Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
XIX.
- Epilogue -
Lately, whatever position she tried sleeping in, it felt uncomfortable and she didn't sleep very well and spent a lot of time staring at the ceiling or just going out into the greenhouse, to distract herself with something. She found that the bed was empty, but it didn't surprise her. She knew where he was… and with whom.
Pushing her hair away, she sighed and sat up, to take a deep breath and touch her swelled belly and puff out. It was getting harder and harder to sleep or move around or take a bath or do everything these days. What she was best at right now was being hungry and eating, and also napping. Napping was a favourite activity in the past seven months.
Amaya put on her thick wrapper and supporting herself with the help of the bedside cabinet, she got on her feet and dragged herself outside the bedroom. The house was dark and quiet when she walked to the kitchen to fill herself a glass of water. Her eyes skimmed over to the window and sank in her thoughts, leaving the glass in the sink. It was sometime in the small hours still, the sky was dark before sunrise.
A whiff of sadness passed over her features and she sighed, making her way out of the kitchen and down the corridor. She's been there so many times before that she could go all the way with her eyes closed. When she reached the door, it was slightly ajar and she gently pushed it open, with the quietest motion she could do. The strength of the emotion was as clear as a day to her.
Amaya pushed the door shut and leaned back to it, hand pressed against her stomach. She didn't want to interrupt, at least not for now, even though she knew he had sensed her presence long ago.
Shino was sitting on the bench in the middle of the green utopia and their firstborn was sitting on his lap, babbling something and making gasping sounds. The air around them was swarmed with dozens of fireflies that illuminated the dark with dancing lights. Surprisingly to her, the magnitude of sadness wasn't coming from her son, but from Shino. The way he had gripped him with both his hands and stared down at him with this heavy intent, it broke her heart.
Amaya wrapped herself a little tighter in the soft fabric and stepped up, nearing them. Shino looked at her silently as she sat next to them and her son, Shiro, noticed her with another small gasp. Fixing his small glasses, he glanced up at his father with guilt, before shifting to hug her. "Sorry that we woke you up, mama."
"You didn't, sweetie, I woke up on my own," Amaya caressed his hair with a quiet chuckle and helped him climb next to her. "Why aren't you sleeping? Go to bed, you have to get up early today."
"I know, mama, but the fireflies are so cute." He nearly squeaked, pointing at the flying bugs around them.
"You're cuter." Amaya laughed, squeezing his bandaged hand. The feeling of it sent a painful spasm through her, but she smiled warmly, holding him for a few more seconds while he was distracted by their intriguing surroundings. Shino was as still and silent as stone next to her. "Be a good boy and go to bed now, will you? It'll make mama very happy. Go."
"Okay." Shiro hugged her again and disappeared into the house.
The silence ensconced around like a blanket again and Amaya turned her head to look at Shino. The firebugs cast mystical shadows against his skin, enough for her to see the tension on his features. He had always had a very interesting beauty to her and she was never tired of looking at him when he was deep in thought like that.
"You are the head of the noble clan of Aburame," Amaya spoke out, reaching for him tentatively and jumped a little when he grabbed her hand and pressed it between both of his.
"I can't." He announced, his voice shaking much more than she thought it will. "I don't want this to go on. I can't allow it anymore."
Amaya swallowed, shifting closer to him and pulling his hand on top of her stomach. "I know he's in pain, but he has to go through the hosting. There is no alternative. Both of us have been through it, he has to do it as well."
"I hate myself for doing this to him," Shino admitted. "I yelled at my dad for it once. Imagine that? Me, yelling?"
Amaya gave a wry smile. "He's gonna be alright, Shino."
"I know, it's just… excruciating." He dragged out the words slowly. "It would've been better to not know what he's feeling, but it's different because I do know. I know that it keeps hurting all through the night." He hissed angrily. "And even if you get to fall asleep, you have constant nightmares about it."
"Yes, but he doesn't complain at all," Amaya smiled, bringing herself closer in order to place a kiss on Shino's temple. "Because he's strong like his father. And so will be his brother."
Shino backed away from her in astonishment.
"I went to Sakura today, it's a boy again," Amaya shrugged, laughing at Shino's expression. He was happy, but he wasn't happy at the same time. "I think she was happier than me about it. Also, maybe it's not a good idea to tell my mother and your father yet. They were freaking out for weeks when we told them about Shiro."
Shino reached for her, his hand slipping under her knees and the other around her waist, to bring her closer and she giggled, wrapping her hands around his neck. The fireflies buzzed busily around them and she marvelled at the sight. Shino was making slow circles on her back as they both watched them in silence.
"When I think about him suffering like that, I feel like crying too," Amaya pondered, leaning her temple on his forehead. "But he isn't scared. I have talked with him about it, you see for yourself as well. He's fascinated by insects. He doesn't hate them for making him feel bad."
"How do you know he's just manipulating both of us into thinking he's alright with this madness?" Shino reached out with his free hand and some of the fireflies alighted on his palm. Then he offered them to her and she chuckled, putting her palm next to his so that they could climb on her skin.
"I just know." She whispered. "Trust me. He'll be fine. We just need to support him."
Shino tilted his head so that he could look at her right in the eyes and she furrowed a little with confusion. Sometimes, she just couldn't figure his weirdness out, but it's why she loved him so much. He was content with staring at her for the longest of time and she was flustered at some point, and slightly worried at another, but then he kissed her abruptly and she burst out laughing when he pulled away.
"Alright," Shino announced and she raised a brow.
"Alright what?"
"I am convinced now."
Amaya nodded. All that staring and kissing had a purpose. "I see." She eyed him up and down. "If you still feel in the mood, you can carry me back to the bed now. That was enough walking from me for today."
"I need a better reason than that." He squinted at her suspiciously. "Are you planning to use me to move around the house all the time? Because you're the one who agreed to have five kids and I am the one who merely suggested it. You'll have to take the consequences of your decisions—"
"Shino," Amaya put a hand on his mouth, pressing her lips together to keep from laughing yet again. "Just do it."
"Ok."
A/N: I really love to imagine this happened because canon Shino has always been so cute and loving children and all and it makes me sad this is not canon lol I'll pretend it is. Anyway, thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart that you took the time to read this story! I would've stuck with 10 chapters most if it wasn't for you to encourage me to continue. But I've got a hundred things more to write so I need to finish with this one hah. I'm flattered that you remained till the end and gave me all those sweet comments. Couldn't have done this without you! Love you and take care!
