Chapter Fourteen: Family Legacy
~ Amaya's POV ~
Fingers trailed along my jaw making a searing heat spread through my face. I jerked away from the uncomfortable heat not liking the intensity. The hand grabbed my chin firmly to hold me in place. I couldn't open my mouth as a whimper caught in my throat. I didn't like this hand, but I couldn't remember why.
"Let… go…" I ground out shoving against whoever was holding me.
"It's alright. I've got you, love." I froze. That voice. I tried to fight harder as the grip turned 'loving'. "Don't fight. Why do you fight me, love?"
"Because I hate you." I snarled. This was all a dream. Sleeping potions did this to me. This was just a dream.
"It wasn't always a dream. You remember when I used to hold you?" Arms came around me. "When I held you like this?" I desperately needed to get the hell away from this psychopath. NOW! "I still love you." My eyes flew up to meet the green eyes looking down at me with a glint in them. "I still love you demon. Don't worry, I'll free you from this hell."
"The only hell there is, is with you." I spat finally managing to get him off. I turned around and ran into the darkness.
"You can't hide from me forever love. I will find you. And I will save your soul!" I gasped as a chasm opened in front of me and a black figure rose out of the smoky fire. I cried out as its arms encircled me. I didn't want to go back to him. Never again.
"It's alright, Amaya. It's just a dream." Now why did that voice sound so familiar? Whoever it was felt safe enough for me to wrap my arms around them. A horrible wailing came from behind me that sent chills up my back.
"She's mine!" A sharp pain came as my arm was yanked backwards. I looked back to see the crazed, haunting green eyes of my past. "She will always be mine." I looked down at my arm as my skin burned.
"You're alright." The voice murmured. "It's just a nightmare." I nodded numbly as the pain, the past, and the voice left me. This person was right, I was just asleep. Right?
I jolted awake.
Something warm was lying beside me. That was my first conscious thought. My next conscious thought was that I was comfortable and that whoever was by me made me feel safe. Which automatically made me think that Keira or Memphis was lying beside me. I did the natural thing, I moved closer to the warmth.
My arm wound around whoever was by me. But instead of me feeling Keira's slender build or Memphis' squishiness, I felt a firm body that, while very comfortable, was just too big to be my brats. I wondered vaguely if my mind had dreamed up whatever sexy body I was hugging. (But no, this feels too real. And besides I had nightmares whenever I took Sleeping Potions.)
My eye opened a crack to see a chest covered in black. I looked up to see red eyes staring down at me. Now in my line of profession, one did not awaken to red eyes unless a demon was messing with you, or your vampire best friend showed up. In this case, neither was the correct assumption. Which led me to my next action that I believe was very logical and smart.
I shifted. Into a tiger. And then roared as loud as I could while jumping out of bed to glare at the intruder.
"Amaya," he calmly said while slowly getting up. "Calm down."
I growled. Like I was going to forgive him for waking me up like that! I was going to enjoy ripping him to shreds. Who the hell did he think he was for coming into my bed and-
My memories of the Disturi, ninja cats, and passing out finally decided to arrive. I waited for my jumbled brain to sort through everything and remember everything before I relaxed. I didn't stop glaring at Itachi, but I did stay in Tiger mode. At least until I remembered he couldn't understand me and I needed to be human to talk.
Reluctantly I shifted back into a human eyeing the Uchiha.
"Why are you in my room?" Granted that was a bit late to be asking that question. (A whole month late. But still you got to start from somewhere right?)
"Nagato wanted to talk to you as soon as you woke up." He stated.
"And you had to get into my bed to tell me that?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"No. But you didn't let go of my shirt when I brought you up here." Oh, well okay then. Ignoring that part of the conversation.
"Where's Nagato?" I asked standing straight. He indicated I follow him. I was very reluctant to, but I'd rather get to try and figure out the Uchiha's mind. He did spend a month with me. Who knows what he could have found out about me? Which reminded me, "Just asking, but why did you eat all my chocolate?" I asked watching as his back stiffened. "You had chocolate on your ears that I thought was mud."
"It was sweet." He said softly. I almost didn't catch that but that made me smile. So Itachi really did like sweets. That was good to know I guess. But then again.
"So, Naruto really did eat Keira's ramen?"
"He was going into withdrawal." Itachi sounded like he himself couldn't believe it.
"That sounds like Naruto." I could forgive him for the ten-minute argument between Keira and Memphis. "What time is it?" He caught the hidden message.
"7:30. You slept the whole night." Okay then.
I stopped when I was passing my brats room. I was still a bit wary of the ninja. When I opened the door ten pairs of eyes snapped to me, but I ignored them for the two little bundles on the beds. Keira was wrapped in her blue blanket while Memphis was at an uncomfortable angle. But since this was him I was assuming that it was comfortable. Why else would his body get in that position?
I was tempted to grab them and take them to my room so we could sleep. But right now, I had other concerns to deal with. I could trust Naruto and Sakura to not hurt my brats. (And I suppose the Akatsuki since they hadn't done anything yet.)
I continued following Itachi once I closed the door.
We emerged into the living room to see Nagato and Kakashi watching Scream. From the DVD's laid out I was guessing they were going to turn this into a marathon.
"Nice to see you awake." Kakashi drawled. "I thought Itachi was keeping you occupied."
"Kakashi." Nagato warned. I just rolled my eyes. Kakashi reminded me a lot of Analia. In that they were both overly suspicious and hard.
"Please if you must entertain your perverted mind then continue." I spoke. "It must be boring without your precious Icha Icha." Kakashi looked at me with an eye smile.
"Quite."
"You know we have books here that are that sort too." I offered not moving to sit like Itachi had. Kakashi's eye gleamed.
"I doubt they have the simplicity and very detailed scenes of Icha Icha." I shrugged wondering if I was doing the world a favor here. I walked over to the bookshelf and waved my hand. The top shelf shimmered before disappearing. I grabbed the first book in the series and threw it to Kakashi. "I want that back you know. It's a signed copy."
I watched as Kakashi lazily read over Fifty Shades of Grey. I turned my attention to Nagato.
"I'm sorry about not warning you I was going to pass out before. The Healer's gave me a sleeping potion. I'm actually surprised I didn't pass out on you sooner."
"It's fine." Nagato said. "Your magic was depleted after your last transformation."
"It's nice to know the 'familiar' bond is still there." I commented dryly. I was stuck with these guys forever now; I might as well get used to it. "May I ask if you've come to a decision yet?"
Team 7 will go back to Konoha and resume wherever we left off." Kakashi said already a few chapters in. Wow he read fast. "Naruto is very particular about going home."
"Akatsuki has no reason to go back since we are, dead." Nagato said. "We would be better to stay with you since we are more comfortable with you."
"I was wondering about that." I spoke. "I guess having a whole month to think, really does give you an advantage. Have you talked over my rules?"
"Akatsuki can follow them. We're mainly concerned with what you and your superiors will think about us."
"Eh like I said, you're not the first people from another dimension to come here. The Elders are all about peace and talking so if you do the talking then I'm pretty sure you can talk your way into staying here."
"Your Elders would listen?" Kakashi asked. I nodded meeting their eyes.
"The Elders know that peace is a good thing, and that kindness, logic, and trust are hard to come by in most dimensions which is why they give it out here. Although if you break that trust you won't get a second chance."
"Your system seems to be a tough yet simple ruling." Nagato said.
"If you want you can read about it. The books are all in the library and you can find more about the world in general on TV or the various technology devices we have. I trust you all to not do anything stupid."
"Thank you." Nagato said simply. I nodded.
"When do you think you can change everyone else back into humans?" Itachi asked. I thought about it. To change them back would take a good deal of magic. If Kakashi, Nagato and Itachi had to use my magic to change then the others would need the same amount. But to give out my magic like that would backlash on me and leave me weak. I might even pass out again. And there was no way I was going to leave Keira and Memphis alone with these guys, let alone Hidan and Deidera, unsupervised.
Potions won't work since they usually need a spell written by three for something this big. A simple spell won't work; I'd need the Power of Three for that also. And I can't do this myself since I'll end up in a coma again and I'm not looking forward to leaving the Akatsuki in charge of my brats. Can't tell anyone else yet, like the Elders, since the ninja must be certifiably 'sane' and 'good guys'. Not to mention if I did tell anyone else I would have the fangirls beating down my door. That is not something I needed right now.
"I guess I should call my team now." I murmured thinking about the best way to tell Analia Kakashi was real and in my house. "I'm going to be needing their help with this."
"We can wait while they arrive." I nodded already getting a headache. I went back to my office and picked up the phone. I cannot remember where the hell I put my cellphone again.
Itachi leaned against the doorjamb to wait while I made the calls. What? Did I get no trust?
'Someone better be dying.' Ariel snapped.
"Hello to you to." I greeted. "I'm calling a team emergency."
'But I finally managed to take the day off.'
"Oh, trust me Ariel. This is something you're going to want to see for yourself."
'What you finally got a boyfriend who won't cheat?'
"Ariel I just need you here to help me with this. Can you do that for me?"
'Fine, I'll be there in an hour."
"Make it forty-five minutes. Trust me you'll love me for eternity."
'Fine.' She hung up. I started to call Analia.
"Is there any chance they would try to hurt us?" Itachi asked. I snorted.
"Oh, they'll be more likely to faint."
Hello?'
"Analia, team emergency."
'Why is it whenever I try to watch this damn movie someone always has to call?' Analia yelled.
"What movie is it?"
'The Last Song.'
"Oh. The father dies and she goes back to school after getting some of her brattiness kicked out of her."
'Thanks for that.' I heard the remote hit something, most likely the table. 'I'll be there in thirty minutes.'
"Please and thank you." I hung up. What else did I need to do?
My stomach growled.
"I need food." I muttered. But I didn't want to cook right now. Besides I didn't want any breakfast, I wanted something like dinner.
"Come on, I'll make you something." I regarded Itachi warily.
"I'm not sure I want to eat anything you make. No offense but you don't exacting seem like the cooking type."
"Neither do you." Touché. Dammit now my curiosity was peaked.
"Fine, but if I die I'm coming back to haunt you." He raised an eyebrow. "Trust me, ghosts are real." I reluctantly got up from my desk to follow Itachi to the kitchen. He was pulling out a pot, so I figured he was going to take a while. I looked over into the living room via the window. Kakashi was deeply immersed in the book while Nagato was watching Scream.
Probably trying to figure out if all girls were that stupid. I chuckled at that thought. Who in their right mind carried the phone with them and didn't use it to call the police? Or to use it as a weapon. (I was a firm believer that anything could be made into a weapon.) I turned my attention back to Itachi to see him making some sort of soup.
"You know I never figured I'd be eating food cooked from an Uchiha." I thought aloud. "I didn't even know if you could cook."
"How else was I supposed to survive Akatsuki?" He murmured. I nodded.
"Good point." Nothing was said as we descended into a comfortable silence.
Strangely enough, I could get used to something like this. But then again I was with the quieter members of Akatsuki and Kakashi. They didn't really say anything unless it was necessary. (I am so glad I chose them as my familiars.)
My senses peaked as Itachi put a bowl in front of me. I looked at it seeing the noodles, tomatoes, rice, and other things. It smelled good.
"If I die, then please take care of my brats." I said seriously.
"You haven't eaten it yet." I took a breath before taking a bite. I blinked at the interesting flavors.
"You know, I might need to have you cook as your rent. This is good."
"Hn." I started to eat the soup as 'civilized' as possible. Hard to do when this was good food. When I finished Itachi put the dishes into the dish washer. Hmm… that was, disconcerting. I guess. I was comfortable around him but not. He was familiar but not. It was like having someone from your past around. And wasn't that a scary thought for me?
"I don't understand this world." Nagato said when we joined him in the living room.
"Knife- wielding maniacs are more of the human variety." I explained. Might as well, we did have to wait for Analia and Ariel. My brats would wake up around lunch. It did take a while for the Memory Blocks to set. "Witches prefer to kill each other with spells that turn you against each other, a fireball to the chest, or simple voodoo like Hidan does."
"You kill each other?" Kakashi asked.
"Not really. Unless you happen to be part of the Harmon family and the Drago family. They have some feud going on between them, been like that for centuries. They do tend to get bloody but it's winding down since Thalia Harmon and Erik Drago got engaged. The only times we try to kill each other is when some witch has gone off the deep end and turned evil."
"You can turn evil?" Nagato asked looking at me.
"You really should read that book. There will always be good and evil; you just have to fight until one side weakens enough to be overpowered. But for a witch, yes we can turn evil. If we're willing to give up our moral judgment and kill an innocent."
"You sound like you know about that personally." Trust Kakashi to be that perceptive.
"I should. My mother killed an innocent." Not exactly of her own free will but I wasn't going to sharing that story.
An awkward silence ensued that was only broken by the screams from the TV. Ten minutes passed with none of us saying anything. Not that I minded but these were ninja. Chances were they were thinking of some background for me.
I got up when I felt a familiar spike in the shields.
"Amaya?"
"Shift. Now." I ordered as the glass started to vibrate.
"What's going on?" Nagato asked.
"My father is here." No need to delve deeper into that since they shifted right away. I didn't move when the vibrating became a shrill song that made my familiars cover their ears. I was almost tempted to cover my ears when the noise suddenly stopped.
"Hello Maya." Standing in front of me looking in very good condition was my father. Gabriel (not the angel, the witch.) Nagato, Itachi, and Kakashi moved to stand beside me not exactly knowing how to take this. I'll admit the sight of my father brought out some good memories from my childhood, but I was more focused on the things he'd done after my mother had left.
"Trust you to make such an obvious entrance." I muttered. He didn't look moved from his casual stance. "I see you've been spending time with the angels again."
"They have so many things they can teach us. But unfortunately, I am still just a witch in their eyes. And your father. Which brings me to why I am here."
"And here I thought it was for the coffee." I spoke. He regarded me silently for a moment.
"You look so much like your mother it's almost scary." I glared at him. Itachi growled while Kakashi and Nagato hissed at the feelings that caused. My father only gave them a cursory glance before continuing. "I heard that you had taken in your aunts children."
"Why do you say that like it's a bad thing?" I asked.
"I also heard that they are the reason you're in retirement." Of course. Only my father would make me this irritated within the span of a few minutes.
"Don't go blaming Keira and Memphis for something I chose." I snapped. "I didn't want my siblings to end up in China with my other grandmother."
"So, you chose to stop fighting and to raise a bunch of children? Your skills weakened and rusted causing you to almost lose a fight against a couple of Disturi." Those words, spoken in the softest voice made it seem like he'd shouted it.
"You know it would be nice if my parents would stop by and just say 'hi' occasionally. Connie only comes around when she wants to either kill me or have me kill her and you only come around when I seem to screw up." I growled. "Or do you just come around to mock me?"
"Watch your tone little girl. I'm still your father."
"Barely." I muttered. He ignored that jab to continue.
"You were a Guardian. You were a commander. Why would you give it up for a couple of brats who won't even thank you for your time and patience?"
"Is that how you feel about me?" I asked sharply. His grey eyes, my eyes, turned stormy.
"You are my daughter. My only child. You dare to accuse me of making you a burden?"
"You're the one who said it." I growled. "And just because you're my father does not give you the right to decide my life for me. I chose to become a Guardian on my own terms. I chose to give it up for my siblings when I wanted to."
"And has it been rewarding to you? Don't tell me you don't miss the thrill of hunting a pack of demons who've just slaughtered innocents. You seriously chose wiping some snot and running after two little brats like a common stay-at-home parent against your nature of hunting and killing? This is not who you are Amaya. You are a Black. And a Black stays in the shadows to make the world safer." I had been taping down on my anger while he spoke but that was a bit too much.
"I know who I am." I shouted. I just barely stopped myself from blowing up the coffee table. (No need to waste more money). "If you were so concerned about me and my life then you should have said something a year ago instead of 'hiding in the shadows'. You don't get a say in anything I do anymore. I'm not a child." Well maybe to him I was.
We stared at each other while the tension grew thicker.
"You are giving up your life." My father murmured. "You could be a great Guardian."
"No. This is my life. Keira and Memphis are the only reason I am here right now." I growled. "If it weren't for them, you would have had to bury me alongside my mother. You might think that they are holding me back and keeping me weak, but they are the only things I still fight for."
"What about your team?" He asked desperately. Losing me once had an impact it seemed. "You three are the strongest the Covenant has."
"In case you didn't know I do go on a mission but only if they concern a Level 4 or 5. And thankfully those are rare enough." For the first time in a long time, I saw a bit of humanity in my father's eyes. Sadness and fear, for me. Well, I had that unfortunate tendency to see things from both sides. And dammit it was kicking in. "I know what I am doing daddy. You don't need to worry about me anymore." He sighed.
"You're right. But you are my child. And a parent, no matter how aloof, has to care even a little." I nodded.
"So did you come here just to let loose your anger on me or did you actually bring me something?" I asked trying to lighten the mood. A smile crossed his face briefly making him the father from my childhood.
"Just like your mother. I could never win an argument against her too." I shrugged.
"That's because you suck at arguing. You should spend some time with the American Indians. Those women know how to argue." And rightly so since I was descended from them. He threw a small bag at me that I caught deftly. I glanced at it warily before looking back at my father.
"Dust from a Unicorn's horn. Use it wisely." Sh*t. You had to be pretty rich or pretty fast to get this stuff. Unicorns didn't like men touching them, at all.
"Thanks dad." I nodded. He glanced at my familiars before opening his mouth again.
"You might want to file a report about your friends with Ilita. She's stern but she can get anything done in half the time it takes the lazier Elders to do anything." I nodded. "I would suggest you also make sure that the portal in your room is secure." I nodded again before he disappeared with a flash of light and a shrill shriek from the glass.
I looked down at Nagato, Itachi, and Kakashi who were looking up at me. I snorted. "Why do I even bother hiding anything from him? That man is a nuisance, but he knows everything."
Ten minutes later there was a knock on the door. Followed by an incessant ringing of the doorbell.
"Could they try to act civilized?" I wondered. But no, this was Analia and Ariel.
When I opened the door Ariel was about ready to push the doorbell again.
"Do that again and I'll break your wrist." I warned. "The kids are still sleeping."
"Sorry but you woke me up at 6 this morning." She snapped.
"Yeah it better be good." Analia agreed. I just pulled them inside. "What was so important you had to wake us up and drag us to the boonies?" I sighed rubbing my head.
"I need your help to cast a Power of Three spell on my cats to turn them back into human and then I want you to keep your mouths shut until I get their papers processed. Analia, you're going to need to send Naruto and co. home since the Akatsuki want to stay here and in my house. Did you get all that?" I asked quickly. Analia and Ariel stared at me for a full three seconds.
"I think the Disturi hit her a bit too hard." Analia spoke. Ariel just looked at me. I groaned.
"Nagato can you help me out here?" I asked the red kitten. He nodded before jumping off the couch and padding over to me.
"Look she taught him a trick." Ariel said happily. He just looked at her before shifting. I watched the shock and surprise go through my teammates heads before they spoke.
"Holy-"
Damn-" And then they fainted. Kakashi and Itachi caught them before they could fall though. Not that I was worried since Analia's head was like a rock.
"I should have seen that coming but honestly I had adrenaline and a good deal of time to work through it." I spoke.
"Thank you for not fainting." Nagato said. I shrugged.
"I probably would have fainted if I had this sprung on me. Analia and Ariel actually like you Nagato." He blinked. "They can sympathize with you and so can other girls. Which reminds me I forgot to tell you that."
"Forgot to tell us what exactly?" Kakashi asked narrowing his eyes.
"That you guys have fangirls in my dimension." I sighed. "Kakashi you should probably stay a cat once Analia wakes up. The chance of you getting raped is very high."
"I don't think she would be able to catch him." Itachi said. I snorted.
"Analia basically moves kind of like Obito. Except through dimensions and little pockets that she sees. You have to ask her." I said going to the kitchen. I think I have some smelling salts somewhere around here.
"They know who we are?" Nagato asked when I returned. I nodded.
"When the Elders figured out that there were other dimensions besides the demons and underworld, they had a few of the Dimensional witches scout them out. Before then Dimensional witches only used to travel from place to place. One second they could be in the living room and the next second they could be upstairs. They were called Teleports back then. But after Sesshomaru came through along with InuYasha and his friends everything was practically cracked wide open. Dimensional witches were constantly going places. Which is how we figured that every book, story, and alternate world was in fact true. Analia, Ariel, and I chose to study your world in place of the Soul Reaper Realm. Along with a bunch of other girls who found you guys to be good-looking."
"So, everyone in this world knows about us?" Kakashi asked.
Yep. It's one of the reasons I'm hesitant to tell anyone you are here. Well, that and your story kind of finished four years ago." I put the smelling salt under Analia's nose. Her eyelids flickered. I quickly brought Ariel around.
"Damn that was a good dream." Analia sighed. She looked up at me smiling. Her eyes darted to my left to see Nagato.
"Are you alright?" He asked when her eyes widened.
"Holy sh*t!" Ariel cried seeing Itachi.
"Before you two jump up and glomp someone I just want to remind you that they are armed and dangerous." I spoke.
"You mean sexy and dangerous." Analia muttered getting up. I couldn't help the grin.
"That too."
"I apologize for startling you, but Amaya thought it would be better if we remained as cats until she at least warned you." Nagato said cordially.
"Some warning." Ariel said glaring at me.
"What? I told you Akatsuki was here and so was Team 7."
"You said 'Naruto and co.' not Team 7." Analia pointed out. I shrugged.
"Well, I was hoping to get this over with quickly. But Nagato Uzumaki, Kakashi Hatake, Itachi Uchiha meet Analia Ream and Ariel Cloud my teammates and sisters in everything but blood."