Disclaimers: I OWN NOTHING! Nothing I tells ya! I do however own my OC and that's fine and dandy with me!
Author's Note: This is the last chapter before the long-awaited reunion! Imma gonna have to rewatch just to get the general idea on how to proceed. I'm obviously NOT going to follow every single scene, but only certain ones will make the cut. Anyways, Enjoy!
Warnings: Language, Adult situations, rudeness, and what have you.
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Chapter: The last bits….
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When they first started off on their travels the first time around, they didn't mind walking as it helped with their weight training but all of them sitting on a padded seat in the back of a large wagon made it so much better with their new family this time around. As Zabuza suggested, the furniture was left behind, as well as most of the linens and kitchen ware. All the four took as what they deemed unreplaceable in their eyes plus their clothes for traveling. The other four had theirs shipped home as per Zabuza's request except for their packs of clothes, supplies, weapons, and food. Zabuza and Kakashi sat in the front with the Jonin holding the reigns of a massive hauling horse named Dusty as the younger ones sat in the back of the wagon, enjoying their time off as Naruto told their story on how they walked from their village to Tazuna's many months ago. Sasuke and Sakura inputted their share as the brothers' asked questions about anything, as per the others request after the six found out that the brothers have never set foot outside of the village.
Their father had a habit of leaving them alone for days on end with little to no money and returning only to spend that money on anything but food. Dean mumbled they did alright, and Sam gave him a look that said they didn't believe those words. Haku, however, could see from his perch next to Sam the heckles on Zabuza rise at that comment and smiled when Kakashi leaned over to nuzzle the quietly growling man.
"Sam" Sakura spoke up from his other side and took hold of his hands with both of hers, dwarfing hers in his big ones as she looks into his eyes, so she knows she has his full attention. "I suggest from now on, only think of us as your family, because if any of us cross paths with your deadbeat father" She let the words trail off and Dean chuckled, thinking it was a joke.
The blonde- and dark-haired pair smirked at the brothers and Dean stopped smiling "You're not serious, are you?"
"Accidents do happen, Dean dear" Haku said.
"But" A hand rubbed his to calm him down but the mere mention of anything happening to their father was shocking.
"Let's just say if the six of us don't, then another will" Zabuza chuckled darkly from the front as Kakashi turned around to address the kids. "She will be the one to run into him and I wouldn't want to be that guy" Shaking his head and turned back around, Kakashi nuzzled into the chuckling man's shoulder.
Dean turned to his little brother "Sam?" whispering, not knowing what to do.
Sam shrugged his shoulder at his brother as he held onto Sakura's hand "He was a father to you for the first four years of your life, Dean, but when Mom died, I don't know the man, we don't know him anymore. You raised me, you're my parent, you're the one who matters to me. John can roll over to rot for all I care" Looking up to his brother from across, Sam gave a small smile in sad acceptance "You are the only one who matters to me, Dee" Sam whispered, and Dean melted at his brother's words.
After a couple of minutes, Dean cleared his throat to dislodge the lump, and asked "Will we be notified when it happens?" Dean really didn't want to know what will happen to their father, but it will gnaw at his insides nonstop unless he did, and his voice cracked when he said it.
Zabuza felt for the boy; this is the boy's father, and they are talking about killing the man like it's normal. Well, as normal as this family is but still.
Zabuza took pity on the boy: "I'll send out feelers when we reached the next village, they'll find out the man's whereabouts and history" Zabuza turned his head to look at Dean "They'll do a through background check on him, I'll tell them to leave the two of you out of it" Looking to Sam "But do you want a copy of the report? To know your father's history?" Dean looked to Sam as his younger brother nodded and then nodded himself as he looked back to the man.
"Sam's right, we don't know the man. Guess it wouldn't hurt to find out what he's been doing these last few years without us dragging him down" Sam snorted, and Dean looked to him,
"Dean, the man only showed up at least three days a month for years while the rest of the time, I'll admit, he did send us some money but the rest of the time" Letting the line linger for the rest to fill in but Dean had his input.
"Sam, don't you want to know what dad's been doing all these years?" The younger brother looked thoughtful for awhile as Sakura rubbed his hand and Haku laid his head on his arm. "Alright, Dean"
"Maybe" Haku started then stopped as he looked to Zabuza who nodded "Maybe after we find out then you can decide what to do" Sam looked to Dean who looked conflicted with the idea, so Sam said:
"Dean is twenty, but in the eyes of the law, he's not legally an adult yet" Zabuza interrupted.
"I have people who can look into that and get the paperwork for me to get custody of you two" Both brothers eyes snapped to the man as he smiled behind his mask "Your father can and will be charged with child negligence and abandonment, he can lose parental rights to both of you and once the papers are finalized, he won't be able to take anyone away from us" Both boys gasped as the others cheered.
"Yeah! That's good thinking, Zabuza-san! Dean darling and Sam sweetie will officially be ours in the eyes of the law" Haku exclaimed in glee as he climbed onto Sam's lap and brought his arms around the boy's neck. "You will officially be my new baby brother, how does that sound?"
Sam was in shock at this new development. Internally, Sam always feared that he'd be taken away from Dean if anyone found out about his brother's age or found out that they had no present legal guardian.
But this; this solidified their place in their new family, this will make them official that they will be a family and Sam couldn't be happier!
Laughing and crying at the same time, Sam wrapped his arms around the boy and buried his face in his neck, sniffing and laughing some more. He felt Sakura move away and a new body wrapped their arms around them both, the feeling of his arms tells him that it's his brother. Their brother he corrected, and Sam laughed as he wrapped an arm around Dean, both holding Haku close.
Sakura sat between her teammates as they wrapped her up in their arms, they watched the happy moment of the three and when she turned her head to the adults in the front, she saw them smiling at the three. Sighing, Sakura snuggled into the boys as the wagon moved along.
"And what people are we talking about?" Kakashi whispered to his partner as Zabuza turned back to watch the road.
"Our mutual benefactor has a long list of individuals in many occupations that are willing to do their bidding. I doubt it wouldn't take more then a few days to get the information we need" Zabuza turned back to the kids but kept whispering to the Jonin "They both get what they want: we don't kill their father and found a way to keep him far away from them for as long as the laws allow. Or until he steps over the line" Zabuza looked to the Jonin "I aim to keep them happy and if that means their deadbeat father is to stay alive then so be it" He raised a brow in amusement "But that doesn't mean I can't have someone else have a 'talk' with him" Clearing his throat to get the kids attention, Zabuza smiled at the lot.
"Sam, Dean" Both looked up "What is your father's name?"
"John Winchester"
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As Roxanne blinked back into consciousness, she looked around the main room of their temporary home and remembered that Milo was out doing his training regiment that she planned out while she meditated on the floor.
It's been a few days since they first stepped foot into this mountain, and they have been busy with their own little thing in a way of training. At first Milo complained about him doing all the work while his girl gets to just sit around, and Roxanne let him complain as she adjusted the weights on his outerwear and ankle weights. As he kept complaining, she also drew up a training regiment and when he saw it, he blew off again in a triad of swearing and other things.
When he calmed down, she explained that it was necessary for him to up his training to her standards and when he asked about hers, she explained that too.
Milo didn't know his girl had to meditate to keep up with her own body's level strength. Milo didn't know it was a thing until now. He asked if he could do that too and Roxanne said that he could only after he finished his training. So, when he finished his outside training for the day to come inside, Milo would see his girl sitting on the floor, legs crossed and hands interlaced with her eyes closed as she breathed.
He watched her the first time, saw how her eyes went side to side, her fingers or toes twitching and one time her chakra spiked so high, he fell back on his own back to the ground. After he would let her be to get cleaned up and get dinner ready.
Roxanne blinked and rubbed her eyes to get them to adjust to the lit area of the main room and knew she wasn't supposed to be awake at this time but something tingled at the back of her mind. Taking a deep breath, Roxanne cleared her mind and searched for the reason behind waking up now.
Searching, she found a dark orb floating in her minds eye and she grabbed for it only to be brought to a memory:
"Our mutual benefactor has a long list of individuals in many occupations that are willing to do their bidding. I doubt it wouldn't take more then a few days to get the information we need" Zabuza turned back to the kids but kept whispering to the Jonin "They both get what they want: we don't kill their father and found a way to keep him far away from them for as long as the laws allow. Or until he steps over the line" Zabuza looked to the Jonin "I aim to keep them happy and if that means their deadbeat father is to stay alive then so be it" He raised a brow in amusement "But that doesn't mean I can't have someone else have a 'talk' with him" Clearing his throat to get the kids attention, Zabuza smiled at the lot.
"Sam, Dean" Both looked up "What is your father's name?"
"John Winchester"
Roxanne gasped loudly when she snapped open her eyes. "John Winchester" she whispered. Then she smirked and made a clone.
"What's up, boss?" She asked as she stood in front of Roxanne.
"Go to the Accountants; have them draw up a custody document for Zabuza. Have them draw up a Release of Parental Rights documents. Have them report a one John Winchester for Child Negligence and Child Abandonment. Have them hire anyone to get background information of John Winchester and his whereabouts. Have them make everything iron clad so no one, and I mean No One, can say otherwise. Got it?" The clone smiled a fanged smile and asked.
"Can we play with him?" Roxanne smirked back.
"It's only fair before we hand him over to the authorities, don't you think?" The clone laughed then poof away, leaving Roxanne to breathe easier, knowing they are going to fix this up.
No one gets in the way of her pack's happiness, no one.
OOOOO
When they reached a village later that afternoon, the group buddied up for bathroom breaks and food while Zabuza went to find a courier service to send a message to the accountants as Kakashi stayed to feed and water their horse.
Honestly, when he walked into the place and said his name, Zabuza shouldn't be all that surprised to find himself staring at an official envelope being handed to him. He signed off on it and tore it open to find documents he was going to ask for plus an envelope for him. He sighed as he walked to one of the desks and read through all that there was to read. He then grabbed a pen, signing his name on the high lighted parts, put in descriptions of how the boys came to be in their situation, and put everything in a prepaid envelope. Handing it back to the attendant at the front desk, Zabuza pocketed a letter then headed out and back to Kakashi who raised at brow in question to his quick return.
"I honestly have no idea how they knew, but there it was: documents ready to be signed and a prepaid envelope to go in. This" pulling out the letter "Was with it" handing the letter to Kakashi as Zabuza petting the large horse.
Opening the letter, Kakashi read out:
"Dear valued Client.
Our mutual and valued client has brought to our attention a slip in our department on the issue of the guardianship of: Dean and Samuel Winchester. When we added them to your account, we failed to add in the fact they are still under the parental guardianship of one John Winchester, whom, to our knowledge, has been absent for a long period of time.
Do not worry. This is our mistake and are now rectifying the situation. We've gone ahead to hire a private investigator, we will foot the bill as it was our fault in not dealing it beforehand, to do a very thorough investigation and location on their father.
That being said, please read and review the attached documents and when you find that we've have everything in order, sign and return in the prepaid envelope added.
Once we've received it, it'll only take a matter of days to have it filed in the system and they, Dean and Samuel Winchester, will be under your sole guardianship. We have a few lawyers and judges on retainer for such occasions.
Their father, however, will have a warrant out for his arrest. To be located and detained until a trial hearing can be scheduled.
Keep in mind that their father will be located by any means necessary, either by our investigator or our mutual benefactor (we know they are aware of the man and hope we get to him before they do but will not hold our breaths)
We, your most humble accountants, look forward to any future business with you and hope to be in contact soon with the sealed documents for your records.
Kind regards,
Stefan, Secondary Senior Accountant"
Kakashi fell on his bottom to the dirt ground after reading the letter, rereading it again just in case he misread the letter and when it was what he saw, Kakashi fell back. Zabuza blinked and shook his head.
"How?" the grey-haired Jonin asked as he sat up and looked to his dark-haired friend. "We've only just talked about it this morning. How the heck can they know already?" standing up to hand over the letter, Kakashi looked to Zabuza as he looked back with a small smile.
"They work in mysterious ways, I have yet to find out how but one thing I know for sure: they didn't bug anything on our person or had us followed. They just know" Shrugging and sighing when Kakashi stepped closer and wrapped his arms around his waist, giving the man a kiss on his lips.
"The boys are yours now" Kakashi whispered and smirked when he felt the other man shiver at the thought. "Just wait until you tell them the news" he whispered again and was leaning into the man for another kiss when a voice piped up.
"What news?" said the bubbly blonde as he held Sasuke's hand, they stood next to the wagon, each holding onto a bag of food with their free hand.
"News? What news?" asked Sam as he tugged on Dean's hand, Dean, who rolled his eyes, but everyone could see that he very much enjoyed the contact with his brother. As they looked to the boy's other free hand, Dean's bag looked almost transparent from all the grease for which Kakashi raised a brow at then turned to ask a question to Zabuza. But the man quietly growled and let the other go to walked over to the brothers. Zabuza took the bag of grease from Dean and sniffed it, shook his head before tossing it into a nearby trash bin by a corner where both Haku and Sakura appeared, but they made a face at the bag.
"Eww!" they both cringed at the sight then looked to the group to see a pouting and teary eye Dean "Dean darling" Haku let go of Sakura's hand to go to Dean as he looked forlorn at the trash bin. Haku glared at Zabuza, the man crossed his arms, eyes never wavering at the icy glare he got as Haku took the boy in his arms, handing his own bag of food to Sakura.
"My food" Dean whispered to Haku's shoulder, bringing his hands to the boy's waist.
"I told him it wasn't a good idea" Sam said as Sakura's took his hand "It was too much but he insisted" Sakura nodded as she understood.
"My food" Dean repeated as Haku shushed him, running a hand through the boy's hair. "I didn't get a chance to taste it" Dean whimpered into the shorter boy's shoulder as said boy threw an even icier glare at Zabuza, making everyone else feel the cold chill from the look.
"Come, darling, we'll go back and get you another one" Dean looked up in surprise.
"Really?" Haku smiled and gave a peck to Dean's nose.
"Of course, darling" running a hand down the boy's face "Anything you want, I'll get it for you" Zabuza growled in disagreement, but Haku just glared at him and then smirked at the tall man "I'm glad someone wants to spoil you, we are on a road trip after all and I would hate for anyone to find out you're not being spoiled enough" Taking the boy's hand, Haku lead Dean away to go back to the same vendor he got his food from and Dean, smiling, turned his head to stick his tongue back at his brother. Sam snorted and Sakura giggled.
However, the meaning to Haku's words were not lost on Zabuza…. Or either Naruto or Sasuke, who squeezed each other's hands.
"And he calls me spoiled brat" they heard Sam say in a joking manner. The tall boy took Sakura to the back of the wagon and helped her up before he too climbed on. The boys walked over to climb on as well and as Sasuke went up, Naruto's sensitive hearing picked out what Kakashi whispered to Zabuza.
"Let it go, babe. Haku is right, we're on a road trip and that means as much junk food as they want" Kakashi leaned up and kissed his cheek then nuzzled him. Zabuza sighed before turning fully to the grey-haired Jonin and wrapped him up in his arms.
Naruto smiled at their closeness before climbing up on the wagon to sit next to his bedmate and open his bag of food as did the rest. The adults told the rest of the kids they'll be back, and they went off, hand in hand, to get their own food.
A few minutes later, they saw a very happy Dean bouncing back with the same greasy bag of food and holding Haku hand, who just smiled at the wide grin on the other's face.
"Hope you don't get sick because of that" Sam said when the two reached and climbed up on the wagon, Dean sitting beside Sakura and Haku beside Sasuke.
"When have you ever seen me get sick eating this kind of food, Sammy? We were practically raised on greasier food then this" Dean said, pulling out a burger.
"Milk it all then because once we get to our new home, there will be a new menu with less grease" Sam dodged a fry being thrown at him.
"Then I'll will" Taking a bite, Dean moaned in pleasure at the first taste and was about to open his mouth to say something, but a firm look from Haku made him chew and swallow, smiling at the pale boy who nodded back.
"Besides, when I learn to cook, I'll invent the best burger in town that'll even you won't get enough of" Popping in a fry, Dean grinned at his brother then turned to Haku who smiled at him.
"Yes, darling, we'll teach you if they don't have classes available at our new home" Haku turned to Sam "And we'll all learn how to garden so we can have fresh produce all year round" Sam grinned at Dean who stuck his tongue out at him that made Sam laugh. As they were finishing up their food, Kakashi and Zabuza came back to the wagon and Zabuza handed over his bag and drink to the grey-haired one before walking around the wagon to Dean, who kept his head down when he saw the adults coming back and munched on his fries. Zabuza sighed then brought his hand up to the boy's hair to run through it. Zabuza felt the boy tense at first then relaxed.
"I'm sorry for throwing away your food. Haku is right, road trips mean junk food and until we reach our new home, you can have as much of it as you want" Dean turned to look at the man and Zabuza smiled behind his mask at the boy's hopeful expression. "But" Dean cut him off.
"I know, after that we all have to eat healthy" Dean gave a meek smile "I want to learn to cook" Zabuza nodded then kissed the boy's forehead.
"And you will" one last kiss made Dean very happy, and he continued with his fries as the two adults went to the front and climbed on, grabbing the reigns and got the horse moving again back on the road.
"Wait!" everyone turned to the blonde "You said something about news" the blonde said as Sam nodded with him. They all looked to the two in front and saw Zabuza pull out an envelope from his front pocket and handed it over. Naruto grabbed for it and pulled out the letter, reading its contents and with each sentence, everyone saw his eyes widen with each row he read. Then:
"Holy Fuck!"
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Milo entered the mountain after it got too dark to see where he was walking or what he was doing. Not wanting to stay out in the freezing cold with his weighted attire, Milo went in and came to the main room where the fire was roaring and warm. Taking off his outerwear and boots for indoor slippers, Milo rubbed his hands as he walked over to where his girl sat in the foyer from the morning when he left and saw she hasn't moved. Knowing it'll be another couple hours before she came to, Milo grabbed his pack and went to the bathroom to take a warm shower to loosen his muscles and warm up his body.
The training regiment his girl drafted up was killing him each day, and he loved every minute of it!
He didn't know how he survived this long not knowing there's muscles he didn't know he had that were given a very thorough workout with his girl's workout regiment. The first day almost did kill him when his girl doubled the weight on his outerwear and ankles, but he kept going, took a lap around the mountain with the help of the invisible lady in the mountain.
Apparently, she can manipulate the landscape in and around her mountain, helping Milo in making a trail so he doesn't get lost in the blizzard of ice and snow.
Drying himself and getting dressed in warm pajamas and sweater, Milo wrapped a towel around his head, picked up his pack and went back to the main room. Roxanne still in the same position on the floor so Milo dropped his pack by his side of the cot and sat down to continue drying his hair, but his head snapped up when someone cleared their throats.
A clone of his girl stood smiling at him from the entrance of the tunnel as she stomped the snow off her boots and took it off to slip into a pair of extra slippers by the entrance. The clone shook more snow off her jacket first then took it off to shake it some more. Milo saw that the clone had a backpack on her under her jacket and figured that she didn't want any snow on it either. Hooking her jacket up, the clone removed her gloves, goggles, hat, neck warmer and scarf to bring them to the fire pit and hang them to dry. Pushing up her sleeves, the clone went over to the table in the kitchen and took off her pack to set on top of it.
"What you got there, my girl?" The clone looked up and beamed at the endearment, making Milo realize that he only keeps his pet names for their boss and not them.
"I thought you guys would want some actual meat and produce instead of rations. So, I went down to the village and bought some" Opening the pack, the clone pulled out the items and Milo groaned at them.
Two white rabbits, two chickens and a couple bags of vegetables.
"I set some traps when I first walked down and checked on them on my way back up. The lady I bought the vegetables off asked if I was going okay up here in the mountain by myself and I assured her that I'm careful in my training" The clones held up both animals in each hand. "Now, which would you like for dinner tonight?"
Milo got up off his cot, hung his towel on the rack by the pit to dry and went over to the table, looking through the produce instead. "Roasted chicken sounds good with vegetables" The clones nodded and put that down before picking up the other chicken and rabbits, making her way around the table.
"I'll put these in the deep freeze for later. Only boss knows when we'll leave" Milo looked up from taking out the potatoes from its bag, furrowed brows in confusion at the retreating back of the clone.
"You're her clone" said clone looked back from going to the deep freezer in the corner of the main room.
"She hasn't decided yet and until then, we're both in the dark" Shrugging, she continued to the freezer as Milo stood by the table, holding a potato in confusion. Turning his head to look at his actual girl sitting on the floor, crossed legged and hands connected, Milo wondered why she is keeping them in the dark. It's not like it's a secret or anything, Milo figured it out back in the city and said so:
"How long does it take to travel by foot from Land of Water to the Leaf Village?"
The clone blinked then laughed, shaking her head at Milo who chuckled with her.
"Good one boss, I don't know why we didn't think of it" Milo stared at the laughing clone because what she said stuck with him.
These clones are copies of Roxanne and Roxanne is able to withhold information from them. Milo looked to his girl on the floor then nodded and went back to taking out which vegetables he wanted to roast with the chicken then passed the rest to the clone who put them away for now.
Grabbing a knife and cutting board from the kitchen, turning the oven on, and the clone plucked the chicken of its feathers, they worked in comfortable silence with the fire crackling in the pit. When the chicken has been cleaned, the clone took out a large pan to put it in and then popped out with a salute, leaving Milo to gather the cut-up veggies to add to the pan. Sliding the covered pan in the oven and closing it, Milo set to clean the mess they left, sighing when he saw the bag of feathers and guts left on the floor. Wondering how he was going to dispose of it since he was in a mountain and if he leaves in the trash, it'll start to smell after a day.
Then he felt a tingle on his foot and felt the lady of the mountain making her presence known and figure it wouldn't hurt to ask.
"How would you get rid of feathers and guts?" tapping his foot in question. The answer was simple it would seem when Milo looked to the bag to see a crack open underneath it and slipped through.
Milo blinked.
Then yelped when a hand grabbed his shoulder. He turned to see his girl smiling up at him and he blew out a breath, hand to his chest. Looking down and about to get into it but his girl beat him to it.
"Compose material. To help with the whatever life she can reach around her mountain" Patting her Jonin, Roxanne went to the oven and peaked in the small opening of the oven door to see what's cooking. Humming, Roxanne turned back to Milo, seeing him finish putting away the things he used.
"Your girl said she wasn't sure when we'd leave so she went down to the village and brought some things in lieu of rations" Milo looked to Roxanne "How come she doesn't know when we're leaving?"
"Would you rather do your training right or know when we're leaving and try to rush it?" She asked instead of answering and Milo sighed then shook his hands.
"Do it right but she did figure it out, you know" Milo smirked as his girl smiled back and tapped him on his arm.
"I know, Daddy" Standing on her tip toes, Roxanne gives him a kiss on his cheek then turned to add more logs to the pit.
OOOOO
The Hokage sat in his office, smoking his pipe with a smile. He held in one of his hands a note that was given to him from a man that was hired to retrieve the head of his two most hired shinobis. When he found out, he kept his expression neutral and when he found out that the elders were the ones to hired said man. Well, the message the man brought to them sure enough spoke it.
"Fuck around and find out" the man said as he handed over a sack. The elders looked in and their faces drained of color.
The Hokage told them it would be best to leave the two alone from now on and they didn't answer, just dropped the sack and left.
The man handed over a letter addressed for the Hokage but before he to left, the Hokage said:
"Also, best to never take a job in regard to these two ever again" the man nodded and left the Hokage alone in his office.
Opening the letter, the Hokage read the message then burned it with a last lingering thought:
'How does a Genin train a Jonin?'
OOOOO
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