Chapter 42: Unwanted Sacrifices

"So you're saying that Shinji was actually good!" Kiba asked.

"Well, at the very end, yes," Airi answered. "He repented and I saw the righteousness in his soul…" She winced. The tears stung her eyes.

"I can't believe he changed just like that…" Hinata said.

"At least he died peacefully…" Airas whispered. "He had peace of mind…"

"Maybe…just maybe…he could go…where the angles are…" Aurion whispered. They stopped in front of a tower.

"This is it," Shino said. "This is where Shen is…" They all took a deep breath and went in.

"It's so dark and unpleasant in here…" Hinata pointed out.

Akamaru whined. "I know boy…" Kiba said.

"So I see that little pig Shinji squealed. Then please, come to the top of my glorious tower and face me…if you dare."

"It's Shen!" Airi exclaimed. "How dare he say such a thing!"

"C'mon, we have to get to the top!" Shino shouted. They stared to run up the stairs. "Look! A door!" They busted through the door, but the tower shook.

"What's that!" Hinata asked. Shouting could be heard from the room below. "Something's coming!"

Aurion opened the door they came from and looked down. "Shit! It's a crap load of Nozomis and Aburames!"

Airi pounded on the other door in the room. "It's locked! We can't go through! What do we do!" A hole was suddenly blown into the wall. "KYAH!" The group got into a defensive position.

"Relax, it's only us!"

Hinata gasped. "N-Na-"

Naruto grinned. "Hey!"

"Naruto!" Kakashi, Kurenai, Kitari, Sasuke, and Sakura came through the hole as well. "Guys? How'd you know to come here!"

Kitari stepped forward. "That would be me. I remembered that Shinji had a special mark on a tower in the middle of nowhere on his map. This is it." The shouting became louder. "Uh-oh, looks like we got company."

Kakashi and Kurenai stood in front of the door with Aurion and Airas. "You guys keep going."

"But sensei?" Sakura shouted. "We can't leave you guys here!"

"You all have a brand new assignment," Kakashi said. "You have to get Shino and Airi to the top of this tower!" He walked over to the other door and broke it down. "Now go!" The teens reluctantly nodded and fled. "No one's gonna come through here."

"Right!" Airas said as she joined Kakashi. "Um…K-Kakashi…I…Well you see…"

He looked down at her. "Y-Yes?"

"Um…" She looked away. "Never mind!"

Aurion sighed. "Kurenai…"

"Mm-hmm?" She looked up at him.

"Kurenai…" The shouting had reached the door. "I love you."

----

"Wow, this hall is big," Naruto said.

"Forget the hall!" Sasuke shouted. "Let's just keep moving!" They ran up another set of stairs.

"I hope we get to the top soon," Kitari said. The tower rumbled again. "Whoa!" She fell backwards onto Sasuke.

"H-Hey! Watch out!"

"I'm sorry Sasuke." She got up.

"You guys okay up there?" Kiba asked.

"Yeah!" The tower rumbled again and all of them screamed. The floor behind them was falling apart, revealing an endless black oblivion. Kitari and Sasuke looked back at their friends. "You guys, MOVE!" Airi, Shino, Kiba, Sakura, Hinata, and Naruto ran past Kitari and Sasuke.

"AH!" Airi tripped and fell back down the stairs. She rolled over the edge, but grabbed on.

"AIRI?"

"Airi!" Kitari ran back and grabbed Airi's hand. "Don't let go!"

"K-Kitari!"

"Gah…y-you're heavier than you…look…" She gasped when she began to slip forward. "No!"

"Kitari!" Sasuke dove after Kitari and grabbed her leg. "You loser, what're you doing!" his insult directed at Airi, "Climb up us and go!"

"O-Okay!" Airi climbed up Kitari's back, then over Sasuke. "Do you guys need-" The floor under her gave way. "AH!" She jumped back, but now Kitari and Sasuke were stranded on a small piece of the stairs. "You guys!"

"Go Airi!" Kitari shouted.

"You have to get to the top of this damn tower!" Sasuke yelled. "We can handle things here! Just go!"

"But…" She blinked. "Fine!" She ran after the others.

"K-Kitari," Sasuke muttered. "What…now?"

"I…I don't know…" She sighed. "Let's just hope they make it…" Her vision was getting fuzzy. "Sasuke…all of the blood…is rushing…to my…head…"

His vision was fuzzy as well. "Yeah…mine…too…"

----

Sakura was nearly in tears. "Sa-Sasuke…"

"Quit whining about him!" Kiba shouted. "It's not helping!"

"Well you don't have to be a jerk!" she shot back. They came to a room full of weird devices.

"What is this?" Naruto asked.

"Let me handle this," Sakura said. She looked around. "Aha…this should open the door." She flipped a switch and the door opened. "There!" Kikai suddenly swarmed out of a hole in the wall and wrapped around her leg. "AIIEE!" She was pulled against the wall.

"Sakura!" Kiba shouted. He ran after her and tried to pull her. "C'mon! let go you damned bugs!" A door came crashing down behind the two, separating them from the rest of the group. "H-Hey?" More Kikai began to fill the room. "No!"

"Kiba!" Shino yelled. He pounded on the see-through door. "Kiba!"

Sakura and Kiba looked back at them. "Don't worry about us! We'll…be fine! Just keep going! You guys have to get to the top!"

"But Kiba-"

"Shino! Please protect Airi!" Kiba shouted. "Please!"

"Kiba I…" Shino nodded. "I will."

"…Sakura…" Naruto whispered. "You two better live!" The four continued.

Kiba finally managed to pull Sakura off the wall. "Got cha."

"Thanks," Sakura said. They were up to their knees in Kikai. "But now what? Kiba are we going to…?"

He smiled. "I don't know." Akamaru howled as the Kikai crawled up to their necks. "Let's just hope that Airi and Shino make it."

----

Airi tripped and fell to her knees. "…I…I…can't…"

"Are you okay, Airi?" Naruto asked.

"I don't want to sacrifice anyone anymore. Naruto, Hinata, I…I…"

Naruto rubbed her head. "Airi, you gotta do what you gotta do. Don't worry about us, okay?"

"Yes," Hinata added. "Airi, we want you and Shino to have a bright future, as well as your clans. We don't mind doing this."

"I…love you guys…" she whispered.

Shino looked down. "…Airi…" He held his hand out to her and pulled her up. "Be strong."

"Shino…" She blushed. "…Okay." They walked on, thinking of their friends that sacrificed their own lives. You guys…I'm sorry… They opened another door and gasped when they walked in. It was full of Nozomis and Aburames. "…Oh crap…"

"Gett 'em!"

"GRAHH!" Using his Nine-Tailed Fox chakra, Naruto warded off a few of the attackers. "Shino, Airi, get to that door over there!" He made a path.

"But what about you and Hinata!" Airi asked.

"Don't worry!" Hinata said with a smile. "Naruto and I don't go down that easily."

"But…you guys…"

"Airi, come on," Shino said as he pulled her along.

"Naruto! Hinata! You guys have to live!" She disappeared beyond the door with Shino.

Naruto and Hinata faced the crowd of people. "Well Hinata," Naruto began, "this is gonna be fun."

"R-Really?" Hinata asked.

"Ye-ep." He blushed and grabbed her hand. "D-Don't worry Hinata, I got y-your back!"

Her face flushed crimson. "O-Okay Naruto…A-And I g-got y-yours too…"

----

"Shino, did we do the right thing?" Airi asked.

"…Airi…" Shino replied.

"I'm sorry. I know that they're doing this for us. I shouldn't have doubted them." She stopped him. "Shino…wait."

"Hmm? What is it?"

She removed his sunglasses and looked up at him. "Shino, I love you."

"I love you too." They shared a quick kiss, then continued up the tower. I won't let anything happen to you Airi. I will protect you with my life, I promise.