Hello everyone! Say, did you ever start a story then have another story begin as your writing the other story? Well that happens to me ALL THE TIME! This one came to me while I was in the middle of writing Second Chance. I really think this is a GOOD story...And another challenge for me: Using Naruto characters within an alternate universe. This story basically just started building up and I just couldn't let it go. It's pretty good in my opinion. The first chapter is LONG because it sets the setting up (have to...ya know...gotta give you this alternate universe's rules, etc!). I have to say though, coming up with an alternate universe is HARD so sorry if some of the names are a bit...lackluster. I might change them once I get more into this alternate universe creation phase.
Anyway, enjoy!
Disclaimer: Naruto, it's characters, settings, etc., belong to its respective creator. All original characters, settings, etc., belong to ME!
Chapter 1
The alarm was a stark reminder that morning had come, a rather hellish time for Anya Springfield. she absolutely hated mornings. Mornings kept her away from the glory that was sleep. Groaning she slammed a hand on her infernal alarm clock and left the comfort of her warm bed to get ready for the day.
Pulling the curtains aside she almost hissed at the sun's rays lighting up her small space. She was so NOT a morning person. She trudge into the kitchen to make some coffee. Once the brown liquid passed her lips she sighed in complete bliss. Coffee was the only thing Anya liked about mornings.
Dressed Anya headed for her place of work. She was a receptionist for Hokage Industries, a vast company that handled foreigh affairs for the country of fire, Konoha. A job there was worth ten in the city, thus Anya was very lucky to have grabbed such a gig. Though it wasn't easy work and the pay was lower than her coworkers, it paid the bills so who really cared? On her way she stopped by the donut shop and grabbed the usual box of twelve. The guy behind the counter was expecting her because he had her hot and ready donuts ready to go the moment she stepped in.
"How's it going Anya?" He grinned at her. Gai was the owner of Chakra Donuts, the place to be when you wanted some hot, fresh sugery goodness. Some saw the black haired, black eyed male as...kind of odd in his ways. Anya could deal with him, you just had to keep away from topics that greatly excited him, mostly 'youth' and 'flowers' were forbidden unless you wanted to see a grown man acting a fool in his own store.
"Same old same old." She grinned back. "What about Lee? I heard it's almost time."
Gai nodded. "We're expecting anyday." He called from the back room. "Lee! Come out out! Anya's here!"
"Anya!" A humanoid being with black hair and cat ears came rushing out of the back. He had hearts in his eyes as he saw Anya and nearly jumped the counter if it were not for Gai, who quickly halted him by a hand at his shirt collar.
"Come on Lee..." Gai chuckled as the cat being pouted behind the counter. "Don't give me that, you know you're not supposed to touch anyone until we get the results back."
"Awe..." Lee pouted. "But it's Anya-chan!"
Anya chuckled. "Hey Lee...Don't worry...When the results get back I'll bring you a treat."
Black eyes widened. "Really!?"
"Really..." She headed out with her box. "See you two later!"
There needs to be mentioned something about the place Anya lived and worked. This place was filled with humans...as well as demons.
It was a rite of passage here for a demon to be summoned by a human. Most of the time they were considered pets at best but seeing the humanoids were a daily thing here. Demons did whatever their contracted human, or 'summons' as it was also called, told them to do...Some even walked around without a care in the world; as long as they were tied to a human, everything was fine. The thing though was that a human had no control over what type of demon they would 'summon'...It would just happen out of the blue sometimes. You could step on a rock and BAM, you're now tied to a rock demon. Some believed it had to do with connections with the demon and the element it related to, others just took it as destiny at work. Whatever it was, demons weren't saying anything about it, though most people believed they knew something. It didn't matter though, it was a symbiotic relationship between a human and demon. The demon would protect the human, be its friend and confidant, while the human...well...fed it.
Demons needed humans for food...They fed off of humans in different ways. Some even didn't need to feed of a human, they just needed humans to make their food. Keeping humans alive kept them alive...It was a sort of arrangement that benefited both races. Most demons were summoned during high school. It was quite the show to be sure...Normally, the demon's seal is discovered on the specific human's hand and the next moment, the demon would appear. The higher ranking the demon, the more popular you were and the better job you got once you were able to work...Everyone had a demon at hand...
Everyone...Well...Except Anya.
Like most teens she couldn't wait for her demon to appear but it never did. She tried everything, went by the book, but it seemed that no demon wanted her or was connected to her in some way. This, unfortunately, caused a lot of backlash in school but eventually she grew to ignore the gossip, really...It had become hard to find a job but at least she found something...Hell, she was surprised Hokage Industries would take her, but they did. These days people without demons were homeless and on the streets...Lucky for Anya she was neither.
Hokage Industries was the tallest skyscraper in all of the capital city of Konoha, the city called Leaf. It was a stark reminder of all residences within the city who really controlled everything. The glass doors led to a vast lobby, with glass doors for walls. The whole building seemed to be built that way, with windows instead of walls. Anyone from the street outside could see exactly what was going on in the building unless the electric curtains were cast over the windows. Anya typed in the code to the doors, walked in, clocked in and readied her station for the day. Four receptionist desk, three of them empty, were all that was present in the main lobby. Here Anya and her three other coworkers made sure those visiting knew which floor to go to, which elevator to enter, and called security if it was needed. Anya was always the first one to arrive and the last to leave. She surmised that was how she was able to get this job in the first place...Not because she had a demon at her side, no...but because of her hard work.
Twenty minutes later her workmates were filling into the doors, their demon companions behind them. The demons had their own floor, the fourth floor. What they did up there, Anya and the others humans never really knew because humans were generally banned on that floor unless it was an emergency. The only time there was any demon/human interaction during work hours were on Mondays and Wednesdays, when both species had lunch together in various places in the building. This was possible because the entire building was shut down at exactly noon so that everyone, human and demon alike, could have a proper lunch.
As the vast assembly of Konoha Industry workers and their demons filed, Anya caught a glimpse of blonde hair before a grinning whiskered face and bright, mischievous blue eyes were in her line of vision. This was Naruto, Hinata's hyperactive demon companion who liked to pay pranks on pretty much anyone in the building.
"Anya-chan!" Naruto was practically jumping up and down. How did Hinata deal with such hyper activity? Anya never truly knew. "Ne! Let's have some ramen later!"
She chuckled at the blonde fox demon. Shaking her head Anya said, "Naruto...You and ramen..." It was the only thing, besides Hinata, that Naruto cared about. She heard Hinata had an entire room stock full of all different kinds of ramen just for Naruto. "It's a wonder how Hinata can stand seeing so much Ramen."
"Awe, Hinata likes it just fine! Don'tcha Hinata-chan?" Beside him came his human, Anya's friend and coworker Hinata Hyuuga. She was a shy woman, which made Anya wonder just how Hinata managed to be paired with such a hyper demon. She was quite good looking, as all Hyuugas were with her long dark hair and iris-less eyes. The Hyuuga clan were quite the big shots in Konoha, their family having lived here for centuries, they pretty much handled anything Konoha Industries couldn't. Gossip went around that Hinata got her job simply because she was a Hyuuga but Anya knew differently. Hinata may be shy, but like Anya herself, she was a hard worker.
"Y...Yeah..." Hinata eeped out.
"I brought the doughnuts." Anya nodded. "They're in the back."
"Thanks, Anya-chan." Hinata smiled at her.
"Anya-chan!" Another co-worker came up. Though he wasn't a receptionist, he was well known on the upper floors. Kiba was a security guard who worked day shift alongside three others.
"What's up?"
She sighed. "No Kiba...I'm not going to go out with you and Ikamaru..." He was a good guy, but also a bit...pushy when it came to going out after work. Several times he had asked Anya out for a date, and every time she turned him down. What did he see in her anyway? She had no demon, so most of the time she was pretty much left alone save for her co-workers and Kiba.
"Awe why not? You work your butt off everyday!" Kiba frowned at her.
"Where is Ikamaru anyway?" She asked Kiba who shrugged.
"He wanted to go roam the forest so I said go ahead." Kiba said. "I was going to meet up with him after work."
Naruto whined again. "Awe man...I wanted to play with Akamaru today!"
All of a sudden Naruto's cheery mood changed. His claws and fangs barred as another duo walked into the squank establishment. This particular duo was of a pink haired woman and her demon companion, a tall black haired, red eyed demon.
"Teme..." Naruto growled at the demon behind the pinkette. Said demon just ignored Naruto's growls, used to them by now.
"Dobe." He regarded Naruto while the pink haired woman sighed.
"Will you two EVER get over it? Geez..." She crossed her arms, shook her head. "I swear you two are beyond help."
Anya rolled her eyes. "Well...You DID choose Sasuke over Naruto, Sakura...And demons hold grudges, BIG time."
"Yeah, yeah..." Sakura waved Anya off. "He'll get over it eventually..." She looked around. "Has Ino arrived yet?"
"Nah...Probably won't for a while..." Kiba said. "I heard she's romping around with Sai again."
"Why am I not surprised?" Sakura sighed. "Anyway...We'll see you guys at lunch." She grabbed Sasuke and went over to her station.
"C...Calm down Naruto..." Hinata placed a hand on Naruto's arm and the blonde demon instantly relaxed. He smiled at Hinata.
"Awe...I'm always calm around you, Hinata-chan!" He grinned and presented the top of his head to her. "Head rub!"
Blushing she scratched the area and like a cat he started purring.
"Oh yeah! That's the spot!" He purred.
"Get a room." Anya chuckled and Hinata blushed crimson.
"Ne...So..." Naruto returned his attention to Anya, a bit of excitement in his eyes. "Any sign yet?"
"No and I assume by now it's not going to happen." Anya shrugged, knowing he was talking about her summons. Everyday he asked, and everyday Anya just shook her head.
"Awe...You'll get a demon soon, Anya-chan!" Naruto gave her a thumbs up. "Yatta! I'm sure of it!"
"Don't need one, so I'm good." She reasoned. "You'd better head upstairs...I heard they're having a banquet-" Naruto was gone in a flash but not before giving Hinata a kiss on the cheek. The woman eeped at the contact then nearly fell over in a faint in the process.
Anya chuckled then shook her head. She went to her terminal and prepared for the workload to come. Right at 9 am she quickly got out of her chair and like the rest of the receptionists prepared to welcome the CEO of the company.
In she strolled, Tsunade...The head of the Konoha Industries. She had inherited it after her father died several years ago. She was quite a strict woman and most famous for one thing and one thing alone…
She was of the very few...Who summoned not one demon...but TWO.
Her demon companions were right behind her, Jiraiya the frog demon grinning like the pervert he was as he viewed the several receptionists in the lobby, and Orochimaru the silent snake demon regarding everything with his lazy, creepy smile. These two specific demons were very high on the chain of respect in the demon community, thus Tsunade was respected by both races as a very powerful woman. Not many could say they would step in her way as she walked past them.
"Hiya ladies!" Jiraya waved at the receptionists. "Let's have some fun today!" He also grinned at the demons that stood behind the ladies. "Gentlemen, looking sharp as ever!"
"Knock it off." Tsunade glared at him. Putting her hands on her hips, she immediately gave out orders to her four receptionist. Sakura was the leader of them, ready to hand out the duties needed to be assigned. There was a rumor that Tsunade was grooming Sakura to be her heir, but no one was willing to confirm it.
"I need stats from yesterday sent to my office immediately!" Tsunade and her two demon companions were gone up the elevator to her lavish office on the top floor.
Work began immediately after...The day went as it usually did...Tsunade-sama was a strict boss in most areas but made sure everyone was well paid for their work. The company had become the best place for women to work, thanks to Tsunade. When the 5 o'clock bell rang, while everyone else was packing up for home, Anya was getting ahead with tomorrow's assignments.
"I can't believe you're still here, invalid."
She froze at the voice then turned to greet the absolute vein of her existence. Neiji Hyuuga was staring her down with his usual 'holier than thou stare'. He always came to pick up Hinata and Naruto...Quite the bastard he was, for he always saw Anya as lower than dirt simply because she had no summons.
"N...Neji..." Hinata regarded her cousin while waiting for Naruto to come down with the other demons.
"Why would the highest ranking company in the world higher someone such as you I will never know." Neiji commented at Anya, who took it with a straight face. It wasn't like she wasn't used to negative comments coming her way. It happened pretty much everyday of her life thus she was used it completely.
"I really don't know." Anya huffed as she continued to type at her computer, completely ignoring Neiji's presence. "Maybe because I actually WORK for my meals instead of letting some demon do it for me."
Neiji gave her glare that spoke volumes but she didn't care. His whole family was just plan awful...Well...except Hinata.
"Whoo hoo!" The demons from the 4th floor came down from the elevators, ready to go home with their companions. Naruto rushed to Hinata, grinning. "Ramen time!"
Hinata chuckled. "Naruto..."
Neiji rolled his eyes but didn't say anything. Naruto was a high ranking demon, at least that's what Anya heard, and that in turn gave his family honor so who was he to complain anyway?
"Catch ya later Anya-chan!" Naruto waved at Anya as he and the Hyuugas were gone.
"Ne, Anya-chan..." Sakura came up to her, smiling. "Are we on for this weekend?"
"Sure..." Anya nodded her way. "Girls night only...No demons." It was a regular occurrence for Anya and her three receptionist co-workers to go out every Saturday, just the four of them without any demons present. It was the only time Anya felt like she belonged to a group.
"You got it!" Sakura giggled while her own demon frowned behind her. As always, at the mention of girls night, he crossed his arms in disapproval. Sakura rolled her eyes at his displeasure.
"Oh come off it Sasuke..." She waved him off. "Sometimes you're just way too obsessive."
Sasuke snorted. "Not happening."
She groaned. Turning to Anya she said, "I'll see you this weekend...No demons. Promise." She gripped onto Sasuke then headed out.
Anya watched her and others leave for the day before getting back to work. She had always done this...the last one to leave and the first one to be there, ready to work. Honestly it was mostly to give her a bit of time to herself before heading home.
"Hello there lovely..." She froze at hearing the voice. Orochimaru had entered the lobby and was grinning right at her. This particular demon gave her chills. Ever since she had started working here, Orochimaru seemed to be very interested in her, though Anya never knew why. Of the demons, Anya hated him the most. He creeped her out...A LOT.
"Good afternoon." Still she had to be civil...He was partnered with her boss after all.
"Poor, Anya-chan..." He reached for her. "No demon...I'll be your friend..."
"No thanks..." She quickly moved away from him. This was a normal thing for her, dodging his advances nearly every five seconds they were alone together which didn't happen often but when it did, Anya dreaded it with a passion.
"Tsunade told me to come get you, lovely..." Orochimaru grinned and Anya rolled her eyes.
"I hardly believe that..." He tried this every day...Trying to get her alone.
"Oh it's true...You can call up there yourself if you want..." Orochimaru reasoned and Anya
raised an eyebrow at him.
Quickly she reached for her phone and dialed the top floor. "Ma'am?"
"Get up here, Anya...We need to discuss something." The phone line went dead.
Anya froze and looked at a grinning Orochimaru, his triumph clear as day on his face.
"I promise not to do anything..." He reasoned and she huffed.
"Alright..." It wasn't like he could do anything anyway...The rule was demons couldn't do anything their companions didn't want them to do. The summons bond prevented that from happening. This was a safety precaution, in case things became too dangerous. These were still demons after all, powerful creatures who could level an entire city if they so choose to.
Anya followed Orochimaru to the upper office, wondering what exactly her boss wanted from her. The whole time she made sure to keep the snake demon in front of her, in case he tried anything. The elevator dinged and the doors opened to a lavish hallway with wine colored floors and intricate golden ceilings.
"Right this way, lovely..." Orochimaru hissed then guided her down the hallway to the large doors that lead to Tsunade's office.
The CEO office was on the top floor, windows everywhere overlooking the vast city, much like the entire building. Inside was a single desk and a couch that was occupied by a sleeping Juraiya. Tsunade was hard at work at her desk not with paperwork, but with a bottle of vodka. She was a hard working woman who played just as hard.
"There's my hard worker!" The CEO grinned at Anya then raised her glass high. "Cheers!" She took a big swig then slammed the cup down and poured another. Drink in hand Tsunade's grin faded.
"I've been wondering why you haven't been chosen yet..." Tsunade eyed Anya. "It's pretty rare for someone to live their whole life without a demon companion...In fact, I can only think of one other human that went through life without a demon companion and he died well before even I was born." She stared at Anya. "Have you been meditating?"
"Nightly." Anya told her. It was the main stipulation of her working here. Anya was required to meditate nightly and do whatever was needed to find her demon partner.
"Don't be hard on lovely, Tsunade..." Orochimaru hissed. "She's just...Special...Only the best for lovely..."
Tsunade regarded Orochimaru. "His reaction to you tells me you ARE special, Anya. The question is why..." She eyed Orochimaru. "Though the idiot won't tell me why..." She smirked. "I love a good mystery..." Down went another drink. "Anyway...That's not the only reason why I called you up here..." Her steady blue eyes met Anya. "You need to listen carefully at what I'm about to tell you. It could very well save your life."
Anya paused, quiet and attentive. What was so important that it could save her life?
"We'll be visited by an envoy from Suna." Tsunade told her. "Over there, people like you are...Dealt with...If you get my drift." Tunade raised an eyebrow. "I suggest you either don't show up for work the day they arrive, or make yourself scarce." She poured herself another drink. "They're coming in a week, just letting you know."
Anya nodded, grateful the blonde haired CEO was actually looking out for her.
"Let me know what you decide by Thursday." Tsuande instructed. "Dismissed!"
Bowing Anya quickly left the office, rushed down the swank hallway, and entered the elevator. Once in the lobby, she quickly packed her bag and left, Tsuande's words hanging over her head like a cloud of worry.
Suna...Dealt with...Scarce...Anya had never been anywhere besides Konoha, mostly because she didn't have the money or a summons to help her. She did though, know about the other countries that surrounded her homeland, one it particular Suna. It was a nation that was flourishing in a vast desert with its own ancient laws that were said to be older than Konoha itself. Anya heard stories about a particular law in Suna that required everyone to have a summons before leaving high school. If such a thing did not occur, they were considered like Anya...Invalid. It didn't matter if your summons came a year later or a day later, you didn't have your demon by graduation, you were treated like dirt and many times sent away never to be heard of again. Some say, those 'invalid' people, were given to the demons that made the desert their home...Those types, their food usually consisted of meat...Human flesh to be precise which only confirmed rumors even more. Demons needed food...No matter what it was they required.
Sighing Anya entered her apartment, dreading the week to come. She opted to let Tsunade know she wouldn't be there when the Suna envoy arrived but Anya's workaholic ways, prevented her from even thinking about it. It wasn't like the envoy was going to stay in the lobby the whole dang time, thus Anya could just hide in the break room until the group was out of sight.
Her decision made, Anya readied a night home, almost anxious for the days to come.
Little did she know that this was the beginning...Of fate.