked towards her, "Willing to give up now?" He asked cockily.

Cinder gave him a glare in response, "not a chance," she told him, and it was then that she'd seen an opening and taken it.

Using Naruto's surprise as a way to get the upper hand, shed managed to force Naruto onto his back, as she pinned him down, similarly to what Naruto had done just seconds before.

"Willing to give up now?" Cinder parroted Naruto's words.

As Naruto smiled, "And give up this moment? Not a chance," he told her.

It was only then that cinder realized just what a position they were in. She was straddling his waist, her hands pinning his arms down. He was defenseless. He was—

She hadn't realized just how close they were to each other. She didn't know who made the first move. But seeing him so close, as she gazed into his ocean blue eyes that held such emotion within them… it made her heart skip a beat.

And she didn't know how, but it wasn't long before their lips were touching.

It began with their lips simply grazing one another, some would call it a light peck, others would say it led into something else.

And not long after, she pushed forward, leaning in even closer as their lips craved one another. A pleasure filled moan erupted from her lips, as her grip on her target lessened just a bit.

Naruto used this opportunity to do something unexpected, and with a startled yelp, he flipped her onto her back. Swapping positions with her as he held her wrists and pressed them high above her head.

He gave her a light smirk, "looks like I win," Naruto told her confidently, as she gave him a small glare.

But even still, she leaned in again. Their lips touched once more, and he snaked in her tongue into her mouth.

He explored her mouth with a lust filled vigor, as she gave a delighted moan in response. But as soon as she did that, Naruto stopped, much to her dismay.

He lent back up, as she gazed at him in confusion. It was then that he pulled back down, trailing small kisses down her cheek as he crept down to her neck. Stopping at a particular point she seemed to be the most sensitive, he lent down once again as he sucked along skin as she nearly screamed out in ecstasy.

"Ahhhhhh!" She squirmed in place, unfamiliar with such pleasure.

That only seemed to give rise to Naruto's confidence, as well as something else, as he pushed forward to go deeper and deeper.

Cinder felt Naruto's member slightly graze her thigh, something that she inwardly smirked over, happy she could evoke such a reaction from him.

Stopping in her ministrations, Naruto pulled back in confusion. She leaned forward, her arms still pinned to the ground, as she pushed her ample bust against his muscular chest.

Cinder lent to whisper in his ear, "And I thought you were out of kunai," she said softly, as a shiver rang throughout Naruto's entire body.

Her voice, coupled with her soft melons pushing hard into his chest, was enough to cause Naruto to blush a little. That was when Naruto noticed her smirk, but it was too late.

That was when she used his surprise to switch positions, rolling him into his back as she was once again straddling and pining him onto the ground.

"I wouldn't count me out yet, big boy," cinder said in the same soft tone that she used to seduce him. Naruto gave her a glare, similar to the one she had given him just minutes before.

Cinder smirked, "oh, don't be like that," she told him, before she lent in to give him another light peck on his cheek.

As she lent forward, this time using her own tongue to explore his mouth, the surrounding walls were filled with loud moans that emanated throughout the room. They didn't stop their make out session until both of them were running out of air.

Gasping for breath, Cinder noticed Naruto's change in attitude. "There, now, isn't that better?" She questioned, using the same tone she used to send a shiver down his spine.

But this time… Naruto seemed to have a hesitation within his eyes, and as she was about to question what was wrong, the blonde began to speak up.

"Princess," Naruto started, using the endearing nickname she outwardly despised but inwardly loved.

"I think…" he hesitated for only a minute, before taking a deep breath and continuing. "I think I love you," he told her, awaiting be reaction.

Cinder looked shocked at what he said, but soon she gazed into his eyes. As Blue met gold, she began to see all the emotions within his gaze.

Of contentment, of lust, of… love.

She held her head low, contemplating what he had just said.

And when she pulled back, a pained and worried expression etched itself across Naruto's face.

Had he done something wrong?

Cinder answered his question, "we shouldn't be doing this," she told him, as she got up from her sitting position, and went to leave father than Naruto's brain could process.

"Cinder, wait!" He called out to her, as he got up as well.

But Cinder continued onward as she rushed out of her room. Leaving behind her fallen left shoe in the process, rearresting from the situation entirely.

Leaving Naruto alone, as the moon cast its broken limelight from the window into the dark room.

XXX

She'd messed up.

Ever since that night, things had felt… off, between them. She wasn't even able to hold a conversation with her blond friend, much less look him in the eye.

He'd tried to talk to her, but she'd pushed him away. It wasn't long before Naruto and Minato had left, choosing to go on another adventure with the freedom that they had… freedom that she didn't have.

How she longed to be like them, be with them, and be out there.

But it wasn't meant to be, she had never had those opportunities, she never will have those freedoms.

She was weak, she was pathetic, she was a slave.

All that he could do was sit in her room, and stare at the photograph in her hands. It was a simple picture, one that Minato had taken in secret, one that not even her stepmother knew existed.

It was a simple picture, one where she and Naruto had just gotten done with sparing early in the morning. The sun was out, and it had shown off in the distance. They were in her room, as usual, and a faint shine of sweat could be seen across their foreheads. But even so, he pulled her close, smiling as he did so. Both their weapons still within their grips.

He was happy with the progress they had gotten, him having helped her master her semblance all those years ago.

He was smiling, as his teeth glowed brighter than the sun, even she had a faint smirk across her soft lips.

Minato had take then photo, and had it printed out and gifted it to her as a keepsake…

But even without the photo, she remembered this day vividly, it had been one of the first days she'd thought of Naruto as an actual friend… a friend, she realized.

She'd always believed alone, but now? … She wasn't alone, she had people who cared for her, loved—

No, she didn't have the freedoms like other girls, and she never would, not until…

Cinder was so lost in her thoughts that she barely had enough time to hide the photograph within her palms. But as her step-sisters entered the room, it seemed she wasn't quite fast enough.

"Cinder~"One of her sisters Sung.

As the other sister finished her trail of thought, "It's time to wash the dishes, I hear one of the guests is a real foodie, leaving you a bunch of plates to clean up, we know you're going to have a real fun time cleaning—" they both noticed her rushed movements as Cinder tucked the photo under her pillowcase, as she tried to play it off nonchalantly.

Both her sisters smirked as they looked at each other, "my, my, it seems our 'dear' sister is hiding something from us."

"Indeed it does, doesn't she know that sisters share?" The other finished, as it was then that they both rushed towards her, surprising Cinder with their forwardness.

She tried to fight them off, but as she pushed one of them to the side, the other used the opportunity to steal what she had hidden below her.

"Give it back!" Cinder roared out. But even as she tried to reach for it back, her sister just handed it to the other sister.

"Oh, what's this?" The sister with the photo said, as she observed what she held in her hands. "Is that Naruto-Kun!" She said in surprise, as cinder froze.

The sister she had been wrestling had used the opportunity to push her to the ground. "What? Let me see that!" She said, as she stole the photo from her other sister.

Once she saw the photo she froze, "Umm, Dumbella, she has a weapon…" she told her sister in shock.

As dumbella grabbed the photo back from her sister, an evil smirk formed across her face as she formed a plan. "Let's go tell mother, I'm sure she will solve this ' little problem,'" she told her.

As it was then that her two step-sisters rushed out of the room before she could stop them.

Cinder sat alone on the cold floor, clutching her legs as she held her head between her knees.

Her sisters had ruined everything! She knew her mother would never allow her to have anyone to her own, let alone have something for her enjoyment.

No, that didn't fall in line with her plan. She'd much rather her stay within The Glass Unicorn as he slave forever. She'd never agree to her becoming a huntsman

Cinder's breath quickened, she could already feel the electricity coursing through her skin. Hundreds of volts coursing through her body. Her skin constricting upon itself, her heart quickening as it nearly gave out.

She could feel it all, she didn't want to experience that ever again. No, she wanted to be free, but rather be with Naruto and Minato, she…

A thought entered her mind.

She didn't have to live like that, she realized. She doesn't have to live in fear. Not only that, but she could be free, she could be powerful… she didn't have to be nothing.

With a steeled heart, she retrieved her sword, the sword she had been gifted with, and she got to work… as her stepmother and sisters came rushing inside.

XXX

Entering the glass unicorn, the two blondes could tell it was quiet, and the aura within the room was of an unknown unease. Sure, nothing seemed off, as the usual occupants chatted about, and yet…

There was just something that felt off, and they didn't know why.

Minato reached the front desk, seeing that the usual mother who acted as a receptionist was gone.

"Anyone!" Minato shouted, Naruto trailing behind not long after.

A crash could be heard in the back of the lobby, they both rushed towards the door that lead to the back.

Until Minato stopped in his tracks, Naruto's body crashing into his back not long after.

"Dad! What are you doing," Naruto said, as he tried to push past him, minato acting as if he were an unmovable wall.

His father turned to him, looking upon him in full seriousness. "Naruto, I'm going to need you to stay here for a bit," he told his son. Naturally, Naruto didn't like his father's request too much.

"What? No way, I have to—" the younger blonde was interrupted.

"Naruto, I mean it, you have to stay here!" his father roared, as Naruto stepped back in surprise.

His father had never yelled at him, ever. He had always presented himself as calm, collected, and kind. Minato Namikaze never raised his voice, and that surprised his son. The only time he'd ever gotten angry was when he'd been mistaken as a fanus and kicked out of a ramen shop up here in atlas.

Naruto nodded, unable to comprehend what his father was thinking at the moment. "Okay, I'll stay here, for a bit," he told his father, although he didn't like it.

"Good," Minato nodded, as he went towards the back… alone, he didn't want his son to see what he suspected was inside.

XXX

What he saw wasn't a surprise to him, he'd always known that cinder was a possible loose canon, but he'd never wanted this outcome to happen. And if Naruto knew what happened here… he'd never be the same.

Dead bodies laid on the floor strewn about, cinder's sisters, from what he'd remembered. He didn't know the girls too much, but seeing them around, he'd known that they weren't pleasant.

Looking up even further, he stared in mild shock at the scene before him, the sound of sparks running through the air and the small of burning flesh hitting his nose.

Cinder held her hand around her stepmother by the neck, hundreds of volts of electricity coursing through her veins. Her mother's hand landed firmly on the button connected to Cinder's necklace, staring at the young girl in shock at what she was doing.

Cinder's blazing golden stared at her mother in defiance, finally ready to be free even as her body pushed through the pain. "You're right, without you, I'm nothing. But because if you… I am everything!"

Her mother's ragged breath stopped, as cinder tightened her grip even harder. Her mother spamming her remote one last time in a final act of self-preservation as her body then went limp.

Dropping her mother's body to the ground unceremoniously, she just stared off into space, contemplating what she had just done.

"… cinder," Minato's voice spoke out, catching the young girl's attention as she turned towards him.

She gave her mentor a pained smile. "We… we can be a family now," she told him. "I… I don't have to run now." Cinder said.

Minato looked at the young girl, a girl he'd known for years, a girl just as young as his son , eyes filled with seriousness. Closing his eyeslids and resolving his mind, he opened them once again. His cool blue orbs, committing himself to what he had to do.

"That's all you'll every do," he told her, as he readied his weapons.

Cinder stared at him in shock, before her mind realized what was happening. Her face contorted in sadness, before anger coursed through her very being at her mentor… No! The man who was practically her father's betrayal.

The sound of the clock striking the hour mark could be heard off in the distance, as the moon cast bright out the window.

On some unspoken signal, she rushed forward, going on the offensive as she aimed high. But minato was able to easily black her attack, as he struck a blow to her gut, Cinder's aura naturally blocking his attack as she was sent to the ground.

Managing to land on her feet, she readjusted herself as she got right back up off the ground.

Rushing back towards her opponent, she slashed with her sword, using her smaller body to dodge his swing as she ran past his back.

Minato turned to face her, but she had used this opportunity to get behind in once more, as she climbed onto his back. Using her legs and arm to half onto him.

She positioned her sword to his neck, but he was able to block it with his kunai. Cinder reached to choke him, trying to use her semblance to heat up her palm. Minato was able to stop her, and given she had relinquished her grip on his body, he threw her off of him.

Her back hit the wall, as she grabbed a nearby bag off the floor next to her.

He threw a few blades near her, but she was able to easily block or dodge these, given her training with her blonde friend.

Throwing the bag towards him, it exploded in a shower of white dust, or rather, of flour she'd recently used for baking in an attempt to blind him.

It hadn't worked, as he'd managed to shield his eyes from any debris that may have blinded him with his arms.

As he turned around to face her, Cinder having used the distraction to get behind him.

The girl rushed towards him once again, as he blocked her sword slashes. She was fast enough to be able to dodge his kunai slashes.

However, she wasn't fast enough nor had she anticipated Minato's knee that had intercepted with her gut, as he pushed her to the side once again. Her aura cracked, breaking away as it flared off of her.

Having defused the situation, Minato got close to the downed girl, who had seemingly been knocked unconscious by the blow to her head. He reached down towards her head, almost in a similar way to what Cinder had done to just moments ago,

Cinder's eyes shot up, and it was pure instinct with what happened next.

Her sword shot straight into Minato's abdomen, but even so, the blonde man continued to reach both his hands towards her.

She froze, but he continued on, even with her blade connected to her gut.

But as his arms finally reached her, but the hands she'd expected to wrap around her neck did no such thing.

Instead, they'd wrapped themselves around her body, as the man embraced her.

She only stood there in shock, not expecting such a response from the man… as she watched the light within Minato's blue eyes fade.

The world was in silence.

As not a sound could be heard, or maybe there was, but she couldn't hear them. She didn't know what to think, what to feel, it all just happened so fast she—

A sound broke through her mind, "… C-Cinder?" A voice said in horror, as they stared at the scene before then.

The girl's head snapped at the familiar voice, recognizing it almost instantly.

"N-Naruto?!" Cinder stared out, as golden eyes watched the blonde haired boy's horrified expression changing into a frozen disbelief.

She was so stunned at his appearance that her grip on her sword loosed just enough that it fell from her hands.

As Minato's dead body hit the floor, that seemed to small Naruto out of his stupor, as he rushed towards the fallen form of his father, unable to grasp what was happening.

Pushing him into his back, he was shocked to see the life that had already left his eyes, as a pool of blood leaked onto the floor, staining his clothes.

He didn't care, he was too immersed in trying to help his father to care. The world around him seemed to disappear.

"Dad, dad! Wake up…" Naruto told his father, as he pushed on his chest in some effort to restart his heart.

No, this could be real, it just could.

"Dad, it's time to stop joking, this is all prank, isn't it? Right... right?!" Naruto reason he jolted Minato's lifeless form, as tears started to leak from his eyes, drops flowing freely and falling down his face.

"Naruto I—" Cinder started, as she tried to lay a hand upon Naruto back, still in disbelief at her own actions.

"Get away from him!" Naruto interrupted, as he shot up, pushing her onto the cold hard ground.

Cinder felt a small amount of betrayal at his actions, but those feelings were drowned out by the immense guilt she felt at her own actions.

Hoisting herself off the ground, she gave one final look to Minato's downed figure as Naruto was hurdled around him, desperate in some attempt to help save him.

Crack.

Her heart broke when his movements stopped, and Naruto broke into pained sobs as his mind finally processed what was actually happening.

If only she hadn't have been so weak. If only she had been stronger. Things could have, would have been different. They would have remained the same.

If only...

She couldn't help herself, she ran, unable to face the pain Naruto was currently in as tears feel from Cinder's eyes.

She only had herself to blame.

"When someone opens their heart to love, they must also bear the risk of feeling hate."

The sky was dark, clouded even, as the area her was as quiet one, more silent than a mouse, the only sounds she could make was a faint cracking off in the distance.

But even so the noise called her, gravitated her towards the noise. She was attracted to it, ironically, like a moth to a flame.

Her breath was slow, leveled, as if she had just woken up from a calm rest. But as she carried onward, the closer to the noise she'd heard, the pit in her stomach only grew larger.

Until finally, she saw the dim light of a small campfire reflect across the murky sky. Spotting a motionless figure sitting upon a nearby boulder. She couldn't make out her face, only the dark silhouette that showed his back to her.

She could tell it was a man, one that seemed to be content just watching as the ember encroached upon all that it was fed, voraciously devouring anything that it touched.

Getting closer, she realized the figure was one she recognized.

Her breath hitched, and her throat formed a lump within it, one that could not allow her to speak. It couldn't be, it could… but as much as she wanted to deny it, she knew that this was well and truly him.

The figure, unperturbed by her current thoughts, spoke towards her. "Is that you, princess?" He asked aloud. As he slightly turned towards her, he had been slightly paying attention to her approaching figure for some time now.

Surprisingly, Cinder was able to speak the only word that came to the forefront of her mind. "N-Naruto," she said in surprise.

He gave her a slight smile, one that didn't fully reach his eyes. "The one and only," he confirmed with a slight smile, something she hadn't seen in such a long time. As he motioned to a nearby rock, "Come, why don't you have a seat?" He asked.

"W-Where? H-how?" Cinder's mind was at a loss at what to say, but her body somehow managed to comply with her request. As she then rested upon a boulder, one that was located closely to his own.

"A lot has happened since we last saw each other, hasn't it?" Naruto said reminiscently, as he turned his gaze to the nearby fire.

Cinder looked down, remembering how they last departed, and the shame that she felt at that moment.

"Listen, Naruto, I'm—" she tried to say, before she was cut off.

"Cinder, if this is about that night," Naruto interrupted, before he took a deep breath to calm down slightly. "It's been quite some time, and I've had to come to terms with the events of 'that' night," he told her.

"Naruto, I'm so sorry for the last time we saw each other," Cinder whispered guiltily, her soft voice filled with regret. A stark contrast from her usual confident demeanor,

"That's where you're wrong," he said cryptically. As Naruto then turned towards her, his blue eyes gazing into her vibrant golden ones.

"You and I both know that wasn't the last time we meet." The blonde told her.

"You're right," she said, looking down once again remembering the time.

Naruto nodded, "yes, we saw each other in the forests in a village on the outside of Mistrial, even if it was for the briefest of moments. As well as in the forest."

"I didn't want to believe it, I thought it was my mind playing tricks on me," Cinder told him.

"No, it wasn't," Naruto confirmed something that she already knew.

Before, the blonde then changed the subject, looking down as he used a stick to adjust the burning wood within the fire.

"I used to hate you, Y'know," he told her, only confirming her suspicions once again. "I trained since that day, tracking you down."

Naruto then looked towards her, towards his old friend. "I tried to kill you, once," he told her honestly. "It was in the crowd, I know you saw me, but that didn't matter. All I had to do was drive one of my knives through your stomach, and in the crowd I doubt people would have known who did it." He informed her of his previous plan.

Bringing his arms out in, Naruto then gazed at his hands, "I tried so hard, tried to bring myself to do it."

"And why didn't you?" Cinder asked. She had expected this, dreamt that one day he'd come to take his revenge. And she knew for all the strength she'd gained, even after all her effort, and as much as she wanted to deny it... she knew she wouldn't be able to stand against him.

He then looked towards her once again, giving her a smile, one that was genuine and reached his eyes. "I realized that no matter what you've done, no matter what's happened… you were still my best friend, still the person I loved." He told her.

Silence.

Cinder felt a small sense of happiness at his proclamation, but a small pit in her stomach formed at his next words.

"But seeing what you did to that girl, seeing what you've become, what I couldn't stop you from becoming," he continued, as he faintly clutched his heart. "I realized something in the forest..."

The pit in her stomach only grew in size, as she knew what his words were saying. "No! Naruto, don't tell me…" she trailed off.

Naruto only nodded, "that was a dark point in my life, one where I felt well and truly alone. I'd failed both you and my father, I—"his words stopped, as he saw tears form in her friend's eyes.

"I'm so sorry," she sobbed, realizing the truth.

"Don't be, it's not your fault," Naruto told her, but it seemed his words only had the opposite effect on her. It wasn't long before the tears fell across her cheeks, and reached towards the ground.

"Yes, yes it is," she cried out, as she tried to wipe away some of the tears forming in her eyes. But it seemed that her actions were for naught, as she then gazed at him with tear filled eyes.

"Cinder, I'm the one—" Naruto started, before he was interrupted.

"No! Naruto, don't tell me that it's not my fault!" She yelled at him angrily.

"Not when I'm the reason you killed yourself!" Cinder cried out, as Naruto's mouth clammed up, as a lump formed within his throat.

They were dead.

It all made sense now. Recalling the last memory she had and how her body just gave out. And now she was here, somewhere she knew she shouldn't be, feeling better than ever. No, she felt complete, something she hadn't quite felt in a while.

Her left arm was back, and she could tell by just looking at her friend that her left eye was there too.

There wasn't any magic capable of that, not that she knew of at least. And by observing the dark night sky, she could tell that it wasn't night at all. There were no stars, there was no moon, and just… nothing.

Nothing at all, it was like a dark, all encompassing abyss that led off into nowhere. And no place was capable of producing such an effect, nowhere short of the four vaults, at least.

She tried to stop the tears, stop the guilt rushing forth, but even with all her effort they remained falling from her face. So she was left to cover her face with her hands, unwilling to have her friend gaze upon her.

He was the only one who could elicit such a reaction from her like this. And ever since 'that' night, she had closed herself off, and not even her subordinate, Emerald's care, as enough to open it up.

But here? Just seeing his face, practically for the first time in so long, she was left a crying mess.

She was pathetic, she was a mess, she was weak.

She knew she was all these things, and all her efforts in life, all her merciless attempts at gaining power, hadn't eased her pain.

Cinder was enveloped in a warm embrace, one that she recognized well. One that caused her brain to freeze and her body to give out.

It was as if all her worries, all her trepidation… just melted away.

As the walls around her heart crumpled in place, she was left crying in Naruto arms. They both didn't know how long they sat like that, as Naruto moved to sit next to her when he wrapped her around his arms.

"I'm pathetic, aren't I?" She asked aloud, as Naruto shook his head.

"No, if anything, I'm the one who's pathetic." Naruto told her, as Cinder's head snapped towards his direction.

Naruto let go of her, an action that somewhat pained cinder's heart.

"I shouldn't have ignored all the signs that you were in pain," the blonde admitted. "I should have asked dad to help take you away. I knew what was going on in your life. I should've had some semblance of an idea of what you were going through…"

Naruto's fists balled up in anger, anger at himself, at his last actions and willful ignorance. "And yet I let it continue. I wanted things to stay the way things were. I was selfish, and I was afraid I would lose you. And I'm…" He took a deep breath, "I'm sorry," Naruto apologized, as he turned his face, refusing to look her in the eyes and gauge her reaction to his confession.

Surprisingly, he didn't hear the reaction he was expecting. There were no shouts of anger, no blows to his face, nothing he was expecting.

The blackette just swiped the tears within her eyes with the corner of her palms, she gazed upon his turned figure. She gave him a slight smile, one that was genuine in nature.

"You really are an idiot, aren't you?" She told him reminiscently.

He hadn't changed, he was still the same person at heart. Sure, she could see scars, but on the inside there were still fragments of the old Naruto… she only wished she could say the same.

As if reading her mind, Naruto looked at her, as he got close once again.

"Cinder," he started, as he looked into her golden eyes, a tanned palm cupping her pale skinned cheek. "You're as beautiful as the day I lost you," he told her.

His words caused her heart to skip a beat, as a faint hue of pink now dusted her cheeks, in… embarrassment? She didn't know.

But as quickly as that emotion came, it brought for the guilt she carried within her soul.

"Naruto, I'm not the same person as I was before, I haven't been for a long time," Cinder admitted.

"Of course you aren't," Naruto told her flatly, as Cinder sat there stunned.

"We're both different," Naruto said, "And that's okay, people change over time, it's just the way things are. We grow, we change, and we move forward. We might not have been better than we were before, but in the end…" he flashed her a smile. "I think it's safe to say we can get back on the right path."

Cinder just stared at him, unable to comprehend his words. She held her head low, her hair shadowing her eyes. "How?" She asked in but a whisper, so quiet that Naruto could only barely register her voice.

Naruto blinked, "what was that?" He asked.

The black haired girl's head snapped up, as her eyes showed a fire within them as she gritted through her teeth. "How can you say something like that? After…" she hesitated for only a moment, but even so she needed to say it. "After I killed your father."

Naruto frowned, remembering the event. Before he looked up, gazing at the surrounding abyss.

Silence encroached all around them, not even the crackling of the fire seemed to break through the aura they projected.

Until Naruto spoke up, "I… I saw him." He told her, as he took a deep breath. "He told me that he was sorry, for leaving me, for leaving us. He wished things could have ended up differently," the blonde said. "He waited so long, for me, for us."

He had a small smile on his face, He waited long for my reaction, for me to heal. But eventually I told him he was a big idiot, and that things had ended the way they'd did, even he couldn't change that," Naruto chuckled slightly. "It's ironic Huh? Given how things turned out," he clutched at his heart.

"I thought about things for a long time," he continued. "I thought that I had no place in this world, and that I was helpless, with nothing else I could do." The blonde told her, turning his head to meet her own, as she stared at him, not blinking for a second.

"I did have one regret, though… one that let me stay here for so long," Naruto explained, as cinder turned her head out of embarrassment.

"You really are a fool, aren't you," she told him.

Naruto smiled, "anything for you… princess." He promised

The silence they said wasn't uncomfortable, nor was it awkward. No, the silence they sat in was of contentness, something they hadn't experienced in years.

It was only then that the crackling fire gave out, as they were left in an all encompassing darkness.

"Well that's certainly strange," Naruto remarked, "it's never done that before."

Cinder sighed, her hands glowed using her semblance, as the aura sparked to life, providing light within the dark abyss.

"What is this place" She asked aloud, as she looked on in the distance, the emptiness seemingly going on for hours.

"I don't know," Naruto said honestly. "It's some sort of in between, we're not in the afterlife, but yet we're not alive either, Y'know," he explained.

"Strange, isn't it?" The blonde asked.

"And what lies beyond here?" She asked aloud.

"I don't know that either," he told her, as Cinder rolled her eyes.

Naruto leaned close to her, so close that their lips were almost touching. A faint pink dusted her cheeks, it was strange, even after these years, he could still elicit such a reaction in her.

He smirked, unaware of what their close proximity was doing to her. "Want to go and find out?" He asked with a smile, as he pulled himself back, extending an arm towards her as he got up.

She wanted to accept his offer, to go with him. She knew she couldn't, that after all she'd done.

She was broken, she was shattered, she was…

Cinder looked into his eyes, gazing at all the emotions they projected. She breathed a deep breath, and took a chance.

Grasping his hand, he helped hoist her up from her sitting position.

"I'll race you there," she challenged, matching his smile just a little.

The world sparkled to life, as their forms glowed as bright as the sun. She was showered in orange fire, as Naruto glowed in a cool blue, the same color as the ocean.

It wasn't long before they both vanished, one in a shower of cinders, the other in a shower of stardust.

The End.