Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Reading Totems ❯ Chapter 16 ( Chapter 16 )

Author's pre-ramble: Enter the scary world of the author's reality…OK, I figured I'd clear a few things up for some recurring questions…from all websites I'm posting on: (1) Do I practice this brand of religion? Answer: Sort of! I'm a neopagan animist, which means I borrow heavily from Native American traditions…read the books listed in my disclaimer below if you're really bored and want to know what religion I practice. Or you can wiki it. Unfortunately I am not Paige-awesome and able to talk with spirits. (2) Am I empathic? Answer: about as much as anyone else…I don't walk around sensing people's emotions, but I do have the uncanny ability to call my friends on a bad day and demand they talk to me. (3) What the heck do I know about schizophrenics? Answer: Plenty, I work with them 5 days a week, and I love all of them. There's no other place to work where you're accused of being an FBI agent, told by your client they met Jesus in the bathroom on Monday, or play `find the ketchup bottle' after breakfast on the psychiatric unit. (I'll let you guess where they found it! Teehee) (4) Why did I go in this direction with Paige's character? Answer: `Cause its fun! (5) Was I dropped on my head as a small child? Answer: …I don't know?? LOL

 

To my reviewers! otakutron, DragonTamer94, TheForsakenOne, tasuki001, Dwarfwarrior, ghostreader14, TheRavenQuoth, sotobell, interestingstuff, mousetrap

 

And now we return to the plot…

 

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: The council's decision is announced! Shino is given a punishment for disobeying orders. Paige's purpose is finally revealed.

 

***Chapter 16***

 

At the sound of the knock, Paige started and looked up into Shino's eyes. Tentatively she attempted to feel any totems on the other side of the door. Fox mixed with frog and a dog totem. “Naruto and Kiba.” She announced as she climbed out of her sprawled position on the couch and into a more normal sitting position.

 

“I know,” was his reply.

 

She raised an eyebrow at Shino. “The kikaichu?”

 

He nodded. “Sentries. And I can sense their unique chakra signatures.” He reached for the two pairs of glasses on the low table. He handed one to Paige and placed the others on his face.

 

She gave him a questioning glance.

 

He smiled, “Only for you.”

 

Paige beamed. She felt like she could power all of Konoha with how bright her smile was threatening to become. Shino would continue to let her see his eyes…those beautiful, black, expressive eyes.

 

He gave another deep chuckled at her expression and leaned in to give her a brief kiss on her forehead. “Go get the door. I'm going to get a shirt.”

 

Paige pouted and said, “But I like this one.” He was very handsome. She let her eyes run up and down his body. “Although now that I think of having to beat up all of other girls that might like this shirt too…” She gave him another smile and a wink as she walked to open the door. She heard him give a snort of laughter behind her at her behavior. But Paige understood, the Aburame had to have public and private faces. She was lucky enough to get to see Shino in private and get to know more of the real him. When she opened the door, the still ANBU uniformed figures of Naruto and Kiba were there to greet her. “Um…do you want to come in? Shino will be ready in a moment.”

 

They both gave a nod and walked in. Almost at the same moment, Shino appeared wearing his usual black high-collared button-down shirt and carrying his grey hooded jacket in one hand as well. Kiba gave a hand signal to Shino who nodded his head in reply. That appeared to be the cue for Naruto and Kiba to remove their masks and hoods. They along with Shino walked over to the couch and chairs in the living room to sit down.

 

“Am I glad for your security, Shino. These masks are stuffy as hell!” exclaimed Kiba.

 

“At least you were by the jounin. I had to deal with the trapped smell of old people!” was Naruto's comeback.

 

Paige gave a slight giggle at their antics, but was slightly worried at what their appearance meant for Shino. She was still hovering near the front doorway. She wasn't sure if she should be listening, or if she should leave. It was probably ANBU business since they arrived in uniform and asked about security before removing their masks.

 

Shino glanced at her and then made another hand signal to Naruto and Kiba. This time the reply was out loud.

 

“Paige, get your butt next to your boyfriend!”

 

Naruto's choice in words caused her to blush as she walked over. They hadn't bothered to give what they had a name. When she sat down next to Shino on the couch, she gave him a questioning glance.

 

His response was to thread their fingers together and give her hand a quick squeeze. Shino then turned a raised eyebrow at the two occupying the chairs across from them.

 

Kiba took up the conversation. “The council meeting ending shortly after you guys made your grand exit.” He turned to Paige, “I don't think I've ever seen anyone handle a council meeting like that either. Readings, collapsing, rescuing the damsel in distress, the triumphant return with wardrobe change, getting the bad guy, declarations of love…you're something else. Too bad you're with Bug Freak.”

 

Paige gave a sheepish grin at what she was pretty sure was a compliment to both her and Shino. “Thanks…I think.” But when she thought about it, it did sound rather…theatrical with how he had put everything.

 

Kiba gave her a wink and a grin.

 

“So what did the council finally decide about me?” She felt Shino shift and he pulled her closer against him in comfort as they waited while the two across from them took their time in replying. She squeezed his hand still grasped in hers in appreciation of the comfort.

 

Naruto's grin was almost infectious. “It's official…you get to stay!”

 

Paige let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. She got to stay in Konoha…in the place that she was rapidly thinking of as home…in the place that had Aburame Shino in it. Her eyes were watering again. With the knowledge that Kiba and Naruto were his friends and thinking Shino wouldn't mind too much…she gave into impulse, leaned back a little, and then launched herself at Shino, knocking him sideways on the couch. She knew he didn't mind when his arms came up around her and squeezed her just as hard as she was squeezing him. “I get to stay!” she squealed into his chest.

 

Shino somehow righted them on the couch, but didn't pull out of the embrace.

 

Naruto and Kiba took a look at her watering eyes, her grip on Shino, his grip on her, and shared a look between them. It was Naruto who asked the question while giving her a searching look. “Paige…with everything that happened at the meeting…are you…you know…OK?”

 

She gave him a soft smile, but gave the question serious thought. “I'm as good as I can be. I've had great people to help me and protect me when I needed it.” Again she felt Shino give her a slight squeeze, letting her know he was there for her. Paige continued, “I feel a little…exposed with everything that happened. But the people who need to know the important details about what was said in the council meeting know them now.” She looked up Shino in the silence that followed and gave him a smile.

 

Kiba drew her attention back to the reason for his and Naruto's appearance. “Tsunade-sama wants to see you…both of you.”

 

That gave Paige some pause. “Both of us?”

 

Kiba nodded. “Debriefing about Danzo. You up for it?” He tilted his head to the side. For all his brashness, it appeared he was concerned about her too.

 

“As long as he's not there personally, I think I'm up for it.”

 

Everyone rose and gathered their belongings for the meeting. She replaced the red handkerchief over her hair. Kiba and Naruto replaced their masks and hoods. Shino put Paige's medicine wheel bag across his one shoulder after pulling on his grey hooded jacket with the hood up.

 

Paige wanted to break the serious mood a little with some fun. “So how are we traveling to Hokage Tower this time? I've done walking twice, rooftops once, and I got here by a teleportation jutsu….what's it gonna be this time?”

 

“Teleportation jutsu. Shino's already in a bit of trouble with taking off his mask while on duty in front of the entire council. And since he's out of uniform already, we're trying to keep public appearances down,” Kiba replied.

 

Paige was alarmed and looked at Shino. “I feel like I should apologize then. I was trying really hard to keep your secret…”

 

Shino walked over to her, calmly placed her arms around him in preparation for the jutsu, but placed his own hands on her shoulders to look down into her eyes. “You didn't tell. It was my decision.”

 

Paige's eyes went wide in alarm, “Oh no…”

 

He tensed in her arms. “What's wrong?”

 

“During the meeting…when I lost control…I should apologize to Hyuga-sama about what I let out about the Hyuga…and to Anko-san… I was blathering all of the secrets from the ravens I learned at the monument to the entire council…”

 

Shino's hands tightened the grip on her shoulder to get her attention to stop. “The council already knew what the ravens told you at the monument.”

 

She nodded, “But Hyuga-sama and Anko-san.”

 

Naruto interrupted, “He looked little shocked, but Neji will probably straighten him out. He requested to be the one to get Sakura for you.”

 

“Anko looked like a gaping fish for a while with what you told her about Orochimaru,” Kiba added. “But the other jounin will talk to her.”

 

They all spoke with such conviction that Paige felt like she couldn't not believe them. “Alright, let's go.” She felt the now familiar sensation of Shino's arms wrapping around her and forming hand seals behind her back.

 

***

 

When the smoke cleared, they were standing in Tsunade's office. Tsunade was sitting behind her desk, Shizune hovering over her right shoulder, Jiraiya was occupying his corner behind Tsunade and slightly to the left, and Morino Ibiki leaned against the wall closest to Paige. She took in the stunned expressions of everyone—Tsunade, Shizune, Jiraiya, and Ibiki. Suddenly realizing what they were looking at, she let go of Shino's waist and quickly clasped her hands behind her back.

 

Shino calmly laid her bag on the floor in front of her and stepped a little closer to her…closing the gap she had opened by breaking the embrace. Naruto and Kiba stood to the other side of the Shino.

 

Jiraiya rolled his eyes and muttered loud enough for everyone to hear, “Someone moves fast.”

 

Paige leveled Jiraiya with a glare and was about to ask him how he enjoyed being her personal researcher when Naruto beat her to it.

 

“Leave Paige alone, Ero-sennin. Besides, you're one to talk about moving fast.”

 

Tsunade interrupted the banter. “That's enough you two. We have actual serious business to discuss.” She ruffled through the papers strewn across the top of her desk when she turned to Shizune. “Do you have those reports?”

 

Shizune nodded and handed the requested reports over.

 

“Ah, thank you.” Tsunade then turned to the rest of the group. “Shizune and Jiraiya have been helping me look up some of the information you provided, Paige, in that notebook of yours. I'm officially granting you the formality of ANBU level security clearance…it seems you'd find out everything anyway.” She gave Paige a look conveying the seriousness of her keeping everything she found out within the proper circle of security. Suddenly the Hokage leveled a glare that went between Shino and Paige. “First thing is first though. Aburame Shino because of your little stunt in the council meeting you are hereby restricted from ANBU mission eligibility until further notice. You breeched security protocols to leave the meeting when unauthorized and disregarded the fundamental rule of not revealing your identity. Do you have anything to say?”

 

“Paige is blameless.”

 

Paige held her breath as Tsunade gazed into the hooded face of Shino, and he stood, unwaveringly looking back at her. When Tsunade's gaze returned to assess Paige, she let her grizzly totem give her courage and let her protectiveness of him show in her body language. The Hokage must have read something in Paige's eyes that she approved of because all she said was, “Alright then.”

 

Paige let out the breath she was holding, but noticed she was holding something else…Shino's hand. She didn't know how that happened, but she gave it a light squeeze which he returned. It seemed to be there new way of communicating in public.

 

Tsunade looked at Paige, “Is your collapse in the council a normal occurance.”

 

“No. As I've stated before, my gift is spiritual. Totem animal spirits generally tell you what you need to know when you need to know it. The ravens didn't like that I wanted them to wait their turn in the meeting. They wanted to give the information whether I thought I needed it or not.”

 

The commanding tone of the Hokage broke into the moment. “Paige Stone, the information you have provided, while found in a somewhat unusual manner, has been found to be accurate.” She glanced over at Ibiki.

 

Paige spoke quietly to where Ibiki was next to her, “Owl, seeker of truth, did you travel in the light or the dark to find your answers?”

 

He gave her a raised eyebrow, but answered, “Dark.”

 

Paige nodded.

 

The Hokage again took control of the conversation, “It has been confirmed Danzo has been selling security secrets from Konoha to an enemy. This includes you and your abilities, Paige.”

 

Paige nodded and began to think aloud about just what the implications would be. To say she was a little scared would be an understatement. “My life is most likely in danger then, if they know of my…knack for gathering information.” She felt Shino shift even closer to her and give her another squeeze of his hand. “As an elder of Konoha, he must have had access to most of your intelligence as well as other high level contacts within other villages.”

 

Tsunade nodded, “Yes, we're still finding out who is compromised and helping in the selling of information.”

 

“Do you know who he was selling the information to? What the reason behind the selling was?”

 

Ibiki answered Paige's questions. “He felt Konoha was getting weak in the years of peace we've had since destroying Orochimaru and Akatsuki. Danzo said war would sharpen our skills more. While some of his past methods have been unorthodox he has always acted for the protection of Konoha. Someone took advantage of his feeling that Konoha has become weak and is using a complicated genjutsu to get Danzo to sell the information to incite a war with the probable goal of Konoha's destruction. He would not otherwise willingly give up this information. We do not know who is ultimately receiving the information or how many there are.”

 

She nodded again.

 

“Do you have any questions before I go through the debriefing with Shino, Naruto, and Kiba?” asked Tsunade. The look in her eyes was hard to meet. It was a mix of understanding, pity, and determination.

 

“Yes. Do you have any objections if I take up an exercise program and learn some self-defense techniques?”

 

“No, but your safety is being seen to.”

 

“Thank you, Hokage-sama. I have confidence in the shinobi of Konohagakure.” Paige called on her totem of grizzly bear for courage once more so she could look Tsunade in the eyes as she said, “I was thinking of the times when I find myself without help. I want to be able to bide time for help to find me, or me to find it…and know that I would be able to do everything I could before I have to give up…” Feeling the pain in her hand she looked down to see the white knuckles of Shino's fingers in a crushing grip. She reached down with her free hand to try and relieve some of the pressure by pulling on his fingers. “Please let go, Shino,” she whispered hoarsely. She was fighting back tears again.

 

Suddenly he relaxed his grip. Instead of letting go completely of her hand, he used his thumb to rub in soothing circles over her knuckles in apology. “I won't let anything happen to you.”

 

She gave him a teary-eyed smile, “I know, but it's something I need to do.”

 

Shino nodded and turned his attention to the Hokage, “I will supervise her training.”

 

Tsunade rubbed the bridge of her nose and gave a loud sigh. “Like I could actually stop you.” She looked at the couple. “I was going to assign you to watch after her during your ANBU restriction anyway.” She turned her attention to just Paige next. “You're other question?”

 

“Can I just sit on the couch in the back for the debriefing?”

 

The Hokage gave a smile and waved a hand at her to do what she wished.

 

“Thank you, Hokage-sama.” She gave Shino's hand a last squeeze before grabbing her bag, walking over to the couch, and unceremoniously flopping on it next to one of the arm rests. Placing her bag on the cushion next to her, she let her head fall back so that it rested on the top of the couch's back cushions. She closed her eyes and opened her connection with her grizzly bear totem wider. She needed comfort. She needed to understand. She felt vulnerable and wanted protection…cuddling with Shino was not an option while in a meeting. Love. Warmth. Encouragement. Determination. Safety. She then looked to any messages her ravens might tell her. They only repeated some of what she remembered of what Shino had written down in her notebook the Hokage currently had. Without closing the connection she grabbed her notebook and pen and began writing her feelings along with her totem's messages down on paper. Looking down at what she wrote, she closed her notebook and placed it back in her bag. Paige wasn't sure if she should be happy or sad, but decided to trust in Wakan Tanka. He would protect her. Paige dropped her head back against the couch again, closed her eyes, and just let her mind wander in the feelings of safety she felt from her grizzly bear.

 

Beetle, a light touch on her arm, and a familiar voice calling her name brought her gently back into the meeting room. “Paige?” Concern.

 

Not bothering to lift her head, she simply let it loll to the side to look at Shino crouched beside the couch. “Yeah?”

 

“The Hokage and Ibiki want to know.”

 

The simple sentence spoke volumes. They wanted to know what she had told Shino. It made Paige sit up straight and look at Tsunade and Ibiki…no one else was in the room. “Why?”

 

Ibiki answered, “In case of capture.” They wanted to determine how much she could endure

 

She nodded and looked at Shino. “I have no right to ask you…” She didn't want to talk about it again. The light touch on her arm tightened momentarily before Shino got up and walked back over to Tsunade's desk. He spoke in low tones while Paige alternately watch the play of emotions and facial expressions Tsunade had to Shino's rendition of Paige's tale. Ibiki's face remained calm, with an eyebrow arching at the end of the tale. When Shino's voiced stopped, Paige got up from the couch, grabbed her bag, and walked back over to the desk. “Don't pity me,” was all she said with as much courage and determination that her totem had just given to her.

 

“Paige, you've been through a lot,” Tsunade said.

 

Thinking of how to phrase her thoughts, Paige decided to just go with what she felt as she looked in her bag for her notebook. “Wakan Tanka has been preparing me for what is to come.”

 

“Vision?” was Shino's simple question.

 

She shook her head, “No, something I just pieced together from over the past week. With what has happened with Danzo, and the threats on me, the last piece of the puzzle fell into place.” She held out her notebook, opened to where she had just written, and handed it over to Shino.

 

As he read, he gently grabbed her arm, to pull her closer to him and into a one armed hug. “Are you sure? It's asking a lot from you.”

 

She sighed. “As sure as I can be with anything spiritual. It's not literal, but its close enough. And I'm not going to be doing it by myself.”

 

“What are you talking about?” Tsunade was looking a little irritated at not being let in on the secret.

 

“I told the council my gift was one of using knowledge to heal the spirit, given to me by Wakan Tanka…I know why I was sent here.”

 

“You don't mean to tell me…”

 

“I'm here to heal Konohagakure from the damage Danzo has inflicted.”

 

“How do you know?”

 

Paige gave a small smile. “Mostly by faith. But logic can be applied to some of it.” She paused to take a deep breath. “Just bare with me for some of the explanation.”

 

Tsunade nodded and Ibiki was just looking at her as if she just grew a second head.

 

“Everything just makes sense to me now. I was told I had a purpose, and then I woke up in Fire Country in a situation which basically had everything fall into place that I could enter Konoha. I'm told I will be protected, and then I find a naturally over-protective beetle totem.” She felt herself smile at that comment. “And I can somehow just keep on making friends with shinobi powerful in politics and powerful on the battlefield. All of that was the build-up to the ravens at the council meeting and Danzo. I'm now forced into a situation that in order to keep myself safe, Konoha's security breech must be sealed.”

 

“You make yourself sound like a pawn being used to an end,” was Ibiki's comment into the silence.

 

“I guess I do, but I've always had a choice. I could have not followed Mudjekeewis in my first vision. I could have ignored my feelings about meeting strangers in the woods. I could have run in the opposite direction of Team Kakashi and never entered Konoha. I could seal up my connection with the spiritual, but I choose not to. I've chosen to walk the path that serves others. Before I came to Konoha that meant helping individuals in a psychiatric ward…now it means I get to help on a little bit of a grander scale.”

 

Tsunade looked thoughtfully at Paige. “You said you weren't going to do it alone. You will obviously have the help of Konoha's shinobi. Do you know how you are going to do it?”

 

Shino handed Paige back the notebook and she continued after she had replaced it in her bag. “I'm going to go about it how I've gone about everything else up until now. I will work with totems and my medicine wheel. I've been blessed with powerful friends in Konoha and in the spiritual plane. I'm going to make use of all of the help I can.” Paige's mood brightened at a thought. “I'm going to take the day off tomorrow though. I need a break.”

 

It was Shino that answered, “You weren't going to have a choice.”

 

“Alright you two, out of my office! Shino take care of her…that's actually an order.” The Hokage's words as they left the office let Paige know Tsunade wasn't that mad at Shino for what occurred at the council meeting. It also let her know Tsunade was happy for the both of them. It should have brought her more comfort. It shouldn't have sent a shock of panic through her that had made her stop in her tracks when the door closed. Paige shouldn't have started trembling.

 

Shino looked down in concern.

 

She tried to tell him that she was alright, but the words refused to come out. She only started shaking harder. Could she really do everything that she had just told Tsunade? Did Wakan Tanka have that much faith in her? Did she have that much faith in herself? She felt herself begin to fall.

 

Shino gracefully caught her in his arms. “Your place,” he announced as he took to the rooftops and Paige enjoyed the feeling of his arms around her and the cool breeze on her face. Somewhere along the way, she realized it was dark and the moon hung in the sky.

 

***

 

Author's post-ramble: So…what do ya think? The continuing pole of Shino's IC-ness is reopened! And how am I doing with balancing the spunky with the vulnerable with Paige? Don't worry Fans of fluffy-cuteness, I'm trying to balance the drama/romance/action/angst/fluff/waff…did I forget a genre? Reviews are savored by the authoress and make her grin like a loon when they arrive in her email via the magic of the internet!