I apologise for the spectacularly late update. I have explained all in my bio lol. One of many New Years resolutions: Update my fanfiction at a reasonable pace.
So anyway, thanks for taking your time reading and reviewing. I think I owe you peeps some correspondence, too!
Skiz: I ain't spoken to you for blummin' ages m'dear! How are you? How are all the ficcies going?
Odat: Your comment made me laugh somuch XDDDD "I am not justa pervert; I am a classy pervert, thank you very much," Fabulous.
Merridaine: XD Fur fetish. Never saw it as that lol. But can you imagine if that leaked out and all the lovely ladies of Konoha began walking around with unshaven legs? Sass would never be able to show his face in public again XDD
C.A.M.E.O.1 and Only: I hateseagulls cos they've a problem with me. Where I live we're infested with the sodding vermin (because there's a friggin seagull sanctuarynear by) Bastards. They're HUGE and VICIOUS. The worst birds in the world. Almost been attacked three times, was completely at random as well- and these bitches can full-on kill. K.I.L.L. AND they rip open the rubbish bags (then the lunatics at the sanctuaryblameus for the diseases they catch from the rubbish- FUCK OFF) Well it could go on and on. But I shall stop the rant there before it mutates to something else. XD And thank you for calling my lemon delicious- you've inspired summin there XD And in regards to Kimi- you ain't seen nuttin' yet.
And thankies to DarknessFlameWolf (especially, as I believe you've stuck by this story from the start ;)) xxx1xxx, Laura-chan, DarkAngelRakell, STEVEO 352 and kunoichikeiko13. There will be more SasuSaku soon X3
The Cat- Chapter Eight
A reef of cloud and purperly light mingled in the twilight of the chill, early autumn evening. Summer had slowly bled into autumn, and now the speckles of yellow and brown in the trees became all the more prominent. It was always startling; the swift transition from summer to autumn. How quick the cold was to nip at uncovered skin, and how swift the darkness seemed roll through the pale indigo skies. September had arrived and August was left in the past.
Not that the Fire Country felt it particularly acutely; most thought the Fire Country had it easy, weather-wise. No snow, and the weather kept mainly mild throughout the year.
But still, they will complain,Thought the girl, whilst she sat on the highest ridge, observing the hidden village through eyes icier than a northern, winter rain.They'll never find complete happiness; they never do. They'll never be content. They'll always want more, and more, and more…
"Until it's too late, and then they'll have nothing," The girl, Nyoko, whispered, her eyes afire behead their chilling exterior. Her long, tangled hair tickled her face as the wind wisped its silvery curls into a worse degree of disarray. Her dewy, sometimes lifeless complexion caught the sky's purple hue.
Her mind cast back as she watched the bustling life bellow and remembered life before her own possession. She had been neither rich nor poor, her parents owning a butcher shop. She had excelled in what education had been offered and worked hard her entire life. She was ambitious and rather pretty, with a strong and steely attitude inherited from her mother. But however much she may have excelled in studies and society it had never been enough.
She chuckled, smiling wickedly, smiling like a mad woman, though she had never felt saner her entire life. It was clear now, the thick mist lifted. There was no more mystery and for reasons she could not decipher, this left her empty, like a cracked egg shell, where the chick had hatched and gone, so the shell was simply left to rot.
That was the weakness they all had. Their Achilles' Heel. It was what made them such easy targets. Instead of seeing what they already had, instead of focusing on what was truly precious to them, they were always never happy with what life had handed them. The cat had possessed her, used her, used her ambition, and although she picked life, there was nothing precious to return to. And so Nyoko travelled and helped others under these venomous spirits' spells.
She wondered what the girl was like, what this kunoichi was like. Seems that even the most disciplined of people thought mostly of themselves.
"What's Kimi shown you?" Nyoko wondered aloud. There were so much, so many forgotten things in the world. The many talents of cats was one these, the cautions of possession as well.
The Cat's – as Haruno Sakura of the Hidden Leaf had now been dubbed- reputation was growing. She was all too happy to deviate from her original medical profession to go on A and S-rank missions and up-hold the honour of her Country through War.
Fear of The Cat was building throughout the countries and the girl was becoming such an inspiration.
Funny how people reacted differently, wasn't it? Years before in Nyoko's day, if one were found to be possessed, they would be hung drawn and quartered without a second thought. The Leaf thought they could control Kimi; thought that they could harness her power through Sakura- who they thought had control over Kimi.
It's laughable, really, how clueless and blind they are. How is it that they know so little? How can a shinobi village be so naïve and trusting?
Starlings twittered in the trees surrounding her, and as she twitched her sensitive ears to their cries, she counted every individual bird. Twenty-eight birds, all jittery and challenging prey. She would hunt them in a minute, to pass time.
Nyoko closed her eyes, completely abandoning her senses to the wild. Water, somewhere, in the distance, trickled in a small stream to the East. Smells of the birds above, the town below and the swaying trees to her sides filled her nostrils in a delicious profusion of heady scents. The feathery touch of the wind on her skin felt comforting, like a cool, flimsy blanket.
But that blanket suddenly became rough and uncomfortable. A new, yet annoyingly familiar smell met her sensitive nose and she drew in a long, tired breath, exhaling after a deep moment, just before her complexion became tinged with purple from oxygen deprivation.
It was an effort to breathe in again.
"Nyoko-San," Hotaru said behind her, his wolfish grin curving his smooth, velvet voice. Nyoko ignored him, choosing to settle her attention on the swallows as they swooped high above.
Hotaru hesitated, waiting for a response or simple acknowledgement. He was given no such notice. He cocked his head to the side, as if calculating the next move. His eyes glimmered like amber pearls in the purple dusk.
Like a predator on the cusp of a kill, he sauntered towards Nyoko, grinning, as she made no attempt to neither move nor curse him. He watched, transfixed, as the wind swayed stray strands of her tangled locks.
Only when his hand went to smooth the silvery strands did she turn her head, eyes ablaze.
"Hmmmn?" She hummed, expressionless. "What do you want?"
Hotaru was happy to finally have her attention, and so proceeded to settle himself next to her. He lowered his body lazily, with little grace, watching the sunset with an ironic smile. His ears prickled with the sounds of the village below. He strained his hearing to the maximum, grinning slyly as he picked up tiny fragments of information.
"The Cat is on the tip of everyone's tongue, it seems," The grin remained.
Nyoko could not hear as he could, but did not doubt his words. She had been close enough to hear them first hand, to see the mouths the comments came from, had seen the wonder and admiration as The Cat was gossiped about so freely.
It filled her with nothing but disgust.
"I know," She said impatiently, angry and frustrated for the fools in the valley covered in trees. "I hate their blind ignorance,"
"Oh I agree," The wolf man nodded. "It's ridiculous, if not shameful for such a society that boasts about its heritage and its utilisation of the ancient arts… How could such a people be so unaware when the ones closest to her have already seen the consequences of Possession?"
"They probably do not see Kimi as much a threat, not as powerful," Nyoko's eyes sharpened; the light was dimming. "Which, I suppose is true, in some ways, but the girl is at risk, as is anyone who is close to her. As is the next person Kimi will choose to victimise,"
They fell silent, calmly mulling over the words. After a matter of minutes, Nyoko looked over at Hotaru. His mocking gaze never faltered, and the woman realised his contempt for the world would never disappear.
The thought spurred her on, and her argumentative nature was challenged by the thoughts he never voiced. It angered her; she wanted to change the world, he just simply wished to stand and watch the pain and destruction take its toll, just as it had with his own life.
"Hotaru,"
His eyes swivelled towards her; his skin was tinged blue by the darkening sky.
Nyoko extended her hand, fingers flexing as she laid her palm on his chest, the spot where the beat of his heart lumbered on. He made not attempt to stop her; he did not change his expression.
There, Miraculously, she felt the heart that had thumped for maybe half a millennia through the thick material. It did not change its beat.
Now, it was her turn to smile pitifully. Standing up, she removed her hand from his chest. She cast her gaze to the village, then to the sky. She knew what she must do.
"You have no heart, Hotaru. Yours shrivelled up centuries ago… That is nothing more than a cheap replacement- an insurance policy, so that no one will recognise what you are," She stepped past him, back straight and legs knowing he will not follow, even if what she was about to do was forbidden.
His eyes followed her as she went, their gaze loosing the contempt and adopting the predatory leer. He smiles at her innocence and righteousness of spirit.
She's cute when she's all self-righteous. Well, the flame was not extinguished then. She still lingered to life vehemently, even if the fingers were slipping. Ironically though, she still did not realise that their kind needed no heart to pump the liquid life through their veins.
She slid through the swaying trees like a slick otter through water, driving through the flush green foliage fast as a bullet. She knew the route through the forest like the back of her hand, having grown up here and living her entire life beside these woods. This place would always be her home, no matter what form she took. This was her domain.
She emerged from the trees in her smallest form, a ginger tabby, with her whole bottom half white and eyes that gleamed like ripe limes in the sunlight. She avoided the crowded areas as she wandered home, knowing that she'd be recognised and probably tossed about before she transformed back to her human self.
The Cat was a novelty, as well as a weapon, and didn't they know it.
They love you Sakura, they love you because we are together, and Kimi would whisper these words and her heart would burn with pride, pride with what she had become and achieved. She believed she could never have gained this much recognition, even with her skills and the techniques both Hatake Kakashi and the Fifth had taught her. Kimi had taken her hand and lead her to the next level, and had given all she had desired.
Namely Sasuke. Her joy in finally joining with the man who she had found no confidence, no knowledge in how to approach or seduce him… Kimi had given her everything and Sakura had no idea how she would ever repay the cat. Sasuke craved and burned for her, as she in turn had done so in life that seemed to have ended a whole eternity ago. Perhaps if she had been aware of his own feelings and trepidations before Kimi had played puppet master, Sakura would not have been so hopeless in initiating something between them.
Communication of any sort had never been Sasuke's strong point, anyway.
So, really, there was no one finger to point the blame. Lack of communication was a terrible thing and, in the end, you reap what you sow.
But these thoughts never occurred to Sakura. Was she blinded by her knew lust and love for life? Or was it because her mind was no longer her own? There was a second occupant who, although she was quite unaware, was beginning to amount some sway in the way Sakura thought. Kimi's influence was growing and Sakura was being completely consumed, like night enveloping day.
A purple twilight lit the sky, and far to the West the sky was turning an inky blue. The Moon, pale and translucent faded into being for another twelve hours or so. Swallows flipped through the pale sky, singing and twittering a song she could now understand more clearly with these animal ears.
There was a scent on the wind she did not recognise. Feline like hers, but not like other cats. It was larger, as she could become. It smelt wild and untamed.
It is a wild cat, Kimi said,it is nothing more than a wild cat, Sakura. We should be home now.
But Sakura hesitated. She was unsure as to why, but something drew her to the thicket. Kimi grew impatient and urged her on.
Yes… you're right, let's go.
That is her, The body was unmistakeable, her presence undeniable. That is Kimi, Kimi and the girl.
Nyoko had smelt her by chance and followed her path, making sure she kept downwind so the other cat would have less of a chance of finding her. The swallows were too stupid to alert the cat, and Nyoko had made sure she did not accidentally disturb them, for that could trigger the birds into a frenzy and give away her presence.
But of course, she was not looking for an audience with the girl; that would over step the mark and anyway, it would do no good for the moment.
Nyoko watched, still as a statue, slowing her heart and breath so neither was audible enough for the other half-animal to hear. She watched as the other cat's eyes flashed like emerald flames in the purple dusk, large and still curious to a world she was had only just been thrust into.
Perfectly naïve. Nyoko thought with bitter resentment. Too trusting of something she doesn't understand…
The cat Sakura suddenly turn on its padded heels and leapt into the thicket; a pale flicker against the deep green forest.
Such a pity.
The streets were crowded, full of people who'd step on her and walk on without knowing. It was a relief to be crawling across the building rooftops, away from the throngs of people where she'd be turned to mush.
It was a marvel, really, all the strong, lithe bodies- not an unfit chump insight. They wandered along the streets, dressed in form-hugging fabric and armour, some wearing masks depicting animals she was all too familiar with; the cats brought a smile to her feline lips.
She sniffed the air, whiskers twitching in the breeze. Nyoko hoped she wouldn't have to see much more of this place, as fascinating as it was. The longer she stayed here, the more conspicuous she'd become. Shinobi were known for their sharpness, it would be only a matter of time before someone notices something odd about her presence, notices how her chakra differs from that of the other domestic cats.
But most alarming of all, the chance of running into Kimi was far higher if she stayed any longer than she had to.
Luckily, the wind was with her.
Not far now. She sped into the dark nooks and crannies, her little body squeezing and leaping, dislocating and twisting unlike anything human. When she leaped, it was as if she flew. She traipsed along branches and railings, surprised and awed by the architectural genius of the Leaf. It was as if the village was built around the trees.
Finally, Nyoko came to a halt, looking down at a pathway in between two buildings; she stood atop the higher of the two. She leapt down the wall, claws skimming the rough stone, until landing safely and coming face to face with a tall, green door.
Her senses tingled. Fur prickled and stood up on end. It was true, he was powerful, grossly more powerful than she'd ever imagined. She had followed his scent, knowing it would lead to someone who'd listen.
Taking in a deep breath, her body grew, ached, joints popped back into place, and she stood up tall.
Now, as a human, she extended her reach to the wooden door. Her hand balled into a fist and knocked lightly at the hard surface.
A crash came from inside the building, something that sounded like the clash of books or scrolls against a glass.
"Fuck!" The occupant spat, too quiet for normal ears. Nyoko glanced around impatient and nervous. She was a human now; people would ask questions if they noticed her. She sniffed the air. People were coming.
She rapped on the door again.
"I'm comiiiing!" A voice inside wailed, getting louder as he stomped towards the door.
Voices echoed down the lane, Nyoko fidgeted. She needed no enhanced hearing to decipher their jaunty laughs.
Shit. She cursed inwardly.What is he doing?
The voices grew louder; their shadows betrayed their proximity, and as the creaky latch was unbolted and the door flew open, Nyoko disappeared.
A tall blond man with broad shoulders stood at the door, blinking stupidly when he met with thin air.
"What the…?" He peered down the alleyway, left and right, just as the group of rowdy men came into view. They called out to him, and he smiled back. "All right?"
It was perfect; it gave the cat-Nyoko the finest opportunity the slink her sleek little body around his legs and into the flat, unnoticed.
By the time Sakura reached the Uchiha estate, only fringes of twilight were left visible, and where the darkness had taken hold the stars twinkled like hundreds of flickering candles against thick, black curtains. The evening was chilly; her breath turned to snowy vapour in the air.
She leapt through the kitchen window, the window that was always left ajar for her. It was never a problem; Konoha never had much theft, so there was never any reason to be overly conscious about security.
Her padded feet connected with the kitchen floor, and there she made her great transformation. Her limbs stretched, organs ballooned. It was not an entirely unpleasant sensation, but not the most comfortable.
Where is Sasuke? She wondered, unable to sense Sasuke's presence. He would probably be late, still at ANBU headquarters, writing up a mission review. Sadly, for shinobi of this age, it was not permissible to skip the torments of bureaucracy. It's no wonder there're so many missing-nin…
The kitchen was chilly too, seeing as the window had been left open. Goose-rash raced across her skin. She leant across the counter-top and shut the window; it shut with a strangled squeal and Sakura was left, beginning to warm-up in the dark kitchen. She gazed around, straining her human eyes. Kimi had settled somewhere Sakura couldn't find; she was tired and needed a rest. The late evening, now, was Sasuke and Sakura time, but there was no Sasuke to spend it with.
For the first time in what suddenly seemed like years, Sakura was alone.
…
"Yeah, yeah, I'll see ya' later, bye!" Naruto grinned, laughing slightly, at the passers-by. They shouted back, and in response he waved, and closed the door.
Nyoko watched, as he turned round, head shaking slightly and face still painted with that wide, boyish grin. She heard him sigh, but knew from the tone that it wasn't because he was tired or fed-up. He was a cheerful person, she could fathom that much.
It was always a gamble- the containers of the Bijuu were easily corrupted. Power is power, after all, and within the humanoid spectrum of thinking, power has no limits.
The Kyuubi… Well, this was an honour. It was rare for creatures of her nature to progress that far. Nyoko couldn't help but feel the awe the being' s mere existence conjured within her. For a moment, she was rigid, as if she'd been locked in ice, as if she were made of stone. She hid under the settee, her eyes glued to the man walking about his apartment.
Uzumaki Naruto was not what she had expected. His aura, despite the lingering scent of death and destruction brought by the Kyuubi, was nothing but pure and friendly. Had he not the beast sealed within his belly, there would probably be nothing sinister about him whatsoever.
What an intriguing person. The little cat wondered, eyes following his steady feet, his strong body; the caring face.
In that moment, she was completely certain that he would do anything for a friend be it: lie, cheat, beg, steal, fuck, kill and more.
Uzumaki Naruto would do anything to help a friend in need.
The metallic whine of the filer scratched at his ears. Sasuke's left eye quivered in annoyance as the unnecessary noise clawed at his volatile mood. His body trembled ever so slightly from the vicious impatience that wracked his brain. Sasuke was in serious danger from allowing this menial task to escalate to something much, much more tedious than before.
Arguably, it wasn't his fault. His mind was preoccupied, on things much more intellectually (and indeed, physically) stimulating than filing. The culprit was simple Biology. The fiendish thing stole his concentration, reminded him that there were a million and one other things he could be doing at this very moment- something far more exciting than filing. It had a name too, a very pretty name, one that matched the pink of her hair and the green of her eyes.
Uzumaki Naruto stood in his kitchen, brewing some tea. It had not occurred to him that something was looming behind him, that something was not quite right. It was probably because his mind already preoccupied.
"Sakura-chan…" He sighed, eyes misty as they watched the kettle boil on the hob. "What's happening to you…?"
Worried much, boy? The Kyuubi leered, his voice mocking and tinged with amusement. Such a pity… you should be happy.
Naruto said nothing. What's the point? It was clear as day for anyone; Sakura was happy, much happier than she'd been in years. That thing inside her was no different to the monster inside himself- he'd taken that argument to Tsunade, too. But the woman had faith in Sakura, and was clearly under the impression that the girl knew what she was doing. Tsunade had claimed him to be biased- which was true, in many respects- but did not excuse the possibility that there was something not quite right going on.
Naruto was by no means a suspicious man. He was outgoing, cheerful, and optimistic- he preferred to trust rather than suspect any day. Except these days.
You should be happy boy… Be happy for her… You'll never win, not now, anyway.
"Well, I think you should fuck right off," He growled low, hating the way that creature thought it knew anything (Naruto hated admitting this, but the Kyuubi tended to be pretty correct when talking about these things- he did, after, see everything Naruto saw).
Oh I would, boy, I'd be out of here like a bat out of Hell, but it won't happen will it?
"Hey, my day's already ruined, fluffy, so please keep your crap to yourself,"
Haahahaaahaaa! The Kyuubi truly loved this boy; he was such fun to windup. Ah, you silly child, you should understand more than others what the underlining issue is.
"Just bugger off,"
All right boy, I shall leave you now… but before I go, I'd turn around, if I were you.
"…What?" Naruto puzzled over those last words, until his senses clicked into place and the Kyuubi's words made sense. Something was behind him, and he foolishly missed it, wrapped in his own concerns.
In seconds, his monstrous chakra flared and Naruto turned round, poised on the offensive. His body whipped around, eyes searched an empty doorway that showed an unchanged portrait of the living room.
Naruto was staring at nothing.
What the…? Then he noticed it, the purr. Slowly his eyes travelled downwards, towards the purr.
"Ah…"
A little grey cat, with wide, bright eyes watched him, curiously, the rumbling in her throat and twitchy swish of her elegant tail, conveyed her excitement.
Naruto gawped at it, quite perplexed. What does one say to an animal that appears to gaze up at you with total understanding and expectancy? Where the hell did it come from, anyway?
Naruto stared at it stupidly, until he sensed the scent that wasn't quite right. The recognition painted his face, and the silver cat appeared to grin at his reaction.
"You're…" He said, but his voice trailed away as the cat morphed into her human form. If Naruto's jaw could have dropped to the floor, it certainly would have done so. "You're like-"
The woman leant on the doorframe, glittering eyes taking him in like a lioness sizing up her prey.
"Sakura?" She said in a calm voice deepened by time. Her sparkling eyes seemed to flash with awe as they continued to travel across his body. "Oh yes, I know all about her. But what about you, Uzumaki Naruto… I presume the Kyuubi-" Her eyes flickered to his stomach, and she grinned. "-has told you nothing?"
Naruto cocked a confused eyebrow,what the fuck's going on? He backed up against a kitchen countertop.
The girl walked towards him, slow and steady. Naruto took in the pale profile, the tense stature, and knew that everything about this woman was wrong. She saw his thoughts, as if they were engraved across his forehead.
"Why so shocked, Naruto?" She asked, though already knowing the answer.
You shouldn't be alive. Naruto thought, but was unsure whether he should say it or not. What would it matter if he did? Didn't she already know the answer?
The woman was barely an inch away from him and gradually stepping closer. Her hands extended to roam his firm stomach, across the Kyuubi seal. Naruto's heart was in his throat.
"Why so shocked?" She repeated.
"You go against nature in every single fucking way," He said quickly, as if the words would save his skin.
To his shock and surprise, the girl slapped him hard across the face. "Not in every way, Naruto," She used two fingers to push his face towards hers. "You must understand that. I am not unnatural, just as Sakura is not unnatural. Can you understand this?"
Naruto simply shook his poor head.
"Hm. I see," The woman moved away slightly, head tipped to the side. "Then we must talk, and I suggest we move to somewhere more comfortable to discuss matters,"
Again, Naruto simply gawped, but this time he managed to flail his arms in the direction of the living room.
"Sakura," Sasuke called as he walked into the building he occupied within the Uchiha compound. "I'm back,"
He walks through the hallway. There is no answer, but he knows where she's situated, he can feel her chakra like he could feel the cool night air on his skin. She was in the living room.
"Sakura?" He called her name louder. She didn't return his call, and as he strode nearer and nearer to her chakra signature, he became slightly worried. Was she here? Yes. Was she all right? He'd find out now…
Why am I fucking worried…? Perhaps the day had been just that little bit too long. His nerves were on edge and he needed something potently alcoholic, quickly.
He rushed into the living room, relieved to find Sakura asleep and peaceful splayed across a sofa, an opened sake bottle held loosely in her slender fingers. Sasuke crouched beside her and smiled softly, entirely unguarded, allowing his palm to cup her smooth, smooth cheek.
Sakura stirred in her sleep, emitting a deep, sleepy hum. Her wide eyes cracked open. Upon recognising him, her lips curved into a smile. "Sasuke…?"
Sasuke nodded and kneaded her cheek with his rough thumb. "Yes?"
"Are you injured?" She whispered, and Sasuke smelt the sake on her breath.
"No, Sakura, I'm not," He placed an arm under her knees and the one stroking her cheek to the bottle beside the settee. As Sasuke moved it out of his pathway, he noticed it was empty. "Why do you ask?" He lifted her.
Sakura melted into him, her long, slender neck craning so she could nuzzle into the sensitive spot where his neck met his torso. Her hands clutched at his shirt. "You were late; I was worried you'd been attacked,"
"What, in the middle of Konoha?" Sasuke scoffed and squeezed her slightly.
"I know, I know…" She smiled at her silliness, her needless worry. "But I was worried about you, like I didn't know where you were," Sasuke read the drunken slur in her voice, and at this point wish he'd just put under a bloody genjutsu. "Although I knew exactly where you were, but I felt… helpless? You know? Like I couldn't reach you and never would and then I started crying and took the bottle and couldn't stop and-"
"Sakura, don't worry, I'm here now," Sasuke said, using whatever softness he could conjure. "And-"
"But I knew where you were, Sasuke, I knew, but it was like some part of me, some, cold, cold part of me didn't…" She wanted to cry. "I love you so much, it hurts, you know that?"
"Yes, Sakura, I know, and I also know that you are going to be dead tomorrow morning, now calm down,"
"But Sasuke, when I felt so confused, so lonely, it was like I loved you like a … like I don't know what, Sasuke!" Sakura pulled his attention to her, and the conviction, even if it was drunken conviction, was more than convincing. It stopped Sasuke in his tracks. Her expression worried him, but most of all, it tore his insides to shreds.
"You may call me Nyoko," The wild girl said, whilst sipping her refreshing green tea.
"Nyoko-San, eh?" Naruto raised an eyebrow. Unlike the woman sitting opposite him, he had decided to opt for something a little more heavy-duty, namely Vodka. "I had no idea things like you went by proper names,"
"Don't you dare berate or associate me with things that aren't my fault," She snapped, but when the bitterness failed to leave the Kyuubi-man's face, she threw him a glare that would've made even Hotaru quake.
"Berate you? You know, I should waste you right here and-"
"If you want your stupid friend's life, then you'll shut the fuck up, you imbecile," At this point, Nyoko gulped down the remnants of her tea. "I will take no bull shit from you, is that crystal clear Uzumaki Naruto? Or are you going to look to the Kyuubi for help instead? Hm?"
Naruto, heeding her words, kept his mouth shut tight.
"Good," She said, and seemed to mull over her next few words. "So, tell me, firstly… what do you know of cat spirits?"
"Not a lot, to be honest,"
"What, do you mean nothing, then?"
"Yes,"
"Well… What do you know of cats in general, then?"
"Nothing, really," Naruto replied. The girl sat and stared at him silently. Odd looking, he thought, quite beautiful, but odd looking… DEAD looking…
"Ah," Nyoko seemed to share a private joke. "All right then, I will make this as short as possible. Are you ready?"
"Yeah," Naruto nodded.
"Okay… Cats, you must understand, have a considerably different mentality to dogs. They are sometimes described as "fickle", but in truth, all they really want is to be free, to not be confined… Do you know, in some cultures, cats are a sign of liberty, of freedom?"
Naruto shook his head. "I guess you learn something new everyday, huh?"
"Indeed you do. However, this is only the introduction. You must understand that cats are freethinkers, loyalty being more a bargain than selflessness. Their own survival is priority. Understand? Good… You must also be aware that in another culture, cats are said to be the Keepers- lets say "guardians of the underworld", if you will… And this, to some extent, is true. Cats do have links with the dead-"
"Sorry, I've lost you,"
"Then I suggest you put you the alcohol down. As I was saying, cats have links with the dead, in that-"
"They see ghosts?" Naruto laughed. "That they control ghosts, and that they bring luck and can predict the weather? Pfffft,"
These are myths. What the hell has she been smoking, for fuck's sake? Naruto shook his head; he did not believe. This was all crazy and he would have told her so, had the china teacup not connected with his head.
"Shiiiiiit! WHAT THE FUUUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?" Naruto wailed, holding his head in his hands. He went to stand, but a weight held him to the sofa.
"You will listen, you buffoon," Nyoko snarled, her pupils thin and dangerous, the hands on Naruto's shoulders digging their sharp claws into the tight flesh. "You will listen, if you wish to save you pathetic little friend… Now shut up,"
"All right," The blond spat. "But you are going to get off of me before we continue this,"
Nyoko retracted her claws, and moved back to her seat. As she turned to sit down, her eyes had gone back to normal.
"So, you do know things? Interesting. Well, maybe Sakura has not shown these attributes yet? It wouldn't surprise me. It hasn't been that long, although in a place like this, riddled with death, then I'm sure it's only a matter of time…" Nyoko grinned. "Do you have any idea why cats sometimes come back as spirits?"
Naruto did not shake his head. For once, he put it to good use, trying to recall something, something he'd heard a long time ago…
Oh no… Not that.
"You know, don't you, it's so easy to see…"
"You're not serious, are you?"
"Oh yes, I am deadly serious,"
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "But who would it be against, if I am thinking of what you're thinking? Wouldn't it be against just a certain person?"
"Haha! You are optimistic, aren't you?" Slowly Nyoko moved towards the door, to leave. "Nothing holds a grudge like a cat, Naruto, do you understand the situation?"
"I think I do," he said solemnly. "But what does it want?"
"'Kimi' is 'its' name, remember. And what Kimi wants, will require her to have control of a living body. And also remember, that her desire for vengeance will override this sometimes. She will stop at nothing to see a human being suffer,"
Like she did, and still does.Nyoko felt no need to sound this thought.
"What?" Naruto stood up, racing to stop her from leaving. "What do you mean? You can't leave now without explaining this! You need to tell someone, we need to tell-"
"No, I cannot," Said Nyoko. "And I'm sorry that I can't help anymore than this, it's for Sakura's sake. You will understand in the end," Her hand brushed his cheek. "I am so, so sorry that it must end now, I truly am… But bare in mind, you are not helpless. The only thing you can do now is keep her from loosing everything- shhh! Understand this, please. Don't interrupt. No matter what, you must stay by her and keep something worth surviving for-"
"No one will abandon her here," Naruto said angrily. "No matter what,"
"I hope, for her sake that you never ever allow yourself to regret those words, Uzumaki Naruto," Nyoko whispered and before he could protest, pushed her lips against his. They were soft, but cold "I will be back, soon," Remember my face, Naruto, and remember it well. Remember, that you do not want Sakura's face to look like mine.
And before he could stop her, or attack her with thousands of desperate questions, the woman slipped out the door, out into the crisp, dark night, upon four padded paws.
Thanks for reading, thanks for reviewing, but mot of all, thanks for being patient.
Amser xxx