When Mercury Mixes With Jade

Interesting fact: Did you know that the Kan reading for kanji for ‘ton’ is ‘pig’? In fact, Ton-ton’s name is translated appropriately to ‘Pig-pig’!

Thank you for the few reviews I got! I even got a fan-pic out of it! It’s so adorable! When I get my scanner cracking, I’ll post some of my art up for this story.

A word in this story which is used: iei. An iei is a picture of a deceased loved one that passes away, usually kept in memory. It is a Japanese tradition, and usually, you’d place little offerings and burn incense for the dead out of respect.

Yare-yare: (pronounced ‘yah-rei yah-rei’) it means ‘geez’ or something along those lines….
Oi: means ‘hey!’
Are: (pronounced ‘ah-rei’) means ‘huh?’ or ‘wha…?’

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Sunlight filtered into a brightly colored room, gradually increasing in brightness. The light fell across a bed, pooling in the eyelids of a pale face. It wasn’t long before those eyelids began to quiver from the brightness. Sleep crusted lids opened slightly, jade green eyes glittering in the early morning sunlight. The eyes closed for another second before opening completely, the owner of said eyes sitting up and scratching herself, yawning widely. Pink hair that resembled a frizzy bird’s nest surrounded a pretty pale face.


Sakura scratched her neck, blearily looking at her clock. ‘S’only eight in the morning? Well, usually I’d be jumping buildings on my way to work, but Tsunade-shishou thought I needed a vacation. I guess I’d better count my blessings…’ Sakura yawned widely again, but then stopped mid yawn and coughed.


That stupid image of Shino naked decided to appear in her brain. She rubbed her eyes, but the image was still in her mind. There was no way she could go for very long without Shino finding out it was her. He seemed to be in tune with the female brain rather suspiciously, and knew that it was a matter of time before she told someone what she saw. She hoped he couldn’t blame her. Seriously! What woman in her right mind would NOT tell someone how fine a piece of ass Shino is? That would be a crime not only to the kunouichi gossip code, but to women everywhere. If women knew how hot Shino was, all the women would be going after him, and leaving the rest of the poor male populous to their own devices.


She shrugged. She guessed that that was the reason he wore all of that clothing. No one else had ever seen Shino’s body before; they might think she’d gone crazy. Not only that, but it’d also be ruining everything that Shino tried to hide. Sure, she was acquainted with the guy, but everything that she’d ever thought of him before went straight out the window after she saw him naked. Sure, his body was chiseled perfection, and would make any woman worth her weight in salt swoon, but it was really those eyes of his that really hit a nerve. Not only were they exquisitely beautiful beyond compare, she felt as if she’d viewed them before.


Sakura didn’t like that there was something she knew, but could not remember. It was like eating something familiar, and not remembering what it was. Speaking of food, her stomach was loudly protesting her still frame, and was her motivation to take a quick shower then cook some breakfast. Sakura stood and walked out of her room and into her bathroom.


As she threw her dirty clothes into the hamper, she remembered she also had to go through her newly acquired stash and rustle through her prizes. Her aunt had mentioned in the letter that her bank account was saved for her as well, and would keep her comfortable for a long time. She remembered seeing the beautiful old koto yesterday. She could not wait to tune the strings and play the beautiful instrument. Sakura turned on the water, and began to wash the grime and filth of yesterday off of her skin. She sighed.


Today was going to be a normal day, she supposed.


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An hour later…


Shizune was running through the halls frantically, making a bee line for the Hokage’s office, holding an incomplete mission scroll to her chest in one hand, Ton-ton in the other. Shizune zoomed up the Hokage’s Tower, a woman on a mission. She nearly knocked over Kotetsu and Izumo in her frantic search for the Fifth. She burst through the door with her foot, a wild look in her eyes. She was huffing and puffing, tears streaming out of her eyes not only from over exertion, but also what the scroll contained.


Tsunade looked rather flustered, as she hadn’t started her drinking yet. She looked from Shizune to the scroll. Opening it, she put on her reading glasses. Her eyes skimmed down the scroll quickly, but thoroughly. Tsunade’s eyes widened substantially, a hurt glaze washing over them. Her eyes closed as she closed the mission scroll slowly.


“What do you want me to do, Tsunade-sama?” asked Shizune. Even though Ton-ton didn’t know what was going on, she ceased her struggles in Shizune’s arms and oinked sadly.


“Bui-buiiii!” Ton-ton oinked sadly. Shizune pet the pig softly.


“It’ll be okay Ton-ton….” Shizune cooed. The pig did not think so. Tsunade slammed her fist on the table, splintering cracks left in its wake. Tsunade was beyond angry.


“Shizune…” Tsunade whispered. Shizune immediately straightened up looking at the Godaime.


“Hai!” Tsunade looked at her other apprentice. She looked out the window.


“Get me the available head of every noble ninja family in Konoha. Since the Uchihas are basically extinct, there should only be six people you have to get. Shibi Aburame is still on his mission; he should be returning this evening…bring me Aibiko in his stead. I want them here within the hour. Tell them it is of utmost importance. Go.” Tsunade waved Shizune off, taking Ton-ton and petting the pig softly.


“It really will be okay, Ton-ton. Just you wait and see…” The cute little piggy sighed in Tsunade’s arms.


This time, the pig believed it.


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Half an hour earlier………


Sakura trudged down the stairs, skin pink and squeaky clean. Her stomach roared at her louder, and she swore she almost heard intelligible words. Before her stomach could create a new and unknown language, she rummaged through the fridge for foodstuffs, pulling out eggs, bacon, grits and some bread for toast.


She cracked a couple of eggs and beat them, pouring them in her favorite nonstick pan to fry. She set some bacon next to it and put the bread in the toaster. She mixed some grits in a small saucepan, adding a little butter salt and pepper. Within minutes, her bacon was done, her eggs fried and her grits bubbling, her toast spread with strawberry preserves. Inner Sakura drooled openly as Sakura sat at her table. After she inhaled half her food in the most unladylike way, she noticed that there was a letter sitting on top of the mail. She hadn’t noticed it before, since it blended in with the bills and junk mail. Once again, another letter addressed to her. She seemed to be getting a lot of those lately. She opened it and began to read:


~~~

Our precious Daughter,

When you read this letter, please do not be alarmed. Even though we know you will be sad, it was meant to be.

Hello hon, this is dad speaking. When you were thirteen, there was a visitation from the Grass Country’s nobles and some genin that were with them as an escort service. Within that three genin cell there was a young man who was about a couple of years older than you who fell in love with you at first sight. His name was Matsutsure Itoshio. He wanted our blessings to marry you one day, but you were so young, we refused him. He then got angry and swore that on your eighteenth year, he would find you and make you his wife.

Apparently, he was an impatient lad, and came back a couple of years later, proclaiming that when you turned sixteen, which is the age that a female can get married, he would come and find you. We disregarded his threat, and sorely, that was our mistake. We heard about the same boy becoming stronger, much more powerful than we could have ever imagined. Supposedly, he is a Jinchuuriki himself, the body of the famous Kuroneko infused inside of him, the Sanbi.

He came by about a month ago and asked us where you were. We told him that you were in a far away village in Cloud Country training. He apparently believed us, and went searching for you. We knew then that we had limited time to figure something out, so we went to Tsunade-sama. She told us that he was indeed the Sanbi, and that she did not know what to do.

Hey honey, this is mamma. We offered to distract him away from the village gates so another war would not break out. We know that we are only chuunin dear. We could fight him the best we could….but that’s all we can do. I hate for it to sound so grim dear, but….

We won’t be coming back…at least, not alive. Please don’t be too rash, we did this to save your life. You are the most promising child we’ve ever seen, even more so than the Nara’s son. It’s not biased either, considering you have the highest grades out of the kunouichi, some of the highest in decades. We’ve left everything we own to you dear. We know you’re only about sixteen, but, you’ve grown so much, and we know you know how to take care of yourself. I’ve left my secret recipe for the cookies, and I’ve left some documents validating that everything is yours. You can find them in our room.

Even though we’re gone from your sight, it does not mean we won’t be watching over you, dear. You were my reason for living, my hope passed onto another generation. Our family has not been recognized for much, but it seems we are about to get our due…through you. There are so many things I wanted to talk to you about…but now, it won’t be possible. Just know above all else that I love you, and in everything that you do, follow your heart. It will never lead you wrong.

We love you very much Sakura. Remember this.

Mom and Dad

~~~

Sakura felt tears sting her eyes harshly as she cried. She did not cry because her parents were dead, for she knew it was bound to happen given that they were ninja. No, it was the way they died, the fact that even though they knew that they were no match for him, they still protected her anyway. They walked in and subjected themselves to slaughter just to allow her to live on. She truly felt alone now.


Even though she was Naruto’s closest friend now, she still felt ultimate remorse for the way she so brutally treated him in the past. She now knew what he had felt all of his life, but with a certain edge because of the happy memories that she knew would cease to remain anything more but a memory. She sat there for a few minutes, feeling a tingling going over her, her body becoming rather numb.


She was convinced when she walked in yesterday that the emptiness would soon be filled with the smell of coffee, her mothers’ cooking and sweet perfume, and the smell of her father’s pipe. She would hear her mother’s sweet singing as she hung the laundry, sometimes her father chiming in to sing with her if he was feeling in the mood for it.


The tears flowed down her face more freely as she realized that those sounds would never again grace the halls of this house. Everything was dead to Sakura now….she could not stop her heart from aching. The rest of her food cold, she began to cry in the agony only a woman could produce when an ultimate loss was issued. Sitting at the table, she wailed, shivering and rocking back and forth as her tears stained the wooden kitchen table.


She cried herself to sleep.

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One hour later…a half an hour after Shizune’s dismissal……


A woman with wild hair and over sized canines…a man with long blonde hair in a ponytail…a robust fellow with wild red samurai hair…a female with frizzy brown hair and square dark glasses…a bored looking male who yawns every five minutes with a brown ponytail sticking straight up, and another male with long chocolate colored hair, and pale eyes…all of these people were sitting in front of the Godaime. The lethargic male yawned again, and Tsunade threw her paperweight at him.


“Pay attention, Nara. This is important. Real important.” Tsunade took her eyes off of Shikaku and addressed the rest of the eyes that were now piqued in interest. Tsunade sat in her seat looking at all of them.


“I’ve called you in here today to ask one of you a potential favor. It may have some downsides, it may have some upsides.” They were really interested now…the Hokage asking them a favor? It already had a promise of a favor returned, and when one was a Hokage, anything could be achieved. Tsunade decided to elaborate.


“We have another orphan on our hands…a really important one…one with a rather unique situation. She is a ninja, but is not quite old enough to be on her own yet, since she is used to having parents around. She will be out of your hair if you so wish when she turns sixteen, which will be in a couple of months. I need her to stay with one of the noble families because she needs to be under someone’s protection…I suspect a ninja from Grass to be after her.” Aibiko’s eyes flashed in anger. Who was after this girl? Tsume grunted in a rather unladylike manner.


“Who is this girl? Why do we need to protect her? Will she be any contribution to our household if she were to stay with us?” she spoke for all of them, the questions they were all wondering. Tsunade smirked, making Tsume sit back into her seat.


“Well, I’ll tell you. She possesses a rather interesting kekkeigenkai…and she is the only one left who possesses it. She has the power to control water…the weather, the temperature of the air and can make weapons out of water…her mother told me one day she found her as a baby with little ice leaves around her, the water flowing around her when she left the room one day to get her a stuffed animal to play with. Another instance when she got mad, the room’s temperature literally dropped about a good seventy degrees. While untrained, she’s still powerful. I plan on helping her to find her power.” The man with pale eyes smiled to himself, but spoke up.


“Hokage-sama, you still have yet to tell us her name. Do we know this young kunouichi?” Hiashi Hyuuga’s eyes pierced Tsunade’s but were promptly brushed off. Tsunade’s eyes got serious. Everyone, even the lazy ninja paid close attention to what she said next.


“You should. She is the kunouichi of Team Kakashi…no other than our pink haired spitfire Haruno Sakura.” The adults whispered amongst themselves. Tsume sighed.


“She cannot come to my family….Kiba is in heat, and will most likely try to violate Sakura. I wish to keep her from that…experience.” The lazy ninja yawned.


“Too troublesome to keep her…we’ve already got one overbearing woman in the house…we don’t need another.” Shikaku got up to leave. “Now if you could excuse me, Hokage-sama, my wife gave me something to do, and if I don’t do it…well, I don’t want to think about that.” Shikaku jumped out of the window, jumping over buildings in haste to do his assigned task. Tsume left right behind him, going in the opposite direction.


“Sorry Hokage-sama, but Chouji is enough to handle as it is. Besides, we’re doing special training right now. She will not be properly looked after in my household. It seems we are always busy.” Chouza stood and exited the door instead of jumping out the window like Shikaku. There left the blonde man, the Hyuuga, and Aibiko. Tsunade looked at the blonde man.


“How about you, Inoichi? I do believe that your Ino is best friends with her.” Inoichi shook his head really fast. Tsunade looked confused.


“Ino is enough to handle as it is. Imagine having two best friends who love to talk…together! Pure hell. I’m not having it.” Tsunade sighed as he walked out of the door. She looked at the remainder of the small group she had called. The two most prestigious and powerful families that resided in Konoha's representatives sat in front of her…also two of the oldest clans to ever exist in any of the five Countries. Although they were both families of great and equal power, they were polar opposites.


Hiashi was interested in taking Sakura. She possessed a rare kekkeigenkai, an asset to his family and one that would bring honor. He supposed he could marry her off to Neji, since he only had daughters. Before he could open his mouth to suggest that he take her, he felt a glare from the Aburame woman next to him.


“Hiashi, don’t even think about it. I know that all you want her for is her power. I want her to be able to choose for herself, feel comfortable. Your clan has too many tightasses in it to even consider having her stay anywhere near the Hyuuga family!” Hiashi blushed hotly in anger. She glared right back and he averted his eyes. Aibiko turned her determined gaze towards Tsunade, who was genuinely surprised that both of them even wanted Sakura to begin with.


“She needs a motherly touch, and with the Hyuuga clan, she will not get it. Hokage-sama, on behalf of Shibi, I Aibiko, will take Sakura and treat her as my own.” Aibiko stood. Tsunade grinned. Perfect. She was now safely within the clutches of a very powerful ninja family… Tsunade could be sure that Sakura would not only be safe, she would be treated like family. This was what she was hoping for.


“Good. We are to go and retrieve her now. How long do you think it will take for her to get settled in?” Tsunade was curious. Aibiko smiled. Tsunade looked surprised again. Even though her eyes were hidden, it was clear in her voice how amused they must’ve looked. There also seemed to be something that Aibiko knew, something a little selfish, the reason she wanted Sakura to be with the Aburame family so badly.


“Tsunade-sama, if she remembers her past...then just a couple of days. She’ll feel as right as rain.” Tsunade whistled sharply and Izumo and Kotetsu came barging in like the roof was on fire. It was clear that they were out of breath, their chests heaving with the inhalation of air.


“Hai! Hokage-sama!” they both barked. Tsunade raised an eyebrow and shrugged. Tsunade smiled evilly. Both of the men gulped. They hated it when the Hokage was angry…but they hated it even more when she was happy.


“I need you two to haul anything that Sakura might need to the Aburame compound…pronto.” Their faces were blank, but on the inside, they cried like babies. It seemed that all they did was work, work, and work. They gulped, and nodded.


“Hai, Hokage-sama…” they looked as dejected as they sounded. Tsunade laughed. She looked at Aibiko.


“We will have the funeral of her parents tomorrow. It’s best that we get it out of the way…oh, I understand that your Shino-chan has his sixteenth birthday coming up in a couple of days. That is a big day for him, ne?” Aibiko nodded.


“He insists on not doing anything, but he forgets he is the heir to the Aburame household. Pretty soon, what he says goes. On his twenty-first birthday, he will receive all rights…but he has to be married before or on the day that he becomes head of house.” Tsunade laughed like a woman with many well kept secrets. She now knew the reason Aibiko wanted Sakura so badly; how could she have not seen it before? Tsunade would be having a field day if both of her wishes for Sakura came true. The first, to surpass her in every way shape and form, so that she knew Konoha would be well protected when she finally did pass on. The second…well, Tsunade wasn’t one to kiss and tell. Not that fast, anyway.


“Of course, if we have our way, you won’t have to worry about that, now will you Aibiko?” Tsunade went to shrug her green jacket over her shoulders. “Come on. It’s time we go and retrieve our spitfire.” Ton-ton oinked as Tsunade picked her up and jumped out the window.

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A pounding on Sakura’s door awakened her from her fatigue induced slumber. She wiped the drool unceremoniously off of her cheek, one side of her face red from laying it on her arm. By the time she fully gained her surroundings, the door pounded again, this time much harder. Sakura grimaced. What was she doing here? Sakura gained her footing and stumbled to the front door, still feeling a dull ache in her heart from her parents’ death. There were only two women who could knock on her door like that, and she knew that Shizune was at the hospital. She opened the door.


“Tsunade-shishou?” Sakura’s throat was swollen and scratchy from her earlier wailing. Tsunade clicked her tongue. Sakura was a mess. Her eyes were clouded with something dark akin to loss; she looked pale, even in the late morning light. Tsunade took Sakura in her arms, and hugged her. It was highly unusual to see the Hokage hugging anyone but her pig, but anyone who knew the story knew why she did it. Sakura bawled, fresh tears staining the front of Tsunade’s top. She remembered feeling this agony… but there was no one there to hold her. When Sakura finished her last hiccups, Tsunade wiped her tears away.


“Sakura-chan, I need you to go pack your things for me. You’ll be staying with the Aburame family until you are legally old enough to be on your own, which will be in a couple of months. Bring everything you own. If that ninja decides to try and find you, the first thing he’ll look for is any clues to your whereabouts. Unfortunately, we have a treaty with Grass Country, so any citizen or ninja from Grass may enter. Sakura nodded and entered her house again. Tsunade, Izumo and Kotetsu waited outside for her to finish. Half an hour goes by, and Sakura opens her large window.


“I’m through. Kotetsu-kun, Izumo-kun, you can come up now.” Sakura packed all of her clothing, all of her belongings, and all of the important documents. She went to her parents’ room, and took a picture of both of them, ready to prepare iei for them to take with her to their funeral. She packed the most important things in a carry bag, close to her. As Izumo and Kotetsu jump through her window to retrieve the several boxes and bags she had, Sakura went around to the back of the house and retrieved the cart full of things her aunt saved for her.


She came around to the front and set it by everything else. She decided she would take the cart herself. She looked up to see Tsunade talking to a woman with frizzy brown hair…to the point of being overly curly. She had on dark sunglasses. Sakura figured that that must be Shino’s mother. She thought that she was very pretty, even though she could not see but half her face. Sakura walked up to the both of them. Tsunade turned, and brought Sakura closer with an arm to meet the woman.


“Sakura-chan, this is Aburame Aibiko…Shino’s mother. You will be staying with the Aburame family until you turn sixteen, and then you can decide what you want to do from there.” Sakura looked wearily into Aibiko’s face, a sad smile marring her features. She still had dark circles under her eyes, her eyes still red from crying. Sakura bowed deeply, her pink hair covering her face.


“I humbly thank you, Aburame-sama, for your kindness.” Sakura looked dead to the world. Aibiko winced on the inside. She smiled on the outside and took Sakura’s hand.


“You are most welcome dear, but please, at least just call me Aibiko…or okaasan if you would like. You are, after all to become a part of my rather large family. However, for protection purposes, you will be staying in the main house, with Shibi, Shikkei, Shiori, Shino and I. I will consider you my daughter, but you can keep your own name.” Aibiko smiled softly. “I didn’t have any girls. It will be as if I have a daughter I’ve never had.” Sakura was genuinely surprised; Aibiko accepted her rather quickly. She began to walk back to her cart, when Kotetsu and Izumo took the cart from her. Sakura asked them to be careful.


“Izumo…Kotetsu, I promise that when I turn sixteen, I will buy you guys a couple of rounds of sake for this…hold me to it, just in case I forget.” The guys grinned and were on their way to the compound. She smiled and waved as they disappeared off into the distance. She turned to Aibiko.


“Thanks again, Aibiko-chan…I…I don’t want to be left alone right now.” Aibiko accepted her informal name quite happily, and they walked down the road, away from her house. Aibiko nodded.


“I understand. I know your entire situation my dear…it just so happens that your aunt Suika was my best friend. There isn’t a day that I don’t miss her. It must be harder for you, since you’ve never met her. But you see, I believe she instilled a bit of herself into you. You are the spitting image of her, right down to your forehead.” Aibiko laughed. Sakura was shocked. Aibiko was nothing like Shino at all. Shino was quiet, reserved and polite. Aibiko had a much more lively character than her son. Aibiko clapped her hands together.


“Sakura-chan, Shino’s birthday is the day after tomorrow. Would you like to help me pick a gift for him? Would you rather give him a gift of your own instead?” Aibiko looked at Sakura, who was currently freaking out. What should she buy Shino? She didn’t even know what he liked! Aibiko sensed her plight, and smiled secretively before suggesting, “He really likes sweets. He’s interested in weapons, he collects beautiful scrolls, and he likes gardening. Why, I’d never trust anyone but my dear Shino to tend to the fruit trees and the flowers!” Sakura smiled. In that one sentence alone, she learned more about Shino than anyone outside his family would have. According to Aibiko though, she was part of the family now. Sakura looked questioningly at Aibiko.


“Does he like chocolate?” Aibiko laughed gaily, shaking her head as if she didn’t believe what she’d just implied.


“Are you kidding me dear? Shino with his chocolate is like lungs to air. He can’t live without it! Why, what are you planning, Sakura-chan?” Aibiko had that glint Ino got when something good was about to be revealed. Sakura blushed lightly.


“Well, I’d like to make him his birthday cake, if that’s okay…” Sakura mumbled shyly, averting her eyes. Aibiko was a little shocked. She knew how to make sweets? Heh, her plan just got loads easier.


“I don’t see why not, Sakura. We can stop by the bakery and pick up supplies right now…” Sakura nodded, and they began to jump buildings towards the center of Konoha.


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Shino surveyed the area around the house for broken flowers, and weeds. He was in his gardening clothes today; a pair of old and loose fitting jeans, and a form fitting t-shirt so he could move easily. Instead of his hitai-ate headband, he wore a folded bandana to keep his hair back out of his eyes and ears. He knelt slowly to the ground digging weeds that seemed to be persistent this year.


He not only prided himself on his excellent shinobi skills, but he took after his great grandfather and kept the compound beautiful with floral life. Shino had a way to arrange flowers so the eyes were pleased no matter where one looked. He couldn’t tell his best friend Kiba that he liked gardening though…Kiba would take it the wrong way and label him a ‘girly-pants-sissy-ass’ as Kiba liked to call anything and anyone that wasn’t remotely manly. Shino dug up the last weed, put down some plant food, watered the flowers, and headed for the fruit trees and bushes, which should bloom soon.


He looked up into the trees, smiling when he saw tiny buds ready to burst to life. Soon, the bees would pollinate, and they’d be having a plentiful crop this year…his destruction bugs kept harmful bugs from eating the buds, and knew they would continue to do the same for the fruit as well. Shino wiped the sweat from his brow, intent on looking at the berry bushes next, when he saw Izumo and Kotetsu hauling what looked like someone else’s belongings into the compound, and into a room on the second floor. Shino put on his glasses, and walked over to the main house to see what all the commotion was about. Izumo noticed Shino, and stopped to say hi to the bug shinobi.


“Oi, Shino-san, what’s up? Could you help us bring this stuff into the spare room on the second floor? We’d appreciate it since the Hokage’s got us doing stuff constantly.” Shino’s eyebrow raised a fraction. The empty room was across the hall from his. Shino was very curious as to who was moving in.


“Whose belongings are these? Why is someone even moving into our house?” asked Shino without emotion. He didn’t want to sound too interested in what was going on, but Kotetsu caught the implied curiosity anyway.


“We’re not allowed to say much, but it would be obvious that someone is moving in. The only thing we know is that this person wasn’t old enough to live on their own, and was orphaned…that’s all I heard, anyway. No clue who it is…” Kotetsu lied through his teeth about not knowing the identity of the person…Shino looked somewhat satisfied with the answer, but Kotetsu knew better. He knew about Shino’s curious nature and that it was killing him that he didn’t know. Kotetsu would’ve told him, but he’d find out soon anyway. Izumo shifted his feet around.


“Will you help us then, Shino-san?” Shino looked calmly back and forth between Kotetsu and Izumo.


It would seem that the berry bushes would have to wait.

****************************************************************************


Aibiko watched as Sakura shopped for the items to bake the cake. There were a few items that Aibiko would’ve never bought in order to bake a cake, but she trusted Sakura’s judgment. After all, she had the best teacher to learn baking anything; her own mother, whose cookies could melt any sweets-lover into a happy pile of goo. Sakura smiled as she took the things to the register to find Hinata working behind the counter. Sakura was surprised to see the shy Hyuuga heiress even working, what with being in such a prestigious family and all.


“Hinata-chan, you work here?” Sakura sounded more than surprised…awed was more along the lines of the tone in her voice. Hinata smiled shyly.


“Oh, hi Sakura-chan…yes, I work here. It gives me something to do, and I like it here.” She blushed and in a rare moment of courage, took Sakura’s hands.


“Oh, Sakura-chan, Naruto asked me to be his girlfriend yesterday! He told me that you gave him the courage to tell me…I owe you everything!” Sakura sweat dropped, swatting an imaginary fly as if to wave off Hinata’s comment. She laughed nervously.


“I figured if the idiot hasn’t seen what so clearly was in front of him three years ago, he’d never see it. Besides, both you and he deserve some happiness. Yare-yare, erm, here’s my items.” Sakura was getting a bit shy…Aibiko hardly knew her and would probably think her to be a matchmaker of some kind.


Sakura was a bit sad, though. Every other kunouichi she knew had their special someone…that crazy Anko had Iruka-sensei, of all people, Ino-chan had Chouji-kun, Temari-chan had Shikamaru-kun, Ten-ten-chan had Lee-kun, Kurenai-sensei had Asuma-sensei, and now Hinata-chan had her Naruto-kun, just like she’s always wanted. Sakura seemed to be all alone when it came to love.


She didn’t think about Sasuke anymore, because whenever she did, a huge hole would make itself known in her heart. It wasn’t even about the silly crush she had on him anymore. They were *teammates*! He called what friendship they had weak, and insignificant! Sakura was sure the next time her eyes met his, her head would be clear of all distractions, and her fists would do the talking for her. There was nothing more to be said. He made it clear that he was betraying not only Konoha, but what little trust and friendship that had blossomed between Team Seven. She would make sure that he would suffer with her bare hands. She wanted to watch with morbid satisfaction as the Uchiha brat took his last breaths as she broke his fragile neck under the influence of her power…the very same power that he deemed worthless.


Who would be insignificant then?


Sakura waved goodbye to Hinata, promising to visit again in the near future. It turned out that the bakery was close to the compound, so they decided to walk to the compound. By the time they got to the compound, it was four o’clock. Sakura walked right into the compound wall. It looked real! Aibiko snerked, but tried to hide her amusement as Sakura gave her the evil eye.


“I’m sorry Sakura-chan; I forgot to tell you about the wall. It’s funny to watch people run into it though. Argh!” Aibiko dodged the bottle of vanilla extract she chucked at her head. Aibiko laughed again. “Come on Sakura-chan, I’ll show you the hand seals to open the gate. Sakura looked up at the gate seeing the purple and blue flowers growing out of thick vines on the immensely old looking gate. Sakura’s memory jerked, and she felt as if she’d seen this gate before…except it had been much….larger? Sakura shook the thought out of her head as Sakura watched the seals.


Tatsu.…Inu….Tatsu….Uma….Tori….Tora….Hebi….Nezumi.…Saru.* Sakura replicated the seals with her hands, applying the chakra, and the gates slid open before her. She walked through, and looked up at the trees. She’d never seen such beautiful scenery…she felt as if she were in one of those expensive paintings she’d seen hanging in one of those rich people’s homes she’d been on guard duty for once. The trees were brilliantly red, yellow and green, and were so beautiful. Her breath was taken away.


Aibiko watched as Sakura took in the scenery one more time. Aibiko could believe Sakura’s reaction; she’d always felt at peace and serenity within these walls of her home, which was why she rarely liked to leave them other than missions and shopping. Aibiko lead her to the main house, and Sakura couldn’t help but to feel as if she’d seen all of it before.


“Aibiko-chan, why does this feel....familiar,, like I’ve been here before?” Sakura’s neck began to hurt from looking at the tall and regal older trees as they seemed to embrace the younger, nurturing trees lovingly.


“I don’t know, Sakura-chan….maybe you have. Shino-chan always takes good care of all of the trees and foliage here. It keeps him busy, and he has a knack for it, I suppose. Oh look, there’s Shikkei.” A young boy with the fluffy Aburame hair and beautiful mercury eyes was sitting on the steps to the main house. He saw Aibiko and Sakura and ran up to them.


“Okaa-san, this is the lady that will be staying with us?” Aibiko nodded as Sakura smiled. Shikkei looked awed.


“You’re the Hokage’s apprentice! Sakura Haruno!” Shikkei exclaimed, a big grin on his face. Sakura giggled, laughing true since her parents died. She thought Shikkei was adorable- he looked like a tiny Shino.


“The very same! Say, Shikkei, do you like sweets?” Sakura quirked an eyebrow as Shikkei smiled widely.


“Do I ever!” his eyes creased in happiness, and Sakura went all moe and hugged Shikkei. The young boy was too cute for her not to hug.


“Oh, you’re so cute! I’m going to bake some of my mother’s famous Chocolate Chip Sugar-Blasted cookies, okay?” Shikkei’s grin was something very close to Naruto’s prize-winning shit-eating grin. He bounced up and down.


“Oh boy! Wait til’ I tell aniki about this!” Aibiko stopped Shikkei short. She leaned down and whispered into his ear.


“Don’t tell Shino hon, it’s a surprise. This is the girl that Shino has a crush on…be sure to be very secretive, okay? I want to see the look on his face when he sees her in the kitchen, baking sweets. Think about it. He loves sweets *and* Sakura-chan. Think of what his reaction might be…” Shikkei’s eyes lit up at the prospect that Shino would be stuttering like a fool, or even funnier (or worse if you were Shino) he’d faint dead away. Shikkei nodded enthusiastically.


“Hai, Okaa-san.” Shikkei bounced. He hadn’t had this much fun since Shino tripped down the stairs in his half asleep state. Shikkei nearly died from laughter at seeing Shino’s disheveled state lying in a heap at the foot of the stairs. Somehow one of his slippers hit poor Shiori in the head, but instead of yelling, the old woman snickered at Shino’s expense.


Suffice to say, Shino made sure he was fully awake when coming down the stairs from that day on.


Aibiko and Sakura walked into the kitchen. Sakura gasped. It was huge! GINORMOUS even! Sakura nearly dropped her bags. Aibiko led her to the huge countertop, and put the groceries away.


“Sakura, I have an apron I think would look cute on you. It’s pink, is that okay?” Sakura nodded and followed Aibiko to the closet. She took out a semi frilly apron that fit her tiny waist perfectly. Sakura was reminded of the waitresses at those cute cafes that she used to frequent in her academy days. Sakura tied her hair back. “Aibiko, is it okay if I cook dinner too? I just need something else to do as well.” Aibiko nodded.


“I’ll try and keep Shikkei out of your hair. I know how troublesome he can be whenever I’m in the kitchen; I don’t want you to feel the same way.” Aibiko went out of the kitchen, and left Sakura to her devices.


Sakura looked around and smiled. This was her dream kitchen…wide, spacious, and lots of room to chop, cook and enjoy the culinary arts. She looked in the refrigerator. She smiled.


“I think we’ll have something special tonight…” She began furiously rummaging through the refrigerator, her behind the only thing hanging out as she giggled incessantly.

******************************************************************************

Shino couldn’t believe his mother invited someone to live here without letting him know. Shino did not flaunt his physical attributes; he only wanted someone’s complete attention whenever he spoke. The extra clothing was intimidating as well. People tended to be on guard or slightly uncomfortable whenever he was around. He was okay with that. Besides, it didn’t stop him from making friends…Hinata saw through his clothing to the person he really was, and Kiba instinctively knew that he was a good person. Shino noticed that the teams were put together according to abilities….their team was good at tracking…Kiba with smell, Hinata with sight, and he himself had long range tracking skills, beyond the reach of Kiba’s inunin and Hinata’s byakugan.


Letting this person live in the house…one he may not even possibly know, would blow his withdrawn attitudes. Home was the only place where he could relax and not worry about concealing himself. He was allowed to think much more freely with all the clothing to hide his eyes and body. Shino grimaced. That girl that saw him…he hoped that Sakura could find her and straighten things out…God, if it ever got to Ino…..it would be a bad thing to let Ino get her grubby paws on that not-so-tidbit sized piece of info. Shino walked wearily up the steps, and into the house.


A delicious smell hit his nose, and his mouth immediately watered. He shook his head, evaluating the smell again. It didn’t smell like his mother’s cooking, and he realized he was right the second he walked into the house. Aibiko was pulling at Shikkei’s cheeks comically after he won another round of Go against his mother. Apparently she’d thought he cheated, and she tried getting the information out of him by torture. Shino realized the smell was getting stronger, but no less delicious, and Aibiko looked up to see Shino’s slightly disturbed face.


“Oh, hi, Shino-chan…clean up, our semi-permanent guest wanted to cook tonight, and from the smell of things, she’s doing quite well.” Shino nodded and walked leisurely up the stairs to go take a shower. He’d honestly felt very gritty and needed to take a shower, or he’d scream. He shrugged off his dirty clothing, and turned on the shower and sighed blissfully, glad to be under the blasting hot spray. He noticed that his mother implied that this guest was female. He hoped she wasn’t taking the death of her parents too hard. He knew she had to be a kunouichi, because his mother wanted him to marry one, and she’d never adopt just any female into the compound. She had to be useful, and in this case, able to go on missions on behalf of the Aburame clan. Shino thought it through again.


She had to be a pretty exceptional kunouichi, to be sure, because her parents were killed and they were ninja, which probably meant that whoever killed her parents was after her, which was why she needed the protection. The ninja must be strong, to overtake two exceptional chuunin, and get away undetected.


Shino scrubbed himself pink, until he was sure not a speck of dirt survived on his body. He got out and dried off, changing into a black t-shirt and khaki short pants. He dried his hair, and put his glasses on, walking down the stairs. He saw the tail end of a frilly pink apron as she walked back into the kitchen; apparently, dinner was served. There were several dishes laid out that made Shino’s insides growl fiercely in hunger. Unfortunately, Aibiko heard it, and grinned. She pat the seat next to her.


“Shibi should be home in five minutes…I informed him of the situation, our guest said she would join us when Shibi joined the table.” Aibiko perked up her ears, and smiled warmly. “Here he comes now.” Shibi slides the door open, his glasses still on his face. He goes straight to the bathroom to clean up, after eyeing the scrumptious spread that the girl had laid out before them. There was miso soup, there were pork and veggie pot stickers with fresh sliced cold cucumber pickles. There was a small pot of stew to be ladled over lovely white rice that steamed heavenly. Yakitori chicken with veggie sushi was arranged artfully on the plate, several pieces of fried tempura steaming merrily between the two. There was a tall pitcher of cold homemade fruit punch with ice sitting right in the middle. All of it smelled good, but it was what was still cooking that caught Shino’s nose. It smelled like…


Like…chocolate.


More specifically, cookies. Chocolate chip cookies. Shino’s eyes widened. He remembered that smell, very well in fact. Shino was very, very nervous. He hoped that his hunch was incorrect, for once.


Sakura came out of the kitchen, hair in a ponytail, wearing the cute pink and frilly apron. Her eyes glowed with happiness at her work, and that she had a full house tonight, a real family to dine with instead of just ramen and herself. To Shino’s dismay, she carried a plateful of those famous cookies that Shino fell in love with. She set them next to the pitcher of punch. She bowed deeply in gratitude to Shibi and Aibiko.


“Thank you very much for letting me stay here, I hope to become useful to you in some way that benefits this clan.” Shibi was impressed with her grace and good manners, however, Aibiko wasn’t having it.


“Sit down, Sakura-chan, you know you are a part of this family now, there is no need for such formalities. Right dear?” Aibiko poked Shibi in the side, and he squirmed slightly.


“Yes. Did you make this on your own, Sakura-san?” she nodded slightly, and everyone waited as Shibi took the first bite. He smiled slightly and began eating heartily. Sakura beamed with pride. She looked directly across the table, where Shino sat.


“Konban wa, Shino-kun. How are you? You look a little flushed.” She couldn’t tell what he was thinking; his glasses hid his eyes from view. He pushed them a little closer to his face. He was good at hiding the fact that he was infatuated with her.


“Konban wa, Sakura-san. I’m fine, just a little overworked.” Shino picked up his chopsticks and began to eat. He could honestly say none of it was bad. Even though he was eating his dinner quite slowly, he could not wait to sink his teeth into one…or three of those sinfully delicious cookies. He’d only had them once, but it was enough to remember the taste. He’d just wished Sakura wasn’t living with them right now. He grimaced on the inside. His mother *knew!* She knew that he liked Sakura, and now she was trying to play matchmaker. Shino glared at his mother, who pointedly looked away from her son’s harsh gaze and sipped at her punch.


“Hon, where’s your mother?” Shibi looked at Aibiko. Aibiko rubbed her chin, as if in thought. She snapped her fingers.


“She’s out on a mission as an old matriarch going to visit her old village. Don’t worry, kaa-chan is perfectly capable. I just wish she were here to meet our addition to the family. Oh, Sakura-chan, what are you going to do tomorrow?” Sakura stopped eating and swallowed. She shook her head and shrugged.


“I don’t know, Aibiko-chan…I really haven’t got anything to do, really.” Aibiko’s eyes gleamed behind her square opaque spectacles. Shikkei grinned almost maliciously. ‘Bout time Shino got his due. He seriously thought his aniki wasn’t into girls.


“Well, Shino could always us help out with the fruit trees and the flowers. Gardening is relaxing, you should try it. You don’t get to do that properly while in the city. So, how about it Sakura-chan?” Sakura seemed to be considering it. Shino hoped she would decline. He really did.


“Sure, why not?” Shino mentally fell over anime style. “ It would give me a chance to get to know Shino better. I’m his friend, but I’d like to know more about him, if…you’re okay with that, Shino-kun?” Shino was having a mental breakdown on the inside, all systems failing. On the outside however, was a different picture. At first it looked like he didn’t hear her. He then raised his head slightly.


“That’s fine.” Shino wanted desperately to cry, but it just wasn’t in him. He would be spending all of tomorrow with his Sakura-chan. He really didn’t know how to act around her, since he was her friend, but she was also a potential girlfriend. Sakura was everything he wanted in a woman. She was beautiful, spunky, strong, and gentle. She knew how to make him smile, and he knew he’d protect her in a second, even if they hadn’t met each other way back when. Shino smiled a small smile.


“Meet me at six o’clock sharp tomorrow morning at the bottom of the steps in front of the house.”

*****************************************************************


Sorry for such the long wait! I made this chappie extra long for those of you who were waiting so patiently!
* Tatsu.…Inu….Tatsu….Uma….Tori….Tora….Hebi….Nezumi.…Saru are the animals that make up the seals…well, some of them.
Tatsu-Dragon
Inu-Dog
Uma-Horse
Tori-Bird
Hebi-Snake
Nezumi-Rat
Saru-Monkey
Tora-Tiger