"What a bother" Dante sighed before leaping off the edge of the tower, free falling to the ground. When he got a few feet to the ground he flipped around and landed on his feet creating a mini shockwave while also kicking up a huge dust cloud.
"Dante!" A childish voice called out behind him. Dante turned around only for a blonde haired girl around twelve or thirteen to run into his arms with a man and a woman following behind her.
"Woah slow down there little miss" Dante chuckled as he tried to get her off of him considering that his whole body was covered in blood, however she refused to let go.
The little girl shook her head and tightened her grip on his shirt, saying. "I'm sorry this all happened because of me. I should have listened to you. If I had that demon wouldn't have gotten the pendant and opened the hell gate"
"Well I solved that, didn't I? So relax patty. Those demons won't be coming back anytime soon" Even though it wasn't his strong suite Dante tried his best to reassure and comfort her.
"The city really went through a lot of disaster" The middle aged man sighed while glancing around at the destruction around them. "There are probably some demons that stayed behind in the human world"
Dante shrugged with a helpless expression but a small smile graced his lips as he said. "This just means more work for me Madison. So prepare to pay up."
Madison placed a cigarette in his mouth and lit it up, he inhaled deeply allowing the smoke to circulate in his body then exhaled before saying. "I guess so. But with half the city dead I doubt you will get such jobs anytime soon. Might as well prepare to leave the city"
"Aiii"
"Mr Dante" A soft voice interrupted their conversation and they turned to look at the woman who had been quiet all this while. By now patty had already let go of Dante and she also turned to look at the woman with complicated emotions.
"I'm sorry about all of this" The woman who had been quiet all this while finally spoke with a downcast expression. The scene of the disaster around her took a heavy toll on her. So many people had died because of a stupid pendant that had been in her family for centuries.
Why was she even alive? She should have died as well at least that way she won't have to live with all this guilt.
Dante and Madison exchanged looks not knowing what to say. Honestly they couldn't blame her for what happened since she had tried her very best to hide that pendant. Even going as far as to abandon her whole daughter.
Seeing her sad expression patty walked up to the woman and gently held her hand causing the woman to look at her.
"It's okay mommy, it's over now"
Seeing the innocent look on her daughter's face she didn't know what to say. "patty, I..."
"I hope we are not too late for the after party"
A voice said cutting off whatever she was about to say as a group of three appeared behind them. The blonde haired young man who spoke had a smirk on his face as he approached them with two ladies following closely behind him.
Dante laughed when he saw the familiar faces. "hahaha You guys look like you have been through hell"
"No thanks to you" Lady harrumphed in annoyance.
"Speak for yourself, you look like you fell into a river of blood with all that red on you" Naruto eye rolled.
"I'm glad to see that you guys are okay, especially you Naruto" Madison said as he smiled at the blonde haired man. Time really does fly. Felt like yesterday when he first saw the little kid who was always afraid of being left alone, now he has grown into a powerful demon hunter.
"Aye, nice to see you too Madison" Naruto nodded back with a slight smile.
"So what's the next step now?" Trish asked curiously. With the level of destruction that had taken place here the city was already done for.
"Guess we'll have to relocate"
"Relocate where?" Patty asked, her voice small.
"Anywhere that's not crawling with demons," Dante said. "Though knowing our luck…" He trailed off with a shrug.
Lady crossed her arms. "We could head east. Rumors say another rift's been opening there."
Naruto groaned. "Great. From one disaster to the next."
Madison flicked away his cigarette. "If we're leaving, we'd better move soon. The authorities will be here any minute, and they'll want answers we don't have time to give."
Almost as soon as he said that the sound of helicopters approaching from the horizon could be heard.
Dante stretched his shoulders and started walking. "Then it's settled. We're out of here. But first—someone's buying me dinner."
"You still owe me for last time," Lady shot back.
Dante grinned over his shoulder. "Put it on my tab."
"Again!" Lady glared at him while the rest of the group laughed.
The group began moving, their footsteps crunching over broken glass and ash.
But Dante stopped when he noticed Patty still clinging to her mother's side, her eyes following him like she didn't want to blink.
He sighed and walked over, resting a gloved hand gently on her head.
"Hey," he said, tilting her chin up so she'd look at him. "No tears, okay? You made it through worse than most adults could handle. Be proud of that."
Patty's lip trembled. "But… you're leaving again, aren't you?"
"You know me," Dante said with a crooked smile. "I'm not the kind of guy who sticks around for tea parties. Demons don't hunt themselves."
She tried to laugh but it came out shaky. "Will I see you again?"
He crouched so they were eye level. "Kid, if there's trouble, I'll be there. Always." He tapped her on the forehead with two fingers. "That's a promise."
Patty threw her arms around him one last time, not caring about the blood and dust. "Thank you, Dante… for coming back."
He patted her back once, quick but firm, then stood. "Stay out of trouble, little miss."
As he turned to leave, Patty called after him. "You stay out of trouble too!"
Dante chuckled without looking back. "No promises."
And with that, he joined the others, disappearing into the smoke as the city's ruins faded behind them.
Naruto let out a sad sigh as he looked at the city one last time. All his good memories were made in this city which had now become a ruin.
He hoped that one day he would be able to return here again.
...
After walking out the city perimeters Naruto lingered behind for a moment, watching Dante and the others fade into the distance. The pull of responsibility was heavy on him now. His friends had paths of their own, but he… he had a different calling.
"Naruto aren't you coming?" Dante asked curiously when he saw naruto not following behind them.
"I can't" Naruto murmured, brushing ash from his coat. "This city, these streets… they've taught me what I need to do. I'll make my own path, my own legend."
"Are you sure about this?" Trish asked her voice laced with a hint of concern. Lady also had a look of worry on her face, after all, she had practically taken care of Naruto alongside Dante.
"The world is a crazy place out there, kid. Are you sure you know what you are saying?" Madison stepped forward trying to reason with him. He thought that maybe the kid was filling guilty for the people who had died in the demon outbreak.
Naruto nodded and resolutely said. "I'm sure. I want to walk my own path"
Dante sighed when he heard Naruto's words, however a smirk soon graced his face as he said. "Well then, go and create your legend. When next we meet we will see who is more legendary"
Naruto smirked and nodded before he adjusted the strap of his sword and started walking east, away from the group, away from the temporary safety of allies. The horizon glowed faintly with the fires of the city behind him, a reminder of what was lost—and what could never be forgotten.
Naruto's steps were steady, his resolve unwavering. Somewhere ahead, demons stirred, and he would be ready.
The wind carried his determination, and the shadows seemed to bend around him. A new chapter of his life had begun.
It was only after Naruto disappeared from their view that they also turned around and left.
'Stay safe out there kid'
....
please vote and collect this fiction