Gentle Memento

Chapter 3

Epiphany - Part One

"Shino-kun?" asked a small, hesitant voice within the walls of a dimly lit silent room. It was painted in a light pink giving it a reluctant beige look in the evening light. The only object in the room other than a small yet comfortable looking bed was a vanity in one corner.

It was a small oak desk with a mirror and had various untouched utensils used to enhance ones outer beauty strewn about the top. Around the rest of the room lay various organized stacks of books and scrolls.

In front of the vanity on a small chair was a downcast body. Dark hair jetted out from its appropriate place upon his scalp as nearly all the rest of his body was hidden underneath a large over-coat with an equally large brim.

"Hm…Shino-kun?" came the gentle, reluctant voice again. This time she received a quick response in the form of the limp body sitting up straight. Slowly he turned his head toward the doorway and the voice calling to him.

"Hinata you should not be…"

"I know, I know," he was quickly cut off, "but I had to make sure they were alright."

It was laughable really, but he was never one to be in a humorous mood. The day she went to visit Naruto in the hospital proved to be a bad day indeed…besides the fact it had been raining non-stop for almost a week.

Well he supposed it was the fact that she had been walking outside in the rain every other day that had caused it. But non-the-less she was now supposed to be in bed, and resting to overcome her current illness.

Kurenai-sensei had told him to keep watch of her whenever she could not herself. And so here he was. He was not one to sleep on the job, but the past few days he had worked himself just a bit too much.

Shaking his head, he quickly got up and headed toward her. "The little ones are fine Hinata." Another thing nearly laughable was Hinata and her flowers. She cared so much for those flowers and yet told no one a thing about why.

Then again the entire reason he was not laughing at her antics was the thought that perhaps all she had to do here was either train, read, or talk with her 'little ones' as he had come to call them.

"Come now, lets get you back into bed." He shifted his glasses as he walked forward to help her back into bed. Guessing from why she woke him up he judged that she had used probably all her strength to drag herself to those flowers.

Carefully he put an arm around her and was rewarded with something he could truly smile at; her flushed face. Hinata's bashfulness would never cease to amaze him. In a time such as the one they lived in, someone like Hinata was indeed special.

Before he finished putting her into bed he caught onto a peculiar feeling. It was a gentle, numb feeling across his back that he had learned to associate with being watched. Turning toward the door he found nothing there.

"Um…ah…Shino-kun?" he turned from the door to find her looking down at her blankets. On a further observation, he noticed her covers move around her hands, which could only mean one thing.

Her nervous habit was almost as bad as his.

Readjusting his shades he sat back down in her chair by the vanity. "Yes Hinata?" Instead of a direct answer like he had hoped he found her fumbling around with her sheet. Well he could count that as an answer.

Even during their time on missions he found it a semi-amusing game to try and guess what Hinata wanted when she was acting like she did. He had been at her home a lot more often lately as Kurenai-sensei kept on getting called back out, which was another reason why he had been so tired.

In the end all it really took was some general observational skills, but then again people these days have little to no patience unlike those of the Aburame. He hated to say it, but in truth he could read her like an open book made for children. Judging by the lateness in the afternoon, and the fact she had just used up her strength he made his call.

"Dinner will be prepared soon then."

It always made him want to laugh. The look she would give him after he guessed her thoughts. She would try to play off her surprise and suspicion through a thankful smile but her eyes always told a different story. Oh, he had no doubt she was thankful, but she always had hidden thoughts that she never voiced.

Naruto would indeed be lucky…if he was smart.

Getting up from his spot upon her small vanity chair, Shino quietly went and tucked her in before leaving.

The Hyuuga family household was enormous, truly something worthy of such an esteemed clan as theirs. But, at the risk of sounding like Shikamaru, Shino found it "bothersome" to navigate through all the corridors and side houses just to get something as simple as a small meal. What is even more surprising is the lack of servants in this part of the house.

Well…maybe it is not so surprising…

Gritting his teeth he quickly forced himself to calm from the sudden rush of anger. Although it was suppressed as fast as he could, the bugs within already stirred from the intense feeling.

"At least it is an appropriate anger." He mumbled to himself as he finally made it to the kitchen. Just like always it was empty, as if their breaks were timed for when Hinata was in need.

That one took a little longer to suppress.

Deciding she needed something warm and soft he settled upon cooking a lovely meal of ramen. At least that was the only meal he properly knew how to make. Normally his father took care of preparing the proper meals.

Thinking no more on the subject, he set the water to boil as he stood resting between the refrigerator and the counter. Rubbing the bridge of his nose he let out a sigh of a yawn. He really needed a good night of sleep instead of all this napping non-sense.

Taking a deep breath he turned to look out a nearby window. The beautiful landscape around the Hyuuga home was enough to finally ease his parasites back into their slumber.

He murmured softly, "Lovely on the outside…"

The loud 'ding' noise from the stove kept Shino from thinking too much once again as he now had boiling water in which to cook Hinata's meal. Tearing open the packages the sensation returned.

Quickly turning he found himself staring out the window once more. Calling forth one of his female bugs, he made sure it stayed near him in a small radius. He was indeed being watched…

And he did not like it at all.

Telling the female to stay alert, he returned to his previous task. Hinata came first, and then some answers later. Sighing, he quietly watched as the ramen cooked. Brows furrowed; the only thing on his mind was 'who and why?'

Ok a minor fix to this chapter, sorry sorry sorry for the insanely long time between updates but I think my laziness and writers block has finally subsided. I had a long LONG time to think things through about the story and so I can finally bring you the rest of Gentle Memento.