A/N: Omigosh so many reviews! I had no idea you all liked this kickass version of Naruto so much! Which reminds me, as to the pairing...it'll remain Knightwalker...with a twist. I know most of my stories lean toward the harem region, but I'm going to make an exception this time. Here, we'll see just why Naruto followed Knightwalker out of that cell to begin with. Why? Well, that would be telling now, wouldn't it? But I've made you wait long enough! Nearly a year now! So I intend to get things moving with a brilliant chapter! Now...

...onto Dawn of Daybreak!

"Na-Naruto...I have something to tell you!"

~Daybreak.

What I Love About You

In hingsight, adjusting to life in Earthland proved surprisingly easy for Erza.

That didn't mean it felt right.

Makarov and the guild readily accept her as one of their own, and Naruto alongside her. With his abilities, the man was already something of a legend amongst Scarlet and the others. They didn't care whether his ability derived from chakra or magic; nor the fact that he'd refused to join unless Knightwalker was admitted as well. Family was family. You never turned your back on them. That suited them just fine.

Not so much for Knightwalker. Joining a Guild, rather than working to annihilate one, swiftly proved was an exercise in patience for the redhead, but it was a work in progress. It was even more uncomfortable when she knew half the faces there. These Earthland mages were amazingly strong not unlike their Edolas counterparts. And Scarlet! She had thought the woman was something before but the way she ruled over Natsu and Gray with an iron fist, alongside her love of strawberry shortcake-something they both loved!-continued to remind the redhead that her own doppleganger wasn't so different after all.

Still, the Master had accepted her wholeheartedly, and with Naruto at her side, what more could she ask for?

Yet despite that fact, sometimes she still woke up crying at night. Last time it had taken Naruto nearly an hour to calm her down. It was strange. She'd never been this emotional before...what the devil was wrong with her?!

Somehow, Knightwalker couldn't help but feel like a child who'd been kicked out of home by a father who was now too busy raising a new family to care for the older one. She'd been usurped. Her home was gone, and she could never go back. Not with the Anima destroyed. She was effectively stranded here, a stranger in a distant land, with nothing-not even magic!-to call her own. Naruto would always be there for her though-more than a comrade and an ally at arms, more to her than someone with whom she shared her sheets. Someone she loved.

Naruto didn't want to be anything less, apparently.

Ever since her soft confession to him back on Edolas, their fragile rapport of sex intermingled with the occasional violent spat had begun to strengthen. One might even call it a real relationship now. Granted, he hadn't brought her chocolates or flowers and he certainly hadn't taken her on a date, but he made her feel special. Loved. Hell, if he could forgive her for stabbing him in a fit of jealous rage, she was fairly certain he could an would forgive her for just about anything. Not that she was willing to test those limits, mind you!

Nowadays, she was even almost-almost!-comfortable with him in public. When he wasn't pounding the basics of chakra-or something else!-into her very flesh she found him to be quite devoted. A one woman man, who had no interest in polygamy or anything of the sort. He wanted her and her alone.

No. One. Else.

Erza's heart raced at the thought. Her soul soared and blossomed like a budding rose in a midsummer heat. Once again, she was reminded just why she loved this insufferable man. Ohhhh did she love him. His feelings for her were soul-shattering and hers earth shaking. As much as she might loathe to admit it, she'd gladly move mountains for him. She'd never say it aloud-not in front of others!-but she was utterly his. Mind, body an soul. Perhaps she had been his from the moment they'd met-and he hers-but hadn't realized it until fate had threatened to tear them apart.

She almost didn't realize where her feet were carrying her until she slammed into someone. Muttering an apology, she stepped around them without a second glance. She'd been wandering around Magnolia for most of the day with little else to do until Naruto finished his surprise. Yes, surprise. He'd been ecstatic about it when asked but had given her very little detail in that regard. He told her to simply "have some girl time" with her fellow mages whilst he made the preparations. She'd fucked him senseless trying to weedle the information out of him, but he hadn't uttered so much as a peep! Infuriating!

Not to mention the whole idea of "girl time" was completely lost on Knightwalker. Lucy's idea of it was shopping, Levy's writing, Bisca shooting, Juvia was too busy fawning over Gray for such things and Scarlet? Scarlet had surprisingly, offered her a spar. One that ended decisively in her favor with Knightwalker's Ten Commandment Spear still in shambles. Supposedly Naruto had a plan to fix the damned thing but those asides, If that was Scarlet's idea of girl time then she was welcome to it! She'd only ever accept defeat from Naruto, and even then only begrudgingly.

No one else!

As if to mock that very sentiment, someone grabbed the hem of her dress. That irked Knightwalker. Ordinarily she preferred to wear armor, but Naruto had been insistent-one of the few hints he'd leaked to her. He told her to dress up and so she had. Wear something nice, he'd said. So she'd tried to do just that. But she hadn't anything to wear! It wasn't as though she'd brought her wardrobe along from Edolas and since she lacked a job or any sort of funds to procure one...she was stuck.

She'd been in quite the pickle until Scarlet had stepped in. You can have one of mine, she'd said. No chage she sait! Now here she was out on the town, clad in a little black number that would've left most men drooling, and others dead of nosebeleeds. That was of course, the point. Knightwalker cut a striking figure in that little black dress with pumps -she'd never be caught dead wearing heels!- and alone at night on a deserted street was just asking for trouble.

"Release me at once," she hissed, unwilling to risk tearing the expensive garment. Scarlet would give her hell!

"Hey now," her accoster purred, "What's the hurry?" It was the man from before, she realize,d belated. He was handsome in a way, pale skin and black eyes, tall, dark and handsome. She might've even found him cute if she didn't have a certain blond warming his sheets. As it were his stare was a tad unnerving, all the excuse she needed to shake herself free from his affections.

"Not interested, already taken." Knightwalker replied tersely, wasting no time in dismissing him-this eerie stranger she'd encountered. Ha! The look on his face! Priceless. She might not be much of a sadist anymore but that didn't mean she couldn't take pleasure from the little things. Unfortunately, the fool didn't know when to take a hint. Why were the men of this realm so stupidly stubborn? Was this fool not used to rejection? Didn't he know how to take a hint?

"C'mon now, don't be like that." There was a touch of anger in his tone. "I just want to talk." It unnerved Knightwalker. Ordinarily she'd have murdered him by now but noooooo, apparently Fairy Tail frowned on that! A bunch of sissies, they were! If you killed your enemies, they couldn't get up to threaten you again! She'd had difficulty conforming to that policy as of late.

"You see, my...benefactor has me looking for someone. Someone with blond hair and blue eyes. He was last seen in this area. Or I suppose I should say, universe. Perhaps you've heard of him?"

Universe? What is he talking about? And why is he after Naruto-hey! Watch the hands, buddy!

"Oh no no no," the man cooed, his dark eyes holding her. "I'm not from Edolas, if that's what you're thinking. We've gone through a great deal of trouble to find him after all these years and now that we finally have my dream of peace can come to frution. You see, my name is Uchiha Obito, and I represent a certain organization. And "he" is a key part of our plans. It wasn't easy for us to find this place you see and-

Erza wasn't listening, she was too busy bristling as he stroked her shoulder length hairs, those pale fingers ghosting around in around her face. Only Naruto was allowed to touch her like that. Certainly not some sinister stranger! She was just preparing to deal out a very unhealthy dose of pain when a familiar voice snaked out between the two them.

"Oi, there! I'll thank you to keep your hands off my girl, ya cheeky dickwaffle!"

Her suitor hissed in pain as a shadow interposed itself off a nearby building and grabbed the offending limb away from Knightwalker's face.

"Ah," he grunted, "The hunter finally shows himself. All I had to do was go after his preeeeeeey!" His words degenerated into a pained scream as the blond wrenched his wrist with a horrendous twist.

"The lady said she isn't interested, friend." Naruto twisted his arm at an abrupt an awkward angle, Erza silently relishing in the sound of the fool's snapping bones. "Step away." When the stranger refused to comply the blond forced his compliance; stutter stepping him in the opposite direction for a good three feet. Then he wound up and slugged him right proper. Through an abandoned building. As a final insult, he brought it down on his head, effectively burying the strange man in the debris. Then he threw a Rasenshuriken into the building and detonated it, just to be sure.

A freakin' Rasenshuriken!

"Well, that was weird." Naruto murmurred, dusting his hands off. "Who the hell was that guy?"

"D-Dunno." she stubbornly suppressed the thought, unwilling to think of Naruto going back to wherever he came from. More importantly! What an outfit! Apparently he'd made good on his word to look fancy, discarding the usual armor for a pair of stylish black jeans and an orange shirt, over which he wore an equally black leather jacket. Mmm. Handsome.

"Erm...you're kinda staring?"

That was enough to jog her back to the here and now.

"Late!" she declared immediately, kissing him breathless. "Do you have any idea how bored I was?! Is this godamned surprise of yours ready or what?"

Unbidden, a hand strayed to his pocket.

"Yeah...but...

Naruto at least had the good grace to look sheepish. "Sorry...I was..ah...

"You were what?"

Her lover muttered something incomprehensible. Erza frowned.

"Sorry, didn't catch that."

"...spirit-proofing the place." he muttered.

Erza stared at him for a moment, disbelieving. Then laughter bubbled up inside her like water from a spring. Color exploded onto her cheeks and she jabbed a finger at him in childish glee. "Hahaha!" she cried loudly. "I knew it!"

Naruto gave her a long-suffering look.

"Knew...what?"

"You're afraid of ghosts!"

"I am not." he put out petulantly and kissed her again. "Now come on. Everything's ready."

Knightwalker let out a tiny mewl of protest at being denied further affections, but said nothing more, instead allowing herself to be led away.

What on earth was he up to?

"The hell is this?"

Knightwalker regarded the dim candlelight room balefully peering at the white table and tablecloth as if she were afraid they would rear up and try to bite her. A glass of wine had been placed at either side for each of them a pair of plates laid out for either and on one of those plates...ohmigod! She very nearly squealed in delight when she saw the strawberry shortcake perched upon her dish. Clever bastard! Luring her to the table with her favorite treat! She'd get him back for that little trick of his, that she would! Restaurant or not! It seemed that every member of Fairy Tail had chosen to come out tonight, and in the prescence of so many new and familiar faces, she felt just a touch uncomfortable.

"This, Erza-chan, is a date." Naruto replied, pulling out a seat for her as they reached their table. Reluctantly, she took it. She'd squeezed into a little black dress and been accosed for this?

"Look, this is awfully sweet of you and everything but,

She was just about to protest; when Naruto got down on one knee.

Time simply ceased to be.

"No." she whispered, thunderstruck. "No you fucking don't."

Impossibly, Naruto's grin grew.

"Erza, I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. It's been a year since we've met, and a really crazy one at that. I know we've had our ups and downs-among other things-but at the end of the day, I just can't think of any one else I'd spend the rest of my life with. I know this is kinda sudden, but what guess what I'm trying to say is...

"Will you marry me?"

Erza's heart stopped. Then it leapt into her throat! She tried to speak, but all that emerged was a wordless sob, her hand flying to her face in a vain attempt to stifle the sound. She was suddenly aware of all eyes upon her, a thousand different sounds all stilled in that instant, just for her. Slowly she stood from her chair, woodenly, not taking enough care. A single word fled from her full lips, leaping out there to shatter the silence like a hammer against glass:

"YES!"

Naruto had been expecting a resounding "NO!" by the point.

So it was completely unexpected when she assailed his lips in a flying tackle and dragged him to the floor. The sheer passion behind her kisses almost caused him to drop the ring; he narrowly managed to hold on it by wrapping his free arm round her waist and supporting himself with his elbows. Cheers erupted all around them, thousands of voices clamoring for their attention in that instant. Erza barely heard any of them.

"Yes yes yes yes!" she gasped between kisses. "A thousand times yes, you sexy bastard, you!"

"Whoa! Hey! This isn't the place for that!"

"And why not?" she paused, giving him a scorching smile."

"Um...there are people around?"

The brash rehead continued to smile. "Don't care!" And promptly assaulted his lips again. That settled it. Dates were overrated.

Marriage wasn't!

Neither was this.

Erza twiddled her thumbs nervously as she approached her favorite blonde not two weeks later, her body drenched in cold sweat beneath her gown. How on earth was she going to tell him this? No! Don't hesitate! Be strong! Just come right out and say it! She had to be strong! Fearless! To hesitate was to admit defeat in and of itself! She was knightwalker! She feared nothing! But then why did the ring on her finger feel like it weighed ten thousand tons? Why was her heart pounding like the great drums of a hunt, her own blood booming in her ears? And why, oh whyyyyyyy was she so godamned scared?!

She could barely breath let alone think, the image of the test burned like a brand in the back of her mind. She should've known; should've realized it when she started getting emotional and after thats, the god-aweful morning sickness. But she hadn't, she'd put if off, ignored it, tried to cover it up, until now...when it was no longer an option. Every step was agony, descending the stairs of their home at a snail's pace. Agonizing, the very idea of it enough to send silent shivers shooting down her spine.

Steeling herself, she spoke. Uttered his name.

"Naruto...

The shinobi looked up from his one-armed pushups, sweat still slicking his naked chest. Despite herself, Knightwalker licked her lips. Godamn! It was almost enough to distract her, but not quite. Scarce had she smiled than the fear took her again, rattling her to the very core. Supposedly the S-Class trials would be beginning within the week now, for which the blonde was working to improve his stamina, but that was the furthest an most distant thought on her mind.

"I've...got something to tell you."

"Hmm?" He didn't cease his routine, but his eyes remained fixated upon her. "What's up?"

"...I...I'm...

"What the hell's wrong with you?" he laughed lightly. "You look like you just saw a ghost. "Wait, you didn't, right? Damnit, I thought I'd gotten rid of all them!"

"I'm...

"Darn ghosts, everytime I get rid of them they keep coming back-

...I'M PREGNANT YOU ASSHOLE!"

There was a silence. Then:

"What?" Naruto turned three shades of white.

"It's...a...girl, I think." Erza murmured, flushing. She didn't say how she knew, she just...knew.

To his credit, Naruto lasted almost five seconds upon hearing this. He lay there, still perfectly perched on one arm. Erza almost though he might not pass out at the mention of offspring. This time. Sadly she was wrong to that effect, as no sooner did her fiance hit the fice second mark than-

"Kami!"

Than he blew a smoke ring and passed out, leaving a stunned Knightwalker to gasp at her beloved's prone form.

"Not again!"

A/N: Whew! I'm emotionally drained after writing this. I wanted this chapter to plunge deeper into the relationship; as well as answer a few questions. Yes, its a very real possibility that Naruto might go back to the Elemental Nations sooner or later. After all, as one reviewer so kindly put it-and thank you for that-he's not quite finished over there in his universe. There's still a war thats raging over there, an Akatsuki to crush, and a very ANNOYING Uchiha to obliterate. I hope this puts things in perspective. This story is nowhere near finished, and the hilairiously romantic chaos is far from over as well. With that in mind, stay tuned for the next chapter!

So...in the immortal words of Atlas...

...Review...Would Ya Kindly? And of course, Enjoy the preview!

(Preview)

"Long time no see, boy."

Naruto bristled as a familiar face interposed itself between him and safety, rising out of the lake with an almost ponderous slowness. Dead fish eyes regarded him like a piece of meat, sharp, shark-like teeth grinning at the prospect of violence that was to come. And if that red-clouded cloak didn't give the man's identity away, his massive sword, wrapped in bandages, most certainly did. He hedged a step backward, just in time for an overlarge creature-an owl?!-to come swooping down over his head. And there, riding atop its back...

"Katsu!"

Tucking and rolling he avoided the clay claws as they swooped over his head. Then came the explosion.

"Shinra Tensei!"

He brushed aside the blast with a violent pulse, but no sooner had he done so than a very familiar-and very deadly!-tri pronged scythe came swooping down at his head. He ducked low, swatting it away at the handles even as its painful edge severed a few hairs from his head. What the hell?! Wasn't Hidan supposed to be dead?! He blasted the pale-haired man away with a backhand, only to find wiry tendrils coiling their way around his body, pinning his arms at their sides. Another push freed him from the trap, but not before he'd gotten a glimpse as his attacker. Kakuzu, too?!

What the hell were they doing in this realm?!

"Don't bother trying to run, Kyuubi." Tobi declared, materializing behind him. "You'll only die if you do."

Whirling he laid eyes upon still more faces, two foes he had always dreaded and one he had already slain; Sasori and Itachi.

Thank God Pein and Konan weren't amongst them.

Face to face with nearly the entire organization of Akatsuki itself, the blonde uttered three words.

"Aw, fuck me...

R&R! =D