Last Time: "Shiki's got a date!" Sakura shouted, clapping her hands excitedly. Ino squealed loudly and jumped from foot to foot.
"With who?" She demanded as soon as she calmed down. Shiki flushed and mumbled something into her lap. "Speak up, Shiki."
"Itachi." This time Tenten joined in with the squealing as all three of them smiled at Shiki. Hinata was the only one who remained calm and she gave a brief nod to Shiki in congratulations.
"Gaara!" Shikamaru shouted from across the room, "We got Anbu here!" Everyone instantly quieted down as the redhead rushed over to the Nara and cursed as he recognized the Akatsuki on the screen. His green eyes jumped around the room for a moment before he squared his shoulders and took a deep breath.
"Masks on," He ordered, "We'll give them something to watch if that's what they want. Shikamaru alert the other contenders, see what they want to do." The brunette nodded and ran out of the room.
The Ring
Chapter 21
Problems
"The others say they're not comfortable doing it with Anbu here." Shikamaru commented, walking back into the room. Gaara nodded and glared at the computer screen. "Should we call Shiki?" Gaara snapped out of it and shook his head.
"No, let's leave that as a last ditch effort, no reason to ruin her date." Shikamaru nodded with a skeptical look on his face.
"Well, what are we going to do about the fights? People are out there and we can't let them know without the Akatsuki knowing at the same time." Gaara rubbed his eyes wearily before letting out a sigh.
"We'll fight each other, do a sort of exhibition, Akatsuki also knows us so we'll definately need to change some things."
Tayuya piped up from the corner. "We have some hoodies that came with the masks, they help cover the hair."
"Go get them." Gaara ordered.
The Ring
"Shiki?" Shiki started and looked around in surprise before catching Itachi's eye. She blushed as she rubbed the back of her head.
"Oh, I'm sorry Itachi, I'm having trouble concentrating today." The Uchiha smiled at her, but Shiki could see he was a little worried. "I just have a bad feeling is all."
"Your family?" Shiki nodded as she absently starting rubbing at her chest.
"Yeah, since we're Wolves we have this sort of connection and," She laughed and shook her head. "Sorry, I didn't mean to do this on our first date." Itachi shook his head as he smiled at her.
"It's fine, they're your family, do you want to call them?" Shiki hesitated for a moment before sighing.
"Yes, thank you, I'm sorry." She hurried outside and pulled out her phone.
The Ring
Gaara's eye twitched as he felt his phone vibrate and he snatched it out of his pocket. "Yeah?"
"Gaara, what's wrong?" Gaara's eyes slid closed as he sighed in acceptance.
"Shiki, it's under control."
"What's wrong?" Gaara could feel the power behind her words and almost growled. Kimi touched his shoulder and Gaara could feel himself relaxing.
"And I said it's under control." She scoffed on the other end of the phone.
"It must be bad if you're fighting me on it." Gaara stayed silent as he looked around the room, everyone was watching him discreetly as they pulled armless black hoodies on. The hoods hooked onto the masks so they wouldn't fall off. Some of them smiled at him nervously as they nodded at him. "Gaara, please." Her voice betrayed the worry and nervousness she was feeling and Gaara realized how tough it was on her. Knowing something was wrong, but not being able to do something.
"Akatsuki showed up."
The Ring
Shiki rushed back into restuarant and grabbed her bag. "I'm so sorry, Itachi, but there's something really wrong and I've got to go help." Itachi had stood up when she'd entered and was now frowning.
"You walked here, do you need a ride?" Shiki hesitated briefly before nodding frantically.
"Yes, thank you." He threw some money down on the table and grabbed his coat.
"Follow me." He grabbed her hand and led her to a parking lot across the street. She blushed at the contact but willingly went along with him. They jumped into the car and he turned to her with a look. "Where to?" She hesitated as she tried to think of a location that would make sense.
"The hospital." He nodded and with a screech of tires, they were out of the parking lot. They managed to make it to the hospital in ten minutes and Shiki felt some pressure relieve itself from her shoulders.
"Thank you." She gasped as she opened the door.
"Should I come in with you?" Shiki felt her heart freeze as she remembered that Itachi was part of the Anbu and more importantly the Akatsuki. She turned to look at him with a strained smiling as she thought quickly.
"No, um, the others won't like that." She stuttered out, Itachi frowned and Shiki plowed on. "When Wolves have relapses they don't like people they don't really know around them and Yuki doesn't realy know you so, yeah." She finished lamely and stared at him with wide eyes, pleading with him to just let her go. He stared at her for a moment before he nodded and she leaned forward to kiss his cheek. "Thank you." She breathed, staring into his eyes once more before ducking out and running into the building.
Itachi stared after her his frown deeping with every step she took away from him. He touched his cheeks lightly with his fingers before shaking his head and pulling out of the parking lot. He had to check in with Pein to see how the mission had turned out.
The Ring
Shiki slammed into the elevator and pushed the button to close the doors, as soon as they were she slammed her key into the slot and pushed the down button. She tapped her foot impatiently as she pulled her hair up into a bun and watched the elevator move past the basement. As soon as the doors opened, she was running down the hallway following the path that lead to the break room.
She slowed down as she approached the door and walked in with a confident air. She was greeted by a room people in masks and hoodies and she felt a glimmer of pride.
"I think it's good that I can't even recognize you." She commented, some of them laughed and she grinned as she started pulling of her clothes. "What's the status?" Gaara walked up as she started pulling out her uniform and pulling it on.
"The contenders weren't comfortable fighting with Akatsuki here, so they left, we were just going to fight against each other, a sort of demonstration." Shiki nodded seriously as she looked everyone over.
"Where'd the others go?"
"The ones not fighting went to the training room to watch on the screens." Shikamaru's voice came from behind her, she turned around to see him standing in the doorway. "I'll be joining them there." Shiki nodded as she pulled her mask on and secured it to the hoodie.
"As soon as the fights are over, everyone leave, come here and take your masks off, then hightail it the fuck out of here got it?" They all nodded and she let out a sigh as she turned to three of them with wolf masks. "The story is Yuki had a relapse, alright?" Once again everyone nodded and she rolled her shoulders.
"We can do this." Kiba said, his smiling dog mask looking around at everyone. "We've been training for this." Shiki nodded and smiled at him.
"Let's go." They all started filing out of the room and Gaara stopped by her shoulder.
"Thanks for showing up." He said, his voice low and thankful. Shiki smiled at him affectionately and bumped him.
"You're all my family, of course I'd come." He turned around and hugged her tightly.
"Let's fight, Shuukaku." She whispered, squeezing him back.
"Let's kill, Kyuubi."
AN: I finally got this chapter out! I'm so sorry it's been so long, but this is my senior year and i've been busy with getting ready and passing classes. Anyway, thanks to everyone who reviewed/subscribed/favorited/followed. :) All of you make my day.
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