Hello Kittens!
Thank you so much for droppin' in and tell me how much you have enjoyed it. Now that the summer is lurking around the corner which is making things a little difficult for me. Me being a native Cali girl, do the math. *giggles* I have the update for you to enjoy. It's short, I know but it will be longer in the next update.
Part EightAnya decided to stop by Jazzy Spot, the bakery shop, to pick up some breakfast before heading to the Magic Box. She was taking a long stroll down the street, thinking of her Xander and missing him terribly. As she entered she was greeted with the sweet aroma of the fresh baked pastry out in the display. She went to the Java section to pick up an espresso latte and as soon as she moved to grab a couple of butter croissants, she saw KJ coming out from the back. Their eyes met for a moment, KJ moved her gaze to the croissants the blonde was holding in one hand and the bag in other as if she was about to drop them in. KJ looked up, wondering why Anya was…well sort of frozen.
It dawned on Anya which she shook herself out of her supposedly frozen state and grinned almost a cheesy smile, dropping the croissants in the bag.
KJ said nothing but gave her a soft smile, walked to the front and gestured one of her employees to help Anya before disappearing into the back.
“That will be $4.35 please.” The young man with nametag reading Travis said.
After Anya handed him her ten-dollar bill to him, she looked at KJ again and she just couldn’t take it anymore! With that she moved around the counter to confirm her suspicions.
“Ma’am, you can’t go in there,” Travis said, trying to stop Anya but failing too easily.
“Whoa!” The voice said, stopping Anya dead in her tracks, turning to see Tara who stopped her. “Anya, are you all right…” Tara trailed off, looking at descending business partner and at Anya. Not waiting for the blonde to respond, Tara asked, “What were you doing, following KJ?”
“I am sorry, ma’am, I tried to stop her but…” Travis was interrupted by Tara’s gentle dismissed wave and he smiled knowing that Tara had everything under control and that the customer was actually her friend.
“I need to ask her something but now that you are here…come on, let’s go.” Anya grabbed her arm and practically flew to the kitchen.
“Ask her what?” Tara asked when they entered the kitchen where KJ was doing some inventory.
KJ looked up from the clipboard and smiled then immediately frowned slightly when she saw Anya.
“Is everything okay? Were those croissants disappointing?” KJ signed.
“That can’t be!” Anya said almost confused, looking at Tara.
“Anya, what’s going on? Why are you freaking out?” Tara questioned, frowning in puzzlement.
“Is…Is she deaf?” Anya asked, not taking her eyes off KJ.
“Yes, I told you about her so what’s going on, really?” Tara asked, not liking how Anya was acting.
“Okay…Is your name Syaniza Zuberia Moomulu?” Anya asked.
“What?” Tara asked, completely confused.
“Translate please!” Anya begged.
“This is Anya, I have told you about her, you know the queen of money. She wants to ask you something, is your name Syaniza Zuberia Moomulu?” Tara translated.
The women cringed when the clipboard slipped out of KJ’s grasp and made a thudding sound against the floor. “Mom?” KJ whispered so low that Tara almost missed it. She looked away from the women, “Mom…” She trailed off, looking back at Anya. The brown eyes were filled with unshed tears, remembering how cruel her mother was taken away from her. Tara could see how distressful KJ was being at the mention of her mother’s real name and she walked over to put her left arm around the woman’s shoulder.
“How did you know her? Syaniza Zuberia was my mother, how the hell did you know her? Did you have her killed?” KJ asked silently with her eyes gazing at Anya accusingly.
Anya shook her head vehemently, “No, I didn’t but I knew your grandmothers before…” Anya trailed off, realizing that KJ wasn’t in shape to see that she was the one who avenged Syaniza’s death for Zuberia fifty years ago.
Flashback to few years ago…
“You have failed. You will be human again.” D’Hoffryn shimmered away.
“No! D’Hoffryn!” Anyanka screamed.
Months had passed by, Anyanka had become just Anya, and she devoted herself completely to the concept of capitalism and fell in love with a human, Xander Harris. She worked happily away at the Magic Box. Giles was away in England, making himself a silent partner to the store. It was closing time, but a door clicked unlocked, making Anya look up and turn her head towards the door.
“I am sorry, the store is closed but how did you get in?” Anya moved away from the register and stood still with hands resting on her hips.
“Silence!” A female voice spoke.
Anya didn’t like being ordered around, especially from a hooded figure, and was about to speak before the figure swiftly pulled down the hood revealing her face.
“S…S..” Anya tried to remember the name but couldn’t.
“Yes, Syaniza Zubera Moomulu.is the name. Now I have a proposition for you, now that you have avenged my mother’s death, which I am forever grateful and that you are no longer a demon.” S.Z. spoke confidently.
“How did you know that I am no longer demon?” Anya asked, looking at the beautiful African woman, seeing a lot of resemblances to Zuberia except for her eyes.
S.Z. smiled and spoke, “Because I wouldn’t have made this proposition if you were a demon, so I had to ensure that you were to be stripped of all demonic powers,” She walked towards Anya in cat-like manner. “I needed you to be mortal so you would be able to touch this.” Holding up the leather bound book for Anya to see. “I have a daughter whose destiny is to be the champion against the evil. She will come here in a few years from now. I need for you to give this to her, no one else, is that understood?”
“Understood, what do I get for this, after all I wouldn’t even recognize her anyway.” Anya challenged, knowing it was a big mistake.
“You will be surprised, after all I am already dead. Here is the $15,000 you want, in cold, hard cash just the way you love them.” With that, she shimmered in thin air, leaving the bundle of crisp hundred-dollar bills on the diary.
“How the hell did you know that?!” Anya asked, completely bewildered.
“I just know, Anyanka..” The voice appeared from nowhere.
Back to the present…
“Hello? Earth to Anya!” The voice belonging to Tara was calling out to Anya.
“Uhn…I had something that I was supposed to give to you but it’s not with me. Will you come by my shop after you are done here?” Anya suggested.
“Give me what?” KJ asked, almost recovering from the shock.
“Something that your mom left for you. I think it is important that you have it as soon as possible.” Anya said, leaving the kitchen not waiting for the answer.
“Are you okay, KJ?” Tara signed.
“Don’t worry about that, I can deal with it. Umm, is it okay that I take-off for the day? Will you be okay here?” KJ asked, picking up the clipboard and handing it to her partner.
“You can go, don’t worry about this, I will be okay and besides Willow will be coming by soon anyway,” Taking the clipboard and sticking it under her arm, Tara signed, “I am really sorry about Anya and your mother.”
Shaking her head, KJ said, “That’s okay…So much has happened and I guess I got too used to it. But I will call you when I get settled in tonight.” She hugged her friend before heading out towards the Magic Box.
“Wow…I hope so too.” Tara said to no one in particular.
Tara was so lost in doing the rest of inventory that she didn’t hear Willow come in and she almost jumped when a pair of arms wrapped themselves around Tara from behind.
“Sorry for startling you, baby.” Willow whispered, placing a few kisses on Tara’s right cheek. “Are you okay?” Willow could sense the worry in Tara.
“Yes, but I am worried about KJ, you see…” Tara explained, elaborating every detail about what happened earlier.
“Wow…That was big.” Willow finally spoke after Tara finished.
Tara nodded, “Yeah but I hope she will find out what she has been looking for ever since her mother died…You know, closure.” Tara concluded and placed a lingering kiss on Willow’s lips.
“Tara, I came by to tell you that I have to go and see Mr. Stephens about the work assignments that I can bring them home to work on. I will see you here around 11:30 or 12:00. If I am not here by 1pm, call me on cell, okay.” Willow said almost pouting.
That made Tara giggle, thinking how adorable the redhead was being so she pulled her closer to herself. Her lips were pressing against Willow’s, giving each other non-passionate kisses. “You better pick up something in the front and it’s on me. Ooh, try that white chocolate and cranberry muffin, I want the little one to have her first taste of that in your womb.” Tara prompted, pulling back to look into her favorite emeralds.
“That sounds delicious, in that case, I will grab two and some decaffeinated chai latte. Love you, baby.” Willow gave Tara a quick kiss on her lips before heading out, leaving Tara to watch her go.
“Willow!”
Willow turned around to see Tara running towards her, placing both lid-covered cup and bag with the muffins on the top of her car. The redhead frowned, worried when she saw her fiancée coming out of the shop. She was about to say something but was interrupted by Tara’s lips on her own. Willow almost melted at contact, raising her arms and wrapping them around Tara’s shoulders, she returned the kiss. After few minutes of their mini lovemaking session with their mouths, Tara pulled back with a huge smile showing slightly bruised lips.
“Wow! Baby, I will see you later!” Willow exclaimed almost out of breath.
Nodding, Tara leant in and kissed her again before opening the car door for Willow and handing her the muffins and latte once she got settled in.
“See you later, my Willow.” Tara spoke, closing the door.
Tara watched Willow pull out and waved before heading back inside.
*~*~*~*
Anya turned her head to the sound of the bell ringing and saw KJ creeping in, clearly looking for the blonde. Anya closed the register and saw the last patron out before turning the sign from open to closed for lunch. Anya gestured for KJ to wait one moment to which she got a nod of acknowledgement from KJ. Anya went to the back and returned with the leather bound diary and held it out with respect. KJ didn’t move to take the book but stood there, staring at it with an expression Anya couldn’t put her finger on. A few minutes or a few hours might have gone by but Anya couldn’t dare to move nor shake the book with impatience. Finally, KJ hesitantly took the book and gently slid her left hand across its front, and closed her eyes allowing a tear to escape. Anya watched the emotional plight going through KJ, feeling sorry for KJ; after being a demon for a thousand of years, she had forgotten how it felt to lose her parents but she knew if she did, she would never be able to handle it well. KJ simply brought the book to her chest and turned around heading for the door. Anya watched her go and held her breath when she saw the young woman turn her head towards her.
“Thanks.” KJ whispered simply before disappearing.
My dear daughter, KamiKaze Jovian Michaels…
By the time you have received this, I will be dead; I knew about my death the moment your powers blossomed. As you already know of your origin, one thing I did not tell you was that your father never knew you existed. You see, you weren’t supposed to be in existence but I did not care because I loved you before you were born and couldn’t allow myself to give you up. I made sure that your father never found out about you because I didn’t know what he would do or what the other Guardians would do when you were discovered. I am very certain that he would do everything in his power to keep you safe; however, it would throw off the balance. When I was pregnant with you, the coven found out about this and had me banished because I refused to give you up…
KJ looked up at the photo of herself and her mother and tilted her head down and continued to read.
She was almost at the end before the last few paragraphs caught KJ off guard.
KJ, with all the necessary information I have bequeath you with, you must be wise and careful with what you have learned. Protect the Sorceress of the Light and the Witch of Darkness while one is carrying the child. They do not know this, but they are most vulnerable while the child is growing in one. Protect them at all costs or it will be the end of world if the one with the child dies, because once the one with the child dies then the child will die as well.
I love you so much, KamiKaze Jovian Michaels, and be well and safe.
With immense love,
Your mother, Syaniza Zuberia Moomulu.
KJ closed the book and brought it to her nose, she sighed when she smelt the familiar scent; that was the scent that reminded her of her mother. ‘You are right, Mom… I have to do this, Tara and Willow don’t deserve this. I will do it at any cost.’ KJ thought to herself, sipping some hot chocolate that she made for herself while she took a break from reading.
*~*~*~*
Willow walked back to her car in the parking lot at level 3 with a smile, ravishing the great news from her boss. She couldn’t wait to tell Tara. With that, she pulled out her cell phone, and flipped it open then before she could push Tara’s number on speed dial…
“Aa--!” The hand suddenly clamped Willow’s mouth, causing her to drop her cell phone which made a soft thud against the hard concrete.
“Don’t scream or I will kill you!” the voice hissed into Willow’s ear.
Back at the Jazzy spot Tara was in middle of helping a nervous bride to be and a few women with the specifics for a wedding cake when she felt a sudden pang shoot through her body. Tara almost collapsed, grabbing the counter to catch herself from falling down.
“Tara, are you all right?” one woman asked, worried.
“Willow…”
TBC
ish evil evil cliffhangar.....
i love it! i can always appriciate a good evil cliffhangar...
update soon tho? wonderful story.
at: 6/24/04 10:50 pm