Growing Pains

Chapter 18

As Shinrai opened the door to Kakashi's apartment, his mind continued to whirl. What were all these rogue ninja doing in this village? Who was this Ishimaru guy? What was he doing here? Why was he attacking only Araile? Did she know him?

Shinrai's arms tightened momentarily around the slumbering girl, causing a faint whimper of pain to slip past her lips. Looking down at her, Shinrai's expression softened. He quietly walked down the hallway and entered what he assumed was her bedroom. A quick look around confirmed his suspicions; half the wall was decorated with paintings and drawings that looked like a child had created them, and a blue cat sat at the top of a single pillow. Shinrai's lips curved into a small smile as he gently laid Araile on her bed. Her limbs began shaking as soon as Shinrai pulled away, and Shinrai quickly and quietly sat beside her trembling form. Her brows furrowed as her breaths came in panicked gasps. As gently as he could, he situated his bruised body on her bed so that her back was resting against Shinrai's chest; his arm draped protectively around her waist. He then pulled the blanket over both of them gently.

He let out a sigh of relief as he felt her muscles relaxed and her breathing returned to normal. Softly, Shinrai propped himself up on his other arm and brought his other hand to hers. He traced his finger around her hand and over each individual scar that marred the surface.

"What kind of things did you do that gave you each scar?" Shinrai murmured as he gazed at her sleeping form.

Sighing, Shinrai laid his head against the edge of Araile's pillow and closed his eyes.

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Everything hurt from her head to the tips of her toes. Especially her heart. Takumi was gone, killed by Ishimaru...and it was all because of her. If Ishimaru hadn't come or had finished her off, Takumi would still be alive. She would walk in the apartment and hear the clatter of nails against the floor, and hear Takumi's excited barking as she got him a treat.

They would spend hours playing and wrestling on the floor with each other, and she would listen to his ferocious snarling as his mouth locked around her arm. Of course, Takumi never bit down whenever one of her limbs was in his mouth. Araile would snuggle up with Takumi on her bed as she would wait for sleep to overcome her.

But that wouldn't happen anymore. All because she was weak.

Opening her eyes slowly, she noticed she was in her room. When did she get here? Wasn't she outside a couple minutes ago? Something was radiating warmth on her back and around her waist. Turning her head slowly she focused her gaze on her friend, who was sleeping peacefully. Blinking, Araile looked down briefly to see that he had pulled the blanket over both of them. The blanket kept the teens warm, and Araile smiled softly. Her smile soon disappeared when her gaze returned to Shinrai.

Shinrai looked as battered as she felt, and probably looked too.

Inhaling slowly, her nose caught a whiff of peppermint that she secretly adored so much. Shifting her body slightly, Araile managed to turn her body around so that she was snuggled against her friends warm chest. She felt Shinrai's arm tighten around her waist, and her tail twitched slightly. A small smile graced her lips as she continued to gaze at Shinrai's face. She still couldn't believe how much he'd grown over the last couple of years. Exhaustion tugged at her body again and she leaned her forehead against Shinrai's neck, breathing in the smell of peppermint each time she inhaled.

Soon, Araile fell into a deep slumber as her body began the slow process of healing.

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As Kakashi returned to his apartment, he walked quietly inside and closed the door. He walked down the hall and peered into Araile's room, smiling slightly at the sight before him. His old charge was snuggled tight against Shinrai, her hand clenched around his shirt. Shinrai's arm was circled around her waist as if to protect her from further harm.

Kakashi sighed gently and walked to his own room. Tomorrow he would need to bring a medical nin here so that both Araile and Shinrai would get their wounds taken care of. What a day this was turning out to be.