Growing Pains

Chapter 37

"I'm okay," Araile breathed as Shinrai enveloped her in a hug.

Shinrai didn't answer, but continued hugging her to his chest. He could feel her breathing against him, and that sent a thrill through his veins. He lost her once and almost lost her a second time. A sigh sounded from beside the two teens, and Araile pushed Shinrai away from her playfully. She looked to see her old caregiver holding an unconscious Kane up. Her eyes widened, and she let out a horrified gasp.

"Kane! What happened?!" Araile cried out as she ran to the two men.

"It's okay, he is just unconscious," Kakashi said as he placed his headband over his red eye.

Araile nodded slowly. With a single command, the four man team headed off. Shinrai stuck close to Araile as they started their trek back to Konoha. Aside from cuts and bruises, Araile seemed fine. Shinrai's green eyes continued watching the girl beside him. Something didn't seem right. Araile died in the chamber. He was there and was held her cold body...but yet here she was, walking beside him.

When the team set up camp for the night, Shinrai sat down heavily beside Araile on a log. Heat radiated from a fire Kakashi had made in the middle, and the teens stared into the fire in silence. While Kakashi was tending to a still-unconscious Kane, Shinrai turned to look at Araile.

"Hey, Araile?" Shinrai murmured.

"Hmm?" she voiced, gold eyes staring into the flickering flames.

The light from the fire created intricate shadows across the teens face as Shinrai looked at her.

"How did you come back? You died...I saw you die!" Shinrai said.

Araile continued to gaze into the fire, gold eyes glazed over. It was like she was staring into some unknown time. Shinrai sighed and turned back, but her answer caused him to freeze.

"I did die back there...in the chamber. I saw this light all around me, and at first I was afraid but then I felt like I was warm and safe. I then saw my mom and dad, and Takumi too. I had never felt so happy before in my life. Then I heard shouting from far away, and I felt like something pulled me back away from them. I felt the other energy-the demonic one-flowing over me, and I couldn't do anything. Next thing I knew, I was being held by Seishin," she said in a quiet voice.

Shinrai could hardly breathe as Araile took a shuddering breath. She clutched both her arms closer to her stomach, as if to ward off a chill. Her legs came together as she placed her chin on top of her arms.

"I don't know why I came back, or how," Araile finished, eyes downcast.

It was silent around the camp for a couple minutes as Kakashi took out his favourite book. Kane slept in a sleeping roll nearby, a large bandage over his temple. Araile took another shuddering breath and hugged her arms closer to her stomach. Shinrai shuffled closer to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Araile flinched slightly, but relaxed after and rested her head against his shoulder. Shinrai felt her sigh against him, and her eyes lowered.

Before long, Shinrai could feel her deep and even breaths against his side as Araile fell asleep. He gazed at the fire in silence as his mind swirled with questions.

How could someone come back from death? It didn't make sense. It shouldn't have happened, but yet it did.  Shinrai sighed and closed his eyes. His muscles and bones hurt. Everything hurt, even closing his eyes hurt! Shinrai concentrated on Araile's even breathing, and before long he fell asleep, leaning his cheek on top of her head.