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Surrogate	By : Geist Category: Naruto > Het - Male/Female Views: 2459 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own The Naruto series or any of it's characters. This fiction will not profit and is only used for entertainment.

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He stared with a sickened expression at the rag in his hands...he never liked the sight or smell of blood. The wind whistled sharply through the old wood of the window frame. The frigid air bit at Shino's cheeks and made him snap back to reality. The fire had gone out. Silently, he set about stacking new logs and summoned a halfhearted fireball jutsu.
He watched the flames grow, ever aware of that bloody rag. Its very existence made him livid. Had his father witnessed such emotion seething through, the Aburame teacher would most certainly be admonished. Shino's father wasn't here though and with great fuming, the academy sensei cast the filthy cloth into the fire as he continued to piece together what, where, and when it all went wrong.

***

"I don't see why the hell we need another team member. It's just been us two for years, no problem." Eiji sassed at the decision of his jinchūriki lord.
Hachi's eyebrows crunched-up in ire at her teammate's discontent, but she curbed it for the time being.
Naruto slouched with a rather perturbed sigh; his stare harbored little amusement. "I already told you, so cut the crap. You need as many sets of eyes as possible for this one. Even Tamechia recommended some more help."
"You've got to be kidding me, really?" Eiji turned to the woman next to him.
Hachi looked back rather unfazed, "This isn't like the regulars, Eiji, he's a missing-nin, not some run-of-mill thug."
The brown-eyed chūnin wore an obvious pout.
A snicker echoed the great office as Naruto reclined in his chair. "Lighten-up, will ya? You can't have your team leader to yourself all the time, now can you?"
As Eiji quickly denied Naruto's jeering, the blonde Kage just grinned with a perverted mischief that reminded Shino of their days as genin. The bickering ensued with little interruption from the beetle-master and his current captain; she laughed and busied herself with the mission scroll. Suddenly came a billow of smoke and the fast departure of Eiji, covering his bleeding nose, one of Naruto's infamous sexy-jutsu clones giggling after him. The two team members left behind received a spirited dismissal from their Kage and took their leave respectfully. As soon as the next team took their turn behind the closed office doors, Hachi burst out into a fit of laughter so good she snorted.
Regaining her composure, she sighed happily. "Well, that was entertaining."
Shino made no comment, but inwardly he agreed. It had been at least a month since they last spoke, and in truth he was somewhat relieved that the air remained companionable between them.
"So how's life been with no classrooms open this winter?" Hachi quizzed as she packed away her scroll.
"Given the unusual circumstances, not so beneficial. It was welcomed to hear the Hokage needed a volunteer from the Aburame clan." He pointed out tonelessly.
"I suppose it's quite a dry-spell with no children to teach. Kunoichi training never stops, but this paycheck will be nicely appreciated." she paused... "It is and isn't surprising that you volunteered."
Though he found the comment strange, Shino made no motion to look over at the woman. "What does make it surprising?" he asked rather coolly.
"Because of the liability. This nin was last reported as possibly being a highly-skilled chūnin, but his clan is famous for chakra-absorption jutsu. I would've thought that considering how much your clan relies on a steady chakra supply, the Hokage would consider the risk for a kikaichū host."
She wasn't wrong in her logic, so there was really no offense to be taken in her assessment. "Every mission has an inherent risk." he countered. "It is good of you to think ahead, should things go unplanned."
Her slight blush didn't go unnoticed, even though she probably hoped it did. "You would do just the same, I'm sure. Is there any contingency plan you have in mind, in case worse comes to worse?"
"There is a technique shared between insect-users." he eluded rather vaguely.
Hachi pursed her lips in dissatisfaction. "That's all well and good, but you'll be the only insect-user in this team."
There was no word from either as they walked toward the entrance-way of headquarters. Just past the enormous wood doors, Eiji was waiting, riddled with irritability.
"You guys want to talk strategy over some barbecue?" The ash-blonde man proposed, rubbing his stomach.
Hachi and Eiji glanced over to their newly appointed teammate, who simply nodded in agreement.
A loud growl permeated their female captain's stomach. "Eh heh heh...sounds like a plan!" she twirled a lock of her hair in embarrassment.
Eiji simply chuckled and the three made their way further into town.
The afternoon sallied away in the private room Eiji covered to discuss their target: only known as Tekkō. Grilling away on the table top, the three reviewed maps and reports of their target's defection from Kusagakure during the last great war; trading village secrets and his services to the local yakuza with the promise of lavish compensation. The plans only silenced long enough for their waitress to refill the sake and tea. Very quickly, Shino saw the unfolding dynamic between his current teammates: Hachi and Eiji were the only two left of their original four-member squad...and for some reason he hadn't quite sorted out, they both loathed each in their personal lives, but complimented each other well in business. It worked for them...albeit, in a very dysfunctional way.
Shino, as he saw it, was fitting-in seamlessly as another strategist that met their caliber. "The bar of his preference will be an easy venue to survey, since you have good connections there."
"He likes to sit by the drink selections most, so Hachi could train as the new barkeep and have better face time. Shino can bug every corner of that room." The Petenshi clansmen snickered at his own pun as he kicked back his sake.
Hachi nodded as she rolled her eyes. "I'll send a message to Gensei-kun. If he's still a regular he can get you access as a friend, Eiji."
"And if not?" the blonde prodded.
"Information gathering." she concluded. "It'll look suspicious if there's more than one new hire...too many fresh faces will tip him off."
Eiji's chocolate eyes fell into a flat glare with the prospect. "Perfect for you, since you're already his type. You gonna have a little fun too before you off him? Maybe even get a date for once?" he jabbed.
Hachi shrugged it off as she sipped her sake. "Wouldn't that be the day?"
The awkward pause about the dining room was overwhelmed to Shino's ears only as the kikaichū grew uncharacteristically irate by the catty displays. "Is it truly so difficult for an accomplished kunoichi to be asked out on a date?" he interjected.
"Turns out, it is for someone so accomplished at being a slut." Eiji huffed before gulping down another cup of rice wine.
Hachi's features morphed from clear annoyance to something rather numb. "Yeah, yeah, Eiji. I'm a slut, whatever you say..."
All took time to eat in silence. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a kunai. Something about this last exchange didn't settle well with the stoic Aburame...it was rightful to assume that Hachi was experienced, given her line of work, but never in his years had he known promiscuity to deter shinobi from dating one another; sex as a weapon was simply part of their culture. The way Eiji regarded it so negatively started to show that maybe there was more than a difference in personality that made the two so bitter. Hachi's final dismissal didn't escape Shino's keen notice either...her response seemed very disingenuous...more like an acceptance, rather than an affirmation.

*
The following week brought little restful sleep. Conflict was never one of Shino's strong suits; that, coupled with old injuries aching from the sudden snowfall left him a little more tense this morning. Unfortunately, even the strongest shinobi wasn't immune to common maladies like arthritis, and not even the finest bone-mending medic-nin could keep the ache from setting in early on such a hard lifestyle. He opted out of aspirin though. It didn't effect his prowess, but even the mildest pain reliever could impair the colony, and he needed them at their best during any mission.
Shino found it disconcerting as well to see with his hidden eyes that Hachi of all people, was being escorted out of the Aburame compound during the dark morning hours only days prior, by Tatsuma. Of course, if Hachi had her own separate business to attend to with his relatives, it was hers to keep. Tatsuma wasn't keen on giving audience to anyone though, since Root disbanded, and after his recruitment as a detective to the military police, even his own clan found it difficult to have his presence. Seeing the woman depart looking rather drained and sluggish left Shino on edge enough to question his cousin about the purpose of their meeting; to which of course, the conditioned ANBU gave no forthcoming answer.
The environment as of late kept the insect master's brows knitted and his colony restless. He held his reserve, though and would find answers to his questions in time, one way or another. As he leapt across the white-capped rooftops with ease, it took him no time to arrive at the main gate where the person of his quieted focus was already waiting. With a yawn, the seductress smiled tiredly and waved; looking far more weather-appropriate this day in the standard issue cloak and uniform. Shino simply nodded...noticing himself preferring a wider gap between their space today than before.
"Here." Hachi tossed the Aburame man a thermos happily, "It helps with the cold weather." she exclaimed.
"You got mine too, right?" Eiji chirped at the sight upon his approach.
Hachi nodded with a wink and passed the blonde a similar container. Eiji licked his lips a took a swig only to feel his mouth and throat catch fire.
The kunoichi's dusty-blue eyes lit up with laughter, "You better let it cool down, dumbass."
Eiji simply ignored her and saluted the guards stationed on the wall above as they departed. They traveled quickly to make the rendezvous and chit-chat wasn't indulged as they made for the border of Fire Country. In between leaps, Shino partook in the beverage; it tasted like a hot, spiced-juice. Ginger, cherries, orange, and something especially spicy were the loudest flavors and after finishing the bottle, he felt the remedy Hachi hinted at earlier; nothing especially substantial, but he did feel more awake and less stiff than what the past week had dealt. He made a mental note to ask the recipe later.
Had their target stayed in Otogakure's territory, they would likely have left his capture to Kusa, but it became Konoha's business when Tekkō was witnessed carrying out a hit on the son of the Earth Country's Daimyō. There had already been political tensions between the Tsuchikage and the impatient noble, and the lord suspected Iwa had plotted against him. Naruto had been contracted by both: the Daimyō wanted the rogue-chūnin killed, the Tsuchikage wanted proof that Iwagakure had no involvement. Proving their allies' innocence wouldn't be hard, given Tekkō's loyalties to the mob. Shino surmised that dispatching Tekkō shouldn't be incredibly difficult either, if the team played their cards right.
As the three-man squad neared the inn they were reserved a room, they found nothing but disappointment when the innkeeper apologized for over-booking the building. In a great huff, the three shinobi took their refund, stayed in town for another argumentative dinner, and promptly set out to secure a campsite before dark. Fortunately, the biting January wind had died down by the time the they began pitching a tent. Fire wood was not hard to find and while Eiji set the traps, the kikaichū scouted further afield.
"Sorry...about earlier." The kunoichi suddenly apologized.
"What about?" Shino asked.
"About all the bickering with Eiji and I; he's not usually this boorish. I feel like your time on this team might bring more offense than comradery."
"He doesn't seem to adhere to you as his superior in general." The insect wielder bluntly pointed out.
Hachi shrugged. "I'm only special jōnin, not a full rank above him."
"You're still a jōnin, even if it's only by specialty."
The pause between them had length as Hachi smiled meekly and stoked the fire.
"Eiji has his aptitude in areas I don't: better at ninjutsu and he's a ruthless opportunist. He sees advantages I sometimes miss. Besides, I probably wouldn't have become a specialist without Hōki-kun's help." she exclaimed.
Shino turned his obscured gaze fully to her this time. "Your past teammate?"
Hachi nodded. "He's the one that noticed I could read people well and get them to confide secrets. He convinced my sensei to assign my first seduction mission and I jumped at the chance even though Eiji hated the idea. Hōki-kun had already joined ANBU by the time we passed the chūnin exams and I actually became a liaison for his black-ops team."
"What happened to him and your sensei?"
Hachi's eyes ever-so-slightly glassed over. "Dai-sensei and Eiji were ambushed during one of their missions and Eiji brought him back to the village for a proper funeral. The guys were assigned to a different unit than myself during the war. We three promised to take care of each other if any of us survived. Eiji made it back...Hōki didn't." her stare stretched a million miles away until a cinder popped on her arms.
The promise Hachi used to dismiss Eiji's strange demeanor was given more clarity now. Shino could relate with her loyalty, despite his inability to accept the extent to which she let that oath overrule her common sense.
Jumping at the sting of the cinder, the kunoichi brushed herself off and composed her expression. Playfully, she nudged the man beside her with a fist "Where are your teammates at anyway? I hear the rookie nine are all still alive."
"We all are, yes." he confirmed. "Hinata married Naruto-sama and has retired early to care for their children. Kiba still goes on missions, but spends most of his time breeding and training ninken and ninneko with Tamaki-chan."
"That sounds like a delightfully boring way to grow old." she chuckled. "I'll be happy to face some boredom...I have a feeling this will be the last seduction mission I accept."
"I was under the impression that you preferred this field of work."
"Hn." she responded with amusement. "Learning is the field of work I prefer. Kunoichi arts require exhaustive study and the fat paychecks are a perk, but the 'actually letting strangers enjoy your personal space' part isn't appealing to me. Work and orders are what they are, though."
"How do you suppose Eiji will fair with your decision since you've been his only teammate for so long?" Shino wondered, setting up a pot of water to boil.
"He'll likely still want me to go on missions with him, regardless if I'm qualified for them. Teaching is growing on me though, despite his objections to that move. He'll manage without me, I'm sure." she factored honestly.
Shino paused at that for a while, wondering if he should inject himself so much into this situation...something about her egged him to be more curious than what was probably appropriate. He continued as he steeped some tea in the simmering pot "So he does like you...no wonder..." he assessed rhetorically in a colder tone than normal.
Hachi quickly turned to face the Aburame man, her features completely baffled.
As if on cue, the brown-eyed shinobi they discussed rejoined the group by the campfire. Abruptly silencing the awkward turn the conversation had taken. As if to prove Shino's point, Eiji wedged himself to sit inbetween the two teachers. The view from Shino's imposing sunglasses was blocked by his male teammate, but it didn't take much to see a scowl forming on the corner of Hachi's lips. Whether the Aburame's words, or Eiji's intrusive seating darkened her mood, Shino could only guess.
His train of thought was interrupted when a tin cup of viburnum berries was offered by the blonde man at his side. As they snacked on the fragrant fruit and drank of the warm beverage, there wasn't much speech among the three while the sun set quickly; simply an overview of the area around the camp and pinning down what time to depart, come morning. On more than one occasion, Shino noticed glare from the corner of Eiji's eyes, but made no remark toward it. He thought of Shikamaru in how troublesome this mission was becoming, but Shino also knew that his curiosity of the Tamechia woman is what sparked this mess.
Wanting to be alone with his thoughts and colony, Shino volunteered for first watch. The hive hustled to create some warmth as their master left the fire to perch in a tree nearby. He overlooked the scene below as his teammates went to sleep as long as they could; Hachi taking the lead, Eiji soon following...he didn't like that particular visual. Chatter among the males kept whispering conclusions as to why, which disrupted his calm even more and were promptly silenced.
One of the male beetles prodded for exit. To what end, his master really didn't care; just some reprieve from his millions of companions' demanding notions would be nice tonight. Shino opened a pore and granted the insect his wish.
"Don't wander too long," Shino cautioned, "it's too cold for you by yourself."
The adventurous male flitted its wings in understanding and went to dance around the light of the fire for a while. Shino openly smiled at this display...even a simple worker enjoyed a break every now and again. The reverie was short lived though, when the insect and his host both heard Eiji give a pained noise from the tent. The male insect landed on the fabric barrier and Shino keened his hearing.
"Will you stop elbowing me already?!" Eiji whispered angrily.
"Then quit playing with my hair and go to sleep! What are you, nine years old?" the kunoichi spat back sternly.
"Cunt." was the only reply given as the tent rustled and stilled.
Shino noticed the beetle's senses dimming amid the frozen temperatures and summoned the tiny symbiont back quickly. Using a finger to guide the poor kikaichū back under his skin, Shino sighed with some relief that the colony had nothing to say on the matter. Dare the insect-master war with his reactions to hear his colleague be called such a foul insult, and to learn that this rather caustic attraction between his teammates was one-sided at best. It was starting to make sense now, and as childish as it seemed to him, he wasn't at all disappointed with this information.
"Are you feeling better now?" he asked the nosy beetle that nearly froze to death.
The answer he received was a good one and with the confirmation that all of his ward were safe for the night, Shino mentally combed the strategy for the rendezvous. The night crawled on with the hum of the colony creating a warm lull. Shino quietly entertained his time with watching the little wildlife left awake during the lazy winter months. A whitened-fox curiously investigated the campsite only in hopes of some food, but found no reward for its efforts. The kikaichū host couldn't help but recollect the awing glimpses of Naruto's symbiotic relationship with the Kyūbi.
*

The hours passed unhindered and Shino made his way to start another fire. He could weather the cold just fine, but Eiji and Hachi would need some warmth when they rotated. He stared at the vividly colored flames through dark lenses, his ears tuned to the sound of Eiji's watch rousing the chūnin from his sleep. The tent unzipped to reveal the man emerging with a blanket clutched close.
"All clear." Shino flatly reported.
Eiji nodded, settling close to the fire. "Whatever, Bug-man." he replied as if dejected.
Shino made no conversation as he relieved himself to the tent. Zipping up the taut shelter, Shino laid down to notice something odd...Eiji's body heat lingered far from the spot where Hachi lay. The Aburame man looked to his right to see the kunoichi sleeping with a rather noticeable shiver. Were the two really so intolerable of each other that they wouldn't even share body heat? Apparently, that was the case...
Shino quietly unpacked his blanket and settled in behind Hachi. Setting his watch for the next rotation, he removed his head gear, untied his dark-brown hair, and snaked his arm around his teammate's waist, pulling her chilled person against his own. She woke, but made no fuss as Shino raised his other arm to tuck under both their heads.
"Erff...everything clear?" she mumbled, fitting her back against his torso.
"Yes." He confirmed.
With some tedious forethought, the insect-master rested his ear to the tent floor, listening...now that Eiji was awake, Shino knew the blonde may have to relieve himself soon. He waited and listened until a shuffle came from the campfire and footsteps wandered off to find privacy. Noticing Hachi was breathing steady, Shino hesitated before settling his unmasked face on her own. His lashes brushed her temple.
The sensation instantly had Hachi's full attention. Shino could see how comically her eyes bugged and lips pursed as she stared straight ahead of her in disbelief.
Her voice came out rather quiet and choppy, much to his amusement. "You're. Not. Wearing–"
"This moment's existence will be unknown to you when you take your leave." Shino's very familiar words echoed against her blushing cheek. "Do I have your word?" he edged with a faint warning, continuing their hushed tone.
"You have my word..." Hearing those words, the kunoichi kept her sights from wandering. She wasn't about to disrespect such a rare display and silently wondered what she'd done to earn it. "Why do you hide your eyes, Shino?"
"Many reasons." he murmured.
The kunoichi lay annoyed with such a vague response. "Will you ever show anyone?"
He paused thoughtfully...again, with her strange questions. He listened out, hearing no returning footsteps. "Aside from my family...yes...the right person will see me one day." he whispered with no lilt, as usual.
Hachi's features softened at this...was this sentimentality he was expressing?
"Have you found this 'right person'?"
"No. Not yet."
The colony went into an uproar at their host's reply and he mentally reprimanded their collective sass. The vibration and hum beneath his skin reached Hachi's attention and she quirked an eyebrow curiously.
"What's got them so worked-up?" she pointed out.
"Nothing." Shino lied. "They help regulate my temperature." he covered and pulled the kunoichi in closer.
He could feel the heat of her cheek blushing further. A female kikaichū made it very clear to point out that the woman's pheromones just spiked.
"Oh...well..." she gulped hard. "That's nifty."
'Nifty?' Shino honestly had to extinguish a laugh that threatened to vocalize, he then heard Eiji walking back towards the fire.
"Go to sleep." he swung one of his long legs on top of her and whispered the order in Hachi's ear, knowing full-well it would encourage the exact opposite.
And it did just as the Aburame expected. The kunoichi was hopelessly alert to what he just did. He supposed she was thoroughly bewildered by his flirting, but this behavior, from him, was so beyond his norm that it would be odd if it didn't unnerve the hell out her.
Shino drew in a tired breath, taking in her scent as well; It was obvious she wasn't wearing perfume, but picked up a trace of what was probably soap...honeyed evergreen of some sort. There was something very feminine as well laced in her slight and nervous perspiration; likely the pheromones the kikaichū would not shut up about. In that moment, it donned on him...this wasn't the put-on he was expecting of an experienced seductress...if anything, the woman beneath acted overwhelmed by this rather innocent contact. 'Now, I really do see.' He thought as he steadied his breath and had the colony make one last go at raising his body heat for now.
Once Shino noticed Hachi's shiver had ceased, the majority of the kikaichū settled down and went dormant for the night. He observed that the kunoichi teacher's breathing had not steadied as he kept his own slow and rhythmic. Minutes passed silently before the Aburame man felt something smooth against his pinky.
Cracking an eye open, he noticed her small pinky around his much larger one. Clearly, not done by accident. He closed his eye and tightened the gesture; his one-fingered grip didn't let go when she tried jerking away, realizing he was still awake. She gulped again as the insect host curled in, caging her further against him.
"Go to sleep, Hachi." he breathed carefully against her ear...almost inaudibly and withdrew the former honorifics. Still entangling his smallest phalanx with her own, Shino waited until her breathing signaled her sleep before he rested himself.
*

He woke at the beep of his watch. As Hachi began to wake as well, Shino shifted and left one hand on her shoulder; with the light restraint, he signaled her not to move. As he sat up, Shino felt the woman go slightly rigid...probably because she noticed a similar rigidity under his pants. He mentally berated himself for not taking such an obvious reaction into account before cozying-up to his teammate. While he tied back his hair and once again masked his eyes, Hachi lay still, eyes fixed ahead of her to the tent until she heard Shino lay down again separate from her. She didn't leave the tent until her own alarm went off and Shino was concealed.
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