Growing Pains

Chapter 10

Birds chirping drifted through Araile's mind as she lay in the hospital bed. It was the third day in the hospital, and she was becoming quite bored. The only things she could do was daydreaming and staring out her hospital window. Sighing, she opened her eyes and sat up. Her muscles and tissues had almost healed, and her stab wound had begun to scab. It itched horribly, and if she wasn't allowed to scratch it Araile would surely go insane. It would leave a scar, no doubt about it.

Araile gazed out her hospital window as she watched the people go on about their lives. A stray cat wandered across her line of sight. It stopped and turned it's gaze towards her, its tail high in the air. With so much as an ear twitch, it turned away and sprinted off. Her gaze followed it until the cat turned the corner of the hospital building.

Her muscles itched to move around. If she didn't get out of this hospital, she would lose her mind.

A sigh left her lips as she gazed down at her hands. They were no longer the hands of a young child; soft and slightly chubby. Her hands were slimmer now, with sharp nails tipping her slender fingers. Scars marred the surface of both her hands, and she idly traced the outline of one scar that ran across the surface of one knuckle on her left hand.

This one scar had a particular memory attached to it.

Araile smiled as her mind transported her to the moment in time when she received that scar.

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WHAM!

SMACK!

SLAM!

"Argh!" a voice yelped out, startling a small flock of birds into the sky.

"Sorry, Shinrai. I guess I got too into the fight," Araile giggled, and helped her friend up off the ground.

She and Shinrai had been practicing fighting in a field not far from the little cottage they called home. Everyday, her stomach would get this mysterious flutter each time Shinrai looked at or spoke to her.

What was going on with her? Araile had never had these feelings before! Why was it always with Shinrai?

"Don't worry," Shinrai said, smiling at her.

There was the stomach flutter, right on schedule.

"Oh! Araile, your hand!" Shinrai exclaimed.

The knuckle on her left hand had a slash, and blood had begun to ooze out. He gently took a hold of her hand and fished out a roll of bandages with his other hand. Heat raced up her neck to the tip of her ears as she noticed how gentle her friend was.

"D-don't worry about it Shinrai! It's just a scratch," Araile stammered.

"I don't mind," Shinrai answered softly.

Each time Shinrai's hand came into contact with hers, little shocks of warmth raced up her hand. Her heart rate increased drastically, and her tail twitched.

"There we go. All done," Shinrai said, smiling at her.

His green eyes sparkled in the afternoon sun as a gentle breeze blew across the field, causing strands of his purple hair to jump and dance around with strands from her hair. His hair always looked shiny and clean, and if Araile concentrated hard enough she could pick up a hint of peppermint. His eyes always held a slight gleam of determination and compassion, and on numerous occasions Araile caught herself gazing into his eyes.

The depth of his green eyes always seemed endless to her.

She never realized it, but Shinrai had the clearest green eyes she had ever seen.

"T-thanks, Shinrai. You really got me with your dagger today," Araile said, feeling slightly giddy.

"Yeah, Seishin has been giving me some good tips," Shinrai said, still holding her bandaged hand in his.

His hand was soft, yet hardened by many callouses from training. It had the strength to wield a deadly weapon, but yet was gentle enough to heal a wound.

"Shinrai?" she said softly.

"Yeah?"

"You can let go of my hand now," she said, a small smile curling over her lips.

"O-oh! Sorry..." Shinrai stuttered, and dropped her hand before quickly turning away.

Blinking, Araile could have sworn she saw her friend's cheeks turn slightly pink.

"Come on, I'll race you back to the house!" Araile said, and took off towards the line of smoke that was curling into the blue sky.

"H-hey! Wait for me!" Shinrai called behind her and began to run after her.

She let out a loud giggle as her friend soon caught up to her as the small and cozy house came into view. For once, she was happy. Happy to have amazing people like Shinrai to hang out with. Happy that she was safe.

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A knock interrupted her memories. Looking towards the door, Araile saw it was the medical nin that had taken care of her since first bringing her in three days ago.

"So, Araile. How are we doing today?" the medical nin said, clipboard in hand.

"Good," she answered, and shifted so he could take her temperature and blood pressure.

Smiling, he recorded the results onto the clipboard.

"Well, Araile. I'm happy to say that you are free to go," the medical nin said, and handed a pair of clothes.

"R-really? You mean it? I can go?" Araile said excitedly, a wide smile spreading across her lips and almost threatening to split her face in two.

The medical nin nodded, and laughed as she zoomed into the hospital room's bathroom. She hurriedly took off the gown and put on the shirt, only to find that it was inside out. Huffing impatiently, she fixed her shirt and slipped on her pants. Opening the bathroom door, Araile skipped out and almost smacked into her old caretaker Kakashi. Thankfully, he noticed her just in time and placed a hand on her shoulder, steadying her.

"Are you ready?" he asked, smiling down at her with his visible eye.

She nodded, and rocked back and forth on her heels impatiently as the medical nin gave Kakashi instructions on giving her antibiotics or what to do if she had managed to get poisoned again. Kane had left to go to the cottage, saying that she was too weak to travel just yet.

Finally, Kakashi and the impatient Araile walked outside. Unable to contain her happiness any longer, she let out a loud laugh and ran around the front of the hospital, her hair blowing in the wind.

Freedom!

No more hospitals for her, no sir!

But there was one thing on her mind. A certain someone that she knew had been on her mind the entire time.

'Shinrai, where are you?' Araile thought sadly as she and Kakashi started walking down the path towards his apartment.