AN: I am SOOO sorry about the wait. I know I say this every time but I had 80% of this done on the train ride to ACEN and then the moment I got back from con I was flooded with wedding planning. I have now dug myself out from under dresses and flowers and made my way back to the computer to finish this chapter up. It ended up longer then I wanted (almost double length) but I doubt anyone will be complaining. Anyway I hope it was worth the wait.
Chapter 14: The Abduction
Sakura was in a bad mood this morning, but it was her own fault really and the only person she was really mad at was herself. After she threw Shino out the night before she had eventually cooled off and then felt like an utter bitch throwing a hissy fit for no reason. She knew she had acted childish and it wasn't his fault for the odd misunderstanding, but she couldn't help herself. She always knew she was a bit more emotional then shinobi or even kunoichi were supposed to be, wearing her heart on her sleeve, but it seemed to be worse ever since they had started dating. The worst part was she didn't know why. Well she had a feeling she might know why, but after Sasuke she dared not think of the L word without getting nervous. After how badly her first love had ended she did not want to just let herself fall for the next thing that came alone. 'But he's not just the next thing that came along. This is Shino, you've been together for almost four months now. You're not just playing around, you're serious for him!' She shook her head to clear her thoughts, she wasn't quite ready to face up to her inner feelings just yet. Right now denial was safer then the truth. 'For now I'm just going to apologize for last night.'
Before leaving her apartment she sent a message via messanger bird asking for Shikamaru at this mornings meeting if Tsunade-sama had not already requested him. She was about to step out the door when she grumbled seeing the post-it note on the back of her door. 'Don't forget breakfast!' She grumbled and opened her fridge to pull out a protein shake and quickly rummage through her upper cupboards before pulling out some immune boosters to add to the shake. She quickly mixed it and hopped out her door drinking it on her way grimacing at the sweet bitter flavor. The early morning sun just rising over the hokage monument and warming the chill the night had brought.
It only made her feel even more guilty when the whole reason she put the note up was because Shino thought she was working too hard and skipping too many meals and was going to make herself sick. 'Seriously all the guy does is worry about you and you act like a total bitch, you need to get over yourself!' She finished off her shake and tossed it in a nearby trashcan, shaking off her nausea that sometimes happened when she chugged her breakfast too fast. She shook her head and took a couple deep breaths getting it under control before turning towards a part of the village she was becoming familiar with, the large wooden gates open and welcome as she noticed others waving at her. She stopped just outside the gates to the Aburame clan compound and waited, she hoped by arriving early she could catch him before the meeting. The last thing she wanted was to be distracted in the meeting because of her royal fuck up. 'Sometimes I wonder how he puts up with me?'
She noticed how cool the breeze was and was glad she had worn her long sleeved shirt instead of the sleeveless one she normally did. Something in the air seemed different, something was changing, and she wondered just what it was, she closed her eyes against the cool breeze. She quickly turned around her eyes opening and searching as she felt a familiar flutter at the back of her shoulder and came face to face with Shino who seemed surprised to see her there.
"Sakura?" She smiled which seemed to put him at ease and he approached her but still stood a foot away. 'Probably still trying to figure out if I'm angry,' she thought a little sadly.
"Walk with me," she asked holding her hand to him. He didn't hesitate in taking it as they both started walking towards the hokage tower, though he noticed they were taking the long way, the less crowded way. It didn't take him long to try and apologize.
"Sakura I-" She put her hand up to his mouth to shush him, stopping them both in their tracks.
"Shino I'm sorry about yesterday. I understand why you didn't want to tell me and didn't want to upset me. I know I should have been more understanding, and I'm sorry about getting so mad," she said making sure to meet his eyes, to show her sincerity. She took her hand away and waited for whatever he decided to respond with. He took a moment to pull his words together first.
"I still should have said something sooner. I'm sorry." She almost wanted to sigh as he tried to take responsibility for the fight even if it was mostly her fault. He quickly dug around in the pocket of his long coat and pulled out a familiar package and she could only blush and sigh again feeling even more guilty as he handed her her favorite brand of tea leaves.
"Thank you, you know you don't have to get me something every time we get in an argument."
"I know I don't have to but I want to." She smiled taking his hand in hers again and putting the bag into one of her medic pouches for later.
"If I didn't know any better I'd think you just wanted to make me feel guilty for not getting you something and that's why we always end up having-" He quickly clamped a hand over her mouth, his blush visible even more so with his light colored coat hood on his head and she tried to not giggle at the mortified look she knew he was hiding.
"I-I never expect something in return, let alone that. Not to say that I mind it but..." She finally broke out in giggles, and took his hand off her mouth.
"Sorry, you're too much fun to tease." She leaned up and quickly pulled the edge of his hood down and gave him a peck on the lips. He sighed but they continued on their way to the hokage tower both in much better moods. They were able to sense three other presences within the room as they came to a halt outside and knocked letting their hands drop to their sides for now.
"Come in." Along with Tsunade behind her desk there were three others: Shikamaru, Hinata, and Kiba. The two of them bowed to Tsunade before standing next to their comrades.
"You have all been gathered here and briefed beforehand about the situation. By Sakura's recommendation we have included Shikamaru in the briefing and he has already been brought up to speed. I have brought team 8 back together in this instance since you are one of the best tracking teams we have and right now more than power we need to be able to find these rogues. Though it has also been brought up we need to try and figure out just what their aim is. As stated in the brief their country and own clansmen have turned them over and washed their hands of them. Therefore we don't understand why they are still attempting to go through with this, especially when we have relayed to them that we plan on helping them with their fertility problems. That is where you come in Shikamaru. I know you were only recently briefed but do you have any ideas on the situation?
He say there in contemplation for a moment before sighing and possibly muttering 'troublesome.' "It's hard exactly to understand where they're coming from. But to place myself in their shoes: they were sent on this mission to help revive their clan, thinking this was the only way. Then after the failed mission which cost them probably close to a quarter of their men if not more they stay to try and figure out a new plan, send word back to their clan, and instead probably get a response along the lines of 'come back, turn yourselves in, the mission failed.' If they go back they will be punished even though it was the clan who directed them to act, there's a possibility they feel wronged by the way the clan turned their backs on them after they'd been caught and want to prove them wrong and rub it in their faces. But there's more than a matter of pride here because as almost everyone here has noticed if they actually succeed the question is then what to do with the person kidnapped? They can't go home, they can't stay in stone, and what would be the plan? There are only three viable options I currently see: 1. They kidnap the person and hunker down in a non-allied country like Tea or Waterfall and raise the child and the rest of the clan there, making their own faction to either possibly try and take over or reconnect with the original clan at a later time. 2. Kidnap the person and use them as leeway to get back home without punishment, though that doesn't seem very likely. 3. And I really hope it's not this one," he said with a sigh. "They take the kidnapped person and try to extricate the genetic material and smuggle that back into their village and possibly clan which would be less likely to be noticed."
"Shikamaru," Sakura said catching his attention. "Why do you keep saying the person they're trying to kidnap? Wasn't Kimiko their target?"
"Originally yes, she was young and would be easier to kidnap being she was only a child. However I think that may have shifted. If they have indeed been spying on or keeping tabs on the Aburame clan then they may know of Kimiko's impending sibling. While it's not something being gossiped all over the village it's also not a secret, they could possibly try and await the birth of her sibling or even attempt to take her mother. In her condition she wouldn't risk fighting, they would also get a woman who was possibly fertile considering this is her second pregnancy, and also the child was likely to be fertile. As much as I don't want to consider it all three are targets, and we have to keep that in mind. I would go so far as to have you speak with your father and relatives about this. You want to make sure security is tight when it comes time for the birth, they could try and slip in as an extra nurse or midwife and steal them away."
Shino seemed rigid at this new propsect but nodded I agreement. "I will definitely speak with my father about the details."
"Any ideas about the type of place they may be hiding out," asked Sakura thinking back to the original reason they were all called in.
"That's hard to say. They could actually be continuously traveling to make sure they aren't caught, or they could just be making it seem that way so we don't actually look for a hideout. It's hard to say because there group is small to begin with, maybe 6 or 7 left, and the number or people they have to use to create such an illusion would be 3 or 4 different people, if it was shadow clones they would all have the same scent. So it would be a lot of trouble for it to just be an illusion but we don't know enough about these guys to make a proper deduction. If they did have a main base though they would need it far enough away it wouldn't accidentally be stumbled upon. Also based on the intel their clan has sent us they have no medic nin with them so if they end up targeting the mother then they would need to be near a village where they could possibly get medical treatment. Considering they still wear their Stone headbands it would also have to be a civilian village since they would think nothing of Stone shinobi since we have a peace treaty with them, whereas all Konoha shinobi know to be on the look out for a small group of Stone ninja."
"Thorough as always Shikamaru," said Tsunade solemnly. "Though it is hard to say which of the three options they will take?"
"Though option 1 is harder is the long run option 3 is harder to accomplish currently."
"So you think they're still trying for a kidnapping?"
"Unfortunately yes, it seems likely, but without knowing who the target is it spreads our forces out."
"It can't be helped," Sakura said with a sigh.
"Anyway I haven't had a lot of time but with my dads help I pin pointed a dozen different locations they could be hiding but with another day or two I could likely find another dozen."
"Please do, you have two days," Tsunade said.
"This does not mean you four leave in 2 days," Tsunade stated addressing the rest of the team. "We're waiting to see if we hear back from the clan on information on any jutsus or poisons they may be using, they have 3 more days to reply to our message. It is doubtful about the jutsu but they may reveal which poisons they use. If we can get that information we could try working out a strategy and Sakura can either stock up on or create some anti-toxins for any poisons they may be carrying. Also after Shikamaru plots out possibly areas I want you to prepare some anti-toxins for poisons native to those areas in case they're trying to catch us off guard with local toxins we're not expecting. You're off the next three days, then we prepare and you leave in a week. Plan on being gone for 3 weeks. Dismissed."
"Yes," they chorused.
As they all exited the tower and dispersed Sakura took Shino's hand in hers and steered them towards her house. Even in the dire situation her mood seemed to be lighter than before.
"So what do you think? You want to try and move in before or after?" He seemed caught off guard and wasn't expecting her to randomly bring it up so soon.
"Well we have 3 full days of strategizing and prepping and then we could try and get this move done before the end of the week. It's that or wait four weeks until after we get back fomr the mission. What do you think?"
"I think it would be nice to come home from the mission and for us to be able to go home together." As calmly as she said it the light blush on her cheeks gave away the real emotion hidden in those words. He felt his own face heat as well.
"Then I guess it can't be helped, we'll have to ask Naruto." Sakura giggled.
"LOTS of newspaper."
Sakura sighed pulling the bandana off of her head and mopping her sweaty brow with it. 'All this in just two days,' she thought exhausted. She looked around the room at what was probably 85% of Shino's belongings unpacked and scattered around her apartment. Well 85% of what he owned but all of what he was bringing anyway. There were some things he left at his parents home that he didn't need here like his nightstand, his lamp, his bed. Thankfully there were only a few things they needed to still get tomorrow but it shouldn't take more than two or three hours to finish up and then...'we'll be officially moved in and living together!' Even though she was so calm during the conversation about him moving in she now felt like a giddy schoolgirl. She was trying to play it off and be cool but she had never actually had someone move in with her, and it's not like she was lying when she said she'd wanted him to move in back in August. But she wanted to wait for him to make the decision...that and she really didn't know how to take that step. But now...
"Just finished tossing all but 10 of the boxes. I think that should be enough for the last of my stuff tomorrow," he said coming up to hug her from behind, she leaned back into his hold.
"And Naruto only broke a photo frame, set off one exploding tag, and cut himself with one of your kunai."
"I guess it could have been worse," he said taking it all in.
"We haven't heard anything from Tsunade about a summons tomorrow, I'd like to get up early and finish moving you in so we can hopefully get it done before mission prep."
"Sure thing, I'm just going to take a shower and we should both head to bed."
"Sounds good," she said and started taking off her shirt walking down her long hallway. She looked over her shoulder at him with a smile in just her shorts and bra. "Coming?"
~ ~ ~ Lemon ~ ~ ~
He stood staring after her for a moment in shock before his clothes soon joined hers on the floor and he heard the shower water running as he closed the door behind him. He turned to see her already nude and standing under the running water, steam surrounding her form as she hummed in pleasure. She turned after a moment and locked eyes with him
"Are you just going to watch?"
"I'm tempted," he said smirking and enjoying the way her eyes seemed to darken with a look he was familiar with.
"Suit yourself," she said and took the puff ball and lathered it with soap and started from just under her neck and slowly drug it along her breasts, her nipples hardening from the soft friction. Her eyes were closed and her head tilted back as she seemed to be enjoying herself, the water washing away the soap left in its wake. The puff ball went under her breasts propping them up as it lathered the under sides and slowly made it's way down to her lean abdomen. Shino continued watching feeling the blood rushing to his hardening member and just watching transfixed, wanting to join her but holding himself back, wanting to see how far she would go.
As she rubbed the puff ball along her hips she bent over to run it along her ankles and slowly up her calves, lathering and letting the water rinse it away, aware of the eyes on her body. She opened her eyes smiling at him as she brought the puff ball closer to her most intimate area and ran it over her throbbing sex. She ran it along her slit, feeling the suds lubricating her as she felt Shino's eyes observing her every movement, burning her flesh with his gaze. Her hand dropped the puff ball and stopped the teasing as her hand slid between her legs finding her clit and rubbing it gently giving a small moan from the pleasure. She heard him grunt and looked over at his nude form, he was standing fully erect, she thought could see a bit of precum on the tip and wondered just what she would have to do to get him in there and licked her lips.
She continued rubbing herself letting small moans and pants escape her, to the point where she almost forgot she had an audience, letting the pleasure over take her. She slipped a finger inside, her other hand gripping the wall of the shower as she continued to probe her inner most area. She felt herself slowly building to a peak, her moans becoming louder and her eyes closed in pleasure gripping at the wall, when suddenly there was a hand on her wrist. She opened her eyes just in time to see Shino pull her hand away, which she protested with a groan, and push her up against the wall, his mouth dominating hers. She liked when she could bring out this side of him; dominate, possessive, sensual.
His hands went down to her thighs and he easily lifted her up, pinning her against the wall. She didn't have but a moment to process his assault on her body when she felt him slide his length along her slit lubricating it and then in one thrust he entered. She moaned, bringing her arms up around his neck and holding on tight as she felt him penetrate her so deeply. He pulled back and thrust back in earning him another moan as he set a steady pace.
"Do you know just what you look like when you touch yourself?" Her eyes opened wide, mind going blank, 'this is new.' "The way your eyes scrunch up when you hit just the right spot." She felt her walls quiver as he punctuated his statement with such an example. "The way your moan comes out so deep." Even as he continued to talk his hand slid between her legs and rubbed against her clit causing as such one such moan. "But most of all," he said his pace quickening and his hand increased it's frequency and she felt herself having trouble concentrating on his words. "The way your eyes dilate and your head rolls back, when you cum for me." Her thighs were shaking and she was having trouble catching her breath, she was almost there. "cum for me Sakura." Her eyes dilated, her head thrown back, and a deep groan was torn from her throat as her walls constricted on him. And even as she rode out her orgasm he pumped into her a few more times before he held her to him as he came grunting her name.
The water was surprisingly still hot even after all of that and he slowly let her legs drop back to the ground but held her in case she fell over as she caught her breath. But more then the amazing orgasm she just had or the actual shower they still needed to take there was one thing prominent in her mind.
"Shino, when the hell did you learn to talk dirty?"
The rest of the week went by in a blur. They received word back from the main clan giving them info on the poisons but nothing else, like Tsunade expected. Though that did help. Sakura worked on getting anti-toxins and antidotes ready while Shino brushed up on the areas they would be traveling to and divided his time up between preparing and being completely distracted by his girlfriend and their new living arrangements. The end of the week came too soon and they were being briefed by Tsunade. Shikamaru had narrowed the areas the group was most likely down to about 26 different areas. It would take them almost three weeks to scout all the areas and under no circumstances were they to split up unless it was life or death. Considering the clan they were dealing with Shino was captain on this mission. No one knew the full extent of the clans abilities and if the Aburame clan was anything to compare them to even one of their men might be able to incapacitate the whole group.
Overall while they were wary looking for this rogue group the trip didn't seem as tense as they thought. They set off at a quick pace trying to get through one or two villages a day. The weather seemed to hold good. And at night when Sakura always stated she'd be sharing a room with Shino Kiba would tease them endlessly and Sakura would give as good as she got. But they all seem to know it was good natured, even Hinata occasionally laughed at them. Regardless of sharing a room, and as tempting as it was, they were on a mission so they kept it to mostly cuddling at night.
Unfortunately though after two weeks and scratching 18 locations off their list they seemed no closer to finding the group then before. They were on their way to Gifu on the border of Tea, and the team was starting to get a little restless.
Sakura took a drink from her canteen and then held it out to her left asking silently if Shino wanted a drink. He shook his head and she capped it and put it back in her bag. Hinata was walking slightly behind them keeping watch on the rear and Kiba was a ways up front scouting ahead. They heard rumors at the last town that a group of bandits was supposedly roaming near the next location they were headed. Though to civilians any group of rogues was bandits so it could possibly be the group of Stone shinobi. They were all on alert and Shino was even having his bugs scout the area with Kiba to make sure they didn't overlook something. Shino suddenly stopped in his tracks.
"Shino," Sakura asked causing the other two in the group to stop and look to him.
"A mile and a half north east from here, a group of 5 men and a little girl, the men are able to use chakra." They all switched from wary to attack mode.
"The girl," she asked almost afraid to hear the answer. Shino shook his head.
"Not Kimiko." Sakura had been worried for a while that while they were out looking for the group that they may have put their plan into action already back in Konoha.
"But then who?"
"I do not know, but she does not seem to be able to use chakra. We'll head that direction, when we get within a few hundred yards, I want you to use byakugan Hinata. Kiba once we scout the area you need to be a distraction taking on the majority of the group from the front and I will use my kikai to subdue those holding the little girl. Sakura I need you to get in there and get her and get back out without being injured. Hinata you'll cover her escape route. Once you're off the battlefield make sure the girl is ok and if needed heal her.
"If needed," Sakura asked, worry lacing her tone.
"My kikai can tell she is upset, she is not there of her own free will so I can only assume they kidnapped her. They did not sense anything life threatening but she may still be injured. That's why I want Hinata to use byakugan." They all nodded and set off at a quick pace and were just a few hundred yards away from the group within ten minutes. Hinata quickly assessed that they were not the Stone shinobi and Shino verified there were none of the insects from the clan within the area or the men.
"So they're just rogues," asked Kiba.
"Rogues who've kidnapped a little girl," Sakura growled. Sure enough Hinata had seen a little girl with tear tracks running down her face, she was a little roughed up but didn't seem to be severely injured.
"Shino." Kiba didn't even have to ask the question, with them being teammates as long as they had been his friends name was enough of a question.
"We will continue with the plan and find out where they took her from. If she is on the way we will escort her, if not we will leave her with the authorities in the next town." They nodded in agreement and got into position. Sakura tensed in the bushes waiting for her queue.
She heard more then saw Kiba and Akamaru crash into the clearing where the bandits had set up camp. All but two of them men ran to face him but the two who were left to watch the girl quickly collapsed and small beetles could be seen crawling along non covered flesh. Sakura pushed chakra to her feet and quickly jumped between the two taking the girl carefully in her arms. The girl stiffened in her arms and tried to fight her but she just held her tighter to her for the moment. With another chakra infused jump she went for the tree branches. She felt a presence behind her and saw one of the rogues escaped Kiba but then Hinata was there beside her and she continued on a few yards away from the fighting to set down out of site. The little girl was close to hysterical and she kneeled to the ground still holding her close.
"I'm sorry we scared you but you're all right. We're going to take you home to your mom and dad," she said. The little girl looked up at her fearfully, tears still streaming down her face. But behind the fear she saw an inkling of hope hiding behind the fear.
"I promise you, here, let me help fix that cut," she said referring to a long red line on her neck that looked like a branch had swiped her. She held her hand up to her neck, "this won't hurt I promise." The little girl still winced in reflex as Sakura healed the small cut but after realizing there wasn't any pain she looked up at Sakura in wonder. "I'm a medic ninja, I use my ninja abilities to heal," she said trying to keep it simple. Most civilians in non ninja villages didn't understand the concept of chakra and justsu, they just knew ninjas had ninja abilities. She pulled her hand away to see flawless skin where the red mark had been.
"Feel better?" The little girl nodded and looked up at her in wonder, the fear gone from her eyes. She felt rapidly approaching presences. "Do not be afraid, my friends are coming, they will not hurt you." Not a moment later the rest of her team showed up. Though funnily enough the little girls attention was not on her three other teammates but on the gigantic Akamaru.
"How is she," Shino asked eyeing the little girl who was still fixated on Akamaru. She held a timid hand out to him and he sniffed it before his large tongue stuck out and licked the side of her face.
"She seems fine, just a few scrapes and bumps but I healed some of them already. The bandits?"
"Taken care of." At the questioning look on her face he continued. "Detained, we don't know why they kidnapped her or who they are. They are all unconscious, I thought we could take them to the next village and drop them off there." She nodded and turned back to the little girl patting her on the shoulder to get her attention.
"Honey where do you live? In Gifu," Sakura asked.
"Not quite," she said quietly, her voice raspy from crying earlier. "We're about two miles east on a farm."
"How about I take her home and you guys take them into the village?"
"You know we're not supposed to split up Sakura,"Shino said obviously not liking the idea.
"It's not splitting up, her home is two miles away. If needed you guys could be there in five minutes. That's like being on the other side of the village. I just want to get her home right away and then I'll meet you guys in the village." She could see the skepticism leaking from Shino. "If I'm not back in a half hour come get me." He looked between her and the little girl a moment before letting a barely perceivable sigh.
"You have 20 minute." She couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips. She knew it was more then just the mission that had him keep a tight time limit. The other members of the team rounded up the bandits, piling a few on Akamaru's back before heaving the others on their shoulders. Sakura gathered the small girl up into her arms and watched as the rest of her team disappeared before turning and heading slightly east of their previous destination. It wasn't long before she came along a well traveled path and the little girl verified this was the path to her home. She kept up some small chatter with the little girl along the way and was happy she seemed to relax after her ordeal.
Apparently they had come and taken her away almost three days ago, though she didn't know why. Sakura was a bit concerned, the girl said her parents were mere farmers and there would be no way for them to pay a ransom. Then again it looked like they were waiting for someone, as much as she didn't want to think about it, there had been rumors of child trafficking in this area a few months back, she hoped they weren't trying to meet up and sell her off. She shook her head and tried to stay alert, something still seemed off.
She set down from the trees into a small clearing that opened into almost 5 or 6 acres of farm land with a barn and a small home at the front where the road ended. She set the little girl down and she took off running for the home yelling for her parents. The little girl didn't even make it to the porch before a woman in her early thirties came out, her dark hair frazzled, and bags under her eyes, her eyes widening as she saw her little girl running towards her. She quickly ran out to meet her, scooping her up in her arms holding her tight. A stocky man with bright blond hair followed quickly behind her running up and hugging the other two. She watched a small distance away not sure if she should just leave and meet up with her team or wait to ask about what happened.
"Thank you," the girls mother shouted out to her making her way over. "Thank you so much you brought our Suzuka back to us," she said her eyes watering. "Thank you so much," she said her eyes watering and tears leaking from her eyes.
"It's fine, I'm just glad she's alright."
"Thank you," she chanted again. "Thank you," she whispered. 'I'm sorry,' the woman mouthed and Sakura's eyes narrowed as she noticed the tears weren't just of relief, they were of sadness. She felt a vibration on her lower back and turned quickly jumping out of the way just in time to side step a boot to the head. She looked over to see two men with dark hair and pale skin, dark goggles strapped to their eyes, and stone headbands across their foreheads. 'Shit, how long have I been gone,' she automatically thought trying to figure out how long before she had backup. She hadn't even felt their presence, in fact she still didn't. She had the element of surprise before but she couldn't count on that this time. She flared her chakra trying to alert her teammates of the situation.
"Give up and no one gets hurt," they said and either didn't seem to notice her chakra flare or...'or they don't even care.' She got into a fighting stance but held her stance as she noticed one of the shinobi was gazing at the small family standing outside, holding his kunai tightly.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want them to hurt her," the mother pleaded with her to understand the betrayl.
"Kidnapping civilians with hired rogues just so we wouldn't know it was you, just what won't level will you stoop to?"
"You don't need to worry about that, now just rest."
"Rest, what-" She went to take a step back and felt dizzy. She quickly looked down and saw a few bright green colored beetles on her calves and brought chakra to her hand like the chakra scalpel but dulled it and used it to knock them off of her legs, but felt herself sway. 'They were able to eat so much of my chakra without me noticing.' She could feel her own familiar beetle buzzing worriedly on her shoulder now, taking refuge on higher ground, though she could swear she felt a flutter of chakra from her as week. She made a sprint for the tree line making it just to the edge before the shorter of the two came to stand in front of her and she backed up to give herself distance. 'Shit...Shino.' She heard footsteps approaching but couldn't turn in time, she turned her head just as she felt a blunt hit to the back of her head as her vision went black.
The first thing she felt was a heavy hazing feeling like cotton stuffed in her head, then slowly she felt a dull ache that permeated her entire body that she was familiar with, 'chakra drain.' She kept her breathing slow end even and let her other senses take over. It was cool in the room, cooler then it was before. She didn't hear any kind of animals or movement nearby. Lastly was the pungent aroma of earth and soil, 'I'm underground.' She wondered if they were able to cloak their chakra down here either using their bugs or other jutsu. 'If they were that close to Gifu waiting for us and we didn't sense them I would say so, hell even when we were fighting I didn't feel them.' She didn't hear or sense anyone nearby and slowly cracked her eyes trying hard not to wince as even the dim lamplight on the nightstand stung her sensitive eyes. She slowly opened them first making sure she was really alone and then assessing where she was being kept. It was a small room, maybe 10 by 10, all six sides of the room, floor, ceiling, and walls were all made of dirt. There was no doors or windows and she wasn't sure if it was genjutsu or earth ninjutsu.
She slowly sat up, noticing while the room was made of dirt she was laying on a mattress on a metal bed frame with a nightstand holding a pitcher of water and a plastic cup next to her. While she still had her clothing on her pouches and weapons were all gone, and there was a small band aide on her arm. She cautiously sat up and poured a glass, she sniffed it and tested the consistency for it to be anything but water but from what she was able to deduce it was just simple h20. She decided if they wanted her drugged it had already happened judging by the bank aid. So she drank a single glass of water, the hydration helping to clear the fog in her head. She stood on shaky legs and walked up to the closest wall running her hands along the surface. It felt just like regular dirt, but she knew better.
'These are Stone Shinobi from the land of earth, there's no way this is just an ordinary underground room.' She walked the length of the room looking for any kind of hidden switch or some sign of genjutsu. She jumped as she felt the familiar vibration on her hip and turned quickly to see a man emerge from the earthen wall like he was a part of it. She took up a defensive position, eyes focusing on him, her other senses hyper aware. She was trapped, without chakra or weapons, and was damn near defenseless. But she sure as hell wasn't going to act it.
He looked younger than the rest. Maybe even the same age as her. His hair was dark black like the others but the goggles they all wore were now pulled up resting on his forehead protector, and she saw eyes green like sea foam. She briefly wondered if it was a clan trait.
"What the hell do you think you're going to accomplish with this?" Her voice seemed raw and she wondered how long she had been out.
"The same thing we've been trying to accomplish all along," he said matter of factly.
"What would you do if you even were able to get a hold of a child? You can't go home, Konoha is onto you. Your kage wouldn't be able to protect you without war."
"We don't want his protection," he said a small almost sad smile on his face. The look on his face made him seem even younger then before, almost like a child. But his face went blank as he looked at her.
"We tried arranging a marriage with the clan but they snubbed us," he said upset lacing his tone.
"Snubbed you?"
"Men," he said the word with such exhaustion. "All men in our clan, the last woman born was almost 41 years ago. The Aburame's were the only clan with any women of marrying age amongst them, but she was promised to one within their clan and wouldn't take exception." She took a moment to process the situation. It didn't look like he thought she was getting out of here if he was telling her their motives.
"They don't marry for political reasons, not when there are emotions involves," she stated thinking back to her own relationship with Shino. The scathing look he sent her had her backing against the wall.
"It's not political, it's the end of our clan," he yelled though more hurt than anger was felt in the statement. "You think we haven't tried everything the other clans have? We married outside the clan, we tried jutsu, herbs, potions, everything." She almost felt bad for him, he sounded so sincere and so broken. 'But there has to be a better way. They're so desperate this could get dangerous. I need to warn them.'
"I'm sorry it had to be this way, but we're out of options."
"You think taking me as ransom is going to get them to give up one of their clan?" Even though she knew it was probably useless she had to try and talk sense into him. His expression seemed shocked and she didn't know if it was because he thought she wouldn't speak against him or because she was so honest. "Even if they do seem to like me I don't think I'm as good of a bargaining piece as you think." He still had a shocked and confused look on his face and he seemed to study her a moment trying to piece them together.
"You think we're trying to trade you over? Someone in your position?"
"My position? You think just because I'm the hokage's apprentice the hokage would make them give into your demands?" Now they both seemed really confused, almost like they were speaking two different languages. 'Did they seriously think I had that much sway?'
"The hokage's apprentice?" The clear confusion in his voice had her pausing. 'Did he...not know? But then why...?' "Your name?"
"You don't even know who you kidnapped," she said incredulously trying very hard not to snap.
"Your name," he snapped.
"Haruno Sakura," she said grudgingly. She figured if he really wanted to know all he had to do was look in a bingo book. It's not like it wasn't common knowledge the hokage had a pink haired apprentice.
"Not Aburame?" Now it was her turn to be confused.
"You thought I was an Aburame?" He sent her a scathing look and she flinched. "But why?"
"Why would we think you were anyone else? You were protecting the girl, you had a kikai, you're-" He cut himself off mid rant. She started to see how the pieces were falling into place, though the wrong place. The clan normally wouldn't leave a child so important to the clan to just anyone, they would usually have a clan member watch her, originally it was supposed to be Shino, the clain heir. Then she did have a kikai like those either engaged or married to an Aburame. 'Crap their target changed all right but not like we thought! How the hell did this get so mixed up!?'
"You're dating one of them aren't you," he said, a plea audible in his voice. "That's why we thought you were one of them."
"What are you talking about," she said feigning dumb, not sure what he was playing at.
"You have to be, that's the only explanation for the screw up."
"It doesn't matter if I am, they still won't trade me." His face seemed to calm down a bit at the statement and she worried she may have said something she shouldn't have.
"We don't need to trade you, that was never the purpose."
"Huh," she replied dumbly. He stared into her eyes, almost like he was looking through her.
"You don't even know do you?"
"Know what?" He continued looking at her, debating on whether or not to share the information. "What are you talking about?" She didn't even know if she could trust his information anyway considering how badly screwed up their last intel was.
"I guess there's no harm, you'll notice soon anyway."
"Notice what," she said trying to make sure he didn't hear the panic in her voice, though she may have failed.
"You're pregnant."
"No I'm not," was the automatic comeback. "I can't be, I use the same contraceptive jutsu all kunoichi use. That is infallible unless the chakra is completely drained or the man is using a jutsu to try and force conception." She thought back to the meeting that brought her and Shino together. She always worried about that first week they were together. But the moment she was allowed to use jutsus she made sure to redo it.
"Normally that would be true, but this isn't a normal situation."
"What are you talking about?"
"I don't know if he unintentionally kept it from you or if your little boyfriend didn't know himself, but you do know about the strain the kikai you currently have on you puts on your body right?" She was annoyed at the information they had on the Aburame kikai but put it to the side for now.
"It's not that much, barely enough chakra for a clone."
"Yes but it is a constant small drain on your chakra. The constant strain makes it almost impossible to maintain other constant jutsu that are supposed to be long term, including the contraceptive justu." She felt the blood drain from her face and her hand automatically flew to her stomach. 'No I can't be I-' She instantly ran though all the many times in her head she and shino had been together, the different days, the different times, that coupled with her recently upset stomach, fatigue, and mood swings. 'Oh my god he's telling the truth...I'm...'
"We already verified it with a blood sample we took, though we don't know how far along. Considering the look on your face though I guess you didn't know. Why don't you rest a bit and absorb all of this, putting too much stress on you is bad for the baby." She kind of weakly sat down on the bed, her mind still reeling to the point she barely noticed him melding into the earthen wall leaving her alone in the dirt room again. She held her hand to her stomach still coming to grips with the new information.
'I'm pregnant, I'm pregnant with Shino's baby. We're going to have a baby.' She clamped a hand over her mouth as she felt a rush of excitement that was quickly squashed by fear and sadness. 'And they're going to take it from me.' She made no noise even as the tears slid silently down her face.
AN: Sorry to leave it here but like I said this chapter wasn't supposed to be this long. This chapter also wasn;t actually supposed to have a lemon but a certain reviewer *coughXyrenacough*stated more lemon was needed, and thus there was more lemon. Some of you kind of guessed at what was going to happen with the pregnancy and I debated on changing that, but I liked the plot I had going and if some people were able to guess at it then oh well. Hopefully I surprised some of you. Just five more chapters including epilogue left, hope I can get the next one out quicker. Was also thinking of doing another fic of random snippets from this universe, tell me what you guys think.