Chapter 24: Sacred Village

"Airi, go ahead," Airas said.

"Right," Airi said. "Okay guys, we're about to enter my village." She held up her necklace. "Please reveal thy self!" Her necklace began to glow. "Dispel!" The glowing suddenly stopped and huge gates appeared through the thick fog. "I'm…home."

"Alright, let's go inside!" Kiba cheered. Akamaru barked happily and Hinata giggled.

"I can't wait to see your beautiful village!" Hinata said.

"Don't get so excited," Airas sighed. "Your shouting is annoying."

Airi pushed open the gates. "Let's go everyone." They all stepped inside and people cheered.

"Tengoku Kitsune has returned with Tengoku Taiga!"

"We'll all be saved!"

"Tengoku Taiga has finally returned!"

"Wow, there's…not that many people," Hinata said as she looked around. "There's probably about…no more than fourty people here…"

A man approached them. "Tengoku Kitsune, Tengoku Taiga!" He looked at Hinata, Kiba, and Shino. "What! Outsiders!" He sharply looked at Airi. "You! This is your doing, isn't it!"

Airi swallowed hard and took a deep breath. "Yes, I brought them here."

"Tengoku Taiga! It's bad enough that you've condemned our village, but now you've brought outsiders! This is-"

"Shut up," Airas said. "She's got the money, so here." She tossed a bag to the man. "So what if she's brought outsiders? She's finally gonna atone for her sins." She looked back at her sister. "Am I right, Tengoku Taiga?"

"Y-Yes Tengoku Kitsune." Airi bowed.

The man looked at Airi. "Well, if Tengoku Kitsune approves of this, we'll just have to endure."

"Airi? What's…" Hinata tilted her head to one side.

"Airi?" Kiba called quietly.

"Yosaku, please take my guests to my house," Airi said.

"I don't think Aurion would approve of any of this, Tengoku Taiga," Airas said.

Airi looked up. "A-Aurion!"

"Yep."

Her lower lip quivered. "He…He…" She ran off.

"Airi! Airi, wait!" Hinata cried.

"Aurion…I heard Airi mention that name before," Kiba said. "So, he's here?"

"Who's Aurion?" Shino asked.

"Aurion…" Airas sighed and closed her eyes. "…Airi still loves Aurion after all of this time…"

"Love?" Hinata repeated. "So Airi and this guy Aurion…"

"Hmm, I see…" Kiba thought for a moment. So, all of this time, Airi was actually in love with some guy named Aurion. Now that she's back in her village, I don't think that she'll even look at Shino twice.

"…Well, I don't care if Airi still loves Aurion," Airas said coldly, "I love him more than she does." Kiba and Hinata looked at her in shock. "Yosaku, take them to my sister's place." She walked off.

"Did you hear that?" Kiba asked.

"So Airas and Airi like the same guy?" Hinata asked. They looked at Shino. He was as impassive as ever.

"I can't believe they would waste their time on you three," Yosaku said. "Hey, this way." They followed him.

"What's up with this place?" Kiba asked.

"I know," Hinata added, "These people are looking at us with such disdain."

"I guess Airi wasn't kidding when she said that this place didn't like ninjas."

"What do you think?" Shino finally said. "This village is sacred. This isn't a tourist spot."

"Geez, take the stick out," Kiba said sarcastically. "What's up with you all of a sudden?"

"Nothing."

"You guys, I have a bad feeling about all of this." Hinata looked around uncomfortably. "Something's…not right…"