Chapter Seven: Guardian Talk… Mostly
~Ninja's POV~
"Did that b*tch just leave this psycho in charge of us?" Hidan asked as they watched Amaya leave.
"You can't leave a child unattended Hidan." Konan murmured. "They tend to get into things."
"Hmph, I turned out fine." He muttered.
"You're a sadistic psychopath who cuts himself." Sakura said. Hidan grinned.
"I know. I'm the sh*t." Sakura got up and moved to the other side of Sasuke.
"So, what do we do with this one in charge?" Sasori asked. "She won't stop glaring at us."
"Be grateful you weren't in her hands earlier." Nagato said. "Her nails are sharp."
"Do you think it's a good thing to be talking to each other when she's glaring at us like she wants to rip us to shreds?" Kakashi asked.
"Probably not but it's better than joining Naruto and Kisame." Everyone looked over to see Kisame playing with Memphis and Keira and Naruto playing tag.
"Those two are more childish than we are." Sasuke grunted.
"You seemed to enjoy the game of 'Hide-and-Seek' you played with them for three hours yesterday." Sakura stated innocently. Sasuke glared at her as Hidan and Deidera snickered.
"It's better than Kakashi and Nagato staring at Amaya all night." Sasuke muttered. He was instantly on the receiving end of two glares. If he had been any less of an Uchiha he would have curled up defensively.
"I do believe that those two are making us soft." Itachi murmured. Since he still rarely spoke, hearing him talk made everyone listen to whatever he had to say.
"What do you mean Itachi?" Sasuke asked, shaking off the death glares.
"Haven't you noticed it otouto?" Itachi asked staring at Keira and Memphis. Nagato and Yahiko got up from their position to sit beside him.
"There's not much to notice when it comes to Naruto and Yahiko-" Nagato began.
"Hey!"
"But" He continued despite Yahiko's interruption. "Itachi is right. I haven't heard Hidan cussing that much in the last few days."
"F*ck you!" Hidan said reflexively thinking over Nagato's words as did everyone else.
Sakura had been noticing her tendency to have a mini-heart attack when Memphis or Keira had played too rough and had hurt themselves. It was irrational but she wished that she could've been human to heal them. She supposed it was like what having a younger sibling would've felt like if her parents had.
Sasuke, of course, hadn't noticed anything with the way he'd been acting. So, what if he'd liked playing with Memphis and training him to be faster. Sasuke of course stopped thinking once that thought hit his head.
'I'm an avenger. Not some child's pet to play with!' He growled.
"AHHH!" His eyes zeroed in on Kisame and Memphis. Kisame was attempting to hide in the bookcase, but his body was just too big for it to work. Memphis was trying to get him out of it.
'That brat may be as hyper as the Dobe but… he is like me in a way.'
Itachi of course, wasn't attempting to hide anything from himself. To him Memphis and Keira were innocent and as such too small to understand anything bad or evil. It was like dealing with a younger Sasuke. One who was untouched by any taint the world had to offer. He could sympathize with Amaya when it came to her 'rare' tendency to over-protect her siblings.
Nagato, Konan and Yahiko were thinking along the same lines as Itachi. They'd never known what a family could be like but with this family, what consisted of it, it was like knowing and understanding a part of something they had never felt before.
Kakashi of course was wondering how Naruto and Memphis seemed to be able to keep going without getting tired. Though he supposed that since he was never one to outright say something, his subtle moves to make the house safer was his way of saying that he cared. If only a little. He was a ninja; you always kept your emotions hidden.
Kakuzu on the other hand was wondering if anyone had ever made any money on the cuteness of a child like Keira. She had the tan features and dark hair of a proper Japanese, but there was something else that made her face a little too rounded. But he supposed that if he could ever turn human he'd make a fortune off her and her charms of wrapping anyone around her little finger. He chose to ignore the part of him that whispered he was going soft.
Sasori knew he liked the brats. They were surprisingly intelligent under the 'cute' façade. He could see the glint of curiosity and potential. Keira tended to trick Amaya into anything if she played her cards right. (Though Amaya also knew Keira wasn't as stupid as she looked and always got out of her spell). Memphis was a hyper idiot like Naruto but something about him screamed 'potential'. And it wasn't just the way he sometimes seemed to disappear into the shadows like a Nara, no, Memphis would be powerful.
Hidan of course was wondering how Memphis was going to go about killing Kisame. Would he finally get too rough with him and just squash him, or would he use a spell to blow him up? He grinned thinking of all the ways he could teach Memphis to kill if given the chance. The girl could be a good convert too. She was a little spitfire. Though if anyone hurt his would-be Jashinists then they'd have to pay dearly.
Deidera, though not as smart as Itachi, was smarter than Hidan. He could sometimes see the wonder on Keira's face when she stared at the fire in the living room at night before she went to bed. It was the same look he got when he made a new piece of art and it exploded. He would've liked to teach her about true art. She would understand, of that he had no doubt. She liked fire as much as he did. Memphis… well at least he could always use him to blow up Hidan. Though how to kill Hidan without putting the blame on him and Memphis was something on which he was still working. The boy would have some insight if he ever got out of this cursed form.
Of course, while Naruto and Kisame weren't part of the internal struggles and musings of everyone else, they had of course come to the same thinking days ago. Naruto, well he would never hurt a child. Especially one who reminded him so much of Konohamaru.
Kisame just wasn't cold-blooded enough to kill an innocent child nor would he want to. He did have a code he lived by. Memphis liked him and always made sure that he received extra attention. For that, Kisame knew he would protect the kid from whatever his over-protective older sister (and everyone else) couldn't.
The ninja cats were brought out of their thoughts when Keira and Naruto took a break. Memphis, of course, followed his sister when she collapsed on the couch.
"Tired little ones?" Analia asked, amused.
"Why do they ask that when they know they're tired?" Sasuke wondered.
"It's a reflex." Itachi answered watching. Something in Keira's eyes had everyone wondering what she was planning.
"Ana, can I ask a question?" Keira asked. Analia shot the cats one last suspicious look before focusing on Keira.
"Sure kid. Just make sure it's not something stupid." Keira and Memphis looked excited at that answer. "You want something to drink first before you die of dehydration?"
"Yes!" Memphis yelled choosing that moment to be dramatic.
"Alright, soda or juice?" Analia asked getting up.
"SODA!" Keira and Memphis yelled.
"Think she knows Amaya doesn't let them drink soda?" Naruto asked.
"Probably not. Or if she does she probably doesn't care." Kakashi answered.
"Why not let them drink something they want?" Hidan asked.
"Not sure. Bear in mind we don't exactly know what 'soda' tastes like." Sakura answered logically.
"The only thing Hidan bears in mind is to kill." Kakuzu grunted.
"Shut up you stitched up mother*cker!"
"Here you go brats." Analia said popping open the can and handing it over. "Share and make sure you don't spill it. I don't want Amaya saying I'm not responsible or something."
"Ana, you're a Guardian right?" Keira asked.
"Yeah." Analia answered. Everyone was aware that Analia had seen their ears twitch. Amaya didn't really say much when Keira asked this question.
"Go play." Nagato ordered. They split up going to different sections of the living room. "She's the suspicious one, this one."
"Unfortunately." Konan meowed as she started to bat at Yahiko's tail. "Why do we seem to have the cat-like tendencies as well as the appearance?" She grumbled referring to the fact that they couldn't seem to stop themselves when they were presented with cutesy things. (Like the time Itachi and Sasori had to follow the red laser light Amaya had decided to use. Or when Naruto wanted tuna more than ramen. And the time Kakashi had chosen to nap in the sun rather than look at the books Nagato had given him.) It was very irritating.
"Well, what do you do?" Keira asked continuing with her questioning.
"As a Guardian?"
"Yeah."
"Maya won't tell us." Memphis clarified picking up Kisame and scratching his belly. Kisame went into 'purr' mode. "She says our mom has to tell us."
"And she's right." Analia answered firmly.
"But why can't you or Maya tell us? We're going to be Guardian's one day too!" Keira protested. Analia sighed.
"They don't tell the younger generation everything?" Kakashi meowed.
"Why do that?" Naruto asked. "It'll just be a bigger problem to deal with later once you drop the bomb." Kakashi had no doubt Naruto was referring to his own experiences.
"It's been that way since the 1600s." Analia answered, unknowingly answering Naruto's question. Itachi mentally noted that her crossed arms were a defensive motion. So, Analia was the one to give answers but also wouldn't give everything.
"But why?" Memphis whined. Ana leveled the kids with a look. One every ninja understood.
"It's because of the Salem Witch Trials."
"What?" Naruto asked confused.
"Shut up dobe." Sasuke meowed. Naruto was about to reply or tackle Sasuke when Analia's voice stopped him.
"They tell you this in school but what they don't really go into is the witches who died at the stake. During those times when we Witches were coming out of hiding, the humans were still trying to wrap their heads around the fact that we did in fact exist."
"But humans don't have a problem now." Keira argued. Analia shrugged.
"Most don't care. Some, like the AWA- Anti-Witches Association, are still set in their ways that witches are evil and that we are all demons who should die for our sins of aiding the devil and corrupting their children." Analia rolled her eyes. "But back in the 1600s, the humans were fearful and very much scared of us. That fear turned to hate, and the hate turned into the Salem Witch Trials. Have you learned about that in school yet?"
"They sound like they're talking about the Jinchuuriki." Naruto murmured. Sasuke, not liking the Dobe's tone, sat down beside him. Sakura sat on Naruto's other side.
"Mmhm." Keira said eager to answer. "The humans didn't like us, so they held a court and they started to burn witches. But they almost always ended up burning other humans."
"Yeah, that's the human's way of saying that they were sorry." Analia said. "What they don't tell you is that before the Trials ended, the humans managed to wipe out 77 real witches and their families."
"That many?" Nagato asked in horror thinking of the families that suffered.
"Seems like this world has gone through the same things our world has." Sasori stated. "Though, there's no tangible way to be sure."
"We could be sure if Kakashi would stop napping and start reading the books." Yahiko said smoothly.
"The reason we keep you kids in the dark until you turn ten is to protect you. We teach you your magic and how to control it but until you're old enough, we don't tell you what we do to uphold our end of the deals with the humans."
"What deals?" Keira asked. Analia shrugged.
"Eh, we sell them love potions, medicine, advice, where to find the best spot to dig a well, and to even make it rain. But that's only the surface of what we do. We promised to protect the humans after they learned of the existence of the demons during the last stages of the Trials."
"So, you fight demons?" Keira asked. Analia grinned.
"Nope."
"But you just said-"
"Hey, I didn't say I fought demons now did I?" Analia responded cheekily. Her face cleared. "But they do pose a problem. They aren't the only ones we fight though."
"They aren't?" Memphis asked.
"Nope. But unfortunately, that information is classified. If I told you your mother would skin me alive." Analia said.
"Mommy won't do that." Memphis dismissed. Analia raised an eyebrow.
"Have you ever gotten your mother mad?"
"No."
"Sometimes." Keira answered looking at Memphis.
"Oh, right." He smiled.
"Well, whatever you do, don't get her seriously mad. She's…" Analia shuddered. "Let's just say your mother isn't a witch when she's mad."
"That seems like very good advice." Kakashi meowed.
"Given her reaction, I would say so." Sakura nodded.
"But what else do Guardian's do?" Keira asked. "What's so important that mommy's not here?" Analia sighed.
"You remember your auntie Connie?" Keira and Memphis nodded. "Your mommy is looking for her."
"So, she can bring her home?" Keira asked hopefully. The ninja's were the only ones who saw the look in Analia's eyes before she smiled.
"Yeah, so she can come home."
"Something doesn't sound right about that." Sakura said.
"Yeah, it's like when Sasuke was gone. It's the same look." Naruto nodded.
"What look?" Sasuke asked. Naruto smiled sadly.
"The smile of hopeless regret." Kakashi answered. Sasuke didn't say anything to that. What could he say?
"Ana..." Keira looked uncertain.
"What's on your mind monkey-butt?" Analia asked.
"'Monkey-butt?'" Hidan laughed. No one else laughed because Keira never hesitated to ask something except for now.
"What... What happened when Maya was sixteen?" Keira asked. Analia's body stiffened and a heavy atmosphere descended upon them all.
"Don't ask that Keira." Analia said softly. "What happened to Amaya is something she'll tell you when you're old enough to understand."
"Can't you-" Memphis started. Analia cut him off sharply.
"No. We don't speak of that, and neither should you."
"Does it have something to do with Damon?" Keira asked. Analia's body seemed to be vibrating. While the children wouldn't know or understand the anger and Killer Intent rising, to the ninja it was the same Killer Intent as a Bijuu.
'Who's Damon?' The ninja thought.
"Keira. Memphis." Analia got up and knelt in front of them. She clasped their hands. "I know you want to know everything about your sister but that question... it will only hurt Amaya. You don't want to hurt Amaya do you?"
"No." The children shook their heads.
"Then don't ever ask that question again, all right? You'll understand when you're older."
"Okay." Keira said slowly.
"What would be so bad that even she would stop glaring at us?" Yahiko wondered aloud.
"It isn't our business." Nagato decided. "We all have a past that we don't want known. We can at least respect that."
"Exactly." Kakashi nodded in agreement.
"Alright." Analia clapped her hands together, dismissing the heavy atmosphere and bringing back the warmth. "Who wants to watch How to Train Your Dragon?"
"How to train your- do they have dragons here?" Naruto asked suddenly sounding very upbeat as the kids cheered. The heavy moment almost forgotten by the louder ones. The silent ones. naturally, put that information in the back of their heads. They wouldn't ask but it did make them curious.
"Who knows?" Kakashi said. "Kakuzu, do they have dragons here?"
"Ask Sasori, I didn't want to read the book with him glaring at me like he was going to poison me."
"It was an interesting read." Sasori said. "But yes, they do have dragons here. They're just in the most mountainous regions of this world."
"Well, I do suppose we should just watch the movie." Kakashi proposed hoping to get out of reading the book. There was only one book he wanted to read and sadly he didn't have it anymore.
"It's all your fault!" Keira shouted before tackling her brother.
"How did they end up fighting with each other?" Konan asked as Memphis and Keira tackled each other again.
"Beats me." Yahiko chuckled. "Get him, get him, pin him down! There you go girl!"
"My money's on Keira." Kakuzu said as Keira threw her brother onto the couch.
"My money's on Memphis." Naruto yelled, meowed, whatever.
"Where's Analia?" Nagato asked as the fighting escalated.
"Hey kids- What the hell?" Analia came in right on cue.
"I'm blaming the 'soda'." Deidera said seeing Analia holding another can.
"Surprisingly, they don't need the f*cking bathroom!" Hidan cackled. "Get him Keira!"
"Knock it off you two!" Analia shouted getting in between them.
"Leave me alone!" Memphis shouted once Analia had separated them.
"Aw man, there goes an interesting fight." Naruto whined. Sakura hit him over the head.
"I'm not touching you!" Keira said looking smug.
"That child is pure evil." Kakuzu snickered.
"I knew there was a reason I liked her." Sasori nodded approvingly.
"You two are not tainting her." Konan hissed before pushing them off the couch.
"She's touching me! She's touching me!" Memphis whined. The front door opened and in came Amaya with two brown bags of groceries.
"Hey look, Amaya's back!" Yahiko meowed.
"Good maybe she can stop this insanity, yeah." Deidera growled as Amaya took in the scene of the two brats fighting.
"What the hell did you do to my brats?" Amaya asked Analia as she set the groceries on the table.
"I didn't do anything." Analia protested as they kids continued arguing.
"I'm not touching you!"
"AHH YOU'RE TOUCHING ME!"
"Not touching!"
"Touching me!"
"It's free air!"
"Grr!" Memphis once again tackled his sister only to lick her cheek.
"EW!" She shoved Memphis off her only to jump on him and start hitting him. Amaya and Analia ran over to the kids to separate them.
"That must be hard." Kakashi said.
"Why do you say that?" Sakura asked.
"Their eyes are dilated which probably means they're experiencing a sugar rush or an adrenaline rush, which would make them stronger than usual."
"Would you two cut it out? You are family!" Analia yelled.
"Now you see why I'm so hard on them. One sign of weakness and they do this!" Amaya grunted trying to restrain Memphis.
"Well, how was I supposed to know?" Analia asked before yelping since Keira bit her. Deidera, Naruto and Hidan started to laugh.
"Why are they fighting anyway?" Amaya asked. Nagato looked to Yahiko and Konan.
"Sadly, these two make the Akatsuki seem saner and much more bearable."
"That's kids for you." Yahiko shrugged.
"BECAUSE HE RUINS EVERYTHING!" Keira shouted. In the dining room the sound of the glass vase exploding went unnoticed by the four witches.
"NOT MY FAULT!" Memphis cried. The lights started to flicker.
"THEN WHO'S FAULT IS IT?" Keira yelled as she kicked Memphis' leg.
"I'm blaming you." Amaya growled looking at Analia. Her eyes had shifted to a golden color with a black slit inside it. It reminded Sasuke of a reptile, like Orochimaru and his snakes. Or the times Naruto had used Kyuubi to fight against him.
"That b*tch is scary." Hidan admitted to Naruto.
"I know." Naruto shuddered.
"Me? What did I do?" Analia asked looking scandalized.
"You let them fight!" Amaya yelled.
"How was I supposed to know they'd do something like this?" The whole room shuddered as a wind blew through the house knocking over anything weighing less than ten pounds.
"You didn't find it weird that I'm always tough on them?"
"That actually clears things up, un." Deidera meowed trying to fight against the wind.
"I treat you the same way and you didn't see the resemble brat?" Sasori growled.
"Yeah but you act like you're always PMS-ing, yeah." Deidera shivered in fear as Sasori slowly turned his head to look at him.
"Care to repeat that brat?"
"I thought they just annoyed you! You certainly looked like they were." Amaya growled before gently tossing Memphis aside. Analia did the same to Keira as they narrow eyes.
"Take. That. Back." Amaya growled.
"You know, we should take cover." Kakashi said.
"Yes, yes we should." Yahiko said moving backwards slowly.
"Sorry, can't take back the truth." Analia smirked.
"Oh sh*t!" Hidan yelped before they all ran for cover.
"You're dead!" Amaya yelled as she tackled Analia. Of course, since Nagato, Kakashi and Itachi were curious they got onto of the tallest thing they could find to watch as Amaya and Analia fought.
Analia kneed Amaya in the gut before hitting her back. Amaya dropped to the floor before rolling out of the way of Analia's kick. Amaya drop-kicked Analia before rolling to her feet and grabbing Analia's leg. She twisted Analia before swinging her into the couch.
"Damn those b*tches are fierce." Hidan commented from his hiding spot.
"Makes you wonder how they fight that good." Kakuzu murmured from the bookshelf he was on.
Amaya moved out of the way of a kick as Analia jumped back up. Analia kicked out and hit Amaya on the arm. Before Amaya could correctly protect herself Analia managed a five-hit combo. Amaya was then thrown backwards over the kitchen counters and onto the island before rolling off.
"Hey guys, can I get some help here?" Deidera turned his head to see Ariel coming in with three grocery bags. She stopped as Amaya jumped over the counter and tackled Analia. "Why are they fighting?"
"I don't know." Memphis answered from where he and Keira were watching TV. This sort of thing happened a lot, Kakuzu mused.
"Ana said something Maya didn't like."
"Oh great... watch it kids!" Konan and Sakura approved of the speed in which Ariel moved to get the kids out of the danger zone. Not that they would have hurt the kids. Analia got kicked onto the couch. "HEY! KNOCK IT OFF!
"This b*tch is getting it!" Amaya panted looking like she was getting a good workout.
"These girls are tough." Sasori commented.
"Nah, this seems like something Sasuke and Naruto would do." Kisame said.
"We've never been this violent." Naruto protested.
"Really?" Sakura deadpanned. "You and Sasuke fight with S-class justu and always need medical attention afterwards.
"What do you expect? If we fought nice and clean we'd never get better." Sasuke said. "The only one who fights fairly is you."
"F*ck you!" Analia shouted before they again collided. Only this time Analia slammed Amaya into the floor before straddling her and hitting her jaw. Amaya's legs came up and wrapped around Analia's chest before going straight, which caused Analia's head to smack into the floor.
"Kids will you please take cover! Or better yet go to your room. This is going to get hairy." Ariel ordered. Kakuzu, Sasori and Kisame- the closest ones- were able to clearly see a faint light coming from Ariel's palms.
"Okay. Come on Memphis." Keira called not affected by the two fighting witches.
"Coming!"
"Apparently this happens a lot." Yahiko said sounding confused. Ariel ran towards her friends before jumping onto Amaya and Analia. "KNOCK IT OFF YOU TWO-" Analia kicked her chin sending her backwards. Instantly Amaya and Analia stopped fighting. In fact, they both froze as fear filled their eyes.
"Don't blame me!" Amaya whimpered as Ariel got up. Fire was coming out of her eyes.
"Holy sh*t. She looks scarier than Sakura." Sasuke meowed. Naruto and Kakashi shuddered before moving away slowly.
"IT'S HER FAULT!" Amaya and Analia cried.
"I don't care! I'm ending it!" Ariel's growling voice came, making everyone run for cover.
"These witches are insane, un." Deidera cried as he and Sasori burrowed into the couch. The sounds of screams and shouting sounded along with the sound of glass shattering.
"If we f*cking survive I'll be forever f*cking grateful!" Hidan growled as he moved further into the bookcase.
GM NASAI: Demon/Creature status:
Level 1- The newly graduated Witches can take these on without too much trouble. They're mainly Sprites, Gnomes, Pixies, etc. Anything that's just a nuisance.
Level 2- These are for the trickier creatures or the ones who aren't really dangerous unless provoked. I.E. Poltergeists, Low-level demons, Unicorns who've gone into the wrong pasture, Mermaids, Succubi, and low-level trickster gods.
Level 3- The harder demons. Which would end up being the regular amount of demons. Werewolves, Vampires, and the like who've gone rogue. Griffons, Changelings, etc,.
Level 4- This is for demons who can only be destroyed by Dragon fire, Witch fire, or a really powerful spell that needs the Power of Three. Dragons, Sea Serpents, Basilisks, Genie's/Djinn, etc,.
Level 5- These are rare and usually the most angry/annoyed. Only the most experienced of Hunters and Huntresses can hope to take them down with a group. They can only be destroyed by Hellfire or Phoenix fire. Angels, Shinigami, Gods, Demons of Fear, Hate, Lust, etc,.
Level 6- This has only been seen a few times and is extremely rare that most think it's just a myth. No one is sure how this one came about but all they know is that the last Level 6 caused the Ice Age.