Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Reading Totems ❯ Chapter 14 ( Chapter 14 )

Author's pre-ramble: OK, for those of you who reviewed with questions…the answers to what Shibi thinks about Paige and Shino is in this chapter. Possible OOC-ness for Shino from this point on when he's in private with Paige…but if you've been paying attention to other author notes, you've already been warned. There is also the answer to the question of what the heck did the council decide. And to those of you who showered me with compliments…(otakutron, DragonTamer94, TheForsakenOne, tasuki001, Dwarfwarrior, ghostreader14, TheRavenQuoth, sotobell) thank you! This would have been out sooner, but I really do work with inpatient Schizophrenics…and it's been a rough week.

 

Title: Reading Totems

By: GrizzlyTeddyBear

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, and this makes me sad. I do own Paige Stone, my OC! All information regarding animal totems was taken from the books Dancing The Wheel by Sun Bear and Animal Speak by Ted Andrews.

Main Pairings: 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 awakens and then hears the news of the council's decision. A secret plot is revealed to the council and so is the identity of the mystery ANBU who has taken a liking to Paige. In the hoop of life, all endings are beginnings of something else.

 

***Chapter 14***

 

The first thing that she recognized was the ceiling. She recognized the cracks in the plaster even without her glasses. Paige was back in her own bedroom. It wasn't too big of a surprise. She figured Shino had brought her home after she had fallen asleep with him in the tree. Trying to blink the world into focus she turned her head to the left and was greeted to Shino's ANBU presence sitting in one of her dining room chairs he must have dragged into her bedroom. “Thank you for bringing me home.”

 

Shino nodded in reply.

 

A voice from her right spoke next, “You like to keep people waiting, don't you, Paige.”

 

Paige turned her head to see Sakura's blurry form sitting in another dining room chair on the right side of her bed and holding out her glasses. She accepted the glasses, put them on, and immediately recognized Hyuga Neji standing in the corner of the room directly behind Sakura, who was the one who had spoken and was currently helping her to sit up in bed.

 

“Neji rushes to the hospital to take me to see you, but first you make me wait here for your ANBU friend to bring you home from wherever you two ran off to in a hurry. And then you make me wait for you to wake-up.” Sakura looked slightly amused at her own joke.

 

“Sorry?” Paige offered.

 

Sakura rolled her eyes.

 

“How long have I been unconscious?”

 

“Depends. You've been unconscious and in this bed for about an hour, but who knows before that. Physically you're as healthy as you were when I did your physical. He,” she pointed to Shino in his ANBU uniform, “isn't the talkative type. He wouldn't tell us where you were before. Although he was writing in one of your notebooks, which he then refused to let us see.”

 

Paige turned a raised eyebrow at Shino. “Notes from the council meeting?”

 

Shino nodded.

 

“Notes from the ravens?”

 

Shino nodded once more.

 

Paige held her hand out for the notebook and received it from Shino. She flipped through the pages in his handwriting and her eyes widened. He hadn't repeated any messages she had previously gotten from the ravens from her time at the monument, but there was still quite a lot written down. She said all of that? More than half of it didn't make sense. “These don't make sense to me. Although I think some of it talks about me. Does any of it make sense to you?”

 

He shook his head no.

 

“Alright, I'll have to show Tsunade. Maybe with the note I passed her she'll be able to make more sense of it than I can.”

 

“Why can't you make sense of it?” asked Neji.

 

She turned her attention to him. “I'm only the messenger. I don't always get privileged with understanding of the messages. It's up to whoever is ultimately giving the message to the raven as to what is told and how much I get to know.”

 

Neji questioned her further. “What was in the note you passed to Tsunade…it wasn't just medical questions.”

 

“No. It was a code I arranged with Jiraiya while I was at the library yesterday. If I needed to communicate with her alone, I would pass her a note stating it was medical related. And…I'm not sure if I should say what was in the note. It's a hunch so far. I don't want to arouse suspicion if there's no reason to. I want to wait until I find the right time to give Tsunade the notebook.”

 

Neji nodded at this. “I'm impressed with your ability to assess situations and react accordingly.”

 

Paige smiled at him. She was guessing by the way Sakura's attention had whipped around after Neji had said the words `I'm impressed' that he didn't often say such things.

 

Shino was projecting amusement. He was definitely enjoying his foreknowledge of Paige's abilities both spiritual and her general ability to adapt.

 

“Is the council still deciding?”

 

“As far as we know. No one has come to tell us otherwise,” replied Neji.

 

Paige looked down at the blankets covering her. “I'm not sure if that's good or bad.”

 

Assurance. Calm. Comfort. Protection.

 

She looked back at Shino. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

 

Sakura's voice drew her attention again. “If I didn't know better, I would say you were talking to yourself.”

 

Paige smiled and was about to reply when Shino became tensed next to her and projected alarm. Turning to ask him what the matter was, she noticed him give a signal to Neji, who nodded his head and walked out of the room. He returned shortly with Aburame Shibi trailing behind him. “To what do I owe the honor of your presence, Aburame-sama?” she questioned.

 

Shibi spared a glance to Shino's ANBU-clad presence to her left and then addressed Paige. “The council is leading towards the decision that you may remain in Konoha on the condition that you marry…”

 

Paige didn't hear the rest of his words. All she could hear was the blood rushing in her own ears as shock set it. The council couldn't do that…could they? They had no right to take away her ability to chose who she married…could they? They couldn't take away her right to give her own consent…could they?

 

Sakura's face swam in front of her own. “…Paige? Paige!?...” A warm chakra filled hand pressed against her chest. Immediately some of her composure returned. Her breathing which she had just noticed was erratic, began to slow down. Her own heartbeat was fainter in her ears. She could hear Sakura once more. “…it can't be all that bad to marry the heir of the Aburame. Besides, I thought you liked Shino. You have been spending a lot of time together.” She took her hand away from Paige.

 

“Shino? Heir to the Aburame clan?” She marveled at not knowing this about him, but supposed it didn't matter too much. Mentally backtracking, she turned to Shibi, “Aburame-sama…the council wants me to marry into your clan? To your son? Shino? Can they do that?”

 

Shibi nodded.

 

Evidently not being prone to idle chatter ran in the Aburame family. Silence stretched in the bedroom while Paige collected her thoughts. The council was willing to let her stay, but only if she married? What could they gain from a marriage? “Aburame-sama…I apologize for the rudeness of the question, but is your clan large or small?”

 

Shibi raised an eyebrow, but replied, “Small.”

 

Paige nodded, and tried desperately not to look at Shino. She didn't want his identity revealed—although she had a hunch Shibi already knew—but she wished she could somehow communicate everything she was feeling to him…to make him understand what she said next. “Is there any precedence for refusing such a ruling by the council and remaining in Konoha?”

 

Confusion. Hurt.

 

Paige again fought the urge to look at Shino. Instead she looked between Sakura and Shibi. “It's not a good political move to give up so much control over my life to the council…at least not without a fight. I need freedom to do my work. And you're right. I do like Shino. But the council is wrong to force things that should be left to go at their own pace.” Turning to just Sakura she asked carefully, “I guess this confirms our little secret has been kept?”

 

Sakura nodded.

 

Paige sighed. Both Aburames deserved to know that particular truth in case she couldn't win against the council. “I can't have children.” She looked at Shibi to gauge his reaction to that statement. Feelings of sympathy and pity were coming from him. “I'm guessing one of the reasons they chose the Aburame clan is that you are a small clan?”

 

Shibi nodded, “They also knew you were spending a lot of time with my son.”

 

Paige nodded. It figured someone would report that. She was under surveillance after all.

 

“The Aburame are also known for…keeping to themselves.”

 

The last piece of the puzzle fell into place for Paige. The council wanted her abilities, but only if she was contained and controlled behind closed walls, within a marriage, and producing babies they probably hoped would also have her abilities. “What is your personal stance?”

 

“I refused to speak on behalf of my son. It is his decision to make. I left the meeting under the guise of seeing if he had returned from his mission. You were not going to be included in the decision making process.”

 

“Do I have any allies?”

 

“A few.”

 

“Thank you, Aburame-sama, for coming and telling me.” Paige took a moment to think again. “I'd like everyone to leave for a moment…and please be polite and not listen in.” She noticed the tension in Shino. “ANBU-san…please remain.”

 

He relaxed slightly.

 

She needed to know that he understood. That he was willing to back her in this. After Shibi, Sakura, and Neji left, she spoke to Shino while looking down at her hands in her lap. “I need to know…that you understand what I need to do. I want you to understand why I have to do this. I want to be with you because of my own choices, not the council's…” She was about to say more when I hand lightly settled on her left shoulder.

 

“I understand…” Shino broke his silence for her.

 

Paige was touched, but shook her head with tears forming in her eyes. “I don't know if you do…It goes deeper than politics for me. There are more personal reasons than just my feelings for you… And I can't have children…” She trailed off as Shino sat on the edge of her bed, reached over, and held her.

 

“I will stand by you,” was all he said, but to Paige the words brought so much relief. He would back her. He would stay with her. He understood she wanted to keep her freedoms to choose.

 

“Thank you.” She wasn't going to be alone. She would tell him the rest of the reasons later.

 

Shino gave her a light squeeze before releasing her. “Get ready. We are going back.”

 

She nodded and smiled at him. “I think a wardrobe change is in order. Red suits my mood right now.” Shino nodded and left the room to let her change. Paige decided, also, to wear a tank top to let her tattoos show. Reminders of her connection with the spiritual might serve her. Scarab flew out of and then back into her bag of medicine wheel items. She had almost forgotten about the little kikaichu, but it appeared Shino had not. He must have asked her to go into her bag to hide from Sakura's medic-hands. She emerged from her room wearing her bag of medicine wheel items which also contained the notebook she intended to give to Tsunade. She looked around the room, “Where did Aburame-sama go?”

 

Neji answered, “He went back to the council meeting. He assumed you wished to confront the council. It would not look good for him to return with you.”

 

Paige nodded. “Right. Let's go then.” She turned to Sakura. “You coming too?”

 

The medic-nin smiled, “Wouldn't miss this showdown for the world. Besides, some of the old farts might need reviving after you're done with them.”

 

Paige smiled and nodded.

 

Shino walked over to her, calmly removed her bag to place it over his own shoulder and scooped her into his arms. Anticipation.

 

Paige grinned a little evilly. She was going to enjoy her planned temper tantrum for the council. She turned her head to Neji and Sakura who were looking at her a little strangely. Paige decided it was because they didn't know it was Shino who was holding her. Although she did wonder why Neji hadn't used his Byakugan to find out…maybe it was a courtesy? “We're taking the express route…try to keep up.” They leapt over the rooftops of Konoha towards Hokage Tower when a thought occurred to her. “Will Aburame-sama understand what we're doing?” she asked Shino.

 

He looked down at her through his mask. “Yes. He disagrees with the council. He also knew who I was.”

 

She nodded and before she knew it, she was once more standing outside the door to the council's meeting room. She looked up at Shino and took her bag from him. “I'm getting too many jumbled emotions and totems. Think anyone is directly in the path of the doors?”

 

He shook his head no and she could feel the raised eyebrow leveled at her from behind his ANBU mask.

 

“Good. Because I want to indulge my anger a little and do this…” Paige gave the double doors a solid kick which sent them flying open with a resounding CRACK when they hit the inside walls. Stalking into the room with Shino trailing behind her, she relished the dead silence she had created with her stunt. Into this silence of tensed ninja's startled into half-crouched positions with weapons partially raised, she spoke with none of her previous formality or humility. “I demand to know why I was not part of the decision-making process of my impending marriage into the Aburame clan as the condition to my remaining in Konoha”

 

Koharu spoke, “I don't think you understand, my dear…”

 

Paige cut her off. “I think I do understand. You fear me.”

 

Danzo scoffed at her, “Why would we fear you?”

 

She sensed his rage once more, but the ravens were quiet this time. It appeared they had delivered all of their messages before. She fixed him with a glare. “You think I'm weak because I'm only a civilian. You fear the knowledge I can gain with my abilities. And because you don't understand me, you think I am a liability.”

 

Danzo let some of his anger into his voice, “You are a liability. There is more than refusing to answer our questions. If you were captured to be used against the village there would be interrogation, torture…and rape.” He smirked at her, thinking he had won.

 

Paige returned his smirk. “It would not be a new experience for me. I have had to make such sacrifices. And yet I have not broken. I hold other secrets than those of Konoha and her shinobi.” The silence was deafening to her ears and the room's collective feelings of shock and horror slammed into her, but she spoke with a steady voice. “You would use me and the Aburame clan to your own ends. They would gain someone powerful to add to their small clan and the ability to add to their numbers while the council gains me safety weighted down by marriage behind their walls, and the possibility of future generations with my abilities they could more easily control.”

 

A voice behind her spoke, “It would be a chance at having a normal life.”

 

Paige whirled around to look the Inuzuka clan leader who had spoken in the eye. She couldn't really hold it against her…dogs were family oriented animals after all. But…“Define normal, Tsume-sama,” she hated the word `normal.' Two definitions of the word never matched.

 

Danzo's voiced caused her to turn around again. “Do you intend to defy the council?”

 

“I intend to live my life how I see fit to best serve Wakan Tanka. I am prepared to do what is necessary to that end.”

 

Danzo's face darkened, but it was Homura who attempted to reason with Paige. “And the Aburame clan's position? Do you not want to know their feelings? The council knows you spend a lot of time with Aburame Shino.”

 

Paige turned to Aburame Shibi although she already knew his position. “My son has not returned from his mission. I cannot speak for him, but the Aburame would be honored to have Paige Stone among us.”

 

She gave him a respectful bow since she considered him to be showing her respect. “I thank you for your compliments.” She then returned her attention to Homura. “It is convenient that Aburame Shino is unable to speak his own piece before the council at this time.” Danzo looked about to speak, but she cut him off. “The council is also acting without total information. You would be interested to know two things. My gift is spiritual. It is not passed down to children like a bloodline limit. What is required is belief, faith, and the blessings of Wakan Tanka.” She let that sit into the silence for a moment. “It is also impossible for me to pass my abilities to my children for the simple fact that I cannot have children. A more detailed look into my medical records will reveal this.” Paige took her time in looking at the faces around the room and tried to sense their emotions. Pity was the strongest emotion. Shame directed at themselves followed closely behind. It looked like her display and confrontation with the elders was helping to sway the rest of the council. She also noticed how many were now unable to look her in the eye. One of the few exceptions was Danzo. The feelings of utter RAGE and HATE were radiating off of him to the point that Paige was wondering how anyone else didn't actually feel it. She took a step closer to Shino who was standing behind her and to her left. He radiated of sympathy and comfort.

 

Danzo turned his hate-filled gaze on Paige. “You are an abomination!” Slowly he stood up and pointed a finger at her. “It is fitting the kami took your future children from you!” The rest of the council was now staring at Danzo in shock.

 

Sadly, she had heard similar things in the past from her own family shortly before they disowned her and kicked her out to live on her own. “You feel of rage and hate, Danzo-sama. Why do you fear me so?” Paige grabbed the notebook containing the ravens' messages and held it up to Shino who calmly walked over, handed it to Tsunade, and returned to Paige's side. Tsunade read with widening eyes while Paige spoke. “I received many messages from the ravens before I had to leave the meeting earlier. Ravens surround you Danzo-sama, and I wonder why. Do you fear my abilities with the ravens? What do the dead have to say about you?”

 

Danzo began forming hand signs, the feelings of rage and hate felt like they were swirling around him, and then several things happened at once. Tsunade cried out for the ANBU forms of Naruto and Kiba to contain Danzo. Naruto and Kiba appeared, knocking into Danzo, and performing their own hand signs. The other elders retreated from the possible battle. Danzo cried out in a wordless scream of fury. Shino dragged Paige down to the floor, covering her by using his own body as a shield to protect Paige from any attack that might get through Naruto and Kiba. Jiraiya also placed himself between Danzo and Paige. Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura surrounded the huddled forms of Shino and Paige while the rest of her friends watched the rest of the council with wary eyes. A struggle was heard, and then Paige didn't hear anything else for several seconds.

 

Tsunade yelled out an order, and it was clear who was in charge after the confusion. “Stand down.”

 

Paige looked up into the masked face of Shino as he got up off of her and helped her up.

 

“Paige Stone, you make serious accusations in this notebook in combination with the information you provided me earlier in your note before you left. Do you understand the weight of these actions?” the Hokage looked at Paige with a serious expression.

 

“In truth, Hokage-sama, I do not understand what is in that notebook, other than a reference to me in one of the messages. The ravens did not tell me anything more than what is contained within it.” She looked down at the now restrained form of the elderly Danzo between the ANBU forms of Naruto and Kiba.

 

“The council will be pleased to hear that our dear former leader of ROOT was selling secrets—including yours, Paige—to an enemy, and you uncovered this operation.

 

There were murmurs of shock heard around the room. Danzo's shouting rose above it. “Her abilities are a tool to be used, nothing more. She is dangerous and already has sway over an ANBU! If she cannot be contained she should be destroyed! She's not even human with what she can do!”

 

Tsunade rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Someone gag him or something!”

 

Naruto obliged by tearing off a piece of table cloth and shoving it in Danzo's mouth.

 

Shino shifted beside Paige, and she looked up at him in question. He returned the look through his mask, but then slowly raised his hand to hover above it for a moment that seemed to stretch for eternity. Slowly, he removed the mask and his hood before all assembled. He still wore his sunglasses, but Paige now had an unobstructed view of his face before he turned a glare on Danzo. Paige stared while she could. He was very handsome…drool-worthy she decided. Her trance was broken when he began to speak. “What you do not understand, Danzo-sama, is that Paige Stone is more human than most in this room. She feels the emotions of others when some struggle to feel anything at all. She looks into the souls of others to find healing when others only wish to inflict pain. What I did here today was of my own choosing.”

 

Paige felt herself tear up, but this time in happiness. She decided that while he may not speak often, Aburame Shino definitely spoke from his heart whenever he chose to do so.

 

Shino turned his attention to the rest of the council. “I formally refuse the council's plans to the proposed marriage of Paige Stone into the Aburame clan.” He placed his hand in hers. “We will make our own plans without interference.” He looked down at her in question.

 

She nodded and took a breath to address the council as well. “I will serve Konoha of my own free will and in accordance with the wishes of Wakan Tanka.” She now looked up in question to Shino.

 

With a nod of understanding between them, Shino replaced his ANBU mask, and they exited the council meeting, leaving those left in the room to figure out how to clean anything else up without them.

 

***

 

Author's post-ramble: So…OOC-ness or not OOC-ness. I leave the question to the reviewers! And yes, there's tons more. That promised reason behind Paige's decision to defy the council is in the next chapter.