Age of Reason

A/N: Hope you all enjoy this story--tis just a simple thing roaming around in my mind at the present. Raito Asaka is my OC, along with Mr. Vienna (His first name will come up soon, don't worry.) Anyways, leave reviews so I know what I can fix or what to keep~ K.K.

The autumnal breeze flew by his delicate hair quickly as it carried the leaves up off the ground into spirals. Carefully trailing a finger around his ear, he pushed back his hair to give a long stare at the road in front of him. Soft, sparkling blue eyes stood rigid behind their long awaited journey. Cool crisp lips curved into a smile as he pressed forward, trailing along the road towards the end.

With the years that had followed him, he had let his once short blond hair grow down his back. It’s once spiked look now curled at the back tips, flowing back and forth with each step. Though swept away by an autumnal breeze like the one of today years and years ago, he had learned to live within this new world and become a new person. Now it was time to seal what had happened to him behind him.

“Raito...” The road narrowed between the trees, opening up the only path to the gate that overshadowed him. Trailing up the metal work, he peered at the mansion that hung behind it. He was only focused upon meeting the one man that seemed to know of his teenage years. Tanned hands pressed forward, pushing open the portal to his new destiny, with his dark crimson clothing swaying with more chilly gusts. More than once did he need to push back the hair that always seemed to annoy his face.

Carrying him this far, his feet slowed down, almost as if they had weights upon them halting him from seeing what he wished to never see again. Fear finally took root as his eyes scanned around to the many colors of the trees surrounding the premises. Swaying with the breeze, the trees carried with them a sense of foreboding, of treachery. It gave him chills down his spine.

He took another look at the edifice, and at the gateway to it; the large oaken doors seemed age-worn from little use. “Why’d you have to live here?” Even being in his mid twenties, he could still sense the child within him stir–along with It. Truly, it had been a while since he felt It moving around beneath his skin, and that alerted him to something else around him. His hands trailed towards the holster on his hip, and touched the grip of the gun he had bought for safety. The loss of his kunai had left him defenseless within this new world.

“Who’s there?” No answer. It became more ‘excited.’

“Show yourself.” Still nothing.

“I know you’re there.”

The doors creaked open, causing the blond to yank out his gun and swing around to point it at the oaken panels moving. Hands came up defenselessly, as short red hair swayed with another gust. “Hey... Don’t go pointing your gun at me... Naruto.”

Breathing a sigh of relieve, Naruto sheathed his gun again and walked over to hold a hand out. “Geesh. You shouldn’t just spook me like that, Raito. You know I’m still edgy after finding out that others know I’m not just from a different country.”

“Heh. I know.” Gripping the hand, Raito squeezed to make his point accentuated. “It wasn’t only you I was researching these past twelve years you know...” Giving a wince, the blond retracted his arm closing a single eye.

He’d give a growl, as It still stirred within him; it felt like eyes were upon his body. “Like I wanted you to research me.”

“When the Gods seem to favor you over the rest, I’d like to know why that is. And now I know why... It’s because of what you have that the rest of us don’t. That the rest of us wished we owned.”

“Like I wanted to be bestowed with the ‘gift.’”

“Take it as you wish... But where are my manners. Come on in, I have tea already waiting.” Giving a nod to the red head, Naruto peered behind his shoulder before slipping passed his one true friend of this world. As the door closed behind him, and the torches lit up, the blond found himself squinting to adjust to the new light.

Raito moved quickly and quietly ahead of the blond, slipping into the living room first before offering the chair across from the table. “Sit.. We have much to talk about.”

Giving a gruff, Naruto moved towards the chair and sat down, folding his hands politely in his lap. ‘Damn manners.’ He thought to himself, remembering the months it took for Raito to even teach him what was proper in this world and what had to be done to stay at the school he had gone to. Tsubasa Prep, the only school within hundred towns. The only school he could go to, to hide who he truly was.

With a quick move towards Naruto’s left, Raito lifted up the tea kettle and poured the blond a small cup before pouring himself some. “Now why did you want me all the way here?”

“I am in need of your skills. My...sources have told me that there is going to be a time where nothing will be the same.”

“Your spirits you mean.”

Wincing at the curt notion that they were spirits, the red haired man sat down across from his guest and picked up his cup to sip. “They are shades not yet passed to the next world. You should give them the respect they need.”

“They’re dead...”

“Anyways... As you know, my magic... is not the best from our class.”

Naruto chuckled and nodded. His own memories of those times made him smirk. Somehow, within the few years he had been in this world, he had managed to learn magic without any problem. He just attributed it to his little ‘gift.’ “Yeah I know...”

“Well, I do believe it’s time that we assembled again.”

“AGAIN ? I thought I told you I wanted no part of these Rangers of the Wood or whatever.”

“Brotherhood of Druids.”

“Whatever.. I told you I wasn’t going to be anywhere near them after almost losing my head over a stupid squabble.”

“Two countries were warring, we had to help.”

“I don’t care. I’m not helping.” Sipping from his cup a bit angrily, Naruto looked towards the window and back at the trees.

Giving a sigh, Raito closed his eyes, wondering why he had come to the blond for help in the first place. It was true that Naruto had the skill and experience, but there were other people much better for the job. However, he knew that he could only trust the blond. After giving him a spot in the school and helping him along his way, he grew close to him–and he wouldn’t admit it, but he started to fall for the idiot.

His grey eyes went back to the liquid in his cup, memories dancing around his mind. “I’ve already sent for Galbranth and Rosemary. They’ll be here tomorrow.”

Snorting, Naruto ignored his friend.

“And I do believe that there is some connection with what my sources tell me and the recent feelings of paranoia on your end.” Quickly, Naruto’s head whipped towards Raito as he scowled.

“You know how I don’t like you reading my mind.”

“Heh. Sorry.. I keep forgetting.”

“I’ll deal with my own problems, thank you.”

Raito’s hand began to tremble slightly, as he concentrated to try and keep himself together. “There are other things as well.” How to explain it? He knew the blond wasn’t totally as schooled as the Magistrates of past, and he knew nothing about curses, or even how deadly they could be. “Naruto...” His voice softened, as his eyes opened up to let the crimson dart through those veins, enclosing within his pupil.

By now, the rattling of the rattling of cup and plate drew Naruto’s attention back to his friend, as he saw the grimace of pain cross between the normal solemness that would betray the man’s true feelings. “Raito.. Are you al–“

The cup slipped from the red haired man’s fingers and crashed onto the table as he began to cough, covering up his mouth. From Naruto’s position, he could see the little blotches of blood that came up, making him worry about his friend even more. “RAITO ” Bolting to his side, the blond blinked down at him. “What’s wrong? ”

He gave up his act and pulled away his hand, staring at the blood covering it. Frowning, his grey eyes went towards Naruto’s blue ones, letting him see the crimson staining them. “It’s...” He gave another cough, before sighing to himself. “It’s begun...”

“Wha? What’s begun?”

“The time of change... The Age of Reason. Vienna has...returned.”

Blinking through his worry, the blond tilted his head. He was trying to wrap his mind around everything, wrap it around what drabble was coming from his friend’s mouth and what he had known from the past talks with him.

“Vienna?”

“The Rose of the Devil.” Though his voice trembled as mightily as his hands, Raito kept himself as composed as he could. “He’s coming back to his homeland.”

Worrying his lip, Naruto didn’t know what to feel. Sure, he had heard fairy tales about the Devil’s Rose–one of his most favorite ones–and yet, it didn’t hit him as hard as it should have. “...I thought they were just fairy tales.” Even with his age, it was certain that the blond held his naivety close.

Raito let out a small chuckle. He knew they were far more than just simple fairy tales. He had seen the visions that the dead had shown him, of ages lost, and of ages to begin. Perhaps it would do the blond right to see that even a fairy tale had its roots in truth.

“Do you remember the tale?” His voice cracked as his eyes swiftly turned back to their grey appearance. “The one I always told you?”

Naruto blinked, his eyes shaking back and forth between his friend’s. “Y-you mean about the Devil’s Imaginary?” The red haired man nodded. “Vaguely.”

Another chuckle pursed through his lips.”Well, I guess it’s time to tell you the true version of it...”

"Long ago there were two brothers, gladly aware of their abilities as Magistrates. Their lives were almost picture perfect–save for the fact that they were orphans, orphans destined to never become legends or even legal Magistrates. So for years, they worked together, they lived alone within a mansion, performing experiments and spells, wanting to etch themselves into some part of the history of Fawn

One day, they had found themselves a pack of wolves ensnared within one of their magical traps in the woods. Letting them out of their traps, the brothers discovered that the two wolves were also orphans, rogue parts of a pack just like themselves. In their hearts, they connected with the wolves and brought them into their own care. Soon enough the four became inseparable.

Life seemed pretty good for the foursome; no worries, no cares of the world as their dreams began to meld together. But the townsfolk of Nalfina began to talk–rumors spread like wildfire about the two boys living alone in their mansion. Rumors that led to a riot at the gates of their home. Scared, the boys stared out at the mob of people attacking at their gates.

Names were shouted. Devil brothers; Leapers of faith; Demons; Legions; The Imaginary Brothers and their loveless pack. It grew so much that they had to surround themselves up in a veil, casting the townsfolk away with their magic. Sealed away in their mansion, the brothers stayed together with their wolves, stayed together in the time forgotten realm they created.

The boys were seen less and less in the town, as people began to forget what had caused the patch of forest to over grow along a hidden path. Quickly enough, no one remembered who the brothers were, and what was their sin. But wolves began to roam the forests, wolves that carried with them speech to the travels that did pass by for game. Wolves that seemed to be scared of people and their way of magic, save for the old Druid magic that was practiced by the brothers long ago.

One of them carried with it a message to the people, a message still within the minds of our folk now. “The Devil’s Rose, the Devil’s Sword; their light will arrive once more, and bring with them the Age of Reason.” Our Devil’s Imaginary, our sin given to us, by talk of devils and demons, talk of beasts and humans together."

The words seemed to sting at Naruto’s ears. The story told before to him, it held happiness, it held peace for the brothers and for their lives together within the mist of reasoning. But this one, this fallacy of a child’s tale burned at his soul. Somehow he could connect to them, connect to the fact they were ostracized from society because of what they were and what had happened to them.

“The...Devil’s Imaginary....” His words croaked out, as the blond assembled the pieces of what would be his newest found interest. Both hands stayed upon his friend’s shoulders as he looked deep within those eyes, hoping to all heaven that it was just a tale, just a myth carried upon the winds.

“They’ve come back... Very few now know of their magic, very few live the wave they lived. The used magic to just help with things, not take over for them, but we...we’ve all become too reliant on it. That’s why my grandfather started this Brotherhood. It was a cautious step towards how we would deal with Vienna when time came around.

“And it’s why I need you now. Your mana, it isn’t from this world. They could not destroy your bonds between our magic and your magic. Mine own is just of the spectral variety. Gabranth’s is of the forest, and Rosemary’s of the fires. Your our key, our missing link that we need. So.. Naruto... Will you please forsake your pain and join us for this?”

Dodging away from looking at Raito, the blond heaved a great sigh. His will was shaken, it was true, but how could he believe that he could be of a help here? Memories of his old home vaguely there, brought back the grief of not being able to change what had happened, and do something right.

“Naruto?”

A hand caressed his cheek, wiping away a tear he hadn’t realized he shed. Connecting gazes again, those sapphire eyes shimmered as his whiskers were traced by a simple hand. “...” His voice had left him, he couldn’t seem to find the words he needed. Always, it seemed, that Raito could do this, could make him forget his problems, could make him feel right at home. A blush covered his cheeks as he pulled away quickly, not wanting to forgo something that would end up bad for him–at least that was what he told himself.

Brushing off his shirt, Naruto coughed nervously. He shut his eyes quickly to allow himself time to think. “I...I’ll tell you tomorrow.” An eye opened, trailing towards the mantel where he caught a small picture. It was their graduation from Tsubasa Prep, and it showed the happiness he felt back then, and the happiness he wished to keep right now. “I’ll tell you tomorrow.” Getting himself centered, Naruto walked towards the door and waved without even looking behind him. “Ja ne...”

With such swiftness that Raito had thought he was an angel escaping to the High Heavens, Naruto disappeared and jumped towards the trees, rushing back to his own place, his own refuge within this world.

Staring gently at the disappearing blond, the red haired man sighed. “Naruto... I want... I really want to tell you my feelings.” Smoothing out his black suit, he turned around and shook his head. “Perhaps I can say it sometime soon... Perhaps I can feel like I’m not lost among the stars within your eyes.”


Long ago, two boys lived within their castle, staying together as they played with their toys and magic. One day, their father had brought home a pair of wolves as pets for the two boys who had no friends. Happy, they were, the boys seemed to attach themselves to the wolves, until one day they ran away. Happy with nature, the pack of ‘wolves’ roamed through the lands.

They became the Devil’s Imaginary; the boys of summer lost to the autumn breeze.