Meeting the Unexpected

A/N: Thanks for reading the first chapter. He he…

~xxx~

It had been three months since Ayako's induction into ANBU and the team has been doing extremely well ever since. Now it seemed that nothing was too tough for their team to handle. Though, today's mission was a piece of cake; they were never too careful.

Sasuke took the lead, Shikamaru behind him followed by Ayako and Shino, Kyoji was behind Shino and Naruto brought up the rear. The mission was as follows: deliver the scroll to the Tea Daimyo and stay until he signs the agreement, plain and simple, right?

Wrong…

The Daimyo had insisted that they stay for the night claiming that a good nights rest did everyone a lot of good. Being that he hadn't signed the agreement yet, the team had no choice but to stay. And that's when the headache started.

~xxx~

"Jeez Kyoji-san, can you be just a little louder, I can still hear in this ear!" Naruto exclaimed as he rolled over on the floor by the fireplace.

"Excuse me for being curious! I've never been to the Tea country before." Kyoji shot back with a glare. "What about you Ayako-san, have you ever been here before?"

Ayako, who had been reading a medical journal, looked up at Kyoji and sighed. "Yes I have Kyoji-san, when I was a genin." She answered then turned back to her reading. Ayako had learned rather quickly to answer him at first then ignore him just as quickly. "Do us all a favor and shut up. We're leaving tomorrow morning regardless; get some rest." Ayako said from behind the pages of the journal then snapped it shut and heeded her own advice.

"Oh, she's good." Shikamaru mused as he stood from the chair in the corner. The room that the team shared was similar to the barracks back in Konoha; a large room with rows of bunk beds with a large fireplace to keep it warm. The walls were paneled wood that seemed to glow by fire light. "All right kids, it's about that time. Night!" he called over his shoulder as he turned and walked to the bed he claimed for the night.

"You guys can't order me around, I have seniority." Kyoji defended, puffing out his chest like a bull frog.

"They were making suggestions, but I'm ordering you to shut the hell up and go to sleep." Sasuke said as he rolled over to glare at him. Kyoji gulped and scrambled to his bedding.

"Finally…" Ayako whispered, snuggling into her sleeping bag. A loud snore abruptly halted any form of dream that was beginning in her mind. "Jeez Naruto!" she moaned turning to find…Naruto climbing into bed?

"Not me…" he whispered then looked around. His face cracked into a wide fox-like grin once he found the source of the noise.

Shikamaru lay sprawled on his bed, face turned to the side and snoring so loud he could possibly wake the dead. Naruto crept over to his bed and pinched Shikamaru's nose. The snoring stopped a moment later then Naruto returned to his bed.

"Thanks!" Ayako chirped before getting comfortable again.

"No problem." He replied as he shifted in his sleeping bag.

"Murder all fluffy bunnies!" Kyoji screeched in his sleep. Both Ayako and Naruto sat up in their beds and stared at him as he continued his dreamy rampage. "Kill them all…so I can have bunny blankets." They were terrified now and scrambled away from him, sharing Naruto's bedding that now lay on the floor.

"Remind me to never get on his bad side." Naruto whispered and Ayako nodded her head in agreement.

"I need to invest in ear plugs." Ayako said when Kyoji's rant about bunnies, died down.

"I think it's safe to go to sleep now." Naruto said in a whisper, feeling his eyes start to drupe. But Ayako had already nodded off; peace and quiet at last.

"DIE!!"

~xxx~

"Just what the hell do you two think you're doing?" Sasuke snapped while glaring at the two sleeping on the floor. Ayako and Naruto sat up quickly and glared at Kyoji (who was still sleeping).

"I blame it on him." Ayako grumbled while stretching. "Thanks for protecting me Naruto-ojisan." She yawned then stood and grabbed her things.

"Like wise." He replied, gathering his sleeping gear and walking over to his bag. Soon the team was ready to go…but there was one small problem; Kyoji was still sleeping.

"I say we leave him." Shikamaru voiced as they stared at the problem at hand. After much argument, Ayako and Naruto walked over to the side of his bed and stuck their hands under the mattress. Shino pulled the small rug away from the bed while Sasuke counted to three. Kyoji was dumped unceremoniously onto the cold wooden floor below and was awake immediately, clutching his bloody nose.

"Get ready; we leave in five." Sasuke said in a clod tone. Kyoji groaned while sitting up but was ready to go in no time.

As luck would have it, the Daimyo did, in fact, sign the agreement so squad one bounded for home, a three day journey away.

~xxx~

Lord Fujimura walked through the small farming village with his wife, Haruka and their eldest son Hideki. The noble family decided to delay their journey to Konoha for an hour to stretch their legs before returning to the confines of the cramped carriage. It wasn't very often that the mistress of the fire nation left her home at the palace, but she found it a rare treat to see the word beyond the walls.

"Dearest, I'm glad you decided to take me with you this time…" Haruka started but was stopped by her husband.

"I know you're anxious to get to Konoha. Just relax; it's still a day's journey from here." He interjected as they stopped at a small hut. The busy roads teemed with people buying and selling various items but the world seemed to stand still for them. Haruka smiled at her husband as he bent down to eye level. They were so close, lips just inches apart when…

Bump

Some man hand accidentally walked into Haruka. The man whirled around and glared. But, upon realizing just whom he had ran into, the man apologized profusely.

"Mother, hand me your pouch, I'll hold onto it for you." Hideki said as he stepped closer to them, annoyed at the apparent rudeness of the farmers market.

"Thank you dear…" she said as she reached for her small coin purse. "Oh goodness, I must have misplaced it."

The Daimyo spun on his heels, searching for the man who ran into his wife. He spotted the man not too far ahead, still walking at a leisurely pace. "Thief, stop that man!" he shouted. Everyone turned to stare at him while the man started running. The thief turned his head to see if anyone was following, satisfied that no one seemed to care, he turned back and…

BAM!

He ran into an arm…a rather strong feminine arm at that, landing flat on his back. Winded, the thief could only watch as a masked woman scooped up the coin purse and walked away from him then two masked men picked him up and handed him over to two burly patrolmen.

"You're purse, Fujimura-sama." The masked woman said politely holding out the small silk bag to Haruka.

"Thank you shinobi, I am indebted to you." Haruka said as she took the bag back from the ANBU. The blue and white cat mask bowed low to her.

"It is my duty Fujimura-sama." She replied as she straitened up. Then her team appeared behind her, each giving a low bow to the noble family.

"Are you shinobi heading back to Konoha?" Lord Fujimura asked as he looked over the assembled ANBU team. A taller, raven-haired man stepped forward.

"We are Daimyo-sama. Do you wish us to accompany you?" the Daimyo was beside himself. He had never expected shinobi to appear and save the day.

"That would be much appreciated." He finally answered, snapping out of his daze. The raven-haired man bowed then turned to his men.

"Blue…" he spoke to a tall brown-haired man. "Run ahead; let Hokage-sama know that we'll be arriving with the Daimyo." 'Blue' nodded and leapt on ahead. The leader of the team turned back to the woman and addressed her. "Stay with them, we'll grab the supplies and meet you here in five."

"Yes captain." She replied with a salute. Then they were gone, leaving clouds of smoke in their wake. All the while, Hideki couldn't take his eyes off of the woman who had singlehandedly taken out the thief.

"May I ask your name, shinobi?" Hideki ventured as she turned towards them.

"I'm sorry, but the only name I can leave you with is 'Crimson Moon'." She answered; her tone was apologetic. 'Wow…what a hunk!' her mind whistled. She was almost positive the cat-call in her mind was loud enough for him to hear because he smirked at her.

~xxx~

"They should arrive around noon tomorrow." Kyoji said standing in attention. He had arrived just minutes ago after a two hour long b-line for the Hokage tower.

"So, Crimson Moon took down a thief and the Daimyo had asked to be escorted here? Is that what you're telling me?" the blonde Hokage asked, not believing a word of it. Of course, if his team didn't trust him…why should she?

"Yes Hokage-sama." He replied with a curt nod. Tsunade sighed heavily.

"Very well, you are dismissed." She said and waved him off. "Shizune, tell Sakura I want to see her."

"Right away, Tsunade-sama." A brunette chirped and scurried out of the office. Tsunade reached inside her desk and removed a half empty bottle of sake from the bottom drawer.

"You had better be right…or Sakura will have your head for making her daughter miss her birthday." She growled in irritation. Sakura burst through the door of her office fifteen minutes later, worry clear in her emerald gaze.

"Is everything alright?" Sakura asked as she strode into the room.

"Sakura, Ayako-chan is going to miss your party because the team is escorting the noble family here." Tsunade informer her former apprentice. Sakura heaved a sigh of relief.

"Don't scare me like that. Wait, what?" the blonde snickered at the pink-haired woman across from her.

"She did send her gift ahead with a letter." She said as she tossed a small box to Sakura. "They'll be arriving at noon tomorrow if you really want to scold her. I'll be meeting the Daimyo at the gates." And that was it; she dismissed Sakura and retuned to her sake.

~xxx~

"Daimyo-sama, we're stopping for the night." Crimson Moon said as she knocked on the carriage door.

The merry group traveled most of the day in silence but every now and then Haruka would poke her head out and ask Crimson something, mostly idol chat between women. It was getting dark now and camp needed to be set up.

It definitely didn't help that the Daimyo traveled with a huge caravan of servants who wanted nothing to do with the ANBU team. And it most definitely didn't help her to know that every time she addressed Haruka, 'mister-fancy-pants' Hideki would peek over her shoulder to look at Ayako...I mean Crimson.

'Please, no problems.' She prayed as camp slowly started to take shape. Crimson stood in a tree with Shadow to her right flank and Fox to her left. Dark Wolf and Eagle circled the area, checking for possible threats. All seemed fine… for now.

Field rations had definitely tasted better. The dried, compacted food held the faint taste of plastic as Crimson bit into it.

"Remind me to pack extra…the stuff we got in the village tastes awful." She complained placing the wrapper in her pack.

"Want some ramen?" Fox asked handing her a bowl. She accepted graciously, keeping her back to the fire so that o one could see her face as she slurped up the delicious noodles.

"Thanks ojisan." Crimson smiled handing back the bowl.

"It's our turn for watch. You get Wolf and Eagle and I'll let Shadow know it's their turn to rest." Fox said as he stood. The duo had slept for the last four hours and now it was their turn for duty. Crimson nodded and put her mask back on. She stood and walked off towards the tree line where two members of her team stood watch.

"It's our turn for guard duty, go rest." She whispered softly. The two men turned to her and nodded before walking past her, heading straight for their bedding. Crimson remained in that spot until sun up when the camp seemed to come to life.

Hideki woke before his parents, a bit groggy but alert enough to know that Crimson stood with her back to him, her eyes glued to the trees. He shrugged inwardly and turned to his right, walking over to the bushes to relieve him self.

As he walked back to camp, Hideki tripped over a root and lost his balance. His arms flailed about as he tried desperately to regain his composure but it was too late and he was falling. Hideki's eyes clamped shut, arms thrust forward to break his fall, but it never came. A strong pair of hands pushed his chest then gripped his shoulders to steady him.

"Are you alright?" a smooth voice asked. Hideki's eyes shot open and met the all-too-familiar blue and white cat mask. Her hands had slipped back to his chest, holding Hideki firmly in place. His eyes widened momentarily before answering.

"I think so…but my ankle kind of hurts." He answered, a little miffed at how fast she was.

"Try walking on it. If you did hurt your ankle I can heal it." Crimson said taking a step back. Hideki nodded and took a step, regretting it immediately. Pain surged and throbbed through his foot causing him to wince and hiss in agony. Crimson slung his right arm over her shoulder as her left arm slipped around his waist, supporting him so they could hobble over to a stool.

"What happened?" Haruka asked as she emerged from her tent, her husband following closely behind.

"I'm a clumsy buffoon first thing in the morning." Hideki answered watching Crimson's hands glow a bright green over his right foot.

"We have a doctor who can look at that, you don't have to." The Daimyo said watching the young ANBU work.

"I'm a medic ninja, Daimyo-sama. It's my job to heal those who need it." Crimson answered smiling under her mask. "It's a gnarly sprain, but it won't take long."

"I'll bring you something to eat, Deki-chan. Just stay still for her ok." Haruka said as she and her husband walked away.

"Deki-chan…?" she questioned with a chuckle.

"Oh don't you start too. I hate that nickname!" Hideki scowled crossing his arms over his chest.

"It's all right, I know how you feel." Crimson said as she carefully placed his foot on her bent knee to get a better look. "Your secret's safe with me."

"I'm back Deki-chan." Haruka said as he handed him a plate of food. "How does it look Crimson-chan?"

"I'll be finished in just a minute. If we had let this go untreated, Hideki-sama would need crutches." She answered as she hands stopped glowing. "I'm going to rotate your ankle, let me know if you feel and pain or discomfort." Crimson said, tilting her masked face to look up at Hideki. He nodded and prepared for the worst. Surprisingly, he only felt the gentle warmth of her hands.

"Feels great!" he said happily with a grin.

"Al right, try moving it on your own." He did so without any problems. "Ok, you're all set…just try to watch your step next time." Crimson chirped and set his foot back on the ground gently.

"Thank you Crimson-chan, I'm very grateful for all your help." Haruka said as she shook Crimson's hand.

"There's no need for that, really." Crimson smiled sheepishly under her mask.

"It's time to move out." The Daimyo said and everyone moved into place. Fox in front, Eagle and Shadow in the rear and Crimson and Wolf on either side with the caravan trudging along at a decent pace. Again, every-so-often, Haruka would poke her head out and engage Crimson in conversation (though Crimson only paid attention half the time, she was still able to keep up with the noble woman).

~xxx~

Villagers and shinobi alike lined the dusty main street of Konoha to greet the noble family upon arrival. This was a rare treat to see the Daimyo and his family, and to be escorted by ANBU no less. The large audience bowed as the caravan passed by.

Ayako spotted her mother right away…and she didn't look happy.

'I am so dead when I get home.' She sighed and turned her attention back to the task at hand. Technically, her mission wasn't over until the Hokage received the signed agreement; guarding the noble family had been an added bonus. Ayako smirked under her mask. 'At least there was some eye-candy on this mission.' Images of a scowling Hideki invaded her mind, but she pushed them aside because the caravan had come to a stop.

Ayako walked up to the carriage door and opened it, helping Haruka out first before stepping back and bowing to Hideki and the Daimyo.

"Welcome to Konoha, Ken-sama." Tsunade said as she bowed to the Daimyo. They shook hands and shared a brief chat before Tsunade turned to squad one. She walked over to the team that had lined up next to the carriage. The team bowed low to her as she smirked, zoning in on the raven-haired girl. Sasuke handed her the scroll and she dismissed the team after that.

~xxx~

"Mom, I am so sorry that I missed your birthday but if I hadn't helped the Daimyo, Konoha would be in a really tough spot right now." Ayako apologized from her knees as she bowed with her head on her hands.

"Oh, stand up already. I forgive you." Sakura said as she uncrossed her arms. "I love my gift, by the way." She grinned, placing her hand on her new necklace. "Oh, your father wants to see you."

Ayako cringed. "Now?" she asked as she stood.

"Yup, he's in the council chambers with the rest of the old fogies." Sakura whispered that last bit and winked at her daughter.

"I am so dead…" Ayako whined as she stalked off to the oh-so-secret room in the back of the main house. Straightening her uniform, Ayako raised her hand and knocked on the door.

"Come in." Itachi said from the other side. Ayako walked in, closed the door behind her and bowed low to the men in the room.

"You wanted to see me otousan?" she asked as respectfully as possible. And yes, Ayako was a little scared by the hard looked the council members giving her.

"Your mother tells me that you helped the Daimyo's wife, is that correct?" he asked I a soft tone, but Ayako could clearly hear the pride in his voice.

"Yes, that is correct otousan." She answered with a curt nod. He smirked at her, as if he knew something she didn't.

"Very well, you may go." He said and looked down at some papers. Ayako bowed and bid then a good day before leaving. Scurrying down the hall, Ayako made a b-line for her bedroom for a much needed bath and a long nap.

Hours later, Ayako woke up to her mother shaking her.

"Ayako, Hokage-sama wishes to see you." Sakura whispered as Ayako opened her eyes. She sat up and stretched.

"Another mission…?" she asked as Sakura sat on the edge of her bed.

"No, your uniform is not required." Ayako could only guess at what was going to happen next.

A/N: Ok, another chapter down. Let me know what you think please and thank you!