Soft as a Lily (Book 3)

(1) Atchara, the Gatekeeper

Hinata opened her eyes to see the woman and the countless rows of gates. The woman smirked, "What was saying the L-word to that Pomeranian for?" Hinata gagged, "I'm honestly not sure, I think it was because I didn't know what to say to him.." she twiddled her fingers. "But it's not like I'm going to see him again." She shrugged, stretching a little, kneeling before the woman. "Where am I assigned to next, Kami-sama."

"You don't need to keep on calling me 'Kami-sama' you know? I'm not actually Kami." the woman replied, scratching her cheek. Hinata puzzled, "Then who are you? And why am I doing your bidding?" she quickly got up, eyes flaming in anger. The woman held her hands up, waving them hysterically. "No need to be like that! I wasn't even expecting you to survive the two worlds you went to, especially the first one." Hinata gave her a shocked expression, "So you took me from my village....MY dimension. To what?! Risk my life for others that I shouldn't even be able to meet?" she raised her voice slightly, crouching down, hugging her knees.

The woman sighed, "Well, those two worlds you went to, were tests to see if got what it takes to be my servant," Hinata looked up at the woman, "Servant? Why would I serve you?" she stood up immediately, "Glad you asked, Hyuuga-chan. You see, even though I'm not Kami-sama and in all their glory. But it did feel nice to be called Kami-"

Hinata tilted her head, "Don't you mean he?"

The woman shook her head, "You can't identify a giant, all-knowing ball of light a male, that would be disrespectful. They don't have an assigned gender like you and I, but they also aren't transgender. It's like in between male and female, so us lower gods and goddesses, along with our servants and angels. Call Kami-sama by they, them, or their pronouns. Understand a little?" she finished, receiving a very slow nod to Hinata. The woman grins, "Anyway, so you will be serving me as a guardian to those who I will assign you too. And will give you the information needed for that world."

Hinata nods, "Excuse me, but, what will I call you ma'am? Since I don't know your name." The woman makes an 'o' with her mouth, "Well, I was named Atchara, Gatekeeper of Dimensions. But you will call me 'Ma'am', I guess." HInata kneels, "Yes, Ma'am. And may I ask one more question?" Atchara nods her head, Hinata took a deep breathe in, "What do you mean by guardian?"

Atchara sighed through her nose, "To the dimension I send you to, you will have a task on protecting, or being somewhat like a guardian angel for them for a certain amount of time. Well, until when I say it's time for you to leave for another task. This will happen for some time. Or until you debt is repayed." Hinata stood up with a bewildered look written all over her face, "What do you mean debt? I'm not in debt with you."

Atchara chuckled, "Yes you are, from when we first met. You wanted to become stronger for your so-called clan. Remember Hinata-chan~"

~Flashback~

"Little girl, why are you crying?"

HInata looked up with her puffy, lavender tinted eyes to see a very attractive woman with long, flowing hair and skin as pale as the lilies that float in the pond. She quickly wiped her nose with her sleeve, "I was in a spar with Hanabi-chan..sniff...a-and I-I didn't want to h-h-hurt her.."

The lady pulled her kimono sleeve up, quickly wiping away Hinata's tears, "Anything else, sweetheart."

Hinata sniffled again, "And Neji n-nii-san hates me n-now for s-s-s-ome reason.." she said shaken. "Oto-san s-said that I-I'm w-weak.." She muttered, big droplets of tears running down her face. The lady grinned, "What if there was a way that I could make you stronger? But you must hide it so no one would ever find out. Only when the time is right, you shall reveal you gift to everyone who ever looked down or pitied you."