Chapter 3: Dusk
She awoke to a knocking sound at her door. She yawned and jumped up, pulling the door open to reveal a silver-haired genin with glasses smiling at her cheerfully.
"Good morning, Miss Fujiyaki. My name's Kabuto. I was wondering if you had a moment to spare?"
Xiokra raised an eyebrow at his politeness. He was older than her, but still... Riko jumped onto her shoulder, gazing at the new arrival. There was a brief pause as they locked eyes before she hissed harshly at him, fur standing on end, and claws and fangs bared. Even Xiokra gave a start at her friend. Riko had never reacted that way before.
"Riko!" She reprimanded sharply.
The cat hushed, her ears falling flat against her head in guilt.
Xiokra sighed, turning to face Kabuto again. "Forgive her, she's not much for manners. Would you like to come in, have a cup of coffee or something?"
"Sure," He said, scratching his head sheepishly, seemingly unaware of Sasuke's eyes watching him go in.
He was surprised when he saw the horde of animals in her home. He glanced around her house, seeing and noting many different things. Her house was filled with wood that shined. She was neat and took to cleaning quite fervently. He couldn't smell the usual must of animals that most homes that had them had. The furniture was arranged well, and he could tell she took care in decorating it. He'd barely sat down when there was a mug of coffee before him.
"Do you need anything? Cream or sugar?" She asked him.
Good host, he thought before replying, "I'll take a little cream." He said.
She brought it to him and went about her business in the kitchen before she said to him, "I need to go change, I've got to meet my team early today. Make yourself at home." And she left him, sipping the coffee. He was about to begin a more thorough examination when the door swung open and Sasuke came in. Kabuto couldn't hide his smirk. 'That's interesting...' he thought vaguely as Sasuke leaned down to let Riko jump into his arms and climb onto his shoulders.
"She likes you," Kabuto said, not without glaring at the cat. She narrowed her eyes at him, in return.
Xiokra returned, dressed in her usual ninja garb, and took some delight in seeing Sasuke. She welcomed him jovially, and offered the two of them breakfast. The two males took up her offer, one out of courtesy, the other out of suspicion. Sasuke refused to leave him alone with her.
"Xiokra," the raven-haired boy called, "Could I get some coffee as well, please? Black."
She nodded, and went about preparing food for the two of them.
They chatted a while before Kabuto took his departure.
He looked back at the door to her house, smirking to himself.
"I think she's a match," he said to no one in particular, pulling out a scroll, "What do you think?" He said to a snake the glided across the dirt road beside him. The snake looked up at him, and its yellow slitted eyes seemed to glitter with a sick sort of mischief as the two journeyed on together.
Team 7 met on the bridge that day. They went to go collect their mission, and were all a bit disappointed to find another mundane task assigned to them. Naruto expressed it verbally, of course.
"Oh, come on! Give us something more exciting, eh, old man?"
"Couldn't you be just a bit more polite?" Xiokra asked, laughing.
The Third laughed at the two of them. He was glad about how they seemed to get on.
"Fine, then," He said, relenting, "We have a bridgebuilder who needs to be escorted back to Wave Country, would that be more exciting for you?"
The entire team perked up, and Xiokra and Naruto were beaming as they were introduced to Tazuna, their ward. They departed mid-day, and had only just left when the trouble started.
The Demon-hunter nin arrived. Xiokra saw the lethal metal strings, and her eyes narrowed sharply. She heard them yelling as they approached she and Naruto, "Three down."
And found she couldn't resist saying, with a triumphant smirk, "As if."
She bore two kunai, and twisted the strings high above her head. One of them charged her, unaware that she was not ensnared by the strings, and was taken quite aback by the strong kick she delivered just under his jawline. He flew back, into Sasuke, who smacked him aside, darting forward to save Naruto from one of them that had stabbed his hand. As he managed it, he said, "Are you hurt, scaredy cat?"
Naruto stared at him, both in a fury and trembling from fear.
Xiokra ran over, seeing his hand was injured, and was about to tend to it, when Kakashi bashed Naruto's cowardice so harshly that Xiokra paused to gaze at him in surprise. This was when she felt it, heard it.
Silence.
She was unaware of Naruto's oath, of the others agreeing to continue the mission, and of Kakashi calling to her. She was only aware of the silence. She closed her eyes, seeing behind her eyelids the life energy of the forest shuddering restlessly. She felt someone's hand on her shoulder, and it snapped her out of her reverie as she turned to Sasuke, who stared at her worriedly. Riko had come out of the pouch she slept in to lick Xiokra's cheek.
"You alright?" He asked.
She smiled a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Yes... Yes, I'm... alright."
She examined her surroundings. She searched for something watching her. She knew there was. Sasuke watched her worriedly, and his teammates too. They didn't sense it; the evil drawing ever nearer. But she and Riko could feel it. The silent fear that gripped even the earth beneath their feet.
Dusk was falling by then, and they walked on. Xiokra was silent, her companions watching her worriedly. She heard something. A whisper; a voice like silver-silk and quiet as the wind.
"Mistress...Xiokra."
