A/N: Yet another chapter. This has turned into my favourite fic. This is so much fun for me to write and I hope you all are enjoying it too. The song is Light up the Dark by Greyson Chance and it's a song from Akio's view. Fun note, it's not actually about Shinobu. So with no further interuptions - SHINOBU :D
Shinobu POV
Shinobu sighed, looking at her reflection in the river. She looked like a guy.. she had the genitals to say she was a guy. She had the strength and the skill.. but she wasn't a guy. She threw a rock into the water to shatter her reflection.
"Why the hell couldn't I have been born a guy? Seriously, there can't be a god.. if there was he wouldn't have screwed up so horribly!" She yelled at no one in particular, burrying her head in her knees, smashing her forehead in the process.. not that she really cared. Why couldn't she have been a guy? She's be the exact same except she would have had a family.. she wouldn't have been so alone this entire time... and she could honestly say to Akio that she didn't like guys.
She sighed again before peaking over her knees back into the water. Shinobu had told her teammates that she was going to get clean. They hadn't met any large bodies of water along the way and while she wasn't one to care about her appearance she wasn't up for stinking either. She poked her foot into the water before groaning. It was freezing cold. Despite the weather outside.. it was like a river in the mountains. How was that even possible?
"Better get this over with.." She muttered under her breath, disrobing. Hinata and Kiba had bathed previously while she prepared food and set up the camp fire and tents. She didn't mind but she was definitely enjoying her time away from Akio. It gave her time to think.. ok so it wasn't all perks. What she would give for a day of not thinking about her family once.
Shinobu winced, inching her self into the water. She had goose pimples crawling up her skin as she shivered. She took a quick breath before dunking her head under the water. She came up with a screech. It had given her horrible brain freeze. She was literally shaking on the spot. It was no wonder Kiba had yelled. She watched in mild fascination as her skin slowly turned pink.. then purple.. then blue. Letting her body sink into the water as her skin grew painfully numb.
"You should probably get out.. you're going to get sick.." A voice murmered from behind her and she whipped her head around to see a smirking yet concerned Akio standing there with a towel. Her first reaction was to blush, her second made Akio chuckle as her hands flew to cover her crotch which wasn't really visible anyway through the white caps in the speeding water. It was then that she realized she had been drifting side ways down the river.
"J-just l-leave t-t-the towel there and I'll g-get out w-when you're g-g-gone." She stammered, trying to get out the sentence through chattering teeth.
"You're so numb.. if I let you do that you won't be able to function." He replied simply. She attempted to scowl at him but it was of no use, he was right. She could barely move. She sighed.
"I-it's not like having y-you here w-will c-change that." Shinobu complained. "I-i'd rather y-you n-n-n-not see m-me nnn-naked." She growled clenching her teeth in a failed attempt to stop her teeth from clashing.
"I'll close my eyes if it makes you happy.. just get out of the water..." He sighed, closing his eyes.
"T-t-turn around! I d-don't want you p-peaking." She chattered. He sighed but complied as she moved to the edge of the water and carefully hoisted herself out of the water, grabbing the towel from him and wrapping it around herself. The sound of her teeth ringing in her ears. How had she gotten so distracted that she didn't even notice how cold she was?
"You really shouldn't do that again.. you could get sick.. or die." Akio scolded, guiding her back to the camp. Everyone else had gone to find more firewood so it was just the two of them.
"I-I'm fine n-now... t-thanks." Shinobu said, despite her pain filled limbs.
"No you're not.. now let me help you." He sighed, wrapping a thick blanket around her shoulders. Shinobu immediately sunk into the covers, relishing in the heat. Her skin felt like it was burning because she was so cold.
"T-thank you.." she muttered. Leaning against a rock near the campfire. Great.. the perv is being sweet.. but he hates women and thinks I'm a guy.. She inwardly groaned, knowing she needed to tell him before he swore off guys too.
"Akio.. I-" She started but was interupted.
"Shh.. just rest.." He shushed her before wrapping an arm around her and bringing her closer to him. He's so warm.. wait..no.. uuuum..what's happening...
"Erm.. Akio.. I-I need to t-tell you something." She repeated.
"What is it?" He whispered and she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable, she was sitting between his legs and while he was warm and comforting it made things really awkward.
"I'm.. uh.." Oh no.. how can I tell him before I've even told my team..?
"Don't worry... just tell me later.. relax for now." He whispered, stroking small circles on her arm causing goose bumps to crawl up her spine. Ok.. just for now.. I'll tell my team when they get back and then I'll tell him and hopefully he won't be too mad. She thought.. she felt bad but she couldn't tell him until her team knew..with this thought in mind her eyelids drooped and as much as she fought it she found herself asleep.
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO SHINOBU?" Kiba screeched upon seeing what looked like a happy couple. Shinobu slowly opened her eyes with a small groan, trying to register where she was.
"Nothing, why do you care?" Akio responded, looking rather amused.
"Because he's my friend you jackass! Did you hurt him! What the hell did you do?" He shouted wearing a glare that could kill.
"I didn't hurt him." Akio stated simply, still looking amused. It was then Shinobu realized that she was clinging onto Akio's t-shirt, tears staining her cheeks. She must have had another nightmare. She sat up letting the blanket fall to her lap revealing her bare muscled torso.
"Didn't hurt him my ass! He's been crying you asshole!" Kiba growled quickly wrapping the blanket around Shinobu and picking him up and out of Akio's reach.
"Kiba what is.. What happened?" Kurenai asked, looking shocked.
"I don't know! Akio won't tell me. I came here to find Shinobu asleep and crying with Akio holding him! The jackass did something to him!" Kiba yelled, gently putting Shinobu down in his tent.
"Now wait a second.. we don't know what happened, you can't just accuse Akio.." Kurenai replied logically. Shinobu laid there in silence watching Kiba's back as he fumed.. was he.. protecting her..?
"I didn't do anything, other than save him." Akio smirked and Kiba was speechless for a moment.
"C-could you explain?" Hinata asked quietly, she always dislike when Kiba got into arguements with people.
"He was freezing himself in the river. You know how cold it is in there. I knew he'd been there for a while so I checked on him. When I got there he was turning blue and could barely talk because his teeth were chattering so much. I helped him get out and warm up and then he fell asleep, that's it." Akio explained, looking smug.
"Wait... so.." Kiba started, his eyebrows knitted as he thought. Akio was expecting an apology or a mumbled "oh". Of course, Kiba would never voluntarily do what Akio wanted.
"WAIT! YOU SAW HIM NAKED?" He finally shouted after a long silence. Shinobu's cheeks flushed at the statement.
"No.. I closed my eyes until he had a towel." Akio replied calmly.
"Ok.. then why is he crying?" Kiba asked, clinging desperately for something to blame him with.
"I think he was having a nightmare.. I'm not really sure.. he started crying after he fell asleep." He said, his voice coated with concern and worry.
"See? Now that we're done accusing.. Can we-" Kurenai started.
"Kiba.. Shino.. Hinata.. Kurenai-sensei? Can I talk to you guys for a moment.. alone." Shinobu finally spoke, looking at the ground.
"Sure?" Kurenai smiled at her because they all gathered in the tent leaving Akio confused outside and out of hearing range.
"What is it..? Are you ok?" Kiba asked.. she had never seen him so worried before. Or so quiet for that matter.
"I.. I have something I want to tell you all.. It's just.. we're a team.. and as a team we shouldn't keep secrets or anything.. especially if it could effect teamwork.. so um.." She paused quickly putting on the sweater that Kiba had handed her, keeping the blanket around her waist. Kurenai looked mildy impressed, though she was trying to hide it. She hadn't expected Shinobu to come forward so soon.
"What is it?" Kiba asked impatiently.
"It's a long story.. so please don't interupt.. alright?" She sighed. Kurenai was confused, how could her gender be such a long story?
"Ya, ok. Just tell." Kiba said and Shinobu rolled her eyes.
"You see.. when I was born.. I was born a twin... I have a brother.. who'm you all know.. but we'll get to him later. He was allowed to stay with our family.. because he was a boy.. and to our father.. boys were strong. Strength was very important to him.. so he didn't want any girls to taint his family's image. So I was left in the street."
"Wait.. but you're a boy." Kiba stated in confusion.
"I said no interupting." Shinobu rolled her eyes before continued. "Anyway, so I lived in a little wooden house in the alley near the weapon's shop."
"You mean that little one every one loved using for playing ninja?" Kiba asked again.
"Seriously? Does anyone have duct tape? Stop interupting." Shinobu sighed. "But yes, that one. I built it when I was seven out of money I made working with Ayame and Tseuchi at the ramen shop. I had to deliver for my family once.. and was permanently banned from their compound. It wasn't long after then that I found out they had died.. leaving two known survivors.. my brothers.. because I didn't exists to the world. After all, my father told the hokage I died at birth.. no one other than Naruto and the Hokage knows who I am. When I joined the academy, I refused to attend as a girl.. for several reasons. One reason is that the girls don't get as much training because they are forced to take flower arrangement classes and such. I wanted to be strong, not be a housewife. So Iruka taught me a genjutsu so I could attend as a boy. A genjutsu I've been using daily since then. As time went on in the academy I interacted with my brother and fought him. I lost every time. I ended up telling Naruto.. who had gotten to know me better. When Naruto found out where I lived.. I ended up living with him.. I have my own room there and that's where I live. He's now on a team with my brother. Sasuke. Now you can ask question." She finished.
"To clarify.. there are three living Uchiha's and you are one of them but you were abandoned by your family because of your gender. You covered it up to become stronger and now you're living with Naruto?" Shino asked.
"Yes."
"S-so you're a g-girl?" Hinata asked.
"Yes."
"You're related to that bastard?" Kiba asked dumbfounded.
"Yes."
"Does the Hokage know you are living with Naruto?" Kurenai asked, concern showing in her eyes.. she expected to find out her student was indeed a girl.. not all of this.
"Yes."
"Wait.. so.. how come you don't have boobs?" Kiba finally asked after another moment of silence.
"Kai." Shinobu said simply, letting the jutsu drop. She didn't have a particularily large chest area but she was only twelve and she was so muscular.. she barely had any fat on her. But she did have enough for Kiba to notice, he looked awestruck as her long hair fell around her shoulders.
"You still look like Sasuke.. you have the same face.. just.. prettier eyes.. and a smaller jaw." Kiba muttered, digging a hole and quickly shutting up.
"Well.. we are identical twins.." Shinobu smiled half-heartedly.
"Wait... what a-about Ino-chan?" Hinata asked, having realized the girl's crush early on.
"Oh my.. and all your fangirls.." Kiba sat wide eyed before bursting into laughter.
"I'll have to tell them eventually I guess.. but not yet.. right now it can remain between you guys, the Hokage and Naruto.. oh.. and Moegi." She grinned. Her teammates looked confused but didn't say anything.
"What about Akio?" Shino asked.
"I'm telling him I don't like him like that and I'm sorry.." Shinobu sighed.
"You know he has an issues with women right?" Kiba asked.
"Ya.. I kind of wish I knew why but it's his business and my nose isn't going anywhere near it." She smiled.
"So does this mean you're going to start being a girl around us now?" Kurenai asked.
"No.. I don't want to be under-estimated, I don't want people asking questions and I'm too used to fighting as a girl now.. thinking of the number of times you've punched me in the chest it's probably safer on my part to remain a guy during combat." Shinobu grinned and Kiba's face flushed. The group exited the tent and Shinobu quickly put on some clothes that were her own before switching the genjutsu back and exiting herself, heading towards Akio. Two confrontations in one day.. this sucks..
"One last question.. why were you crying..?" Kiba asked, stopping her before she could reach Akio.
"Nightmare.." She mumbled.
"Of what..?"
"My father killed everyone in team eight because I was too weak.." She replied quietly, looking away.
"You know you're not weak right? You can kick my butt and I'm super strong." He bragged letting a dog like grin cover his features.
"I know.. thanks." She smiled giving him a hug before detouring to Akio.
"You ok?" He asked.
"Ya.. but I need to talk to you." She replied.
"About what?"
"Well.. it's uhm... you like me right?" She asked, mentally facepalming.. she sounded so arrogant putting it like that.
"Why.." he asked, looking cautious and worried.
"I just.. I don't like you like that.." She mumbled.
"Why? Do you like Kiba? Am I not good enough?" He immediately spat out.
"No.. that's not it.. I like you as a friend.. and I like Kiba as a friend.. I don't like either one of you as more. You're good enough but you deserve someone who will love you back.." She answered.. she felt guilty.. she knew what it was like to feel inadequate and she didn't want to make him feel like that.
"Can't you give me a chance? Why not?" He asked, his voice raising in volume.
"Because. I'm not what you're looking for!" She finally snapped.
"How do you know what I'm looking for? You're not me!" He growled.
"We live so far away it wouldn't work even if I did like you.. besides.. you're gay.. I'm not what you're looking for!" She said in exasperation.
"We could make it work! And that doesn't even make sense! I'm gay? So what, you're a guy!" He yelled, Shinobu was starting to feel very embarrassed as everyone started staring at her.
"Dude.. leave he-im alone.. he said he didn't like you. Let it drop." Kiba said, walking over and putting a supportive arm around Shinobu.
"So you do like him.. you're a liar.. what's so good about him? He's a ninja? I'll become a ninja if it makes you happy!" He shouted.
"I-it's not that he's a ninja.. I don't like him like that.. we're not a thing.. he's a friend." She tried to explain.
"Then why? Why am I not good enough for you!" He looked horribly distraught. Shinobu didn't quite understand.. it's not like they had any emotional connection.. all he'd done was hit on her.
"I never said that! But you're gay! I'm a girl!" She finally shouted.
"W-what? Don't lie.. You're not a girl.." He stammered looking shocked at first before looking hurt and pissed off.
"I'm not lying! I'm a girl!" She yelled in aggravation.
"I saw you in the river! You didn't go to cover anything but your crotch. Stop lying!" He said looking hurt.. he looked like he was about to cry.
"I'm not trying to hurt you.. ok? I'm using a genjutsu to hide my gender for personal reasons.. I am a girl.." She explained.
"I don't believe you! You're lying! Stop lying to me!" He screamed throwing his hands over his ears and tears streamed down his face. She didn't understand.. why was he this upset.. she felt horrible. She released the genjutsu.
"I'm not lying.. look.. I'm a girl." She said, crouching down infront of him and watching as his eyes widened taking in her appearance.
"B-but.. " Akio started but he was at loss for words.
"See now?" she asked.
"S-so what.. y-you can just keep using that genjutsu thing right! and then it'll be fine! I don't see the problem." Akio looked like a lost puppy, gripping to what little hope he had left.
"But then I wouldn't be me.. you wouldn't be happy dating someone who isn't real right?"
"B-but.. you'd still be you just with different parts." he argued but you could tell he knew it was a losing battle.
"But it's not me.. I'm sorry.." She said, going to stand up.
"Then I'll deal with you being a girl... just.. give me a chance.." He said, wiping his eyes.
"I'm not going to do that.. I'd love to be your friend.. but nothing more.. I'm sorry." She said before standing and walking towards the tent she was sharing with Kiba.
"I'll take whatever shift you set me up for, just wake me when I'm needed." She said, disappearing into the tent.
A/N: I'm having a small problem while writing this.. I actually like ShinobuxAkio as a yaoi couple. But Shinobu's not a guy.. AGH.. why do I do this to myself? Lol.
Linda Ku: Haha, don't worry about it. Thanks for your review now btw :D I'm glad you liked it and Akio's humour. You want to meet Akio? Haha XD Next chapter is up quick *well.. posted above lol.* Along with said reaction :D
DutchyPuppy: Hmm.. I wonder if you were right? *is posted above* lol. And ya, not all women do but some do =P
Alli ate Sora-Sorry Roxas: You should definitely see a circus. Contortionists, trapeze artists and trampoline artists are my favourite. You can check them out on youtube. Just type in "Cirque du soleil Allegria contortionist" or trapeze. I've seen Cirque du soleil twice and they're amazing. I'm the same, that's why it's fun for me to write her. Oh.. you typed 83? Was that not a song? lol Because it's by john mayer or something or other. Yush, see I want Akio to be a perfect balance between pervy, sweet, emotional and stoic. lol :D Thanks for the review :D
ThePhoenixOfTears: Yup, I love that song XD The llama song.. that'll be a challenge.. challenge.. ACCEPTED! :D I'm definitely not using Friday :P but thank you :D oooh. Haha, okey, mis-understanding :P Maybe he is maybe he isn't XD aah, he's protect of her because she's so shy and she's on his team. I'm fine with long reviews XD and thanks with the french I appreciate it. Haha, snuggle buddy XD I giggled myself when writing this. Oh, when the fat guy said that he meant just as in they just recently became ninja lol. Shinobu and Kiba were talking so they were distracted and they're in cloth tents. That's why his team rolled their eyes at his "modesty" lol. I definitely like Akio :P I might just have to bring him back later :P Aah, the genjutsu turns her into a male. So if she takes off her tank top they'll just see a muscular boob free chest XD Fou can mean crazy or mad? That's what I thought anyway. I'll fix it though. Haha Akio is definitely a touchy touchy guy and he is moving kinda fast :P Yes it was awakward XD I can believe Aiko said that :P In fact I laughed my butt off because of how wrong it is XD He's definitely one of my favourite Oc's lol. This mission; will not be forgotten xD In acrobatics class we have to hold it for 2 minutes. I can walk like that, you just have to get good at it. :P My heels stay down though unless I get to where my back is no longer comfortable :P That was sexist, I like the quote and agree with it but Akio has his reasons, they'll be revealed :P Yay XD I had good french :D I updated soon lol. Mirror is taking back stove for a while, I don't think SS is going to slow down till well after the chunin exams XD You were going to say what instead of great? You never typed it lol. Thanks for the review! :D
EclipseStripe: Haha, oooh. Good idea but I don't want to do that because the funny part is that not everyone can understand. Plus I explain it for the most part. I like it better that most of my readers can't understand what Akio is saying. It puts them in team 8's shoes in a way. Plus it's fun XD Hmm... you wanna know what he's saying.. never thought of that one. Urgh.. I don't know how to solve this problem =/ I'd rather not change the language just because it takes away from the feel. If you want I can start answering what everything means at the bottom of each chapter? I'll go back and edit the other ones? Thanks for the review!
