thinking'

Flash back or dream

"Talking"

Demon or inner

Once upon a time there was an ant. Day in and day out, he cuttled about following his path, eating when necceasry, sleeping when necessary always following, following his path. All around him, he saw ants dying ants he knew, ants he didn't….they all turned to dust and were forgotten. One day he just put down his load and turned around and said:

"I don't like this path".

And he made his own.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sakura POV

My breathing was quick, frantic even, as I tried to keep up with Kiba, but he was just so fast. By the time I reached the gate he had already been there, standing stock still for about five minutes straight. "What, is it…?" I asked as I was doubled over, trying to regain my breath. He didn't answer me right away. Instead he shook his head and pressed his hands against the cold steel of the gate, before pushing it open.

The gate didn't so much as groan as it was pushed forward. I nearly coughed as I felt the stench of a hundred years of dust slam into my face. Just when I had a hard time as it was breathing. My throaty coughs echoed eerily back at me, as they rebounded throughout the giant warehouse. My 'guardians' never flinched. There was Kiba , stoney faced and hardened, and Akamaru, hackles raised, growls emitting from the behind his gigantic set of teeth.

I gulped. I was new to this. I didn't know what would or could happen next. So I just did what I could and readied my gun. All this time however, I was painfully aware of what these little peanut sized bullets could do to a demon. Not much.

"Ah….Mr. Inuzuka…you arrived….and right on time, too". After everything I saw tonight I didn't have the energy in me to be shocked. I was met with the vision of a dark haired boy covered head to toe in grey clothing, a pair of round sunglasses hiding his eyes from view. But before I had the time to wonder what the color of his eyes might be, I heard myself talked about. "And you brought a guest, did you? She would make a wonderful snack for my little helpers".

Kiba growled, "As if! You said nothing about me coming alone! Now…where is Arisu?!". Shino simply took a step out of the shadow. "Your stupidity astounds me. To think that you can even hope to fool me…". "WHERE IS SHE?!".

Silence.

"As, I said….your stupidity astounds me….she…is right….here".

Arisu POV

I felt something clench my arm and pull me forward to which I responded with a groggy half step. "Arisu!!". I heard my name, but it felt so far away. "Kiba…?" I groaned. I was beginning to fall, but from behind steely hands gripped me, catching me, before I hit the floor and laying me on ,my knees.

My head was spinning, the room was spinning, everything was spinning.

I was going to be sick…

"What did you do to her?!" I heard from afar. Kiba again…what was he so worked up about? I was just a little nauseus, was all…

"A drug. The moment, I saw your friends, I knew you were not going to join the DMRO, and so I've decided to turn back on my own word as well…".

"BASTARD! Where's the antidote ?!".

"I shan't give it to you. This girl is going to die because of you".

Wait….I was going to die? I groped my stomach, as I saw blotches of black and white. I was going to die…? I keeled over and barfed. Yes…I could see it now. What he did earlier, the needle, the syringe. I had been drugged. Badly.

I was going to die.

Shino POV

Ants . The lot of them, I tell myself every day. Anyone else is unimportant, for they are all just ants. Hundreds, thousands, Millions….of ants, all day every day, being born. And just as it is nature's way, they too shall die.

I was born an ant as well.

But I am not one. I stepped out of that circle of ants running around, going no where. I knew I was an ant, and just as all the ants before me, I would die, stomped out by some higher power. But I grew. I refused to die . I became stronger, till I was not just an ant, but a beetle. The Rhinoceros beetle.

The biggest, strongest insect of all and because of that, I can eat the ants. I can eat them and make them my food. I can kill them even if I don't need to eat them. I can stomp them put and ransack their ant hills. Because I am bigger.

I tell myself that countless of times, and watch as my victims fall from behind my tinted shades, but…now I stare at this boy. He is but an ant. Trying to save another ant. He is trying so hard. But in the end, I realize, that I too am just an ant. I am an ant trying to save someone as well….

Even if this boy is respectable, admirable, noble and everything I am not. Even if he is a friend maybe, I will not stop until I crush him. Because I am an ant as well. I am trying to save someone and ants eat other ants.

It is what ants do.

Mother………………I will save you……but……when I do….please don't ask my questions of how I was able to save you…..please………

Because then you will surely say your son is a monster.

Kiba POV

I nod. My body feels like lead. Because I know what I must do. I look at Arisu. Her beautiful eyes are dull, her skin is pal and her hair is all over her face. She had been there…always for me. Cooking my meals, scolding me when I make snide remarks, and saying, 'it's ok, it's fine" whenever I had to do something bad.

Even though the neighbors glared at me. Even though her friends said, I was bad for her, she just stood there and flipped her hair haughtily before coming back to me.

Arisu. Is a very important person to me. Everything will still not be enough in exchange for her….

"What do you want me to do….what do I have to do, to make you give me the antidote?" I hiss through gritted teeth. This is it. I'm selling my soul to the devil. I see him from the corner of my eye. His face is blank, and contemplating, then he speaks. "First of…kill her".

I look where he's pointing and I nearly shout in grief.

Sakura POV

"First of…kill her".

Me. He means me. He's pointing at me. I almost laugh with hysteria. Does he see me so much of a threat that he needs me gone? Or does he simply deem me killable and wants Kiba to be a test? Or both?

I quickly cut of my regretful train of thought. I chose to come, knowing it was dangerous. I look at Kiba and I swear I see him hold back a scream, just like me. I grin and wonder if I'm going crazy. Maybe the shock does that. I know immediately.

It's either Arisu or me.

And I know who he'll choose.

I try to slow my breathing, I try to slow my heart beat, I try to slow everything as I watch the precious seconds left of my life tick by. But It does not stop. My breath continues quicker and quicker, my heart is hammering against my chest and the time continues.

I see Kiba's remorseful expression as he reaches into his holster and pulls out a well concealed gun. Aka,asru whimpers and begins to bark running around in circles around his master, confused at his gesture. His whimpers almost speak to her and she can almost hear it 'Mah! Kiba, Kiba why do you point a weapon at the tall tail-less, pink female".

He doesn't understand.

And neither do I. Why did this happen again…? Oh no! My time's out! I can see it! He's pulling the trigger, I'm going to die, I'm going to die! He pulled it! A bang! I'm dead!

………….

I open my eyes and only now did I realize that my arms flew up probably in a futile effort to protect myself. The bullet would have gone straight through me either way, at this distance….but for some reason it didn't. Then I realize, I've been looking down this hole time so I angle my face upward and I see…him.

"Sa…su…ke…".

His arm is wrapped around my waist and his body is angled in front of me, protectively and I see his free hand. It's wrapped around the barrel of the gun pointing to the ceiling. I look up and sure enough I see a hole, moonlight filtering down on us from above, but what strikes me most is his expression. He's not angry. He's not scared. He simply looks submissive as if he has excepted the fact that he needs to be here….he's supposed to be here….with me.

His pale lips move to speak, as his hand begins to push the barrel towards Kiba and I can see him straining to keep the gun away. Finally the barrel is aimed directly for Kiba's head . "Fire this gun again and it'll be the end of you" he says matter-of-factly.

Kiba grits his teeth, but behind the look of aggravation I see relief. Perhaps he really wasn't set on killing me and was glad to find a way out of it.

Kiba tch'd and let go of the gun completely backing off. "I did not feel you enter" came Shino's soft tone from the other side of the room. "That's because you were too busy with what you caught in your web and nothing outside of it you paid attention to" was Sasuke's next reply as he crushed the gun, bullets, steel and all in his hand before throwing it away.

I exhaled slowly. I was so glad to see him suddenly. How? How did he know? I thought he was on a 'business trip' with Itachi…. Surely if Sasuke was here, everything would be settled, right? Right…?

"Right…" Shino drawled, "then I assure you, it shall not happen again…". I looked at Kiba, then Sasuke, then Arisu then Shino. I tensed and my brows furrowed. Would Kiba still give into Shino's demands? I closed my eyes, as much as I didn't want that, I knew he probably still would if he had any hope to find that antidote and…I glanced at Sasuke, worriedly. Knowing Sasuke….he wouldn't just let this slide.

Kiba could get real hurt.

"Jeez".

One word echoed through the warehouse jarring my ears, as they just got used to the awkward silence. I looked around. That wasn't Shino, nor Sasuke, not Kiba, Arisu was drugged, and I honestly wasn't counting Akamaru in all this. "Can't you take care of a few eye sores, before things escalate, Shino?".

Then I remembered. Messy brunette hair, sharp calculating eyes….a smirk. Kankuro. He made a showy bow, "my pleasure to see you again, Mademoiselle" he said with a flirtatious wink, "It really is such a pity though….". I could guess what was the continuation of that. Its really is such a pity though that none of you will leave alive.

Or something along those lines.

"Hey dog boy!". Kiba spun. A grin, and a gun in hand. "Fetch" . The gun went off and something thudded in Kiba's arm as I heard a groan, and I looked to see an oddly shaped dart sticking out of his arm. He howled and promptly fell to the floor, convulsing, just as I felt Sasuke's arm around me tighten and heard a frantic whisper, 'get back!'. I couldn't see what was happening, but I heard a growl and a howl, one that sounded human, and yet, not….

"Kiba" I wrestle dto get a look, but the sight that met me was not the brave hearted brunette, rather a large lycan-like creature, a dog, and a man, a werewolf. I heard Kankuro's cackling laughter, "how's that?! The mutt shows his true colors!".

Then I realize….the dart…there must have been some sort of activant in it, but before I can get any further with my thoughts, I get pushed to the ground and see a large paw swing over my head and smash into the crates, reducing them to firewood in seconds. My heart starts thudding, this dog, this thing….is not Kiba. And it just tried to kill me.

"RUN!" I hear Sasuke's voice and I don't hesitate. I make a break for it, I'm running wide eyed, like a child. I'm scared. I want to wake up, I want to live…. Behind me I hear the sounds of snarls as Akamaru jumps his own master, aware that he is dangerous and a thud as Sasuke is smashed backwards like a rag doll.

Shino POV

I approach Kankuro quietly, like I always do, as the battle rages on. I have left the young woman leaning against a crate, I no longer need her. "Kankuro". The brunette, battle hardened male doesn't look at me, he just chuckles and says, "wow did you see that? Forty feet back, whoo….Aw! And look at the white mutt, it's really a dumb animal, it's teeny weeny compared to our werewolf".

"Kankuro" I persist, my voice now more urgent, "our deal". Confusion on his face, "Huh, wha-?' the enlightenment. "OH! That deal! Yeah, we said we'd hand over your momma right?". I gulp, I'm worried, and excited, and scared. My mother, I have never met her, but I have dreamed that amidst all the world's cruelty there would be someone, someone kind and loving towards me….my mother.

'We ain't got her". My world crashes.

"What?".

Kankuro shakes his hea,d rubbing his temples, "boy do I feel sorry for you" he murmmers. "You're smart, Shino. And meticulous….you do your job well, that's why we got you, but…dude. We don't have your mom. We never did". My head starts to spin, "dude…." Comes his voice again, quieter, but more dangerous, his hand is reaching into his pocket now, but I can't react, my world is still spinning.

"We lied"

His hand jerks, and in a fit of rage, I lunge, "Liar! Liar! I'll kill you! Give me back my mother!!!". I see his eyes, wide, surprised, but I feel the pain….the pain in my abdomen…and I look down, a falchion blade sticking out of me grostequely . I'm falling now, my world is still spinning but it's also dimming, I'm on my knees now. This is nothing. I'm a demon. I won't die because of this, but the harsh reality is to much. I have to go on living….without mother….? How? I've tried so hard, I've stretched myself so far, I'm on my last legs….I can't go on anymore…

"Give me back my mother…" I mumble as I cling to the puppeteer, he looks down at me in disgust. "Get up" he growls. But I can't move, I'm frozen. "Get up! I had more respect for you than that!!". I can't move then I feel something pick me up by the collar of my jacket and slam me on the wall. "You're giving up?! You son of a bitch! You're a quiter!" he spat. "Quiter! Quiter! Quiter! Get up! Try harder! Go farther! You've already gone so far! Go farther! Find her!! The DMRO lies all time, they destroy lives, destroy everything you have, but that doesn't stop them!" he pointed to the people below us. The one's still fighting.

I see the Uchiha, smashed once again into the wall. I see the pinkette pull out a gun and shoot at the canine monster while carrying of the woman named Arisu. I see the dog, so small, go up against a creature much bigger than him, but fiercely even so. "That didn't stop that Kiba guy!" Kankuro snarled, lifting me higher, so that my feet are no longer touching the ground, his anger radiating., He's angry at me….for quiting….then I realize. My supposed tormentor….has been cheering me on, all this time, praying, watching, hoping that I would beat the odds……

My hand feebly makes an attempt to loosen his grip, I'm choking. My fingers weakly try to undo his hold on me….and my fingers slip under his sleeve and pull out a packet of powder. "Thanks….for the pep talk…" I wheeze before I promptly slam my legs in his gut.

He screams in pain and falls backward, as I hear a rib crack, he falls of the scaffolding, and lets me go. Taking in breaths of sweet air, I look down….I can see him groaning and cursing down below and I very nearly smile. What a weird guy.

But I'm Shino Aburame. Smiling really isn't my thing.

I am an ant. We are all ants.

I grab Kankuro's gun and open the latch.

We all live, and are born, and we die, leaving no traces behind. Meaningless, our lives were meaningless.

I find one of the darts and open it up., It's empty. Ripping open the pack, I pour in the contents.

But everyone in a while there are some ants who leave the circle, who fight for glory, or for love, or for what they believe in, or just to be remembered.

I snap the latch shut, after making sure its secure.

Today I saw many of those strange ants. Kiba Inuzuka. Kankuro no Subaku. Sasuke Uchiha. Sakura Haruno and I arrive at a conclusion.

I take aim.

I want to be one of those ants as well.

I fire.

Today, I , Shino Aburame, was supposed to be erased, without doing anything good, without ever saving anyone. I was supposed to die a Villain.

The dart hit it's mark and I hear a roar.

So, therefore, I very politely……refuse my destiny.

Sakura POV

I take in a breath of stale, dust filled air and smile. I'm back in the not so abandoned church now. I can See Tsunade discussing animatedly with Kakashi about the mission details. Naruto and Hinata aren't hear right now, last I saw was Naruto grinning like an idiot as he held Hinata's hand and said he was busying her a new dress, lilac maybe.

To the side, Arisu is patching up Kiba's wounds, scolding him, I see him wince and smile as he pets Akamaru affectionately, now with his own doggy cast, exhausted like hell. Then Akamaru looks up, Kiba follows his gaze and grins, widely before patting the seat beside him, to which Shino Aburame, slowly and hesitantly accepts.

Everything has been resolved. Shino had shot Kiba with an anti-body dart. I don't get all the sciency stuff, but basically, he turned Kiba back to normal and saved our hides. Afterwards, he got an earful of apologies from the creepily polite bug herder. Turns out he's been looking for his mother for a long, long time. DMRO lied and said they had her, so he had no choice but to follow their orders.

Suprisingly, Kiba had been the first to run over and pat his back saying something like, "I knew you were a good guy" and, "I totally get how you feel". Shino was promptly ( and almost forcefully) welcomed to our coven like he was an old friend we all hadn't seen in years.

It makes me smile to see how flustered he gets with social stuff. Arisu was next to give him a big ole hug and a pat on the head. Kiba even personally volunteered to be Shino's anchor, so it looks like now we have yet another Angel Demon pair, so all is good, but Shino's facial expression still makes me laugh.

I giggle.

"Hey…" comes a whisper in my ear and I feel Sasuke stir as he kisses my hair. That's right. As soon as we got here, he practically fell on me in exhaustion. Turns out, he had been working non-stop and rushed over here as soon as he heard the news. We've been peacefully sitting here in the corner, his arms wrapped around my waist and his head resting on my shoulder the whole time.

"Sorry if I woke you" I say. He only looks up at me with calm black eyes, as if measuring me up. "It's fine…I don't need much sleep anyway" he whispers. He blinks once more before speaking again, "you're stupid".

I throw a fit. "WHAT?!".

But I'm cut off as his lips gently brush against mine before coming in full force and pulling back before I have the chance to react him, leaving me dumbfounded. "You made me worry, therefore you're stupid" he continued, still resting on my shoulder. I sigh.

"How do I make it up to you?".

He closes his eyes for a moment and I almost think he's fallen asleep again before he opens those beautiful black orbs, now glazed with a mischievous glint. "Promise me that you belong only to me". I scowl, "what does that mean?".

"Promise me".

Suddenly this feels like a bad idea, but I feel forced to comply. "I promise…".

"Seal it with a kiss".

Oh….So that's what the bugger was after. "Fine" I say, leaning in and I press my lips against his gently. So that's that. Things have more or less worked out, things are good. Things are great, and it seems I am now officially Sasuke's property. Woohoo. It may get bumpy from here on , but I'll stay with him. I have to after all, like I said, I would right?

Sealed with a kiss.