When Mercury Mixes With Jade

Alright, this is the next installment, chapter seven. I feel sad because the number of my reviews hasn’t been going as well as I’d hoped, I guess not many people like this pairing. But hey, it’s whatever, I like it, and it’s all that matters. This is Shino/Sakura according to the works of moi. I am going through with at least forty chapters, and the reason why it’s so long is because it’s broken down into several parts. While I can’t tell you everything, I promise it will be worth the read. I don’t see many fan fictions that have a long flow to them, most of the longer ones ending only after the eleventh or twelfth chapter. Don’t get me wrong, the stories are good and complete, but sometimes I want a little more to read than that. Sorry it took me so long to write this, ladies and gentlemen. I just had to move back to my dorm at Eastern Michigan (Go Eagles!) and get back into the flow of things. So, I hope I’ve adequately said enough about this. Yosh! Ikuze!


Kiyasume


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Tsunade sat staring at the large stack of paperwork in front of her. She was stuck on one specific piece of paperwork, and for some reason, she wanted to get this one out of the way before she tackled anything else. Usually at this hour, she’d be toasted off her rocker, but for some reason, she couldn’t drink today.

Something big was about to happen, and for the life of her, she couldn’t tell if it were good or bad. Or both. Tsunade’s eyes scanned the rather long scroll with all of the noble family’s seals etched on the outside of it. There were signatures all along the end of the scroll in a list. It was a track record of each clan’s mortality rates, marriages, and statuses. Tsunade was discouraged…the Aburame’s stats were in much less quantity than the rest. They made up for it with their status. The only Aburame members not to reach ANBU status were Aibiko, because she refused to go past Jounin status, and Shino, because of his training that was to take place tonight.

Tsunade, as Hokage, thought often how to strengthen the ninja ranks, ultimately giving them a better chance of surviving another war, or outbreak if it were to ever happen. Her musings always lead her back to the Aburame clan. They were technically the strongest clan that did not have a kekkeigenkai, and tied for first with the Hyuuga clan, from which they had broken away from some hundreds of years ago. Naturally, a union of the Aburame and Hyuuga clans would have been the best option, regardless of their distant relation, but it was obvious that the Hyuuga clan’s members were severely put off by their family technique.

Tsunade’s brow crinkled in frustration. Come to think of it, just about everyone who was outside of the family’s ties were disgusted, creeped out, or just plain afraid of those bugs. While they were great for battle, and recon missions, and just an overall useful tool for anything having to do with nature, for everything else, they sucked. Horribly so. Matters of friendship, matters of love, those were things that an Aburame had to fight tooth and nail for, much to Tsunade’s dismay. It was a miracle at all that the clan still existed without the use of incest.

Except that something totally unexpected and wonderful came up. As ridiculous as Sakura belonging to a clan sounded, it was sort of a godsend. Had Sakura not befriended the young bug master, she was sure she would not have a trump card up her sleeve. It was perfect. Being a Sannin herself, Tsunade could easily take on a Hyuuga or Aburame and give them a run for their money. Sakura was her little apprentice, and was growing stronger and stronger by the day. If Sakura married into the Aburame clan, they would grow to be even stronger than they were now. While their taijutsu was practically nonexistent, their ninjutsu was freakishly high, balancing the stats. But if Sakura joined the clan, their taijutsu would skyrocket through the roof. Tsunade giggled as she imagined little Saku-shinos running around with chakra depleting bugs and freakish strength. Not only would a clan be infinitely stronger, her legacy would live on through the Aburame clan for as long as it existed. Tsunade was feeling better, but there was one slight problem.

She needed Sakura to marry into that clan, and since Shino was closest to her age (he was actually older than she was, by a couple of months), it would be perfect to put two of Konoha’s Eleven together. Tsunade considered Sakura to be her daughter in every way, save biological birth. She saw herself in her, and knew that she had a fiery spirit to match her fiery temper. Tsunade sighed, and laid her head in her arms as Shizune walked through the door hurriedly.

“Tsunade-sama, it’s time to assign missions. Plus there is something special happening this year at the Aburame household. I’ll brief you on the details on the way to the mission room.” Shizune didn’t argue when Tsunade chugged a decanter full of sake. She threw her head back like a seasoned pro, letting the clear, but effective liquid burn its way down her throat lovingly.

“Gah, I needed that. Is it possible to assign a D-ranked mission to fill out some of the lesser paperwork? I really need to catch a break. This Aburame business is driving me nuts! And hell, now they have my precious apprentice in their clutches. I saw her the other day talking to herself…only to find it was two kikai she was actually talking to.” Tsunade shook her head in amusement. “She named them Butch and Killer.” Shizune laughed heartily as she imagined the two tiny bugs trying to defend Sakura, making angry buzzing noises.

Tsunade stood, grabbing her green jacket, and Ton-ton. She walked lazily around her desk, and towards the door groaning. Shizune pat her long time friend on the back sympathetically.

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“…don’t give me that shit, you owe me and you know it! Those Kumo ninja were all over your ass like white on rice, and I had to use my strength to blow them away! There must’ve been like five of them on you!” Hinata watched as Sakura’s conversation escalated from friendly banter, to full blown arguing. Sakura paused in her speech to listen to Tsuname speak over the phone. As well as Hinata could hear, she could only make out snatches of what he said.

“….shuriken…..caught by…fire. You know, you…..didn’t know…color…..pink.” Sakura blushed profusely. She growled in a low and even tone.

“If you ever mention that to me ever again, I will serve your balls on a silver platter! We agreed to keep that quiet. You better hope for your sake that you didn’t tell anybody.” Hinata swore she heard a gulp over the phone.

“….okay….do it. But…be even…..tell everyone…..stalker…Kirigakure….ugly….”

Sakura turned a bright red color, and grumbled. “Fine. I’ll have the imperial show. I want this to be the best celebration thrown ever. I’ll consider us even if you do. I’ll call you back in about an hour to give you the location. Okay. Yeah, I’ll remember, keep your panties on. Sheesh!” Sakura hung up the phone, ready to call another contact when she saw Hinata out of the corner of her eye, looking at her with awe-like horror. Sakura laughed.

“Don’t worry about it, Hinata. Just some mission antics. Nothing to worry about.” The timer dinged, and both girls shot up to get the cakes out of the oven. Hinata glanced over at the clock. It was a few minutes after ten. She remembered that Sakura had to leave in a couple of hours.

“What else do you have to do, Sakura-chan? You have to leave soon and go back to the compound.” Hinata began to make the chocolate frosting, making it extra chocolately, knowing how deep Shino’s sweet tooth ran. Sakura looked down her list. She was currently making the cake preparations, and she already made plans for dinner. She still needed to rent the hall, and she needed to hire some entertainment, and find some of the others to help her with the decorations. Sakura bit her lip. She also needed to convince Shino to come with her somewhere, seeing as how she’d have his parents leave for the party early…and dressed in something nice.

“Hinata-chan, I’ve got a slight problem. How am I going to get Shino-kun into some nice clothes for the party? The only times I’ve ever seen him in formal are the shinobi funerals…” Hinata blushed profusely, and Sakura narrowed her eyes slightly in suspicion.

“What’s the matter, Hinata-chan?” Sakura walked closer to her, and Hinata fidgeted with her fingers just like she used to all those years ago. This time, instead of looking at the floor in a submissive state, she looked up at the sky, a blush on her cheeks, and a small smile on her face. Sakura blinked.

“Hinata-chan?” Hinata smiled a bit more.

“Sakura-chan, it was the first time I’d ever seen Shino’s face completely. He was dressed in his formal lord clothing…he was so handsome. Sakura, I think I’ve got an idea…”

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Everything was in its place, and doing what it was created to do. The sun shone, the birds flit through the trees singing their many melodies, and the flowers raised their heads towards the sun in all of the day’s cool glory. It was late January, and they were having a cool winter. Konoha had never seen snow before…which wasn’t all that surprising, since Konoha was part of the Fire Country. The only part of Fire that ever saw snow was the very edges of its north border, and even then it was very scarce, and did not stick around for long.

Shino stood on the bridge that connected a small island to the rest of the Aburame compound from the river that flowed behind and around their home. The island contained a fairly large dojo where he and his father practiced in the winter months, and a small training ground next to it. Flowers grew all over the place, and responded well to his care. Everywhere was pleasant to look at, but Shino found himself missing one particular person who would blend in with the flowers so well, and was another sight for sore eyes.

Shino leaned against the black lacquered railing of the ornately carved bridge. He knew he loved Sakura, and with all of his heart. But he knew he didn’t want to ruin what they had if it turned out she was just his friend. Shino believed, even for all of his strength, that he was still a fragile person. Shino wanted to figure out how he was going to tell Sakura he was in love with her, but a messenger bird flew onto his shoulder, sticking out its leg, to which a small scroll holder was attached to. Shino took the small note, noticing the seal of the Hokage on the upper right corner of the small piece of paper.


Shino,
I realize that today is your birthday, so I wanted to have a drink with you. We’re going someplace really nice, so I want you to wear something other than your usual coats. I will meet you outside of the Aburame gates at six-thirty.


_._.-Lady Tsunade-._._
*~*Fifth Hokage*~*


Shino raised an eyebrow. He was well aware of Tsunade’s drinking….problems. He sighed. Well, if he had to deal with half the stuff she did, he’d have grown an insane tolerance for alcohol as well. Shino looked at his watch. It was only eleven, and Sakura would be home within the hour. Shino smiled at his instantaneous train of thought. Sakura…home…those words flew from his mind, and would no doubt do the same to his lips so freely. He sighed heavily. He turned to go back to the compound. To kill time for Tsunade’s arrival, he decided to look for something suitable to wear. It was acceptable to wear his clan’s dress clothing, seeing as it was a meeting with the Hokage at a semi-public place.

As he walked back towards the main path to the main house, he was suddenly struck by inspiration. Today was, unfortunately, far too busy a day to tell Sakura of his feelings. He didn’t want to utter those words from his lips until he had a sufficient amount of time after that to reinforce it. At the same time, he wanted to let her know how he felt. He knew of the perfect way to do it, he just needed Kiba’s help, and a cleverly placed genjutsu that Sakura could not detect. He hastened his footsteps to the house in order to set his plans into action.

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“Genius, Hinata-chan! Did I ever tell you that you were a genius?” Sakura wracked her brains in triumphant glee. “Of course I haven’t, and for that, I’m sorry. But that was brilliant, asking Tsunade in this. Of course, since there will be alcohol, she won’t refuse. Oh my, I’ve got to call Sadaeoko-chan for the wine and liquor!” Sakura rushed to the phone to make the call, as Hinata located the right frosting bag for the edges of the cake.

“You’ve already called Ten-ten-chan and Ino-chan for the decorations, right?” Hinata looked up in time to see Sakura nodding her head as she dialed a number from a small slip of paper.

“Hello, is this Fundoshi Brewery? Yes, yes, I need to speak to Sadaeoko-san. Right this minute. She will take the call.” Sakura was furiously writing down and checking off everything on that one sheet of paper on her clipboard.

“Hey, hey, Sadaeoko-chan, it’s me, Sakura. Yes, of course we should!”

A long pause for a minute or so.

“That’s so kind of you, Sadaeoko-chan! I want you to attend Aburame-sama’s birthday party, I’m sure he’ll appreciate it. Oh, what’s that?”

Small pause, and then Sakura laughs. “Oh, but we couldn’t—“ Sakura was cut off by playful arguing.

“Okay, fine. We’ll take 25 cases of your finest sake, and some of your best spirits…you choose what to bring. But I’m expecting about 500 guests, despite it all, Shino-kun is a very popular man!”

Another pause, and a cherry red blush.

“Oh, it’s nothing like that, Sadaeoko-chan! We are just good friends. I have other business to attend to, and I’m sorry I have to cut this call short, we can catch up at the party later.”

Slight pause. Sakura bit her lip.

“Yes, yes, it’s at seven o’clock. It’s to be a surprise for him, so I have to make sure everyone goes on along their business as if something important isn’t happening. I’m sorry I didn’t send you an invitation, I’ll rectify that in a moment. There are just so many people, and so little time, you know?” Sakura smiles, and nodded to someone invisible.

“Of course, of course, I’ll keep you posted. See you tonight!” Sakura hung up the phone and sighed heavily.

“Okay, the cake is nearly finished, hall rented, decorations are being solved as we speak, the food has been ordered, as well as the drinks, the invitations have been sent. I still don’t know what we can do for entertainment other than the dinner show….” As Sakura thought, a small blush rose to Hinata’s cheeks.

“W-well, we could always bring up our old act, Sakura. It was really a hit last year…” Sakura whirled on Hinata, an unreadable look on her face. It then broke out into a full blown smile.

“Hinata, you’re just on a roll, today! Ino and Ten-ten should be finished with the decorations by now. I’ll give Ten-ten a call, see if we can’t bring it back up. Do you still remember the routine, Hinata-chan?” Hinata grinned slightly. Sakura didn’t need an answer after that. She laughed.

“I just hope Shino-kun and half the other male populous doesn’t get a nosebleed. If Jiraiya-sama shows up, we’ll just have to place him under a small genjutsu or something…” Sakura was clearly excited, picking up the phone again in a flash. Her fingers flew over the keys, dialing Ten-ten’s number.

“Hey, Ten-ten, are you and Ino still at the hall? Yeah? Ask Ino if she still remembers the routine we did last year.” Sakura waited for Ten-ten to ask, but she was apparently shoved out of the way, Ino taking over the phone. Hinata had no problems hearing the loud and boisterous blonde.

“Geez, forehead, pressing this on us at the last minute! Of course I still remember the routine…” Ino trailed, a loud gasp escaping her lips. “No WAY….you want us to do this for Shino’s birthday, don’t you? Got problems hiring entertainment?” Ino jeered diabolically. Sakura was used to Ino’s frequent incessant naggings, so she only laughed.


“Shut it, pig. I just thought you’d like to have a little bit of fun. Besides, poor Shino doesn’t get to see enough girly skin, never mind his own.”

Hook.

“I don’t know, Sakura-chan. This is sudden, you know. And I don’t know how Shika will feel about this…” Ino sounded more than a little hesitant.

“I will hire extra entertainment. I’m hiring dancers from Heisairi’s. I’ve also got the dinner show, and I hired a few ninja who specialize in fighting for presentation, and not for killing. I was just wondering if you wanted for us to be the main attraction.”

Line.

There was a hesitant pause over the phone. Sakura knew she had her with this last comment.

“Besides, I know how much fun you had last time…Hinata was the one who convinced me we’d have fun with it this time…and I know a certain spiky haired Jounin will be sitting there with his jaw open, and his eyes on nothing but you.”


The silence was so thick you could cut it with a knife. A small growl was heard over the phone.

“I wonder if my outfit still fits…” Ino mused lightly.

Sinker.

Alright then, if you remember the routine, then I’ll meet you in the back of the party a little before Shino is to arrive. Everything is set now, and just in time. I’ll see you then.” Sakura hung up the phone, and watched as Hinata placed the last of the decorations onto the cake proudly. Sakura washed her hands and packed up her stuff, turning towards the front door.

“Hinata-chan, I trust that you have everything under control here?” Sakura shifted her bag from one shoulder to the other in force of habit. Hinata nodded slightly.

“Yes, everything is fine here. I believe it will be noon very soon. You had best leave now, if you wish to make it home on time, to avoid suspicion.” Hinata waved as Sakura took her leave, and leaped across buildings. She turned back into the shop and sighed happily. She picked up the phone, and dialed.

“Hey, Kiba? Yes, this is Hinata. You’ll never believe what’s been going on…”


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Sakura leapt over the last building, and reached the edge of the city. Trees began to cover the land a bit more, as she approached the gates of the Aburame headquarters. Sakura performed the hand seals quickly, and watched in wonder as the vines around the gates came to life. She felt no matter how many times she watched them, it’d always be like magic to her. She walked deeper into the land, and further down the path, most of her way shaded by the trees. It was still warmer in January for Konoha, seeing as they had very mild winters. The colors raced through her mind just as they did all those years ago. Sakura waved at the Aburame clan members she passed, and wondered why she never really saw any other of the members other than Shino and his immediate family.

She soon walked across the black lacquered bridge that made its way towards the front steps. She stopped momentarily to take in the beautiful view of the house and the surrounding flora. She heard the door slide open, and turned to see Shino standing there in his usual wear. Apparently, he’d been waiting for her arrival home. Sakura smiled vaguely, and for all of his analytical skill, Shino couldn’t figure out why.

“Hello, Shino-kun. Happy birthday.” Sakura turned all the way to face him, and noticed that he seemed to be distracted. His hands were stuffed into his pockets, and for some reason, even though he had on his glasses, she knew he wasn’t looking at her. Her smile turned into a concerned look on her face. She moved closer to him, and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“What’s wrong, Shino?” her eyes looked into his glasses, but she knew he was looking back this time. A small sigh escaped his lips. She could almost imagine him shuffling his feet like a little kid.

“Sakura, I need your help. I have to go see Tsunade-sama at 6:30 in front of the gates. She wants me to wear something nice…but I’m not quite sure what she means…” Shino sounded a bit dazed. Sakura laughed, and it reminded him of those tiny silver bells. She shook her head, and walked up the stairs, pulling him gently along with her.

“Come on, Shino. We are going to find you some decent clothes…You have to go meet Tsunade, yes? Well, you’ll need something semi-formal…but you are also going out for a drink….” Sakura dragged the poor boy up the stairs as she contemplated what he would wear. He was actually stumbling behind her, she was moving that swiftly.

“Hmm, going out for a drink…but today is also your birthday, so you’ll want to wear something to catch attention….” Sakura slid Shino’s room door open, and promptly dropped the poor boy in a heap at her feet. Her eyes widened in wonder, and she walked dumbly forward. It was magnificent.

The colors of his entire room were black, cream and a chocolate brown color. The floors were made of chocolate colored tatami with black separating each piece. His bed was in the center back of the room, and was on a polished ebony wood dais. He had a traditional futon, covered with cream sheets, and black pillows, pulled back invitingly. Four simple ringed posts were connected at the base of the three-step oval shaped dais at the four sides. Black opaque drapes made of some soft floating material surrounded his futon and were attached to the four poles with silver and cream tassels. He had black French windows with black curtains pulled back at the sides. He had a balcony that overlooked the front forest. His walls were painted black, and wall scrolls hung everywhere, some with just art, and others with both art and beautiful poems in the middle. There was a display case with several gilded and jeweled scrolls, each one uniquely delicate, and beautiful. Some were different sizes than the others, and Sakura guessed there to be at least a hundred of them. She looked closer, and noticed that one of the scrolls was missing from out of the middle of the others, and this struck her as odd. Overall, his room was quite beautiful, and it made Sakura appreciate Shino that much more.

“Do you find my room to your liking? I thought it may have been too plain for you; there isn’t much that interests me enough for me to see it in my room here…” Shino rubbed the back of his head slightly, not sure what to say next. Sakura smiled as if there were a big secret that she kept from him.

“Not at all, Shino…your room suits you perfectly. It is quite beautiful. Makes my room look like nothing…” she joked, but Shino swiftly moved to her side. He was her friend, but even he had issues with initiating physical contact, no matter how distressed he was, long lost or not. He cursed his training in Grass for his inability, but there was nothing he could do about it at the moment.

“Sakura do not say such things, I enjoy the pictures you have everywhere in your room. They are like memories of long past, preserved for our remembering. Memories are important, most important to us Sakura, as we are ninja. We would know more than anyone else how much memories can mean to us.” He finally overcame his issue with initiating the touch if only for a second. He took her pinky in his, and she smiled, knowing what he meant. Her hand drifted up toward his glasses, tracing the black metallic frame.

“You are exactly as I remembered you from then…” Sakura tugged on his high collar in frustration. “Well, almost.” She smiled playfully. Shino inwardly blushed, his Inner Shino experiencing a nosebleed from what could’ve been implied. Hell, he would gladly dress as any other ninja if it caught her attention. He watched as she turned her back to him and dove for his closet. She slid the doors apart and nearly squealed. His closet was walk in, and clothes lined both sides of the closet, a wider space in the back with mirrors on all sides. Sakura’s eyes narrowed, she’d have to look at her closet later, after she helped him with his clothing. There was no way in hell he should have this closet when he wore such things. Sakura smiled. She would need him to wear something a bit less modest during his off time. She sighed and looked at what he had to wear patiently.

“Well, you need something eye-catching, since it’s practically your day to shine. It doesn’t have to be too revealing, but we do need to see at least half of your face…something dark, it goes great with your hair…” Sakura began to dig through his stuff. Shino just stood in the doorway of the closet, not sure if he should be doing anything or not.

“…it’s a drink with the Hokage, and because you are part of an older clan of ninja, it would do you well to have an item of clothing with your family seal on it, as anything containing your seal is appropriate to wear with a meeting with the Hokage.” Sakura huffed, and then squealed. She pulled out a long black suede overcoat with short cuffed silver sleeves and a high collar with a stylized kikai beetle with a circle around it in silver printed on the back. The edges of the coat were outlined in silver, adding to that striking effect.

“This will definitely be part of your ensemble…hmm, you’ll need some accessories as well…some fingerless gloves with silver guards, maybe some bandages to wrap up your legs where your sandals will be….oh, Shino, do you have any black ninja sandals?” Shino snapped out of his reverie of nothingness to look down at Sakura, who had a questioning look on her face.

“Yes. They should be lined along the floor beneath the clothing. It is funny that you should pick that specific article of clothing…this was given to me by Father today…” Shino watched as Sakura bustled around like a mother hen, and she placed a form fitting black ninja shirt, the standard issue of uniform black pants, his black fingerless gloves with the silver hand guards on his bed. Sakura looked at Shino expectantly.



“Get dressed, Shino. I know it’s only two o’clock, but you’ll need to shower and prepare yourself to meet her. I know she’s a drunk, and she really shouldn’t shirk her duties, but she is still the Hokage, and I suppose that’s what counts. What time did she say that she was arriving at the front gates?”

“Six-thirty, I believe.” Shino began to grab some towels to get ready to shower again. Sakura nodded her head in acknowledgement.

“You will be at those front gates ten minutes early. She likes it when she doesn’t have to wait. Be careful, she does like to take leisure in asking tons of questions about your personal life and anything she doesn’t already know about you. Which, considering what clan you are from is a lot, so you are fortunate enough to where she can’t be too much into your business…” Shino watched absently as she fluttered this way and that, helping him get ready. He just wished that he could spend his birthday with Sakura, even though she didn’t know that he loved her. But he had a duty as a shinobi to uphold, and he had to do what he had to do. He looked down at Sakura slowly when her hand touched his arm.

“Shino, what’s the matter? You seemed to be a little out of it just now…” He looked down into Sakura’s face, and knew he was a little sad that he couldn’t spend his time with her. He knew she didn’t know he was leaving yet. He decided he’d tell her after the party was over, so she wouldn’t be so sad during the party.

“It’s been a long day today. Father gave me the talk all the next heads of the Aburame clan receive when they turn sixteen, mother has told me a bit about her past, and now the Hokage wants a drink with me. I am not used to all of this attention, it is kind of unsettling.” Shino looked tense, but didn’t say anything; he knew that he should have said something; she didn’t know he would be leaving her again for a year after today. He also knew she didn’t know he’d rather spend his day with her and her alone, so he knew he had this plan with Kiba to fall back on. He just had to wait for Sakura to leave his room so he could call Kiba over. She smiled slightly, a worried expression on her features.

“Try not to let it bother you too much, Shino-kun. I hope you at least have a pleasurable evening with the Hokage.” Sakura cocked her head to a slight sound.

“Sounds like Aibiko-chan is calling me. You go ahead and finish up here, ok?” She slid his room door open and closed it gently behind her. Shino sighed quietly. Even though he was an exceptional ninja, he wanted to cry out in frustration. He wanted to tell Sakura that he loved her, and that he wanted to be with her, but things just kept popping up and wouldn’t leave him alone. He looked at the small gold and pink scroll he had in his hands, already set with the genjutsu in place. His swirling mercury eyes set like katana steel. He was resolute; he would work hard to be the best ninja that he could train to be within this next year, and then sweep Sakura off her feet.


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Sakura closed the door behind her quietly. She knew there was something that he wanted to tell her, but it wouldn’t come to his lips. She walked down the stairs, Killer and Butch happily guiding her towards where Aibiko was, which happened to be within the gardens behind the house. Aibiko was dressed in a magnificent lavender and periwinkle colored kimono, complete with gleaming white tabi. Her periwinkle colored geta sat off to one side, the woman in complete and total thought. It was obvious she’d been to a hairdresser, her usual frizzy puff balls were replaced with gentler curls brushed elegantly into a French twist, curls framing her face.

“Sit Sakura. I realize that time is of the essence for you, so I will be quick about this.” Sakura smoothed out her blue yukata and sat next to Aibiko silently. It seemed to be forever before she spoke, as if she needed to think about her words before she spoke them. She turned to Sakura, her eyes pensive.

“Sakura, where do you stand with Shino?” this surprised Sakura, as it was blunt and to the point. Sakura, being in situations such as these, didn’t really bat a lash, and replied in turn.

“I am close friends with Shino, considering his relationship with other people and his teammates. I feel that I can tell him anything if I have any problems, and—“

“I suppose I should’ve asked that question better…” Aibiko smiled and shook her head. “Let me re-phrase it then. Where do you want to stand with Shino?” Aibiko knew she had her answer when Sakura’s cheeks flamed, but she still wanted to hear the girl’s answer.

Sakura fidgeted in her seat, how could Aibiko ask her something that personal? She supposed she could be read like an open book, the Aburame did have the kikaichu on their side. But then it wouldn’t explain Shino’s nonchalance about her current behavior. She still had a question to answer, and she didn’t quite know how to word it, so she decided to go for the straightforward approach.

“Aibiko-sama,” Sakura changed the formality to show her seriousness of the situation. “I love Shino with all my heart. But it’s hard for me to tell if he is interested, he does not show much more emotion than camaraderie, and I don’t want my heart broken a second time, so I am hesitant to say anything. This is the truth.” Sakura knew she sounded a little sad that he showed nothing other than complete friendship with her, but this was truly what she wanted from him, and nothing else. It was clear Shino needed someone to love, and she firmly believed she would be the best for the job, not only because they had good chemistry and balanced the other out, but she felt she had some connection with the bug wielder.

Aibiko smiled with pure happiness. She took the girl in her arms and hugged her tightly. “That is what I thought, though I wasn’t completely sure. Now that I know you love him, I have to tell you what’s going on.” Aibiko let her go from the hug, and began to explain everything.

“Today, as you know, is Shino’s sixteenth birthday. He becomes a man not only in the eyes of the shinobi world, but also the Aburame family as well. Shino has to make a year trip to the mountains behind our home and live in the wilderness completely, to better understand his kikai and to utilize them to their maximum capacity. He will learn to sense hormones of other people using the Kikai, which is why he is clueless to your love for him. He is sad because he hadn’t told you he was leaving first thing tomorrow morning.” Sakura was shocked. They had just rediscovered each other again! He was leaving her again? Sakura began to shed tears quietly.

“This was what he was so pensive about…what he couldn’t tell me, why he was so out of it.” Sakura wanted to run up there and tell him that she loved him before he left, but she decided that it would be best if she didn’t and stayed where she was.

“Don’t fret, Sakura. This time, he won’t forget. It isn’t like him to do so now, and I know that he at least cares for you deeply. But I know my son, sometimes he can be misleading.” Aibiko remembered when the doctors told her she was going to have a little girl, and little Shino showed up instead. She smiled. Shibi was so happy he had a son that he didn’t mind repainting the nursery blue just for him. Aibiko could see that the young kunouichi was torn apart at her son’s impending absence, and knew the girl spoke no lies about loving him.

“Sakura-chan, I believe it’s about four o’clock. It’s high time you’ve left to go see if the arrangements have been made suitably for tonight. Off you scat!” Aibiko stood quite rapidly, dragging Sakura with her. She practically tossed the girl out the door. Sakura, disgruntled, shuffled off the Aburame grounds to the restaurant.

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“…she left out of my door quietly, and then that’s when I knew, Kiba. I must take her for my own, no other will have her.” Inuzuka Kiba burst out laughing, and Shino growled low in his throat. The inunin wiped away tears that fell from laughing so hard.

“Man, buddy…you’ve got it bad, gotta say. I never thought I’d see the day, thought you were asexual.” Kiba cackled again, and then howled when a few of Shino’s kikai came out and bit him. Shino crossed his arms, huffing in impatience.

“Are you going to help me or not? I need for you to bring her to the clearing behind my home, and then set the genjutsu. You have to do this after I leave, or she’ll try to get me to stay. I know that you already know what could happen out there while I’m gone.” Shino sat in a chair at his desk, his hands buried in his unruly hair. Kiba pat his bug wielding friend on the back.

“I wouldn’t worry about it too much, Shino, buddy. I know that you’ll make it out alive. It’s a tough test from your clan, but you are a Konoha ninja first and foremost. Adversity has never been able to keep us down before, why should you begin to doubt yourself now, man?” Shino was surprised. It seemed they all were growing up now. Shino smiled a small, rare smile for his long time friend.

“Thanks, Kiba. It’s about five, man. I have to get ready for this drink with Tsunade. I just wish I could’ve spent more time with Sakura-chan…” As Shino shuffled off to the shower, not caring if Kiba showed himself out or not, Kiba shook his head. He already knew the surprise, so he decided to give the boy a bit more hope so he didn’t look completely retarded walking into his own surprise party.

“That IS too bad, Shino. Perhaps things will turn around and that drunken Hokage of ours will let you off early to go see her or something. You never know…” Kiba cackled in his mind one more time as he jumped backwards off Shino’s balcony, giving him a mock salute as he left to get ready for the party himself. Irritation fluttered from Shino’s form as he grumbled and went to take a long hot shower.

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Sakura entered through a gate that read ‘The Golden Tanto’. It was very high class, and was quite exclusive. However, being a secretary for the person that ran the village did have its perks. Sakura walked into the high class establishment in her plain blue yukata, and some of the richer patrons stuck their noses in the air, and sneered at her homely appearance. Sakura was not intimidated, however, and straightened her back, scowling back at some of the nastier guests. She turned back to see the mama-san walk up to her excitedly.

“Ahh, Sakura-sama, so good it is to see you again!” Some of the patrons gulped, recognizing the name. She was the Hokage’s right hand, and she also had monstrous strength. Sakura bowed to the mama-san and smiled.

“I trust that everything is ready?” Sakura began to walk back to the end of the room where the large golden double doors were located. The mama-san followed her, nodding and gesturing.

“Everything is set up, Sakura-sama. I trust you have a way to pay for all of this, right?” Sakura whipped out a small package that was wrapped, and gave it to the mama-san.

“This should cover it all, I think, plus a bit extra for actually having the place open for me to use at such a last minute time. I appreciate it.” As Sakura was opening the doors, a large thump sounded behind her. Apparently, it was more than enough money. Sakura shrugged. It was Shino’s parents who paid for the hall, so she called for someone to help the mama-san up. When they took her away safely, Sakura opened the door up, and gasped at what she saw.

There were streamers hung everywhere in the Aburame house colors of silver, khaki and black. The tables were set in western style, each covered with black linen tablecloth, a large bouquet of fresh white roses at every table courtesy of the Yamanaka flower shop. The dinnerware gleamed in the low light of the black silver and khaki paper lanterns that hung everywhere, a smaller lantern at each table. All the chairs were draped in black, and tied with a silver bow. There was a large stage, with a wide set incline runway that led from the back all the way to the middle of the room in a circle. The carpeting was black with silver marbled swirls. Pleasant incense wafted through the air, and the cake was off to the side of the room, and looked magnificent. Sakura clapped her hands in glee. She watched as guests began to file into the room past the reservationist. Sakura checked her watch. It was six o’clock, and nearly time for Shino to have left the compound. Sakura rushed to the back behind the stage to see Hinata, Ten-ten, and Ino ready to go, already in their maiko wear. Ten-ten was dressed in a green kimono with swans and larks flying all over it, an obi of crashing waves tied in the maiko style. She wore the red yukata under it, her face painted white her lips painted crimson red. Her hair was tied back in all the adornments. Hinata was dressed the same except her kimono was a dark blue, almost black, stars, clouds and constellations swirled all over her kimono, her black obi awash with bright flowers trailing down. Ino wore a light blue kimono covered in clouds and birds flitting trough the air, the edges the tops of trees, her purple obi covered with fans of every color shape and brightness.

“Oh good, you all are ready already. I need help in getting ready!” Sakura rushed to the back with the girls as Kiba appeared and made sure everything was in order. Catering, liquor and entertainment was already here, so all they had to do was wait for the guests to arrive. Kiba grinned. It was nearly time for the show to start. He smoothed out his handsome white silk yukata with wolves set in a snowy background stitched in. He smirked devilishly.

“Let the games begin….”


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Please don’t hurt me! I know that it’s not finished, but I had to break this into three parts. Finals are coming up, so I don’t know when the next and final part of this particular chapter will even begin being written! Thanks to those who were patient enough! I want to get the next chapter done by mid January if possible!