To Be A Guardian
~3 years later~
'Thoughts'
"Talking"
"SHOUTING"
*** IMPORTANT NOTE AT THE BOTTOM***
"MOMMA!" I winced knowing that the screaming child was causing the glass in the house to react like it was at its breaking point.
"Looks like your child is back." The arms around my waist tightened not wanting to relinquish their hold on me. I snorted pulling at Itachi's ponytail.
"He's your son." Neither of us moved off the bed as the screaming child downstairs started laughing and a booming voice called out,
"THERE'S MY LITTLE SAME(1)!" Itachi snorted hearing Kisame's nickname for Nico(2). Nico's laughter floated up through the vents making my heart skip a beat. Longing and love filled me as I heard my child laugh and scream his delight at seeing one of his favorite uncles again.
"We aren't allowing your father to kidnap him again." Itachi murmured dangerously finally allowing me to move.
"You say that as if we have a choice in the matter honey. Besides, Sasori will have no doubt warned him about taking his godson away from him for so long again." I hopped off the bed pulling on worn jeans and tying my hair into a messy bun. I looked over the bed to see Itachi already looking at me with dark amusement and a glint in his eye. "What?"
"How would you feel about having another one?" I raised an eyebrow while an evil smile worked its way onto my face.
"Do you really want to go through the labor pains with me again?" I asked referring to the time Nico had switched from my seven month pregnant body to Itachi allowing him a week of suffering and hormones(3). "Not to mention the time I blew up every electronic thing in the house when Kakuzu made me cry."
"It's part of the adventure." A dry look came onto his face. "I'd rather the Uchiha clan wasn't re-birthed all thanks to Madara."
"Twins run in Ariel's family. She was just the only one born who didn't have a twin, or any siblings matter of fact. Besides, you love Eshima and Akiko." I tossed him a shirt which he put on without a fuss cutting off my view of his lovely stomach and abs and muscles and arms and... Two years of marriage and you'd think I would be used to how hot Itachi was.
"Honey?" Itachi smirked cupping my cheek. "Do I need to tell Nagato to take the kids out for the day?" I blushed.
"Shush you." I lightly smacked his arm. "Don't tease me with sex when I haven't seen my son for a week." The glint was back in his eyes.
"Nico can wait a few more minutes. At least until we're sure he has another sibling on the way." With that my brain shut off and I was pulling Itachi into a very heated make out session. How was it possible to still want someone even when you've already had them? I wondered this as Itachi lowered me onto the bed and would have taken things into a very M rated category if the loud clearing of someone's throat hadn't interrupted.
"Itachi if you get her pregnant again I will gladly make a puppet out of you." Sasori drawled. I peeked out from under Itachi's arm to see Sasori and Konan rolling their eyes.
"Do I need to go over sex education with you Amaya?" Konan asked smiling. I blushed.
"We're married." Itachi huffed getting up.
"And what we do behind closed doors is not a show for you perverts." I said taking Itachi's hand as he helped me up.
"Maybe not but your son is downstairs conspiring with his cousins." Sasori said. "Thought you'd want to stop the next Pants War before it even began." I paled at the thought of another 'revolution'. Itachi didn't even wait as he ran downstairs leaving me in the dust.
"So not fair." I whimpered already pining for my husband's warmth. Konan giggled putting an arm around me.
"I know. I have to wait for Dom to come back before I get to have any fun at all." I rolled my eyes.
"At least you two are discreet(4)."
"The brats are calming down(5)." Sasori huffed. "It would have been nice to just halt their hormones with a potion."
"Emotions can't be halted Danna. How many times have we told you this?" I smiled at his glare. "Even as a puppet you feel irritation."
"She's got you there Sasori." Konan smiled as we stepped off the stairs. Keira, Memphis and Nico were standing still as Itachi lectured them on magic use.
"Oh give it a break Uchiha." Hidan called from where he was sprawled on the couch. "Those little plans they think up are funny as hel-" Kakuzu threw the remote at his head. "Heck! Fudge you Kakuzu!"
"Then maybe we should leave you in charge of clean-up duty Hidan." I suggested.
"MOMMY!" Nico yelled and came barreling towards me. I opened my arms as a stupid smile splattered across my face. His gray eyes- the only thing he inherited from me- flashed happily.
"Oh I missed you so much!" I cried holding my squishy son tightly as I kissed his face. He giggled wrapping his arms around my neck. Itachi sighed, but wisely didn't say anything to interrupt my little mother/son moment.
"You're undermining your husbands teaching skills Maya!" I glared at Yahiko who yelped and hid behind Nagato.
"I have not held my precious child in a week!" I could feel the dark energy spreading as I worked on scaring the boys. "No interruptions!"
"Momma!" Nico immediately had my attention. "Momma! Grandpa took me to the top of the world! It was cold and windy and I saw a yeti!" Nico giggled.
"He did what?" I snapped. Nico, bless his little heart, didn't understand my killing intent. Oh my father was never going to hear the end of it from me. My eyes met Sasori's brown eyes and he nodded before walking into the kitchen. Scratch that, Sasori would take care of it for me.
"You lucky!" Keira called. I put Nico down so he could play with Memphis as Keira pouted. "Can we go next time?" Her pale face scrunched up as she tried to enter her newly acquired 'brat mode'. (Damn Kakuzu. I told him not to spoil her.)
"No honey, your mother will kill me." I explained patiently.
"Amaya!" Melody called. She held out an envelope with my name scrawled in fancy writing on it. "Looks like Andromeda needs you."
"I thought you were retired?" Nagato asked.
"Maternity leave(6)." I said getting the envelope from Melody. "I did my return paperwork just last week."
"Don't they take a month just to get to that stuff?" Melody asked. I nodded looking over the letter.
"Apparently Andromeda needs me." I looked up to meet Itachi's eyes. "Can you-"
"Yeah we'll watch the kids." Itachi nodded. I smiled in thanks and appreciation before kissing his cheek and running upstairs to change into my Guardian gear. Of course a shower never hurt anyone first.
"Make sure you cook him something. Knowing my dad he fed him nothing but sugary sweets." I told Itachi when he followed me to the car. "And NO POCKY! That's in caps there." Itachi's sweet smile almost made me believe he was innocent.
"Don't worry honey. We've got everything covered." I nodded before shouting louder.
"NAGATO! DON'T GIVE MY BABIES ANY SUGAR!"
"Alright!" He called back. Itachi rolled his eyes at my smirk.
"Sorry babe. But when it comes to you and sugar, I have to take certain measures."
"Don't bring any animals home." I scoffed.
"The last time that happened I ended up with you guys. And that wasn't entirely my fault." I hopped into the car and turned it on before remembering something. I turned my head and met Itachi's lips. When he pulled away he murmured,
"Come back safe."
"Always." I replied breathlessly. He moved back before I remembered I had somewhere to be and jumping my husbands bones in the garage was not going to be a good idea.
Instead I drove out of the garage and down the lane to the highway. Thirty minutes at eighty mph later and I was pulling up to a two-story glass building with witch runes burned into the glass and concrete. When I entered the cool building and approached the counter where the three secretaries (The Trinity as everyone else joked) were talking to each other while on the phone or computer I heard my name being called.
"AMAYA!"
"Oh shit." A second later I was lying on the marbled floor with a small bundle of energy hugging my stomach. "Really Ariel? You're a mother now!"
"She did that same thing to me." I looked up when Ana came into view.
"Great~. Can you get her off me? I need to see Andy."
"So do we!" Ariel cried letting go so she could scramble to her feet. I got up a little more gracefully. "Andy sent a letter. Told us to be here at 10:00."
"Looks like she wants all of us huh?" Ana said popping her gum. "How's my little nephew anyway?"
"He's fine. He came back from his 'week to the Himalaya's with Grandpa' this morning." I redid my ponytail all the while giving Ariel a glare who just shrugged it off.
"If you want to see Andromeda you should head up to her office now." Leah said not pausing her web surfing.
"She does not like it when people are late." Laney continued.
"Get moving ladies! We have a full day booked and I will cancel your meeting." Lyra commanded.
"Okay we're going!" Ana snapped back. I rolled my eyes while Ariel laughed like a child. Into the elevator and up we went before entering the chrome and glass burned with witch runes. Down the hallway we went until we reached a pair of dark mahogany doors with silver handles. Before we knocked the doors opened.
"About time." Andromeda commented when we entered and the door had shut behind us. "I was just about to cancel our meeting and reschedule. That would have been a very bad thing as I need you three to complete a few missions for me."
"What do you need?" I asked assuming the role of alpha while Ana fell into the beta and Ariel the omega position. Andromeda stopped writing and looked up to meet my eyes.
"Have a seat ladies." When we were seated Andromeda pulled out three thick manila envelopes. "We have a very real and very dangerous problem on our hands."
"What's the problem?" Andromeda handed us the envelopes.
"Lazari(7) have been banding together a lot lately. From what the Recon Unit says, they figured out they work better in numbers when they were in the East and now they're trying the same tactics here only in the raid that was sanctioned last week, one of the Umbra was captured."
"Who sanctioned the raid?" I asked. Andromeda rolled her eyes.
"Elder Gutnickt. Unfortunately he still thinks that the men are the strongest and we women are only making excuses about these kinds of problems. He sent in two teams- various names and details are provided." I nodded opening the folder and seeing names. Two of them caught my attention, Natalia Ream(8) and Diana Beaumont.
"Natalia was involved?" Ana asked harshly. She was tensed to either get up or start yelling, probably both when Andromeda glared at her.
"Sit. This is where it gets complicated." Ana didn't loosen up but she also didn't stand or start yelling so that was a bonus. "Natalia was the Umbra taken. We've been trying to search with the crystals and Sensors but we haven't found anything. Which is why I brought you three in. Lazari are dangerous on their own but paired with an Umbra, they could do anything."
"Natalia wouldn't-" Ana was cut off.
"I know and so does her team. But we cannot find her magical signatures anywhere. And even worse, the Lazari are gone too. Since Natalia is your sister we hoped that you would be able to find her better."
"Portal jumping isn't exactly an easy thing Andromeda. We'd need to figure out if she went to another dimension or somehow managed to go back in time or forward in time." Ariel answered. "I know Natalia was the first to find me when I ended up in the Warring Clans Era but this isn't the same thing. Natalia is even more progressed then Ana- sorry but it's true."
"No you're right." Ana said. "Natalia knows the schematics of portal jumping and pulling shadows to herself to hide but if the Lazari managed to pin her down, then they could potentially use her as a power source."
"Is there anywhere she would have taken them?" I asked suddenly. Ana stared at me, uncomprehending. "You know Natalia, Ana. You grew up together. In the event that the Lazari wouldn't have been able to break her- which is possible considering her will- would she have gone somewhere, taken them all and dragged them to another world, time or place?"
"I'd have to examine the sight where she disappeared first." Ana said looking at Andromeda.
"That can be arranged. The last traces would be in the Tyson Meat Packaging Plant(9) outside of town. They wouldn't have been able to hear any noises from that far away."
"What about the rest of the team members? Would they be able to help?" Ariel asked.
"They were interviewed already. There's a copy in the files for your perusal." I nodded.
"If we find anything we will be leaving as soon as we can." Ana said. I glanced at her knowing Ariel was feeling guilty about thoughts of our family.
"No. You leave when we are certain there is no trap lying in wait for you." I glared at Andy knowing she was hinting at the one time I had left without warning. Although, that had got me in the end so I understood the warning glance she returned.
"We will only allow a three hour limit." I amended. "If Ana can track her sisters trail and get us to wherever the Lazari are holding her then we're going."
"And if it's a trap?" Andromeda asked. I shrugged.
"Well that's where my familiar's come in. I'll take Yahiko, Konan and Hidan."
"No Itachi?" Andromeda asked in evident surprise. I shook my head.
"Someone needs to take care of Nico. Everyone else is needed at home and I know wherever we end up my familiars will be able to handle it."
"Are you two sure you want them along?" Andromeda asked Ana and Ariel.
"I approve of this." Ariel nodded.
"I'll take Hidan into a trap any day." Ana said seriously. "His immortality is useful and he's more likely to tip the odds in our favor."
"Very well. If you pick up the trail Ana," Andromeda said sternly making eye contact with Ana. "Then I want you to be careful when you take everyone with you. Make sure you two let your families know before you get to the scene." She looked at Ariel and I. "I know you don't want to wait and I don't want you to but this has never happened before and we don't know what the Lazari plan to do with an Umbra. Be careful. I'd hate to lose three of the best witches I've had the pleasure of knowing."
"Yes Commander." We intoned.
"And make sure wherever you end up, you don't bring anyone back with you. I would hate to lose another Guardian for a few years while she's on maternity leave."
"Thanks." I drawled sarcastically at the dig.
"Dude, rude." Ariel sniffed.
"No worries about me." Ana scoffed. "I'm happily dating someone."
"No further back up?" I asked just to be sure. Andromeda shook her head.
"The Mother, Maiden and Crone aren't going to risk sending any other Umbra after the Lazari in case it's what they want. You're the only back-up for now."
"Yes ma'am. And in the event of a just in case?"
"Then you get the hell out of there with anyone you think is in danger." Ana nodded. Andy turned to look at me severely.
"Good. You may leave. Report in via mirror when you're safe." Andromeda ordered before releasing us.
"Who are you dating?" Ariel asked, trying to break the tense silence.
"... Hidan." Ana said shortly.
"I'm sorry I must not be hearing you quite clearly." I said cleaning out my ears. "I thought you said you were dating Hidan." Ana gave me a look. "Well, it's just surprising okay? I thought he was married to his religion."
"Though that would explain your avoidance issues lately." Ariel said.
"Look," Ana snapped turning to face us before we reached the elevator. "Hidan and I aren't exactly exclusive and I don't think we ever will be. It's just a bit of fun right now, I'm not going to ask for anything more than we have going on right now. As for his religion-" The elevator dinged and Laney rushed out barely giving us a passing glance. Ana stepped into the elevator. "It's complicated okay? Just leave it at that."
"We weren't trying to make you defensive." Ariel murmured softly.
"It's just a shock." I shrugged. "You can hardly blame us. We aren't going to approve or disapprove. It's your life." I pressed the button.
"...Thanks." Ana murmured in a low voice.
"Now let's go get the familiars and head to the warehouse." Ariel said pulling attention away from the touchy subject. "Why is it always in a warehouse?"
"Good price range? Not one wants to approach the creepy places? It's haunted?" I asked rhetorically. "There's a lot of reasons."
"It's probably because of the movies they watch. Must make it seem cooler." Ana suggested.
"There is that." The elevator opened.
"Itachi!" I called when I exited the garage. An instant later and my dark and sometimes broody husband was right in front of me.
"Yes dear?"
I said with as much seriousness as I could. "Ana's sister was taken by Lazari. I need Yahiko, Konan and Hidan to come as back up. Can you handle Nico, Keira and Memphis? Auntie is going to be back in a few days to come get the kids so it'll just be you guys and Nico."
"How's Ana?"
"She's coming with Ariel and I. I'm not sure how long we'll be gone but I'll try to get back as soon as possible."
"I'll let Nagato know." Itachi nodded before doing a shunshin. I went to the fridge to make sure there were some food stuff inside. The pantry needed to be restocked but thankfully Sasori and Kakuzu could work the phone and the bank accounts.
"So you're leaving on a mission, un?"
"Yeah." I turned to pour some OJ into a glass of a cup. "I don't want to leave you idiots but it keeps the money flow coming. And this is personal."
"Make sure you find her Maya." Melody was practically burning with emotion from where she was leaning against the doorjamb. "Although from what Kakuzu says, we don't need money. The Black family fortune is vast."
"We'll find her my sweet little sister. And unfortunately I actually want to make sure we are not taken by surprise should someone get smart and try to rip our family off."
"So that's why you have Kakuzu making off shore accounts, yeah."
"WHAT?" I asked. Deidera stiffened but Melody nodded.
"He started a couple months ago."
"I need to talk to him." I snapped grabbing my cup and going outside to hunt that old miser down. "KAKUZU!"
"Uchiha, grab your woman before I hurt her." Kakuzu called not even looking up from the laptop. He was sitting on the porch in the shade with a glass of lemonade at his side. (He really had succumbed to the 'good life')
"You're making off shore accounts?" I asked, knowing Itachi was busy and Kakuzu wouldn't kill me on the off chance I would provide more nephews and nieces.
"Yes."
"Why? And why haven't I heard about what you're doing with my family money?"
"Setting up off shore accounts helps to keep the money untraceable and untouchable unless someone has some serious hacking material. I am trying to keep your family money from ending up in wrong hands or being funneled out so that Keira, Memphis and Nico do not end up penniless."
"... How do you even know about hacking?"
"Sasori and Itachi. They figured it out from YouTube and added a couple of seals and other protections that make it impossible for anyone other than us to get into the accounts." They can add seals and chakra to wireless things?
"More than one account?"
"You should never be stupid or eager when it comes to money." I nodded.
"And if I or the kids do need to get into the accounts?"
"Use your credit card. An allowance is monthly." I had to admit, the old man knew what he was doing.
"Okay. I'm leaving you in charge of the finances while I'm on my mission. Sasori is in charge of the food supplies, Itachi is in charge of Nico with everyone's help, and Nagato is in charge of everything else."
"Understood brat." I nodded before going inside to talk with Nagato and repeat my instructions. Konan and Yahiko met me in the front hall looking serious.
"You needed us?" Konan asked. I nodded.
"I need you in dog form. We're going to a site that has a bunch of dark magic lying around. I can't protect you in human form but your animal forms should keep the darkness away longer."
"Understood." Konan nodded.
"We're taking Hidan?" Yahiko asked.
"He's immortal. If we run into a trap he'll be able to take more damage than the rest of us." Yahiko nodded.
"Well I feel so fucking loved." Hidan growled coming from the living room. "Using me as bait huh?"
"Oh shut up, you actually get to kill someone... Probably." Hidan's red eyes glinted dangerously. "Though, you'll be in cat form."
"None of the house cat form." Hidan winced.
"A leopard?" I asked, slightly amused. He nodded. "Good. Ana will be coming for us soon." I concentrated on their forms easily able to pick their bonds out. (I had eventually gotten around to adding everyone but Kisame, Kakuzu and Sasori into my familiar arsenal. For obvious reasons the three left out were waiting for when their respective charges came into their full magic stores before being bonded.)(10)
Konan shrunk and feathers started growing from her skin and her clothes vanished. She let out a dignified caw before ruffling her feathers to get comfortable in her hawk form. Yahiko merely scratched his ear with his hind leg before sitting still like a good wolfy. Hidan was just sprawled on his side looking at me in anticipation. He licked his sharp teeth before purring.
"When will you return?" Nagato asked announcing his presence with Itachi and Sasori. I shrugged.
"I don't know. Ana will want to follow every lead until she finds her sister. And from the reports we read the trails are splintered off."
"Do you have your mirror?" Sasori asked. I nodded patting my thigh pocket.
"I'll call when I'm safe."
"Come back to me." Itachi murmured. I nodded as the floor started to curl with black smoke. Ana was ready.
"Don't worry." I couldn't help but adding. "I would never allow you an excuse to remarry." Wolf-Yahiko yipped in laughter as Konan let out a trill. Hidan just stuck out his tongue as we fell through the portal.
When we landed we were standing in a too white warehouse that smelled of a foul odor like chicken. I almost threw up in disgust. If the smell was overwhelming for me I felt sorry for my familiars. Konan flapped her wings and rose into the air to get a better view for look out. Hidan and Yahiko stayed by my side as we approached the back of the factory. Ana and Ariel were already crouched on the floor looking at the burned black lines that were in fragments all over.
"They tried to put in some shields." Ariel shouted when I was closer. The sound was worse here, louder and more distracting was the smell. "There's Lazari blood splattered all around but none that were fatally wounded."
"Has Ana found a trail yet?" I shouted back. Ariel shrugged. I made a motion to Hidan and Yahiko and they spread out sniffing and cataloging the floor and magical scents.
"She's been very interested in this part of the floor though." Ariel shouted after a few seconds. I looked around trying to figure out how the raid had gone. In my mind I could see the Lazari standing around, maybe they were talking or maybe they were fighting. But the raid was easy to separate from the Lazari. The raiders no doubt came in from the doors on both sides of the room, hid behind the giant white towers the factory used and then attacked.
They were probably set up to cage the Lazari in but Lazari were faster, stronger, and occasionally smarter. The fighting began in earnest. The score marks on the floor and various walls were probably from rune marked swords or knives. An occasional scorch mark was in random places on the walls. From magical energies still in the air, I was guessing the raiders were either outnumbered or they were surprised themselves.
Something wasn't adding up here. What could have surprised the raiders? More Lazari than they expected? We were trained for this kind of thing.
"I found a trail!" Ana shouted out. I tuned my attention back to reality. "It's faint but it's Natalia!"
"Can you tell where she went?" Ariel asked before I could.
"I have a theory!" Ana shouted back. I whistled sharply bringing Hidan and Yahiko towards us and Konan swooped low to land on my outstretched arm, careful of her talons.
"GO!" I ordered. Ana nodded, raising her arms as black smoke rose from the ground like it was bubbling from hell. A few seconds later and we were gone.
When we landed on soft stone in a hallway that was barely lit Konan let out a confused squawk as Hidan growled low and Yahiko whimpered.
'What's wrong?' I asked.
'Do you know where we are?' Hidan's voice growled. 'We're in one of the Akatsuki bases.'
"Akatsuki bases?" I asked aloud. "Natalia doesn't know where the bases are, right?" I asked Ana. Ana met my confused stare with one of her own.
"I can see heat signatures three clicks that way." Ariel murmured pointing... South? East? I hated tunnels. They messed up my internal compass.
"How many?" I asked as my body prepared for a fight.
"Too much heat." Ariel murmured back.
"Yahiko, Hidan- you're on point here." I ordered. "Ana, Ariel- get ready for a fight. Konan- time to shift shapes." Konan nodded before she hopped off my arm and landed as a slightly bigger than average bobcat. She trailed the boys as the rest of us moved lightly and fast.
'This base has been in use for a while.' Konan thought.
'How can you tell?' I asked.
'There are no faint smells. And... It smells like we're here.'
'We are here.' I replied confused.
'Not us. Akatsuki.' Hidan picked up. 'Konan's right about that. I can't smell anything other than Akatsuki. Which is weird, this base should be abandoned.'
'I smell blood.' Yahiko thought. 'And something dark.'
"Ana, somethings wrong." I murmured before we slowed down. Voices, low at first started to pick up the closer we moved. I didn't know where we were going but Hidan and Konan seemed to as they led us down one tunnel and then another moving in a zig-zag motion.
"-don't think you understand your position here." A loud male voice sneered. "You see, you're human. We're not. But you're mercenaries and well, so are we. We just want you to do a job for us and if that involves him dying, well think of it as a bonus." A grunt sounded, like someone had been hit. Oddly enough, it sounded familiar.
'Was that Itachi?' Konan asked.
'He's at home.' I thought back worryingly. 'Right?'
'Smells like him.' Yahiko murmured.
"What do you want?" A voice I recognized as Yahiko's asked. Everyone tensed.
"Well first, I'd like the Uchiha dead. Then I'd like your service in wiping out a few witches."
"The fuck is wrong with your head you fucking dick?" That was Hidan's voice.
'Shit.' We all thought.
"We're in the past?" Ariel whispered.
"I think so." Ana whispered back.
"Shush." I ordered as I moved closer to the entrance. I could see the backs of some shirts but not enough. They were all huddled on the other side and if I moved more into the entrance, someone was going to see me.
"Nothing." The male voice sounded smug. "I'm just better than you. As you found out a while ago. Now, we could drag this on until the very end until you're all dead- and don't think we won't find you Nagato- but I really hate to waste potential." Snickers sounded. "So, if you decide to work for me then I can help you with your plans."
"And if we refuse?" That was definitely Yahiko's voice. Though it sounded... Odd. Strained?
"We kill you. I don't want to but future arranges kind of prevent me from just leaving you alone."
"What future arranges?" Konan asked.
"Classified." The leader was obviously taking great pleasure in this. "Let's just say, you all become so... Weak."
'THAT FUCKER!'
'I'll show him weak.' Yahiko snarled.
'Easy!' I snapped. One of the Lazari turned her head. I tensed knowing we would be found out soon. I made a hand sign to Ana and Ariel. 'Get ready to bust in. Hidan go right for the leader but don't kill him.'
'I'll fucking try.'
"Ana, get the Lazari in the front away from Akatsuki." She nodded. "Ariel, try not to burn us." She smirked.
"Whoever you're afraid of, must really be powerful." Kakuzu noted. The female Lazari pulled away from the pack to investigate the sound of Hidan growling. Another two Lazari heard the noise and followed.
"Going once... Going twice..." The Lazari growled. I nodded my head.
'Now.'
"Gone. Kill them." In a burst of speed Hidan, Yahiko and Konan shot towards the Lazari heading our way. They screamed as the three latched onto them with their teeth. I whipped out my swords and slashed through one stomach before taking off a head. I felt intense heat against my back before Hidan's white fur darted past me, straight at the leader.
I ducked one Lazari's claws but didn't see the one behind me. She jumped onto my back and bit into my neck making me grunt in pain. Added weight and a feline scream let me know Konan was the one who ripped the Lazari off me. I stabbed the Lazari in front of me in the face before whirling and taking off another head. Screams from both Lazari and felines sounded as heat from Ariel's fire burned my exposed skin. The adrenaline of battle pounded through my veins giving me strength to keep fighting.
One Lazari grabbed me around my waist from behind and threw me. I sailed into hard stone and landed hard. I was in a crouch in the next second barely missing a Lazari's claws as he barreled toward me. My sword was in his chest in the next second. I turned back to the fight but with no weapons I was forced into a shift.
My panther form was better at fighting than my wolf form. At least in this state, I could be sure my jaws would crush and snap bones faster.
When the screams stopped I waited a moment to look around and make sure there were no more Lazari before I shifted back into human form. I looked to the Akatsuki, past Akatsuki, to see them staring at me in suspicion.
"Are you guys okay?" I asked.
"No, but I'll be fine once someone decides to get Yahiko's fat ass off me." Ariel called sounding muffled.
"I wasn't talking to you." I called over to Ariel. "Are you guys okay? No fatal wounds?" They glared. "No need for the death glares. Is 'Hiko okay?" I asked looking over. Yahiko gave an annoyed groan as he got up. Ariel sighed getting up and going to help Ana check the bodies to find one that was still alive.
'Can you turn me human? Hidan's stuck against the wall.' Yahiko asked.
'I'm fine.' He yelped as he tried to get his body off the pole where he was impaled. I sighed waving my hand so Yahiko's body shifted into his original body.
"Yahiko?" Past-Konan asked in slight fear. He stopped to wave at Konan with a smile.
"Hey Konan. Long time no see. You look good." He gave a wink that left Konan in shock but Deva Path Yahiko narrowed his eyes.
"You cannot be Yahiko."
"Why not? And Nagato dude, that talking through my dead body, that's kind of weird now that I'm seeing it up close." He held up his hands. "Not that I should talk bad about your coping methods but honestly, it's even weirder than seeing Jiraiya-sensei in ghost form."
"Yahiko!" I snapped. "Past. No details."(11)
"Well sor-ry. Forgive a guy who thinks that a little R&R with one of his best friends is therapy."
"You don't have Naruto's penchant for Therapy Jutsu Yahiko. Just leave it." Ariel suggested. Yahiko only rolled his eyes but walked towards Hidan menacingly.
"Come here Hidan. This will be fun." I rolled my eyes as Hidan started cussing and growling until it turned to whimpers and yelps.
"Konan?" I called looking around, ignoring the other Konan who was already looking at me in confusion. "Konan!"
'I'm here.' Her faint thoughts came. I ran over to where Itachi was lying against the wall. Her fur was matted and glinted with her blood. I ran over to her, waving my hand turning her into her human form. She gasped as her body shuddered in pain, letting out a moan.
"Oh shit girl. I'm so sorry." I whispered pulling her into my arms as gently as I could. She let out a pained cry before letting out a shout.
"FUCK! Watch the hands!" I chuckled knowing she was okay if she was cussing. I placed a hand on her stomach and another on her shoulder before focusing on my other bonds.
"Nagato, Yahiko, Itachi, Kakashi, Hidan- lend me some of your strength. Konan's hurt." I muttered under my breath. "Please guys, come on. Help me out here." In a burst, Yahiko and Hidan were lending me their chakra but everyone else took a while to comply. My hands glowed white as the energy poured into Konan. Her muscles relaxed and she stopped shaking and whimpering in pain.
'I'm fine now. You should help Hidan.' Konan's mental voice was strong again. I nodded before helping her sit up. A sharp growl from Hidan and Yahiko's response had me looking over to see them about to kill each other.
"Yahiko! Get your goofy ass over here and help Konan before I kill you myself." I shouted. Yahiko pouted but did as told. Hidan bared his teeth at me. "Knock it off." I waved my hand letting his body turn human so I could get a clear view of his wounds. Once his vocal chords were back he started talking.
"What the fuck was the carrot top supposed to fucking do? You know that piece of shit would rather kill me himself than fucking help me." I rolled my eyes. "And you fucking believed that 'help' shit! The fuck is wrong with you witch bitch?"
"Hidan, shut up before I decide to take a page from Kakuzu's book and chop your head off. Or hell, he's over there, I'll hand you over right now. You can stay in the past for all I care."
"You wouldn't fucking dare!" Hidan growled, glaring at me in betrayal.
"I chopped your balls off and let Itachi Tsukuyomi you. Believe me, I will leave you here and separate you from the kids." Hidan's mouth shut with a click of his teeth. "Thank you very much." I held my glowing white hands over Hidan's body and healed him as best I could before pulling away to let his natural healing take over. "Now for the hard parts." I muttered, standing to face the injured yet hiding it very well Akatsuki from the past. "I know we must seem weird and a little too comfortable to you all. But please hear me out before you decide to attempt to kill us."
A loud girly shriek sounded behind me. I glared at Ana who was just beginning to get her 'torture' face on.
"Analia, do that in another room." She glared briefly before nodding. Ariel helped her drag the still alive Lazari out while Hidan, Yahiko and Konan looked between me and the past versions of themselves. So far, only Hidan looked unchanged.
"You can't fucking be me you fucking ass bitch!" Past Hidan glared at my Hidan.
"Calm your tits junkstrap." Hidan said glaring.
"This is hard to explain but hear us out. We didn't come here intentionally." Konan said softly.
"Well we kinda did but it was for a whole 'nother reason that involved the dead bodies all around us." Yahiko said smiling like the dork he was. "Honestly, this is just a little side step that happened."
"Basically these three," I said pointing at my familiars. "Are you three in the future." I said looking at their past versions. "I would have brought the whole gang but Nagato needed to watch over the family and everyone else who wasn't busy."
"I was busy." Hidan snapped. "I was beating the she-male at Halo 4."
"You've already won that game. And every time you two try to verse each other someone else joins the game and kicks your ass."
"We did have the TV to ourselves this morning." Hidan argued. "I was an inch away from kicking his ass."
"Please, Deidera is better with his hands than you are." Yahiko said. Konan and I snickered as Hidan glared at Yahiko.
"This is a little too..." Past Konan tried but failed to think of a word.
"Nuts?" I offered.
"Insane?" Yahiko asked.
"Fucking crazy as hell?" Hidan snorted.
"Just complete insanity? Yes it is." Konan said. "But it's what we do now."
"How did this happen?" Deva Path Yahiko asked staring at me. I shrugged.
"Honestly, I have no idea. I mean you guys were cats one day and a few days later you were humans." I looked at Konan for an answer but she shrugged.
"Nagato and Kakashi came to a truce. Kakuzu and Kisame fell for the kids and their cute antics. But after the fight between you three," Konan said mentioning Ana and Ariel, "We figured you were completely insane and too powerful."
"It was mainly the kids." Hidan snorted. "Fucking Kakuzu and the fish fucker liked playing with them."
"Yeah and Itachi had a crush on her." Yahiko said grinning innocently pointing at me. "He was so obvious."
"And yet you still don't know what subtly means." I snapped. "Anyway, we only came because of these guys." I pointed at the dead bodies. "Didn't want Lazari on the loose and they may have taken something valuable to us."
"We should get going now that I think about it. We don't want to influence the future too much." Konan murmured.
"We're going to have to wait until Ana's done with her interrogation first." I said going back into business mode. "They need to find out where Natalia is."
"Why come here in the first place?" Yahiko asked before looking at the past Akatsuki. "What did they want?"
"They wanted me dead." Itachi said.
"Why would they want you dead?" Hidan asked. "I mean you're an asshole now and then but that's not exactly new."
"Somehow, I get the feeling that I'm going to have a huge headache." I sighed.
"AMAYA!" Twin shouts sounded off the walls.
"And there it is."
GM NASAI: I ACTUALLY DID IT. I WROTE A VERY LONG SEQUEL THAT IN MY WORD PROCESSOR WAS ALMOST 20 PAGES LONG. It might not seem like it but I am very happy with the result. Now I brought up Hidan and Analia and while it would be nice to work that relationship into this, I honestly don't think their relationship could be more than... is there a word for 'just talking'?... right now. Hidan's a virgin with a loyalty to his relationship so all they do is talk, very deeply. And Kakuzu- well we're all aware of the things he'll do for money and it's protection. And Sasori and Itachi working together could work out a program that functioned like a seal. The three of them are certainly smart enough for that.
(1) Same- 'shark' in Japanese. Also Kisame's nickname for Nico.
(2) Nico- Nicolai Sasuna Uchiha is the son of Amaya Black and Itachi Uchiha. Sasuna is a combination of Sasori Akasuna.
(3) Due to Melody trying to show Deidera the magic of potions he accidentally mixed a potion that switched Amaya and Itachi's bodily symptoms. Therefore, Itachi got pregnant and Amaya got the Sharingan for a whole seven days until the effects were reversed.
(4) Konan and Dom are dating. Dom is three months from proposing marriage.
(5) Melody and Deidera are happily dating as they have for the past three years. They're 22 now so marriage is a few more years off.
(6) Amaya somehow got three years for maternity leave which explains why Andromeda is scared to allow Amaya any more time off.
(7) Lazari- the unfortunate children of demon and witches. The demon raped the witch and 9 months later she either killed the demon child or the demon child killed her. They're like Jinchuuriki in the face that they have demons inside them but unlike Jinchuuriki, they can only feel dark emotions and thrive on pain, hatred and death.
(8) Natalia Ream- the younger sister of Analia Ream. She was on a mission with her own unit during To Be A Guardian which is why she was never really brought up.
(9) I just threw the Tyson Meat Packing Plant in. Don't be mad if I got it wrong and they are all natural.
(10) Only Kakashi, Yahiko, Itachi, Nagato, Konan, and Hidan are Amaya's familiars. Kakashi, Nagato and Itachi were the original familiars but over the years Amaya offered the other ninja the same deal but only Yahiko, Konan and Hidan took her up on her offer while Kisame, Kakuzu and Sasori are waiting for Memphis, Keira and Nico to grow up some more before they talk to them about that. Deidera didn't want to be a familiar but he won't refuse Melody should she ask which I highly doubt she will. They all possess the ability to turn back into cats, yes even Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura but they don't really do that much.
(11) I know Amaya said no details. But I don't think she had much choice as Konan, Yahiko and Hidan are obviously more mature and older, Well except Hidan as he is immortal and immortality keeps you at a certain age mentality. And I know people are going to say there's always another way and they could probably see it once they think about it, but this is a high pressure situation where obvious proof of the future has been provided. Not that the past Akatsuki really believes it. But Amaya, despite being a highly trained assassin witch, is no genius.
***This is only Part 1 in a two shot sequel. I will include the second part after I'm finished with it. Which, I can't really say or talk about right now. So stay tuned.***