v Pick out the dormant wing tat you want v
Faster, you must go faster. You'd using your last resort, a jutsu that taps into the tattoo on your shoulder blades, forming wings on your back. And to increase your speed in your weakened state, you needed this jutsu. From the tats on your back are wings, flowing and glistening when the light shines on them. It is what keeps you going. You dare not glance behind, dare not glimpse what is following you. How could this happen? Not long ago you were sitting among your teammates, laughing, joking, having fun around your campfire, and now, you're running for your life. It all happened so fast, all your teammates falling dead, your sharp ears being the only ones to have picked up the soft sound. You'd jumped back, away from the tight circle of friends, and they were slaughtered in an instant. What happened? And now you're being chased by something... you can't name! You don't know what it is? You'd caught a glimpse of it by the firelight, it looked... like a snake, a giant snake, but you can't be sure that that is what you saw, and you're not about to bet your life on it. You dare not glance back, leaping down from the trees and towards the waterfalls. They'll be great cover, you know that place inside and out. There's too many places you can hide there, and this thing will lose your scent once you go under water. The currect will carry it away, along with your clothes. You'll have to strip and discard everything you're wearing. Luckily, you always have a change located somewhere in the woods, just in case. You hear the crush of the water, the boom of the falls, and increase your speed, closing your eyes as you leap, your feet leaving the ledge and carrying you over the falls. You ball up, pulling your body tightly, and brace your head down as you plumit into the falls, splashing into the water and sinking quickly like a canonball. After a second, you start stripping, knowing that whatever it was will be right behind you. It'll probably figure you'll go downstream since the falls are very rampant, very dangerous, and there's only rock behind, or so they must think. You know better, you know of a crevice leading in, and no matter what that thing is, it's still too big to fit inside the cave. You strip off ever scrap of clothing, your body feeling the cold of the water intensify, your limbs shaking and shivering as you swim, your powerful muscles pulling you through the water, beneath the crush of the waterfall, and to a small hole. You don't need air for a little, you're a master of holding your breath, and you're not afraid of tight spaces, otherwise this could be a problem. And another reason you needed to discard your clothes is because this crevice is tiny and you would hate for anything to snag on a rock and get you stuck. Just you're luck, escape a giant beast just to get caught in a hole and drowned. You slip through, a protruding rock nicking the back of your thigh. You scowl but keep moving. Once inside, you break the surface, your lungs taking in a great gulp of air before you lower yourself so that only your eyes are above the water. You carefully move to the back of the cave and hoist yourself up onto a small ledge that's barely out of the water. You have your clothes stored in an airtight bag under the water, but you wont get it yet. What's the point in dressing when you'll just be getting into the water again. But you do reach for a rope hanging and pull down a large towel to wrap yourself in. You snuggle in the warmth, finding the cave rather chilly, especially with you wet. You hop from the small ledge to another, higher, one, and there you curl up, safe from the rising tide, and soon to be comfortably dry. You hug your bare legs to your naked chest, shivering beneath your blanket as you rest your chin on your knees, your mind racing. You lean against the cave wall and close your eyes, a soft breath leaving you as you let exhaustion claim you. You'll need any sleep you can get...
v You with Wings v
Other POV
"WHAAAAAAA! SHINO! CAN'T YOU TALK TO THEM, MAKE THEM STOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!!!??" Sakura screams, running alongside Sai, Shino, Hinata, and Naruto.
Shino runs casually, as if it's a jog in the park instead of from a swarm of angry insects the size of Naruto. "They are enraged, they wont listen to reason. Just run, those ones in front are poisonous."
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
Sai looks over with a smile, opening his mouth to make a point but getting Naruto's fist in his mouth. "Mhphm mopham."
"Don't know what you said, but don't say it! We don't need your statements right now, Sai!"
"Ah!" Hinata trips, falling to the ground and looks back in horror. "Naruto!"
"Huh? Hinata!!" He skids to a halt and spins around, running to her and sweeping her up into his arms and turning back and taking off as if she weighs nothing. "Don't worry, Hinata, I've got you!"
She blushes a furious red and hides her face against his chest. "Th-thank you, Naruto... um, you can set me down now."
"Nah, this is easier. I'd have to stop to set you down. And I think you hurt your ankle when you fell, I don't want you getting anymore injuries, ok?" He gives her one of his cutest smiles, unknowningly showing his most lovable, charming side that makes even Sakura envious. "Just hold on tight to me, Hinata. I wont let anything happen to you."
"There's a waterfall ahead!" Shino informs them. "The path ends there. We'll have to jump."
"Would we make it across?" Sakura asks, feeling the strain from running for so long.
"Probably not..."
Shino doesn't want to voice his other conserns, so, speeding up, he makes sure he's the first to leap off the edge. He's the one who got them into this, he didn't warn Naruto about the insects here, he led everyone into these woods. It's his fault, he should be the one to risk it all before his friends. He hits the water without injury, and is soon followed by everyone else, but the moment they hit, the water swirls, pulling them together and under. They feel their bodies being pulled and guided down and through what seems to be a hole. Naruto's sleeve catches, but the pressure keeps him moving, tearing his sleeve clean off, Hinata's hand still clutched in his. They all break the surface on the other side, taking great gasps of air, and looking around to see that they've ended up in a cavern probably located behind the waterfall. As they take in the sight with awe, a movement catches Shino's eye.
Shino looks up, ready for an attack, as a figure stands in the shadows. "Who are you?" His sudden question has everyone on alert, pulling their bodies to stand above the water even as they try to see the enemy Shino perceived.
"I am the one who saved you lot."
Your POV
You perch on your ledge, your body still bare beneath your large towel. You'd been awoken by their yells, which reverberated in this cavern and made you unable to go back to sleep. So, with nothing better to do, you used a water-based jutsu and created a whirlpool that brought them to safety. "Is everyone alright? No injuries?"
They all look at each other as if to see any injuries, and in an instant, one boy has one of the girls up in his arms and is stepping towards you. "Hey! Hinata hurt her ankle. Can you do anything about it?"
You jump down, landing easily on the waters surface and, with a yawn, walk over, your towel wrapped around you, engulfing your smaller figure, the shadows covering you like a veil. "Lemme see..."
You reach out, your pale skin almost transparent in the soft light in the cave supplied by your small candle scattered around on other ledges. Your fingers graze her flesh, your cold touch making her flinch and almost pull back, but your fingers are already encircling her ankle. "Hold still..." you concentrate, your chakra entering her body through the contact, searching out any and all injuries. She must've hit her head, she has a slight concussion, and her ankle is sprained. There's a few minor bumps and scrapes, but that's it. You carefully take away the major headache she must be suffering from, as well as handle her ankle. Finishing, you step away and back into the shadows, clutching the blanket closer around you as you retreat.
The girl blinks at you, reaching up to gingerly touch her forehead. "My headache... it's gone!"
You see her questioning stare and answer before she can ask. "I healed you. Your ankle is now fine, too, so the young man can put you down."
"Who are you?" Again, the same question from the same person.
You look at him from your place in darkness and find yourself answering even though you didn't want to. "Kyoko. And you?"
"Aburame Shino."
You nod as further introductions go around, listening a moment before letting yourself abruptly plumit through the water. You swim smoothly, as if water itself, and collect your change of clothes and surface again, bursting up into your towel before it even falls. "You are Leaf shinobi, yes? I see your headbands. I am a Leaf shinobi, as well. By any chance," you tilt your head, "did you see what appeared to be a large snake anywhere nearby?"
"Why do you wanna know?"
"Because, it has been trying to break in here for the past three days. It rests for only a few minutes, and if it was out there, then it will be a few hours since he'll be expecting us to make a break for it." You hop onto your ledge and tie your towel around you, not wanting to open your clothes just to get them wet. "Did you see anything out there?"
"No," Shino finally says, sitting on a rock and out of the water. You can't keep your eyes from staring as he removes his jacket and shirt to wring out the water from them. You can't tear your eyes from his toned body as water drips down, drawing your attention further. He doesn't seem to notice your attention, something you're thankful for. "How long have you been in here, Kyoko, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Oh, uh," you shake your head, clearing your wandering thoughts, and force your mind on his question and answering it. "Um... about five days. That thing chased me in here, and I planned on only staying a day or so, just to be sure it was gone, but when I went to make a run, it had come back and spotted me. I came back in here, hid out, and have been for the past three days." You sneeze, feeling a cold coming on. All this hanging around naked in water is giving you the sniffles. "Ugh, my supplies are gone, it ate them when I last made a break, and I have only one change of clothes besides my teammates'-" you stop, lowering your head. "But I guess they wont be needing them, now..."
Shino stands slowly, a worried look in his eyes but shielded by his sunglasses. You intrigue him, and seeing your silhouette up there, obviously naked beneath that towel, is making it difficult to concentrate. "Your teammates... were they...?"
You nod slowly, drawing your knees up, tucking your towel up beneath your legs. "My entire team... gone, just like that."
"Well, guess it's a good thing we're here, then!" Naruto exclaims, pointing his thumb back at himself. "I just so happen to be Uzumaki Naruto! I'll get you out of here!"
"Well, we kinda are in the same situation, being stuck in this cavern and all." You point out softly, no
wanting to burst his bubble. "But how do you plan on getting us out of here? If you cannot tell, we are in a fix here."
"But I, Uzumaki Naruto, can get us out! I'll just create clones of myself and run circles around that snake while everyone makes a break for it!"
You stop yourself and think about that, finding it a rather... good plan. "But what about when he eats you?"
"He'll be eating my doubles, believe it! I'll go out and give you the signal if he's there, then I'll distract him and you guys make a dash for it."
Hinata steps up to Naruto, her cheeks a brilliant pink as she stammers over her words. "N-Naruto, please be careful."
He just grins off her concern, not seeing her affection for him. "Don't worry, Hinata. I'll be fine! If I'm gonna be Hokage one day I need to protect my friends today!"
You clap your hands lightly, slipping off your perch and dropping down among them. "Nice speech, but one thing, this snake is fast. I would do what you are suggesting, create clones and run amuck, but I have no chakra and have not been able to replenish it since finding myself in here. Not to mention" -you start coughing, your lungs heaving as you feel a cold shiver come over you again- "I am in no condition to be leading a snake around by its tongue."
Shino steps up and removes his almost dry jacket and drapes it over your shoulders, warming you instantly even as he touches a hand to your forehead. "You're burning up. We need to get you out of here and to a doctor, you've been exposed to the elements for far too long." He looks to Naruto and nods. "Go, hurry. She needs to be out of here and infront of a fire, at least."
You try to shrug but just end up coughing more. "Nah, I will be fine-"
"Don't give me that, you look dead on your feet. You're pale and shivering, even with such a high fever." He rubs your arms, trying in vain to stop your shaking. "You're naked beneath that towel." He doesn't make it a question, he'd seen you move, seen you drop into the water, and saw you surface. He'd glimpsed bare flesh. "What happened to your clothes?"
You lift the bag in your hand to show him. "In here. I had to ditch everything else while running, but I always have a change in here."
Naruto's head suddenly pops up out of the water and he waves everyone over. "The snake thing is out here, and chasing clones of three of us. We need to get moving before it comes back."
You remove the jacket and wrap it up in another waterproof bag, strapping it to a leash with your change. "C'mon, I will go out first. You all had better be right there behind me."
"We will be," Sai smiles cheerfully.
You nod to him, cast Shino a glance, and see that he's right there, ready to follow you. It comforts you. You've just met this young man and yet his presence already gives you a semblance of comfort. You find that mildly disconcerting, but you're not abou to complain. You make it through the narrow passageway and swim up on the other side. Breaking the surface, you take a breath of air as your eyes and ears take in the sights and sounds, instantly locking onto Naruto's scream at the same time as you see the snake slap its tail down and destroy another clone as it turned its sights on you. You're no snake expert but you have a dead set feeling in your gut that's telling you it wants you. You don't hesitate, whirling around in the water and darting for the shore. Naruto notices you and the others and the snakes attention centered and instantly tries to distract the reptile. You send him a glance that says more than words. Thanks. Just a silent, unspoken word of gratitude. He's risking alot for you and the others. You pull yourself from the water and start running, one hand holding your towel up while the other clutches your clothes and the bag with Shino's jacket. Your lungs heave, rejecting the air being pulled frantically in, making you stumble and drop to your knees, coughing, unable to gain your breath. Just as you fall, Shino is there, lifting you up in his arms, bridal style. You slip your arms up around his neck and hold on, your eyes closed, your face nessled in the curve of his throat...
Shino's POV
He can't explain it, can't describe it, but can feel it, deep within, his almost uncontrolable need to protect and keep this slight girl in his arms, nessled so closely to his heart. It's happening too quickly. His father once told him about this feeling. His mother also mentioned it. Love at first sight? Could be, he's never felt this way about a girl before. He wants her safe above all else, above his own safety. He can't describe any of it, the deep sensations just her touch causes. Shino never believed in love at first sight, that is, until he nearly lost his cool when he'd seen her. Kyoko. Such a lovely name, meaning "mirror". Shino glances down at the solem face resting against his skin, the eyes closed so peacefully, so trusting. Just ait, the moment she sees a bug it'll be all over. She'll say something like "Icky!" and run away, especially if it crawls out of his skin. That would scare anyone, even his friends. He'll just have to make the most out of things before he looses the best thing that's happened to him...
Your POV
"Shino, look out!" You suddenly come alert as the tail of the snake sweeps down, directly for you and Shino. You shove from his arms and the moment your feet touch ground, push him out of range just before you're slammed by the heavy weight. You hear people yell as the snake wraps its tail around you, coiling you tightly, not crushing, just holding. It's a kidnap! The thought almost shocks you as much as the scales binding you immobile as it makes its escape with its prize; You! Struggling, you see Shino following behind and realize that he's trying to rescue you. The thought touches, but the imminent near-death-experience that will follow is unneeded. "Shino, no! Get away from he- ah!" You bite your lip to keep from screaming out as the tail coils tighter around you. Giving a sharp glare to the snake, you open your mouth, sharp teeth sparkling, and bite down on the tail, bringing a sharp hiss from the snake. Blood fills your mouth, bitter, vial, burning down your throat, making you sputter and gag. You're released, your body hitting the ground rolling, coming up in a
run.
Arms reach out and grab you, a hand covering your mouth to stall any scream as you're pulled behind a tree while the snake slithers by, pissed as hell and searching for you. "You ok?" Shino's voice whispers by your ear, his breath feathering against your neck, sending delightful shivers down your spine. "You're covered in blood."
You pull his hand down and nod, looking back over your shoulder at him. "I am fine, I bit its tail, that is why it dropped me."
Shino moves to stand infront of you, his hands skimming down your arms, paying attention to the one your holding. "You're hurt. How bad?"
You look down at your arm and try to move it. No responce. "I cannot move it. It is probably broken."
Shino eases you down to the ground and does a quick examination. "I'm no medical-nin, but I believe you're right. How does it feel?"
Hurts like hell. "Not that bad, it is rather numb. I think I am in shock, surprisingly." You try for a comforting smile, but it quickly drops as your gaze shifts to over Shino's shoulder. "Down!" You draw a kunai and throw it as Shino ducks, the blade barely missing his temple as it buries deeply into the belly of the snake as it comes up behind him.
Shino glances back then to you and nods with a smirk, looking over the rim of his sunglasses to wink at you. "When this is over, what do you say we get something to eat?"
"Like a date?"
"Exactly like a date."
You blow him a kiss and wink. "So long as you are buying. I am broke." You stick out your tongue as he smiles, shaking his head.
"I'm asking you out! Of course I'll pay. What kind of guy would I be if I made my date pay?"
"A lame one," you blow him a raspberry. "Now go get that thing! Make shoes out of him, or a purse or something!"
He gives you a nod and disappears, Naruto, Sai, Sakura, and Hinata all gathering with him and formulating a plan to finish this, but even then, in the end, it doesn't matter...
....................
"Hnn," you groan, pressing a hand to your table, your body feeling heavy. What happened? The last thing you remember was watching Shino and the others fight. Were you knocked out? Kidnapped and then knocked out? Kidnapped, knocked out, and -gasp- worse!? Your eyes fly open and you sit up at the thought, but as the room spins before your eyes, you close them again and hang your head against the heel of your hand. "Ugh, feels like I have a hangover..."
"You probably do from the painkillers we injected you with. They were enough to take down a horse. How do you feel?"
You open your eyes to look at the sourse of the voice and are releaved to see Lady Hokage sitting in a seat beside you. "Lady Tsunade! This is a pleasant relief. Can you tell me what happened?"
She nods, taking your hand. Your entire left arm is wrapped up and you can't move it. "Certainly. You fainted from fever. You were burning up when they brought you in. You were very dehydrated, and we nearly didn't save you. Aburame Shino was by your side all through recovery, while you were in a coma, and when you came out and into a more shallow, light unconscious state that was more stable, I finally forced him to head home and get some real rest. What's the last thing you recall?"
"Um... Shino asked me out. He said that, when we got back to the village, he would take me out on a date."
"That's very nice of him, and what happened after that?"
Your brows furrow in thought. "Um... I... cannot recall. It is all just... gone, it is gone, I cannot remember what happened next, it is as if it just stops, as if it never happened."
"Well, it did happen. Shino was injured, but is almost completely recovered already. You've been unconscious for the better part of a week, and he's visited each day, along with the others. They all say that they owe you their lives. What did you do?"
You crack a slight smile as you tell her honestly, "I created a whirlpool to pull them into the cavern I was hiding in, to save them from killer insects on a rampage." Your smile falls as you look away. "But I just ended up getting them caught up with that snake thing."
"Yes, they all described it as resembling a large snake. Can you say what breed it might've been, or do you-"
"A mumba, a black mumba." At her speculative stare, you add, "One of my teammates used to have a deep facination with snakes and told me all about them. I kinda just retained the information, figuring it might come in handy later."
"Well, it did. That was Orochimaru's black mumba. You're lucky to be alive, you and the others. Orochimaru means business when he sends that thing out."
You lean agains the headboard of your medical bed and put a hand under your chin thoughtfully. "But why would he be trying to kidnap me?"
"He was after you? I will have to look into things and talk to the other Jonin, but I will find something out, or at least come back with a few ideas or guesses." She pats your head and leaves, slipping past Shino as he walks in...
You and Shino become official boyfriend/girlfriend, and are actually getting close. You're in the hospital for a few weeks, and with each passing day you and Shino's feelings for each other grow. He brought out his bugs during one visit, fully expecting you to scream and break up with him, but you surprised him. You were excited about his connection with the insects and question him, wanting to know more, your natural craving for knowledge making him fall deeper and faster in love with you. After he brought out his bugs, you showed him as much of your wing tattoos as you could see with the bandages around your ribs and breasts, meaning he could only see the top part, but you promised to show him the rest when the bandages are off. During your fourth week in the hospital, Lady Tsunade visits again, but with bad news.
"I think I know why Orochimaru wanted to kidnap you."
You sit up straight in your bed, your uninjured arm wrapping around the big ladybug plushy Shino had broughtyou the other day. "What is it, Lady Tsunade?"
She seems reluctant for a moment before saying, "This isn't a positive, and certainly not the only thing out there, it can't be, but... it was probably because of your abilities as well as... your relationship to Hatake Kakashi."
"Urgh," you groan, rolling your eyes and slapping a hand over your face. "Can we not bring him up?"
"Why? Are you ashamed of him?"
"No, not him, but my decisions with him."
"Everyone was young at one time."
"Yeah. Young and stupid, not to mention arrogant, immature, irresponcible, and, lets not forget, REALLY STUPID!!"
"Well, I guess not everyone goes out and gets plastered then marries their equally thrashed sensei."
"Urgh!!!" You pull your legs up to your chest and drop your forehead on your knees. "Can we not talk about that? Please? And how would Orochimaru even find out about that? We got it annulled the moment we were good and sober." You pause then add with a dejected sigh. "Well, good, sober, and over the hangover from hell that lasted the worst part of two days. Those were the worst couple days of my life. I could not even enjoy being married, even for however short it would be."
Tsunade shakes her head at you, chuckling as she does. "You two would've made a cute couple, but, on the other hand, maybe you and Shino will work out better. I mean, he is closer to your age, being not as much older than you as Kakashi was."
"Gah! Must you constantly remind me!" You give her a conceited look and add under your breath, "But I did see under his mask." But what you don't add is that you were too drunk for you to remember what he looked like. And even with that short lived marriage between you and him, you still get along spendedly with Kakashi, actually joking with him about the drunken act. You even have the video of it, which you two will bring out every once in a while and laugh at. It rather amuses you both. And since no word leaked of it ever happening, nobody but you, him, and Tsunade know about it.
Tsunade places a hand on your shoulder and waits for you to look up at her before she tells you, "You shouldn't let that one mistake ruin your chances of a future with anyone. And if you want to be with Shino, dating or otherwise, I wont say a word about your marriage to Kakashi."
Your eyes dart over her shoulder as your smile falls as you see who is standing in the doorway, his expression darkening second by second. "Shino."
"So that is the reason he is in the hispital lobby every day. You have been claiming to want to be with me, and yet you are already taken. By a Jonin!" Shino tosses down the flowers he'd brought. "You played me for a fool. I just hope he knows what you are. A trecherous slut! Stay close to him, because I wont be your play-thing anymore." He turns and drops his head, leaving without a backwards glance.
You feel as if your heart has been ripped out and stomped on the floor as you look at the flowers on the floor, his condemning words echoing through your head as if to mock and damn you. "Shino..." your voice is more of a whisper, growing graduely as you throw back the covers. "Shino! No, wait! Please! Shino!" You leap up, your legs protesting holding you so soon, buckling at the knees and sending you lurching forward.
"Kyoko!" Tsunade cries as you go down, unable to get to you in time to stop your fall.
"Ah!" You crash into the small table in your room, bringing the vases full of flowers crashing down on you, shattering over you and sending you into the darkness with a sharp, piercing pain going through you.
Shino's POV
Shino tries to keep any tears at bay, not wanting to show his pain to everyone around. It feels like his heart is being ripped from his chest by a gardening tool. He actually grabs his chest, wanting to stop the all-too-real pain burning there. How could she not tell him? She's married? She lead him on like that, accepted his heart, his affection and love, and swore that he had hers, all the while being married to a Jonin. He's the other man! The thought nearly sends him to his knees. He's a child compared to Hatake Kakashi, one of the greatest men in all the country. He could never compete with him, no matter how much he wants to. And even after knowing that he was being used, he still wants to be with her. Kyoko. He still loves her, and that's probably what makes it hurt worse.
Shino removes his sunglasses and covers his face with one hand, muttering under his breath, "I am such a fool..." The sudden shouts and sounds of scrambling feet rushing down the hall past him draws his attention. Shino lifts his head and turns to watch all the medical-nins running down the hall, and all that goes through his mind is, 'Please, not her room... no!' His heart stops when they rush into Kyoko's room, and he feels a cold fear slam into his gut as, moments later, they carry her out on a stretcher, her body covered in blood, an oxygen mask on her face, a large shard of something protruding from between her ribs. Shino feels sick as he watches Lady Tsunade give orders at the same time as whispering something to Kyoko. Shino stares at her eyes, willing them to open, or flutter, at least flutter, but they remain still, and he falls to his knees, horror setting in. What has he done? Will his last words to her be comdemnation?
A hand settles on his shoulder and he looks up to Hatake Kakashi, the Jonin's gaze on the departing medical party until they turn a corner. "Why are you out here when you were just going in to see her? Did she send you away, or did Lady Hokage?"
Shino stands, a boiling fury rising up. "Why do you allow her to continue like this when you apparently know about us? Are you supportive?"
Kakashi is confused by his outburst, simply replying with, "Yes, I know, and yes, I do support Kyoko in any decision she makes. It is her life."
"But you're married to her! What man lets his wife-" Shino's words are muffled by Kakashi's hand as he grabs the younger man and glances around, then shoves him into a room, following and closing the door behind him. When Kakashi removes his hand at last, Shino demands, "What are you doing?"
Kakashi turns the full force of his scrutiny on Shino, stepping up to loom over the young man. "No one is to know about that! Do you hear me? No one! Apparently you don't know the story behind it, meaning you probably walked in on the wrong conversation between the Hokage and Kyoko, and left before explainations could be made, but let me be the first to clear this up." Kakashi slams his fist across Shino's face in a fierce backhand that sends him sprawling on the ground with a split lip and his sunglasses knocked from his face. "Let me first say that, if you said anything to her, anything that hurt her, I will not hesitate to beat youdown. And, second, we are no longer married. We were drunk, didn't know what we were doing, and accidently got married. It lasted a week, if that, and we parted on good terms with no one the wiser to the marriage, and we want to keep it that way. Nobody needs to know that pupil and sensei did something as unprofessional and disgraceful as getting drunk and hitched. She is no longer my student, has not been for a good year, but people woudn't see it that way. They'd look at where she was when this happened. I was still her sensei, she was still my student, and I made a bad decision and so did she and now we pay for it. But we did the right thing by each other and ended it before anything worse could become of it."
Shino takes this all in, a relief filling him that Kyoko and this Jonin are no longer married, but a quetion
still burns him up, and for some male reason, he can't let it go until he knows the answer. "Did you sleep with her?"
"What?"
"Did you have sex with Kyoko?"
Kakashi gives Shino a cold stare and says, "I did not take advantage of her, if that is what you are implying, but, no, we never made love. We were either too drunk, too hung over, or too ashamed at the moment. We were too busy with our minds elsewhere to do anything. If that makes you happy to know." Kakashi offers him a hand to help him up, a forgiving look in his gaze. "I don't blame you, though, for reacting this way. I would do the same if I overheard the wrong part of a conversation like this. If my girlfriend was actually married and hadn't told me, I'd be pissed as hell."
Shino lets Kakashi bring him up off the floor, his mind now returning slowly to Kyoko and how she looked when they were taking her out. "I said such terrible things, and now I know that I was wrong, so very wrong, and the last words she'll have heard from me might be what she takes to her grave."
Kakashi lowers his head, turning his back to Shino. "If that happens, if she dies... I'll beat the shit out of you. I wont kill you, I'll leave you to kill yourself, since the knowledge that your rejection will have been what threw her to this will tear you up inside. I'll just hurt you physically, I'll let you do the emotional and her death to be the mental." Kakashi steps closer, looming over Shino. "Pray she lives."
"I am, but not for you. I still have to apologize, and..." Shino reaches into his pocket and draws out a small box. "I have my own proposal to make."
"Then pray good and hard."
........................
'There's no pain... no nothing... am I... dead? Could I be? I feel finally at peace. I cannot hear anything... no more voices invading my mind. Everything is blessedly silent. I am... sad. And cold. It is so cold. Where is everyone? Wh-why can I not speak? My mouth wont move, my voice- where is my voice? Sh-Shino? Shino!? Where is he? Did he really leave me to face death alone? No, he would never. Shino would not do that. Where am I? I could not be dead, there would be more for me, no waiting in oblivion like this. Why am I not moving anywhere? Why can I not move? At all! Where is everyone? Is someone there? Please! Shino... please do not leave me all alone... Shino... Shino... "Shino..."
Shino lifts his head and stares at your serene face. He could've sworn... "Kyoko?"
Your eyelashes flutter ocne, twice. "Shi...no..." your hand twitches and he instantly takes it, your fingers wrapping around his and making him smile.
"Kyoko, open your eyes. C'mon, open them or your ex is gonna kick my ass."
"Ka..ka..shi...?" Your brows furrow as your lashes flutter and finally lift, your eyes meeting Shino's with a smile. "We c-cannot have th-that, now c-can we?" Your voice is unsteady, as if you haven't used it in a while, and your chest aches. "What h-happened to m-me?"
"You had a callapsed lung because of a broken vase. A sharp pierced your chest and punctured your lung, callapsing it. You nearly died."
You hold tightly to his hand, needing to say something. "About Kakashi, I-"
Shino shakes his head, stopping you. "He already explained. I know now what happened, and why you didn't tell me. He's been threatening me every day since he did."
"Why has he been threatening you?"
"One, because I said so many terrible things to you, and I really don't mean a word of it, I swear. I was angry, my pride was hurt, and-"
You place your fingers to his lips, silencing him. "Is ok, just do not let it happen again."
"Ok."
"And is there another reason for his threats?"
"Yes... he wanted to be sure that I would do right by you by doing this." Shino gets down on one knee beside the bed and pulls a box from his pocket and opens it to reveal a beautiful ring that just makes you gasp. "Marry me, Kyoko. Let me make it up to you for the rest of our lives."
You stare, shocked, at the ring. You're still tired, still hurting and pained from whatever happened, but you can't take your eyes from that box. "Are you sure about this, Shino? We are both young, with our lives ahead of us. Are you sure you want this?"
"Positive. The only life I want ahead of me is with you in it. I wont let you go, Kyoko. I've nearly lost you twice, I'm not making that mistake again. Please, say you will."
You smile softly, reaching out to remove his sunglasses and set them aside so you can stare into his beautiful eyes. "Aburame Shino... I will."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, mimzy7!!
I wanted to get this done sooner, honest, but my grandmother has been having bad hip problems and has wanted me and my twin over every day for the past four weeks, so I have not been able to work on anything but in snippets, but this- this I was able to finish because she's all better now through the miracle of shots into her hip! Oh yeah!
And I hope this makes for a good birthday present, and I hope even more that you like it. ^^
Well, enjoy, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! XD
