It was the tenth day now. The commotion had ceased long ago, but the remainder of Team 8 were still refused passage to the room Shino was held in.

Hinata's lingered on her lap, the ominous silence looming over her. The other medics had to remove Kiba by force. He had finally grown mad over the sound of his best friend in suffering that he barraged through anyone who stopped him. Unfortunately, he never got close to opening the door before Tsunade had knocked him unconscious with a flick of her delicate hand.

Hinata was now alone, waiting patiently for some sort of comfort that teased her with hopes that her friend, her lover, her soulmate, would be okay.

Shiva exited the room along with her kinsmen. Their eyes were downcast as they dispersed, leaving her alone, her palm resting on the closed door.

She was tired. The fight she had with Shibi earlier that week exhausted her into a depression she could not free herself from. Shino's treatment was finally taking a turn for the better, his violent outburst ceasing to mere noises every now and then. The kikaichu had finally recognized Shino as their host and master, and wasted no time in trying to repair the damage they had done to him.

Shiva exhaled softly. He will not be okay any time soon. Of that, she was certain. The external damage was horrendous. The internal damage was even worse. His muscles were honeycombed, and his nervous system was on overdrive due to the venom of the hornets. He continued to slip in and out of consciousness, nothing more than incomprehensible words escaping him.

Even when Tsunade reassured her he will be in fighting spirits soon enough, Shiva remained unconvinced, and no longer knew if the sudden mood change was making her as pessimistic as possible or if she was really losing all hope for her nephew.

She turned and stopped to find Hinata's moon-like eyes look up at her. Her heart almost stopped. The lively young woman she had met a little over a month ago was not the woman that stood before her now.

Her pale, lavender tinted eyes were puffy and sad, dark circles forming under them. Her skin was sickly pale: Shiva could tell she either did not wish to eat or refused to. The formerly beautiful dark locks were refused maintenance, stray hairs flowing this way and that. She still wore the white robe she was placed in when she was admitted to the medical wing.

Shiva's throat clamped shut at the sight. The poor girl...

Hinata looked up at Shiva, her eyes almost pleading her to let her see Shino, even though deep down, she knew she would not grant her access. From what little she had heard on his condition, he was becoming violent, even lashing out at Tsunade through the haze that constantly fogged his mind and better judgment.

The elder Aburame woman approached her and took a seat next to her.

"It's not healthy for you to sit here and wait for him to heal." Shiva's voice was soft. Tired.

Hinata nodded slowly, yet remained quiet. She did not trust herself to speak. Not when she still had so many tears left to shed.

"He'll be okay." Shiva reassured her after a while. "His kikaichu finally broke away from the feral stage. They're helping him heal now."

She felt ready to cry herself after seeing the hope reignite inside Hinata's eyes, her delicate mouth forming into a smile. Shiva let out a startled breath when the Hyuuga pulled her into an embrace, but did not hesitate to return the gesture.

"It will be a while..." Shiva continued, soothing Hinata the way a mother soothed a crying child. "A long while before he can ever be the Shino we know, but... I know that he'll be okay."

Hinata nodded, her breath hiccuping in her chest, still refusing to release her hold. Shiva smiled, unable to resist the chuckle that rumbled off her chest as she tightened the embrace.

It's okay, Shino-san...

It's okay.

We're here now.

It's okay.

Shino's oncoming hallucination was veered off its starting stage by his kikaichu. His frayed nerves soothed at the familiarity of the sound. His kikaichu had finally calmed after an eternity of frenzied, painful vibrations. He could feel his tiny friends scurry down their passages, repairing the extensive damage of his wounds.

The hallucinations were starting to wane now, both in occurrences and in severity, but there were still the handful of scenes that did not escape his conscious and unconscious mind. Thankfully, the tiny insects fought back the horrific memories until they forced them into obscurity. The kikaichu were doing their job well.

'Is everyone alright?' he asked them.

We know as much as you do, Shino-san.

Damn it. He had been there for what seemed like forever, and he still knew nothing. Not that it could be helped. Every time he was awake, he was in so much pain that all he could do was cry out at the blurred figures to stop.

He needed to know if they were all alright. He needed those answers.

Please, Shino-san. the kikaichu pleaded with their master, Please do not fret. It makes the job difficult.

'I know... Forgive me... I...'

All he could remember next was the faint flutter of their busy bodies as he succumbed into darkness once more.

Hinata stood in front of Shino's body, her eyes taking him in as best as they could without having to have another breakdown. She looked back at Shiva, who stood by the door, arms folded in front of her, posture erect. She nodded at Hinata, who nibbled her lower lip and approached the bed.

The room was pitch black now, the ghosting smoke of lit candles filling her nostrils. Yet, she could see him clearly.

A wet cloth covered everything from his nose up, the cloth held in place by a few tubes that connected to the IVs that lined the headboard of the bed's frame, along with a healing tag. Tightly wound bandages were visible from underneath the cloth, and extended down to the middle of his face. His mouth was slacked open, two tubes protruding to two small air pumps. He was bandaged from the neck down, his torso rising and falling slowly with each breath. The few holes in his body that were visible had healed shut, the many bruises that riddled his face and torso fading slightly, though some remained in a dark blue tone. She could see nothing from the waist down due to the blanket that enveloped him, but she did not need to see his lower body to know that they were bandaged just as much.

Tears formed and fell at the sight of him. Her trembling hand reached forth and caressed his jawline. A small smile formed on her lips once she felt the vibration under his skin, the soothing sound of his kikaichu filling her ears.

Hinata sniffled, her hand grasping his, her other continuing her caresses, careful not to touch any of the tubes, nor the bandages, nor the wounds.

Hinata... she heard his kikaichu murmur.

Shino could feel something fluttering against his skin. At first, he dismissed it, thinking it to be the moving of his kikaichu. Then, it happened again, bringing him out of another hallucination. He was conscious now, the delicious feel of a smooth caress against his jaw soothing him, but not to the point where he could drift off again.

The caress fluttered against his skin like a frightened butterfly. He couldn't remember how long ago, his Hyuuga had caressed him the same way. Shino indulged in the bittersweet administration.

He deeply hoped she was alright. If only he could receive some kind of sign that let his exhausted mind know she and his family were alright.

Then, as if his string of bad luck had suddenly ended, he heard the faint murmur of his kikaichu, and his heart stopped.

"H-Hinata...?" Shino's voice rasped out.

Hinata gasped, her caresses stopping as soon as they had began. Shiva's stone posture crumbled as she hurried to the kunoichi's side at the sound of Shino's voice. He made another pained noise as he attempted to move.

"Shino, no." Shiva stopped his movements. "You'll hurt yourself."

"Where..." he whispered, the energy to speak leaving him with a thousand pound weight on his chest.

"I'm here." Hinata soothed him, her hand tightening its hold on his own. "Shino, it's okay, I'm here."

Shino exhaled a shaky breath, then another and soon enough, more followed, relief filling every cell in his body. She was alive. She was safe.

"Hinata, we have to keep him calm." Shiva urged her, trying to keep him from moving. "The kikaichu are still very sensitive to his emotions. They could hurt him if he agitates himself."

"Shino." Hinata's hands were on him now, his body responding by relaxing, his breathing still frantic. "Shino, listen to me, okay?"

His breathing was more even now, his grasp turning into iron around her delicate hand.

"Shino, I'm okay, alright?" Hinata's voice crooned. "Shimuro, and the children, and your father, they're all okay. Everyone is safe."

Shino could feel his throat tighten, his breathing becoming ragged as he fought the urge to sit up and embrace her.

Everyone's alright...

"Now listen to me, Shino.." Hinata's voice was close now. He could smell her sweet breath against his now fevered skin. "You need to be calm, okay? You need time to heal, but they won't let me stay here with you if you don't keep yourself calm, alright?"

Heavens, she sounded like an angel.

"Will you do that for me, Shino?" she asked softly.

I will do anything for you, my sweet...

Shino could no longer find the strength to respond to her, and he was close to blacking out, but not before he did what she asked of him. His breathing calmed down, but he refused to let her hand go.

Hinata and Shiva sighed simultaneously once Shino had settled back down. Hinata clasped her other hand gently against Shino's, stroking his bandaged skin with her thumbs.

"Thank you, Shino..."she whispered, unable to hold back the tears of joy.

Shino breathed softly, feeling her soft, pillowy lips lean against his own, the darkness cradling him like a small child once more.

Tsunade frowned at the Aburame woman once she had caught a glimpse of Hinata's form next to Shino's when she had opened the door.

"Shiva." Tsunade began.

"I had a hunch." the Aburame woman responded, matching her steel tone. "Keeping him ignorant of his family and friend's well-being was what fueled his foul behavior."

Tsunade sighed. She noticed the Hyuuga heiress move the blanket a bit higher until it covered the bottom half of his torso. She lowered her voice. "How did he take it?"

Shiva smiled behind her upturned collar. "Better than expected."

Tsunade nodded. "Good."

They looked on to the two shinobi, the silence dragging on until Shiva broke it. "I know she can't stay here."

"She needs her rest just as he needs his." Tsunade replied. "From the looks of it, she's been neglecting it for far too long."

"Agreed."

Tsunade looked at the Aburame and smiled. "You seem to feel better as well."

Shiva hummed an agreement. "It makes me smile seeing those two together."

"Agreed." Tsunade's smile widened. "I guess I'll leave you to take her back to her room. Make sure she eats and rest."

Shiva nodded, seeing the green robe of the Godaimekage disappear from her peripheral vision. She approached Hinata and glanced at her as she traced the bandage lining on Shino's palm with her fingers.

"I don't want to leave, Shiva-san." Hinata murmured.

"I know, love," Shiva crooned, "but you need your rest as well. I will make sure that you, as well as Tsume's boy, get a chance to visit later on, when it's safer for him to receive more than one visitor. But I can't allow you in if you get sick."

Hinata nodded, resting her hands on Shino's own for a while before returning it to his side. She stood from the chair she sat in and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek.

We'll keep him safe, Hinata-hime... whispered his kikaichu, making the Hyuuga smile sweetly.

"Thank you." she whispered back, and followed Shiva out the door, the heavy worry and frustration finally releasing its hold on her.

We have reached the light at the end of this feels tunnel! ;-; Don't worry, there's still more left to the story, but rest assured. It'll all be good moments from now on, or at least I hope to make them all good moments. Merry Christmas to all!