Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ An Interlude of Bears and Insects ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

Authoress Pre-ramble: And here is the big reveal! This interlude is where I'm smashing the two worlds of Paige Stone and CasaHouse's Drake into one. Now this will mean that not everything adds up from Reading Totems. I know. Please don't think I don't know. I hated the idea of going back and rewriting a fic that works perfectly well on its own. So I left it alone. And our collaboration also will work perfectly well on its own. This interlude is to familiarize everyone with the new world created in the collaboration as well as taking a peak into the lives of Paige and Shino and the possible future interactions with Drake.

 

A big “Thank you!” to all of my readers and reviewers! And an even bigger “Thank you!” to CasaHouse for the quickie betaing of the chapter and the borrowing of Drake.

 

Title: An Interlude of Bears and Insects

By: GrizzlyTeddyBear

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, and this makes me sad. It also means I make no money from this venture. Naruto belongs to Misashi Kishimoto. I do own Paige Stone, my OC! All information regarding animal totems was collected from Dancing The Wheel by Sun Bear and Animal Speak by Ted Andrews.

Main Pairings: ShinoxOC

Rating: M for mentioned adult themes

Warning: AU, Post-series start time. Rookie 9 is 23-24 years old. Fic mentions pagan religions, if you can't handle it, don't read! Also is OC-centric. Hold your pants, all will be revealed as the story progresses.

 

***Chapter 3***

 

After the small amount of dust kicked up had dis[Author ID1: at Mon Dec 15 20:03:00 2008 ]bursed and Paige was sure the floor beneath her feet wasn't going to suddenly shift again from another teleportation jutsu, Paige stood in what she presumed to be ANBU headquarters flanked by her two masked escorts.  She had had just enough time to change into something more suitable than pajamas to meet with Ibiki when they each grabbed an arm and she was told she was going.  Unhappy, was not the word for the mood the man-handling had put her in.  Obviously they either didn't know her, or didn't care who she was.  Well, it was time to fix that.  Making a show of rearranging her clothing[Author ID1: at Mon Dec 15 20:03:00 2008 ], "Gentlem[Author ID1: at Mon Dec 15 20:03:00 2008 ]en!  [Author ID1: at Mon Dec 15 20:03:00 2008 ]As much as I love to be gotten out of bed at o'dark thirty and being immediately ordered around, I remind you that this is a contract I entered into voluntarily with Ibiki and am under[Author ID1: at Mon Dec 15 20:03:00 2008 ][Author ID1: at Mon Dec 15 20:03:00 2008 ]no obligation to maintain this.  [Author ID1: at Mon Dec 15 20:03:00 2008 ]Should another incident of such—impolite—nature occur, I will not hesitated to terminate this agreement."  As an afterthought she added, "Oh, and I'm sure you've heard of my stunt I pulled in the council meeting several months ago.  I'll be sure to give your names to Ibiki for reprimand."  Even though she didn't know who exactly they were, she didn't have to let them know...[Author ID1: at Mon Dec 15 20:03:00 2008 ]
[Author ID1: at Mon Dec 15 20:03:00 2008 ]
[Author ID1: at Mon Dec 15 20:03:00 2008 ]Nervous[Author ID1: at Mon Dec 15 20:03:00 2008 ]

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Paige allowed herself a small smile of satisfaction at the small amount of fear she put into the two ANBU. Checking to see if her assumption that she was standing outside of Ibiki's office was correct, she felt his totem of [Author ID1: at Mon Dec 15 20:03:00 2008 ]Owl[Author ID1: at Mon Dec 15 20:03:00 2008 ], made sure he was the only one present in the room, and walked into the office. “Ibiki-san.” She waited for a response and tried to project the image that she felt a lot more comfortable in the man's presence than she really was.[Author ID0: at ]

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“Paige,” was the interrogators acknowledgement of her presence. He hadn't looked up from the file he was looking at on his desk. After a few more seconds of awkward silence, Ibiki closed the file and slid it across the desk towards the totem reader. “This is the case we need assistance on.”[Author ID0: at ]

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Taking the file and giving the information inside a quick once-over, she asked, “Why this one?”[Author ID1: at Mon Dec 15 20:03:00 2008 ] It looked rather straight forward at first glance.[Author ID0: at ]

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A slightly more than creepy smile lit up Ibiki's face, “I'm head of ANBU's torture and interrogation squad, but that only helps after we capture someone[Author ID1: at Mon Dec 15 20:03:00 2008 ] that has information. We have a suspect, but I was unable to attain a confession.” [Author ID0: at ]

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Paige [Author ID1: at Mon Dec 15 20:03:00 2008 ]grimaced slightly at the look of anticipation on the interrogator's face. “Creepy...”[Author ID1: at Mon Dec 15 20:03:00 2008 ] Looking over the information again, [Author ID1: at Mon Dec 15 20:03:00 2008 ]her morning sickness tried to assert itself as she took in the gruesome details of the murder. Swallowing back her nausea, she looked back at Ibiki, “How would you like to start.”

 

“The suspects mind was blanked by a technique we cannot dispel. We need to connect him to the crimes with more than circumstantial evidence.” He motioned her to follow him out the door.

 

Keeping pace with the ANBU shinobi, Paige tried to memorize her way through the wandering passages, doorways, and stairwells. One thing was for certain…they definitely kept going down. The press of her ravens in the back of her mind also was becoming greater. Once she had to steady herself against the wall at the images she was shown.

 

Ibiki waited until she had regained her composure and then resumed walking. He did not ask her if she was alright. He did not ask if she needed assistance. He simply waited.

 

She volunteered information anyway. “That room we just passed holds a serial murderer.” She shuddered. “He likes to keep a lock of hair from his victims...red heads.” Paige swallowed against more bile rising in her throat.

 

A small nod of his head was the only acknowledgement given that she had been accurate. Moments later, Ibiki stopped in front of a set of double doors and motioned Paige to enter one while he opened the other.

 

Stepping into the small room, she noticed the one-way mirror on one side and an ANBU standing in one of the corners of the room.

Lizard. Duty.

 

Paige let a small smile show and nodded her head at the friendly presence of Neji in ANBU attire.

 

He motioned to the single chair in the room.

 

Taking the offered seat, she faced the glass which let her peer into the next room and watched Ibiki work; a small speaker offered her the opportunity to listen in as well. Paige tried to be as objective as possible while she watched.

 

“Do you want to change your story?” Ibiki questioned.

 

The man, who looked like he'd been through a few rounds of beatings, frantically shook his head `no'. Fear. Dread.

 

“His fear is genuine,” Paige confirmed. She closed her eyes to concentrate on things more. “It's not…” She searched for the right words, “It's not forced or faked. He truly doesn't know.” Trying to arrange herself in the most comfortable position she could, she sank further into her connection with her ravens to ask for any information on the case.

 

The images were intense. Bodies were contorted at unnatural angles. Broken bones…cutting just to watch blood flow. Paige tried to hang on to her own sanity and her stomach. Trying to separate her own reactions from the images she requested and those of the victims' from their messages, she narrated the events in a monotone voice. “He enjoyed the work. That's how he viewed it too…work. It was his job to test the limits of the human body to see how to perfect the technique. He doesn't know what technique though. That was someone else.” She paused for a moment before her eyes flew open and her hands covered her mouth. “I'm going to be sick…” she stated.

 

A small trash bin materialized in front of her.

 

Paige proceeded to lose her dinner from last night into the bin. She attempted to spit out the lingering flavor of bile when she was finished…but was unsuccessful. Continuing the reading, she announced in a hoarse voice, “His name was Nobu. I can't find information on the technique used to blank his mind…the dead don't know that answer. But find Nobu, and you find the technique.” She looked up at the suspect, now identified as the perpetrator. “That one is actually weak-minded. Probably why Ibiki was frustrated on not being able to get the information himself,” she added absent-mindedly.

 

A derisive snort was the response that came from the direction of the doorway. “It's more than we had before. And it gives us the victim's perspective,” Ibiki stated. The look in his eyes was almost one of approval. He gazed turned to the trash bin in front of Paige.

 

“I'll get used to it. Next time, no puking.” She gave a sheepish grin. Her stomach made another drastic contortion. “Or maybe not. I need to go now. I'll send any more information I get.”

 

A hand on her arm guided her to stand.

 

The next thing Paige knew, she was back in her house and Neji had disappeared in another teleportation before the dust from the first jutsu had cleared. Unfortunately for her, a glance at the clock told her time had actually marched on, unlike the rest of her sleepless night. It was now time for her to make her appearance at the Konoha Hospital's Psychiatric Wards. She grumbled as she walked towards the bathroom to brush her teeth before leaving.

 

***

 

She was still grumbling when she walked out of the hospital. According to all her experience and education, there was no truly scientific reason that if you have one person screaming on the ward, everyone starts screaming and acting out. The only plus was that with all of that agitation, she got to see if her staff were capable of the non-injurious intervention methods she was trying to impress upon them. There had been a few firings over Dai discovering some medic-nins not understanding that broken bones were not conducive to mental health. Paige had raised a few eyebrows when she chose to make her point about her techniques being effective by demonstrating a few holds on the largest male shinobi she could find…and successfully kept him immobilized.

 

Dai, however, just started laughing.

 

A small smile tried to eclipse the overall glowering expression she was wearing as she remembered Dai's comments on how she had emasculated every male ninja that worked for her.

 

Ramen.

 

Paige spied Ichiraku's ahead and altered her course home to include a stop for ramen. Cooking for one was just not practical…and it only served to remind her that Shino wasn't home to eat her cooking. The smell actually made her stomach grumble in appreciation for once. There was some unidentifiable totem—very strong—that caused her to hesitate slightly before pulling back one of the flaps…and laying her eyes on one of the largest people she'd ever seen.

 

Giving her order of something she was pretty sure would keep her stomach happy after taking a seat two stools down from the man, Paige took the opportunity to study him…using all of her methods of observation.

 

He was just plain huge. There was no other way to describe him. He wore all black, including a black bandana. A glinting of metal drew her attention to the hite-ate. The slightly stiff manner he held himself spoke of the weapons he most likely had scattered about his vest and large coat. Or maybe it was the kunai protruding from his shoulder that was restricting his movements.

 

Concentrating slightly, she was puzzled that he didn't feel like he was being hampered by the injury at all.

 

Fire Lizard?

 

She held on to the edge of the counter as the force of his totem again pushed at her abilities. Little sleep and little food didn't do much for her equilibrium…on any front. Add in pregnancy to empathic mood swings…and well, sometimes she wondered why people weren't running away screaming from her more often.

 

Paige smiled gratefully when her order was delivered and gave a happy sigh after her first bite.

 

She contemplated the totem…fire lizard…her best guess was a dragon. She'd look into it later.

 

Eyes slid towards her direction briefly before returning to ramen. The newly identified dragon totem holder appeared to be working on adding to a sizeable stack of dirty bowls.

 

The attention caused Paige to shift her own gaze back to the large man with the kunai. This guy needed his priorities straightened. Feeling slightly snarky, she decided to break the ice in her typical fashion. “You should get your shoulder looked at,” she blurted out, gesturing towards the kunai. “It can't be comfortable.”

 

His full gaze was turned on her. “I'm eating.” He turned back to his bowl of ramen and proceeded to demonstrate. The voice that accompanied that man was just as large as he was, but didn't hold any anger, mainly indifference.

 

“You're also bleeding,” Paige challenged.

 

Chopsticks were halted momentarily as he turned his head to give his injury only slight consideration. “I've had worse.”

 

“Uh huh,” was her only reply. She could believe it…but sitting down to dinner with a kunai jutting out of your shoulder? Who did this guy think he was?

 

“Really.” He scratched the top of his head in an absent-minded gesture of thinking. “I've kinda lost count of all of my injuries.”

 

The gesture and feeling of nonchalance started to convince Paige that maybe he had lost track of his injuries, but still! “You should go to the hospital.”

 

An eyebrow arched over a green eye. “Why are you so concerned?” Another empty bowl was added to the stack.

 

Their conversation was interrupted when Ayame delivered another bowl of ramen to the tall man. “Paige is always concerned about everyone,” she stated to him. She switched her attention to the mentioned woman as she refilled her drink. “Have you heard anything?” Her eyes held concern mirrored by her voice.

 

Sighing, she replied. “Nothing yet, but no news is good news when you consider everything.”

 

Ayame withdrew, leaving a slightly awkward silence behind her.

 

Paige stirred her ramen absently then glanced over at the large man again to find him looking at her with some sympathy.

 

“Boyfriend a nin?” He was turned to face her now.

 

“Husband. And yes. He's been on mission for a while,” she rubbed at her forehead tiredly. “And I've gotten to run things at the clan by myself while he's gone,” she mumbled.

 

“Who?” his brow was furrowed like he was trying to think of who would match the information he was given.

 

“Aburame Shino.”

 

The ramen paused in its journey to its fate of being eaten. “You're an Aburame?” he gaped.

 

She gave an awkward mock-bow while still sitting on her stool. “Co-head of clan, at your service.”

 

He gave her a critical eye. “You don't have any kikaichu.”

 

Paige gave a mysterious smile. “Nope!”

 

“Then how do you…” he trailed off in bewilderment.

 

Taking the small opening offered by his confusion, she launched herself off of her stool, grabbed an end of his long coat and tugged the large man to his feet. “And if I tell you any more I'd hafta kill ya! But for now, I'll settle for getting that shoulder checked out.” She shouted over her shoulder, “Put it on the Aburame account, Teuchi-san!”

 

The ninja she was currently dragging gave a small start, but allowed himself to still be hauled off when he turned and shouted, “I'll pay when I bring the bowl back!”

 

The short journey back to the Konoha Hospital was probably amusing to the observer. Paige Stone, all of 5 feet tall was dragging a man easily over 6 feet tall by his coat through the streets while he ate ramen and had a kunai sticking out of his shoulder. Once inside the hospital, people were less covert and were blatantly staring at the scene.

 

Paige dragged the now highly amused nin behind her while ignoring the stares and made her way to the triage counter. “Hi Nami, I need a room for…” She turned around expecting the answer to come from him.

 

“Drake!” answered Nami from behind the counter.

 

The totem reader's head whipped back around. “You know him?” A small part of her mind confirmed her suspicions on his totem being a dragon based on his name.

 

“Hi Nami,” replied the apparently well known Drake with a wave and a smile. “How are the kids?”

 

Nami replied to Paige dismissively. “Everyone in this place knows Drake. I think your department is the only one he hasn't been admitted to.” She turned to Drake, “What is it this time? And the kids are fine,” she replied with an answering smile.

 

Drake pointed to his shoulder, “Kunai. One of my students was a bit more determined than the rest.”

 

Chewing her lip slightly while checking some books, Nami nodded her head. “Pretty minor this time. I still remember that arm reattachment a few years back.” She shuddered slightly.

 

One mortified Aburame was left to try and comprehend that bit of information. Wait…he was a sensei at the academy??? Her thoughts were interrupted by Nami.

 

“Looks like Room 116 is open.” She looked up. “Paige since you're here, it'll go quicker if you escort him to the room while I go see who's on duty for patch-jobs.”

 

Taking up the corner of Drake's coat again, Paige dragged him off towards Room 116.

 

For his part, Drake obediently let himself be hauled off while clutching his bowl of ramen.

 

Once inside the room, Paige perched herself on the stool reserved for medical staff.

 

Drake sat on the exam table. “Why are you still here?”

 

Paige shrugged, “Figured the magical pull of Ichiraku's might try to convince you to leave before you get your shoulder taken care of. I'm here to fight its hold on you.”

 

The large man snorted.

 

After a small amount of silence, she just had to ask. “Did you really get your arm reattached?”

 

“You work here. Read my file if you don't believe it,” was the reply.

 

At that moment a medic walked into the room carrying the thickest file Paige had ever seen. And to top it off, in bold black marker was the phrase “Vol. 5 of 5.” She grabbed it when the medic placed it on the counter.

 

A low grunt drew her attention from the file towards Drake. He had taken off his shirt to give the medic better access to the wound. Paige tried not to stare at all of the scars covering his upper body. Ok, so maybe he did have some experience at being at the hospital. Her eyes wandered up and met the green-eyed gaze of the large man on the exam table. Realizing she had been caught staring anyway, she blushed slightly and started reading the synopsis while Drake was being healed.

 

There were so many injuries listed! And towards the bottom…one of the first…arm reattachment. She didn't think her eyebrows could go any higher. Paige cleared her throat, “I have one question for you.”

 

Drake raised one eyebrow in invitation.

 

“If you're such a good jounin, why don't you dodge better?”

 

The medic giggled.

 

Drake scowled. “I've found dodging to be counter-productive when placed between something sharp and someone you're protecting.”

 

Paige turned back to the file. Moved to Konoha a few years ago. He was married…to TenTen. “TenTen normally is the one dragging you in here, isn't she.”

 

He had the sense to look a little sheepish and gave a nervous chuckle. “She's on mission too.”

 

She gave a smirk and a small nod to herself. Made sense that the weapon mistress could handle him. Paige sighed. His wife. Reading about his marital status made her think about her own. Shino. Closing the file and replacing it on the counter, she gave what she hoped was a convincing smile. “I guess it's my time to exit seeing as how I actually got you to take care of that shoulder.” Hopping off the stool, she made her way to the door.

 

“Paige-san?” his voice called.

 

Pausing with her hand on the door handle, she turned around. “Yes, Drake-san?”

 

“You never answered my question,” he crossed his arms in expectation, his shoulder now fully healed.

 

“Ah, well, you never finished asking it,” was her comeback.

 

“I'll be right back to have someone sign off on your release, Drake.” The medic tried to squeeze by Paige to leave the room.

 

The totem reader took advantage of the moment, slipping mostly outside the room. Pausing just before she closed the door, she poked her head back in. “The only thing I'll volunteer is that even though I'm civilian, I'm perfectly capable of handling myself against most threats,” giggling to herself at his confusion, Paige shut the door to the room and used her knowledge of back routes and corridors to evade being followed by Drake. Engaging in conversations about herself without knowledge of his security clearance was a big no-no that Tsunade, Ibiki, and the entire Aburame clan had drilled in to her. Sighing, she felt her previous mood return as she once again headed towards Ichiraku before heading home…she wanted to make sure Teuchi-san charged the Aburame account.

 

***

 

Authoress's Post-ramble: Tah dah! Anyone curious about Drake should mosey over to CasaHouse's page and read his fic The Code. I promise it's a good read. Besides, the more people pester him to finish it, the sooner we can get our collaboration under way! Until next time, Happy Freakin' Holiday of your choice!