"Well, Missy, since you appear to be feeling much better, I'm sending you home."
"Do you have to?" Sakura asked before she could stop herself. The head nurse watched her blush and chuckled.
"I know I've been covering for you and lover boy but you can't hide from the world forever. Now, sign here."
Sakura pouted as she signed the release form. Signing it meant she would have to go home. Where Shino was less likely to be able to sneak in. It meant she would have to start her training with Tsunade and her mother. There would be less time with Shino. Handing it back to the nurse she plopped back on her pillow with a huge sigh.
On one hand she wanted to learn all that her mother could teach her and what Tsunade taught her could save the life of her comrades, but... but on the other side there was Shino and oh how he outweighed everything right now. She smiled to herself remembering those stolen moments making herself giddy with emotion.
"I thought you were being released today," came a voice from the door. Sakura sat up quickly as his warm voice washed over her.
"Shino..." she whispered and watched him tilt his head to the side a little. From that alone she knew he was smirking and he moved to her with a knowing confidence. Sakura tilted her head back so she could look at his face while he brushed her hair behind her ear.
"My little butterfly..." he whispered into her ear causing her eyes to close as she shivered.
"Some time today, Girl," they heard as the head nurse walked by her door. Sakura groaned as she buried her head in his jacket and Shino chuckled softly.
"Are you ready?" he asked and she nodded.
"Come on. I'll walk you home," he said offering his hand as she stood. Sakura smiled and placed her hand in his.
"Sakura will be released from the hospital today," Shizune said as she helped Tsunade go through paperwork. Tsunade mumbled something from beneath a stack of papers.
"What was that?"
Shuffling the papers to the side, "I said, I know. I sent Shino to escort her home."
Shizune's eyes widened, "But what about what Mrs. Haruno said?"
Tsunade glowered into space a moment, "Difficult woman. When she sees those two together she will have to change her mind. She cares too much about her daughter and her happiness to do anything different."
"You're hoping that love will solve everything? Lady Tsunade! There is over a decade of bitterness between Mrs. Haruno and the Clan, surely you must have more sens..."
"Enough. Mrs. Haruno will have to accept the match. Sakura and Shino will find ways around her reguardless of what she wants. You would think the woman would be a little grateful to the Aburame Clan for saving her daughter."
"I didn't think she had anything against the Aburame."
"She doesn't. That's not why she doesn't want Sakura and Shino together."
"Then, why?"
"Her husband's dying wish was that she and their unborn child be allowed to live freely in Konoha rather than within the Clan..."
"...And if Sakura and Shino married..."
"Sakura would return to the Clan with Shino."
Shizune fell silent as she pondered a moment.
"Then, how are you so confident that Mrs. Haruno, seeing the two of them together, will change her mind?"
"Because if she doesn't she will lose her daughter altogether," Tsunade said as she stood and stared out the window.
"Oh..." Shizune understood, "Tough love."
"Exactly. Sakura loves Shino and he loves her. Mrs. Haruno will have to accept the fact or risk having Sakura turn away from her. Let's just hope that she will realize that before too many people get hurt."
"By that you mean you're afraid of how badly this will hurt Sakura."
Tsunade sighed and closed her eyes, "You know me too well, Shizune."
"Here we are," Shino said as Sakura stopped in front of the door. They had arrived moments ago but Sakura had yet to go in or say anything.
Sakura could almost feel the tension on the other side of the door and she dreaded going in. She looked to the right of her in the direction of the woods thinking.
"Sakura?" he asked as he felt her hand tighten on his.
Just as she was about to say something the door opened.
"Sakura, I'm so glad you're home."
"Hi, Mom."
"I didn't realize you would be walking with her, Shino, but since you're here would you mind if I spoke with you a moment."
Shino lifted an eyebrow and he could feel Sakura squeeze his hand.
Mrs. Haruno looked from Shino to Sakura, "Could you give us a moment, dear? Go ahead and take your bags on in. I'll be in shortly."
Sakura looked as if she wanted to say something to the contrary but she felt Shino squeeze her hand in reassurance. Looking at him she forced a smile before taking her things in. She rushed up the steps to her bedroom, dropping her bags, she pushed her window open to look down at them. They were talking too quietly for her to hear but she could tell by Shino's stance that he was angry.
Her heart beat in dread as she wondered what her mother could be saying to make Shino upset. Anyone else looking at him, he might appear to be okay, Sakura had come to know him so she knew differently by the subtle changes. Suddenly Shino turned away and Sakura knew something terrible was wrong. A moment later her mother entered the house and Sakura was out her window chasing after him.
"Shino!" she called and for a moment she thought he wasn't going to stop. As she reached him she could see the irritation in his eyes but knew not why.
"Shino?" she asked when he remained silent.
"It is perhaps," he paused searching for words, "in the best interest of everyone if we no longer see each other romanticly."
Sakura stumbled back as if he struck her, "I don't... I don't understand."
"I'm saying we can't be together, Sakura."
Sakura shook her head back and forth in denial, "You don't mean that."
Shino sighed impatiently, "It's over. You and me. We're through. Our relationship has run it's course. We've reached a dead end. There's nothing here for me anymore. How else would you like me to explain it to you?"
In shock, Sakura was unaware of the exact moment when she began to cry, "You can't mean that! Shino, I love you!"
Shino closed his eyes, "Look, it was fun while it lasted, but..."
"It was my mom wasn't it? What did she say to you? What did she tell you that made you... like this!"
"It had nothing to do with what she said or didn't say. You know I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true. I was planning on telling you today anyway. Look, Sakura, it's over between us please don't embarrass yourself by begging..."
How much more pain could she take? Words she wanted to say got stuck in her throat as pieces of her heart shattered all about her. Where moments before she had been so full of happiness just holding the hand of the man she loved, now everything was over. Her whole world crumbled beneath her and she hugged herself as if to protect against it.
"Sakura, we can still be..."
"Please... Please, don't say it..." she whispered so softly she wasn't sure he heard.
"...friends."
She closed her eyes as the last fragment of her heart still hanging on to the hope that this was all just a cruel, cruel joke fell into a dark pit of dispair. She turned and ran as far and as fast as her legs could carry her. Away from Shino, away from her house, away from Konoha. She didn't know for how long she ran. She was blinded by the hot, stinging tears and cared not where she went.
Shino watched her go and he turned towards the compound, rushing lest anyone saw an Aburame cry. Damn you, Mrs. Haruno. He almost broke as she had cried and told him she loved him. He had wanted so badly to gather her in his arms, kiss away those tears and apologize for the rest of his life. He felt a single tear escape and cursed himself and Mrs. Haruno. For Sakura he would do anything. Anything in his power to give was hers. As he entered his room he closed the door and abruptly punched the nearest wall.
"...So you see, if you remain with Sakura, she won't ever reach her full potential. She will be so focused on you that she will let all of her studies from Tsunade and myself go. Then there's her teammates... What happens to them if she's unfocused on a mission? Trust me, Shino. You're only going to hold her back. Do you really want that to happen?"
"Mrs. Haruno, I love your daughter and..."
"I can see that you do, Shino, but think about it. A few years down the road she's going to stop and wonder what she could have become had you not been in her life. She will begin to hate you. You don't want that do you? If you really love Sakura then let her go. End it quick and let Sakura move on. It's for the best."
"Damn us both," he said before snarling at his own pain. He turned on his heel and left the room headed to the Aburame training grounds. Shino had never felt like a violent man but he wanted to beat something, anything into a bloody pulp with his bare hands.
Author's Note: Oh, Sakura. Poor Shino. Mrs. Haruno is such a vicious and bitter woman blinded by her own hatred for the Clan to see that her actions would crush Sakura to such a degree. However well intentioned she may feel she is, her daughter never deserved this. Perhaps it is for the best though. The shinobi way of life is a hard road and with the both of them being shinobi, any day might be their last. This is depressing, almost as depressing as the day the hot springs had a senior discount.
I apologize for not updating sooner but I was away training Naruto who is constantly nagging about training and learning new techniques. *sigh* Why can't he be interested in the same things as me? I mean we did spend three years together, you figure some of my personality would have rubbed off on him at some point. Alas, his idea of bonding is eating a bowl of ramen with friends while mine involves lots and lots of silk rope.
Naruto: Hey! Pervy Sage?
Oh, boy. I thought it would have taken him longer to catch up with me. Guess the training really has been paying off. Chip off the old block.
Naruto: Sensei!
You're late, Naruto.
Naruto: Sorry! *sheepish grin* I ran into Hinata.
Say no more! Let me get my notebook and we will start from the begining.
Naruto: No way, Pervy Sage! You're not putting Hinata or I in one of those disgusting books.
We will see about that.
