Growing Pains

Chapter 23

As the day wore on, both Araile and Shinrai were inseparable. Everything they both did together, and sometimes Shinrai held her hand but other times an overpowering shyness took a hold of her, causing Araile to jerk her hand away from Shinrai. It wasn't like she didn't want Shinrai to hold her hand, it was just her shyness that caused her to act this way.

This caused Shinrai to frown slightly as the teens sat down on a bench. The boy liked her very much. He wanted to be with Araile, and to protect her from harm...but yet why was she too shy to simply hold his hand? Shinrai couldn't figure it out.

A giggle snapped Shinrai out of his thoughts. He looked towards her, and a smile graced his face. She was sitting on the bench with a small bird perched neatly on her shoulder. The beady eyes blinked up at Araile and ruffled its feathers.

"Hello, little bird," she said, smiling.

The bird blinked in return and took flight with a little hop from her shoulder. Araile's golden eyes gazed after the small bird as it flew away into the forest. A breeze suddenly blew, making the teen's hair dance and sway. A sudden sense of forebode crawled over her skin as the sun moved behind the clouds. Looking around, Araile tried to pinpoint where this sense was coming from. Shinrai seemed to have sensed it too as her gaze locked on her friend's form; his shoulders and back stiff.

"What is that?" the 14 year old murmured, standing up and looking around.

"I don't know, but I don't like it," Shinrai growled.

A cold pit formed in her stomach and goosebumps ran down her arms. Shinrai grabbed her hand in his and squeezed, reassuring her. Whatever their bodies were reacting to, it was bad. Sudden footsteps approached from behind Araile and Shinrai, and a loud growl erupted from the back of her throat as she spun around to face the intruder. The growl immediately died as she saw a Jonin approach hastily.

"Araile! I've finally found you! You have to come with me immediately," the Jonin said hurriedly.

Her heart skipped a beat as her gold eyes noticed the fear in the man's face, and Shinrai squeezed her hand again. Taking a step towards the Jonin, she began to tremble.

"What happened?" Araile asked, fear making its way into her voice.

"It's Kakashi," he said.

Her pupils contracted as her mind suddenly went blank.

'Kakashi? What happened? Is he okay?' she thought as her heart raced.

Kakashi was the strongest ninja to her. There was no way something happened to him. No way. He could take on anyone here! Shinrai noticed his friends distress and placed his remaining hand on her shoulder. He would be there for her no matter what.

"What happened to Kakashi?" Shinrai asked the Jonin quietly.

"He was in a battle with some missing nin when he went to help rescue the Kazekage," the Jonin said.

That name snapped Araile out of her thoughts. Kakashi had left on a mission with some other Konoha ninja to rescue the young Kazekage.

"Please, is he okay? Where is he?" she said, muscles trembling.

"Come with me," the Jonin said, and she nodded before following him with Shinrai's hand clasped tightly in hers.

It felt like ages before the trio walked up the steps to the hospital. Araile rushed through the door, pulling Shinrai along as she raced to Kakashi's hospital room. Bursting through the doors, she blinked when she noticed that his other Jonin friends were there, gathered around his bed.

"Kurenai!" Araile yelped as the only female Jonin enveloped her in a hug.

"Araile! I'm so glad you're okay," she said as she smiled down at her.

Her mother Haya and Kurenai had become friends during the short time her and her parents lived in Konoha. Blinking past tears, she gazed at her caregiver as he lay in the hospital bed, blanket draped over the lower portion of his face. Kakashi sighed, looking bored but in slight pain.

"What happened? Is Kakashi gonna be okay?" Araile asked, trying to keep the tears from falling.

Sighing, Kurenai looked at her comrade.

"He will be okay. The Hokage said he needs rest," she said, and the 14 year old sighed in relief.