The Guardian's Kitsune
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Naruto x Witch x ?
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Story Start
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'My mom is going to kill me.'' Will thought as she raced home, the street lights lighting the path of the early night as the sun had yet to arrive. She was out with the girls earlier, trying to find out more about her situation and lost track of time. She was so busy in her thoughts she brushed past a guy who cried out and shouted after her.
''Whoa Froggy-chan you nearly ran me over there! To think its been so long since I see you and I don't even get a hi!'' His voiced called after the girl who raced a few more steps before stopping, taking notice of what the guy said.
'Froggy-chan?' The affectionate nickname echoed through her head. She slowly turned before she saw the grinning form of Naruto. He was dressed casually, albeit a bit impractical considering the weather. True he was wearing a thick, black coat but only over top a sleeveless sapphire blue T-shirt and grey sweats.
''Miss me?'' He spoke once more as his arms stretched out into a hug me gesture. He got his response as the girl went for a flying glomp leading to them being both on the ground.
A few minutes later the two were walking back to Will's apartment, the night sky grower darker as the moon began to rise and illuminate the path. Even in the pale glow the Pennako's luminescent blush was still quite visible.
''Oh come on Froggy-chan it wasn't that bad. That was definitely one of the funniest glomps I definitely received. You should try out for the track team. I mean the distance you covered. Was that 10.4 in 100 feet?'' He teasing her as her blush grew.
''I...I can't believe your here...'' She whispered happily. ''I missed you...'' She admitted brushing a strand of her hair from her face, too embarrassed to meet Naruto's eyes.
''I missed you too Will.'' He said as he wrapped an arm around her waist. ''And I'm going to look forward being around you again.''
Back at the apartment Susan sat at the table in her kitchen, her face cupped in her hands as she shook her head. She was trying to calm herself. She couldn't believe her boss showed up at her apartment with wine while playing Marvin Gaye in the background. She wasn't angry, on the contrary she was quite flattered, but she recently got out of a nasty marriage. She hadn't even got the chance to file for divorce as she was trying to get her life together and make sure she and Will were comfortable.
''I guess I have to apologize for that Susan.'' He sat next to her. ''Perhaps my little joke was a bit too much. If I were to be honest with you for a long time now I have found you an interesting, intelligent, and quite frankly beautiful woman who I've been interested in pursuing for some time now. Now I know such dating scenarios are usually frowned upon which is why I've already taken steps to disclose such information to the Director of our Human Resources department to prevent any conflicts of interest as well as identify any potential risks. If need be I already lined up a replacement supervisory manager to overlook your sector of the company."
Susan had to admit he put a lot of thought into this situation. Still this was all of a sudden. ''I'm not ready for a relationship.'' She gently told him.
''I know...too soon...'' He was silenced as a finger was pressed again his lips.
''But I don't mind dating and see where this goes.'' She would have been lying to herself if she didn't admit she found Karmine both charming and attractive. They both seemed to just click from the moment they met.
With that Heatherfield didn't seem so bad after all.
Heatherfield...
The name means a field of flowers. In a Heather field, you would expect colorful, beautiful, flowers all around, but in here is just branches, weeds...and a deep silence.
''No one there?'' Irma asked. The Witch Girls were gathered in front of a violet two story house. It was a windy day in Heatherfield. Leaves being scooped up by the wind. The clouds still darkening the sky.
''We might as well give up.'' Cornelia stated with boredom. ''We aren't going to find Cornelia here.
''But she can't just have disappeared like that! I wouldn't expect her to go on a trip, without telling us.'' Hay Lin replied.
''We'll meet her again.'' Will stated with certainty.
''How can you be so sure about it?'' Irma asked, a bit skeptical.
''I can feel it inside. After all, we are witches right?'' She replied, an optimistic smile.
''Indeed...'' Cornelia agreed putting on a club.
''I didn't hear any movement at all.'' Naruto said as he dropped down from the roof of the home and joined the others. ''Though we might find some clues if we go inside.'' he suggested as he looked up at the gloomy gray sky reflected the general mood of the group.
''What...what are you doing?'' Irma asked, taking notice of Cornelia kneeling.
''Don't worry...'' The Earth started to react. Floral grew from the earth. ''If Elyon comes back tomorrow, she gets a colorful reception.''
''Are you crazy?'' Irma questioned. ''Somebody could have seen that!''
''There's no one here.'' Cornelia brushed off dismissively.
''There could have been!'' Irma countered back with a shout.
''But there wasn't!'' Cornelia screamed back. Before the argument could escalate a boom of thunder caught their attention. If seemed like storms was plaguing the town of Heatherfield.
''Oh no! Thunderstorm.'' Hay Lin stated.
''Again?'' Will sighed in annoyance. She was beginning to miss the warm rays of the sun. Heatherfield had given off such a gloomy glow since she arrived. Though, at least she had her best friend at her side so everything wasn't a complete drag.
''And this time it seems like it's going to be a bad one.'' Cornelia was already moving ahead, Will trailing close behind.
''Cornelia has been pretty tight after we found out that we have magic powers,'' Hay Lin observed out loud to Taranee.
''I still can't believe this myself.'' Taranee was more or less the most practical of the group. In ways she and Hay Lin were opposites in philosophy. The Asian Air guardian was far more free spirited while the Mocha skin girl was down to earth. ''But this is really is happening...and to us!'' The words of acceptance of these strange phenomena were foreign to her as she began to think back to a few years prior.
''...And then the monsters just disappeared! It was unbelievable!'' Irma finished, explaining the events to the other Witch girls. The girls were on school grounds, right outside discussing what was happening. ''Weirdest thing was what Elyon did. She wanted us all to go the gym. It was like a trap.'' Will added, a look of distrust plastered across her face. Was Naruto wrong about opening up again? Were these girls going to betray her again? Her thoughts were interrupted when Cornelia spoke up.
''I talked with Cedric, remember the boy from the party? He said as he doesn't know anything about their meeting! He hadn't talked to Elyon after the party.
''So Elyon lied to us? But why?'' Irma asked, feeling a bit hurt and betrayed. She wasn't completely sold yet, but whether it was intentional or not it never felt good to be betrayed by someone you considered a comrade.
''She hasn't been here for three days and nobody answers the phone in her house!''
''We have to talk with her immediately when she returns to school?''
''Will, what does this mean?''
''Don't ask me...the answer is here.'' She replied to Taranee holding up the heart.
''Grandma's story is true! We really are magic creatures.'' Hay Lin remarked in awe.
''Oh, give me a break.'' Cornelia stated, still skeptical.
''You have to believe it! If you can't you should even try...'' Hay Lin started to defend.
''Try? Why would I?''
'Because it's true!'' The Asian exclaimed with conviction.
Suddenly vines reacting to Cornelia and started wrapping around her arm. She cried out and ripped it free. She rubbed her hand in shock and uncertainty. ''Did...Did I do that?''
''Yes, Cornelia, you control Earth.'' Will stated then turned to Taranee. ''And you can control fire Taranee.''
''I'm so afraid!'' The girl exclaimed suddenly. ''I would want to understand, what's happening!'
''Oh head! We have to watch out when you get mad!'' Irma joked. The bell rung and they had to get ready for class. The end of the day came and the girls began walking home from school. Hay Lin though separated from the group and went home. Her grandmother hadn't been feeling well lately.
Will and her friends arrived a her apartment building just as black clouds in the sky began to roll, rumble, and spark.
As she, Cornelia, Irma, and Taranee climbed the stairs that led to the apartment she shared with her mother, Will glanced at her friends, it was hard to believe she'd known them only for a few days. She already felt so familiar with Cornelia's long, blond hair, Irma's smirk, and Taranee's raggedy fingernails. Will even knew that Taranee always gnawed on her nails when she was nervous.
In fact Will bet she could practically read their thoughts. As she opened the door to the hallway and ushered her friends through it, she gazed at Cornelia's pale heart-shaped face. Her pink-glossed lips were pulled into a tight, tense line. Her blue eyes were steely. And she had the same expression Will got when she and her mother were having an argument.
'Yup,' Will thought. 'That's exactly how I look when I know that I'm wrong and my mom's right, but I'm not gonna admit it! And Cornelia's being just that stubborn about this whole magical powers thing. I mean she made a vine come to life in the school courtyard. It slithered up her arm like a snake! That was magic! There's no other explanation for it. But Cornelia still refuses to say the M word.'
As the girls turned a corner in the hallway, Will's eyes fell on Taranee, whose ever-clicking beaded braids were hidden under the ear flaps of her big, floppy, red rain hat. Behind her little, round specs, Taranee's brown eyes were so big and watery. Her chin was trembling ever so slightly.
'She's wishing she was home,' Will thought sympathetically. Taranee liked being tucked away in the safety of her photography dark-room or curled up in front of the fireplace. And Irma, Will concluded as she gazed at her, is wondering what kind of cookies I'm going to serve for our after-school snack.
Will invited the girls in to the apartment. Many boxed, boxes cluttered the rooms. The apartment was lined with tall, multiplicand windows; the place was dark and shadowy. The storm outside had turned the sky almost black.
'Come on in,' Will said, glancing at her watch. Her mom rarely got home from her big, swanky office at Simultech early. ''No one's here. My mother will be back in about an hour.''
Will maneuvered around a few cardboard boxes to hit the light switch. Naturally, she stubbed her toes on one of her own boxes with CDs.
At least her friends didn't seem to mind the disheveled decor. As Cornelia unfurled the orange shawl she'd tied around her shoulders and Taranee pulled off her hat, Irma flopped back onto the comfy red couch.
''Man I'm beat,'' she said with a big sigh. ''I wonder what's on TV.''
Will stared at Irma for a moment. 'Okay, she thought, now I don't know if Irma's attitude is funny or scary. I mean, we're dealing with some heavy stuff here.' She pulled off her beat-up, gray jacket and stood in front of Irma.
''You know,'' she began hesitantly, ''with all we're going through, I'm not surprised you're tired. But aren't we taking this all a bit too lightly.''
As Irma opened one lazy, blue eyes to gaze at her quizzically, Will went on.
''I mean...'' she said, ''we should be terrified. We have magical powers. Don't you realize that?''
Irma's response got an angry glare from Cornelia. But Will had to continue. ''We suddenly find ourselves in the middle of something incredible, and we act like it is the most normal thing in the world,'' she said. ''The other day we battled monsters, one of our friends has completely vanished...and we're here to have a nice cup of hot chocolate.'' Will tossed her jacket onto a chair and all but shouted,''For heaven's sake. How do you guys explain all this?''
''Hey,'' Irma said, propping her red shoes up on the coffee table. ''Maybe we've got a few screws loose, and we never realized it before.''
''Speak for yourself, Irma,'' Cornelia snapped. She folded her long, skinny arms over her chest.
Will threw up her hands and stomped back across the living room into the open kitchen at the far end of the loft. Taranee followed her and slouched in front of one of the tall windows.
Will grabbed the coffeepot and stuck it beneath the kitchen faucet. ''There's something much bigger behind all this. I still don't really get what, but there is.''
''As soon as Hay Lin's grandma gets better,'' Taranee offered,''...we'll go ask her a few questions.
Will nodded. And at the same time, she cringed. The mention of Hay Lin's grandmother took her right back to the fateful moment just a few days ago. The girls had gathered this time, for tea in Hay Lin's apartment above her family's Chinese restaurant.
''Will...are you okay?'' Taranee asked as the Pennako filled the pot with water.
''Yeah...but that's not what I'm talking about.'' She rested a hand on Will's shoulder. ''Are you ok?'
Will's eyes widen slightly. Did Taranee picked up on how she was feeling other. ''I saw how guarded you were...and how sad you seem because...''
''No...I'm fine. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe Elyon is just sick or something.'' She said, hoping to change the subject. Since the water was cut on hot to speed up the heating process Will scalding her finger slightly and dropped the pot in the sink.
''Damnit!'' She hissed as she cut off the faucet.
''Hey are you okay?'' the mocha skinned girl asked with worry.
''Yeah...just burned myself slightly.'' Slightly she said with a slight whimper.
''Here, let me see...'' She said taking Will's small hands into her own.
''W-Wait...T-Taranee...'' The Mocha skinned girl began massaging her hand. It felt oddly pleasant, Will shivered at this. What were these thoughts she was having.
''I figured if I can control Fire then I can control heat right?'' She said flashing a girl a smile.
''T-Thanks...'' Will said as she turned to pick up the pot. It had more than enough water left to start brewing. She turned so Irma wouldn't she the twinge of pink on her cheeks.
'W-Why am I feeling this way? This is crazy. I like Naruto...'' She reminded herself.
Suddenly lighting flashed and the lights went out. The two girls joined the guardian of Earth and Water.
''Don't move. I think there are candles somewhere...'' Will said, feeling her away around the move. Somewhere around here, there should be some candles or a flashlight.
''Don't bother, Will,'' said Taranee's voice behind her. I'll take care of it.''
And suddenly, Will detected a bright glow dancing through the air. She spun around in time to see a tiny, orange fireball, bouncing playfully in Taranee's palm.
''Yeow!'' Irma yelped in alarm.
Cornelia gaped.
And Will gulped!
But she noticed that for perhaps the first time that afternoon...Taranees quivery, fearful expression had melted into an easy smile.
Taranee held her hand up over her head up over her head. The fireball tipped out of her palm as gently as a soap bubble and hovered in the air a few feet above Taranee's head.
Taranee nodded and grinned. Then she held out her hand again. With a muffled whoosh, another fireball formed. Taranee set that one free too.
Before the girls could catch their breath, Taranee's sizzly spheres were bobbing all around the loft, filling the space with cozy fire light. When one of the fireballs drifted by Irma's nose, she reached for it with hesitant fingers. She gasped as one fingertip pierced the fireball, and then emerged unscathed.
''Wow,'' Irma breathed. ''It doesn't burn!"'
Will laughed out loud.
'This magic stuff isn't all scary,' she had to admit to herself. A knock on the door drew their attention as Will went to the door.
''Help! Help they coming to get me!'' a voice shrieked from the other side hysterically as a grin formed on Will's face.
''I'm sorry sir...the person who you are looking for is not here at the moment.'' Will said in a high pitched tone and held her nose. ''If you leave your name and number we might care to get to you.'' she added as the other four girls looked confused as shit.
''Froggggy-chwaaaaaan!'' the voice continued followed by a thump. ''Okay seriously...are you ever going to open this door.''
''Alright...'' she opened the door as Naruto trailed in. ''Oh you have company. Hey there Lin." He greeted the only one of them he recognized.
"Hey Naruto." The others were surprised the mysterious blond and Hay Lin knew each other.
"Sooo, going to introduce me your friends?" He asked Will.
"Right, so girls, this is Naruto Uzumaki, a good friend of mine and he also has gifts of his own so we don't have to worry." Her statement brought a look of intrigue from her friends ''Naruto this is Taranee cook.'' she introduced the mocha skin girl.
''Charmed...I like your glasses.'' It really suited her hair color and style.
''Oh...thank you,'' Taranee responded as her face flushed slightly. She wasn't used to be complementing her glasses.
''Well hey there!'' Irma popped up as Naruto almost dropped back, at her sudden appearance. Girl had reflexes like a shinobi.
Irma was sizing the blond up and saw what she liked. Cute, blond hair, and had a sort of boyish charm but something else she can't put her finger on. ''Irma Lair...single...are you single Naruto?'' she shamelessly flirted before Naruto was yanked back by Will who sent the water guardian a glare.
''As you can see that's Irma Lair and this is...'' she quickly diverted attention to another one of the girl's who introduced herself.
''Cornelia!'' the tall blonde introduced herself as she flicked her long shiny hair back with her right hand. ''Cornelia Hale.''
''Well hello.'' he said as he was getting not so vague Ino vibes from the girl. Then again any girl that was pretty, had long blonde hair, and had that popular aura around her was pretty much Ino to him."And well you already seem to know Hay Lin of course.
"Yeah we met through my guardian and her grandmother."
''Okay now that everyone is here I got a treat for you all,'' Will announced. ''Now if you will all join me in the kitchen.'' she urged them as she began heading towards the couch. ''Hope you brought your appetites.'' With hungry eyes Irma was the first to follow Will into the kitchen with a hungry look in her eyes. Taranee and Cornelia trailed after her.
''Yeah, I do,'' Irma said. ''Have you learned some new recipes?''
Will leaned with false casualness against the refrigerator door and said, ''What can we offer my friends, James?''
''James?'' Irma cried. She glanced behind her, and then peered around the rest of the kitchen. ''You have a butler and you never told us?''
Suddenly, a haughty British voice rang out through the kitchen.
''There's a rather meager selection, Miss Will,'' the voice sniffled. ''Unless someone would be so kind as to restock me.''
Will watched as Irma screamed and stared at the Refrigerator, particularly the side dispensing lever in the freezer door. Without having to look, Will knew the lever as waggling to the rhythm of James's voice. Because James, of course, was...
''The Refrigerator!'' Irma screeched, pointing at the ice dispenser. ''The refrigerator is talking!''
As Will dissolved into a fit of giggles, James continued.
''Ahem,'' he said, with all the dignity a refrigerator cold muster. ''I should bring to your attention the fact that the cream cheese next to the pickles has long since expired."
'I'm sorry, James! I'll take it away.'' She quickly opened the refrigerator door and whisked away the block of cheese. it was indeed, green and fuzzy. Then she turned to Taranee, who was back to looking tremblingly and terrified, and whispered, ''James has very refined tastes, you see.
'Can you believe that? Fridge is still talking!'' And Irma was still freaking. Not in the good way either.
''I heard! I'm not deaf!"' Cornelia snapped at Irma, growing annoyed that her friend kept repeating the same thing and was currently shaking her by the shoulders.
'I discovered it the other day,'' Will explained to her friends as they headed back into the living room. '' I can talk with all electrical appliances. I've given them all names already. Now they listen to me and even work without powers.''
''That's a good way to save money. Turn on channel 15Q The cute rock band is having a concert tonight!'' Irma said, no longer freaking about the fridge as she flopped onto the couch again. She then turned toward the TV. ''Put on channel twelve Boy Comet is on. It's the hottest TV show of all time.''
'Did you hear, Billy?'' Will asked as she squatted in front of the TV.
''No,no,no! You know I can't stand that kind of music! I just can't stand the musical theme song of Boy Comet.''
''But, but,'' Irma stuttered. But Billy cut her off.
'What would you say about a nice documentary?''
Irma in response could only hmpped.
Naruto who was hungry decided to make himself a sandwich. Which should have taken no time at all, but the fridge kept yelling at him.
Taranee brought out her backpack in hand. ''Uum...I wouldn't want to bother but...could you print my biology project?''
''Sure! No problem!"' Will said, grabbing the disk from her bud. ''I'll handle it.''
Tailed by a couple of bobbling fireballs, Taranee followed Will into her bedroom. It was just as littered with unpacked boxes as the rest of the loft. But at least Will's orange laptop and printer were all set up. That been one of the first things she'd taken care of when she'd moved in. Will felt lost if she wasn't wired to the web.
''Wake-up George! I have work for you.'
''Work! I have to work every day! I'm so tired of this! Even though I am a machine, I still have rights to rest!'' The computer sputtered in a high-pitched and definite northeastern drawl.
''Don't complain George! I'm the one who has to do all the dirty work.''
''Eeep~"' Taranee squeaked in shock as the printer next to the computer started talking too, this voice was growly and low, but decidedly female.
''What are they doing?'' Taranee asked, adjusting her glasses.
Eventually the girls settled down as it continued to pour outside. Naruto had only stopped by to let Will know he couldn't walk with her to school tomorrow like planned, but he could from the next day on. Exchanging goodbyes the blond left leaving the Guardians' to themselves.
''What do you think Kandrakar is like? What is the middle of infinity?'' Cornelia asked, breaking the gloom that had settled. ''I mean, what do you think this place in the middle of infinity' is like?''
''You got me,'' Taranee answered. ''But I'm more worried about the dangers we'll have to face. What is out there beyond the Veil?''
''And who...,'' Will said, sitting down at the table with them,''...were those monsters we fought?''
'I think it's be a good idea to practice our powers. So we could use them better.''
''Cornelia is right.'' Will agreed. She glanced up as sound of tires skidding through rain filled the loft. As she got to her feet to peek out the window, she added,''It would be terrible if we created some disaster just because we were inexperienced.
''Um...eh...about that.'' Irma said, finally turning away from the documentary.
''Oh no!'' Will interrupted. She was looking through the rain-spattered window. Now she was staring in horror.
All three friends crowded behind Will.
''What's going on?'' Taranee squeaked. She felt fear send little prickles down the back of her neck. ''What did you see?''
''Are the lizard man and blue gorilla back?''
Irma asked, crowding in behind Taranee.
''Even worse, you guys,'' Will groaned. ''My Mom's home!'' With that Will spun around. She pointed at the bobbing fireballs throughout the lot. ''The fire spheres, Taranee!'' She ordered.
''Hurry~!"'
''Right away~"' Taranee quavered. Irma was flapping at the fireballs with a TV Guide, but the flames did not diminish. She sot a desperate look.
'Do something!'' She hissed.
Taranee took a deep breath. She knew the fireballs were her thing. But the problem was she didn't really know how she'd created them! She'd just sort of closed her eyes and dreamed of dancing flames. Suddenly she felt a burst of warmth in her palm and ta-da!
Now that she put on the spot, Taranee felt paralyzed.
''Oh,'' she whispered, wringing her hands anxiously. ''What to do, what to do?''
Despite trying to command the fireballs out they continued their playful bobbing.
Cornelia and Irma stared at Taranee in alarm. ''Hurry!'' Cornelia hissed.
Almost sobbing with anxiety, Taranee finally stomped up to one of the fireballs. And before she knew exactly what she was doing, she found herself pursing her lips. She placing her face in front of the flame and blew.
The fireball disappeared, leaving nothing but a wisp of smoke.
''Cool!'' Taranee breathed. Then she began to run through the loft putting out the fireballs as Will went about taking care of the electrical devices.
In a brief instant the front door swung open into the dimly lit loft. ''Will?'' Mrs. Vandom said. She poked her head through the door apprehensively.''
''Um, Hi, Mom!"' Will chirped nervously from the couch.
''Hiya, Mrs. Vandom,'' Irma said, waving at Will's mother with a big, artificial smile.
''Some storm, huh?'' Mrs. Vandom said. She waved hello to the girls with a friendly smile. Then she walked away to stash her raincoat in the closet.
The girls then relaxed knowing that their secret was safe for now at least.
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Chapter End
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Now about the whole tea/water burn scene. I know technically in theory thermal kinetics wouldn't work that way in reality, but hey this is fiction. Also the girls are going to be stronger than they are in the series(comics) and will be using their powers in different ways. This includes having a specific sort of enemy that each of their powers excel at fighting.