Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Amongst The Daisies	By : katsuyo Category: Naruto > Het - Male/Female Views: 1435 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Author�s Note:
My apologies on the delay
of the release of the new chapter but if you�ve been reading my stories long
enough, you already know that I�m about quality rather than quantity.
Special thanks to wonderwoman29
for being my human guinea pig and giving it a read before I did the posting.
So � without further
interruptions� here�s another installment of Shino and Ino goodness for your
enjoyment.
A sentence in Italics
denotes the private thoughts of a character.
Disclaimer: Yep � you got it. I don�t own it.
I don�t make a profit from this either. I just do this out of lurv. Enjoy,
beautiful people, enjoy.
So, if I decide to waiver my chance to be one of the hive

Will I choose water over wine and hold my own and drive?
It's driven me before and it seems to be the way

that everyone else gets around.

But lately I'm beginning to find that when

I drive myself my light is found.
Drive - Incubus
Chapter 6 � Word gets around
The Hokage stared out of
the window, deep in thought. The situation with the Yamanaka still lingered
prominently in her mind long since the man's dramatic departure.
Her beloved apprentice had
left an hour ago and was planning to go over to the Aburame Compound this
evening to check on Ino and let her know about this afternoon�s meeting with
her father.
It was going to be
interesting to see how the other clans view Ino Yamanaka�s choice to leave her
own clan ties behind to formally embrace those of her lover. She personally
didn't see what the fuss was... women usually became a member of their
husband's clan when they married anyway.
The Hyuugas for one were
more than likely to view the whole business as sad and sordid.
They had always viewed the
Aburame Clan as beneath them, despite the fact that Hinata had been in the same
cell with Shino when they were younger.
Tsunade personally felt
that the young woman couldn�t have picked a better man than the Aburame Heir.
Yes � Ino was going to be just fine being cosseted by those two Aburame males
in the main house.
Shibi Aburame for all of
his love of village gossip, a cup of fine sake and the odd wild wager, was
essentially a loyal family man with a deep respect for his village and clan.
She knew that if there was
a potential problem that would prevent his son�s happiness, the crafty old
devil could always be trusted to find a way to get around it. The Hokage had to
admit that suggesting to Ino that she could invoke her right to enact the
Sanctuary of the Kikai was a stroke of brilliance. No one was going to want to
take on a bunch of destruction beetles just to try and break a contract.
Tsunade stared off into
the distance, an odd smile to her face. She knew she would hear from the old
beetle nest before too long, but right now, he was up to his fine neck in
potential scandal fodder and having a great time being in the thick of things.
Yes � Shibi, you have a
lot of gossip to fill me in on�
-----------------------
The woman managed to find
the large Aburame Compound, thanks to the excellent directions that were in the
message scroll addressed to her.
Emiko was nervously
shifting her enormous hand bag, standing at the large ornate gates. She wasn�t
sure whether the Aburame would allow her to visit her daughter now that she had
effectively walked away from her own clan.
She was soon dispelled of
that silly notion as soon as she stepped through the gates and heard a cheery
male voice proclaim, �Ino, you better bring your mother inside before she
thinks she�s not welcome in our home.�
A cloud of beetles came
out of the front door then, followed by her daughter�s voice, �Mother, I�m
coming but I am not allowed to run. These two would have my hide if I hurt
myself.�
She could hear the smile
in Ino�s voice and knew she was happy being around the Aburame Clan Leader and
his son.
Two little destruction
beetles buzzed out the door before Emiko saw her daughter appear, grinning on
the arm of Shino.
Emiko smiled broadly at
the sight of Ino in the pretty kimono coming towards her.
�Ahh, Ino. How are you
feeling? I was so worried about you when you left yesterday.� murmured the
older woman with a worried tone in her voice.
�Mother, I was feeling
much better this morning.� replied Ino calmly.
Emiko didn�t miss the way
her daughter worded that but she wasn�t about to ruin her good mood by probing
her with questions.
She looked up to see an
older version of Shino standing on the front landing of the house patiently
waiting for everyone to come back inside. She knew she had this man to thank
for suggesting to Ino the option she elected to take that would essentially
give her daughter her heart�s desire.
Emiko watched the young
couple travel up the stairs, occasionally scolding the two little beetles that
seemed to follow her girl around and smiled at their obvious happiness.
She waited for the couple
to disappear into the house before she addressed Shino�s father.
�Mr. Aburame, I am happy
to make your acquaintance. I�m Emiko Yamanaka.� said the older woman, bowing
slightly in greeting.
�Please call me Shibi.
Let�s not sit on formalities when your daughter will soon be part of my family.
Can I call you Emiko or would you prefer Mrs. Yamanaka?� replied the clan
leader smoothly, returning her bow.
�Please call me Emiko.
Shibi, tell me the truth. Is Ino okay? She wasn�t in the best of shape when she
left our house yesterday and I have been so worried sick about her.� murmured
Emiko anxiously.
�Why don�t we go inside
and get comfortable with some tea? We can have a nice long chat, hn?� countered
Shibi.
The older woman shot him a
look of gratitude and replied, �Thank you. Tea sounds wonderful.�
-------------------------------
Emiko and Shibi sat in an
airy sitting room, comfortably drinking tea and chatting about their children.
�She looks very happy,
Shibi. Thank you.� murmured the blonde woman before taking a sip of her tea.
�Emiko, I didn�t do
anything. It was ultimately her choice to make.� countered Shibi, smiling
warmly at his guest.
�Uh, Shibi� now that Ino
was effectively removed herself from her clan, is it permissible for me to
visit her? I�m afraid I am not clear on the guidelines of the sanctuary law.�
asked Emiko, the worry apparent in her voice.
Shibi smiled slightly and
murmured, �Emiko � come and visit your daughter as often as you want. You don�t
need to worry that I am going to forcibly eject you from the Compound.�
�I tried to persuade Shino
to stay a while longer yesterday but he said he needed to get back here to take
care of some formalities. Shibi, be honest with me. Ino was in bad shape when
she arrived here last night, wasn�t she?� queried Emiko.
She watched the Aburame
Clan Leader take a sip of his tea before he answered with a small sigh, �Yes,
I�m afraid so, Emiko. She was clearly exhausted, experiencing bad morning
sickness and the stress of telling your husband really did the poor girl in.�
Emiko sipped her tea deep
in thought before replying, �Well, it�s a good thing that Ino decided to make
this choice then� my husband wasn�t going to approve a union between our
clans.�
�Ahh� had a change of
heart, did he? I�m sorry to hear that, Emiko. I imagine your husband is
currently speaking with the Hokage trying to figure out a loophole in this law
of ours, hn?� murmured Shibi slyly.
Emiko grinned and took a
sip of her tea then commented, �Yes, I�m afraid so. He really wasn�t thrilled
when your clan messenger showed up.�
Shibi clucked his tongue
and said, �That is a real shame. I take it the directions were easy to follow?�
Emiko liked this man. It
looked like her daughter had fallen in with a good clan.
�Yes, they were most
helpful... I don't believe I would have found this place without them. � said
Emiko with a broad smile.
�Yes� we are hard to find
but we prefer living out here on the outskirts of the village.� mused the
Aburame Clan Leader.
Emiko took another sip of
her tea and worriedly asked, �Since Ino elected to take this option � our
family isn�t obligated to provide a dowry for her. Is that correct?�
Shibi sipped his tea
before answering the beautiful woman, �Yes, I�m afraid that is indeed the case.
You don�t get rewarded for turning your back on your clan. I wouldn�t worry
though because your daughter is going to be well provided for.�
Emiko gave the man a
measured look before carefully asking, �If I chose to provide a dowry for my
daughter, would that be permissible?�
It was good to see that
Ino had such a loving mother.
�Yes, that is acceptable.
I am sure she will be delighted with the gesture.� replied the clan leader.
Shibi took a sip of his
tea as the woman reached into her bag then and pulled out two separate
packages. It was clear to the clan leader that she had been collecting one item
for a number of years as the paper was faded in places.
They say that I�m
crafty! He obviously had nothing on this woman�s resourcefulness.
�Since these are mine to
give, I wish to provide these items for my daughter�s dowry when she is ready
to marry your son.� replied Emiko in a calm voice.
She really was a clever
one! Any items that were personal could be freely given without the clan
getting upset.
Emiko slid the two items
across the table to give to the clan leader.
Shibi unwrapped the brown
paper on the larger item, carefully removing the wooden chest from its
confines.
It soon became apparent
why the older woman had been carrying such a large hand bag.
The Aburame unlatched the
chest and lifted the lid before looking over in shock at the woman who suddenly
seemed absorbed in the act of drinking her tea.
This woman really loved
her daughter. There was easily a small fortune in gems in this chest, and what
looked like a few complete sets in little cases. Some of these pieces were
extremely old in design.
�The chest has been in my
family for generations and has always been handed down from mother to daughter.
I would prefer her to have it now.� murmured Ino�s mother.
Shibi nodded in
understanding and gently closed the lid. He would get Ino to look through her
mother�s gift later.
He opened the heavy
envelope next and was astounded by the contents.
�I had planned to use that
to provide for Ino�s wedding kimono and her trousseau when it came time for her
to marry.� said Emiko softly.
It was now apparent why
the envelope was so old and worn in places. She had been carefully squirreling
her spare yen away for years, most likely from the time Ino was a baby. A
wedding kimono wasn�t a cheap purchase, especially a silk embroidered one.
He was overwhelmed by the
woman�s generous nature towards her only child and really couldn�t fault her.
He would have done the same if he was in her position.
Shibi looked at the woman
across from him and quietly murmured, �Why don�t we take these to the study and
put them in a safe place for your daughter. We can finish our tea later. There
is something I would like to show you.�
He carefully picked up
Ino�s bridal dowry and waited for Emiko to stand before leaving the sitting
room.
-------------------------
Emiko followed the Aburame
Clan Leader into his large study and went over to one of the chairs to sit down
while Shibi got his beetles to guard the door so they wouldn�t be disturbed
during this particular conversation.
Emiko suddenly had a
thought.
�Where did Ino and Shino
go? I noticed that it�s pretty quiet.� asked the woman, more than a little
concerned.
Shibi chuckled, �I imagine
Shino has persuaded your daughter to lie down and rest after this morning�s
excitement.�
Yes, she could imagine
things had been a little on the exciting side this morning if her husband�s
reaction this afternoon was an indication.
The man walked over to the
safe, opened it and gingerly slid the two items inside.
Emiko notice him retrieve
a scroll from the top of the safe before securely locking it.
He walked over to the
seated woman and gave her the scroll before sitting down at his desk.
�I haven�t mentioned this
to my son or Ino yet but there is a special endowment that is given to the
bride if she does decide to follow her heart and enact this particular law. The
last time a woman was given this endowment was nearly two hundred years ago. We
deliberately do not mention it for the reason that the agreement has to be
entered into freely and unconditionally. The endowment can�t be used as an
inducement for the woman�s decision. The Kikai would know the difference since
the woman enters into a contract with the destruction beetles themselves.�
murmured the Aburame Clan leader.
Emiko nodded in
understanding at that logic.
She looked at the scroll
she held in her hands and slowly unfurled it, her eyes widening in shock as she
continued to read it.
She looked up at the man
behind the desk, stunned by the contents of the scroll.
Shibi smiled wryly at the
woman�s obvious shock at what was revealed in the document.
�Yes, Ino will be more
than adequately taken care of� but I know whatever we provide for her isn�t
going to be as precious as what you yourself have provided for her.� replied
the clan leader softly.
�Thank you.� murmured Emiko
now choked up by emotion, silently handing over the document.
Her daughter was going
to be treated like a queen by this clan and she couldn�t wish for anything
more�
----------------------
---------------------
�Shino, you sure your
father won't mind if we didn't join them for tea?� asked Ino in a concerned
voice.
Shino placed a kiss on her
bare shoulder before he whispered in ear, �No... I'm sure. It's best if we let
our parents have their chat.�
Ino laughed at her lover's
matter of fact reply.
�You're not fooling me for
one moment, Shino... You just wanted our parents to have tea alone, so you
could have your wicked way with me...� murmured the young woman, stroking the
hand wrapped around her waist and then continued in a whisper, �I'm not complaining
though...I missed having you by my side last night.�
Shino smiled against her
shoulder and idly stroked her small belly with his hand before softly replying,
�I missed you too, sweetheart... the spare room is a poor substitute for your
warmth.�
Ino twisted around to
place a soft kiss on the bug wielder's firm lips, admiring the way his silvery
eyes watched her as he stroked her back with long elegant fingers.
�Yo! Bug Freak! Open the
window! I know you're in there...your Kikai have barred the window.� called out
a voice.
Shino sighed and gave the
young woman in his arms one last lingering kiss before he rolled over to pick
up his glasses from the small bedside table.
�Kiba, I'll be there in a
minute... keep your voice down.� replied the bug wielder sliding over to the
side of the bed to retrieve a pair of pants.
�Hey, Bug Freak... what's
going on?� called out Kiba.
Shino pulled on his pants
and picked up the kimono from the floor.
�I'll be there in a
minute, Kiba...� murmured Shino with a small warning in his voice, leaning over
to give the blonde one last kiss as he handed her the kimono.
�Why don't you go and use
the bathroom while I let Kiba in?� asked Shino as he helped his naked girl
friend out of the bed.
�You know, he's going to
figure it out with that sensitive nose of his...� replied Ino as she walked off
to the bathroom with the kimono over one arm, not realizing that her lover was
watching her with an admiring half smile on his face.
�Well, I would rather he
discover it with his nose than see with his eyes.� murmured Shino, hearing her
soft laughter before she closed the door behind her.
--------------
------------------------
Kiba watched the Kikai
beetles retreat from the window and saw them disappear into the sleeves of
Shino's jacket as he finished zipping it up.
The dog nin pushed up the
window and was immediately assailed with a familiar smell.
�Oops... my bad, Shino...
the clan messenger arrived at my place and I was concerned.� replied Kiba
sheepishly before continuing in his usual brash way, �So, it's true then... She
really gave up her clan for you? That's pretty damn romantic, bug freak!�
�Yes � I was surprised by
her decision. I wasn't expecting her to do it.� murmured Shino quietly, pushing
his glasses up higher on his nose, as he watched in mild amusement at his old
team mate lifting a long muscular leg over the window ledge and climb into the
room, like he�d been doing for years.
�Yeah � well, I was more
surprised by the news that my best bud has been hot and heavy with Ino for god
knows how long. It's always the quiet ones that you have to watch, eh Bug
Freak?� replied Kiba as he landed gracefully onto the wooden floor.
�Yes, I am sorry about
that, Kiba... Ino preferred to keep our relationship discreet and I respected
her decision.� returned Shino in a serious undertone, the color high on his
cheeks behind his high collar.
Kiba shoved his hands into
his pockets and nodded in understanding, muttering, �Yeah � I can't say I blame
her...considering the fact that she was treated so badly by Shikamaru.�
�You knew?� asked Shino
with a frown.
�Yeah... It was kind of a
similar situation to this one actually. I had to collect Shikamaru for a
mission and...yeah, my nose pretty much filled in the details.� replied Kiba
sheepishly, reaching up one hand to rub the back of his head.
�Did he mention why he did
it, Kiba?� asked the bug wielder quietly, giving the bathroom door a quick
glance.
�Yeah... he said with
Temari... he couldn't help it...it just happened.� responded Kiba with a shrug.
�I see.� murmured Shino,
turning away to retrieve his hooded jacket.
�Well, maybe it was a good
thing that he did screw up so spectacularly... because if he hadn't � you and
Ino wouldn't be together now.� replied Kiba cheerfully.
Shino looked over his
shoulder and frowned at his friend, groaning, �You're enjoying this, aren't you
� Dog Breath?�
�Well...yeah. My old team
mate and best friend scores a hot blonde... that's freaking awesome!� said Kiba
with a grin.
�Have you told him our
other news yet, Shino?� asked a feminine voice behind the two men.
�What news?!...� exclaimed
Kiba with a scowl at his bug wielding team mate before turning to smile and
murmur in an admiring tone, � Oh hey, Ino...the kimono suits you.�
Shino glanced over at the
blonde standing in the doorway of the bathroom with the soft blush to her
cheeks.
She looked beautiful.
�I was waiting for you to
come out of the bathroom before I told him.� replied Shino with a small smile.
�Well?! She's here now...
spill!� exclaimed Kiba excitedly.
�Ino's expecting... I'm
going to become a father...� said Shino, still smiling at the young woman.
�Holy shit... I can't
freaking believe it...� yelled Kiba before rushing over to pick up Ino in a
bear hug.
Ino realized what Kiba was
about to do and quickly gasped, �No, Kiba... stop!�
It was too late.
As soon as Kiba placed his
hand on Ino's waist, they attacked.
�AAAARRGGHHH!!!�
---------------
---------------- ----------------
Emiko and Shibi had
returned back to the sitting room and were sitting there comfortably drinking
their tea when they heard the blood curdling scream.
Emiko looked up horrified
and asked, deeply concerned, �Oh Kami... should we go and see if the poor man
needs any assistance?�
Shibi looked up mildly
amused before returning back to casually sipping his green tea.
�There's no need... It's
just Kiba. He just found out about your daughter�s little watchdogs.� replied
Shibi with a small smirk.
�Ino's little watchdogs?�
asked Emiko, very puzzled.
�Yes � those two Kikai
that follow your daughter around are there for her protection... no one but
their host is allowed to touch Ino without permission.� murmured Shibi, picking
up the plate of cookies and offering one to the blonde woman sitting across
from him.
�Oh... is that normal?�
asked Emiko taking a cookie from the plate.
�Yes � it's normal for the
Kikai to form a bond outside of its bug host when their host's life mate is
expecting. The number of Kikai that bond with the woman is an indication of how
many children are present. What isn't normal is how ferocious those two
destruction beetles can be.� commented Shibi dryly, pulling up his sleeve for
the second time that day to show Emiko the evidence of the Kikai's viciousness.
�Is he going to be okay?�
asked the older woman weakly, as her blue eyes widening in shock at the sight
of the large red welts all over the man's arm.
�He'll be fine... he just
won't be making that mistake again in a hurry... that's all.� replied Shibi
with an evil chuckle.
�CALL THESE BLOOD THIRSTY
LITTLE MONGRELS OFF ME!� howled out the same voice that yelled earlier.
The Aburame clan leader
gave a heartfelt sigh and called out, �Kiba � if my son could stop laughing
long enough, he'd tell you to take your hand off Ino... the little bastards
will leave you alone then.�
�Is that what happened to
you? You touched Ino?� asked Emiko slightly aghast.
Shibi looked at the blonde
woman in shock before chuckling once more as he shook his head in the negative.
�No... they just don't
like me... their grandfather didn't like me too much either...� replied Shibi
with a smirk before taking a sip of his tea.
�You don't seem too upset
that those two beetles are that nasty...� questioned Emiko as she took a bite
of the cookie in her hand.
The Aburame laughed and
responded, �No... I'm not. I'm rather pleased by it actually.�
�Why?� murmured Emiko
raising a blonde eyebrow as she took a sip of her green tea.
�It means that our
grandsons' are going to be formidable Shinobis when they grow up.� responded
Shibi with a knowing smirk.
�I don't understand.� remarked
Emiko with a shrug of her shoulder.
Shibi wasn't offended and
grinned at the woman's blank look.
�Each of Ino's kikai will
become half of a breeding pair that will be placed into our grandsons when they
come of age to accept their first destruction beetles. Any beetles sired by
these two are going to be feared � even by this clan.� murmured Shibi
conversationally and lifted the teapot, asking with a small smile, �Would you
like some more tea?�
�Thank you, Aburame-sama.�
called out a relieved voice from Shino's room.
Emiko looked at Shibi
acting so calm and collected, pouring the tea before she finally lost her
composure and started laughing.
The Aburame clan leader
smiled and picked up a cookie from the plate.
Yes � these
grandchildren of theirs were going to be a handful but he wouldn't have it any
other way.
----------------
--------------- ----------------
Inoichi arrived home to
silence but wasn't surprised by this.
He knew that his wife was
mad at him and in retrospective, he couldn't blame her.
If he had been thinking
rationally about all of this and instead of thinking about how accepting a
union with a bug clan would be a blow to his manly pride, then maybe his
daughter wouldn't have chosen the path she took.
The fact that his daughter
had taken this path before he had been given the opportunity to refuse the
contract told him quite plainly that he had let his baby girl down.
He sat down on his couch
and stared off into the distance.
Inoichi was in a quandary.
The hokage was correct � as blunt and cruel as her words were at the time.
He accepted that the
sanctuary agreement was binding. There was no way that he was going to take on
a swarm of chakra eating destruction beetles to try and break the contract...
he knew that now.
If he wanted to salvage a
relationship with Ino and have an opportunity to develop one with his
grandsons... he needed to suck it up and make an appointment to talk with Shibi
Aburame.
The shrill ringing of the
phone broke into his chaotic musings.
Inoichi looked at it in
mild surprise before he sighed and picked up the receiver.
�Yamanaka.� said Inoichi
gruffly.
�Well, I don't need to ask
you how you're handling the news, old friend.� replied a familiar voice.
�Shikaku...now is not a
good time...� started Inoichi.
�You screwed up and you're
trying to figure out a way to rectify the situation, right?� broke in Shikaku.
�Yes.� replied Inoichi in
surprise.
�I'll see you in an hour
at the Korean Barbecue place. I suggest you bring a couple of empty scrolls as
well as your seal. We're going to help you work out an agreement that will
allow you to see your daughter, despite the sanctuary law.� murmured the voice
on the phone.
�Wait � Shikaku... there's
more to...� began Inoichi, only for his friend to cut in once more.
�Inoichi... you can tell
us about it when we meet up at the barbecue place... now, get going, leave a
message for your wife and collect what you need... oh yeah... bring plenty of
cash because if this works out as well as I anticipate, you're paying for
dinner.� replied Shikaku before hanging up.
The man stared at the
receiver in his hand for a moment before finally hanging it up with a heavy
sigh.
Inoichi pushed a hand
through his hair and bleakly contemplated a future without his daughter being a
part of it.
The phone began to ring
once more and he frowned slightly as he picked up the receiver.
�Yamanaka.� said Inoishi
morosely.
�Tsk... troublesome. Stop
beating yourself up, Inoichi... you're not the first person to do something
bone headed and you're not going to be the last. Now, grab your stuff, plenty
of cash, leave a note for your wife and get your ass down to the barbecue
place.� drawled Shikaku before hanging up once more.
Inoichi gave a heartfelt
sigh before pushing himself up from the couch.
It didn't take too long
for him to collect what he needed and to leave a note for his wife on the
kitchen table.
He gave his wallet one
final check to make sure he had plenty of cash before he walked over to the
door and exited with a soft click.
If Shikaku's plan worked
out � he was tempted to pay for the sake as well.
------------
---------------- -------------- --------------
Sakura was about to knock
on the front door when she heard a smoky male voice call out, �Come in,
Haruno-san... we've been expecting you.�
�Sakura? ow! That freaking
stings, Shino!� called out another male voice cheerfully, only to end in a yowl
of pain.
�Kiba? You sound like
you're in pain... are you okay?� called out Sakura in concern.
�Please come in here and
patch me up... Shino has been trying but quite frankly, he sucks.� called back
Kiba in a pleading tone.
�Ino has medic
training...can't she...� asked the pinkette with a small frown only to hear
Kiba quickly yell out.
�NO � ABSOLUTELY NOT!!�
�Haruno-san... please come
in... and tend to Kiba's injuries... he's in Shino's old room.� called out that
smoky male voice once more.
Sakura pushed open the
door and gingerly walked down the corridor, following the sounds of Kiba
cursing at his friend.
�Damn it, Shino...
gentle.� growled out Kiba.
Sakura stared in shock at
the sight of the dog nin sitting on the edge of the bed, covered in bright red
welts on any exposed part of his body.
Shino was standing nearby
with a tube of ointment and a roll of bandages.
�Oh Kami ...Kiba what
happened?� asked the medic nin in dismay as she rushed over to treat Kiba's
injuries.
�They happened.� growled
out Kiba in disgust, jabbing a finger over in the direction of where Ino was
standing.
Understanding came swiftly
as Sakura saw the hissing kikai sitting in their usual perches on her blonde
friend.
�Ino � they attacked him?
Why would they do that? They seemed awfully sweet to me.� asked with a frown as she
listened to the tiny beetles chirping.
The pink haired medic nin
knelt down in front of Kiba and started to heal the large red welts with her
chakra.
Kiba was relieved to feel
an initial tingle and then no pain. Sakura continued to work in silence before
she stood up and sighed, �I think I got them all... how do you feel?�
�Much better... thanks
Sakura... I don't think I could have handled much more of nurse blood's bed
side manner.� grinned Kiba in relief, nodding in the direction of his old team
mate.
The pinkette laughed and
nodded, �I understand what you mean. Shino is not really known for his medical
skills.�
A smoky voice called out
from the other side of the house, �Oh Haruno-san... now that the Inuzuka is
patched up... could I impose on you to treat my injuries also?�
�Same thing?� asked Sakura
with a sigh, looking over at the little kikai cooing.
She couldn't believe those
two were capable of inflicting that much pain.
�They are only sweet when
they want to be... but those two are all business especially if they think Ino
is threatened...never doubt that, Sakura.� murmured Shino quietly.
Sakura glanced at Shino in
shock, before finally sighing and leaving the room.
They heard her call out,
�I'll be right there, Aburame-sama.�
�I'm so sorry, Kiba... I
did try to tell you...� murmured Ino, a little upset by what just happened.
Kiba looked up in surprise
and suddenly grinned, �Ino... its okay. I am actually relieved, if you want to
know the truth.�
�Relieved? Why is that,
Kiba?� asked Ino, clearly puzzled by the man's odd behavior.
�When I heard that you had
disowned your clan, I was worried about your safety, especially if both Shino
and his father are called away for missions but I can see that you will be just
fine.� replied Kiba with a wry smile.
The sound of Ino's stomach
grumbling caught the attention of both men then.
�Sorry... I guess I'm
hungry...� murmured Ino embarrassed.
Kiba laughed and replied,
�Yeah... I guess so... how about we wait until Sakura is finished treating
Aburame-sama and then we could head out to find some food for you and that baby
of yours, hn?�
�Babies, Kiba... as in
twins.� countered Shino's quiet and matter of fact tone.
Kiba's head swiftly
swiveled around and looked at his friend in shock, exclaiming hoarsely, �Holy
shit, Shino... when you knock a girl up � you don't mess around, do you?�
Ino's soft laughter
drifted in the air as she watched Shino lift his hand and softly threaten to
drain his old team mate if he didn't shut his mouth.
---------------
--------------- ----------------- -------------
Shikaku locked the door
and slipped his house keys into his pocket as he walked across the covered
porch.
He was about to step off
and onto the road when he heard his wife call out, �Shikaku! Don't stay out
until the early hours... You need to mow the lawn in the morning like you
promised!�
The Nara Clan Leader
sighed and called back, �I won't stay out too late, Yoshino.�
Shikaku was about to step
off the front porch yet again when he saw the familiar figure of his son
walking lazily up the road.
�It's just not my night to
catch a break.� muttered Shikaku under his breath.
Not that he didn't
normally welcome a visit from his son... just tonight... well, was a little
inconvenient.
�You heading out on a
mission?� asked Shikamaru in mild surprise as he stopped in front of his father
and noticed the small bag on his father's back.
�In a way ... I'm heading
over to the Korean barbeque place to meet with Choza and Inoichi.� replied
Shikaku.
�Oh? It's nothing serious,
is it?� asked Shikamaru with a slight frown.
�Troublesome...� growled
Shikaku under his breath and said loud enough for his son to hear, �Look � I
can't hang around here all night. If you want to talk � we need to do it while
we're walking.�
Shikamaru nodded as his
father stepped down and started walking briskly down the dirt road.
Okay � his father was
lazier than he was... he never rushed anywhere.
He quickly caught up with
his father and asked with a slight edge to his voice, �Okay, father... what is
going on?�
�When was the last time
you talked to Ino, son?� countered Shikaku.
Shikamaru stood still,
rigid in shock at that question but quickly broke into a trot when he realized
that his father wasn't going to slow down.
�I haven't talked to Ino
since my engagement was announced but you know that, father... Why are you
suddenly asking me about Ino?� asked Shikamaru with a scowl.
�I'm not surprised by that
answer, Shika... I know your woman never did like the fact that you and Ino
were still friends after your relationship ended.� murmured Shikaku dryly as he
shifted the small pack on his bag.
�What's going on, father?
Does this meeting with your drinking cronies have something to do with Ino?�
asked Shikamaru, feverishly working over a dozen different possibilities in his
mind.
�Yes, son... It does
indeed have something to do with Ino.� replied Shikaku more than a little
impressed at how quickly his son came to that conclusion.
He shouldn't really be
surprised though... his son was a genius... but still...
�Is she sick? Injured?�
asked Shikamaru, now a little concerned.
�Well, not that I am aware
of...� responded Shikaku distractedly.
�Then what is it that is
so important that you need to be in a rush to meet Yamanaka-sama and
Akamichi-sama?� bit out Shikamaru, beginning to feel a little frustrated by
this situation.
�Ino has formally disowned
her clan.� replied Shikaku with a sigh.
�Wha? Why would she do
that?� exclaimed the younger Nara in shock.
�Why? Because Inoichi is a
hard headed fool. Instead of thinking of the consequences of his actions, he
decided to make rash decisions and now, he's having regrets.� muttered Shikaku
in a bitter tone.
�Okay... I'm...� started
Shikamaru, only for his father to stop abruptly and face his son.
�Shika... because of the
way that Ino chose to remove herself from her clan, every clan in this village
is now aware that she has sought protection from her lover's family rather than
allow her father to force her into an arranged marriage.�
�Oh.� murmured Shikamaru
understanding start to dawn in his dark eyes.
�Yes... very big OH.�
remarked Shikaku with a wry twist of his lips.
�What's going to happen to
Ino? She's going to be branded as this loose woman...� responded Shikamaru with
a concerned frown marring his brow, only for his father to cut in.
�I doubt anyone is going
to be game enough to even make a whisper regarding Ino's morals, son... not if
they value their lives...� replied the older Nara with a small chuckle.
Shikamaru watched his
father glance at his watch and shifted his pack on his back before he moved off
once more.
�Ino invoked her right to
enact the sanctuary of the Kikai.� drifted out Shikaku's voice softly as he
disappeared down the road.
Shikamaru did not bother
to catch up with his father this time. His mind was still busy dealing with the
bombshell he'd just received.
He didn't know what the
hell the Sanctuary of the Kikai was but there was only one clan in this village
that could have a law like that.
Aburame.
------------
---------------- --------------------
�Shino... How do you and
your father do that? It's been bothering me...� murmured Sakura as they walked
down the road towards the village.
�Do what, Sakura? You need
to be a little more specific, I'm afraid.� countered Shino with a small smile
to his lips as he felt Ino's hand slide up to curl around his arm.
�You know... the way you
both just seem to know what's on a person's mind... it's kind of freaky...uh,
no offense, Shino.� replied the medic nin, now feeling a little foolish.
�The Aburames, like the
Inuzuka, are renowned for their tracking ability but it's their skill to
observe and gather information that makes them a true asset on a team. They can
pick up what a person is thinking by watching their body language and facial
expressions as well as picking up changes in chakra levels in addition to
changes of emotions using their Kikai.� responded Kiba in a quiet gruff tone.
Sakura looked over at the
broad chested nin with the clan tattoos on his high cheekbones and silently
marveled at this other side of the man.
She still couldn't believe
that Kiba who had been as loud and obnoxious as a certain blonde former team
mate of hers was now a respected Clan Leader.
How was it possible
that this man like Naruto could excel in a way that constantly surprised
others?
�Don't let the creepy
stoic exterior fool you, Sakura... Shino and his father are highly intelligent
for bug freaks.� drawled out Kiba with a small smirk to his lips, hearing the
subtle humming of Shino's destruction beetles at his comment.
�So, Kiba � where's
Akamaru tonight?� asked the pink haired woman, finally noticing that the large
man was alone.
�His mate is expecting
their first litter of pups. I don't need him for a mission, so I let him stay
at home.� murmured Kiba a little sadly.
�What's wrong, Kiba?�
asked Sakura now a little concerned by the sudden mood change.
�While Kiba is excited by
the impending arrival of Akamaru's first litter... he's sad that he hasn't yet
found his own life mate... He would have liked his first born to have one of
Akamaru's pups from the important first litter...but Hana's first child will
have that honor instead.� replied Shino from behind her.
�Oh... I see.� whispered
Sakura looking at the encroaching twilight as a feeling of sadness settled
inside of her.
Kiba was a handsome
guy... How was it that he hadn't found someone that he wanted to settle down
with?
Kiba glanced over at
Sakura and could see the questions flit across her expressive face, even in the
dark.
�Sakura... while I still
have the urge to rut... I just haven't felt the desire to put my mark
permanently on a woman and claim her for life.� murmured Kiba quietly.
�How do you know if you've
found the right one, Kiba?� asked the medic nin in a whisper.
�It's not something you
can put into words, Sakura... but I will know when I have found the right woman
to bear my children.� replied Kiba, noting the dark flush that appeared on the
woman's face at the mention of children.
�And you? Have you found
someone special?� murmured the Inuzuka slyly as he watched the flush darken on
her face, correctly guessing what her answer was going to be.
�No...uh... I mean, I want
to...I do... but...� broke off Sakura, looking away from Kiba and now feeling a
little uncomfortable about how personal this conversation had turned in
a short amount of time.
�Don't worry...Sakura...
You're an incredibly beautiful woman... I am sure that the right man will
eventually come along and sweep you off your feet.� remarked Kiba, shoving his
hands into his pockets before he finally strode slightly ahead of the group.
Sakura felt her cheeks
burning brightly as she watched him walk ahead.
Why did she suddenly
get the impression that he was embarrassed?
--------------
0-----------------0--------------
Inoichi stepped into the
restaurant and looked over to see his two old team mates and friends waiting
impatiently for his arrival.
Choza was happily helping
himself to a pot sticker as Inoichi sat down at the table.
�Did you bring the blank
scrolls and your seal?� asked Shikaku lazily.
Inoichi nodded as Choza
finished the pot sticker in his mouth and jovially murmured, �Don't worry,
Inoichi... I'm sure that despite how badly you feel you royally put your foot
into it... there is always a way to redeem yourself.�
�I wouldn't be so sure
about that, Choza... I really did it this time and I've only got myself to
blame for this mess.� returned Inoichi morosely.
�That bad, eh?� asked
Shikaku with a raised eyebrow at the dejected look on his friend's face.
�Yeah � I'm afraid so...
not only did I refuse to listen to the Aburame Clan's offer of an alliance
through marriage between the two clans, there's a strong possibility that I
have lost my chance to ever know my grandsons.� confessed Inoichi to his two
friends.
�Hehehe... you were right,
Shikaku... as per usual.� murmured Choza with a small smile.
�You knew?!� asked Inoichi
in shock.
�No � but I suspected that
the reason why your daughter opted to invoke this particular law was because of
the fact that she was expecting a child.� replied Shikaku with a smirk.
�So � my daughter is
truly...lost to me then?� asked Inoichi sadly.
Choza and Shikaku looked
at each other in contemplation before the Nara finally murmured, �No... you can
still recover from this... but not without a small sacrifice on your behalf.�
�Okay...You have my
attention, Shikaku... how?� queried the blonde man leaning forward on his
folded arms.
�You can still prevent
your grandchildren from accepting their first Kikai, despite the sanctuary
agreement. Since both clans will be relying on these grandchildren to continue
their respective lines, the Aburame will be prepared to take any concessions
you offer in a serious light.� responded Shikaku with a sly smile.
�I see... you mentioned
that I would need to make a small sacrifice... what are you suggesting I do,
Shikaku?� asked Inoichi with a frown, as he contemplated this strategy.
�Give your permission to
allow both your grandchildren to accept Kikai when it comes time, but request
that your daughter's next child be exempt from the ceremony and given to your
clan for training.� replied Shikaku.
�Why � both children...
why not just one?� questioned Inoichi.
�They will be formidable
and powerful nins if they are kept together and trained as a team. The Aburame
knows this... and he will be prepared to negotiate to keep the children
together...especially if the father is an exceptional shinobi himself.�
countered Shikaku with a smile.
�From what little I have
observed of the young man's technique... he seems to be at a Jounin level -
skill wise and I imagine that enemies do their best to avoid him... quiet,
highly intelligent with quick reflexes, despite that tall angular frame of his
and an ability to assess a situation in a small amount of time... yes � I say
he is quite exceptional... as well as extremely dangerous if crossed. �
muttered Inoichi out loud as he continued to give the plan serious thought and
completely missing the look of shock and understanding that passed between
Choza and Shikaku.
�Inoichi... the father of
Ino's unborn children wouldn't happen to be Shino Aburame, would it?� asked
Choza carefully, quickly losing his appetite for food as the pot sticker
slipped unnoticed from the man�s slack chopsticks.
�Yes � I believe that was
the young man's name.� replied Inoichi, looking up in surprise and noting that
Choza had gone pale at the confirmation of the father's identity.
�So � Ino managed to
capture the heart and attention of the Aburame heir himself. I'm impressed,
Inoichi... no wonder Shibi isn�t pulling any punches.� murmured Shikaku with a
calculating gleam in his dark eyes.
�Eh... I'm sorry,
Shikaku... but I fail to see what is so impressive about this situation.�
replied Inoichi glumly.
�Shino Aburame is quite
the catch despite his notoriously reclusive nature. Many clans have tried to
arrange alliances with the Aburame, only to be politely refused�and yet, Ino
managed to achieve the feat without too much effort. Also - the fact that your
daughter is carrying Shibi's grandsons will make him more adamant than ever to
ensure the boys are trained together as a team. � remarked Shikaku in a
deceptively casual tone, carefully watching his friend under hooded lashes.
Inoichi picked up the cup
on sake sitting in front and took a sip, staring down at the table, now deep in
thought.
�You still have the chance
to recover from this situation and gain an extremely powerful ally in the
process.� countered Choza as he reached down to retrieve the pot sticker from
the sauce.
Inoichi looked up then and
contemplated his old team mates for a while before finally replying, �Okay �
what do I need to put in this scroll?�
Choza smiled in delight as
Shikaku responded, �Why don't you unroll one of those parchments and we'll get
started, hn?�
------------------------6--------------------------
Shikamaru unlocked the
front door of his modest apartment and slipped inside, still in shock from his
father's news.
�Shika? Are you okay? You
look pale as a ghost.� murmured a concerned female voice.
The lazy nin absently
locked the door behind him and walked into the kitchen and retrieved a bottle
of beer from the fridge.
Temari frowned at her
fianc�s preoccupation as he walked into the living room, open bottle in hand
and watched him sit down beside her on the couch.
She waited for him to have
a sip before prompting, �Well?! What happened? I thought you were going to
spend some time with your father tonight.�
Shikamaru took another
pull from his beer bottle, swallowed before finally replying, �There was a
change of plans, Temari. My father needed to go and meet the Yamanaka.�
The blonde responded with
a small smirk to her lips, �It was that time of the month, eh?�
Shikamaru leaned back into
the couch as he put the bottle to his lips and took another healthy swallow.
He reached out and
absently stroked the top of her hand before replying, �No... nothing like that.
Dad is helping the Yamanaka try to work out a way to see his daughter.�
Temari stared blindly down
at the floor, trying to hide from Shikamaru how even the slightest mention of
the other blonde upset her as she replied, �Why would he need to do that?�
�Ino formally disowned her
clan today.� responded Shikamaru as he lifted the beer bottle to take another
sip.
The fan wielder turned to
look at her husband to be in disbelief before exclaiming in an incredulous
tone, �You're not joking, are you?�
Shikamaru grimaced and
replied, �No, I'm not... She's staying with her lover's family for the moment
rather than being forced to marry against her will.�
�Lover?! When did that
happen?� murmured Temari in shock.
�I don't know but I'm
guessing that she's been seeing this guy for a while...� replied Shikamaru
lifting his bottle to take another sip.
�Do you think it's just a
ploy to get your attention?� asked the blonde, a little suspicious about the
news of her rival's new man.
�Huh? What do you mean?�
countered Shikamaru absently as he placed the bottle onto the table.
�Well, don't you think
it's strange that she's suddenly seeing someone, after all this time?�
replied Temari, giving her fianc� a long look.
�Normally I would find it
strange but... when I heard which clan Ino's lover is from... I wasn't
surprised that the relationship was kept so low key.� murmured Shikamaru with a
frown as he clasped his hands together under his chin.
�Okay... you have caught
my attention now... which clan is this man from?� asked Temari with a raised
eyebrow.
�Aburame.� came the
succinct reply.
The blonde reared back in
shock before exclaiming, �Wait � aren't they the clan with the creepy bugs that
eat the chakra?�
Shikamaru looked over at
his lover, a small smile tugging at a corner of his mouth as he nodded, �Yes �
that's the clan.�
�Gahhh! I remember Kankuro
telling me about that fight he had with that bug wielding nin all those years
ago. He said that it was one of the most vicious battles that he had ever
experienced.� responded Temari with a shudder.
�Well, Shino hasn't
changed too much over the years... if anything, he's become a more formidable
opponent as he's gotten older.� muttered Shikamaru, his mind already trying to
work out which Aburame male Ino was seeing.
�Yuk... she must be
desperate for a man if she's sleeping with a guy who has bugs living inside of
him.� mumbled Temari in disgust.
The lazy nin turned and
looked at his fianc�e in shock before bluntly replying, �I doubt it. This
relationship is pretty serious for her to make that kind of commitment...She's
not the type to just sleep with a man.�
An awkward silence settled
between the couple sitting on the couch.
�You put the moves on
her?!� hissed out Temari after a while.
�Troublesome...but yes, I
had tried a couple of times � only to be politely rebuffed...and before you
bitch me out... this was before things got serious between us.� murmured
Shikamaru with a warning frown.
�Don't you mean � until
she caught us in bed?� countered Temari archly.
�Gahh!! Temari...we've
been through this countless times before! I was planning to tell her long
before then...but poor timing and missions got in the way. It was
just...unfortunate.� replied Shikamaru tiredly as he lifted a hand up to rub
his forehead.
He didn't want to get
into this tired old argument... not tonight.
Temari bit back her
frustration as she caught the telling hand movement and instead asked, �I'm
surprised that she's decided to make her relationship public knowledge in such
a way... what prompted her to make her announcement in such a spectacular
fashion?�
Shikamaru looked up in
surprise.
Hell � that was an
excellent question.
He drummed his fingers on
the arm of the sofa as he went over the conversation he had with his father in
his mind.
The lazy genius sat up
abruptly as his fingers still their tattoo and muttered, �Shit.�
It was so damn
obvious...
�What?� asked Temari, now
curious.
�The Aburame must have
made an offer for Ino, only for her father to decline the offer of an alliance
between the clans.� murmured Shikamaru in disbelief.
�Yes...but I still don't
understand the rush if that was indeed the case...I mean...why disown your
clan?� asked the fan wielder with a frown.
Shikamaru stared at his
lover with wide shocked eyes as understanding finally dawned on him.
He reached over and gave
the blonde a quick kiss on the cheek before moving away to push himself up to a
standing position.
�Shika, where are you
going?� asked Temari in alarm.
�Sorry, Temari... I need
to go and see someone to confirm my suspicions but I won't be out late.�
The young woman watched in
frustration as Shikamaru walked over to the hall table and picked up his keys.
�Shika... you're going to
see Ino, aren't you?� murmured Temari tightly, feeling the old jealousy
simmering to the surface.
Shikamaru paused at the
front door, biting back the curse rising to his lips at her question and
countered quietly, �Temari...when are you going to let this go? I want you �
not Ino.�
The fan wielder watched
him slip out the door with a quiet click before she finally replied, �I want to
believe you, Shika... I really do.�
----------------------------------------
�Another order of the
beef, please...and another side of the rice with the red bean paste on top.�
murmured Ino sheepishly to the beaming waitress.
The blond felt her face
burning in mortification as she turned and saw the rest of the table watching
her in amusement.
�No need to be
embarrassed, Ino. You're a little underweight... so eat up.� said Sakura with a
smile as she took a sip of her green tea.
Ino smiled in gratitude at
her friend's encouraging words, feeling a little more relieved about the sudden
need to eat her body weight in food.
She glanced over at the
stoic man sitting beside her with his wide collar unsnapped and was surprised
to see him lift her hand up to bring it to his lips.
�Kawaii...� breathed out
Sakura wistfully with a small sigh, watching the blush bloom once more in Ino's
cheeks, this time for an entirely different reason.
Kiba gave the pink haired
woman beside him a contemplative look as she took a final sip of the green tea
before putting the cup down.
He felt a little angry
when he heard that tell tale tone in her voice and privately thought it was a
shame that this intelligent and beautiful woman was still single.
�Sakura, I imagine you
have another early day over at the hospital... why don't I walk you home while
these two have some quality time together?� asked Kiba quietly.
The medic nin briefly
looked up and witnessed her friend lean close to give Shino a tender and loving
kiss before turning her gaze swiftly back on her tattooed companion.
�Oh! Um... that would be
nice of you, Kiba... thanks.� replied Sakura, suddenly feeling shy for some
unknown reason.
Kiba dug a large hand into
his pocket and extracted his wallet.
�Shino...I'm going to walk
Sakura home. I will see you tomorrow, okay?� murmured Kiba as he stood up and
placed enough money down on the table to pay for dinner.
�Kiba...� said Shino with
a warning tone in his voice as he looked back at his dinner companions standing
to take their leave.
�Shino... I want to pay.
I've waited a long time for this day...� returned Kiba with a wide grin.
�Thank you, Kiba.� replied
the taller man with a rare smile.
�You can thank me properly
when you send me an invitation to the wedding.� countered the Inuzuka with a
knowing smirk.
�Kiba! That was rude!�
gasped Sakura in dismay, shooting the couple an apologetic look before dragging
a laughing Kiba out the door.
�Nonsense... you have eyes
in your head. It's only a matter of time before those two decide when they plan
to do the deed.� drifted back the large man's voice back to the pair seated at
the table.
Shino chuckled softly as
he watched an annoyed pink haired medic nin drag his ex-team mate out of the
restaurant and into the evening.
Ino bit her bottom lip and
dropped her eyes down to where her hands rested on top of her small belly.
�I'm in no rush, Ino...I
can wait.� murmured the bug wielder with a tiny quirk of his firm lips.
�It doesn�t bother you�
what people will say then?� whispered the blond, not bothering to mask her
concern.
�No, Ino�.I worry about
you and our children but I don�t worry about what a bunch of narrow minded
gossips think. It�s none of their business.� replied Shino quietly, reaching
over to brush a long strand of hair out of Ino�s eyes.
Ino leaned in and rested a
small palm on the Kikai wielder�s lean cheekbone before brushing her lips
across his and whispering, �Shino�I love you.�
�You�re the man she left
her family for?� bit out a male voice.
Ino stiffened with shock
as she heard that voice, feeling the ripple of the destruction beetles under
Shino�s skin as he too recognized the voice.
Shino frowned as he felt
the small tremors course through Ino�s body as he turned to face the man
standing not far from their table.
�I am.� replied the Kikai
master plainly as one of his hands dropped down to gently caress Ino�s hands
now clasped tightly in her lap.
�Shikamaru�.what are you
doing here?� asked Ino, feeling a sense of unease settle in the pit of her
stomach.
�Shino � we need to
talk�.outside.� murmured Shikamaru, ignoring the blonde�s question and pinning
the other shinobi with a look of disgust.
�As you wish, Shikamaru.�
returned Shino with a tiny lift of his lips, giving Ino�s hands one last
comforting squeeze before lifting his hand to snap his collar into place.
�Where are you going,
Shino?� asked Ino in growing alarm as she watched him push up to a standing
position as Shikamaru turned and left the restaurant.
�Shikamaru wants to make
an issue out of this and I�m not about to disappoint him.� replied Shino grimly
as he turned and followed the shadow wielder outside.
�Here you are� an order of
beef with a side of rice with red bean paste on it.� murmured the waitress as
she placed the order in front of the stunned woman.
�Thank you�um, could you
put a cover on this� I�ll be back in a few minutes�.promise.� replied Ino
before she pushed herself up and hurried over to the front door.
She just hoped that she
got there before those two did something stupid�like get into a fight over her.
Now � that would be
really dumb.
- 5
- 6
- 7
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Amongst The Daisies