Chapter Ten: "Do Something Good"
~Ninja's POV~
"What the f*ck happened to you three?" Hidan yowled when he saw Kakashi, Nagato and Itachi again.
"Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked seeing a much bigger cat than an hour ago.
"What happened to you?" Sasuke demanded to know of his brother.
"Amaya made us her familiars." Itachi explained shortly.
"Care to explain?" Kakuzu asked, subtly looking at Sasori. (He really needed to read that book when the puppet user wasn't around.)
"It feels like her magic is running through us." Nagato explained softly. "I can feel her, but I don't know what she's doing."
"When she felt anger, we felt it." Kakashi said frowning. "I really should read that Encyclopedia."
"I think we all should." Kakuzu grumbled. Sasori sighed getting tired of his whining.
"A familiar is more than a pet. When a witch chooses a familiar he or she is not thought of as a pet or decoration. They are family. When the witch is in distress or in trouble her familiar feels it and responds accordingly. They can change size to help their witch eliminate whatever threat their witch is facing."
"Is it permanent?" Kakashi asked.
"Yes." Sasori said. "But there are some good aspects I believe."
"Like?" Naruto asked getting tired of Sasori's habit of playing.
"A witch usually only has one familiar. To have three means that Amaya is a powerful witch. Whatever magic she sends to you three she can compensate with your chakra."
"In other words, they're all generators." Sakura said
"Exactly. If Amaya wants your chakra you will automatically give it to her. But if you're hurt to badly, Amaya's magic will go to you to heal you from anything besides death."
"So, if we mess up the Uchiha f*ucker then Amaya will only heal him?" Hidan asked.
"Basically." Sakura answered, not sure if he was kidding or not. Itachi's blank face wasn't helping.
"Dammit (un)." Hidan and Deidera cursed while glaring at the stoic Itachi.
"They've been trying to get rid of Itachi for a while now." Kisame chuckled to Naruto and Sasuke.
"Like they could." Sasuke snorted.
"Any chance we can get Amaya to take us in as familiars?" Naruto asked, eyeing Kakashi's new look.
"Sorry, we were the only ones awake at the time." Kakashi answered cheerfully. "Maybe the children will be more willing to help you." Sasuke and Naruto looked to Sasori who rolled his eyes.
"Go read the damn book for yourselves. I'm not your only source of information." He yawned before padding to the living room.
"Sometimes I think I have him pegged then he suddenly does something unexpected." Sakura said ruefully.
"Danna is just a hopeless, artless, pile of wood kindling, yeah." Deidera meowed.
"Brat! Get your fuzzy ass over here." Sasori snapped. Deidera grumbled but followed his partner.
"I'm not sure if they're f*cking gay for each other or not." Hidan growled. Naruto blinked in surprise while Sakura just giggled. Kakuzu rolled his eyes and left to go upstairs.
"You know Sasori and Deidera are friends underneath their hostility." Konan said. "It's just like you and Kakuzu."
"At last, the f*cker and I know where we stand."
"What happened in there?" Sakura asked when Hidan and Konan had moved back into the living room. Amaya was levitating the brats to their room so she could do her routine channel surfing. Or get back her paperwork.
"These witches function almost like ninjas. Although instead of hunting other ninja they hunt demons who pose a problem to humanity." Nagato explained knowing that someone would get everyone else caught up. Hopefully, it would be Kisame.
"Ariel wants Amaya to go on one last mission." Kakashi started. "Amaya doesn't seen too keen on leaving her charges."
"That's understandable." Sakura said.
"She's debating whether or not it would be worth it." Itachi said seriously.
"How do you know?" Sasuke asked.
"It's what I would be doing." Nagato answered. "It's what most of us would be doing, thought we wouldn't really have a choice."
"Amazing how everything about your ninja way of life comes into light when we're on vacation." Naruto commented. No one questioned that truth.
"Any idea which way she'll fall?" Yahiko asked.
"My gut says she'll accept." Kisame grinned. "She has a surprising amount of honor that even Kakuzu respects."
"I knew he seemed to be too easy around her." Yahiko grinned.
"Still, if she does accept then chances are we'll be left here with someone to baby-sit the kids." Nagato warned. The eight ninja mentally worried over this in their own way.
"I wish we could just turn back into humans now." Naruto whined. No one had to agree with the blond even verbally.
"Any change?" Nagato asked as he and Itachi kept watch on Amaya later that night. Everyone else was either asleep, reading the Encyclopedia, or watching over the children. Amaya had chosen to go back to her paperwork after only five minutes of trying to watch TV.
"None." Itachi murmured as Amaya kept writing. "Although her concentration is forced."
"She's thinking it over then." Nagato nodded sitting with Itachi. Out of the rest of the Akatsuki he had always liked Itachi the best. Itachi had that intelligent, kind air that always spoke for him. While the rest of Akatsuki killed for the pleasure of it, Itachi never forgot that they were killing human beings.
Itachi only nodded. He was focused on the way Amaya eyes would flit to the folder containing the mission, then back to jet paperwork like she was trying to talk herself out of it.
"Noticed anything else?" Nagato asked amused at Itachi's attentiveness. Itachi briefly looked at Nagato before returning his attention back to Amaya.
"Deep down she wants to go on this mission, but the fear of what will happen in her absence is what's holding her back. She was trained for combat from what we've seen." Nagato nodded.
"As ninja, even we can't fight against our nature. She will cave to her desire."
"No. She won't." Itachi murmured. Nagato didn't need to say anything to voice his surprise. "Like Kisame said, Amaya has honor. My guess is, it's as big as Naruto's stubbornness."
"That's saying a lot." Nagato muttered. Their ears flicked as they caught a soft whisper of feet. Amaya's head lifted from her internal debate to see Keira come in. As usual Yahiko, Konan, and Deidera came in with her.
"Hey baby girl..." Itachi wondered if, given a different set of events, he and Sasuke would still be as close as her and Keira. Amaya opened her arms and Keira obediently went into them. "What's wrong? Bad dream?"
"No..." Keira mumbled before yawning. Amaya shifted Keira in her arms until she was more comfortable.
"Then what's wrong princess?"
"I don't think I'll ever get used to how Amaya treats her siblings." Yahiko said jumping onto the chair to sit beside Nagato. "It's strange to see a child so loved and protected."
"For us it is." Nagato replied.
"Maya... Why don't you want to be a Guardian again?" Keira asked. Amaya's surprise was brief.
"Who said I didn't want to be a Guardian again?" Amaya asked softly. Keira didn't look up from where she was resting her head.
"I heard Ariel asking you to help her... If Memphis and I weren't here would you be happy?"
"Low-blow kid." Yahiko murmured as Amaya visibly jerked.
"Who said I wasn't happy with you two here? As a matter of fact, why are you even asking these stupid questions?" Amaya asked angrily.
"Ana told us that Guardians protected the humans. And Ariel said that humans were in trouble from demons." Itachi's eyes could clearly see what Amaya was thinking of doing to her best friends.
"I support her decision to keep the brats safe, un." Deidera and Hidan jumped onto the chair along with Konan. "But I think her over-protection is going to kill them."
"Either that or break them." Hidan muttered.
"Be quiet you two." Konan ordered. "I want to hear what effect Keira has on Amaya."
"Like we don't already know?" Hidan snorted.
"Keira, I don't regret taking care of you and Memphis." Amaya said slowly, petting Keira's hair. "You're my little sister and brother. It's my job to protect you two. Even from our crazy family."
"But Memphis and I are only in the way!" Keira protested. "If you didn't have to watch us then you would be protecting everyone from the monsters."
"She's got a valid point." Nagato admitted.
"Not really." Itachi protested.
"Not really sweetie." Amaya said, unknowingly copying Itachi's words. "Our family is bigger than you think. Everyone does their part to protect everyone. We all work together. I may be better at some things but I'm not the most powerful witch ever. Someone is protecting someone right now."
"It could be you." Keira yawned. "I don't want you to stop protecting people. It's what you do best."
"I'm hurt kid. You know I can cook and get you and Memphis to do your homework better than anyone." Amaya said mockingly.
"I know. But..." Keira yawned again and shifted to get comfortable. "I want you to do something good."
"That kid gives pretty good speeches." Yahiko realized.
"It does look like it's had the desired effect." Konan acknowledged. Amaya looked to be deep in thought as she rose with Keira.
"Great. So, we get to be baby-sat by another suspicious b*tch." Hidan grumbled.
"Don't get all pissy Hidan. You're starting to sound like Kakuzu, yeah." Hidan glared at Deidera who only smirked (or what passed for it) back.
"If we do end up being baby-sat we're going to need to have a meeting." Nagato said. "Get everyone down here and in the kitchen." Everyone but Itachi and Nagato took off.
"Think she really will take the mission?" Nagato asked.
"Yes. Amaya is not a cold-hearted person. She will go if only to make Keira happy." Itachi said. Nagato nodded.
"Keep an eye on her Itachi." Nagato jumped of the chair before slightly turning his head. "And make sure your focused on what she'll be doing and not admiring her." Itachi just stared at him blankly. Nagato smiled slightly knowing he'd gotten Itachi's slight feelings for Amaya down.
Itachi on the other hand, tightened his own willpower. He didn't want everyone to know that his 'slight' admiration was in fact something a little more. At least not until he was sure exactly how deeply he felt about Amaya.
He sighed before jumping off the chair to go to Amaya's desk.
While Amaya did have the wall against men (he was willing to bet that was why she didn't seem to have any straight male friends) she wasn't always cold and rude. She cared about her siblings with commendable behavior. She made sure to let loose and have fun, in violent ways. And while she didn't really show it, Itachi could sense the same kind of spirit in her that he had. One that would fight until the breath left their body to do what was right.
That was why he liked her.
Either that or he was in love with her, which Itachi didn't think was possible at this point. They didn't even know each other all that well.
Amaya walked back in looking tired. Itachi waited on the desk until she was sitting in her chair.
"Amaya?" He meowed. She sent him a crooked smile.
"I hate my job. But I guess I can't complain." She picked him up and scratched his ears. Itachi's purr machine automatically turned on. "I wouldn't have met you, Dark Knight. You and your loud purring."
He couldn't really protest as her fingernails found his sweet spot.
"I better make the calls to my superiors then." She said finally. Itachi didn't protest when she put him on her shoulder. It was a good pace to eavesdrop without looking like he was actively trying.
She hit picked up the phone and started dialing. Itachi stored away the numbers she dialed instinctively. The ringing in the phone was the only sound for a few minutes until someone picked up on the other line.
"Yes?"
"Black Night reporting, I accept the Level 4 demonic mission."
"So, she did bring in another witch." Kakuzu said in slight annoyance as the short, dark haired witch and Amaya seemed to glare at each other in hate.
"You know, I don't think it would be a bad thing to leave the kids alone, right?" Naruto asked.
"They make Naruto and I look friendly." Sasuke commented. Amaya chose that moment to speak.
"Bianca. Let's get something straight all right. I don't like you and you don't like me. Nothing will change that."
"Really I hadn't noticed?" The newly named Bianca drawled sarcastically. Amaya didn't look fazed.
"But if you lay one hurtful finger on my brats or do anything I deem unfit, I will end you. Covenant Law or not." Amaya's eyes flashed golden.
"Damn, even I'm getting scared." Hidan said as Bianca paled slightly.
"You'd be saying the same thing to." Naruto said dismissively.
"He'd probably add in a few more curses though." Sakura added. Kakashi took that time to reflect on how the Akatsuki and his team had managed to get along for more than two weeks at this point.
It almost seemed inconceivable that they were enemies once upon a time.
Keira and Memphis came running down the stairs only to rocket into Amaya.
"Oh, I'm only going to be gone for one-night guys. Maybe even half that time."
"Unfortunately..." Bianca muttered silently.
"I really dislike this woman." Kakuzu said.
"Can I turn her into a puppet?" Sasori asked. "Itachi or Sasuke can even destroy her afterwards."
"No. We stuck to the plan of being harmless cats." Nagato ordered.
"Why don't you go finish your game? I have to get going."
"Alright." Keira looked sad! Amaya waited until the kids were upstairs before she took out a black mask that seemed to be broken in half.
The minute Amaya put on the mask her entire attire sifted. Her long hair went into a ponytail. Her usual tunic changed into a black cropped top with a sleeveless mesh shirt over it. Her usual leggings changed into black shorts as knee-length boots appeared on her feet. A calf-length sleeveless black cloak with a black hood appeared over everything as a dagger appeared strapped to her thighs and a silver bow was slung across her back.
"I'm trusting you Bianca. You screw this up, and I will happily put an arrow in you." Amaya warned one more time before white lights swirled around her. In an instant she was gone.
"Damn, I wish we looked that cool!" Naruto stated a second later.
"We're ninja Naruto." Yahiko said. "We always look cool."
"You mean we do." Hidan grinned.
"Itachi, are you alright?" Sasuke asked.
"Hn."
"You look... Afraid." Itachi looked at his brother shortly before shaking his head.
"It's nothing. We'd better get into 'acting mode'."
"Hn." Sasuke replied. Itachi could tell that Sasuke wasn't buying it, but he would leave him alone for now.
Itachi didn't think that the slight fear he felt had anything to do with how worried he was for Amaya's safety.
After all, she was a witch. She could take care of herself.
So why did he have the feeling that something bad was about to happen?