Chapter Three: Story Time

~Amaya's POV~

With a faint pop and sizzle, I watched as our pork chops, potatoes, and various vegetables cooked as I hummed a very energetic Russian opera. Why not? When you were crazy you were entitled to anything.

"What's for dinner tonight?" I half-turned to see my brats already crowded around the table.

"Don't tell me you set up your cats litter box, food, water, and named them already?!" I asked in a bored tone. Keira frowned.

"But we don't know what to name them." I glanced down to see a few of the kitties staring at the stove with hungry expressions.

"Why can't you just name them whatever comes to mind?" I asked flipping the pork chops expertly. It was a sad truth that when the brats had come I didn't really know much about eating regularly, though I did know how to cook (somewhat). Now I was forced to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner (when they weren't in school). I liked having someone to cook for.

"Memphis wanted to call them something stupid."

"I did not!" Memphis protested. Keira turned to her brother.

"Uh-huh!"

"Nuh-uh!"

"Uh-huh!"

"Nuh-uh!"

"Uh-huh!"

"Nuh-uh!"

"OI!" I yelled effectively shutting them up. "If you can't work together then why don't you just split the cats between you and name them yourself?"

"Oh!" I shook my head. I sometimes questioned whether I was ready to let these two take over the business when it was time. They could not work together now, what made me think they could when they were older? Granted my siblings and I still fought like cats and dogs but at least we knew when to shut it.

I turned my attention back to cooking as Keira and Memphis set out to do what I had suggested. A small meow had me looking down to see the silver kitten with the bad eye staring at me. When he noticed I was looking he got on his hind legs and put his front paws on my pants before meowing again.

"Just because you're cute doesn't mean I'm going to melt like the brats." I spoke. He meowed again. I sighed looking into the living room. "Keira, how many cats do you have?"

"Uh, six!"

"No fair I only have five!" Memphis' voice called from the other side of the room. I could just hear Memphis crossing his arms and pouting. I silently groaned knowing what was going to follow.

"Memphis!" I heard Keira whine.

"See what you've done?" I sighed before picking up the ball of fluff and going into the living room. Keira and Memphis were fighting over one of the black ones. And if my memory served me right then it was the elder black cat.

"Memphis! He's mine!" Keira yelled. I had to award the little feline, with all the tugging and pulling on him that they were doing he didn't make a sound. Other than the low growling.

"I want one! We're not even!" Memphis yelled back. I looked at the silver kitten again.

"I hate you." He meowed but I was already moving.

"You're missing one! Maya said there were twelve cats and we counted them remember?" Keira said pulling the cat. Before they could tear the unfortunate thing apart I grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and pulled up. Keira and Memphis' tiny fingers couldn't reach or hold onto him as I put Blackie on my head.

"What did I tell you two about sharing?" I asked seriously.

"But-"

"No 'but's' Memphis! I told you two to share and if you can't share them I'm going to take it away."

"NO!"

"I'm not going to kill this poor rag." I said in exasperation. "Goddess knows you two were doing a better job of it. But do you two remember exactly what happened the last time Dom and Melody fought over something?" I asked referring to the very memorable fight between my siblings. It was even over a lighter!

"Yes." I could see their eyes about to tear.

"Do you want me to put you on the hot sheet?" I threatened. Their faces paled.

"NO!" Normally I wouldn't threaten them with the hot sheet but in this case I do believe I was entitled. They had their gifts; they'd survive the hot sheet.

"Then let me remind you two that in my house, there will be no fighting over something stupid. And should you do that I promise there will be consequences." I growled.

"But the kitty!" Memphis whined already crying. I sighed. Oh, I was a sucker for my brats and their tears.

"Memphis you have five, right?" I asked.

"Mmhmm."

"Keira you have five cats to." I held up Scarecrow and Blackie. "You're both even. These two will stay with me. Let me introduce Scarecrow and Blackie." I gently tossed them onto the sofa. "Now go name your freaking cats. Dinner's in five minutes. And if I hear you two arguing again I swear to Hecate I will be getting rid of all the cats. Understood?"

"Yes!" They muttered sadly. Let it not be known that I, Amaya, did indeed have a heart. Like I said, I hated seeing children upset. I'm such a sucker.

I held out my arms to them getting on one knee. Keira was the first to hug me, but Memphis wasn't far behind. I sighed holding my brats.

"You know I'm only mean so you two can actually learn something, right?" I muttered.

"But… You're mean all the time!" I gently swatted Memphis' head.

"Who gives you ice cream and massages when you ask?" I asked rhetorically. "If I was mean I'd give you two to Grandma Lia." I pulled back wiping their faces. "And we all know Grandma Lia would only have you clean her already clean rooms. I just don't want you two to end up like Dom and Melody. They fight so often I really think they do hate each other." I sighed swallowing my brief show of emotion. "Come on brats. Let's go eat and get you to bed."

"But what about the kitties?" Keira asked. I waved my hand.

"Ah, you can do that later. Right now, we really need to check on dinner before it burns." And with that we ran into the kitchen.

"Alright kids, did you brush your teeth?" Keira and Memphis were currently putting the cats on their respective beds. I had to admit that it was cute how the cats instantly curled up. (Of course, I was glaring at them but,)

"Yeah!"

"Brush your hair?"

"Yes!"

"Brush your armpits?"

"Ye- Maya!" Keira giggled as Memphis was too slow to realize what I'd said and had answered with a,

"Yes."

"What? It's a good question to ask you know?" I helped pull the blankets back for Memphis as he crawled into his Batman bed. Keira crawled into her Elsa bed. On instinct I flipped the revolving stars and planets night lamp in between their beds on. "Remember you two need to get up early."

"For the play, right?" Keira asked. I nodded.

"Exactly." I refolded the blankets and moved some of the cats around, so no one was being squished.

"When's mommy going to come visit again?" Memphis asked. I thought about that. Since Keira and Memphis were under ten years old they were still considered too young to know about the more dangerous side of what Guardians did. As such I hadn't told them their parents were in India hunting an Asura. (1)

"Don't worry Memphis. Mommy and Daddy will be back soon." I certainly hope so.

"But why did they have to go and leave after a weekend?" Keira asked. I sighed.

"You know Mommy and Daddy's work is important. They work to keep their clients and other people happy. And so, you and Memphis can have clothes and toys." Memphis and Keira pouted. Keira wrapped her arm around one of the bigger blue kittens. (In my estimation it was a full-grown cat).

"I would give up all my toys just to spend more time with mommy and daddy." I looked to Memphis to see him nodding his head in agreement with his sister. I bit my lip before smiling.

"Hey, you guys want to hear a story?" They didn't react other than to look at me. I moved to get comfortable. "Once upon a time there was a village. And in that village lived a boy. He was a mischievous little boy who loved pranks and ramen. He was always causing trouble and making the adults mad because of his pranks. In fact, if you'd have asked the villagers they would have said he was a little fox." I had their attention. In fact, I also had the cat's attentions too. "His name was Naruto. Now from everything he did, you'd think that he was the happiest boy in existence. But in fact, the reality was just the opposite. Naruto may have been as troublesome and cheeky as you two," I mock-glared at them. Keira and Memphis smiled. I sighed sadly. "But Naruto was lonely. Unlike the other children in the village, Naruto didn't have any parents. Nor did he have anyone who cared about him."

"What happened to his parents?" Keira asked.

"I'll get there. Just be patient." I said sternly. "Naruto was an orphan in his village. But he was also the most dangerous little boy in the world. Why? Because he had a secret that only the adults in his village knew about. Naruto himself didn't even know it. Now why is this all relevant? Because Naruto's parents were ninja's. In fact, so was almost everyone in Naruto's village…"

"The Chidori and Rasengan combined into a deadly combination that caused Naruto and Sasuke to fly back into the valley's walls." I stopped talking seeing that Keira and Memphis had finally gone to sleep. I smiled slightly seeing Memphis almost falling off his bed. I got up to right his position.

"Mmm…" Memphis blearily opened his eyes. "What happened next?" I gently kissed his forehead.

"I'll tell you tomorrow, okay?"

"Promise? Memphis asked already dropping off to sleep again.

"I promise." I covered him with his blanket leaving the cats to arrange themselves. I did the same thing for Keira before looking around the room reflexively. "Protect." I ordered. A silver shimmery veil rose from the crystals that were scattered around the kid's room. I nodded to myself before walking out of the room. Of course, since I was a bit too protective and paranoid I left the door open slightly.

The hall light would stay on to let Keira and Memphis know I was still awake and in the living room if they woke up in the middle of the night. When I reached the top of the stairs something black danced in my peripheral. My head whipped to the side to see the black veil that covered a portrait had slipped off.

I stared at the picture seeing familiar eyes and cheeks along with reddish black hair. An arm was wrapped around a young man with black hair and smiling black eyes. On the sides stood two young women who looked identical to the woman smiling at me.

I waved my hand. The black veil rose from the carpet and fluttered back into place, covering the picture from my eyes. I continued down the stairs and into the kitchen to clean up dinner.

Thirty minutes later I was relaxing on the sofa watching Monster-In-Law. I didn't exactly like watching reality shows or cartoons unless the kids asked. Reality shows were too full of drama. So, there I sat on the white sofa relaxing.

No more calls, no more ignorant humans, no more kids, just me and… ah, popped that… just me and the TV.

The laptop chimed. Someone was trying to Skype me.

I groaned loudly putting one of the pillows over my face hoping to drown out the noise. But no if I didn't answer then Memphis and Keira would wake up. I got up only to see four of the cats on the loveseat watching me and the laptop.

"Why did it have to be cats?" I muttered. I picked up the laptop and opened it before clicking the Skype call buttons, briefly looking at the caller I.D. 'Chad' was calling. "Hey babe! How's it going?" A guy with black hair and brown eyes looked back at me.

'Uh, fine. But uh, Amaya I gotta tell you something.' I tilted my head focusing back onto his face.

"What's wrong?" I asked sounding the caring girlfriend I was. "Are you back from Nevada already?"

'Yeah I got back yesterday.' He shifted his eyes and moved back a little.

"Oh," My slightly advanced hearing could easily hear the shower running. I could also see into the mirror behind him. A woman's black dress was hanging on whatever hotel's chair. "You never call me this late. Is something wrong?" I asked.

'Uh, no, not really.' I softened my tone, becoming the caring girlfriend.

"Are you sure you're okay? You don't look particularly good."

'Uh… Amaya when I was in Nevada I… I may have… slept with another woman.'

"What?" Cue the heartbreak. I felt my face morph into disbelief.

'It didn't mean anything I swear! I didn't want to go through with it but-' Anger formed on my face.

"Let me guess, she wouldn't take no for an answer, and you didn't want to hurt her feelings or some other bullsh*t. Right?" I asked as my eyes teared up.

'I swear I didn't want to cheat on you. I mean you're amazing and everything and I don't want to lose you-' I held up my hand silencing him.

"You really think I'm going to fall for something that… lame? I can see her dress on that hotel chair. I can hear the f*cking shower running. You don't regret sleeping with that sl*t! If you did you'd at least have the decency to say this in person and not while she's in the shower!" I shouted feeling the tears coming down my face. "I should've known you weren't a man. You couldn't even tell your parents we were dating!"

'No! Amaya that's not-'

"No! I've been through this with hundreds of guys, and you know the one thing you all have in common?" I asked. "You're all spineless assholes!" I ended our call before grinning and leaning back. "So, what do you think?" Two Skype windows popped up to encompass the screen.

"Not bad. But I thought it was a little over the top." Analia, another witch, and my best friend who had shoulder-length reddish brown hair and brown eyes commented.

"Bear in mind that we have known you since we could walk. I would've fallen for it, but you never really react that... strongly unless it's Memphis and Keira." Ariel, another witch and my other best friend with jet black hair and black eyes, said. I sighed wiping the annoying wetness off my face.

"You two are no fun."

"So how long was that relationship?" Analia asked. I picked up a pencil before throwing at the digital timer. It hit with a satisfying click.

"32 days, 16 hours, 18 minutes, and 38 seconds." I reported.

"Damn, that was almost the longest." Ariel decided. I snorted.

"I believe the longest was two years." I commented dryly. "Besides, that boy wouldn't trust me until we were twenty days into our relationship."

"Either way, did you get what you were supposed to from him?" Analia asked. I grinned picking up a black flash drive.

"Don't worry. My last mission was completed successfully. I can take a break from 'dating'."

"Don't forget to send it in before the deadline." Ariel said. "We don't need Andromeda to get after you again."

"She only got after me because I had to take care of Memphis and Keira." I said rolling my eyes. "'The duty of an Animorphi is to infiltrate and spy.'"(2)

"Nice accent. How's baby-sitting duty?" Analia asked. I groaned.

"I love my cousins I really do, but I'm starting to miss the field. If my aunt hadn't needed to take care of her then I'd be in the field."

"Well, you're not missing much, trust me." Ariel sighed.

"Tell me all about it." I sighed dreamily. "What's the killing like? The stalking?"(3)

"You mean the ability to use our magic for something other than putting our cousins to sleep?" Analia asked. I glared.

"Your aunt called and asked us to stop by if you do that again." Ariel giggled. I shook my head.

"I get no trust nowadays. So, what's your next missions? Or are you still doing them?"

GM NASAI: That story-telling was actually what inspired this story. I ended up telling the story of Naruto to my cousins (Keira and Memphis) when I was baby-sitting them during a blackout. They liked it which probably meant they had good taste. XD

(1) I looked this up and from what I understand an Asura is an Indian Demon. I'm sorry if I got it wrong but I don't exactly know anyone from India.

(2) There's actually a few different witches around in 'this world'.

Animorphi- Witches who are able to shift into any animal or demon as long as they've had contact with them. As in skin to skin, fur, scales, etc,.

Sedai- They're able to make anyone they see fall unconscious or on a lower level, drug them without touching them.

Succu- They're the offspring of Succubi and Witches. Like their Succubi parents they're able to seduce anyone but they have to be within range. The stronger Succub can do their 'lust' thing from half a mile away.

Pyri- They're basically pyrotechnic's who look like 'The Torch' when they light up. Only the stronger ones can actually wield demon fire though.

Hunt(er)(ress)- Pretty explanatory. But they're often grouped with their genders. They're able to hunt down any of the Level 3 or Level 4 demons and take them on so long as they have the right back up.

Okay well I'll explain more in the next chapter but I pretty much wanted to give you all five of the different kinds of witches.

(3) Unlike other witch stories where the witches are relatively 'soft and useless' I decided to make my witches be demon ass-kicking/assassins. Why? Because I could and I don't really do the whole 'witches' should stay hidden' shtick.