Chapter 1: Verse 1 and Refrain

Shino turned his music up, blaring Metallica into his head. His bugs were angry with him, partially because he had refused to sleep the night before, and he had walked out without having eaten anything. His idiot father had forced him to clean the kitchen and the dishes, cook dinner, and on top of that, clean his father's room. And if Shino refused? He'd get the beating of a lifetime.

The key to my survival
was never in much doubt
the question was how I could keep sane
trying to find a way out

It had all started when his mother had been murdered a few years back. He took it hard, yes, but his father took it the worst. He would walk to the nearby bar and drink, flooding away all memory of the bright cheerful, black-haired woman he loved. He would then stumble home, puke up the contents of his stomach in the toilet, and crawl back to his bedroom.

He rubbed a spot on his shoulder from the beating that his father had given him last night, and he gritted his teeth as the empty eyes stared at him with each blow. He also saw the slut girlfriend that his father was "dating", laughing her ass off sadistically as his father continued to beat him, even kicking him between the legs. Shino lost his footing and fell, shaking himself out of the recent memory, and ending up hurting himself even more.

He made his way past the trees and to the Konoha training grounds, where his leader and teammates were waiting for him.

"Heya, bug-boy. You're late!" Kiba barked glad that it wasn't him being late this time. Shino said nothing. Hinata smiled and said a hello, stuttering. He didn't say anything back—he was lost in his thoughts. Hinata's smile faded as she stared at Shino.

"She said hello to you, Aburame!" He shouted, throwing a punch. Normally Shino would have dodged it, but Kiba's fist collided with Shino's right cheek.

I didn't think much about it
till it started happening all the time
soon I was living with the fear everyday
of what might happen at night

Kiba stared at him as he fell to his knees, calmly standing back up.

"Sorry, Hinata. Sorry, Kiba." He muttered, turning away from them. It was then that they realized that he had a large bruise on the sides of his neck, and was hunched over slightly. They were puzzled. Kurenai broke the awkwardness by announcing that they would be training, and that they would be fighting one-on-one with her.

"Shino, why don't you go first since you were last?" She asked. He sighed, and nodded.

"Any conditions?" He asked. She nodded.

"No Jutsu. Just Taijutsu, okay?"

Shino nodded again. This will really be a strain on my body…

He readied himself, and nodded. She began to rush for him, holding back her fist for a chakra-filled punch. He dodged it, but barely, and threw out his foot, attempting to kick her feet out from underneath her and trip her. He failed when she caught his foot and threw him into a tree. Normally, he would have rebound, but this time, he met it—with his back. He fell to the ground, and didn't move.

"Shino!" Hinata yelled as she ran for him, helping him to get up. His body was abnormally tender, and she got a closer look at the bruises and cuts on his neck, and even a few down his shirt on his back.

"Shino? Wh-who did this… to y-you?" She asked. He remained silent.

"It's nothing, Hinata." He growled as he stood. Kiba ran up to them, and asked what was going on.

"Shino's hurt. Badly." She told him. Kurenai stared at them, her red eyes glowing with anger. Who the hell did this to you, Shino?

He grunted and held his side. Hinata lay him down on the grass, and activated her Byakugan, scanning his body. He had three broken ribs, a sprained wrist and ankle, and his pelvic bone had been fractured. She deactivated her Byakugan, and did a few signs to help heal the wounds on his neck. Kiba sat him up, and helped to remove his shirt, showing the multiple bruises. One of them was a sickly mix of red and blue, next to where the broken ribs were. He also had a discoloration of his skin at his waistline, and Kiba didn't want to know why.

"Good god, Shino! Who did this to you? Tell us, now!" Kurenai asked, panic in her voice. Shino opened his eyes, the pain a little too much for him to handle.

"I…don't know." He stated. Hinata and Kiba picked him up, placing him carefully in Kiba's arms, and then left immediately to the hospital. Kurenai sighed and went to report the problems to Shino's father.

Sakura looked up from her mountain of paperwork to find team 8 in front of her, Hinata and Kiba holding up a very beaten and bruised Shino. She stood quickly and led them into an emergency room, where they set him down on a table and she began to heal the minor wounds that she saw.

"What happened?" She asked.

"We don't kn-know, but… his ribs—they're broken, and… his pelvis is shattered." Hinata told her. Kiba stared at her in shock.

"His pelvic bone? Bu-but how?" Kiba asked, shocked.

"Somebody kicked him. Hard. Jesus, whoever did this wanted to either kill him, or they didn't know what they were doing… He'll have to stay in the ICU wing until he's better. It'll take a few days. And after that, no training for him for at least six weeks." She hissed. They nodded, and she ushered them out and called in another medic to take care of the rest.

"You should go home. I'll send someone to your houses when he gets better, or when he wakes, if he wants to see you. You should go and tell his dad what happened." She muttered, opening the door for them to leave. They reluctantly made their way to the Hyuuga compound, saying their goodbyes.

"I hope Shino will be alright…" Kiba whispered. Hinata smiled at Kiba's concern.

"So do I." She sighed and kissed Kiba on the cheek. He smiled for the first time in a while that evening. He gave her a hug and ruffled her hair, kissing her forehead before setting her loose.

"We'll visit Shino tomorrow, yeah?" He asked. She nodded, and walked inside, ignoring her father as she walked to her bedroom. Kiba walked straight home.

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

Shino stirred, the light blinding him, and causing him to shut them again. He saw his father, and he jumped, sitting up.

"You… you-

--hello, boy." Shibi growled.

"Don't tell them what happened. Or I'll kill you." He threatened before walking away. Shino gulped and stared at his dad as he left. A picture of his mother appeared in his head, and he cringed. She had been brutally beaten, and he couldn't shake the thought of her when she would cry about her injuries. She eventually died of a blood clot that had traveled from the femoral artery in her leg to her brain, causing a stroke.

I couldn't stand to hear the
crying of my mother
and I remember when

Shino stood, and touched his neck lightly. The bruises were gone, and his ribs were no longer sore. His pelvis hurt where his body bent, but it wasn't bad. There was a knock at the door, and she stared at the door in fear. Hinata opened the door, poking her head in. She smiled when she saw that he was sitting up and looking better.

"Hi, Shino. I-I just… saw your d-dad walk b-by." She stuttered. Shino sighed.

"Oh." He hid his fear, and searched for his glasses. She handed them to him, and he put them on, blinking a few times to get rid of the awkward pain n his head.

"What happened? Who did that to you?" She inquired.

He didn't reply for a while.

"It's nothing. And besides, I don't know." He replied. He forced his body still—he was starting to shake. She noticed it too, but didn't say anything. There was another knock, and Shino looked up. Kiba walked in, and grinned.

"Good to see you're looking better, bug boy." He teased. Shino grunted.

"Typical…" He muttered. Kiba crossed his arms and leaned against the door, shutting it.

"So. You don't know who did this to you, eh? Or why?" He asked. Shino remained silent. He thought about spilling everything, but then remembered his father's warning. It terrified him, the way that his father reacted to this whole scenario.

He stood off the bed and stretched.

"I have to get home." He muttered. He had made up his decision then—he would head home, pack some clothing, and run. Maybe even to the Hyuuga Compound if he had to. Even though Hiashi was an ass, he had to have some ounce of compassion in the cruel veins of his.

I swore that, that would be the
last they'd see of me
and I never went home again

Hinata and Kiba helped him to the front desk, and when they got there, he pushed them away, claiming that he could take care of it himself.

His teammates watched as he limped down the street. Hinata ran up to him, and hugged him before he went any further.

"Don't do this! Let us help you, Shino!" She cried, perfectly and without stuttering. He sighed, and hugged her back. Kiba hugged the both of them.

"We won't let anyone hurt our bug-boy." He teased. Shino felt a small smile on his face, something that he had not done in a long time.

"Thanks…" He mumbled, slightly embarrassed. He broke away, and walked on, head held high. They smiled and watched feeling really pleased with themselves. However, as Shino turned the corner, he frowned. His stomach churned with fear, and he didn't want to face his father just yet.

He walked into his house, shutting the door quietly behind him, trying to sneak past the living room and to his own room.

"Shino!" His father called from the kitchen.

Shit. He cursed, and walked into the kitchen.

"You know… that was pretty clever of you, landing yourself into the hospital like that." His father growled, waving a knife around in the air. He was cooking, something that he never did.

"Hello to you too." Shino growled, setting on the dishes in the sink. He pulled the stop, and began to fill the sink with dishes.

His father held the knife at his throat.

"You didn't tell them, did you?" Shibi asked. Shino muttered a "no".

"Good boy." He sneered. Shino ignored his father and continued to wash the dishes. Shibi's girlfriend walked between them and set a plate full of food in the dishwater, and Shino growled, and took the dish out and set it aside. Shibi held the knife against Shino's throat again.

"Did you just growl at her?" He asked threateningly. Shino shook his head no.

"Yes. You. Did!" He shouted, grabbing the back of Shino's head and thrusting his face down in the soapy water. He pulled his head out of the water and turned Shino to face Rukia.

"Apologize, boy!" He shouted. Reluctantly, he did. Rukia didn't buy it, and crossed her arms, turning her head to the side. Shibi pushed his head under the water again, and Shino choked on it. He caught his father's coat and tossed him around, causing him to release Shino. He threw his father into Rukia, and then rushed to his room, grabbing a few clothes and trying to run out of his window. His father caught him, and threw him back in, proceeding in beating him again.

"You idiot, boy! You hurt Rukia, and then you try to run?! What the hell is wrong with you? You…

Shino tuned him out, and tried to concentrate on sending chakra to his body to avoid any deep wounds. He had hoped that it would have stopped long ago, but it wasn't. His heart was dead now, and he had no will left. He gave up.

They say that time is a Healer,

But now my wounds are not the same

I rang the bell with my heart in my mouth

I had to hear what he'd say…

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

Kiba, Hinata, and Shino were sitting at the training grounds, eating the packed lunch that Hinata had brought—egg and rice balls, and crab, carrot, and cucumber sushi, with a little wasabi for Kiba.

"How's your dad holding up, Shino? This would be… the anniversary, right?" Kiba asked. Shino remained silent. Kiba was referring to the anniversary of his mother's death.

"I don't know. Nor do I care." He growled. His response shocked them.

"Wh-what? Why?" Hinata stuttered. Shino sighed, and began to tell them.

He sat me down to talk to me,

He looked me straight in the eyes.

He said:

"He got really mad at me one night when…"

You're no son of mine

"When…?" They pressed on. He looked around, and feeling that it was safe, went on.

"I tried to run away." He stated.

You're no son of mine

"You tried to run away? Why? I mean, I could see myself doing it, maybe even Hinata, but you of all people… what's been going on?" Kiba asked. Shino unzipped his jacket and took it off, and then took off his tank top that he wore. On his body were the various bruises and cuts that his father had left when he had tried to return home to get some clothing, and the ones that he had received a week ago when he had retaliated against his father. Hinata began to cry.

"He disowned me when I fought back. He's the one that landed me in the hospital. Him and that slut that he calls a girlfriend." He growled, and winced as Kiba touched his shoulder. Hinata did a few signs and sent chakra to her hands, setting them on a wound on his side, which was oozing with pus.

"Why didn't you come to one of us? We could have helped you. Do you have a place to stay?" Kiba asked. Shino shook his head.

"Everyone thinks I'm a freak. And I didn't want to drag him to you; and besides—that would be the first places he would think to look for me." He stated. Hinata nodded. Shibi had come over to her house one night to look for Shino; and she hadn't realized it then what he was up to, but now…

Where should I go?

And what should I do?

"I don't even know why I still come here." He whispered, pulling Hinata into a hug.

I came here for help,

Oh, I came here for you.

There was a poof behind the three, and Hinata broke away from Shino, and Kiba turned around. It was Shibi, who was glaring at the three.

"You idiot, Shino! I told you… I warned you not to tell anyone."

Kiba and Hinata stood between Shino and Shibi, and even Akamaru came to their aide. Kiba threw a punch at Shibi, knocking him back, Akamaru bit him in the butt, making him scream. He did a Substitution Jutsu as Kiba's fist hit his stomach, appearing behind him and thrusting his fist in the back of his head, sending him flying forward. He then disappeared, and reappeared behind Shino.

Before Shino realized that his father was behind him, Hinata had already activated her Byakugan and hit Shibi with a round of the 64-palms, kicking him in the air and jumping up, doing a round of the 128-palms. Shibi hit the ground in a bloody, beaten heap. Hinata landed between Shibi and Shino, glaring at the man.

"If you ever hurt any of my teammates again, or even come near us again, I'll KILL YOU!" Hinata bellowed, kicking him away. Shibi stood and ran, cradling his side in his hand and limping. She calmed down, eyed receding back to normal. She blinked a few times, and shook her head.

"Umm… did I just… say what I th-thought?" She asked. Without answering her question, Shino turned her towards him, pulled her into another hug, and kissed her.

"I love you, Hinata." He kissed her again, and she kissed him back, blushing. They broke apart, and he hugged her against his chest.

"Thank you for everything you've done for me." He said.

"What about me? Don't I get any thanks?" Kiba announced, angry.

Shino let go of Hinata, and turned to him. He then walked up to him and kissed him too. Kiba blushed, and his eyes twitched.

"N-not what… I had in mind, but… o-ok." He stated, turning away. Shino shrugged and picked up his jacket, slinging it over his shoulder with one hand and taking Hinata's hand in the other.

"I'm hungry. Who's up for dinner?" Shino asked. Kiba's eyes looked up as his stomach growled.

"Yeah. How about Ichiraku's?" Kiba suggested. They agreed on it, and left the training grounds, walking towards the middle of town.

"Are you guys hurt?" Shino asked. They shook their heads.

"Are you?" Kiba asked. Shino remained silent.

"Only a little." He muttered. Hinata stopped and crossed her arms, and so did Kiba, staring at him with disbelief. He sighed, and then reluctantly nodded.

"Yeah. Ok, it hurts a lot." He growled. Hinata asked him where it hurt, but Shino couldn't tell. It hurt all over his body, and he had a hard time trying to pinpoint the exact spots. They sat down on the stools at the counter, and ordered their food, saying nothing as they ate.

Hinata felt relieved. Things would be going somewhat back to normal, but she still wondered what would happen now that they had all kissed each other.

Kiba was focused only on his food, wharfing it down like there was no tomorrow.

Shino, however, was still concerned about his father. He couldn't care less about the man, but that hurt him, too---for some stupid reason unbeknownst to him, he wanted to help the bastard. Shino frowned and set his chopsticks in the empty bowl before him.

"Shino. You mind staying over at my house tonight? Well, since you don't have a place to stay and all…" Kiba asked. Shino nodded silently, still concerned on his father. Hinata remembered that her father had requested for her to be home at a certain time, so she said goodbye, giving both a kiss on the cheek, and tossing a tip into the jar at the edge of the counter, walking off.

Shino waited for Kiba to finish, checking the clock every now and then…