Epilogue

A bell tinkled as Shizune entered the shop, and the owner of the place looked up.

"It's raining something fierce out there, isn't it miss?"

"Yes." She replied, smiling slightly. "Would you mind if I waited it out here?"

"Not at all. Make yourself at home."

"Thank you." She responded, moving further in and seeing just what she had ducked into.

It was a book shop. A quaint little place completely crammed with various volumes, ranging to the raunchy paperback novel to the solemn dictionary to "Baby's First Colors" perched on top of the first volume of Fullmetal Alchemist. There was about three times as much shelf space as floor space and anyone not within 5 pounds of their ideal weight would have difficulty maneuvering between the shelves. As strange as it was, Shizune resolved not to think of it; she was just grateful that there was someplace for her to wait out the storm.

She picked up a medical dictionary and had just cracked the cover when—

"Shizune? Is that you?"

She turned around (with some difficulty) and found Mitarashi Anko poking her head around the corner. Her face lit up as she saw her guess was right.

"Hey! I thought it was you! How ya doin'?"

"Good, wet, but good."

Anko rolled her eyes even as she smiled at her. "Totally, right? That storm's crazy, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"Hey, you lookin' at something or can I bug you for a minute?"

"Sure."

"Great! Over here."

Her head disappeared and Shizune followed her into the next aisle, forced to walk sideways because of narrowness. Anko noticed her discomfort.

"Crazy, huh?" She whispered, grinning.

"Completely." Shizune agreed, ducking to avoid hitting 500,000 Bird Species and Their Life Cycles.

"Back here."

Anko led still further into the store, only stopping when they came to the back wall. There was nothing there but a stack of cardboard boxes, all haphazardly crammed with even more books.

"I was just browsing when I came across these and thought they looked interesting. Here, I'll read the back to you." She pulled a book out and Shizune just barely had time to catch a glimpse of an apple on the cover before Anko flipped it over and began reading. " "About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him—and I didn't know how dominate that part might be—that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.""

She looked up at her companion. "Kinda chick-flicky sounding but I figured it might be OK. Whatcha think?"

"What was the name again?"

"Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer."

When she didn't respond, Anko added. "I thought it might be kinda nice to have a brainless read."

"What's the price?"

Anko perked up, seeing that she might be interested. "It's really cheap, only like 5 bucks or something. How many do we want?"

Shizune shifted. "I don't know Anko."

"What?" She asked, halfway through reaching in for another copy.

"There's something familiar about this book."

"Oh, you've read it then? Why didn't you tell me?"

Shizune shook her head. "No, I haven't read it, but I know I've seen it somewhere before."

Anko looked at her, an eyebrow raised. "It's not cursed if that's what you're wondering."

Shizune huffed, rolling her eyes. "Very clever, Anko."

Anko smirked. "So," She said, sobering up, "back to the original question, how many do we want?"

"I don't know."

"Well, I'm gonna get one, and you know Kurenai'll want one so I'll get one for her too. And then you know she's going to rant about it for weeks so then you'll have to read it, so that's another one for you…That makes three. Hey, you think Tsunade-sama'd want one?"

"I don't know." Shizune said slowly. "She's not a big reader."

Anko shrugged. "Ah, heck. We'll get one for her anyway. 'Sides, then we can all talk it over after we're done…OK, so that's four. Alrighty. Hey! I think the rain stopped. You done?"

Shizune nodded and led back to the front of the store, waiting for Anko at the end of the aisle.

"What?" Anko asked, catching her worried glance at the pile in her arms.

"I don't know." Shizune said for the third time, eyebrows furrowed. "It's just that I could swear I've heard of this book before and there was something wrong with it or something."

"Well that was specific." Anko rolled her eyes and made her way to the checkout counter.

Shizune followed.

"Ahh, so you found something you liked." The owner smiled. "Will this be all?"

"Yep." Anko replied. "Unless you have something Shizune?"

Shizune shook her head.

The man rang her up. "Alright, that'll be twenty dollars please."

Anko paid and thanked him, picking up the stack again and catching Shizune's worried look.

"Would you knock it off?" She said. "You make me feel like I'm committing a crime."

"Sorry." Shizune apologized. "It's just, I really don't feel comfortable with this and I can't say why."

"Come on, Shizune." Anko replied breezily, opening the shop door and walking out into the watery sunshine with her. "I mean honestly, what could happen?"