Chapter Twenty-Seven: Christmas and Goodbye
~Amaya's POV~
One Month Later…
"Hey Maya, did you get the last of the ginger?" Ariel called from the kitchen. Down in the basement Analia and I were trying to set off the last of the potions that would be needed to make the portal stabilize enough to let Team 7 return home. After three weeks, it was done. I was kind of sad that it was.
"Yes, I sent it up thirty minutes ago. I think." I mumbled the last part under my breath but I didn't see any ginger in the boxes so I assumed it was true. Of course Hidan and Deidera could have done something to it. They were constantly trying to figure out where the Golden Flower was after I banned them from ever drinking it again.
"Drop in the Azalea, crushed Balsam, and the Belladonna extract and we should be good."
"What about the Bells of Ireland?" I asked tossing the ingredients in.
"I added that first." Analia reported. "I figured we'd need some luck so why not? And it's been working so far." I shrugged.
"True enough. Although you might want to work on your aim. We ended up in the Warring States Era, or somewhere near the end of it yesterday."
"I know, I know, I know." Analia sighed. "You mess up one time and they hold it against you forever." She muttered under her breath.
"What are friends for?" I asked sweetly.
"Amaya! I need some help here." Ariel yelled. I looked at Analia.
"Go I got this. I just need to add in the Cape Jasmine Gardenia seeds and I'm all done."
"Don't forget the Maiden's Hair. Otherwise we'll end up materializing in the middle of the war and we'll have to explain everything."
"I remember! And if she burned the sweet potatoes I'll kill her!" Analia yelled back.
"I won't burn it!" Ariel yelled before showing me the burned sweet potatoes. "Help me." She whispered. I groaned.
"You two, what are you going to do without me?" I asked rhetorically as I concentrated on undoing maybe an hour's worth of burning on the food. "Where's the guys?"
"They're trying to figure Toothless out. Hiccup's trying to keep Jack from raping him under the tree. Keira and Memphis are running around upstairs trying to avoid Kakuzu and Kisame," A loud thud followed by a curse sounded from upstairs. "Team 7 is outside fighting in the snow with Hidan and Deidera and Konan went to check on the attic." Ariel reported. I nodded.
"Well all seems to be going perfectly." I noted happily.
"Sorry we took a while." Yahiko called coming in the back door with a huge cardboard box. "The fangirls at the gate seem to be increasing." My confused gaze was torn away from Yahiko as Itachi and Nagato came in. Nagato looked okay if a little torn up but Itachi looked like he was run over. Lipstick kisses were drawn on his face while real lipstick stains were on his hands.
"Who the f*ck touched you?" I asked glaring at the reds and pinks. Itachi stiffened.
"It's alright."
"Like hell it is." I growled feeling my inner panther growl in warning. I stalked over to Itachi and grabbed the front of his shirt. He willingly leaned so I could kiss his lips.
"Do you have to be so visual?" Sasuke's voice asked coming in. I pulled away to glare at him. He raised an eyebrow before taking in Itachi's look. The smug smirk appeared on his face.
"Fangirls?" He asked his brother. Itachi sighed.
"Yes."
"And I'm going to kill them." I announced getting ready to shift. Itachi's arms wrapped around my waist keeping me in the kitchen.
"No you will not."
"If you value your sex life I suggest you let go and let me rip those girls to shreds." I exclaimed patiently. Itachi sighed as Sasuke shook his head. Yahiko laughed as he and Nagato left for the living room.
"I told you she was possessive." Ariel tutted. I sulked as Itachi picked me up.
"I wouldn't love her any other way." He murmured in my ear as he carried me into the living room.
"Suck up." I mumbled but allowed him to drop us on the couch. Sasori was flipping through channels on the TV while Kakuzu was finally reading the Encyclopedia on the big fluffy rocking chair. Jack and Hiccup were talking with Konan who was taking pleasure in seeing Hiccups face turn red. I based that on her smiles whenever she asked a question.
A huge pine tree was standing to the side of the TV looking very splendid with it's glittery decorations and some of the homemade ones Keira and Memphis had done with Kisame and Kakuzu. Presents were piled underneath the tree while the open fireplace made everything look and feel like a Christmas card with family.
"Happy?" Itachi asked simply. I smiled nodding my head.
"Yeah. In a weird homicidal way this, feels like home." I admitted. He nodded satisfied with that. I decided to tease by adding, "It would feel much better if I could kill the women who touched you though." He snorted.
"It would be greatly satisfying if I could kill every man who touched you. Akatsuki not included of course."
"Ah, just cute. But I beat you to that." I grinned as he raised an eyebrow.
"MAAAYYYAAAA!" Keira yelled happily as she came flying down the stairs. Kisame and Kakuzu on her tail. She jumped onto Itachi knowing that Kisame and Kakuzu wouldn't tackle him. They glared at Keira standing a few feet away.
"Hey where's Memphis?" I wondered. The weight landing on my lap was a surprise and a very painful reminder that Memphis' powers were coming in. The small child grinned.
"Scared you didn't I?" I rolled my eyes adjusting him so his skinny joints weren't hurting me anymore.
"No. You just hurt. What have you been eating kid?"
"I did so scare you." His smile widened. I gave him a bland look before grabbing Memphis and using all my strength to throw him into the air. Kisame of course jumped and grabbed him before he fell on the floor.
"Yay! Again, again, again!"
"Aw, I want to do that!" Keira pouted at Itachi who simply handed her to Kakuzu. Her pout worked better on the old miser than it did on Itachi.
"He disappeared on us." Kisame sighed holding Memphis protectively. "Turned the corner into one of the walls and disappeared."
"His powers are coming in." I sighed. "Oh that's going to be a nightmare."
"Hm, at least I got the more manageable of the two." Kakuzu grumbled. I decided to stomp on his glee by opening my mouth.
"Wait until she's a teenager. She'll be completely obsessed with boys and her looks." Kakuzu's glare was enough to have me cringing into Itachi.
"Whatever fool thinks he will be good enough for her will be quickly disillusioned." Kakuzu growled. I nodded quickly not wanting to wake up with Kakuzu standing over my bed and killing me in the future. Itachi could only protect me for so long.
As if sensing my thoughts Ariel came into the living room with a yell.
"FOOD'S DONE!"
"About f*cking time!" Hidan yelled coming in the back door. Everyone started to mobilize and move to the dining room where a large table was set up with a pile of food fit for kings. Which of course meant Hidan and Kakuzu would be well-fed. Sasori was the only person who rolled his eyes and stayed in the kitchen. At least until I glared at him. He wasn't much of a puppet anymore (Ariel and I had 'accidently' used a spell on him. Insert evil laughter.)
"Analia, get your butt up here." I called getting into my seat on the left side of the Head of the table. The Akatsuki and Team 7 loudly shouted and joked about who was sitting where.
"That's my seat teme!" Naruto yelled as Sasuke sat beside Sakura. On her other side was Kakashi.
"Too slow dobe."
"Maa, maa, Naruto why don't you sit across Sakura? Or beside me?"
"But-"
"Jesus kid, sit down before I make you." Kisame sighed waiting for Naruto to move. Naruto groaned before dragging himself across the table so he could sit beside Nagato. Itachi sat on Kakashi's left while I sat beside him. Across me Konan and Ariel were chatting about cooking.
"You should cook more often." Ariel was saying. "I tried that apple thingy you made yesterday and it was good!"
"Thank you, but I'm more of an origami person." Ariel waved it off.
"So? I'm more of a demon hunter and look at the spread I made. Even Amaya and Analia have a hobby."
"Analia's hobby is playing Halo. It's not exactly innocent since she kills everything in sight." I pointed out.
"RAMEN!" Naruto yelled in delight.
"What is it with you and Ramen, un?" Deidera asked. "You act like it's the food of the heavens or something." Naruto's scandalized face was answer enough.
"You've done it now." Kakashi sighed opening his book.
"RAMEN IS THE FOOD OF THE GODS!" Naruto yelled.
"Crazy Konoha nin's." Sasori muttered.
"Kakashi-sensei, don't read that at the table!" Sakura protested.
"Why not? He'll read that smut anywhere he can." Sasuke muttered.
"I'm constantly torn between respect and humor for you guys for surviving as his teammates." Yahiko chuckled.
"It's probably more of an obligation by this point." Sakura sighed.
"You wound me." Kakashi said dramatically.
"OI! CAN WE F*CKING EAT NOW!" Hidan yelled.
"Watch your language idiot." Kakuzu said smacking him in the back of the head. Keira and Memphis laughed as Hidan turned to glare at his partner. "There are children present."
"Hidan, remember our threat." Analia growled coming in through the kitchen carrying a glazed ham. Hidan scowled but muttered something under his breath.
"Congratulations, Hidan says he'll pray." Sasori announced sitting across from Hidan. Hidan glared at Sasori who only smirked. Everyone looked at Hidan before looking at me.
"I'm actually kind of curious about this." I said grinning. Sasuke's smirk was probably the best Christmas present I could've asked for since he just looked like Naruto's twin in that moment.
"Fine." Hidan glared at all of us before we bowed our heads not bothering to close our eyes. "Jashin-sama, please allow us to eat this delicious as fu-" SMACK "GOD-" Smack "What the fu-" SMACK "You fuc-" THUD "Pansy assed mother-" THUNK "AAAHHHHH!"
All around the table were satisfied smiles.
"Amen." I said looking up at Hidan who was twitching on the floor from Sakura's fist.
"Amen"
"Presents!" Keira yelled happily as she and Memphis dove for the first red box they could see. Which was the biggest one there.
"It always amazes me that they recover so fast from eating the buffet style food." Analia sighed plopping onto the couch to watch the kids with a content smile.
"Yeah." I yawned. "Makes it all worth it."
"Kazu!" Keira ran over to him with a small golden box. Her cheesy grin was enough to make Kakuzu take the box from her to the amusement of everyone else. "Merry Christmas Kakuzu!" She hugged him causing him to return it before she ran back to her presents.
"Aw, you do have a heart." Ariel sniffed. Kakuzu's glare was enough to cause laughter and snickers.
"Merry Chrismas Kisa!" Memphis cried holding up a blue shiny box with a shy look on his face. Kisame's touched face was enough for me to remember the present I'd spent the better half of a month talking about with Ariel and Analia.
"Thanks squishy." Memphis smiled before jumping onto a green wrapped present.
"Analia? Can you get the list?" I asked. She nodded before making a show of pulling a rolled up piece of paper out of thin air.
"What's that?" Naruto asked curiously.
"A list." She sniffed. "If I call your name get your ass upstairs to the attic ladder. If I don't stay here and watch the kids until we get back."
"Bossy b*tch." Hidan muttered before Analia started.
"Uzumaki Naruto and Nagato, Uchiha Sasuke and Itachi, Konan, Yahiko, and Hatake Kakashi, please get your butts up and follow Ariel up the stairs."
"Why?" Sasuke asked suspiciously.
"For your Christmas present." I replied succinctly. "Sasori, Kakuzu, keep an eye on the idiots."
"Hn." Sasori nodded not bothering to look interested as usual.
"Why are we going up to the attic?" Itachi asked once I was on the landing. I smiled.
"You'll see." And hopefully won't do anything stupid. Once everyone was crowded in the hallway I shoved my way to the front to help Ariel with the lack to the trap door.
"Why is this so hard?" Ariel grumbled as she nearly hit her head with the ladder.
"That's what she said." Analia snorted.
"Please act your ages." I sighed before jumping to grab the top of the ladder rung and swinging my body up and into the attic. Analia and Ariel followed my example while the ninja simply jumped straight up into the surprisingly warm and friendly attic that was covered with pillows, couches, a flat screen TV with Dish hooked to it and a buffet table in the back that was being kept warm by a spell.
"Why are we here?" Naruto asked eyeing the spot in front of the TV that had five circles drawn on the floor along with candles around the whole room connected by white chalk.
"Simple." Analia answered getting in front of the middle circle. Analia and I joined her to face the ninja. Ariel waved her hand and the door snapped shut.
"We feel that we owe you seven a proper Christmas, at least what it means to us. And since we are in the time of Miracles we want to show you what magic is capable of."
"Of course we could have done this in October but we were kind of busy." Ariel said.
"What are you talking about?" Naruto asked. I sighed.
"Magic is good, at least our kind and it can do a lot of things. Things chakra and ninjutsu can't do. What we're going to do for you seven is not a ninjutsu that requires a life in exchange nor is it a genjutsu. We don't know how to do that. Also the people we are calling are in their right minds and know about this plan since we kind of had to talk to them about it last night but they agreed to it."
"This is not a side effect of a drug or anything like that." Analia added. I nodded.
"So with that in mind, please don't kill them. You only have until midnight with them as that's how long our magic will work on this day." Ariel spoke quickly. I nodded before breathing in a breath and reciting in unison with Analia and Ariel.
"Spirits across the space and skies,
Come to us we call you near,
From crazy and perverted to wise,
Come so that all may become clear,
We call you here and now,
You five we call and allow"
In a rapid swirl of golden orbs seven shadows appeared already talking and yelling at each other.
"-sensei!" A tall blond sighed.
"What's Kushina-chan gonna do? I'm already dead." A taller man with rugged white hair grinned perversely. The red haired woman he was obviously taunting was seething as her red hair rose to form a swirling mass of hair tentacles.
"He's going to die." A woman with jet black hair sighed shaking her head.
"If I didn't know Kushina-chan would kill him I'd help her." A small girl with brown hair and purple markings on her cheeks sighed.
"Hmph, he deserves it." A stern man with dark hair grunted.
"Should we hold a funeral for him?" A boy with black spiky hair and orange goggles asked as he sweat-dropped.
"I doubt there will be anything left." Fugaku muttered as everyone nodded.
"Whatcha think Kushi-chan?" Jiraiya asked looking very perverted as he leaned forward causing him to go from an intangible form to tangible and very much killable
"JIRAIYA!" The red head yelled as she jumped out of her circle and grabbed the toad pervert before body slamming his shocked and fearful body into the floor.
"I told him not to taunt her." Mikoto sighed as she watched her best friend kick Jiraiya of the Sannin in the balls. Her form along with the other two males became solid as they moved out of their circles a little.
"Shouldn't you be controlling her?" Fugaku asked Minato. Minato looked at him like he was growing another head.
"You actually expect me to 'stop' her? I may have been Hokage but I'm not a god by any means of the imagination." Obito laughed as Rin giggled at the absurdity.
"True." Fugaku nodded. Minato gave him a dry glare.
"I'd like to see you try and stop Mikoto from eating tomatoes." Fugaku coughed awkwardly.
"Er, yes I see the similarities."
"D-Dad?" Minato's face whipped around to see Naruto and the other ninja looking at him and his companions like they were ghosts. Which they kind of were. Minato's blue eyes locked with mine.
"Ah, you could have given us some warning." I shrugged.
"I talked to you last night. That was enough warning."
"Fair enough." Fugaku sighed turning to look at his sons. "Itachi, Sasuke." At her sons names Mikoto had turned so fast she was a blur as she was staring at her sons with tears in her eyes and a hand to her mouth.
"Tachi-chan? Sasu-kun?"
"Mother?" Itachi asked looking a little out of his depth.
"R-Rin? Obito?" Kakashi called.
"Kakashi-kun!" Rin smiled as Obito grinned big.
"About damn time Bakashi! I was starting to think I'd get old waiting for you to get up here." Obito yelled.
"Obito." Rin gently scolded causing Obito to blink and nod but the smile still stayed on his face. "Well what are you waiting for Kakashi-kun? Can I get a hug?"
"Kushina!" I called.
"What?" Kushina's fiery eyes looked at me. I simply pointed to her son then moved out of her path as her eyes focused on Naruto. Just in time too as she was across the room in the blink of an eye standing in front of Naruto .
"Mom?" Naruto's lost little boy voice was enough for my allergies to act up as I turned away from the touching scene.
"Jiraiya-sensei?" Konan asked as Yahiko poked him with a pretzel.
"I think he's dead." Yahiko said sounding panicked.
"He was already dead Hiko." Nagato sighed.
"Oh my boys, you've grown so much." Mikoto's voice sounded wobbly as she embraced her sons who looked short of fainting or sobbing. Sasuke's watery eyes indicated he was closer to breaking than Itachi who only closed his eyes.
"So you knew they were planning this?" Kakashi asked approaching Minato who was allowing Kushina to have the first hug and moment with their son.
"Yeah, kind of scared the sh-" Rin cut Obito off.
"They explained everything."
"Although you don't look like you were warned." Minato looked at us.
"We wanted it to be a surprise." Analia answered as I nodded happily.
"We'll just leave you guys up here now." Ariel said. "Remember the magic wears off at midnight. Make this count." Minato's sexy face split into a soft smile.
"We will. And thank you."
"I can die happily now." I murmured as we exited the attic. Analia and Ariel fanned themselves and nodded along with me.
"We still need to gift the others." Analia said.
"Maa, Keira knows where their presents are." I waved off looking outside at the snow falling. "When's the last time we enjoyed some peace and quiet to ourselves?"
"We don't have peace and quiet with all the missions being called in." Ariel grinned before grabbing a blanket from one of the rooms. "But we could just sit outside and drink hot chocolate. Everything here is pretty much good."
"I agree with that." Analia nodded.
"Should we tell the other boys then?" I asked as we descended the stairs.
"Might as well, they're likely to appear when we don't want them around. And I miss just being able to spend time with you crazy b*tches." Analia ducked Ariel's kick.
"You know, I was thinking this all through the other day." I said slowly as Analia, Ariel and I relaxed on the porch with a warm spell and blankets. The snow falling and the newly remodeled house added to the charm of being in another dimension.
"Thinking about what exactly?" Ariel asked taking a sip of her hot chocolate.
"Well... If Kaguya was the 'Mother of Shinobi' and she gave birth to Hagoromo and Hamuro... And Hagoromo birthed the Senju and Uchiha clan and Hamuro birthed the Hyuuga and Uzumaki... then wouldn't Sasuke and Naruto actually be cousins?" I asked as my brain was thinking through this.
"It's been established already." Analia reminded trying to get the last marshmellow in her cup. She'd chugged the hot liquid like it was nothing.
"Alright, but then wouldn't that make Hinata and Neji their cousins too? Along with Tsunade and Nagato?"
"What's your point?" Ariel asked not seeing where this was going other than to remind them of what they already knew.
"My point is simply this, if the Uzumaki, Senju, Uchiha and Hyuuga are actually related then why the hell haven't they acted on that? I mean Naruto and Sasuke are orphans and cousins to the Hyuuga then shouldn't they have, I don't know, taken them in? And Tsunade can't really hate Sasuke since that would be obvious favoritism, even if we can all understand her reasoning quite well. But wouldn't Naruto really be marrying his cousin Hinata?" I asked. Ariel and Analia blinked.
"... That makes a lot of sense..." Analia said slowly.
"You know I've actually never thought about any of this before. And certainly not that in-depth." Ariel had a frown on her face, "Now I'm just thinking about how wrong it is to marry your cousin. I don't think I'll be able to look at Hinata and Naruto the same way again."
"You're right... Should we just forget I said anything?" I asked.
"Absolutely."
"Please!" Analia shuddered. We went back to watching the snow come down as the sounds of the others inside were muffled. This was as close to silence as we could get. "But you know... Now that I'm thinking about this. It is ironic isn't it?"
"What?" I asked raising an eyebrow. Analia continued.
"That out of the four 'founding' clans, only the Hyuuga clan is left. Tsunade is the last Senju and if she hasn't reproduced by now then that line will die with her since Nawaki is already dead. And the Uchiha were wiped out thanks to Itachi and Obito. Sasuke and Sakura will most likely start with their daughter since ninja always seem to only have either one or two kids. Naruto and Hinata are pretty much combining their clans and we don't know if Naruto will continue the Uzumaki clan since Hinata is the Hyuuga heir. And the Hyuuga are in no imminent danger of dying since they still have a lot of members compared to their cousins."
"That's sad." Ariel murmured.
"Tragic. But then again we aren't sure if Hagoromo and Hamuro had other descendents."
"I hope he did. It would be sad if a great clan like that died." Ariel sighed.
"Here here." Analia and I agreed lifting up our cups.
"At least we know that the Uchiha clan will be reborn from our dear sweet sister's womb." Analia had to go and ruin the mood. I chucked my cup at her.
"Things are going to be better." Ariel sighed refilling her cup.
"Yeah." Analia drawled sarcastically as she tossed my cup back at me and rubbed her head.
"I can't wait to see what we'll be doing in a few months. Having ninja around will make things so much fun."
"Our definition of fun and yours is way different." I reminded. She shrugged.
"It doesn't matter. Team 7 will be leaving soon and the Akatsuki can certainly take care of things here. Which means Amaya can come back from retirement."
"You know on second thought, maybe I should make sure the Akatsuki really want to stay here with all this crazy going on."
"We'll be seeing you girls." Kakashi eye smiled as Team 7 waved goodbye.
"We will see you won't we?" Sakura asked.
"Yes," I nodded smiling at the pink haired medi-nin. "We'll drop in to visit every couple of weeks. I still want to see Sarada." I whispered the last part causing Sakura to blush and look at Sasuke.
"He will be a good father." Itachi said catching the apprehension in Sakura's eyes. Sakura nodded.
"I know he will be." She flexed her hands making me laugh.
"Now this is why I love you." I admitted hugging her.
"Thank you for everything." Sakura whispered. I nodded pulling away. Sakura moved aside as Naruto glomped me.
"No matter what, you're always going to be family to me." I smiled hugging the energetic blond back (I have officially done everything. I can die happily… well maybe after I see Himawari.)
"Take care of yourself little brother. And tell Hinata I said hi." Naruto pulled away to rub the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Ah, are you sure about… um, Boruto and Himawari?" I rolled my eyes.
"Of course. So long as you and Hinata get together soon you're going to be okay." Naruto nodded before moving to thank Itachi and stuff. Sasuke came up to me looking resigned.
"It took you long enough." Sasuke sulked. I smacked him head.
"We worked hard to get the dang portal." I lowered my voice. "Now you need to do your best and take care of yourself and Sakura."
"I know." He frowned looking down. "My mother… she talked about that." In a show of momentary loss of senses, Sasuke looked at me with actual feeling in his eyes. "Thank you."
"I know the pain of losing a parent." My thoughts drifted to my mother before I looked back at Sasuke. "Just make sure you stop being a big asshole and work on being civil." He snorted making the brief moment go. He moved to Itachi while I walked up to Kakashi giving him a blank stare.
"Time has flown by here. Thank you for everything." Kakashi eye smiled.
"Your welcome. And Kakashi?" He blinked at my hand. "I want my book back." He chuckled sheepishly.
"Right." He reached into his back pocket and grabbed the Fifty Shades of Grey series. "Sorry, they were really graphic."
"I know." I smirked. Kakashi's eye curved into a smile.
"Itachi is one lucky bastard."
"Why don't you try getting a girlfriend now?" I asked innocently. Kakashi gave me a look. "Or not. Have fun."
"Thank you." Kakashi murmured. "The gift you gave… it helped." I nodded.
"Take care of your cute little genin."
"Oh I will." I decided to ignore the evil gleam in his eye as Analia opened the portal.
"Time to go. All that's going ashore, get your butts over here." Analia yelled. Team 7 instantly ran through the portal leaving Analia shaking her head. "Ninja." She disappeared along with them.
"Will she be back?" Sasori asked.
"Yeah, she's got to make sure they get there alright." Melanie shrugged.
Itachi's hand wrapped around mine and squeezed. Oh yes, things were going to get better. And a lot more hectic since Keira and Memphis were now double trouble. Oh well, I'd have the Akatsuki to help with that. Nothing could happen while they were here. Nothing at all.
GM NASAI: Well all's well that ends well. Just kidding. I have one more chapter after this one and then it will be the end of To Be A Guardian. Time really does fly. Seems like a couple weeks ago when I started this story. (It kind of was). So show of hands, who expected the dead coming back for a few hours? I would have written more in depth about it but it wasn't really in the ninja's POV for this one. To make it all up to you I will be making the epilogue Itachi's POV. It'll be fun seeing him able to go into Konoha and talking to everyone again.
I also have a surprise, well two surprises for you in the next chapter. If anyone can guess what it is I will happily put any OC you want into the last chapter. And maybe the brief sequel. If I choose to do one anyway. Should I? Anyway thank you for reading my rant. Until next time.