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Reading Totems	By : GrizzlyTeddyBear Category: Naruto > Het - Male/Female Views: 1242 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 15
- 16
- 17
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!� I
love you! �HumanInfiltrator, OX King,
Lady Slave, kodama, MsMina, eva24, Alaskantiger, Darksteel1992, Pan12398,
wildkit, Navygirl19999, Paintedbutterfly, Valla, Jess, Kilrath Sluzath, jewel, kimahrigirl,
Incarnadyne Tears, CasaHouse, Onitsu Blackfeather

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 their 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, it will return!� I�m
trying to balance the drama/romance/action/angst/fluff/waff-ness�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!
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Reading Totems