Chapter 4: Canine Thief

"Kurenai sensei," Hinata began, "is it alright if we brought a friend of ours to watch us train today?"

Kurenai looked at Airi. "What's your name?"

"Nozomi Airi of the Hidden Nozomi Clan," Airi answered.

"Nozomi huh?"

"Y-Yes, ma'am."

I wonder, can she use the Lost Arts? "You can stay as long as you don't interfere with or distract my students."

"I won't. Th-Thank you sensei." Airi moved off to the side and watched her new friends begin their training. She looked up to the sky and sighed. What am I doing? I don't have time for these silly games. I have to sell my charms. I have to make up for what I did…

Kiba looked back at Airi. Hmm, is she alright? "Hey, Akamaru?"

'What is it Kiba?' Akamaru asked.

"Can you do me a big favor?"

'Sure! What is it?'

"I want you to go over to Airi and take her necklace."

'What? But she needs that to get back to her village!'

"I know, I know, but this is for fun. I'll give it back, I just want to impress her."

'But won't she get mad? Not to mention Kurenai! And besides, everyone will be mad at ME!'

"It's alright, okay? Just do it!"

'No Kiba!'

"Please? Pretty, pretty please? Come one Akamaru, don't be like that!"

'Alright, alright! I hope you know what you're doing!' Akamaru ran over to Airi.

"Oh, hello Akamaru. Don't you have to help Kiba train?" He barked. "What is it?"

'Sorry about this Airi, but my master can be an idiot.' He jumped up and bit her necklace.

"A-Akamaru!" He pulled it off and ran away. "Akamaru! Come back! Bad dog!" She got up and started to shout. "AKAMARU!"

Everyone looked at her. Hinata tilted her head. "What's wrong with Airi? Did Akamaru do something?" Kiba hid his laughter.

Kurenai glanced over at Kiba. "Kiba, what did you do?"

"What? I didn't do anything! It's Akamaru that-"

"Kiba!" Airi ran over to Kiba. She grabbed him and began to shake him. "Your dog just stole my charm!"

"Wh-What're you shaking me for though?"

Kurenai sighed. "I'm sorry Airi, but Akamaru is fast. Who knows where he is! And if it gets buried…I'm sorry, but it can't be helped."

Airi pushed Kiba out of the way. "But Miss Kurenai sensei, I can never again enter my village without that charm! I need it!"

Kurenai gulped. "Wh-What did you say? Oh my…"

"Kiba! You should've watched Akamaru!" Hinata cried.

Airi made a serious face and grabbed Kiba again. "See this?" She held up a fist. "If you don't find your dog and get my charm back, this is gonna be part of your everyday life for the rest of your life."

"Wh-What! But-But-But-"

"We're not gonna find Akamaru by standing around and yelling about it," Shino said. "We have to do something about it." He jumped into a tree.

"Shino's right," Hinata said. She disappeared.

"That's you mission for today," Kurenai said. "Go get Miss Airi's necklace back or you'll have to face terrible consequences."

"Y-Yes Kurenai sensei," Kiba said.

"Kiba, please find my necklace," Airi asked. She ran off.

XXXX

"Akamaru?" Airi called out. "Where are you? Akamaru!" She surveyed the area from the tree she was in. "Please give me my necklace back! Aka--" Something with many legs crawled up her arm. "What?" She looked down and saw a spider on her arm. "Spi-Spi--!" Horrible images began to fill her head. "N-No! No, please!" She reached for the spider and threw it off. She covered her arms and let out a quiet scream. Another spider dropped onto her head. "N-No!"

----

Shino looked around. "Where is Akamaru?"

"AHH!"

His gaze shot up and the first thing he saw was Airi struggling up in the tree above him. "What?" She was pulling something off her back and out of her hair. She started to move closer to the edge of the branch. "Hey! Airi, be careful or you're gonna-"

"AAAHHHH!" She plummeted from the branch.

"Dammit!" Shino dove forward and caught Airi. He started to fall backwards, but he used his chakra to keep his balance. "Airi!" She was sweating and breathing rapidly. She wrapped her arms firmly around his neck. "H-Hey, what's wrong? Airi?"

"N-No more, please…" She buried her face in his chest. "…Make it stop…"

"It got you, it's alright."

"…Please stop…"

"Hey?" H-Huh? He had finally noticed how he was holding her. His right arm was wrapped around her long, slender legs and his left arm was wrapped around her upper chest. His fingertips were brushing against the soft curves of her chest. He blushed. She was so light and delicate. It was as if she would snap in two if she wasn't handled carefully. "Airi, are you okay?"

What? Is that Shino talking to me? She looked up. "Sh-Shino? But how did I…?" She looked up. I was standing in that tree, then everything went black. I'm on the ground in Shino's arms…That means…! She looked back at him. "Shino…"

"We found Akamaru!" Kiba and Hinata came to the scene.

Kiba looked at Shino and Airi. What? How did they end up like this? "Hey Shino, how long are you gonna hold Airi like that?"

"Erm!" Shino looked down at Airi, then over at Hinata who was giggling quietly.

"Shino, thank you for-" He blushed and dropped her. "OW!"

Hinata gasped. "Oh!"

"Hey Shino!" Kiba yelled. "Don't just drop her!"

Airi jumped up. "Yeah! What're you trying to do!"

"Are you alright Airi?" Hinata asked.

"I'm fine." She looked over at Kiba who was holding Akamaru. "Akamaru!" She rushed over to them. "Did you get my necklace!"

Kiba held up the emerald stone. "Right here."

"Oh Kiba! Thank you!" She took it. "Thank you so much!" She looked at Akamaru. "Now Akamaru, please don't do that again, alright?"

'It's not my fault! My idiot master made me do it!' He barked.

"It's alright Akamaru," Airi said.

"Well, well, so you found the necklace and Akamaru, huh?" Kurenai appeared before them. "You did good, so your training is over for today." She disappeared.

"Well, um, you guys wanna go get a drink or something?" Kiba asked.

"Actually," Airi began as she put her necklace back on, "I have to go sell my charms now. I'll see you guys later." She walked by Shino. "…Bye Shino. And thank you for saving my life."

"Hmm?" He blushed, but didn't say anything.

"Well then, it's just us," Kiba said. Shino walked away. "Hey, Shino! You could at least say you're leaving!" He sighed. "I can never figure out that guy."

"Shino is very mysterious," Hinata informed.