Another fluffy little bonus chapter for you.

Chapter 37

Beside yourself

There had been many times in Shino's life that he had to do things that he neither wanted nor felt the need to do. And more than a few times these things required him to put aside his pride and dignity and unwillingly shed his supercilious exterior.

But no time before now had it been so personally important and heartwarmingly adorable. Shina, their oldest daughter had run into their bedroom at night, crying and proclaiming fear over a nightmare. Sachi nudged his side and declared it was his turn to deal with their children's midnight needs and promptly lay back down to sleep. As she had been up earlier in the night with their other daughter, Tori, he couldn't help but agree it was indeed his turn. He lifted the four-year-old into his arms and carried her back to her room as she blubbered about the monster that came to eat her and her sister and leave Kaachan and Touchan to cry.

"Nothing is going to come eat you, Shina. I won't let anything hurt you."

She sniffled. "And- and Kaachan will hear it, right? In my dream, Kaachan couldn't hear."

"You know how well Kaachan hears. Kaachan and Touchan won't let anything hurt you. And remember, your kikai will warn you of danger. What do they tell you now?" he asked as he began tucking her in.

Shina paused, listening to what her hive had to tell her. "Everything is safe," she said.

"Good," he praised. "They're right. Trust them, Shina, goodnight."

It was upon her next question that his dignity would be warred with his need to comfort his daughter.

"Touchan can you sing me a silly song?"

Shino looked down to his daughter sitting up in bed and felt his heart clench. His own soft brown hair and eyes stared back at him apprehensively. The facial features she had inherited mostly from her mother were still covered in drying tears and spurred his biological urge to protect his offspring even from imaginary threats.

"Kaachan always sings a silly song when I get scared."

His pride nagged at him to deny her but this little girl was the amalgamation of himself and the woman he loved. To refuse her felt heartless. But why did she have to ask him for something obviously more in Sachi's territory?

He strode away from the open door back to the bed.

"I'll sing you a song but then it's bedtime." She nodded eagerly. "But this has to be our secret." Shina nodded again.

He took a deep breath to steel himself and summoned a tiny gong to his hand. He wasn't one to do things halfway he would sing the song with gusto to make his daughter happy or he wouldn't sing at all. There was only one song he had ever sung before and conveniently it was a silly one. The thought of a repeat performance made a chill run up his spine but one more glance at his doe-eyed child hardened his resolve.

"Fighting's very wrong. Don't make me scratch this gong. 'Cause when I hear it gong I have to sing a song. When I hear a bong or bing a silly song I sing."

He watched her expressions change with interest. The first had been surprise given she had never seen her father act in such a way before. But after a fleeting moment she began to giggle and as he continued she had to hold her belly as she laughed harder and harder. The sound of laughter echoed around the room, pleasing his ear. Strangely, his chest swelled with pride, the same emotion that demanded he never commit such an action as singing a silly song, again.

"It doesn't mean a thing, this silly song I sing. The cat took all its gold. The fox is really old. The queen was polishing the anvils of the king. Fundle, dingle, dong won't you sing along. You cannot get it wrong 'cause it's just a silly song."

He continued with excitement and his own amusement. His affection grew as his nerves left him and he finished with nonsense words just to hear Shina laugh more. He had never smiled so much in his life as this moment when he saw happy tears of laughter replacing the sad tears on Shina's cheeks.

"That was funny, Touchan!" she said after her laughing fit. "That was better than Kaachan's song."

"Alright, it's time for bed."

He pulled the covers over her again and with his heart still swollen from affection he kissed her forehead. Much to his delight, she hummed her contentment exactly like her mother. He turned off her light and slipped out the door.

Still drunk on his love for his family, he climbed back in bed and pulled his beloved wife close, tucking her head under his chin and hearing the same pleased hum that Sachi and Shina shared.

And with her next words whispered to him through a smile his blood ran cold.

"Remind me to buy you a gong."

Shina wouldn't divulge their secret but what was to stop his wife from telling anyone?

Damn her hearing!

We are almost done with our daily updates, my dear readers. Next chapter is the last one I have ready for this story. As of this moment, I do not know which bonus chapter I will be completing for you nor can I tell you how quickly I can get it done. As always please continue to review!

Please suggest to me your favorite songs about revenge for another story I am building.