Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Reading Totems ❯ Chapter 17 ( Chapter 17 )

Author's pre-ramble: OK, so I said I was scaling back on the updates to once a week, but work is sucking, we're down a few staff members, updates are my pick-me-up because I have awesome loyal readers and reviewers! I grovel before you! Thank you for all of your feedback! otakutron, DragonTamer94, TheForsakenOne, tasuki001, Dwarfwarrior, ghostreader14, TheRavenQuoth, sotobell, interestingstuff, mousetrap

 

To address some review questions of `Did Konoha really suffer and how much?'…I say, “Hold on to your pants!” Future chapters explore some of this through Paige's POV in future chapters. And keep in mind Tsunade, Ibiki, and Jaraiya are still exploring how deep everything goes as well. I considered tweaking Ch. 16, but after reading ahead, I decided against it…

 

Fun authoress fact: She does have short blonde hair…her friends call it Sasuke-hair. ^_^ It is gravity defying and the source of much speculation.

 

And now the fluffy cuteness...

 

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's long day catches up with her. Kiba and Hinata are there to help Shino take care of her. Old memories resurface in nightmares and Shino promises to stay to chase them away.

 

***Chapter 17***

 

Still carrying Paige in his arms, Shino dropped back down to the streets of Konoha from its rooftops when they were only a block away from her apartment. “Are you feeling better?”

 

Paige raised a hand up to her face. It was still shaking, not as badly as before, but definitely still shaking. “Better, but not totally better. I think the day is catching up to me again.”

 

“Understandable,” was his reply. “Tsunade was correct. You have been through a lot.”

 

She hung her head and gave a loud sigh. “I know. I just wish I felt less helpless.” She looked up at Shino. “I certainly don't mind the help…I'm just used to fending for myself. But with the threat on my life by Danzo and now knowing there are others out there… I feel so…weak.”

 

Shino stopped at the front of her apartment building. “You are not weak. There are few who can carry the pressure on their shoulders you have just assumed and not buckle.” He spared her a smile over the top of his high collar. “I like carrying you, too.”

 

Paige felt an answering smile, “Who knew Aburame Shino was such a softy under all those layers.”

 

“Only for you.”

 

Totems came to Paige—dog and lizard—as they approached her front door. “Why are Kiba and Hinata here? Shouldn't Hinata be with Naruto?”

 

“Security for the night. Naruto knows I am most comfortable working with Hinata and Kiba. They were my first team. Gai, Anko, and Kurenai are keeping a perimeter.”

 

Paige reached out and felt the totems of Gai, Anki, and Kurenai in a loose formation around the entire apartment building. “Isn't that overkill? I know asked this before, but…”

 

“You are important. We will keep you safe.” After he said this he proceeded to open and walk through the front door with her still in his arms.

 

Hinata, Kiba and Akamaru were occupying Paige's living room. Raising a shaky hand she called out, her voice cracking slightly, “Hey guys.”

 

Hinata's reaction was almost comical. She immediately sprung from her seat on the couch and exclaimed, “Oh Paige! What happened! Shino set her down here!” She gestured to the spot she had just vacated.

 

Paige decided to answer as best she could while Shino settled her onto the couch, “I've been better Hinata. I'm sure Kiba told you about all of the fun I've had with the council. And I'm apparently wanted by more than just Shino since I get a personal security detail.”

 

Shino's face took on a slight red tinge.

 

Paige gave him a wink, but then her stomach growled rather loudly. “And I haven't eaten since this morning, although I don't know if I could really keep anything down right now. I keep shaking, and I think it's making my stomach upset.”

 

Hinata ran glowing hands over Paige and then declared, “Mild shock. No need to move you. You should be fine if we keep you warm and awake for a few hours. I'll go see if I can find some tea in the kitchen. We'll try some food later.”

 

“Sounds good.” She looked over at the clock in the living room that read 7:00PM and understood why she was so hungry. Where had the day gone? Her only guess was that she spent more time than she thought at Shino's just cuddling on the couch. The thought brought a smile to her lips, but was followed by a rather violent shaking of her entire body.

 

Shino knelt down in front of her without his hooded jacket and a concerned look on his face. “Sit forward a bit.” After Paige shifted forward, he then proceeded to place his jacket on her and zip it up. “Warmer?”

 

She felt a little silly wearing the jacket. It was huge on her! Shino was nearly 30 cm taller than her after all. Giving into being a little childish, she the pulled the hood over her head, and drew the strings tight enough so that only her nose and mouth showed through the opening. “Yes.” She heard a snort of amusement, but with her eyes covered, couldn't tell if it came from Shino or Kiba who was currently occupying the other end of the couch. She took off the hood and gave the room a grin.

 

“I hope you don't mind Akamaru being here. We're kind of a team.”

 

Paige turned towards Kiba. “I don't mind.”

 

Akamaru proceeded to walk over to Paige and lie against her legs, effectively pinning her to the couch and making Shino move from his position. However from Akamaru's position on the floor, he had great access to putting his head on her lap to beg for attention.

 

She turned a questioning glance at Kiba as she scratched behind Akamaru's ears.

 

Kiba grinned, “He wants to keep you warm too.”

 

Paige nodded. She had to admit, Akamaru was warm.

 

Shino accepted a communicator from Kiba and asked about security. Some of the discussion she could follow, but mainly she just basked in the feeling of warmth. She shoved her face into Shino's jacket and took a deep breath, inhaling his scent. Paige decided she didn't want to give the jacket back. What brought her back into the room was Shino walking a few paces away from the couch and holding out his arms. Suddenly kikaichu appeared in a brief swarm coming out of the sleeves of his shirt, and then they flew in different directions. “What was that?”

 

Shino walked over to her and proceeded to kick Kiba off of the couch so he could sit next to her. “Extra security.”

 

Her mind working a little better now that she was warmer and her trembling had eased, she understood. “Sentries.”

 

He nodded.

 

Kiba made a face at the couple from his new position occupying one of the chairs. “Apparently he's worried about his new girlfriend.”

 

Hinata reentered the room just in time to watch Shino level a glare at Kiba and Paige sticking her tongue out at him. “Here. Try keeping some tea down.”

 

Paige accepted the offered cup from Hinata and tried to hold it, but her hands were still not cooperating—they still shook. She almost spilled the tea before Hinata took it back. “I don't think me and hot liquids are a good combination right now. I might scald myself.” She gave a self-deprecating sigh and started playing with the draw stings of Shino's jacket.

 

The owner of the jacket's hand covered her own and stopped her from fraying the strings. “Hinata, I'll take the tea.” His left hand held the cup of tea. His right hand calmly took one of Paige's shaking hands and then the other and wrapped them around his hand holding the cup. He then looked her in the eyes. “Try again. I'll help.”

 

Paige held his gaze while she attempted to guide the cup to her mouth. She wasn't quite sure who was moving the cup more, but not a drop of tea was spilled. Pulling the cup away from her lips and taking her hands away from Shino's hand holding the cup, she noticed something. They had finally stopped shaking. She looked back into Shino's sun-glass covered eyes. “Thank you.”

 

Shino simply nodded and handed her the cup to hold on her own now.

 

Taking more sips of the tea, Paige took in the silence of the room and the looks Hinata and Kiba were giving her and Shino sitting on the couch together. Hinata had tactfully taken the other chair in the room and was looking at the couple with stars in her eyes. Kiba just looked happy for them. “So, did anyone get the chance to find out what the council's attitude is towards me? Especially since I kinda spoiled their marriage arrangements?”

 

Kiba answered. “That was definitely entertaining. And you standing up to them definitely earned you respect with most members.”

 

She nodded, “I know I definitely have the backing of the Aburame clan.” She turned to Hinata. “How did Hyuga-sama take some of my readings?”

 

She smiled, “He was shocked, but Neji and I talked to him. He doesn't hold anything against you.”

 

Paige then looked to Shino. “You didn't happen to have written a second copy of what I gave Tsunade-sama, did you?”

 

Shino nodded. “Don't worry. Relax.”

 

“Right. I have a day off.” Putting down her now empty cup, she rested her head against his shoulder. “You'll just have to tie me to something…I'm not always good with days off. I can get restless.” Paige looked down at the dog still pinning her legs to the couch. “Hey Akamaru, would you mind letting me up? I wanna get comfier.”

 

Akamaru gave a glance at Kiba and then proceeded to take up a position in front of her front door.

 

Hinata walked over to Paige to check on her condition. “Your body's more stabilized. Want to try some food?”

 

She yawned, “Sure. Am I allowed to take a nap while you cook?”

 

“You can close your eyes and relax, but no sleeping until after you eat,” was Hinata's decision.

 

“I'll watch her,” came Shino's voice.

 

“Good.” Hinata gave a knowing smile. “Kiba, come help me make something for Paige to eat.” Kiba looked slightly bewildered at first, but followed Hinata after understanding visibly passed over his face.

 

Paige chuckled. “She's good. I can see why you are so relaxed around them. You balance each other. I don't like that he calls you Bug Freak though.” Paige proceeded to get comfy by sprawling on Shino again.

 

A low “Hmm” was the only response. Shino then gently lifted her head off of his shoulder and gave her a brief kiss. He then proceeded to rearrange them on the couch so that Paige was cradled against his side with the jacket acting as a blanket over her. It was a position that allowed her to hear the hum of the kikaichu within him.

 

Paige gave a sigh of contentment.

 

Shino chuckled. “No sleeping.”

 

“I think talking is the only way to keep me up right now. So, can I ask you some questions?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Paige moved her hand slightly up Shino's shirt sleeve until she felt one of the holes on his arms that the kikaichu used. She ran her finger around it while she talked. “I'm curious about the kikaichu. I know they use these holes, but how did the holes get there?” Knowing it might be a touchy subject, she decided to keep running her finger around the hole to let Shino no she didn't think they were bad or anything.

 

Shino took his time to reply. “When members of my clan are young, we are given the kikaichu. They feed on the chakra of the host and in return they help us in our jutsus. They live in our chakra system. The holes are some of the exit points of the chakra system. The bugs create them after emerging and entering the body repeatedly.”

 

“Does it hurt?” Paige moved her hand back down and laced her fingers with his.

 

“No. Kikaichu produce a mild venom which numbs the area they enter and exit. It also prevents the enemy from noticing when they are being fed upon by the kikaichu.”

 

“So…have I been feeding Scarab? She's been with me for two days.”

 

“Yes, but they take a very little amount of chakra to survive.” Shino gave another small chuckled. “She likes her name and says you talk a lot, but you are a very nice person. She also says you work too hard, and I agree. You've been awake since 5:00AM?”

 

Paige gave a sheepish grin to Shino and a glare to her medicine bag where Scarab was still keeping her watch. “Traitor.”

 

Scarab's reply was to fly out of the bag and land on Paige's nose. She then flew over to Shino and landed in his hair.

 

Shino gave Paige a raised eyebrow accompanied by a blush. “She wants me to know that she wasn't allowed to watch you take your shower because you were afraid I would find you too cute.”

 

She was the one with the blush now and decided hiding under the jacket was a good enough answer to that. But then, inspiration and a little bit of mischief gave her an idea. Paige popped back out from under the jacket and asked, “Are you ticklish?”

 

“A shinobi does not reveal his weaknesses to the enemy,” was the stoic, but teasing response. Shino was wearing a smirk that threatened to break into a grin.

 

Paige knew he was up to something, but she wasn't sure what it was until she felt something tickling her! “Gah!” was the most dignified response she could manage to get out. It was the kikaichu! “You…evil…ninja!” she squealed between fits of laughter. And then it happened again. Paige was laughing so hard that she couldn't help but start snorting! When she looked up to gage Shino's reaction, his eyebrows had risen to such heights that she couldn't help but laugh even harder. This was the scene that Hinata and Kiba walked back in the room to witness: Paige laughing, squealing, and snorting while trying not to spaz out and injure Shino next to her, and Shino watching Paige with a satisfied smirk on his face.

 

“Oi! Bug Freak! I don't think Hinata recommended couch taijutsu for Paige.” Kiba was struggling not to laugh at the scene himself.

 

Paige felt the kikaichu stop tickling her and struggled to regain her composure. She looked over at Shino. “You…have…the most…twisted…humor!”

 

After finally being able to breathe normally, she ate the light dinner Hinata and Kiba had brought out. She then settled back down with Shino on the couch, but after yawning countless times she finally asked Hinata if it was alright that she went to sleep. The medic proclaimed her condition stabilized and Paige gratefully went to get ready for bed. When she emerged from her bathroom in her sleep outfit of a T-shirt, cotton shorts, and a certain hooded jacket, she almost ran into Shino's chest. He was blocking the doorway.

 

Shino took his time in looking Paige up and down to assess her new outfit. When his gaze finally rested on her face he gave her a small smile. “I like the new look.”

 

It made her blush. “Thanks.”

 

“Goodnight kiss?”

 

She nodded her head.

 

After giving her a searching look, he calmly and gently pushed her back into the bathroom away from the eyes of Kiba and Hinata. Shino slowly removed his sunglasses and looked down at her with those endless black eyes she had missed gazing into. He gathered her in his arms, bent his head down, while she lifted her face to meet him…and Shino then proceeded to kiss her like he was trying to map her soul through the touch of his lips and tongue alone. She struggled to meet his fervor. Stretching on the tips of her toes and wrapping her arms around his neck, Paige decided it was definitely a good night with that kiss. She couldn't recall anything at that moment about anything bad in the universe, let alone the day she had. Shino rested his chin against the top of her head when the kiss ended.

 

“Definitely need to spend more time in the bathroom with you.” Paige mused aloud as she returned the embrace she was being given. She felt him pull away slightly and lift her chin so she was looking at his face.

 

“Leave your bedroom door open. We'll turn the lights out in the living room. Call if you need anything.”

 

Paige nodded. She then walked out of the bathroom with an Aburame shadow to knowing looks. She settled into her bed and tried to let the knowledge of Shino and her other friends watching over her give her good dreams.

 

***

 

The car had become silent. His knuckles gripped the steering wheel so hard they had become white. She could tell even without her gifts that he was becoming angry at her. She didn't understand why though. She only wanted to tell him the truth. She loved him. He loved her. That meant no secrets…right? But then the car came to a sudden, screeching halt on the side of the road. She looked around, but didn't see anything except trees for miles around. Becoming frightened she asked, “Where are we?”

 

He got out of the car and stalked over to the passenger side where she sat. Ripping open the door with ferocity, he spat at her, “Shut up, cunt!” He grabbed her arm so hard the bones in her forearm broke. When she cried out, he yelled again. “Shut the fuck up!” He began dragging her out of the car and into the woods. “You just had to go and say something stupid like that. Didn't you! You just had to be one of the weirdos. What else do you know! Did you find out about the other girls!?”

 

She cringed in fear and tried to pull out of his grasp despite the pain of her broken arm. “I don't know what you're talking about! Let me go!”

 

He threw her down on her back and straddled her legs. “Tell me!” Holding down her arms above her head with one hand he started tearing off her clothes with the other. “If you won't tell me willingly, I'll just have to force it out of you.”

 

“Please…,” she whispered at him. “Please don't do this.”

 

He ignored her and continued.

 

“PLEASE DON'T HURT ME!!” she cried out to anyone who would hear her.

 

***

 

“Paige!”

 

“SOMEONE HELP ME!!” she yelled, “HE'S GOING TO KILL ME!!!”

 

“PAIGE! Wake up!”

 

She bolted upright, crying, and gasping for breath at the sound of her name being called by the only person she wanted to hear it from. Something shifted next to her and fear hit her again. She scrambled away from it…tucking herself into a tight ball, hiding herself in the jacket she was wearing. She let out a small whimper.

 

“Paige. It's Shino.”

 

She felt her bed dip slightly and risked looking at who it was. “Sh…Shino?” She wasn't sure she recognized him at first. He wasn't wearing his hite-ate or his usual high-collared shirt.

 

“Can I come closer?”

 

Paige nodded and relaxed slightly. It was Shino. He asked permission. He was safe. He would protect her.

 

Shino sat next to her on the bed, but carefully avoided touching her. He turned to Hinata and Kiba who were standing in the doorway of Paige's bedroom. “Tell the others to stand down.”

 

They left to relay the message.

 

Shino turned to Paige. “Nightmare?”

 

“One…I haven't….had in years,” she replied still trying to bring her breathing under control. She knew he would understand what the nightmare was about.

 

“What do you need?”

 

Few people had ever asked her that. He was so caring. He wouldn't push. She knew he would just sit there all night if she asked…and she wanted to ask. “Can you…can you just hold me? Like…on the couch?”

 

Shino didn't need to ask her to move over. She had already scrambled to the far edge of the bed. Instead he turned to adjust the pillow at the head of the bed, leaned back against it, and held his arms out to her in invitation.

 

Paige practically fell into the arms that promised shelter and protection from the nightmare. She placed her head on his chest and listened to the hum of the kikaichu. She felt his fingers thread through her hair and let out a sigh. “Thank you.” She felt his arms wrap around her in an embrace in response and then his one hand returned to her hair. “Shino?”

 

He stilled his hand in her hair to let her know he was listening.

 

“Can you stay here?” Not knowing how her security worked, she added, “At least until I fall asleep?”

 

“I'll stay as long as you want me to.”

 

Those words could mean so many things. Paige didn't know how to take them. She lifted her head to gaze up into his face. “I want you to stay with me through the end.” It wasn't quite an `I love you' but it said everything she felt at that moment.

 

For the third time, he removed his sun-glasses. The smile that spread over Shino's face was soft and gentle. “Through the end,” he echoed and placed a small kiss on her forehead. “Sleep. I'll keep watch.”

 

She laid her head back on his chest to listen to the soothing hum. Absently she noticed she was still wearing his jacket.

 

***

 

Author's post-ramble: Woohoo! Fluffy waff followed by fluffy angst and more fluffy waff…yay relationship building. The next few chapters things get a little more interesting plot-wise with what is going on with Konoha and who might be after Paige. So yeah…how am I doing? For my loyal followers, I reward you with my personal email: ekuepper@gmail.com if you wish to communicate that way. Just put my penname or the title of the fic in the title of the email so I know to reply! Conventional reviews are welcome, email me if you wish to delve deeper or have more personal questions for me…if you made it this far, I trust you are not strange stalkers.