At least Tsuma had allowed me to continue our Aburame tradition through Jijo and Sanjo. But, by the time Moujo was six and Tsuma finally came around to allowing it, she was already too old.
It was time to enroll Moujo in the academy, and Tsuma seemed uncharacteristically concerned with Moujo appearance before she left the house. She straightened our eldest daughter's collar and brushed her hair curly brown hair, braiding them into two pigtails on either side of her head.
"Shino, when is your daughter going to start at the academy?"
"When she's ready."
"She's plenty ready." Kiba said with a frown.
"Kiba, you're starting to irritate me." I warned him.
"Come on, Shino." Said Kiba. "I'm getting closer to the big 4-0… and so are you! I've taught practically everyone else's kids, but I've really been looking forward to teaching yours! It's almost as if you're keeping her out of the academy JUST to annoy me!"
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.
"We're still two years away from the 'big 4-0'." I reminded him.
"This isn't right, Shino." Said Kiba, hitting the table a few times. "It just isn't right."
"Why isn't it right?" I said, shooting a glare at him.
"Hey, I'm just saying…" Kiba started. "All those times when Tashoku baby-sits your kids—"
"I've been meaning to tell you, your daughter charges too much." I interrupted before I forgot.
"That's beside the point!" Kiba said angrily. "What I'm saying is that sometimes they work a little bit of ninja training in there! And don't try to convince me that you don't train at least your oldest one!"
I didn't respond to that.
"Come on. What's the REAL reason you won't send her to the academy?"
"Shino, what are you staring at?" Tsuma said, looking up at me as she put a jacket on Moujo who was bouncing around excitedly.
"Nothing." I answered.
"I don't want her to get hurt like I did."
"Get hurt?" Kiba repeated. "What do you mean, 'get hurt'? No one's going to hurt her as long as I'm around!"
"It's nothing, Kiba." I said, feeling a little foolish that I had put that out there. "I suppose it is time to enroll her."
"That's what I'm talking about!" Kiba cheered.
Moujo looked up at me with a bright smile on her face. She certainly was cheery for an Aburame. Maybe she wouldn't have the same unfortunate experiences that I did while growing up; spending most of my time alone during the recesses, being the last one picked when partners were chosen…
"Do you want to walk her there?" Tsuma asked, standing up. "Or should I?"
"Should we both go?" I asked.
"No." Tsuma answered flatly. "Because then we'd have to take Jijo and Sanjo too."
"Very well." I said. "Do you have a preference?"
"I'd prefer NOT to see Kiba and since you love him so much, you can take her."
"I don't love him."
She told me I was lying and then left the room to tend to our daughters.
"Daddy, will there be other Aburames in my class?" Moujo asked as she followed me out the door.
"I don't believe so." I replied, not recalling there being another Aburame her age. Maybe that was better for her, though.
"Daddy, can I hold your hand today?" Moujo asked.
"Not today." I replied. "Maybe tomorrow."
There's only so much physical human contact I can sustain in such a short period of time. I held her hand last Sunday.
"Okay." Moujo shrugged it off.
We stopped in front of the academy.
"Are you sure you want to go?" I said. "I could always train you at home."
"I'm sure." Moujo answered. "I want to meet other kids my age!"
"If that is what you want." I said, pushing the door open.
"Aburame Shino—"
"Ew—Aburame?"
"Is there a problem?"
"Yah! My dad told me about the Aburames!"
"Please sit down."
I stood in the doorway and watched as Kiba led Moujo to the front of the room.
"Are you serious? In your body? Bugs?"
"Gross!"
"Kids—" Kiba began as he put a hand on Moujo's head. "This is Moujo. She's joining our class."
"The Aburame can be on your team."
"We don't want him."
"Well we don't want him."
"She's from a very prestigious clan—The Aburames."
"It's natural for the students in your class to be intimidated by you. You shouldn't let it bother you."
"But I had no one to play with."
"All the better. During the recess periods you can train hard and you'll always be that much ahead of your classmates."
"I have an empty seat!" cheered a girl in the front row as she gestured for Moujo to come over and sit down next to her. Moujo ran over and sat down. They began to talk.
"Father, why doesn't anyone want to by my friend?"
"I told you, Shino. That's just the way things are."
"I don't understand."
"I'll explain when you're older."
I looked up and saw Kiba standing before me.
"Kiba?" I said, noticing that he had sent all the kids outside to play.
"Shino?" Kiba said in a mocking tone.
"What is it?" I said, standing up straight and uncrossing my arms.
"Shino, if I didn't know better, I'd say you're another one of those overprotective fathers." Kiba said.
"I'm not." I said in a final tone.
"Whatever, Shino!" said Kiba with an animated shrug. "You just want what's best for your daughter, that's all!"
"Well…" I said. "I just want her to have better than what I have."
"No one can befriend an Aburame. They all believe we are incapable of love and friendship, so therefore we become so."
"Kiba, we're friends aren't we?" I asked.
Kiba looked surprised as he organized some papers on his desk. He laughed a little bit as I sat down in the seat that Moujo had sat in earlier.
"Of course we are. Did I say something to make you think otherwise?"
"Sorry I didn't make a best man speech at your wedding."
"Shino, I forgot all about that! I don't even care."
"You care."
"Not really, Shino."
I could tell he cared.
"And I'm sorry I didn't invite you to my wedding."
"Shino, you're really starting to freak me out here." Kiba said.
"And I'm sorry my wife hates you."
"All right, what's this about?" Kiba said, putting some papers in a drawer. "Are you dying of a terminal illness?"
I stood up. "No." I said. "I was just thinking of things."
"You should probably get going." Kiba said. "I have to get ready for the kids for when they come back in."
"Okay."
I went to the door and left the academy. I somehow felt lighter.
I entered my house to see Tsuma there with our two younger daughters. She looked up at me, as did the two girls.
"No one can befriend an Aburame. They all believe we are incapable of love and friendship, so therefore we become so."
"Tsuma, do you love me?"
She blinked.
"Uh…" she said.
I waited. I could stand there all day if she needed me to.
She began turning a little red. "Shino…"
"Yes or no." I said. "And don't say that you hate me so much that you love me. Did you marry me for love or did you marry me because you didn't feel like looking for anyone else?"
She stood up. "It's hard for me to say." She said. "Do you love me?"
"Let's answer at the same time." I said.
"Fine." She agreed.
She put up three fingers, then two, then one.
"Yes."
I breathed audibly.
She stood awkwardly and uncomfortably. "What brought this on?" she asked, not able to make eye contact.
"I was just… testing a theory." I answered.