Chapter Two: Ninjutsu vs. Magic

"You seriously don't know what we are talking about?" Sakura asks. She wipes the tears away from her eyes. She was laughing so hard she started to cry.

'I really didn't mean to laugh at her, but come on! Who is this land never heard of ninjutsu?'

'She must be some kind of idiot', inner Sakura huffs.

Sakura gasps, 'That's not nice! Why are you insulting her like that!?'

'Me? Are you forgetting that I am part of you? If anything, I'm just stating how you truly feel…'

'Shut up! I don't even know her! Why would I think that about her?'

'…'

'Well?' Sakura was getting irritated. On the outside she had crossed arms and is scowling with her eyes closed.

'Well?' She screams at her counterpart.

'Let's just say, somewhere deep down, you're jealous. I'll leave it at that.'

Angel could sense the waves of irritation that emanated from the pink hair woman. She watches Sakura with her sapphire eyes, wondering what had happened to cause such a quick change in her aura. Angel hadn't answer Sakura's question yet, which cause Naruto to exchange his glances between Angel and Sakura.

Once Sakura finally opens her eyes she blushes, a little embarrassed to have both Naruto and the woman staring at her. Sakura smiles, shakes her head, and waves her hands in front of herself to tell them it was nothing.

"No. I have never heard of such a word," Angel states calmly.

'I wonder what caused such a drastic change in her aura…'

'HUMANS… WHO KNOWS WHAT GOES THROUGH THEIR MINDS…'

'For once… I have to agree with you…' Angel nodded inwardly.

"Doesn't your village have ninja?" Naruto questions. He is curious to know more about this woman and he can tell Sakura is too.

"No."

"How is that possible?" Sakura sounded astonished, her voicing raising higher than necessary. "Who protects your home?"

"You talk like I am from around here?" Angel cracks a smile. A smile is something she hadn't done in years, it felt kind of strange but yet it came naturally.

Naruto's heart melted. She was beautiful before but now she if just breath taking.

Sakura is drawn to the woman also, but not the way Naruto is, there is just something about her. Angel's voice has an accent that Sakura didn't recognize and her mind seem to buzz when she talked. She felt like Angel could make any word sound wonderful and enchanting. But there is something about her eyes, they are emotionless and they reminded her of someone but she couldn't place it. It made her sad to think that such beauty could be so cold. But when Angel smiled her eyes seem to have come to life and it made Sakura warm all over.

"So, you aren't from around here?" Naruto questions a little confused.

"No." As fast as it appeared the smile was gone and her face returned to it's usual expression.

"Then where are you from?" Sakura jumps in. Her thirst for knowledge started to kick in. If Angel isn't careful they will be there all day and night with her questions.

"Lets just say I am a long way from home." Angel was getting uneasy. She didn't want to reveal such information to people she just met. She had learned to trust her instincts and even though she can sense that these people mean her no harm, they were still asking too many questions and it made her anxious. She wanted to get things back on track.

"You never answered my question".

"Oh! That's right… hehehe, sorry Angel-chan," Naruto grins. "Sakura-chan can explain it better than I can. I'm better at demonstrating then explaining".

"Well, I guess I should explain to you about chakra…" Sakura stats and Angel nods telling her to go on.

Sakura explained, "Chakra is a ninja's energy to use jutsu, and the source of all his/her power. There are two types of chakra, physical energy which comes from all of the body cells, and spiritual energy which is intensified through training and experience. Both energies must be intertwined to perform a jutsu. A hand sign unleashes the chakra…"

Angel listens to Sakura explain everything and she couldn't help but smirk.

'Now these people are interesting. Almost sounds like they use magic. This jutsu is close but not quite. I wonder if they know that they probably would not have to waste their spiritual energy if they were more in tune with the world around them…'

"So when you saw what I did with my wings you thought I was using a jutsu?" Angel asks Naruto.

"So you weren't?" Naruto asks surprised.

'Then how?'

'There is something off about this one…' growled Kyuubi.

'Humph'

'You don't sense it Naruto? There is more to this girl than her pretty face… There is power inside of her, power that nearly rivals our own. Maybe even surpasses ours…'

'Are you saying that she has a demon sealed inside her?'

'No, I sense no demon inside her but I do feel a conflict inside her. She is one from many.'

'What do you mean?'

'…'

'Answer me!'

'You will see in time… You will see.'

'Stupid fox'

"Naruto?"

Naruto spun as his name was sung from Angel. He looks at her, curiosity shining in his eyes. This is the first time since he met this woman that she said his name. He liked how she said it and wanted to hear it again. But he is disappointed when Angel just stares at him.

"Ah, yea. What is it Angel-chan?" Naruto asks, shaking the fog from his mind.

"Can you show me one of these jutsus? You declared earlier that you were better at demonstrating than explaining. Now since Sakura has explain this jutsu to me, I would like to see it." Angel's curiosity is getting the better of her and she knew it, but she couldn't stop herself.

Naruto beamed with happiness. "I sure can! Prepare yourself!" Naruto crossed his fingers in front of him and screamed, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu(1a)!"

Angel watches. Her skin tingled when Naruto built up his 'chakra'. The energy is amazing and right before her eyes two more Naruto's appeared. If she was a normal person she wouldn't of been able know who was who but her nose told her which one is the real Naruto right away.

"Hehehe, bet you can't tell which one is the real me," all the Naruto's said together.

To Naruto's surprise Angel walked closer to him. Her walk is almost unbearable to watch. Her hips swayed from side to side and her hair waved slightly as she walked. She is walking, Naruto's eyes told him that much, but she is too graceful to be real, almost looks like she is gliding along the ground.

Sakura felt a little jealous that this woman could make Naruto stare at her like that and just by walking. Sakura can sense her inner self smirking but chose to ignore her.

Angel never took her eyes off the real Naruto. The closer she got the more all three Naruto's blushed. She walks up to the one on the far right and stared up into his eyes. "You are the real one."

With that said the two clones vanished in a puff of smoke leaving the two staring at each other.

Naruto never felt so flustered in his entire life, or at least not that he could remember at the moment. He couldn't think of a thing to say. All he seem to notice is how cherry red Angel's lips are and how he wondered what they would feel like against his own.

The wind blew a slightly behind Angel stirring up her hair a little. Naruto smelt a fragrant scent he didn't notice before. He closes his eyes and inhales deeply. He recognizes this smell but didn't know from where and then it hit him. This is what Angel smelt like when he was holding her. Naruto is so lost in his thoughts, he never notices another presence among them until they spoke.

"Naruto, who's your friend?"

Naruto spun around and smiles when he saw a masked silver hair man standing on a tree limb.

"Kakashi!" Sakura smiles. They had long dropped the sensei formality, after all, they are all Jounin now. But they still go on missions together.

"Yo!" Kakashi says but he never takes his eyes off the fair woman now walking away from Naruto. "You must be a very talented Ninja to see the real Naruto out of a group of clones."

"I am not a Ninja," Angel says coolly.

This sparks Kakashi interest. "Oh… Really?"

"Do you imply that I am lying?" Angel accuses Kakashi. She couldn't hold back the growl that is forming in her throat. Naruto was still close enough to hear and his mouth drops in surprise.

'That growl!… before!… It came from her! How… how is that possible?' Naruto was confused.

'I told you that there is something off about this one. She's reminds me of the red hair boy you fought once.'

'You said that there is no demon sealed inside her?'

'And there isn't. But I never said that she wasn't one…'

'She's a Demon!…'

'Not quite right either… As I said before there is a conflict inside her…"

Kakashi jumps out from the tree and lands in front of Angel. Out of instinct she spun a kick towards his head but Kakashi quickly caught it.

"Why do I sense that you were holding back on that kick?" Kakashi's uncovered eye narrowed. "Why hold back?"

Angel's eyes narrowed and anger flashed across her beautiful features. "Do you really think you could keep up with me?"

Kakashi listened to the woman speak. He is so taken in by her voice he didn't even notice that he still had her leg in his hand.

"I did not mean to attack you. I apologize for my actions. Now, could you please release my leg?" Angel says as calmly as she could. Inside her mind she is trying to quiet the voices … especially that one.

'TEACH HIM A LESSON! SHOW HIM HIS PLACE!'

'It was my fault… I should not have reacted that way'

'You did hold back or else he would not have been able to catch your kick so easily…'

'I do not know about that. These people are different. They seem stronger than most mortals I have come across…'

"I shall let your leg go once you tell me your name," Kakashi spoke with a hint of flirt behind it. If it wasn't for the mask you could have seen the evil grin that crossed his lips.

"My name is Angel."

"Well, Angel-san. I am Hatake Kakashi and it is a pleasure to meet you." With that Kakashi dropped Angel's leg and walked over to Naruto and Sakura. They look agitated at him.

"Something wrong?"

Sakura looks like a vein is about to pop in her head. It took everything to she had not to punch her former sensei. "You can be such a.."

"Jerk!" Naruto yells and Sakura nods in agreement.

"Now now… calm down you two. If I am such a jerk then why did I come looking for the two of you? After all, you were late for our meeting…" Kakashi stated as-matter-of-fact-ly.

"Oh! Yea, about that…" Naruto laughs and told Kakashi what had happen and what they were doing up to that point. When he is done telling the story with the help of Sakura, Naruto turns to find Angel standing at the edge of the cliff staring at the sky. No emotion showed on her face and it made him wonder what she was thinking about.

"Ah, Angel-chan?" Sakura asks as she walked up to where Angel is standing. "If you aren't a Ninja, then why do you carry weapons?" Sakura's eyes were mainly focusing on the weird circular object the hung on Angel's left hip.

"I may not be a Ninja, like you all, but I never said I was not a warrior of any kind." Angel looks at Sakura as she nods in understanding.

"So, do you have any special talents?" Sakura continues her questioning. Kakashi and Naruto wait for an answer, each curious about the beautiful stranger.

"No one has ever been interested enough to ask such questions…" Angel's voice is cold and somewhat sad sounding. It broke Sakura's heart and she was sure Naruto felt the same pain.

"How could someone not be interested in someone like you?" Naruto says from behind Angel. Their eyes met and for a second Naruto thought she was going to cry, but in a flash she appeared angry.

"What does this matter to you? Why do you all wish you know so much about me? You saw what I am and yet you are still here! I do not understand! How can you stand to be so close to a demon?" Angel didn't mean to let her emotions get out of hand. It has been a while since she had ever felt such confusion and it made her apprehensive.

This caught everyone off guard.

'You weren't lying?!' Naruto yells inside his head to Kyuubi.

'What would I have gained from telling you a lie?'

'Nothing I guess… but she is so beautiful… How could something so breath taking be a demon?'

'Who ever said all demons had to be ugly?'

"Well?!" Angel growls. She is angry and she doesn't understand why. They didn't do anything but in a way they did. They are interested in her and it scares her.

"Angel-chan…" Naruto whispers. "I guess we can stand to because I too am a demon…"

Angel isn't expecting this, she is surprised and it shows. In a flash she is by Naruto and did something he didn't expect. She brought her face close to his neck, her nose sat by his ear and her lips barely graze the line of his jaw. Chills explode inside of him and his heart is pumping so fast and hard he is sure that Angel can hear it.

'Mark her!' Kyuubi yells from inside. 'Make her ours!'

'What are you talking about stupid fox?'

Naruto is confused by the sudden change of the demon fox. The demon seems as excited as him that this woman is so close. Before he realizes it the demon fox is trying to take control. Naruto fights him off from the inside but on the outside his features are slowly changing. Angel pulls away and watches as Naruto's blue eyes change red and became more cat like. Without warning Angel pushes him back jumping backwards as she did.

"You are not completely like me, Naruto. You hold a demon spirit inside you but you are not a demon. My soul is that of a Demon, Elf, and Human. I am a monster." Angel states as she watches Naruto gain control over himself again.

"Angel-chan! You are not a monster! A monster wouldn't have saved Naruto like you did!" Sakura is crying. She couldn't stand to hear this woman talk down about herself. Yes, Sakura is confused about what she said but she didn't care. She felt connected to Angel and she couldn't explain why.

Naruto got up to came close to Angel. As he approaches Angel lifts her hand up to stop him. When he continued to approach her, she spoke "Koron en' naur(1)!"

Naruto stops when we sees Angel's arm go up in flames. He watches as it swirls together and forms a ball her hand.

"Please, just stay away. I wish not to harm you." Angel stares at Naruto. She didn't want to threaten him but she knew he wouldn't stay away. Angel could see the confusion on his face.

'I will explain later… I promise…' A voice echoes through Naruto's thoughts.

'Who…? Angel-chan? How are you…?' Naruto never finished his question. His attention was snapped away from Angel when he heard Sakura's voice asking a very good question.

"How did you do that? You said you didn't know any jutsus!" Sakura gasps.

"This is not a jutsu. If you did not notice, I did not use any of these 'hand signs' you spoke of. This is my magic. The world I come from is different from yours. Although your ninjutsu is close to magic. I do not have to waste time building up energy or making hand signs to accomplish what I want. I speak in the ancient language and the world around me give me the help I need." Angel brings the fireball up to her face then extends it out and shows it to Kakashi and Sakura. She motions over to Naruto and nodded to him, letting him know it is safe to come close. She no longer wishes to threaten him.

"I am sorry Naruto. I let my emotions get the better of me. I am not use to people being… civil towards me."

Naruto hung his head down. He couldn't help but feel like he did something wrong. He feels Angel's gaze on him.

'She's like me… like Gaara… she is an outcast and I can't blame her for being cautious…'

"Hehehe, don't worry about it Angel-chan," Naruto gave her the biggest smile he could mange while doing the signature 'nice guy' pose. "So, what else can you do?"

"I can do many things. Why do you ask? Is there something particular you wish to see?" Angel sounded more relaxed and it made Naruto smile. He shook he head no. Angel looks over to Sakura and asks her. Sakura thought for a moment but couldn't think of anything. Kakashi caught Angel by surprise when he whispers something into her ear. A smile crosses her face and once again her beauty seem to grow.

"Can you do it?" Kakashi challenges Angel.

"Do you think I cannot?" Angel raises an eyebrow to him, the smile once again gone.

Kakashi takes a deep breath and shrugs. "Seeing is believing".

Angel looks up at the cherry trees that had bloomed months ago and wouldn't do so again until next Spring. " 'Aanonen bloom(2)!" Angel calls out to the trees raising her arm towards the sky.

Before their eyes the cherry trees bloomed and in a matter of seconds the trees are covered in pink flowers. Sakura had never seen anything so amazing. Angel smiles at her, "This is what Kakashi wished for me to do for you. I now know that your name means Cherry Blossom. It is a fitting name for one with hair as pink as the flowers themselves."

"Thank you, Angel-chan," Sakura bows her head.

"Do not thank me. Thank him, it was his idea." Angel raises her hand towards Kakashi who was staring at the transformed trees.

"Thank you, Kakashi," Sakura blushed when she felt his gaze upon her. Kakashi had become like a father to her. He watches out for her and helps her whenever she needs him. She could never express her gratitude to him because nothing she could do would ever be enough. And here he is again doing something wonderful for her. Sakura couldn't stop it when her jade eyes start to tear up. They are happy tears and she liked these kind of tears the best.

"Naruto! Sakura!" Kakashi snaps. "We should be going back. Angel-san?" Angel looks into his one eye to let him know he had her attention. "I am accurate in assuming since you are not from around here you have no place to stay?"

"I have the woods," is Angel's response.

"That won't do!" Sakura squeals. "Kakashi, she should come back with us!"

"I was getting to that Sakura," Kakashi sighs. "Angel-san, I would like to formally invite you to come and stay in our village."

"I cannot leave my friends unattended. If they are invited as well, I shall consider."

"You have friends out here?" Naruto asks. "Where are they?" He began to look in every direction frantically. "I don't see anyone Angel-chan!"

Angel just stares at the sudden hyper ness Naruto is discharging. All she can do is shake her head at the young man. "Tula sinome(3)," she sings into the woods. A few moments pass and the group of Ninja's began to think Angel is lying to them but a sudden rustling in the woods catch their attention. The friends that came were not what the group was expecting. Angel could see out of the corner of her eye that Naruto had fallen backwards confused and somehow it didn't surprise her.

A horse as white as snow came running towards Angel. She shows her beautiful smile and greets the horse by saying, "Cormamin lindua ele lle(4)," and petting the mare on its side. A hawk flies through the air and lands on a near by branch and a wolf, bigger than any of Kakashi dogs, came up behind Naruto and nudges his hand with his snout. Angel looks surprised by the wolf's action but smiles and tells Naruto that he should be honored. Strangely, a part of Naruto did but he didn't understand why.

"These are my companions. My friends I really should say. The wolf's name is Faolan, the hawk's name is Lorcan, and the unicorn here is Sorcha."

"Ah… Angel-chan?" Sakura speaks. "Unicorns don't exist, do they?" Sakura stares at the horse Angel's was suggesting is a unicorn.

"Not many appear to humans anymore. They were hunted and almost wiped out. I assure you that the horse before you is a true unicorn. But I must have your word you will not breathe a word about her. Do I have your word?" Angel raises an eyebrow waiting for each of them to respond. "Elea i'dolen(5)".

The horse before them transforms. It was like a genjutsu was released and they could see clearly. Angel wasn't lying. The horse really is a unicorn. The unicorn is still the purest white they have ever seen but its hooves are now gold and the most drastic change is the golden horn that now sat upon the skull of the legendary beast.

"So, can they come with us?" Angel glances at Kakashi.

"Of course. We would never deny friends of one as fair as you," Kakashi smiles underneath his mask.

Naruto whispers into Sakura's ear, "Did Kakashi just try to flirt with her, again!?"

"I think so," Sakura whispers back and they both start laughing. Angel smirks with amusement because although they whispered she heard them clearly as if they were standing right next to her. Kakashi just stood there confused by the amused look on Angel's face and the fits of laughter his former students were making.

"Shall we?" Kakashi asks to the three before him. Kakashi and Sakura start off and just before Naruto went to jump into the trees he looks over to Angel who hadn't made any attempt to move.

"Is everything alright Angel-chan?"

"Yes. I was just talking to my friends. Letting them know our current situation." Angel spoke while petting Sorcha.

"We can take it slow to the village if you are afraid that they can't keep up…" Naruto stopped when he saw that smile appear on Angel's face.

"Oh, I was afraid that maybe you could not keep up with us," Angel laughs. This is the first time she laughed the whole time they were together. Like her voice it is musical, and it set Naruto's blood on fire. He is so lost in the moment he almost didn't hear what she said next.

"I am sorry…"

"Uh?! For what?" Naruto was once again confused. He didn't know what she was apologizing for.

"For threatening you… before." Angel looks ashamed. "Also about messing with your instincts."

"Huh?" is all Naruto could mutter out. He didn't understand what she was talking about.

"What I did to you before… I wanted to see if you were telling the truth. The lands I come from, demons similar to me, are scattered everywhere. They were once like the tail demons of your lands. More animal like but over time they evolved and took on a more human appearance, but they kept characteristics of the demon animals their ancestors once were.

I am sorry. I am getting a head of myself. But when I stepped up to you, not only did I do it to take in your scent but I did something that you did not notice but the demon inside of you did."

Naruto thought about what she was saying. He wanted to hear more about the demons she was speaking of but didn't pry. But he still didn't understand what she did.

"What did you do? What did I miss?"

"I presented myself to you… as a mate," Angel stares at him. She watches his face turn red and she smirks at his shock look. "You remember how I was standing?"

"Yes". Naruto pictures her standing before him. The wind blowing her hair and the intoxicating smell. Her tilting her face so her nose was near his ear and her lips lightly brushing across his jaw line. He remembers the waves of excitement he felt from having her so close.

"If you had your eyes open you would have noticed that my neck was near your mouth. You see, not to all, but to most demons that is an act of submission. I exposed myself to be marked."

Naruto remembers the fox demon screaming to mark her, to make her theirs.

"I did not mean to induce a transformation. I did not expect that because part of me did not believe you and I am sorry for that." Angel held her head low.

Naruto had a sudden urge to run to her and comfort her but he didn't. He didn't know what to say and now he was afraid to get close.

"Is that why you pushed me away? Is that why you formed that fire when I kept coming? All so I wouldn't mark you?"

"Yes. I had to make sure you had calmed down before I let you near me again. I will now take precaution not to do anything around you that would stir up your demon side." Angel looks up at him and is surprised to see how shocked he looks. "Naruto what is wrong?"

"So does this mean I can't be close to you?" It almost pained him to ask.

Angel smiles and walks up to him, their noses almost touching. All Naruto had to do was lean in and he could kiss her but he held her gaze. Angel didn't know why she is feeling what she is feeling, but she wanted to give the man some comfort. No, she did not see him as a mate but that didn't mean she did not care either.

"Is anything happening?" she questions.

Her voice danced in Naruto head. He wanted to stay in this moment but when Angel asked him again all he could murmur was, "What?"

"Is the demon crying out?"

Naruto finally broke from her gaze. "No".

Angel nods and starts to walk in the direction that Sakura and Kakashi took off in, her 'friends' following suit. She looks over her shoulder to look at Naruto who is still standing where she left him.

"Then Naruto, I think we proved that you can get close to me and not lose yourself."

Naruto smiles and jumps to where Angel stands. "Well then Angel-chan, shall we?". He bows and lifts his arm to tell her to continue.

Angel nods and Naruto jumped into the trees while Angel ran on the ground. She eventually jumped up into the trees to see why Naruto used them to get around and found that she quite enjoyed tree hopping. She had to slow down a couple of times when she got a head of Naruto.

Naruto is stun by her speed and grace. When he stops to take a break and she lands beside him and he is surprise to see her breathing normally while he pants for air.

'She would make an amazing ninja' Naruto thought with a smile.

Angel looks at him with a questioning eye and he just shakes his head. "It's nothing Angel-chan, hehehe. We're almost there. Did your friends keep up alright?"

"Look for yourself," she says pointing down.

Naruto smiles as he sees the wolf and unicorn resting near the trunk of the tree they now stood on.

"Where's the hawk?" he asks when he realizes the hawk isn't with the others. To that question Angel points up and Naruto saw it perch on a branch above them.

"Shall we continue? Have you rested enough?" Angel asks and Naruto answers her by taking off. "I will take that as a yes."

Ten minutes later Angel could see a rather large city come into view and before she knew it they were at the front gates.

Naruto smiles and tells her, "Welcome to my home."

Elven Translations

1. Koron en' naur --- Fireball

2. 'Aanonen bloom --- Flowers bloom

3. Tula sinome --- Come here

4. Cormamin lindua ele lle --- My heart sings to see thee

5. Elea i'dolen --- Reveal

Japanese Translations

1a. Kage Bunshin no Jutsu --- Shadow Clone Justsu