Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Reading Totems ❯ Chapter 10 ( Chapter 10 )

Title: Reading Totems

By: GrizzlyTeddyBear

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, and this makes me sad. I do own Paige Stone, my OC!

Main Pairings: Eventual ShinoxOC, NaruxHina, SasuxSaku

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. I like to take my time.

 

Chapter Summary: Paige's secret friend is found out by Team Kakashi. She gets to spend more time with Shino, but the rest of Team 8 runs into them before they get a chance to practice their mediation for the day.

 

***Chapter 10***

 

It was 5:00AM and she hadn't, for the life of her, been able to get back to sleep after waking up and discovering she was back in her apartment. The sun had yet to rise for the day. She had no idea how many hours of actual sleep she had gotten, but she had definitely skipped dinner. Deciding on a large breakfast, she went about getting a rather early start on her day.

 

Paige's initial intention had been to get ready early to get a head start on working with ravens, but she quickly realized she was at a disadvantage since her `supervisor of the day' wouldn't be around to pick her up until later. She contented herself with sitting at her small dining table with her notebook scribbling in her latest vision and cracking open her other notebooks to try and cross-reference what she could.

 

It was while she was writing that she noticed she had a visitor. A kikaichu was taking a leisurely stroll down her arm. She figured it was Shino's, but didn't understand why it was with her and not with him. Paige just let it walk around for now. She would return it when she saw him later.

 

Time flew by and a knock was heard at her front door. “Coming!” Paige hastily shut her notebooks, collected, her bag, and ran to open the door. “Hi Sasuke.” She shut the door behind her and began the now familiar walk to the bridge with the jounin.

 

“You left early yesterday.”

 

“It wasn't planned. Sorry if I worried anyone.”

 

Sasuke gave her a look.

 

Paige sighed, “Alright, I got a little overwhelmed when I got a vision and blacked out. A new friend that I made brought me home.”

 

“Who?”

 

“Aburame Shino.”

 

Sasuke nodded and let the subject drop.

 

She was extremely grateful for that. She also noticed she couldn't locate where the kikaichu went. Paige let it go for now. She didn't want to invite questions by jumping up and down while shaking out her clothing to find it.

 

When they joined up with the rest of Team Kakashi, Paige was once more faced with explaining her disappearance when Sasuke had come to walk her home. When she told them of Shino and that he had been helping her yesterday, the jounin her own age gave her an odd look. Kakashi gave her a thoughtful one. Paige shrugged. They could think what they wanted.

 

It wasn't until they reached the relative privacy of the training grounds that she told them of her vision, her gift of ravens, and of how they could help her. “They carry messages between the worlds.”

 

She received looks of confusion.

 

Paige elaborated, “They talk to the dead.”

 

Naruto wore a sour face. “That's kind of creepy.”

 

“Not really. Death is just another part of the cycle of life. Ravens can travel between the worlds and let me gather information about more than just personal totems. Technically, I'll be able to learn whatever the dead are willing to give up and the ravens are willing to carry to me.” Paige paused at the grave looks she received. “I've been given another powerful gift.”

 

“He must trust you to use it wisely,” Kakashi said.

 

She nodded. “Right now, I trust him to know me better than I know myself. It still hasn't been made clear to me what the `greater purpose' of mine is. I just know that everything will eventually add up to it.”

 

Kakashi considered this for a moment before nodding to himself. Suddenly he gave one of those masked covered smiles of his and said, “Time for you to get lost!” It appeared they had graduated to just letting her go instead of creating scenarios like they had before.

 

Laughing, she walked off towards the clearing she was beginning to associate with a certain ninja with a bond with kikaichu. Thinking about seeing that certain ninja made her heart beat just a little faster in anticipation, Paige thought to herself, `I'm hopeless,' and walked faster to her destination.

 

***

 

Shino actually met her on her way to the clearing. It was a pleasant surprise which had the bonus of allowing her to spend more time with him. She grinned at him when he caught up with her. They walked together until he was the one who broke the companionable silence first.

 

“Are you well today?”

 

Paige blushed, “Yes. I'm sorry to have been a burden yesterday. I probably made you worry.”

 

Shino shrugged in response. “It was not a burden.”

 

This made her blush more. So far he hadn't looked at her to see it. She decided to change the topic a little to gain control over herself. “It was a vision.”

 

Well that piece of information made him look at her face. Shino was regarding her from behind all of the layers which hid his face when they arrived at the clearing.

 

Paige gave up on fighting her blush under his gaze. She had to admit she liked the attention! While he helped her set up her blanket, she told him of her vision, “I was basically told to let go more often…so I don't know if that means more passing out or not.” She scratched the back of her head nervously.

 

Shino gave another shrug and repeated, “It was not a burden.” They once more sat down on the blanket, but this time he sat closer to her.

 

She nodded and smiled at him. She then told him of the gift of ravens and its implications of what knowledge she could gain while setting up her medicine wheel materials. After a moment she added, “Eventually I'll need to start working on just visualizing the medicine wheel and working that way instead of using a physical one. It would come in handy, but can wait until after the council meeting. One thing at a time.”

 

Paige thought she detected a hint of a smirk from Shino.

 

Suddenly remembering her promise to herself she exclaimed, “I almost forgot!”

 

He tilted his head to the side in a silent question.

 

“I wanted to thank you for recording your reading in my notebook and bringing me home…how did you know where I lived?”

 

Shino looked down and began picking at the blanket. Embarrassment. “There are insects all over Konoha. I can communicate with most of them.”

 

Paige blinked at him for a moment. She thought she knew what he was getting at, but she wanted to understand. “So…you asked for directions?” It came out a little more disbelieving than she wanted.

 

Embarrassment. He nodded while still picking at her blanket. “Yes.”

 

“That's incredible!” She also wanted to know about her little visitor she found this morning. Conveniently, it was crawling along her arm. Paige held out her arm and smiled. “I think this belongs to you.”

 

The reaction was immediate. His attention snapped up to her face, then to her outstretched arm, and finally tracked the progress of the kikaichu wandering a path towards him. He held out his hand and it flew over to him to land on his fingers and crawl around.

 

“I noticed it this morning.” She paused, not sure how to phrase it politely. Finally she settled on, “Why?”

 

Letting the insect crawl on his hand and run between his fingers, he answered, “Kikaichu eat chakra. I asked them to check yours to make sure you were unharmed.”

 

Paige was back to blushing. She was acting like a giddy schoolgirl with a crush, silently jumping up and down on the inside and thinking, `He was worried!'

 

“I left her behind to monitor you and report back to me.” He paused then added, “The males can track the females.”

 

She was left processing the last bit of information. She had been carrying around a female.

 

The silence must have gone too long because Shino broke it again. “I apologize.” He was back to picking at the blanket with the hand the kikaichu was not occupying.

 

“For caring about me?”

 

The sunglasses snapped back up to her face again, but he remained silent.

 

Paige wanted to use her empathy, but she couldn't understand the confusing mix of emotions that was coming from both of them. She struggled slightly not to start picking at the blanket herself under what felt like a heated gaze. “I'm…flattered. You left behind a female to keep an eye on me and to be able to find me again if something happened.” She was really hoping she wasn't overstepping her bounds with him.

 

After another silence Shino nodded at her once more, “Your welcome.”

 

She decided to change the topic a little, but she wanted to keep talking with him. They had plenty of time for meditation…and well, this was practicing with insects…Wasn't it? “You said before that you could communicate with most insects in Konoha. Is that why you know so much about the ones in this clearing? I remember yesterday you had quite a commentary on them all.”

 

“Yes. I use a jutsu to keep out all except insects and people.”

 

Paige had the decency to feel embarrassed, “This is a special place for you isn't it.”

 

“Yes.” Shino shifted his position. “But the insects told me about you that first day. I came to investigate.”

 

She was officially curious. “What did they tell you?”

 

He picked at her blanket again.

 

“You're going to wear a hole in my blanket,” she teased.

 

His hand stilled. There might have been the beginnings of a blush on Shino's face, but he turned his gaze from her as he muttered, “They told me something pretty came to talk to nature.”

 

Well, what could she say to that? Insects thought she was pretty. If she wasn't imagining the blush, Paige was going to make the leap of logic to say that Shino agreed with them.

 

Steeling her resolve, Paige slowly reached her arm out towards Shino as she had the previous day. Slowly, making sure to make some noise since he wasn't looking at her, she reached over to place her hand on his forearm again. When those sunglasses whipped around to look at her hand, and then her face, she noted that he had his eyebrows raised in surprise, and he was blushing.

 

When she was sure she had his attention, she tried to convey her feelings towards him in her gaze while she spoke. “Tell them thank you.” Paige didn't want to say more. She didn't want to scare him. Shino had opened up more today than she figured he would in a week. She was counting her blessings when a loud shout caused them to jump back from each other.

 

“Akamaru! Get back here!”

 

Paige found herself knocked backwards and being stared down at by the largest dog she had ever seen in her life! The totem of dog was not a total surprise when it made itself known to her. “Where is the human you're supposed to be watching over, brother dog?” she asked aloud.

 

“Kiba is not far off,” Shino responded. He proceeded to get the dog off of her and help her sit up again.

 

“I thought it was only insects and people?”

 

“Akamaru is like family to Kiba.”

 

Paige nodded while a guy she assumed was Kiba came running into the clearing just through tree line.

 

He stopped when he noticed Paige, Shino, and Akamaru, to call over his shoulder, “I found them, Hinata!”

 

They were looking for `them'? Paige rolled her eyes at herself. “You're teammates. I remember Naruto telling me Hinata had come back from a mission a few days ago…the same day you found me here, Shino.”

 

Shino nodded in response.

 

She now took her time looking at the newcomer. His messy brown hair, red facial markings, and black attire complete with leather jacket made a striking combination. He wore grin that showed off his teeth even from a distance. It screamed `Bad Boy' in that `You know you want me' kind of way that mother's warn their daughters about. As he walked closer she thought she could see elongated canines in his grin.

 

Paige decided to have a little fun. Turning her head quickly towards Shino to give him a quick grin and wink, she then turned to Akamaru in seriousness. “You didn't really come out here to track us down, did you? You ran away again because he was getting hard to control again.”

 

Akamaru's response was to tilt his head to the side and wag his tail.

 

By this time Kiba had reached their blanket and Hinata could be seen walking into the clearing from the direction Kiba had come from. Her most striking feature was her eyes. They were pale lavender with no pupil that Paige could see. She figured she could see since Hinata had no trouble navigating on her own, but the eyes intrigued her.

 

Paige continued `talking' with Akamaru, “I know. I can tell he's trouble just by looking at him, but you have to realize he needs your protection. Do you realize the amount of trouble he would get himself into without you around?”

 

Akamaru gave a low `woof' and wagged his tail harder.

 

Kiba's reaction was comical. His face was scrunched up with indignation as he said, “I'll have you know that I keep him out of trouble.”

 

Hinata giggled from where she came up behind Kiba. “I think its both.”

 

Paige broke her serious mood and giggled too.

 

Shino was smirking next to her.

 

Hinata spoke next, “Hi Shino, Paige-san. Kiba and I are sorry if we interrupted your meditation practice. Naruto told us we could find you both out here.”

 

The lizard totem was made known to her for Hinata. Paige waved off her formality. “Call me Paige. And to be honest, we haven't gotten started yet, so you're fine so far.”

 

Hinata smiled while Kiba still looked mildly put out by Paige's exchange with Akamaru. She then explained why they had come looking for Paige and Shino. “Alright. Paige, we came looking for Shino. We haven't seen him in a few days.”

 

Kiba interrupted, “Yeah, usually me and Bug Freak hang out after a mission to unwind, drink, and look for girls.” He then gave Paige a very intense up and down stare. “But I see that he's already found one.”

 

Paige rolled her eyes at that statement. Somehow Shino drunk and looking for girls didn't match the image she'd constructed of him from her experiences. Plus the idea of Shino going for other girls didn't make her too happy either. Paige gave Kiba her own look. “I doubt you need much help finding girls…now keeping them on the other hand, I think you'd need advice on that.” She made sure to smile at him to let him know she was still teasing him.

 

Hinata giggled.

 

Shino coughed.

 

Kiba just gave Paige a grin that said `wouldn't you like to know' and then spoke, “I just wanted to see what was better than hanging out with me.” He looked at Shino, “Now I know.”

 

Shino stated, “She asked for my help in preparation for her council meeting later this week.”

 

Hinata intervened, “Naruto told us about that, too.”

 

That got Paige interested. “Oh? How much did he tell you?”

 

“Everything,” replied Hinata, “But don't worry. You can trust us. We want to help.” Comfort. Trust.

 

Kiba nodded at this, “Yeah. We'll help however we can.” Protection.

 

Paige decided to let him in on his totem, but she figured he couldn't be too surprised by it. “I have no doubt I'd be in good hands by own who has the totem of the dog. Faithfulness and protection define you; you don't go back on your word.” She looked at Akamaru. “Although, it is odd for me to see such a physical representation of a totem.”

 

“The Inuzuka clan is known for their work with dogs,” was Kiba's oddly serious reply.

 

She continued for Hinata. “Lizards are your totem. Associated with Father Sun, they have the ability to perceive the most subtle of things, bordering on psychic...your eyes?”

 

Those lavender eyes widened at Paige and Hinata nodded while she spoke. “The Hyuga clan's Byakugan perceives the chakra network. We can attack what others cannot see. But I thought you hadn't begun your meditation yet?”

 

“I haven't. I can read main totems without my medicine wheel and sense emotions. My empathy has been a little weird lately though. I think I'm in the process of some kind of change. I only knew your totems when you walked in, not your emotions.” Paige felt compelled to add something else. She didn't want to turn down the offers of help, but she didn't want to assume too much from these people she just met. She wanted a chance to make them friends also. She looked around at everyone and said, “Thanks for the offer of help, but I don't want to do anything that could…upset the council. I don't know how things work with them, so I'm not gonna ask for any favors. I'll settle for a contingency plan if all hell breaks loose and I have to leave in a hurry.”

 

Hinata was the one to reply, “We know how the council works. We know how to help.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

Hinata gave a thoughtful look which roamed between Shino and Paige. “Kiba and I will leave you to your meditation now. It was nice meeting you, Paige.” She gave a wave as she walked off.

 

“Yeah, nice meeting you.” Kiba turned to Shino before he too walked off, “Don't do anything I wouldn't do.”

 

Shino gave a nod, but then gave a smirk that Paige could make out, “Not that that leaves much that I can't do.”

 

It was Paige's turn to whip her head around to face Shino since she had been watching Kiba and Hinata walk off. Was that a joke? Shino's head slowly turned towards Paige and she blushed. Was he flirting with her? Deciding meditation was easier to figure out right now, she changed the topic, “Shall we start for the day?”

 

He nodded.

 

The rest of the day was spent with Paige working with ravens while Shino kept up his commentary on the bugs in the clearing. Paige learned some interesting things about Konoha that day that she thought might help her with the council. Shino agreed the information might be useful when she shared it with him. She also learned from him that there was another place associated with the dead in Konoha where speaking with the ravens might be easier. That would be tomorrow's little project.

 

***

 

Author's note: Thank you to my reviewers (new and repeat): otakutron, DragonTamer94, TheForsakenOne, tasuki001. Keep them coming! Frequent reviews fuel my obsession and keep me posting! The council meeting is creeping up day by day and chapter by chapter…teehee! I did warn you in the beginning of each chapter that I like to take my time!