The Huntress

Chapter 3

  Song is just because :)

It's been a week since she's been in this city, and she might ask this kage if she could gain citizenship for here. Everyone is decently friendly, the shopkeepers have fair pricing, and there's a lot of personality in this town.

  And, probably most importantly, it's nothing like the polluted cityscapes and disease-ridden world her old grandfather used to talk about. Every time she went out she was always amazed at how clean it was.

  Today, she had just gotten back from a hunting trip and had three rabbits strung and tied to her waist and a small deer across her shoulders. She smiled politely at those who smiled at her as she passed by. She already knew the route to the butchers practically by heart, she could reach the stout, grey building from just about anywhere.

  "Good day Kamota-san!" She called out to the burly man in the back. She walked to the counter and slid the doe off her shoulders, rolling them after from the exertion.

  Said man came out, wiping his hands on a pink towel, "good day to ya too Ilya," he said in his gruff voice and she smiled at him. "I see ya got me a deer today," he said inspecting the small thing. "And ya got it right in the eye as always, no marring on the hide. I can sell that too."

  She quickly untied the rabbits from her waist and placed those on the counter as well, "well only the best, for the best, Kamota-san," she said with a sweet smile on her face. She had caught the rabbits in a little trap, no marring on the hides of those either. He smiled gratefully at her.

  "Then here's yer money for this time Ilya," he said, handing her a pouch.

  She smiled gratefully at him and put the pouch in a pocket and said her goodbyes, walking out of the store.

  The man said a goodbye back and lifted the deer over a shoulder and grabbed the string of rabbits, then smiled at the girl that stood outside his shop with the boy that's been walking by everyday. Probably hoping to "accidentally" bump into her. He shook his head, ah to be young.

                   ~~~~

  He quelled down his blush and Akamaru barked a greeting at the girl from his hood. She turned her light purple eyes to him and his heart fluttered, and then started pounding when she smiled at him.

  "Hey there Akamaru, Kiba," she said in her angelic voice. Kiba gave a small smile and waved at her, muttering out a hello. "What's your business around here today?" She asked them.

  He stuttered to find an answer and cursed himself quietly when his mouth popped out with "to get groceries for my mom." Which was true, but not at all what he wanted to say. Although, he wasn't sure what he wanted to say around this girl anymore.

  She nodded in understanding, opening her mouth to say something when Kiba blurred out "wanna join me?" And she looked at him a little surprised.

  And he found her surprised and confused face adorable. She nodded slowly, agreeing to join the boy and his dog, who barked happily at her from his place in the boy's hood.

  She smiled at the pup and reached to pat his head and her hand brushed past Kiba's ear and he nearly shivered. Instead he reached up and grabbed her hand, "Alright then let's go!" He said loudly, pulling her along. She smiled at the back of his head and followed along.

                   ~~~~

  "Ma! I'm home!" Kiba called out, slamming the door open. He was carrying three bags in his arms which forced Akamaru to walk.

  "Pardon me," a soft voice mumbled out as Tsume walked into the entrance hall. One of Tsume's eyebrows rose at that, and Kiba rolled his eyes at mother as he walked into the kitchen. She looked at the girl, who was also carrying three bags, and watched her as she slid her boots off and stepped up into the house. The girl looked up at the intimidating woman right in the eyes and smiled.

  "Hello Inuzuka-sama," she started, "I'm Ilya and I've helped your son with groceries." She walked past the woman and into the kitchen and set the bags on the table. Tsume turned into the kitchen as well and leaned against the door frame, watching her loudmouth son put away the groceries obediently.

  She was about to form a thought to herself and ask why when she saw the minute blush spread across his cheeks when he looked back at the girl, who was sorting through the groceries for the refrigerated stuffs.

  Tsume smirked, "About time you brat," she called out, stepping into the kitchen. Kiba frowned at her, opening his mouth to most likely whine, and the girl smiled a surprisingly unreadable smile. "Is what I'd say," she started, Kiba's frown deepening, "but I see you went on a date with a cute girl instead!" Tsume finished, almost triumphant.

  Kiba blushed, hard. And the girl had that same smile upon her lips as she grabbed out a pack of eggs from a bag. "Of course not, Inuzuka-sama. Unless helping out with the groceries counts as a date?" The girl, Ilya, said. Kiba flubbered, because that's how he saw that shopping trip. Only because it was with the girl but still, he was a little hurt she didn't see it that way.

  "Anyways, mom," he said, walking over to her and pushing her out of the kitchen and into the living room.

  Ilya watched them go, grabbing more cold perishables from the bag. She kept that smile up until they left the room to her and Akamaru. She grabbed an armful if things and walked over to the fridge and opened it. She crouched and put the things in her lap and let the blush creep onto her face. Akamaru padded over to her and barked softly, and she looked at him. "Please, it's a secret," she said, imploring him. He seemed to pretend to think about it and yipped. "Yes you'll get more of my jerky," Ilya laughed, placing the eggs on a shelf.

  She put the rest in the fridge and stood up as Kiba walked back in, muttering obscenities and a slight blush on his face. He looked at her and his blush seemed to deepen, not that she noticed.

  "Sorry about my mom," Kiba said, thoroughly embarrassed.

  Ilya giggled then placed a hand on his shoulder, "I don't mind it at all Kiba," she said and Gods did he love her laugh.

  "Do you wanna stay for dinner?" He blurt out and he immediately started cursing himself. He took a peek at her face and she seemed rather surprised by his offer.

  Then she smiled, turned to him and said yes.

                  ~~~~

  "So, Ilya. Where are you from?" Hana, Kiba's older sister, asked of the purple eyes girl.

  Said child swallowed the food in her mouth, and swallowed hard again. A little nervous. No one had really asked her before. "Uhm," she stalled, "I'm a bit more of a nomad.." she said, pushing another bite of food into her mouth.

  "I see~?" Tsume and Hana said at the same time, leaning their elbows on the table and staring at the girl unnervingly. And totally in sync. Their tone clearly asked her to elaborate, but she only pushed more food into her mouth.

  After what felt like forever Tsume spoke up again, "And what bring you to Konoha then?"

  Ilya looked up at the women who looked at her expectantly. She shrugged, "nothing really, just needed a change of scenery. And someone I met suggested I come here," she explained taking another bite. When she said yes to saying for dinner she hadn't thought it would be an interrogation while she ate. She gave a minuscule sigh and looked up at the Inuzuka women. They seemed to have an entire conversation with their eyes.

  "I wasn't like a highway robber or anything," Ilya explained after she swallowed again.

  Hana looked at her in surprise "are you a psychic or something?" She asked, astonished.

  Ilya choked on her food a little, "I am not, no."

  Kiba groaned. He was being completely ignored no matter what he said. Yes, he'd been talking nearly this whole time. But only the dogs were listening.

  Tsume and Hana ignored his groan, Ilya glanced at him. The rest of dinner went about the same, and poor Kiba had no chance to talk to Ilya.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And scene.

1440 words

Enjoyed?

Next chapter will be released in a week