Growing Pains

Chapter 39

The gates of Konoha finally came into view, and the exhausted teens couldn't be happier. Shinrai still carried Araile on his back, no matter how much she protested against it. She could walk just fine! Kane had healed enough over the journey for Kakashi to stop supporting him. Letting out a sigh, Araile clasped her arms around Shinrai's chest tighter. She was so glad he was here with her now...but what happens after?

What happens now that their mission is finished and there's no more danger for her or Shinrai?

'Where would he go? Where would I go? Will I stay with Kakashi or Kane?' Araile thought to herself.

Her mind continued to think and wander when Kakashi spoke to the gate guards. They would need to check in to the hospital to get their wounds checked and cleaned, while Kakashi would check in with the Hokage. The three went to the hospital as Kakashi went the other way.

She detached herself from Shinrai's back as they entered the hospital. The nurses came and escorted them to some hospital beds. Kane scoffed, saying he didn't need any medical help. A young medical nin with bright blue eyes and brown hair scoffed right back, and demanded that he stayed in his bed. Araile and Shinrai blinked and looked at each other in surprise. Kane gazed at the young medical nin with a mix of shock and confusion.

Araile hid a giggle behind her hand as one nurse wrapped a bandage around her arm. Kane shot his sister dirty look as the young medical nin inserted an IV into Kane's hand.

"You shouldn't be moving for at least a week! And I mean it," the medical nin said, narrowing her blue eyes at Kane.

Kane scoffed and turned his head away, gold eyes narrowed. Shinrai gave a short laugh, but it turned into a cough when Kane's eyes shot to his. Araile cocked her head in confusion as she noticed the medical nin's headband.

"You're not from Konoha?" she asked as she leaned back against the hospital pillow.

"No, I'm from Suna. I came here just for a little while to further my training," the medical nin said with a smile.

"Now, I don't want to see you moving out of this bed," she said, pointing a finger at Kane's chest.

Araile burst out laughing at the look on Kane's face. The medical nin quickly looked between the two with an eyebrow raised. She nodded to herself and clapped her hands together.

"I've got it! You two are siblings, aren't you?" she said, and Araile nodded.

"And what about you two?" she said, pointing to Araile and Shinrai.

Both teens stuttered and turned their faces away from each other, cheeks flaming red. The medical nin let out a delightful laugh, clapping her hands in delight.

"Excellent! Young love is so sweet," she exclaimed as she walked out of the hospital room.

A moment of silence went by, broken by the mechanical beeps of the medical machines. Shinrai cleared his throat and shifted in his hospital bed, the liquid in his IV bag glittering in the sunlight.

"I like her. She put you in your place," Araile said with a grin as she looked at her brother, still sulking in his bed.

All she got was a scoff, and she let out a small giggle. A shuffle caught her attention, and looking over she saw Shinrai get out of his bed. He shuffled over to her bed while pulling the IV machine behind him, and slowly situated himself on top of her blanket. The smell of peppermint washed over Araile, and immediately her muscles relaxed. She leaned her head against his shoulder, a smile on her face.

"What'll happen to you?" she murmured.

"I'm not sure, but I know I'm staying with you. I don't care how it'll happen, but I'll make it happen," Shinrai said, and Araile felt her heart skip a beat.

Nodding, she slowly clasped his hand and intertwined their fingers together as the two teens stared off into space, comfortable in each other's prescience.

They would indeed find a way to be with each other, no matter what. Araile knew that this was meant to happen, and had a feeling her mother and father where looking down on her, smiling. They would have loved Shinrai. She loved Shinrai.

She loved him, and he loved her.