Bestial

AN: So, I’m on a roll here. Isn’t it exciting? Thanks to those who took the time to review. Remember, reviews feed the author! We like them—even more than chocolate cake! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!

AN2: Someone indicated a concern that this story may have actual bestiality in this story. Let me take the time to assure you that there is no animal sex in any way, shape, or form here. Bestiality here refers to animalistic characteristics certain shinobi have as a result from being too close to animals—sharing chakra with them, using them, etc. Unless you’re squicked by Inuyasha/YYH-type stuff (think claws, keen senses—no fuzzy ears or tails though), you should be ok. I have edited the summary to this effect.

Mmmmm scene change

::blablabla:: Inner Sakura

Chapter Two


A mate? Was the man serious? Had he hit his head? “Mate” sounded fairly primitive. Why would he word it like that? The thought that this was an elaborate prank crossed my mind. But it wasn’t April. And Kakashi looked serious.

“You’re being awfully forthcoming with information,” I said suspiciously.

“You need to be prepared.”

I looked at him, perplexed.

“For those who you will be most attractive to. They will fight over you like dogs fight over a bitch in heat.” Well, I blinked, that was blunt—and, well, not to sound redundant, but it was primitive too—can we say hello caveman?

“So that would be Naruto and Kiba? Why wasn’t Neji affected?”

“My powers don’t closely interact with nature. They’re not…as biological. My enhanced senses are sight and touch, but they are entirely chakra-based. I can’t detect a change in your scent.”

“Think of it as a question of bestiality,” Kakashi broke in, a gleam entering his eye.

“Bestiality?” That sounded a little icky to my mind. And more with the caveman-ness!

“Really, Sakura,” Kakashi scolded me. “Everything has a price. Our powers have consequences, whether it costs us strength or chakra or something else. Can you honestly say you did not suspect this one?”

I stared blindly in front of me, contemplating that bit of information. Primitive…bestiality…the cost—oh! The cost was their humanity, or a portion of it. They became more like the animals they interacted with. That’s why Kiba always acted like an alpha male, like the head of a pack—why his senses were always sharp—he didn’t need to use chakra to enhance them anymore—why he had fangs and claws at times. That’s why Naruto took on more fox-like features when he got angry, and he became wild—the price for Kyuubi’s power. I quickly began running through all the ninjas I knew, trying to remember whose powers dealt with animals. Shino had his kikai, and Kakashi—I swung to look at him. The gleam was still present. Kakashi had a keen sense of smell. And he summoned that pack of dogs. I dimly noticed in the back of my mind that the majority of shinobi I knew had canine-based powers.

“So…you too, then?” I said to Kakashi, who nodded. “But, you weren’t affected like Kiba and Naruto.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I’ve had years to perfect my self-control. Neither Kiba nor Naruto are in the habit of practicing any self-control in these matters.” Too much information! I did not want to hear about their sex lives!

“Yes, you’ll notice that, although I have been standing here the entire time, I have also made no move to…mark…you.” I gasped and turned around. Shino was leaning against a tree, no part of his face visible except for his cheekbones and nose. I really, really wanted to remove his hood. You have no idea.

“Mark me?”

Kakashi sighed. I didn’t blame him. I was feeling especially dim today. It must be the lack of sleep. “You are the prize in a battle for dominance. The winner will claim you and mark you—as his mate.”

Well, that just pissed me off. Typical males, never asking a woman what she wants. I narrowed my eyes and glared at him.

“And what if I don’t want that person?” I felt a warm, hard body behind me, and warm lips caress my ear lobe. I drew in a shaky breath. A girl’s hormones can only take so much.

“That’s part of the battle,” Shino murmured. “We get to…convince you.”

It was apparent to me that I was going to need help to keep these four men off my trail. They could beat each other to kingdom come for all I cared. But first...I really wanted to know what Shino was hiding under his hood. With a fast chakra boost for speed and an even faster movement, I had his hood down, his jacket half unzipped, and I was getting ready to yank off his jacket as I finished unzipping it. I had pulled it off one shoulder when my limbs slowed and suddenly felt rather tired. Oh, that is so disgusting! A few of Shino’s kikai had crawled onto my arms and were draining my chakra, slowing me down.

::Get them off! GET THEM OFF! Grossgrossgrossgrossgrossgross!::

Shino took the opportunity to disarm me and put me in a hold that had me facing toward Kakashi and Neji, who were watching me with amusement. I held up my hands in a gesture of defeat.

“Well if he’s going to be trying to get into my pants, I should be able to see the goods, don’t you think?”

“If that’s what you wanted, all you had to do was ask,” Shino said with a smile in his voice.

I pouted. I had been so focused on trying to remove his jacket that I only had vague impressions of sculpted lips, a pointy chin, and thick dark hair. Drat. A few well-placed elbows to Shino’s side and I was near Neji, edging closer to his side. He looked down at me, his lips quirking up at the corners on his normally expressionless face—wow, that was practically a grin in Neji-land.

“So…what do you charge for bodyguard duties?”

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Never fear! I am nowhere near finished with explaining the concept of maturity and how that relates to Kiba, Naruto, Shino, and Kakashi being able to sense it! Find out more as Sakura goes on a quest for information, dodges Kiba and Naruto, and runs into Shino! All in the next chapter—review, review, review!