Moonlit Space Fox


Moonlit Beauty, Chapter 2

My legs seemed to move themselves as I shot toward the girl's escape route. While I admit she was fast, she was no match for a ninja's speed and agility. Even so, it seemed that she, unlike me knew this forest like the back of her hand and this made up for her lack of speed and agility. As I ran and jumped through the trees as branches, bushes, I think I saw a squirrel, all seemed to appear in front of me. I quickly turn my head looking in the direction of a snickering sound. THERE! It WAS a squirrel. Evil critter. Laughing at my misfortunes. Anyway, I continued to chase after the girl, but my sight of her steadily began to slip as she zigzagged through the branches and trees like she's done in a million times, while I was going through them instead, trying my best not to get hit.

She was not completely out of my sight as my eyes darted the darkness of the forest searching for her. I continued to run even if I didn't know what direction she was moving in. I froze when I heard a feminine yelp. I swerved my head to the right. That way. I darted off in that direction. Another yelp; this one was louder though. I increased my speed unconsciously channeling chakra into my legs and feet to make me go faster. I burst out of the thick tree line right into a clearing. Adrenaline pumping through my veins, I scanned the clearing searching for the girl. I spotted here lying of the ground and her leg was caught in a medium sized bear trap. Instead of yelping, she began to whimper similar to how an animal does when it is caught in a trap like she was now.

"Are you okay?" I asked in the softest voice I could muster. I began to walk over to her when she suddenly looked at me as if I was a demon out for her soul. Ironic isn't it? Before I could continue that train of thought I heard shuffling. I looked at her and she seemed to be trying to crawl away from me in fright. "Shh….I'm not going to hurt you. Stop struggling, your only going to increase your pain. Please?" I spoke to her. She didn't seem to be listening to me, too focused on attempting to escape me.

I walked a little quicker toward her until I was close enough to stop her pointless crawling. I crouched down and grabbed here un trapped leg softly. "Will you just stop it? I'm going to try and get this off you and you aren't making it easy."

"W-Who a-r-are you?" She spoke in a soft stuttering feminine voice.

"I'm Naruto. I'm going to help you, but you need to hold still. Okay?" I spoke to her while smiling a gentle reassuring smile. She seemed reluctant, but gave in anyway. She nodded shakingly at me. I smiled again at her. I grabbed each side of the trap with one hand each. The teeth dug into my fingers, but it wasn't so bad. I pulled with all my might and the trap sprung free with a 'Clang!' "See, your free. I told you was going to help you." I finished with more enthusiasm. She looked up at me and smiling softly whispering her thanks. "Eh…your welco-"

At that moment the moonlight shined upon the two of us and I was able to see exactly what this girl looked like. I was shocked to say the least. Her face along with the rest of her body was covered in a short layer of fur. Blue fur outlined the top of her head to her stomach. Inside the out line was white fur. She had a long fluffy blue tail with a bluish white tip. She wore what appeared to be a make-shift braw and skirt made of some type of tan cloth. Her face was very fox-like. She had a short snout that extended about 3 inches from her face that had blue fur on the top half of it and whit on the bottom. Her ears, were blue on the outside and white on the inside. Here eyes were what caught my attention though. She had bright teal blue eyes that seemed to glow even without the moonlight. However bright the color they were, they still held something he was very familiar with. Loneliness, pain, and fear. Bright in color, but almost lifeless. Like mine.

"Whoa…" I thought to myself. Wait. Oh crap. I looked at hear face only for her to look down. I could only stare, waiting for something to happen. Something did happen. I heard sniffling. She was crying and I made her do it! Crap, crap, crap, crap. "I'm sor-"

My apology was cut short as she launched her small frame at mine making us topple over with her on top of my chest. She latched on the front of my jumpsuit and began to sob uncontrollably into it.

Unsure of what to do, I just awkwardly wrapped my arms around her in hug. She froze when my arms came into contact with her back, but only for a second before she continued to cry.

"You afraid?" I asker her in a soft voice. She nodded into my chest, unable to speak. "I won't hurt you, I promise." This seemed to make her cry even more so I stayed quiet waiting for the fox girl in my arms to calm down. Eventually she did, but in the process she also fell asleep so I was left on the forest floor with a sleeping fox girl on top of me.

That is two foxes unceremoniously making themselves known in my life in two consecutive days. Sigh. God damn it.

I unknowingly began to stroke the light blue 'hair' of the fox-girl. These past two days have been the most confusing days of my life. First I find out that I have gargantuan demon fox sealed in my gut, and then I, by some weird coincidence, run into a fox-girl the very next day. And then said fox-girl runs from me, I catch her, free her from a trap, and then she cries herself to sleep on my chest. Yep, pretty weird, even by my standards. Now I'm faced with the decision of what to do. I know I'm not the smartest person, but I'm pretty sure most of Konoha wouldn't really enjoy seeing a fox-girl after what happened 12 years ago. Sigh…..I'm going to kill Shikimaru.

I was brought out of my musing by what sounded like purring. I looked down at the girl, and could see a slight smile on her canine like face. Apparently she was content with my petting skills. I suddenly realized that her face was about two inches from mine. I blushed heavily for unknown reasons. Ignoring my embarrassment I placed my right hand on her face and attempted to wipe the dark wet trails of tears that ran down her face. Some how, I don't know how, it worked. I repeated that action with my left hand. Before I could pull my hand back though, she began to nuzzle her face into my hand. I couldn't help but chuckle despite my situation.

I've decided. I'm going to take her to my apartment. That in itself presents a few problems though. First, how in the hell would I hide this from the public. She could always stay in my apartment, but that probably wouldn't appeal to her. Although, she didn't exactly seem happy and content with where she was now. I mean the forest, not lying on my chest. Ok….I was going to take her to my apartment and would face any problems when they appear. Ya, that's what I do all the time. It works out…usually.

I began to sit up with my arms still wrapped around the girl. She didn't seem to want to leave so I let her be. Plus it would be troubleso-…bothersome. Ya, that's the word I was looking for. I began to stand up slowly, adjusting the girl into the bridal position, trying my hardest to not wake her up. I began to walk the path I came from, when I remembered on the problems of taking her with me, her appearance. Using all the ninja skills I possessed, I managed to somehow take my coat off and wrap it around the girl, hiding her most noticeable qualities. Ears, snout, fur, and tail of course….although that last one was rather trick to hide. I had to wrap it around her waist, which was not in any way easy I might say so myself.

XXXXXXX

Now let me explains something to you. It is extremely difficult to sneak half way across the village with a girl in your arms that is wrapped in a bright orange jacket. I almost ran into Shikimaru, I think he's haunting me, but escaped his senses as he was cloud watching I'm guessing. At night. Ya, he's haunting me. Not to mention all of the ANBU that patrolled the night, but I usually sneak past them for pranks anyway, but it was still pretty difficult.

Out of breath, I finally arrived at my apartment and swiftly entered through my open window. Amazing I didn't get robbed, again. I quickly, but gently lay the girl on couch before sitting down on the arm of it to catch my breath. I'm pretty sure no one saw me. He he, I'm good. Still caught up in the act of relaxing my muscles and regaining by normal heartbeat, I didn't notice that my guest was now awake. In fact if I had paid more attention to the girl on the way to the apartment, I would have noticed she was awake at least awake for half the journey to the apartment.

"Where are we?" the girl spoke in such a soft voice that couldn't startle even a mouse. Unfortunately for me I was actually more cautious than a mouse, and since I wasn't aware of the girl being awake, I was startled. Greatly. I quickly jumped of the couch arm, spinning in mid air to face her. Sadly for me this had unforeseen consequences. The exact moment I landed my right foot, which was behind my left one, landed on a very loose floor board. The floor board instantly sprung up from floor and smacked me in the back of the head with a big 'Whack!' This caused me to topple over onto the unoccupied space of the couch leaning over the arm. Ya, skills.

The girl looked genuinely perplexed as she stared at my fallen form, while I rubbed the soar spot on the back of my head. What followed was one of the most beautiful sounds that my ears have ever heard. She giggled. It began as a small giggle, but steadily became an uncontrollable giggling fit. I looked up at the source of the sound and found her with one hand over her mouth, attempting to stifle her giggling, and the other over her stomach. Here eyes were closed as here blue hair bounced with each laugh. I couldn't tell, but I was sure she had a large smile plastered on her face. Despite my throbbing headache, I couldn't help but smile at her giggling form.

I slowly got into a sitting position beside her and waited for her to calm down, again, but his time in a happy manner instead of sad. Slowly she gained control over her infectious giggles. At least enough for her to open her beautiful eyes. Wait, what? Before I could dwell on that though she spoke once more.

"I'm sorry." She spoke in that same soft voice, although she still had a small smile on her face and the occasional giggle escaped her lips.

I smiled at her gently. "It's okay. That was rather funny though, wasn't it?" Her reply was another giggle. My smile grew. "You know, you never did tell me your name."

Her smile dimmed a bit was still remained. I felt guilty for making her even the slightest bit sad for some reason. "It's Krystal." She replied.

I smiled gently at her, attempting to make her slight sadness disappear. "That's a pretty name. Krystal." I spoke that last part my self, testing how it rolled off my tongue. I looked back at her only to see her looking down at her lap once more. "I'm sor-

"Thank you, Naruto." She looked back up at me, with what seemed like red tinged cheeks, and a gentle smile on her face. My heart skipped a beat at the smile she gave me. I've never received a smile from any girl except Ayame. It felt nice.

"Y-your welcome." I replied looking away with a similar red tint on my cheeks. An awkward silence loomed over the both of us. Neither sure of what to say to make it disappear.

"Why did you help me?" The voice came so quite I had to strain myself to hear, but thanks to my better than average senses I heard. Krystal was looking down at her lap again, and I'm sure it held a sad expression, but before I could speak she did.

I looked at her with a bewildered expression. "What?" I intelligently replied. She looked back up at me with downcast eyes. I, for reasons in don't know, moved closer to her. "Why wouldn't I?" I asked in confused voice.

"My mother always told me to stay away from humans, because they are violent, evil beings." She began, once again facing her lap. I moved closer, almost to the point where our shoulders were touching. "She said that they were afraid of what is different, and intolerant. She said they would murder me." By now I put my arm around her shoulder and brought here into my lap, wrapping my arms around her as she began to break down once more.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Krystal. I promised you, and don't break promises. Especially to those who are precious to me." I told her softly as I once again stroked her hair as she laid here head into the crook of my neck. After I finished my sentence, she froze up, before she started to cry into my shoulder. At least it's not my chest. This continued until she fell asleep once again. I sighed to myself. Screw Shikimaru, I had the right to sigh with my situation. I slowly looked around the two of us and came up with the best solution of where to sleep. I gently laid myself on the couch bringing Krystal with me onto my chest once more. I closed my eyes, still stroking Krystal's hair, and listened to her soft breathing. I eventually fell asleep with a smile on my face and a strange fox-girl on my chest. Ah….troublesome.