Chapter 42: What Is Love?
I sighed contently putting my hands behind my head enjoying the warm sunshine that went through the trees keeping my eyes closed. It had been a few days since we got back from the Sand and I was deemed okay to leave the hospital. Kakashi would still be there for a few more days but at least he was awake again and not hurt too bad.
Frowning to myself I wish I hadn't missed my chance to help Sakura and Naruto meet the spy for Orochimaru, but Tsunade felt it was best I took a break. From what Naruto told me before he left it was with a creepy boy and an even creepier guy, so I suppose it wasn't a total loss.
Seeing the sunlight disappear from the outside of my eye lids I felt a light tickle on my nose smiling, "I was wondering when I'd see you again."
"You are easy to find." the voice said back making me smile wider replying, "Well we do come here a lot."
It was quiet for a moment as I said, "Oh did you get to see Naruto before he left again?"
Not hearing anything I opened one eye tilting my head seeing Shino crouched in a corner by a tree hearing him mutter, "He knew it was Kiba, Akamaru and Hinata right away..."
Standing up from my spot I pat his back replying, "Oh come on with the hood and goggles how would he have known?"
"Did he recognize you?" Shino asked looking towards me as I tapped my chin saying, "Well yes..."
Watching his head slump again I waved my arms replying, "Hey my red hair gives me away ya know!"
"Yuna!" I heard someone yell above me seeing Reno land beside us while Shino stood up as I said, "Reno what's wrong?"
"It's Ren-sensei, he needs our help!" Reno said hearing the panic in his voice as I looked towards Shino knowing he would come too saying, "Lead the way."
Jumping through the trees towards Ren-sensei's house I looked towards Reno asking, "What's going on?"
"I don't know exactly, he just said it was a matter of life and death." Reno said making me frown hearing Shino ask, "Where is Hayner?"
"He left on a mission this morning." I said as we landed at Ren-sensei's house hearing wailing from the inside watching Reno kick open the door.
"What..." I began looking in front of me.
"Is..." Reno said suddenly curious.
"This." Shino said hearing the annoyance in his voice.
In front of us Ren-sensei was sprawled out across his couch eating ice cream and sniffling into it as we all looked at one another.
"Ren-sensei?" I questioned as he noticed us seeing him smile with snot bubbles in his nose replying proudly, "I knew you guys would come… and Shino."
"This was a matter of life and death." Shino said hearing the distrust in his voice while Reno replied, "What's wrong Ren-sensei… is it Anko, is she hurt?"
At the sound of Anko's name Ren-sensei began sniffling again watching him flop backwards on the couch seeing the ice cream spill everywhere as he cried, "She left me."
"I can see why." Shino said matter-of-factually making me swipe my hand at him replying, "What do you mean she left you, I thought you guys were fine?"
He sniffed looking at us with sad eyes replying, "I thought so too I even told her I loved her, but she freaked out and said it was over."
"That makes no sense..." Reno said tapping his chin making me cock my eyebrow saying, "Ren-sensei… have you ever told Anko you love her before?"
"I mean it was implied but I don't think so..." he said thinking making me shake my head replying, "You may have just surprised her with it…"
"They've been dating for a few months now." Reno pipped in making me shake my head as I replied, "True but Ren-sensei you should know how guarded she is… it took forever just for her to accept a date remember?"
"I guess so..." Ren-sensei said hanging his head saying sadly, "I've lost her with my enthusiasm."
"We should talk to her." Reno said making me nod seeing Ren-sensei crawl towards us on his knees replying, "Oh I'd be so grateful!"
"This seems like a waste of time." Shino said stuffing his hands in his pockets as I looked at him saying, "You don't have to come with us."
Shino was silent for a moment before beginning to walk out replying quietly, "I have nothing better to do today."
Walking out of Ren-sensei's apartment I shook my head saying, "Man I've never seen Ren-sensei so upset… we have to fix this."
"I'll go check the training fields I bet she's there." Reno said enthusiastically watching him run off making me shake my head walking in the opposite direction hearing Shino beside me say, "Where are you going?"
"Well, if I was a girl who was overwhelmed like she was I'd go to my favorite place to think." I said seeing his eyebrow raise making me giggle, "She loves Dango."
Walking beside Shino we entered the Dango shop seeing familiar purple hair in the corner of the shop looking down at her Dango.
"Hello Anko-sensei." I said seeing her look up surprised smiling while she said, "Oh Yuna good to see you … and Shino."
Shino stayed silent as I sat down saying, "How are you, I feel like we haven't caught up in a long time."
Giving me a skeptical look, she sighed leaning back in her chair saying, "You talked to Ren didn't you?"
"It may have occurred." Shino said as I averted my eyes to him for a moment then back to Anko replying, "Did Ren-sensei freak you at when he said he loved you?"
"Ugh I can't believe he told his students about this…" Anko mumbled as I said, "But don't you like Ren-sensei why would you break up with him for it?"
"Look kid you haven't been through the crap that I have, nor have you even dated someone I bet… unless you guys are dating..." she said as Shino and I shook our heads hearing her continue, "Right so you don't understand what I'm going through."
"Sure, I do." I said with a smile saying, "I remember you told us about how Orochimaru abandoned you."
Her eyes widened for a moment seeing her touch her curse mark as I continued saying, "You're afraid of saying you love Ren-sensei because you don't want to get hurt and left again, right?"
She was quiet for a moment then laughed uneasily replying, "Maybe I underestimated you guys."
"Just Yuna, Reno is oblivious." Shino said hearing her laugh while I said, "You don't have to say you love him back, but you have to at least open up and talk to him about why you acted the way you did."
"I guess I should eventually but right now I want to eat these." she said beginning to munch on them while we waited hearing her say with a mouth full of Dango, "You guys should date."
Feeling my cheeks flush for a moment I said, "We are just friends, right Shino?"
He was quiet for a moment as I turned to him hearing him say quietly, "Right."