Chapter 3: Explanations and Confusions

"I'm sorry. Did you just say that you're a werewolf?" I look at him like he was crazy. Werewolves weren't real. They couldn't be. "They don't exist." He ignored my questions and walked off towards the forest. I stared at his back as he walked off. I heard someone coming up behind me, and I turned quickly, ready to fight. I dropped my guard when I saw that it was Shikamaru and Naruto. They walked slowly over to me, but they were looking past me towards the spot where Kiba stood.

"You know what to do" said Kiba in an almost uncaring voice. With that he ran off into the forest, and I went to follow him, but a strong arm held me back. I looked to see who had me, and it was Naruto. He shook his head as if saying not now. I nodded and relaxed. Naruto still had a hold of my arm and led me to the Suburban parked in the street next to my house. He sat me down and looked me straight in the eyes, the most serious I have ever seen him.

"Jessica", he said quietly. He had never used my full name before, and it scared me a little. "I'm going to go into your room, and pack some clothes and things. Is that okay, or do you want to do it yourself?" I looked up at him, tears threatening to spill out again.

"I'll do it. I just may need your help." I said trembling. He nodded and helped me up. I walked shakily into the house, deliberately not looking up as I walked back to my bedroom. I gathered clothes and my toiletries. I felt that I wouldn't be coming back here, ever, so I went into my parents' bedroom and gathered all of our important documents, as well as my mothers engagement ring, and my dads silver cross that was studded with diamonds.

After I had gathered my things I walked out of the house with Naruto. When we got to the car he helped me into the back seat and looked me in the eyes.

"We have to burn the house down." I froze internally, but on the outside I felt the hot tears pouring down my face in torrents. "Are you absolutely sure you got everything you need?" I nodded numbly. He nodded slowly, and he looked over to Shikamaru who was slouching against the outside wall of my house and he nodded. Naruto climbed into the passenger side of the suburban and looked back at me.

"You don't have to watch this if you don't want to", he said quietly. I was shaking uncontrollably and couldn't answer him. I just tucked my knees into my chest and tucked my chin into my chest and sobbed heavily. I heard Naruto sigh and after a few minutes I heard the car door open and shut.

"We should get out of here before the Black ops get here", came Shikamaru's bored droll from the drivers seat. I took one last look at the slowly burning building that had been my new home just a few hours ago. I stayed quiet and shaking as we pulled up in front of a shabby looking apartment building.

"Jess-Chan", said Naruto's voice next to me. I turned to face him, not realizing that he had opened the door. "This is my building. Do you want to stay here or do you want to go to Kiba's?" I looked at him with sad and confused eyes. "We have our own places and you need a place to stay." I blinked and mumbled something about staying with Kiba. He nodded. "Okay, but you're going to have to stay here tonight with Kiba's condition and all." I nodded, and he went around the back of the car and opened the rear hatch and grabbed my bag of things. "Can you walk or do I need to carry you?" when I didn't answer him, he slung my bag over his shoulder and scooped me up in his tan, muscular arms. I clung onto him for dear life as he walked up to the door of his apartment and somehow managed to open his door and set my things inside before setting me on the couch gently.

"Thanks", I muttered meekly, almost to myself. He nodded and went down the short hallway tossing my bag in the only bedroom I could see. I looked confusedly at him.

"It's okay Jess. It's only for tonight." he smiled at me warmly and I grimaced back, trying to smile. He came over and sat down next to me on the couch. "Look, I lost my parents before I even got a chance to meet them. I've lived on my own since I was 5." I looked at him with tears in my eyes. Then I did something I have never done with people I had just met. I hugged him. I hugged him tight and started crying into his shoulder. After he got over the initial shock of me hugging him, he hugged me back and patted my head sympathetically. This was the beginning of mine and Naruto's close friendship. All of these events happened 2 years ago. Now I am a part of a special team, trying to find, and kill the monsters who refuse to cooperate with the laws set down by the Council. The Council is made up of the three heads of the most prominent Vampire, Demon, and Werewolf families. The laws they set down were for human protection. Naruto, who I learned was a fox demon shortly after I had stayed with him when he came into my room the next morning sporting a tail and fox ears, Shikamaru, and Kiba are the other three quarters of our little quartet. They have trained me in martial arts, and Shikamaru is starting to teach me to be a mage of some sorts. I haven't really found my talent yet, but I will. When I do, I swore on the day I had to bury my parents that I would have my revenge on that monster that they dared to call a man; Orochimaru.

As the four of us started our junior year at Konoha high I was the happiest I had been since I had been orphaned. I had three of the best friends I had ever had, and I was an accepted member of their little group. I plopped down in between Sakura and Ino who were bickering over some oddity that had escaped me since the incident. Something like prom, or what to wear to graduation and trivial things like that. They just didn't seem that important to me anymore. That morning we all happened to have a rare free period at about 11. I pulled out a chocolate muffin from my bad at turned to Kiba munching happily.

"Hey, Kiba", I said almost too innocently. He looked at me boredly. "The next time I do laundry, I don't wanna find your little tighty whiteys in the dryer."

"Fine by me", he said Smirking. I didn't trust that smirk. "As long as I don't run into any of your lacy unmentionables in the shower in the morning, or the giant wad of hair you leave in the drain" I stuck my tongue out at him childishly. Our little group had grown accustomed to our little household spats. Sasuke walked up then looking paler than usual. I was beginning to suspect something, but I let it slide since it was a miniscule difference compared to the last time I saw him. I noticed Kiba wrinkle his nose and he turned towards the girls in the group.

"Whose wearing the girly perfume? I know it's not Jess because she prefers going around smelling like a trucker." I shot a glare at him.

"You know darn well that I wear light citrus scent, and none of us wear flowery perfumes, not even Ino." I said. He shook his head, apparently dismissing the thought that had fluttered across his hybrid mind. He still hasn't let me see his transformation, only the after affects. I yawned and stretched noisily, gaining some odd looks from onlookers. I grinned at Kiba again, and he gave me an odd look.

"Don't even think about it J", he said to me. I giggled, and tackle hugged him.

"POUNCE!" I yelled happily. He gave me a slight glare but didn't push me off of his torso. Instead he tickled my sides and I laughed uncontrollably. "Y-you f-f-fiend!" I said between laughs. He stopped tickling me and I climbed off of him, but still sat rather close to him. I saw some girls giving me dirty looks. Kiba had grown up well, and was well built, but he was more like a brother to me. And we preferred it that way.

After a long and tiresome day I waited in Kiba's car for him to come out so we could go home. While I waited I saw Sasuke walk by, and we acknowledged each other. As he walked by, I noticed something in his eyes, but when I blinked whatever it was was gone. I shook it off as Kiba sat down in the drivers seat.

"Sensei's calling a meeting" he said, and I groaned. Our Sensei usually called a meeting once a month, but we had already had our meeting for this month, and they were exceedingly boring. I sighed and glared out the window.

"Whose house this time?" I asked through gritted teeth, wishing that I had taken the time to clean up our place a bit.

"Well, technically it's our turn." I groaned again. "But they're not coming till midnight." I nodded. Then realized what this meant.

"Does this mean we have a high level mission, and that I'm finally able to go and/or they've figured out a way for me to not be completely useless?" he nodded and I was almost bouncing with joy in my seat.

That night as midnight got closer, Kiba and I donned our respective uniforms for missions. They were like old school ninja costumes, but with some modern twists. Mine was a dark purple mini skirt over black bicycle shorts, a matching tank top, and fishnet arm warmers along with a slender black mask to conceal my identity. Shikamaru and I were the only ones who had to wear masks because the others could shape shift. I pulled on my faithful pair of black converse high tops and laced them while Kiba ran around the apartment putting away stray items from the day. There was a knock at the door and I yelled for the visitors to come in. Naruto and Shikamaru walked in followed by a blonde, and rather busty woman.

"Hey Tsunade-Sama" Kiba and I said in unison. She smiled slightly, which was never a good sign.

"Jessica, tonight you're going out on your first high rank mission." I nodded excitedly. "I thought you might like to try out a new toy." I smiled.

"Really?" I asked excitedly. She nodded and pulled a sword and sheath. I unsheathed it, feeling the magical energy cackling around the blade. It was a long, slim, and lady like weapon.

"You were showing some real progress during the fire magic sessions, and this sword will amplify it " she said. "You four will be going after a powerful demon tonight. The council will be observing this to see how you have progressed as a four-some, as well as your respective species and power range." I felt butterflys fluttering around in my stomach and bit my lip nervously. Having the council watching us meant that something bigger was actually going down. That or it was just a test to see how we would handle the situation. We nodded and she walked out so that we could plan a little before going after the demon.

"Okay", said Naruto. "I'm not too crazy about this mission, but we still have to do it. The only question is how."

"Well", I said. "What kind of demon is it? Do we know?" Shikamaru shook his head.

"It's either a cat demon or another fox demon, sorry Naruto."said Shikamaru in his bored tone. "That's all we know for now." He looked over at me. "What we need is bait." I glared at him.

"I told you after the last time when a I almost got bitten by a vampire that I was done being decoy" I said harshly. He nodded and scowled slightly in thought.

"Why don't Naruto and I just track it?", Said Kiba. "We'll both be in beast form so it would be easier for us." We decided that this would be the best course of action and we set out into the night eager to find our demon.