Growing Pains

Chapter 12

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! Ha ha, hey my lovely fans! Today is my birthday, and as a gift I'm writing this new instalment of 'Growing Pains'. Hope you enjoy!

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The stars twinkled down from the night sky as Araile and Shinrai bathed in each others presence. She still couldn't believe that her friend was here with her. Her tail twitched in amusement as she gazed at Shinrai. He had grown physically and mentally.

No longer was he a stocky little boy who tripped over his feet at times. Muscles lined his arms and shoulders. When he spoke, he spoke with the air of confidence and a maturity that Araile had not seen in her friend before. Sighing lightly, she rested her head against Shinrai's shoulder.

"Hey Araile?"

"Yeah?"

"Where'd you get all your scars from?" Shinrai asked in a quiet voice as his finger traced a scar that ran across one of her arms.

"These? Well...some are from training with my brother" she said hesitantly, heart beginning to beat at a slightly faster pace as she watched his slender finger.

"Just training? I noticed some are larger then others" Shinrai said.

She nodded, not really trusting her voice.

"What about the one on your side? This big one" Shinrai asked as he lightly outlined the scar from the poisoned knife wound.

Araile took a shaky breath as goosebumps rose and raced across her skin. She didn't want to mention the drunk guy in the forest. No way.

"Araile?" Shinrai said in a gentle yet persistent voice.

That tone made Araile's mind race, and her mouth began to work on its own accord.

"U-um. That was from a-a attack outside the village. This drunk guy got me pretty bad. Pretty sad, isn't it?" she said with a shaky laugh.

"Tell me?" he asked in that same gentle voice.

Once again, her mouth moved on its own. Hesitantly, she told him how the drunkard had snuck up behind her, and how she managed to hide from him for a short time. She stuttered over the second attack, and how the drunkard managed to get a poisoned knife into her side. How her brother Kane had rushed her over to Konoha and to her old caregiver Kakashi.

How the medical team worked hard to get the antidote into her system in time to counteract the poison. She felt Shinrai stiffed beside her, and Araile mentally sighed. This was why she didn't want to tell him. She knew Shinrai would react badly to how she got injured and put into the hospital.

Araile lifted her head from Shinrai's shoulder to look at him. His eyes were narrowed, and his breath whistled in and out through clenched teeth. His hand balled into a tight fist at his side as he absorbed the information. Gently, she placed her hand on the side of her friends cheek. The hardened edges in his face softened as he turned his gaze towards hers.

Smiling, Araile leaned over and rested her forehead against his.

"I'm fine now" she stated softly, and Shinrai closed his eyes and released a breath.

The two stayed in that position for what seemed like hours, but in fact was only a few minutes. Smiling, Araile lifted her head and poked Shinrai in the stomach, earning a grunt and a mild glare.

"Come on! Let's go back inside" she giggled, and hopped down to the pavement with Shinrai following close behind.

She jogged up a small flight of stairs and walked over to a small door. Araile opened the door to the small apartment and led Shinrai inside just as a black mass of howling fur hurtled itself towards her. Shinrai pushed her out of the way as the mass slammed itself against Shinrai's waist, knocking him to the ground.

Shaking her head, she looked up to see Shinrai flat on the ground with Takumi sitting majestically on top. Takumi's tail twitched as he peered down his muzzle at Shinrai.

Sighing, Araile stood up and dusted hers clothes off.

"Takumi...come on, get off him" she muttered as she pulled the demon off her friend.

Takumi snorted and trotted towards the kitchen, his tail lifted high in the air.

"What was that?" Shinrai huffed as he got up.

"My companion, Takumi. He can be a little...judgmental at times" Araile said, helping Shinrai off the floor.

A bark echoed through the kitchen, as if to prove her point.

"Yes, Your Majesty" she joked and-with Shinrai in toll-walked into the kitchen where Takumi was sitting patiently.

She let go of Shinrai's hand and charged towards Takumi. Takumi yipped and ran towards the other side of the kitchen, and Araile ran after him, giggling.

"Gotcha!" she declared as she wrapped her arms around Takumi's chest.

Panting slightly, she noticed Shinrai grinning at her, causing her to look away with a slight blush on her cheeks. Araile busied herself with giving Takumi a good scratch on the belly in order to get her face to cool down.