Hello, all! Chapter four is finally here! Thank you all for reading this far! QHOOO!

Disclaimer: no own Naruto or Masashi Kishimoto's characters. Yes own fanfiction. Got it? Good

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Hanna became aware of a swaying and rocking. With great effort, she tore herself from the pleasure of the black abyss of unconsciousness. She felt as if she were holding something warm and firm and breathed in a pleasant scent.

She struggled to open her eyes. At first, to her weary pupils, there was only light, soon after it came shadow, and then, finally blurred shapes. After a long moment of concentration, though, the blurs began to separate as trunks, then branches, then leaves.

She let her eyes fall closed for one moment more as she began feeling an odd stiffness and a pain in her leg. She moaned, only barely, but the rocking ceased immediately. Hanna lifted her head and found herself on her young escort's back.

"Hanna-sama." The man grunted as he looked over his shoulder at her. With her cheek on his strong back, she offered a weary smile to the Chunin.

"What… what's going on?" she mumbled. She could feel the man heave a sigh beneath her as he pushed off from the limb,

"You were caught in a trap... Forgive me, Hanna-sama, but I was forced to employ a Genjutsu on you-- because," he blushed, just sligtly, "I'm sorry… I feared greatly for your well-being… honest, Hanna-sama, but I apologize for perhaps startling you--"

"Mmmn… no, Shino…" she said as she lifted her head again, "It was… it was beautiful…" she smiled and closed her eyes, "It was beautiful, Shino… at first, I was afraid… I couldn't see or feel anything--"

"That was my reason, Hanna-sama…" Shino said as he leaped again.

"Mmhmm… and… I felt so afraid… everything was so… black… but then...there was a pink butterfly… and it made me calm. It… it was so beautiful." she laughed exhaustedly, "That's funny… I've never described an insect as beautiful before…" she sighed as she set her head back down on Shino's shoulder and closed her eyes,
"Shino?"

"Yes, Hanna-sama?"

"I don't think I'm afraid of insects anymore."

Shino smiled down at her,
"That's wonderful, Hanna-sama."

"Shino?" Hanna asked once she regained more of her strength.

"Yes, Hanna-sama?"

"What is your family like? I've all but forgotten what it's like to really have one…" she whispered.

Shino thought for a moment,
"Well, I was raised by my clan in general."

"Mmmn?"

"Yes. Like most insects, my parent's jab, as our clan dictates, is to bear me and raise me until I could reason. From then on, my clan treats children as adults."

"That's terrible! That depriving them of their childhood!" Hanna burst out with passion. Shino chuckled,

"I suppose, Hanna-sama."

A silence lasted for a small time as the man continued on with the Lady on his back.
"Did you ever get jealous?" Hanna asked

Shino chucked. It was a low, warm sound, Hanna noticed.
"Every day." he said softly, "I... I am only human, Hanna-sama. I… I was always jealous… jealous of what others had…" He glanced back over his should at her, "Forgive me, it is out of line to talk like that."

Hanna smiled into his jacket,
"No… not at all… besides…" she mumbled, "you have something that nobody else could possibly dream of having…"

"Mmmn? And what's that, Hanna-sama?"

Hanna smiled,
"Your kindness.… your heart."

"I don't deserve such wonderful words…"

"It's true."

Suddenly, the steady sway and rocking stopped. Hanna lifted her head from the man's comfortable shoulder,
"What's wrong, Shino?"

The Chunin didn't say a word at first. Instead, he lifted his hand and pointed to something just on the edge of the setting sun's horizon,
"There it is-- there's the Land of Waves."

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Well, I hope you liked it! Please remember to review! Thank you!

Mysteria Pearl