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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
- 16
- 17
- 18
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!� 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, alexa ebonscathes

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.
- 16
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Reading Totems