Chapter 10

If I thought that Naruto made me dizzy before now, I was gravely mistaken. When his lips brushed gently against mine, my whole world was set on a sickening spin. I couldn't breathe correctly. I felt light headed. My heart beat against my breast bone, I'm pretty sure the whole world can hear its frenzied dance. When they brushed mine again for a second time a bolt of pure electric energy shocked me straight down to my toes. With a gasp I jerk back and open my eyes.

He looks as breathless as I feel. His cheeks have a faint pink tint to them.

"Jeez Red, I'm sorry. But,..." His arms reach out and pull back to him and he's kissing me again. With a low grumbling in his throat he pushes his weight against me, and knocks me on my back.

I think this should upset me. He did knock me over, but I don't really care. I can't even really pay attention to that train of thought. All I know is Naruto, and Naruto is everywhere. I can feel his warm hands on my skin, and I know I have his blond hair in my hands.

All of a sudden, footsteps cut into my blissful concentration. Someone's coming!

I quickly push him up and off me blushing madly before Kiba steps into view.

"Red I thought you got lost again!"

My face gets warmer as I avoid his eager glance. "No, I'm not lost."

Naruto snickers, throwing an arm around my shoulder. "Nah, I was just showing her the way back to camp."

I hear a sarcastic snort. "Well you aren't getting far just sitting there. We gotta set up watches for the night."

Naruto jumps to his feet and helps me to mine. Before I take two steps both my hands are being held captive by theirs.

"Guys, come on. I'm not gonna run again. I promise."

"Yeah Naruto, so why don't you get lost?" Kiba interjects quickly.

"Get over yourself, flea bag."

When we walk into the camp their still holding both my hands and exchanging insults over my head.

"Idiots." Shickamaru mumbles.

"Morons."Saskue agrees.

"Hey!" Naruto and Kiba exclaim at the same time.

"Let's just divide up the watches." I say desperately trying to avoid another long winded argument.

With the watches fairly divided, I set up a sleeping area for myself on the opposite side of the fire and the boys. A girl's got to keep a little modesty, I think grinning.

I fall asleep quick with no problems, thankfully. It seems like no time before Naruto is waking me up for my watch.

"Your turn, Red." Naruto mumbles sleepily.

I glance across the dying fire to the sleeping forms of the others. Confident that they really are deep asleep I place a soft kiss on his nose. "Go get some sleep," I whisper running my hand through his hair.

He smiles and kisses my hands before he obeys my gentle command.

I watch over them while they sleep, it's kinda creepy the way I'm admiring my makeshift family as they sleep. While I look at them, I argue with myself. It would be so easy right now to peek at their minds right now, and familiarize myself with them. It's wrong to do, and I know that. But if I do it I will be able to protect them better in a battle. That's what decides me, the ability to protect them. I settle down and cross my legs and close my eyes.

Listening to dreams is a weird experience; you can't see them, only hear what's going on in them.

First I start on the easiest, Naruto. He's whining at someone…

"YOU PERVERTED OLD MAN! SCREW YOUR RESEARCH! YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO HELP ME TRAIN! PAY ATTENTION TO ME, STOP SPYING ON THOSE GIRLS, YOU PERVY OLD SAGE.'

Pervy sage? How ridiculous. I giggle quietly.

Next, I try Shickamaru. His mind is interesting; so orderly, and intelligent, and precise. His dreams are a little boring though, it's just a repeated word,…no not a word. A name.

"Temari…Temari…Temari…Temari"

My heart melts a little bit. He really does care about that fan girl. I silently vow to return him to her safe and sound.

Getting into Saskue's mind is a little more difficult. However, I don't think anyone can keep me out, not really. I just push a little harder 'til I'm in. It is a decision I instantly regret.

His dreams are full of horrible screams. I glance at his face, and it seems that he sleeps peacefully.

Disturbed, I quickly move on Kiba. His dreams are a little brighter. It's just a long list of insults to call Naruto. Typical.

I practice going back into their minds, memorize their heartbeats, until even Saskue's doesn't even put up a fight. I decide against telling them what I've done. I won't use it unless I need too, they won't have to know how easy it is to me. Before I know it, my watch is over. I stand up and stretch, walk over to Kiba and scratch under his chin. "Wakey wakey!" I sing softly.

His eyes open slowly, and he lets out a big yawn.

"Ew!" I laugh. "Morning doggie breath." I pinch my nose.

"Is that any way to treat your future husband?"

"Is that you dream about?" I ask as I lie back down in my spot. "That's what I call a real nightmare."

I feel Akamaru cuddle by my legs sleepily. "He'll watch over you." Kiba says, "I know you have nightmares."

I scratch the pup's ears. "Thank you," I say choking a little with emotion.

The morning greets me with a hard foot nudging my ribs. "Get up." Saskue's voice coldly greets me."

I get up and make a point to roll my eyes at him. "What a ray of sunshine you are."

"Whatever," he moves on to Naruto giving him a rougher nudge with his foot.

Kiba's bent over, tending to the fire again. I approach him. "Can I ask you to do me a favour?" I ask hesitantly.

"Sure," he replies without looking up. "What do you need? You want me to kick Naruto's ass for you? Cause I can totally do that. I'll even do it free of charge for such a pretty lady."

I grin. "Can I borrow Akamaru?"

That gets his attention. "Yeah, I guess, but what for?"

I blush. "Before we head out I wanted to clean up in the water. I want Akamaru to stand guard for me." I brace myself for the reaction I know is coming.

"Pssh, you don't need him for that! I can do that for you, I can even scrub your back for you." He gives me a wink and a wolfish grin.

"Er, thanks, but no thanks."

Kiba shrugs good naturedly and turns to his companion. "Hey, be good and do what she tells you too." He leans down and whispers something in his ear that he thinks that I can't hear. I scoop the dog up quickly before I have to endure anymore jokes from him.

When I reach the shore of the pond, I place a blanket I grabbed to dry off in and Akamaru on the ground. "Keep everyone away from this spot. Chase anyone who gets too close, even Kiba."

Akamaru sits and cocks his head to the side.

"And turn around!" I demand. "I don't need you to get an eyeful to fill your perverted master in on the details later."

Akamaru hangs his furry head and turns his back to me.

"What did you expect?" I ask as I undress. "I have exceptional hearing." I race in the water to the deeper parts so my body is covered by the water.

I let myself soak for a few minutes. The water is cool, and helps me relax and clear my mind.

…Until I hear Akamaru barking and growling at a nearby tree. "What is it?" I whisper. Is it enemies? Is it Twin? Did he find the others? Are they okay? I race out of the water, and grab the blanket to wrap around myself. I sneak over the tree quickly and quietly, regretting leaving my weapons back at camp.

"Who the hell are you?" I yell.

I must have startled them, because the branches rustle before the culprit drops the ground.

Shickamaru hits the ground with a loud thunk.

"Ow," he complains rubbing his back before his eyes rest on my naked legs. His face turns redder than my hair. "AHHH! RED, WHAT THE HELL! PUT SOME CLOTHES ON! WHAT ARE YOU DOING WALKING AROUND WEARING THAT!" He points at my blanket.

"ME?! What the fuck are YOU doing creeping around here where I'm bathing?"

He jumps to his feet, his face colouring even darker. "That's not why I'm here!" His eyes drift over my blanket covered form again while his face turns even another shade redder. He spins around so that he's not facing me. "I heard you telling Kiba where you were going, and then all of sudden he disappears. Naruto figured it out too, so I chased him. He's no better than Kiba."

"Those PERVERTS." I fume.

"Can you put some clothes on please?"

"I can't take off this blanket! They might see!"

Oh, man. How troublesome. We're gonna have to search around and make sure they aren't hanging out around here."

"WE?! I can't go trotting around the woods wearing just a blanket! You have to do it!"

"But that's so much work."
"Shickamaru, please!" I beg.

"How troublesome, it's going to take me forever if I have to do it all by myself."

"I can help you a little bit, just let me listen." I close my eyes and concentrate. Almost instantly, I can hear two heartbeats. Kiba's first and then Naruto's close behind him. "Those perverts," I snarl under my breath. "I have a plan Shickamaru, turn around." I add louder.

"No way!"

With a sigh of frustration, I reach a hand out, grab his shoulder and spin him around to face me. "I have a plan." I notice his cheeks turning red again as he loses eye contact with me. "Hey, hey, hey, listen up." I quickly slip into his mind and calm him down enough so he can at least look me in the face. "Alright Shicky-Boo, here's the plan. I'm going to lure Kiba out of hiding, I'll knock him out. Naruto will be hot on his heels, when he shows himself, get him with your shadow possession."

Shickamaru nods and climbs back up into his tree as I take cover behind it and once more reach out to Kiba's mind. "Kiba, come to me." I plant the command in his mind, trying to make it as seductive as possible. I'm more than pleased when I feel it take effect and know he obeys.

As I hear Kiba's steps getting closer, I can hear Naruto taking notice of his position. "There you are you perverted whelp. Get back here!"

As soon as I can see Kiba, I peek my head out from behind the tree. "You!" I call out angrily. Before he can even register what's going on I shoot another command into his brain. "Sleep!" He hits the ground snoring.

Seconds later Naruto bursts onto the scene. His glance takes in Kiba's sleeping body. "Red, are you alright?" He notices then my angry expression, and when he looks around for the cause of it, he spots my clothes left on the shore. "Oh shit. Red, hey Red? No it's not like that."

"I'm going to kick your ass." I reply calmly.

Shickamaru drops from the tree in true ninja fashion. "Shadow possession jitsu!" His shadow snakes out and engulfs Naruto's. He then covers his eyes with hands, and of course, Naruto does the same.

"Make this quick will you?" Shickamaru complains.

Without wasting a second I run to shore and change swiftly. Shickamaru releases Naruto, who whips around to face me. "So, you were joking right?"

I crack my knuckles, "I'll give you a 10 second head start."

"Come on..."

"10…9…"

Shickamaru slides one of Kiba's arms over his shoulder to drag him back to camp. "I would take advantage of that head start, Kid."

With a yelp, Naruto turns and rushes out of sight.

I laugh as I walk over to Shickamaru and slide Kiba's other arm over my shoulder to help.

"Aren't you gonna chase him?"

"Nah. Think about how much fun I can have with this."

Kiba mumbles in his sleep. "What a pair of legs…"

I hiss at him under my breath. "He's totally right you know." Shickamaru jokes.

"There's plenty of room left on my hit list for you Shickamaru. You and Naruto can cozily fit together at the top of that list." I warn as I laugh and reach over to yank his ponytail gently.

We reach camping laughing and still carrying Kiba with Akamaru trailing behind us. Saskue is lying in a tree branch with his arms tucked under his head, while Naruto scrambles to his feet and takes a small leap away from me. "Uh, hey guys. Why don't we all just each other a favour and forget about that little incident?"

"What incident?" Saskue inquires lazily.

"Kiba and Naruto tried to sneak a peek of Red in the nude." Shickamaru casually replies as he lays Kiba down.

"Idiots." He scoffs from his tree.

"It wasn't like that!" Naruto insists.

I hold Naruto's blue eyes with mine. I slowly and very deliberately sink into a predatory crouch accompanied by my best impression of a snarly growl. I grin excitedly because I've decided to show off a little for them. While crouching still, I gather all my strength and channel chakra into my legs; I spring forward running behind Naruto. I know to them it looked like a blur and perhaps even almost like I've teleported behind him, but I've merely run very, very fast. I lean forward and whisper in his ear, "How do you like the little trick I've been practicing?"

He starts violently and twirls to face me, but I'm already off again, this time up Saskue's tree, right on his branch. I lean down in his face, which is still turned at Naruto's direction trying to figure where I've gone. "Boo!" I screech. He jumps and almost falls off his branch. Before he can even regain his balance I'm gone again, back to my original post next to Shickamaru. By now I'm breathing hard and worn out, I fall back on my butt smiling foolishly. "Pretty cool, right?" I gasp.

"Where did you learn to do that?" Saskue asks.

I shrug. "It's only tai jitsu, and a little chakra control. Anyone can do it with enough practice."

"Do it again." He demands.

"I can't," I tell him honestly. "Just that little bit has me completely beat."

"I want to see it again," he insists.

"Later." I promise.

Naruto sits down next to me, "I'll take you up on your battle offer later, but right now we have to get going."

I sigh, how could I forget? I brace myself, time to continue our decent into hell.