Yes, it's very late, but here it is finally! I hope that there are some funny parts that made it worth the wait!
I don't own Naruto.
Asira is an OC and belongs to Koyote-chan. No stealing!
"Hey Asira! It's not like you to be so late!" a cheerful blond said as she walked up to her team mates. Asira smiled and laughed.
"Don't worry Naruto, it's not like I'm turning into Kakashi-sensei or anything," she said. Naruto laughed as well.
"That's good! I'd be a little concerned if you started reading Make Out Paradise," Naruto replied with a mischievous smirk. At the comment Asira's face flushed with embarrassment.
"What makes you think I'd do that?!" she demanded as she slapped Naruto on the back of the head causing the boy to tumble over. The girl who had been watching the proceedings suddenly burst into laughter.
"Nice one, Asira!" the girl said, holding her sides.
"Thanks, Sakura," Asira replied, an evil smirk still plastered on her face.
"Oh my, what is with all the animosity all of a sudden?" a voice asked. The team looked behind them and saw their sensei standing on a tree, ironically holding a copy of the book in question. "I thought you all got along so well."
"Only when Naruto's not making idiotic comments," Asira said with a shrug. Kakashi sighed and jumped down from the tree.
"Well I hope you two make up soon. I have a new mission for you." At that Asira and Naruto perked up immediately.
"A mission?!" they both said , running toward Kakashi in eager anticipation.
"Uh… yes. It's an extended mission so I suggest you go and get all the things you'll need. We'll meet back here in two hours." Kakashi had barely finished his sentence before Asira and Naruto were off, running at a break neck speed toward their homes. Sakura laughed.
"It seems all you have to do to get those two motivated is mention a mission. Then they're off like shots!"
"Well in certain ways they are quite a lot alike," Kakashi replied.
Asira slammed her door open and grabbed a backpack from a near by shelf. "Finally, a mission! I guess Grandma Tsunade cleared me after all," she said with a grin. As she threw the backpack onto her bed she began to run about frantically grabbing anything and everything she thought she might need. However, as she rummaged through her dresser she stopped. In one of the drawers she had come across a slip of paper. All in all it was just an ordinary talisman with a simple prayer written on it… or that's what it masqueraded as.
Asira continued to look at the talisman, turning it over and over contemplatively in her hands. She knew what this was. This was supposed to seal the Phoenix's chakra should it ever escape. Because of the simple fact that it related to the Phoenix Asira despised that little slip of paper. After a moment of thought she moved to put the talisman back in the bottom of the drawer, but something stopped her.
"Are you sure? You might end up needing that." The hair on the back of Asira's neck stood up at the voice. She slowly lifted her head and looked into the mirror in front of her. Staring back from the glass was not her reflection, but the opaque image of a red plumed bird. The Phoenix.
"What do you want?" Asira growled. The Phoenix chuckled evilly.
"I wouldn't act so high and mighty in your position, my dear. After all, it's almost time."
"Time for what?" Asira asked, still defensive. At that the Phoenix looked surprised.
"You don't know? I'm sure you do. You can feel your chakra growing, can't you? You know what happens when my chakra becomes too much and overrides yours. If you want to protect your little friends I suggest you hold onto that strip of paper like your life depends on it. Who knows? It just might." Asira turned away in anger, but the Phoenix continued.
"Asira, you want to protect your friends don't you?" At that Asira stopped and turned back to the mirror. There was nothing she wanted more than to protect her friends.
"You know that I want to protect them, Suzuka. My friends are my life… they're the only ones who ever accepted me. I don't want that to go away. I don't want to be alone again…" Asira could feel the tears beginning to well up in her eyes, and she did her best to choke them back. Suzuka, the Phoenix, looked at her with a sad gaze.
"Then don't leave such important essentials behind. You know how to protect them." At the Suzuka's reflection in the mirror and disappeared leaving Asira alone once again. She swallowed hard and looked down at the talisman lying on the dresser. She shut her eyes, picked it up, and shoved it into her pocket before grabbing her bag and running out the door.
"Almost late again! You really have to get it together, Asira!" Naruto's bright smile met her again and she brightened.
"Sorry, I got caught up by something," she said rubbing her head in embarrassment.
"It's alright. We're not in too much of a rush at the moment," Kakashi replied as he closed his book. "We can just take our time and have a nice trip to our destination," he continued as he began to walk toward the exit to the village.
"Sounds good to me!" Naruto said, tagging quickly after Kakashi. Asira watched the two as they walked and sighed.
'I could kill them soon,' she thought sadly, clenching her fists. 'I have to do whatever I can to protect them. If they left, who would be there for me?'
"Are you alright, Asira?" Sakura asked, touching her on the shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I guess I'm just a little tired now that the adrenaline of the news has worn off," she said, a nervous smile braking over her face.
"Well if you need me to carry you I will!" Sakura replied with a playful punch to Asira's arm. Asira laughed.
"No worries, I can still walk… I hope…" She put on her best fake 'dying' face, slumping over to the ground. Now it was Sakura's turn to laugh out loud.
"Hey you guys! Come on!" Naruto yelled from further up the road.
"He's so impatient," Sakura said with a shake of the head.
"Ah, I understand," Asira said straightening. "Let's go!" Sakura smiled and ran after Asira who was already bounding toward Naruto and Kakashi.
'Please, Suzuka,' Asira thought, 'Help me protect them.'
AN: Jeez, I'm lazy! Sorry for the long wait and I'll try to get part 3 up sooner!
