Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Reading Totems ❯ Chapter 22 ( Chapter 22 )

Author's pre-ramble: I promise a good reason for this being posted rather late! I went on a mini-vacation to the beach for the weekend. Living in FL and having a good friend with a condo at the beach in the family is quite handy! Thank you to all of my readers and reviewers! (otakutron, DragonTamer94, TheForsakenOne, tasuki001, Dwarfwarrior, ghostreader14, TheRavenQuoth, sotobell, interestingstuff, mousetrap, DemanFox, Simply Me) You definitely keep me going. And now that I have been distressed, I shall once more “pick up the pen” and stick to the proverbial paper.

 

And now…the training of Paige…

 

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: 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 training starts, but how is she supposed to deal with her sore muscles!

 

***Chapter 22***

 

Paige dressed in a variation of a jounin uniform for the first day of her training. She had found it lying out in the bathroom when she went to take her morning shower. It looked like Shino understood the impracticalities of taijutsu in a skirt. After her shower and before getting totally dressed, she had used the medical bindings to wrap her breasts tightly, surprisingly it felt more secure than a sports bra. They went for a light run before breakfast…Paige being the more winded of the two afterwards and apologizing for the obvious evidence of her being out of shape. After breakfast, she then followed Shino to a small dojo within the Aburame complex for their training for the day. Once inside he turned to face her.

 

“A few more questions before we start.”

 

“Alright.”

 

“What do you know of taijutsu?”

 

Answering honestly, she told him, “Mainly what I've seen in action movies and TV. Other than that…standard female self-defense is kick the guy in the nuts and run like hell away from him.”

 

Shino smirked, “At least you don't have to unlearn anything. We're going to be focusing on close-combat techniques with having you avoiding and breaking holds both with and without weapons for now. We'll integrate more taijutsu when I get a feel for your physical abilities.”

 

The idea of weapons made her a little nervous. “Weapons?”

 

He held a kunai in front of him, “You will have one or more of these with you at all times that you are not in this complex. Here.” He tossed what she recognized as a kunai pouch at her. “Put that on.”

 

Holding it like venomous snake, she gave him an anxious grin, “I'm not fond of stabbing people…I'm more of a healer than a fighter. And I don't like the idea of even trying to stab you…not that I think I'll actually get close…”

 

His look was understanding, but his tone was serious. “Paige. It might come to killing them or getting yourself killed.” He paused for a moment. “And if you do stab me, I won't be injured.”

 

She bent to secure the kunai pouch to her leg. “Are you made of rubber?” The hand touching her shoulder from behind her startled her, but it was the voice that made her give a shriek and turn around.

 

“No.” It was another Shino?

 

“Shino?” She turned around to face the one she had originally been talking to.

 

“Yes?” said Shino number one.

 

“There's two of you. I don't know if you noticed…”

 

He gave a small chuckle, “Sorry. I couldn't help the trick.” He gestured behind her. “Look.”

 

Before her eyes the Shino that had startled her, began to dissipate into thousands of kikaichu and return to the original Shino. “It slices…it dices…it makes thousands of julian enemy shinobi…” she muttered to herself.

 

“I can make clones of myself, or others with the kikaichu. If you come close to hurting me, I can switch myself out with a bug clone using a substitution jutsu.”

 

“Uh huh.” Well, what was there to say in response to that?

 

“Do you have any questions before we start?”

 

“Um…yeah. Although it's kind of silly.” Paige said. She gave him a sheepish grin, “If you're going to be putting me into holds and having me break them…then how serious do you want me to be about it…I mean, I know with you... Um, if I grope you…you'd be distracted slightly.”

 

Shino stepped closer to her, making sure he held her full attention. “This is deadly serious. And unfortunately, that is a possible tactic for breaking an opponent's concentration and hold.”

 

“I was afraid you were going to say something like that. It's something I'd like to avoid if possible.”

 

He gave her another understanding look. “Use it if the situation calls for it.” Then Shino turned slightly more serious, “Then I'll just hunt them all down later and kill them for touching you.”

 

“That's…somehow sweet and psychotic all at the same time.” She scratched the back of her head.

 

Putting more distance between them he began. “Shinobi gain the knowledge of their opponent's incoming attack by sensing their chakra signature. Shinobi trying to surprise opponents suppress their chakra signatures. You cannot do either of these.”

 

“But I can sense their emotions or their totems, which are harder for them to control. The only issue is if I come across a true sociopath…someone who feels no emotions, but they might have a totem or ravens following them if they've killed in the past.” She was beginning to understand that while she wasn't shinobi, her abilities could be the difference in keeping her alive.

 

“Yes. Use those to your advantage. What other advantages can you think of?”

 

“Well, we already talked about the advantages of being female…I'm not above fighting dirty either, I guess. Gouging eyes, kicks to the groin…going limp suddenly might be distracting.”

 

“You're short.” Shino stated.

 

“You're just noticing?” she replied absently.

 

“It's another advantage. You're movements are smaller and therefore quicker without the use of chakra. It's an advantage if you're opponent is taller and bulkier than you.”

 

The next few hours were grueling for Paige. Shino would come at her in various attacks in slow motion while instructing her on how to avoid them. The process was then repeated with the addition of the kunai. He stated he would vary the series of attacks in order to not let Paige get lulled into the pattern and drop her guard. After a while, Shino decided to switch to breaking holds. Paige secretly enjoyed this part a little more, but valiantly kept most of her attention to the instructions being given to her. Patiently he would explain the various weaknesses to each hold and then instruct her in how to exploit them to get out of the hold. They then finished up with another light run, doing laps around the inside of the dojo for a cool down exercise.

 

Sweating and breathing heavily, Paige gave a dramatic sigh and flopped back onto the floor. “Are we done, Evil Task Master?”

 

Giving a light chuckle he replied as he crouched down next to her, “For today. We'll be doing this daily for as long as you're in danger.”

 

“And if I can't move tomorrow?” she turned her head so she was looking at his feet.

 

“Stretches and some time in the bath house now will help prevent that.” He held out his hand and helped her into a sitting position. “You're a fast learner. You're doing well.”

 

“I feel incompetent in comparison to you.” Paige talked while going through some of the stretches she remembered from Sakura and her journey to Konoha. “Are you even sweating?”

 

Shino sighed and began to mirror her in her stretching. “I've been doing this since before I can remember. My entire clan is shinobi. You've been doing this for only a few hours…give yourself some credit, Paige.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “At least you don't have Lee or Gai for a tutor; they make me feel incompetent in taijutsu.”

 

Pausing, she made a face. “That's…kind of scary.” A more pleasant idea popped into her head. “Want to help me with the next stretch? Sakura used to help me with them when I was recovering and having huge muscle cramps.” She watched the slow grin spread across his face as he made his way over to her. Paige then spread her legs in her sitting position and grabbed an ankle with each hand. “Get behind me and help me stick my nose to the floor. I can never get the full stretch by myself.”

 

Crouching behind her, he pressed just a little more of himself than was necessary on her back while he provided the extra pressure she needed to stretch those few extra inches.

 

“Oh yeah…” Paige let out a loud groan into the floor. “I almost forgot how nice burning muscles after a workout felt.” She decided to not comment that him pressed up against her back was also nice—and causing other burning sensations. “You can let me up now.”

 

“Do I have to?” he asked innocently.

 

Her chuckled was muffled since her face was still pressed to the floor. “I see some advantages of being stuck in this position. But it's not practical for just about every other part of life.”

 

He was wearing a grin as he helped her stand on wobbly legs. “I think we've cooled down enough to go spend some time in the bath house.” He guided her back to their home where they fetched a change of clothes and a few towels and wash items to use in the bath house.

 

***

 

Paige looked around inside of the bath house entrance way. She decided to announce her ignorance as she gawked. “I've never been in one of these before. They were all private expensive places where I used to live.”

 

“There are public bath houses in Konoha,” he replied.

 

“And you have one just for your clan…it's like you have your own little world inside the walls of the complex.” Paige was enjoying the idea of a little private resort area so close to her new home.

 

“Bath houses are important for making bonds between those who use them. And not too many people want to break down barriers with the Aburame.”

 

She felt bad now. “I didn't mean to bring up any sore points.”

 

“Don't worry about it.” He showed her to a doorway. “That is the women's side. You wash up at the faucets, rinse well, and then soak in the bath. After you're done you can rinse off at the faucets again and then change. Lockers for clothes are just through the door. I'll be on the other side of the screen on the men's side.”

 

“Won't there be other people in there?” She was a little nervous to be around strangers while nude.

 

“I asked everyone else to leave. I figured you would be more comfortable. As a small clan it is often a private bathing experience anyway.” He turned her to look her in the eyes. “We could leave if you wish.”

 

“I'll try most things twice.” Her expression turned quizzical. “But when did you have time to ask your other family to leave?”

 

“I sent my kikaichu to deliver the message while I was helping you stretch.” Shino grinned.

 

“Alright. Then what about your kikaichu, won't they…drown if water gets into the holes?”

 

He ran a thumb along her jaw line. “They leave my body while I am in the bath, but if they did not, then yes, they would drown. I make sure to…drain…before asking them to return.”

 

“Do you…deflate…if they all leave at once?”

 

Shino gave a laugh. “A little.” He pushed her through the doorway. “More questions later.”

 

Paige had been rattling off questions in nervousness, but once she had washed, rinsed, and settled into the hot water, anxiety about being in a public bathing area where others might see her, lessened. Spying a small opening in the screen by the faucets, curiosity took hold. She carefully made her way out of the tub, wrapped a towel around herself, and made her way over to the hole to peer though it. She saw what she figured was the men's baths. Then a large black orb suddenly enveloped her field of vision through the hole.

 

“Spying on me?”

 

“Ack!” She backpedaled away from the opening when the voice and eye surprised her and promptly fell back into the bath…wearing her towel. A deep and hearty laugh could be heard from the other side of the screen.

 

“I didn't know you and Jiraiya-sama shared voyeurism as a hobby.”

 

Sinking down into the water she attempted to defend herself. “I just saw the opening and got curious.”

 

“It's to share bathing items.” He poked a few fingers through the opening and wiggled them at her.

 

Blushing at the idea of a nude Shino, Paige decided being naked and embarrassed wasn't a good combination right now. She wanted to cover up…as soon as possible. She was feeling exposed…in more ways than one. “I think I'll settle for looking for another dry towel.”

 

“There are usually spares in the locker room area in one of the unused lockers for any brave guests.”

 

Not wanting to disturb him if he wanted to stay longer, she decided to go rinse off and find that dry towel so she could put on her clothes and wait for Shino out front. When she emerged a fully-clothed Shino was there to greet her. She couldn't look him in the eyes. “I'm sorry if I made you end your bath prematurely.”

 

He reached out a hand while taking a step forward, and she took a step back to keep the distance between them. His hand dropped. “What is wrong?”

 

Looking up at him with watery eyes, she attempted to answer him, “I…” but her voice cracked. She looked down again. In truth, she didn't know if she could explain to him why she felt the need to flee from the bath house. “I want to go home now. Please?” she whispered. She felt arms surround her and fingers perform a jutsu behind her back. Paige didn't let go once she knew they were back in the living room.

 

“Can you tell me what is wrong now?”

 

Burying her head in Shino's chest she inhaled his scent, and then gave a loud sigh. Turning her head to the side to prevent eye contact, she didn't let go while she answered. “It's hard to put into words. You caught me looking and, I just felt like I had no where to hide anymore. I was naked, in the open, with nowhere to go…not even a towel. Even though it was you making the jokes, you were on the other side of the screen. You were just an eye and some fingers and a voice. You weren't really Shino. I couldn't get to you to feel safe.”

 

“I'm here now,” he whispered into her hair. “I shouldn't have teased you.”

 

“How were you supposed to know?” She risked looking up at him. “I mean, I'm fine one minute, the next I'm looking for my security blanket.” Giving a loud sigh, she voiced an inner concern. “Do you know what Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is?”

 

“Tsunade told me it would be a possible repercussion for you after all that you've been forced to endure.” His hand gently stroked her back in a soothing and calming motion. “Many shinobi suffer from it.” He continued to hold her and give her the comfort she wanted.

 

Grumbling stomachs interrupted the tender scene. Paige looked up to give Shino a sheepish grin. Shino just lead her over to the dining area to wait while he made them dinner. After dinner she asked him to wait in the living area while she went back to the office and retrieved her bag of medicine wheel items. She received a tilt of his head in question when she came back to the living room. Giving a shrug, she attempted to explain, “It's…helped me through things in the past.”

 

Giving a small nod he assisted her in setting up on the floor, moving the small table in front of the couch to make more room.

 

“I'm going to ask for healing.” After setting up her items, she took Shino's hand in her own and then began her meditation. She wasn't expecting any miraculous healings, but the peace and comfort she found in the medicine wheel often helped her to find her own path to healing herself. She felt those emotions coming from the medicine wheel now: Calm, Comfort, and Well-being. A full stomach and a good journey with the medicine wheel helped her a lot. Feeling more in her right mind, she gave the hand in hers a squeeze. “Thank you.” Paige had felt Shino's emotions of worry and concern mixed with love during the meditation as well.

 

“Your welcome.”

 

Paige leaned over and gave him a chaste kiss. “Please don't feel like you have to pull away from me. Please just go slow and I'll tell you stop if I'm uncomfortable. It might come out how it did at the bath house, but I'll find a way of saying `stop'.”

 

Shino gave a nod and then helped her pack away her medicine wheel items.

 

As she was used to doing, Paige took the time to write down her meditation along with the events happening before and after. After writing down the last sentence she chewed on the end of her pen while she thought aloud. “I think if I start the day with a wheel walking it would help calm and center me for the day. I was pretty good yesterday after the ritual on Hokage Monument, but I skipped it today and we both know what happened. Can we build that into the daily training routine?” She looked at Shino as she asked the question.

 

“Yes.” He pulled her up onto the couch when she had set down her notebook and pen. “How does it help?”

 

She took her time in trying to find the words for it, listening to the hum of kikaichu as she laid her head against his chest. “It somehow makes it more bearable. I still have the sadness or anxiousness, but when I use the medicine wheel I can kind of hold up the emotions and they're somehow less. I feel the sadness, but then I know there's happiness after the sadness. It gives me hope that I can get through everything.” Snuggling further into the contact, she added, “You help too. Just by being there for me when I need it. By giving me hope that I can be loved, when I used to think that there was no one out there for me.”

 

“You are loved,” was the simple reply. His arms tightened around her as he said it. Before Paige could form a reply he spoke again. “Here. I want you to keep her again. Maybe she can help you feel safe too. She is a part of me.”

 

Paige watched as a kikaichu made its way over to her and wandered its way into her kunai pouch. “Scarab?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Shino extracted himself from their embrace and helped Paige to her feet as well. “We should get ready for bed. You've had a rough day.”

 

“Yeah, I think I undid whatever good the bath house was doing.” She stretched her neck and shoulders as she walked to the bedroom, gathered her sleep clothes and made her way to the bathroom to change. While changing she made up her mind about how to get rid of her stiff muscles. She was sure Shino wouldn't offer, despite her assurances he didn't have to hold back. Sporting another blush when she exited the bathroom, she walked over to the bed where Shino was waiting to hold her until she fell asleep. “Can I ask you a favor?”

 

He raised an eyebrow, probably curious about her tomato impression and actually asking for a favor for once.

 

She lay down next to him as she talked and let him draw her into his arms. “I know if I go to sleep with my neck and shoulders all tense like they are now, I'll wake up with a headache. Would you mind…helping me out with them?”

 

He pulled back slightly at her request to give her an assessing look. “Help how?” He wanted to be sure of what she was asking of him…and perhaps what she was asking of herself as well.

 

“An upper body massage?” She phrased it as a question, not sure if he would accept. “I'm not going to freak out again. I promise I'm not pushing myself. It would help me sleep. And I could really use it too. Here…feel.” She rolled on to her stomach and placed his hand next to her shoulder blade. “That lump, is really not supposed to be there.”

 

“Slide your shirt up as much as you are comfortable with. I'll be right back.”

 

Paige watched him go into the bathroom and heard him rummaging around in some of the cabinets and drawers. Not being a complete stranger to massages, she decided to trust Shino and remove her shirt completely. It was hard to give massages through shirts and around them. She slid down on the mattress so her head was no longer on the pillow and watched for Shino's return. Twinges of excitement and satisfaction ran through her when she saw his steps falter slightly when he exited the bathroom carrying a small bottle and took her in. “You said as much as I'm comfortable with.”

 

“I did.” He walked over towards the bed and after setting down the bottle, removed his tank top. “I don't think I've seen all of your tattoos before.” Settling himself on the bed straddling her thighs, he lightly ran his fingers along the lines of her tattoos again. “I like them.”

 

She shivered at the touch, but when he finally stopped and she could think again she said, “I can tell you about them as you work on my back.” The next thing out of her mouth was a satisfied groan as oiled, warm hands kneaded into her shoulder muscles. “Or you could do that and make me into a puddle of incoherent Paige-goo,” she quipped. She gasped when he ran into the knot in her muscles she had pointed out to him previously which turned into a moan when the tension finally broke under Shino's skilled hands. “You've found your second career if being shinobi doesn't work out for you.” Turning her head into the mattress, she let out another gasp-turned-moan as he worked on an adjacent knot of muscles near her other shoulder blade. After finishing her shoulders and neck, the hands then slowly made their way down the rest of her back. Paige decided if she was a cat, she'd be purring, but would settle for the hums of pleasure that were escaping.

 

“You're…vocal,” Shino commented dryly.

 

“Sorry?”

 

He laughed as he picked up her shirt, lifted her head just enough, and slipped it over. “Makes it hard to stop touching you.”

 

A few things clicked into place for Paige as she took the hint and somehow put her shirt on the rest of the way without lifting her upper body from the mattress. Play time was over for now. She rolled over to look him in the eyes. “So you're worried about two things: Pushing me, and not being able to restrain yourself.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Maneuvering in order to be in his embrace once more, she gave a small moan as she pressed up against his erection. He apparently really did like it when she moaned. She wanted to reassure him. “You don't push. I trust you. I promise to tell you when I'm ready for you to show me everything.” She whispered, “I promise. And someday I will be able to tell and show you how I feel, too.”

 

Shino tightened his arms and laid gentle kisses wherever he could reach. “Sleep now.”

 

Paige hummed in contentment and was soon fast asleep, dreaming of the day she had enough courage in herself to fulfill the promise she just had made.

 

It would take another couple of weeks for her spirit to heal itself and allow her to do so. During this time she trained with Shino, becoming stronger, and faster, although still not on par with a shinobi. Slowly she regained her sense of confidence in herself. Soon she accompanied Shino when he wished to train with his friends, testing her skills of evasion on others besides Shino to increase her skills. And it was on one of those days that Paige formed a plan, but she would need help if she was to actually surprise an Aburame.

 

***

 

Author's post-ramble: Yup, you guessed it! I'm moving our lovely couple ever so slowly closer together…