85)

As things came to an awkward stop, I checked the time while trying to think of something to get people talking again. Something lighter.

I stood up and turned on my eldest grandkid. “So, Sara. Why don’t you tell everyone about how you gave yourself super hearing.”

She gave me an exasperated look, then put on a polite smile as she turned to talk to the Ichibans. I really didn’t follow her explanation all that well as she began talking about her chi and her auditory nerve and how it really wasn’t that big of a deal.

Instead, I signaled Drew toward the buffet table. Then made some hand gestures until he picked up that I wanted him to start clearing out the spoilables back to the fridge.

Otaru began giving Sara a few tips and warnings. Whatever she had done was something he was familiar with. Much to his great grandson Dave’s surprise. “Wait Ojiisan, you never told me anything about this?”

The old man smirked. “You never asked. I taught you every technique of our family, but you never asked about others. Your lack of imagination is one of your worst flaws as a student, but your greatest strength as an instructor.”

Sara smirked at her uncle, having gotten one up on him. Then Oraru began gently dressing her down for all the mistakes she had made. Which seemed to come down to her developing an ability to hear things better for a set time. Rather than something she could call up for only as long as she needed it.

Finally, the witches came back down. Rosaria look despondent to see the sandwich makings gone. “Where did the cheese go? Please don’t tell me old John ate it all. That can’t be good for a guy his age.”

Nope. I’m not even going to acknowledge that.

Endora gave her daughter a cold look before moving to sit on the couch opposite from Otaru. Her daughters stood behind it while Sara and Ami slipped off to stand by their parents on the love seat.

The Witch announced to the room. “For so long as I’m able to tutor Ami one weekend a month. I am confident enough in my daughter’s abilities to allow them to provide lessons at other times under my direction.

She turned her gaze on Otaru. “What she learns from your clan. Either in terms of physical training or Yoru Ichiban’s legacy. I will allow it as long as it does not distract from her true training. What she decides to do after I judge that she has become competent is entirely up to her.”

The old man stared at her for a moment. Then gave her a shallow nod. “Agreed. Now the question is where will she be trained. It would be immoral to separate a child entirely from her family.”

Endora frowned. “There is no question. My home is the safest place in the world for a young witch and she would have ready access to all of her teachers.”

My son spoke up. “I will not give her over to you Endora. She stays with me and my wife wherever we end up. Along with her brother and sister. And I will not have my son anywhere near you.”

The Witch looked at him and sighed. “The boy is in no danger from me… John.” She had seemed at a loss as to what to call him for a moment, before saying his name with distaste. “I have learned to tolerate you, and I would not turn Ami against me. She is my last chance to pass on my craft. ”

John junior took a deep breath and swallowed his anger. “Tolerate me? You tried to kill me at least seven times before I was twelve.”

She gave him an evil grin. “Only seven that you noticed boy. And three of those weren't even serious… More like tests to see if you would be of some use.”

He rose to his feet, ignoring his mother’s attempt to wave him down. “And is that how you intend to test Ami. Putting her life in danger for your amusements?”

The Witch narrowed her eyes at my son. “Of course not boy. I care about her. She’s my granddaughter.”

Yuki stood as well. “That’s his point. You can’t be trusted with all of my family, and we will not be separated.”

The Witch started to rise. I decided this would be one of the moments I was here for. “So where else could she be taught? What would be the requirements?”

The Witched turned slowly to face me. Then huffed. “Warding. Done by my own hand or Brianna’s. The ones she put on this house are a good start if she could be taught here.” She looked to Otaru. “I doubt this one would allow me to put my work on his home.”

Otaru nodded in agreement. “I hope I live to see our descendant use your teaching to add new protections to her family's home. But you would never trust me with her protection if I was so foolish as to allow you to tamper with ours.”

Endora stared at him for a moment before giving him a shallow nod of reluctant respect.

Wards on my house? I glanced at Brianna who was looking over at a print of the girl with a pearl earring with great interest.

She had arranged for me to win the lottery and even did something to bring me to this house? Had anything that had happened to me in the last four months been of my own choise?

The Witch snapped her finger at me. “You. This land is bound to you. I can put protections on it without your permission, but they will be stronger with it.”

I sighed. “Yeah. Go ahead. Make this a place she can learn in safety.” It’s not like it ever really belonged to me anyways.

Sara seemed to pick up that I was… down. Not upset, just more or less all used up with nothing left to be upset with.

Yuki, however, was getting upset. “Wait, what are we talking about here? We want our own home. I mean I want to get to know John senior, but I want our own house.”

I smiled a little. Things were beginning to make sense now. Brianna’s master plan.

“It’s okay Yuki. This is place was too big for me anyhow. You can just have it.”

I had know this was coming. Somehow, someway, the other shoe would always drop. I had been showered with wealth, family, power and even romance. All out of nowhere. Now it was all going to be taken away. Again.