Sorry for such a late update. I was very busy all day long.

Chapter 32

With bated breath

It was late in the evening by the time they returned to Konoha. After they stopped at the Hokage's office for a debriefing they went their separate ways.

Shino, of course, accompanied Sachi home. They arrived as quickly as Sachi could pull him by the arm through the streets, though he typically lead her.

They arrived in what must have been record time and Sachi ran up the front steps and through the door ahead of him.

"Kaachan? Tousan? Otouto?" She shouted into the house, unsure where they were.

Aoi was the first to see her. Having been in the kitchen for a cup of tea, he saw his daughter burst through the door and made his way over to her so fast he knocked the cups to the floor.

The large man strode quickly across the kitchen, not bothering to hide the relieved tears building in his eyes as he hurried to embrace his daughter.

He held her so tightly, engulfed in his large arms, Shino wasn't entirely sure she was able to breathe. Aoi whispered her name like a prayer as both redheads shook and began crying.

A gasp alerted all in the area to the short woman in the kitchen doorway. She stared at her daughter only long enough to see she was not just a dream and ran to hug Sachi with tears already dripping from her cheeks.

Noriko couldn't utter a word through her cries of joy and both parents held their missing daughter on either side.

Kaito was last to join the scene, already in his pajamas, but looking no more rested than the rest of the Hara family. He ran, like the others and wrapped his arms around his sister's waist, laying his head on her shoulder.

Sachi stood between them all like a merciful angel of comfort, an arm around her mother and brother and her head resting on her father's chest.

"Are you alright, Sachi?" Aoi asked.

"I'm alright, Tousan. Shino-kun got to me before anything bad happened."

Three pairs of eyes looked to Shino as if they had only just noticed his presence. Kaito was the first to detach from Sachi. He turned and bowed very low to Shino.

"Thank you for bringing my Nee-chan back."

Everyone was heartened by the youngest in the room. Noriko's sobbing quieted to sniffles as she regarded her son.

Aoi detached from his wife and daughter and held out a hand to Shino. Both men shook hands hard, neither in intimidation but in thanks and understanding. Aoi nodded to Shino, a silent message that he trusted and approved of him for his daughter. Shino recognized how much meaning this held for the redheaded man. Shino had proven himself capable and willing to protect his daughter and thereby irrevocably earned Aoi's official stamp of approval. Shino returned his nod.

"Come and sit, Sachi, you must be hungry," Noriko said fully intending to make up for the lost days and care for her child thoroughly. Noriko turned and motioned to Shino. "You, too, Shino-kun. Please sit." Resigning himself to whatever was to come, he sat at the table and watched Noriko hurry behind the counter after leaving a lingering kiss on the crown of her daughter's head.

"Aburame-san told us you were kidnapped," Aoi began as he and Kaito joined them at the table. "What happened Sachi?"

"Kai-chan woke me up and told me I had to run to Shino-kun. I was barely out of the house when they took me and left Kai-chan behind. The next thing I knew I woke up in the Kamizuru's family home. They didn't hurt me or starve me. It took a few days but Shino-kun came and saved me."

"They didn't hurt you at all?" Aoi asked.

"No, because they were attempting to win her over through kindness," Shino answered. "If they could make her want to stay there would be little we could do. To take her then would be classified as a kidnapping rather than rescuing. It was the smarter decision. Hurting her would not have helped them at all."

Aoi's jaw tensed. "What I find disturbing is that you knew you were in danger and you didn't come to me, Sachi. I was just in the next room. You only ran right into their trap. What were you thinking?" he asked in a begging tone. "I am your father. I'm here to protect you. Why didn't you come to me?"

Sachi's head dipped in shame of disappointing her father. "I didn't know that I was in danger, Tousan. Kai-chan only told me I needed to run. So, I ran."

"It was the best decision," Shino defended. "Had you stayed and went to your father the Kamizuru would have used force to take you, likely killing the rest of your family in the process. Running saved your family. If you managed to get to the gate of the Aburame grounds, as you intended, you would have been provided protection. Running was the only decision that made sense." He turned to Aoi. "No civilian could hold their own against the Kamizuru. You would not have been able to protect Sachi-chan."

Aoi pinched the bridge of his nose with a heavy breath, his pride fighting the truth in Shino's words. He deeply wanted to deny them, to say he was capable of protecting his family but he knew civilians couldn't hold a candle to a ninja's skill level and bit his tongue.

Noriko had quickly put together two plates and set them down. "What is most important is that Sachi is safe and we have Shino-kun to thank for that. How on earth did you find her so quickly? I don't imagine they made it easy."

"Kai-chan informed me immediately after Sachi-chan was taken. I quickly formed a team and Kai-chan lead us to her last known location. My team's specialty is tracking and information gathering. We easily narrowed down which country she was in and Kai-chan lead us the last stretch to where she was being held."

"Goodness! Sounds like you have quite the little companion, Sachi. She's much more useful than we originally thought, hmm?"

A gloom settled over Sachi at the mention of her faithful companion. "Kai-chan died to protect me."

Noriko looked from Sachi to Shino. Obviously, there was no replacement yet. Not that she expected them to make such a move so fast. But this development would call many things into question about their relationship sooner than they assumed.

They talked over more of the minor details as Noriko fussed over them, forcing them to eat till they were stuffed provided a little relief to the woman as she flitted around the kitchen and table as fast as a hummingbird in a vast garden.

"And you are sure she is safe?" Noriko asked.

"We have eliminated the threat to Sachi-chan's well-being," he answered.

"What about other clans?" Noriko pressed.

"None are in such a predicament as the Kamizuru were. I am confident this will not happen again."

Noriko sighed tiredly and rest her hands above her heart. "Thank you, Shino-kun. You've put my mind at ease."

"It's late," Aoi said with a look at the clock. "We can all talk another time."

"You're right, dear. We should all get to bed. I don't think any of us have slept well in the last few days." Noriko stood and bowed deeply. "We can never thank you enough, Shino-kun."

"Saving Sachi-chan was just as important to me." He reached out to grasp her hand in his, squeezing it and running his thumb across her skin gently as if she were made of porcelain. "I wouldn't know what to do without her."

He would never tire of seeing that blissful smile.

He stood, reluctantly tearing himself away. It had been a long and exhausting journey and he was eager to rest.

Sachi's hand stopped him before he strode away from the table. He looked back to her. The action itself was telling. Exhausted as she was she still expended chakra, searching for his hand in the air in a desperate to keep him from leaving. Her form trembled slightly from worry and fear.

He claimed to feel lost without her but it was clear he was not the only one.

"Uh, Shino-kun, I-uh-" He could hear the uncertainty and fear in her voice. She was afraid to part from him.

"I promise you are safe. I ensured they will not return."

From her hand tightening around his, he could tell logical thinking did nothing to abate her worry. No doubt if he left her in the place she was taken with nothing but verbal assurances, she would be unable to rest. The fear they would return would still be all too fresh in her mind, reliving that night each time she dared to fall asleep.

"Would you like me to stay with you?" he asked.

"Yes," she breathed out in relief.

"I'm afraid you can't," Aoi interrupted. "There isn't enough room for you to sleep. However, if Sachi can stay with you, I think no one here would mind."

Shino nodded. "My family can accommodate you, Sachi-chan. We would be happy to have you." Sachi whispered her thanks.

"You should take a quick shower while I pack you a bag, Sachi," Noriko suggested. Sachi agreed and both women disappeared up the stairs.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Twenty minutes later both women returned to the kitchen, Sachi with her hair wet and a small bag over her shoulder.

"Make sure you see Yuki-chan tomorrow. She's worried sick," Noriko said.

"I will. I'll see you tomorrow."

After another round of hugs, kisses, and thanks they left with Sachi holding onto Shino's arm for guidance.

She sighed. "I wonder what I did to deserve someone as wonderful as you," she mused.

"I think the same thing all too frequently."

"Well, Shino-kun, I feel like all I've done is take what you give to me. I feel like I don't return enough. You've given me two insects to help me, a necklace, we've gone on dates that you pay for, you've trained me to help me see the world around me and help me become more independent and now you've just saved me from kidnappers. And I can't think of anything I've given you."

"You give me more than you realize. Perhaps because the things are immaterial you do not know I receive them. You give me happiness, first and foremost, each time I see you smile you give me an overwhelming amount of joy. You have given me companionship and a reason to fight and I am all the stronger because of you. You give me your time, a most precious commodity. You give me your love, selflessly and unabashedly. But what is most important you have given me a person to share my love with, someone to give my time, hopes and dreams to. And you should never feel that my reciprocation is far superior to yours as I feel there will never be enough I could do for you to return what you give me."

Sachi could barely speak through her smile. "Maybe we can agree to disagree about this then?"

"Perhaps that would be best," he said. She laid her head on his arm, overcome with fuzzy feelings and wanting more contact from him.

The rest of the journey was spent in silence. Shino lead her through his home and up to his room, excusing himself for a shower and letting her change in peace. He sent a kikai to inform his parents about their visitor and returned to his room clean and freshly clothed.

He had to admit she looked adorable covered from neck to ankle in a two piece pajama set, seated on the edge of his bed, no doubt waiting for him. He could not suppress a small huff of amusement when he saw the design on her nightwear.

"What?" she asked, hearing his near-laugh.

"Are you aware the design of your clothing depicts cartoonish ladybugs?"

Sachi snorted out a laugh and rubbed her eyes. "Well, that would explain why Kaachan said you would like them." She yawned and he realized then how exhausted she must have been. He, his father and his team were used to the constant moving and even if she hadn't traveled the distance on her own two feet the motions and sleep deprivation of this whole ordeal were obviously catching up to her now that she felt safer.

Shino climbed into the bed, leaving the covers open for her, waiting for her to join him. She hesitated only slightly. It was one thing to share a space on the ground, cuddled up for warmth and comfort. It was entirely different to share a bed.

But this was Shino after all. Her gentlemanly, protective boyfriend. She was sure he was far too worried about her mental well-being and lack of sleep to consider anything physical happening that night.

She slipped under the covers and tucked herself happily against his chest with an exhausted sigh. It felt good to sleep in a bed again! Shino flipped the covers back over them and settled Sachi in his arms as they both laid on their sides facing each other.

"Sleep knowing you are safe, Sachi-chan. I will not allow anything to hurt you." He pressed a lingering kiss to her brow and felt what little tension that remained leave her body. She tilted her neck and captured his lips with her own in a soft and sleepy kiss.

She buried her face against his chest, nuzzling his neck like a cat and mumbled a declaration of her love for him. His arms tightened around her, hungering for this delightful woman to be closer to his heart and within the protection she so sorely desired. He returned her declaration for one of his own, speaking it sleepily into her hair just before they both fell into the most blissful and restful sleep either had received in days.

Bonus chapter ideas are pouring in! You are inspiring me to write more on this story. Thank you all!