Act I, Part XI

Birthday

I know I said I would have a bigger update this week, but I've had some unexpected things popup and I won't be able to work on this tomorrow so I'm posting what I have finished so far. There's only a few more chapters though until book two which brings the question of should I continue it here or make it as another story?

To Devin wolf, there really isn't too much Fairy Tail stuff yet besides Gray, but I guess I should add one anyways. So, this story will have elements of Fairy Tale, but nothing big besides Gray replacing Naru on team 7. As for the spells, the Mirror Clone is a spell that I made up and the fireball Rune used to kill Darius is a jutsu that Ryu taught her to protect herself. I am planning to use mostly spells that I made up and from the Slayers universe. I am looking into a few skills and spells from Nanoha that 00phantom suggested. I am glad that you like the story so far and in the end the story will match up more with the description, though I suck at writing story summaries. Act II will be about Rune's journey to learn new things as well as coming to terms with her past and heritage. Act III will actually be where Rune returns to Konoha with her Genin team after she joins one in the end of Act II for the Genin exams where she will show the people there that she is much more than they gave her credit for.

Rune Age 14...

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Sakura asked as she sat on her sister's bed watching the older girl pack her belongings. Neither of the two really had all that much as their mother never really bought them anything very often with the only real birthday gifts they ever received were from friends.

"Sakura, I won't go to an orphanage and if I tried to stay with you the idiots on the council will throw a fit and cause you all kinds of trouble." Lillith sighed as she turned to face her younger sister. "Besides, it's about time my dad did something...its the least the bastard could do after so many years of neglect."

"Maybe you should at least give him a chance..." Sakura sighed running her fingers through her hair. She had a feeling that there was a little more to the man leaving than what their mother claimed. The man was a successful merchant in Tanzuka Town unlike Sakura's father. They knew he was a piece of shit as he pretended to be more than he was as he was drummed out of the ninja corps for his disgraceful behavior. He even treated Sakura and Lillith like filth the few times they were near him, even worse than the way that their mother treated them. Hell, the two probably were meant for each other using others for their own gain.

"I'd rather mom was still alive." Lillith said as she finished packing what little she had in a single suitcase that the Hokage had provided her. The comment made Sakura gasp in shock as they hated their mother and both refused to even go to the woman's funeral. "At least I could be with the monster I knew rather than the one I didn't."

"Okay...I think I can understand that sis, but...maybe he won't be anything like mom or my dad." Sakura said hopefully.

"There's nothing to be done about it now." Lillith sighed as she sat next to Sakura and hugged the younger girl tightly. "I love you Sakura, and I'm proud of how you are doing."

"I love you to sis, I'll miss you so much." Sakura said as her eyes began misting as the two hugged knowing that they wouldn't see each other again for awhile.

"I'll write you every chance I get, Sakura." Lillith said with a bright smile for Sakura while brushing the tears that began to spill. "Even if we are in different towns, we will always be there for each other. We are sisters, and nothing will ever change that."

"Yeah, your right." Lillith said as she pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket and gave it to Sakura who opened it. The younger girl's eyes widened as she realized what it was.

"This is the deed to the house." Sakura gasped.

"Sell it. I don't want this house, too many bad memories." Lillith said. "Too much pain for both of us here."

"I guess...only good memories I have is with you." Sakura sighed as she agreed with her sister.

"Come on, you can walk me to the Hokage's office." Lillith said as she got up and went to pick up her suitcase only to be stopped by Sakura getting it.

"I'll carry it there." Sakura said with a sad smile as the two walked from the room leaving their shared pain filled past behind them.

Despite becoming Cherry's lover, or as the redhead liked to call it, friends with benefits, Rune couldn't help sighing in depression as she put another book on the shelf as she checked them in from the latest shipment arriving. The store was closed for the day which at first Rune thought was because Ryu was going to spend the day with her as it was her first birthday that she didn't have to hide in fear from the mobs that would hunt her just in order to hurt her. Instead, her adopted father hardly spoke to her all morning as it came closer and closer to ten in the morning. It was as if he was upset with her about something.

"Rune, after your done with the stock, can you make a delivery for me?" Ryu asked as he dropped a small package on the counter. That was nothing new as the old man had often had her do the deliveries since she came there since it was much harder for him to carry some of the things when relying on his cane for support. Not that he always needed it, just when his leg acted up really bad, which she admitted was quite often now that she thought about it.

"Sure thing, papa. Where does it go?" Rune asked eyeing the package. It was a little smaller than most deliveries, but seeing as they usually were all different sizes it really didn't matter.

"It's for Cherry at the Lotus, sweetie. Make sure it gets there before noon even if you have to take a break from doing the stock. I have to go to another damned meeting...sometimes I wish I turned down Rose when she asked me to be her advisor." Ryu said, grumbling the last part. He stopped to kiss Rune's cheek before leaving toward the door, saying one last thing before leaving the shop. "I may be late Rune, I'll try to hurry though. Love you."

"Love you to, papa." Rune said as the door closed, ignoring the stinging in her eyes. Did he forget all about what today was? He closed the shop down though, but as she thought about it he had done it several other times when there was a large order like this one. "Maybe he'll remember and come home early."

Rubbing the tears out of her eyes, Rune set back to work determined to finish long before having to go see Cherry. That way she could maybe spend some time with the girl since Rune was sure the redhead hadn't forgotten her birthday since they had become so close. Sighing in bliss her memories drifted to the beautiful redhead who had wormed her way so deep into Rune's heart so quickly.

'Happy birthday, kit.' Lina said as she yawned inside Rune's mind making the girl giggle a little. Who knew the biggest, baddest of the nine was such a lazy body.

"Morning, sleepy head." Rune said as she smiled. At least Lina hadn't forgotten her birthday.

'I'd never forget your birthday sweetie, and I'm sure the old fart will remember too. It isn't really an excuse, but things have been hectic ever since Rose took office as she and the old man clean house so to speak.' Lina said, 'And for the record, I'm not lazy, just not really much I can do trapped inside of you.' The demoness's voice was so soft and tender, full of mirth that it took all the sting out of her words though Rune did frown a little. She wished there was something she could do for the fox demoness.

"I wish there was a way to give you more freedom." Rune sighed as she checked in a few more books and went to shelf them before getting started on the strings for the different instruments that used them such as harps.

'Well...there is a way to give me minor freedom as a fox outside of the seal when you summon me.' Lina said hesitantly as she was still unsure she wanted Rune to do it as it meant having to remove two more seals, and the first seal she didn't really want the young girl playing with as it was the most dangerous out of all of them.

"I feel a but in there somewhere." Rune sighed as she sorted through the different sizes and types of strings checking them off as she went along.

'I know you have taken all of your training more seriously after what happened to Cherry, but I still don't know if your ready to remove the next seal. Personally, I don't know if you will ever be ready.' Lina sighed.

"So you think I'm pathetic?" Rune asked, sadness lacing her voice as thoughts of the demoness believing her to be not worth the next step flitted through her mind.

'Don't ever think that kit. I love you and I believe in you, I think you are probably the best host that I ever had. The next seal level though is extremely dangerous as it floods your body with a mixture of demonic energies including corrosive chakra and youkai that can kill you if you don't control it enough. It also heightens all of your negative emotions and can make you go berserk. It covers your body in something referred to as a demonic cloak...yours will take on the shape of a fox.' Lina explained before saying the next part softly, surprisingly meaning every word. 'I love you and don't want to see you get hurt trying to do too much. And this...this could be too much if something sets you off.'

"I think I understand, if I'm using this power and I have one of my flashbacks it could make me lose control." Rune said, a little fear filling her as she thought about the consequences could be. If she was around people she cared about and this...cloak, if it was corrosive like that she could end up killing someone she cared deeply for.

'And that's why I'm worried about you using it. I don't think you are weak or pathetic, but you are still recovering from everything that has happened to you. I know you don't have many flashbacks anymore, all of the people around you help keep them at bay, but you still do have minor ones and anxiety attacks. And your new found fear of fire...it could really end up being bad without you meaning to.' Lina sighed.

"Okay, so for now we leave well enough alone I guess." Rune sighed as she finished the strings. The last thing were a few instruments that children of nobles ordered and would be by to pick them up sometime in the next few days if she wasn't sent to deliver them.

'Let's get the package delivered to Cherry, maybe Ryu will come back early so it might be best to get back quickly.' Lina suggested which after a few moments Rune had to agree. Maybe Ryu didn't really forget and he would hurry back to spend the afternoon together.

"Okay, let's go!" Rune said, her mood lifted highly as she picked up the package that needed to be delivered to Cherry.

"Something's wrong." Rune said softly as she walked into the common room of the Lotus. There was no one around there and the room just felt wrong as the unnatural seeming darkness permeated every inch. It seemed deeper than normal, much darker than she had ever seen this room before.

'There's people around, I can sense them even inside of you.' Lina warned, 'Be careful.'

"SURPRISE!" Voices yelled from all around as a bright flash of light momentarily blinded Rune. After her vision cleared all of her friends including her papa Ryu and Rose were all around with brightly colored streamers hanging from the ceiling and a large cake on the center table with candles burning in it.

"I-I don't understand." Rune said, her eyes stinging as she began realizing that her papa didn't forget. She was so happy that so many people that she cared for and loved were surrounding her, apparently there to celebrate her birthday.

"There's nothing to understand, dear." Rose said hurrying forward to hug the shocked girl tightly. "All of us are here to celebrate your special day."

"We've been planning this ever since we found out about your birthday sweetie." Ryu said as he joined in on the hug.

"What about the package?" Rune asked as her head spun a little.

"Your birthday present from me." Cherry giggled as she joined the group as all of the women and few men surrounded her wishing her a happy birthday.

My present?" Rune asked as Cherry took the package and opened it to show another brightly wrapped package inside that Cherry sat down on another table piled full of presents. There was so many of them that it made Rune's head spin just looking at the large pile.

It wasn't until late in the evening that Rune could actually rest as the part died down. She was sitting alone at a booth in the corner as most of the people had left or had to go do things. Even Cherry had to go as Akira, the daimyo's son wanted to talk to her alone. He was one of the biggest surprises though as he came all the way here to give her a very expensive looking lute as well as a ring making her as a member of his newly formed Free Bards guild which coupled with her papers gave her Sanin traveling rights to any country allied with the Land of Fire. Even his personal guard brought her a gift which was an old book filled with many songs that Rune had never heard of. Ryu had told her that it was worth thousands.

From Ryu, she got to keep all of the instruments that he let her practice with as well as several new outfits including a nice formal dress. Honestly she wasn't sure when she would wear it as she wasn't really into that sort of thing, but she had to admit it was beautiful. And to go along with it was several sets of jewelry from Rose and a makeup kit.

Cherry's gift was a little shocking as Rune had believed that she had lost the chance to buy that set that seemed to draw Rune to it. Cherry had the gems reset since the original set was mostly unusable into a beautiful golden choker, bracelets with the gems set on the inside where her wrists are, and a golden hoop belt. All in all they were very beautiful and Rune was wearing them at the moment. They felt so light against her while at the same time she could feel a strange hum coming from them. Strangely when asked Lina didn't have much to say, in fact she hadn't really say anything since Rune put them on.

"Hey Rune." Cherry said as she came in to sit across from Rune, a slight blush tinting her cheeks as she toyed with a new ring around her finger.

"Hi Cherry." Rune said with a soft smile, her exhaustion showing h=on her face. "Wow, I never knew birthdays could make you so tired."

"Just wait until Christmas then." Cherry giggled while giving Rune a playful wink. A small amount of worry crept over Rune though as Cherry's expression grew more serious, yet the redhead seemed so happy and Rune was sure it had had nothing to do with her.

"What's wrong?" Rune asked softly as she reached over to squeeze Cherry's hand.

"You know I love you, your my best friend, right?" Cherry asked softly, almost sounding guilty.

"Well...Akira asked me to marry him and move back to the capital with him." Cherry said softly, so quietly Rune almost didn't hear it. She did though and it felt as if her heart was beginning to shatter.

"And your going?" Rune asked, afraid of the answer.

"I told him yes, I...I really like him. I think I love him, I've never felt this way for anyone before. I feel as if we are soulmates." Cherry said dreamily before noticing the shocked expression on Rune's face. "If...If you don't want me to..."

"NO! I mean, no I do want you to go if he makes you happy. I know we're just friends and that one of us would move on sooner or later. I'll miss you though, but congratulations." Rune said while giving her brightest smile to her best friend. It just showed how happy that Cherry was that the redhead couldn't tell just how fake it was.

"Thank you, Rune. And just because I won't be staying here doesn't mean I won't come to visit. And I expect you to come visit me to." Cherry said.

"I will, I promise." Rune said as she leaned over to kiss the redhead one last time before rising from the table. "I have to go though, I'll come back later and get the rest of my presents, ok?"

"Ok, just please make sure you come by later since I want to spend as much time together as we can before I have to leave." Cherry said.

"I will, I...I'll see you later Cherry." Rune said before hurrying out of the lotus. She barely made it out of the building before tears began leaking from her eyes. She hurried a few blocks away before ducking in an alley and leaned against the wall before collapsing against it crying.

"She didn't mean to hurt you, neither of them did." A familiar voice said causing Rune to look up in time to see Akira's personal guard lower herself next to Rune to pull the smaller girl into an embrace.

"Why do you give a damned you bitch!" Rune sobbed as she struggled to pull away from the bigger, familiar looking woman.

"I keep asking myself that same question, Naru Uzumaki." Amelia sighed as she pulled the shocked girl against her and kissed the top of her head. "For so long I hated you, I hated you so damn much. Now that I got to know you, I know how foolish I've been and...I love you little sister."

"Wh-what the hell...what are you talking about?" Rune gasped in shock and denial, "I don't have any siblings. My only family is dead."

"We...shared a father, though I loathe to call the man such." Amelia sighed. "He...my mother worked at a brothel and he decided to lose his virginity while on a mission. Nine months later I came along and daddy dearest refused to acknowledge my existence."

"Your lying." Rune sniffed though she didn't have any fight left in her as she sagged in the older woman's arms.

"So you deny me to?" Amelia asked, sadness tinging her voice.

"Your just trying to get me to calm down and not cause a scene for your master." Rune spat out bitterly. This woman would lie to her and get her to care just to turn around and leave her.

"He's more like my brother and I love him like that. The same way I'm coming to love you little sister." Amelia said softly. "Would it be so bad to have a big sister?"

"I...I want it to be true..." Rune sighed as she closed her eyes. She didn't want Rune to leave her and she didn't want this woman to become her sister making the younger woman love her only for Amelia to leave her as well.

"I may not be around all of the time sweetie, but I will come by to visit you if you want me to. And I know your friend will come with me since we love you and only want you to be ok and happy." Amelia sighed kissing the top of Rune's head again while stroking the young girl's hair.

"I'd l-like that." Rune hiccupped as she rubbed the tears from her eyes.

"Come on sweetie, let's get you back to the shop and inside. We can talk more there." Amelia said helping Rune up. The two slowly made their way back to the shop where they found Ryu separating the special orders from the shipment.

"Would you girls like some tea?" Ryu asked kindly as Amelia nodded. They were going to head to the back when they heard a knock on the door which was weird since the closed sign was up and the few people who were considered family had keys to get in.

"Sorry, we're closed." Ryu said as he opened the door letting a Konoha ninja in followed by...Lillith Haruno.

"Congratulations, Mr. Haruno, it's a girl." The ninja said cheekily while the pink haired girl glared angrily at him as well as the occupants of the room.