Chapter 14
"Aiko-sensei," said a small voice, I blinked and looked at a tired face of Yuki.
"Hai Yuki," I asked
"You need to get up, Hinata-san and Tenten-san are here," she said,
"Where's Akane?"
"Sleeping, I've been awake for a bit, Gomen about going to sleep," she said blushing
"It's alright Izumo and Kotetsu told me, go wake him up," I said getting up and going into the kitchen.
"Morning," I said yawning
"Ew gross breathe," said Tenten laughing
"Nice," I said "Why are you guys here?" I asked
"We wanted to come check up plus Neji-kun and Naruto have gone on a mission so we came to hang out," said Tenten "Unless you were getting busy we heard people moving around,"
"Nope my students stayed the night," I answered
"Why?" Hinata asked intrigued
"Genma, Raido, Izumo and Kotetsu along with those helped me move in and they fell asleep while I was coming back from the shop," I said getting up and making breakfast.
"Is everything alright with you and Shino? He seemed really agitated yesterday according to Kiba," said Tenten and Hinata nodded.
"Oh it's nothing….."I mumbled
"No it's something you don't look happy," said Hinata
"Well yesterday we were kissing and it got quite far but I stopped him because something was stopping me. A voice I guess my conscience was telling me not to. I guess I offended him and last night coming back from the shop I saw him and walked straight passed him," I said sniffing, Tenten came over to me and hugged me and soon Hinata did the same thing.
"Aiko-sen-"started Akane's loud voice; Hinata pulled away and shuffled the genin away.
"I'll spar you guys if you come outside," she said Akane eager to face another Hyuuga headed outside but Yuki stayed inside.
"It's about Shino-sensei, isn't it?" She asked Tenten and me, I nodded and she hugged me.
"I'll meet you guys at the nice little café near the exam stadium in an hour I'm going out for a bit," I said grabbing my hip pouch; I pulled out the cereal for Yuki and Akane.
"Here's the cereal for breakfast," I said before leaving. I ran quickly pumping chakra through my feet for an extra boost. I sped past lots of farmers and carts on a little jog. I stopped at the East Gate and saw Ibiki training his squad just outside it.
"Hey Ibiki-san!" I yelled waving; a couple of the men stopped and looked over "Hey Guys!" I added to them, they waved until Ibiki shouted at them to carry on. Not wanting to anger the interrogation and torture jounin they carried on.
"Hello Aiko-san," he said
"Seriously it's just Aiko," I said smiling
"Okay then Aiko, I'm just Ibiki," he said I smiled
"I see you got them whipped," I said grinning,
"Hai but they need to be prepared," he said seriously,
"Why?" I asked curiously looking at the man,
"I'm not aloud to say," he said
"Aw come on its me remember I'm the one who saved you but when you got beaten by that young mist ge-" I said really loudly until he put his hand over my mouth. I growled lightly and he shook his head.
"Fine, Anbu have been getting warnings from other countries that Orochimaru and Akatsuki are moving this was with their fight and are expected to move to Konoha. If we fight back it could turn into a 3 way fight so I need to get these men ready. 4 jounin have already left to track their movements so far," he explained sadly
"You mean Neji, Naruto, Genma and Raido," I said quietly
"Does anyone else know what their mission is apart for the Hokage and you guys," I asked
"No but now you know," he said I nodded and remembered something,
"Oh yeh later today or tomorrow does it matter if I bring my genin by to train with your men. I mean not serious but Shino and my team has users of the 5 elemental jutsus and I don't think we can use Jiraiya and Kakashi and teachers again after what happened the first time." I said
"Hai, sure, but only a few can help, I'll have one of each type ready," he said
"Thanks Ibiki, I appreciate it, I just hope Akane doesn't end up like a barbeque stick again," I said, Ibiki raised an eyebrow questioningly "Isamu's fire jutsu went wrong and went for Akane, he managed to but up and Earth Barrier but you know about fire staying alight on earth so I ended up having to save him from the burning pits of Jiraiya joke," I explained,
"Aw so you're teaching the young Sarutobi, does he smoke?" asked Ibiki,
"Nope but I'm trying to keep him away from Asuma as much as possible, we don't need another chronic smoker in the jounin and chunin's like Asuma, besides Konohamaru might take after Asuma but not Akane," I said sighing again. "What time is it?" I asked
"Around….11 why?" he asked
"Shit, I was supposed to meet Tenten and Hinata along with my genin for early lunch kinda thing, I have to go, Gomen," I said
"Its fine, bye!" I heard him yell as I pumped so much chakra into my feet I thought they would explode. I whizzed passed several jounin and Chunin quickly and I waved sorry. As I ran I tripped over something and went flying, literally, into a wall. I hit it with a thump and I coughed up blood into my mouth. A little girl screamed when she saw this and 3 Anbu were immediately on the scene. They noticed me lying there and the girl screaming.
"Aiko-chan!" one shouted running forward, he lifted his mask quickly and looked down at me. There was pain blurring my vision but I think I could make out the black hair and eyes.
"Sai-kun?" I asked
"Hai, what happened?" he asked
"I had to get somewhere quickly but you could say I fell," I said chuckling then bursting into coughs, I slowly pulled myself up, and winced in pain. I was silently praying for him not to notice but he did.
"Do you know her Taichou?" asked an Anbu
"Hai, go back to your stations," he said
"I see you took over for me," I said smirking at him
"Hai, here I'll help you, where are you going," he said pulling his mask over his face again
"The café next to the exam stadium, remember when we had a holiday and I dragged you in there." I said he nodded "That place," he nodded again and slung my arm over his shoulder and helped me hobble there. People moved out the way and slowly we made it. We arrived at around 11:45 and soon we were bombarded by the other girls. Slowly I explained as Sai helped me into a chair and Hinata looked ready to help me with the pain.
"Arigatou Sai-kun," I said
"Its fine, bye for now," he whispered before vanishing like I usually do.
"So that's Sai and what's with the –Kun," said Tenten grinning
"He was my best friend in Root Anbu," I said "I barely see him anymore," I added
"Oh sorry," she said, I just nodded and shrugged
"Itai!" I cried as Hinata looked at my feet,
"You have chakra burns," she said
"Oh, heh must have been from how fast I was going," I muttered
"You don't get those from just running," said Tenten
"I got those from doing Chidori," said Yuki showing a bandaged, gloved hand, I sighed
"Yeh I was pushing it," I muttered, suddenly my arm was attacked by a white bit of fluff. I wafted my arm around until I realized it was Akamaru licking my arm, "Oh hey Akamaru," I said stroking his head,
"Akamaru!" shouted Kiba; I picked the poor dog up as Hinata pumped the chakra into my feet healing them. I giggled because each person's chakra is different. Her's was light and felt like feathers. That's how you can tell if someone is coming near you by their different chakra.
"Ohayo guys," said Kiba,
"Hello Kiba, are you alone?" asked Hinata
"Nope bug-freaks here as well, we came for food because the old man who makes the ramen went on a holiday." He said sadly, I could only imagine how much ramen Hinata would have to make for Naruto to feed his fiery pits of hell he calls his stomach. I sighed and felt awkward with Akamaru now curled on my lap and sleeping. Soon Shino joined. After Hinata finished was right when they sat down with us to eat. I looked at Tenten nervously.
"Did you guys hear Aiko moved," said Tenten trying to make up conversation,
"No why did you move?" asked Kiba
"I erm….wanted independence" I said quietly
"Cool where though?" he asked again, what was this 'lets interrogate Aiko' day
"Near the east gate by training area 16." I said "It's a small house,"
"Why so far away?" he asked again "From the Aburame's?" he added grinning slyly, I ignored it and stood stiffly and hobbled away, I stumbled away because I didn't want to answer that not after making me sit next to Shino when Tenten knew I was uncomfortable. Little did I realize I was heading towards a table. I hit it and my back seized. I fell forward but something grabbed my waist. I saw thousands of kikai around my waist holding me there. I looked back and saw Shino's arm outstretched. I nodded my head again once I was standing and went out towards the training areas.
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"What was that all about?" asked Kiba once Aiko had left; Tenten looked nervously at the Aburame. After a few minutes she lost control of her anger. She stood up and thumped a kunai into the table and glared at the bug user.
"Are you not going after her? You call yourself her boyfriend, you act more like her sworn enemy, and she didn't mean to reject you like that!" she shouted at the bug user. An eyebrow raised above his glasses.
"Then what did she mean?" he hissed at her
"She's confused, you forget she was in ANBU for her whole life basically, they can't feel anything or have a name or a life so it's new to her," she said trying to calm down. The Aburame stood up and walked out of the café slowly with a fuming Tenten and a confused Kiba behind him.
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I walked slowly through the streets and the pain in my back increased. I slipped into an alley and slumped against the wall. Leaning against it I slid slowly down and into a crouching position. I heard light footsteps and turned slightly. A small hum was around me and I frowned. Shino.
"Nani? I don't want to fight," I said quietly as I winced when something touched my back.
"Why did you reject me?" he said
"Because I……." I started. I don't know, because I just did. It wasn't Shino it was me. "I wasn't ready, gomen," I said looking away, right now I wanted to runaway but I couldn't. I had to face the music….or was that just the humming. I was lifted up and taken out of the alley. "Where are we going?" I asked whispering
"To the compound to get you fixed up," he replied
"But aren't you angry?" I asked
"No, you were right I went too fast," he replied, I nodded slowly and lay my head back down. I closed them until we finally stopped. I opened them and saw we were inside the beautiful Aburame garden. I saw the kids playing again, the Kunoichi relaxing with each other, the men researching or just playing Shogi and GO. I smiled then we passed Shibi. He looked down curiously at me and Shino but shrugged it off. We went inside and up to his room. Laying me down he rolled me over.
"Ano….Shino what are you doing?" I asked, as he started lifting the back of my shirt.
"Checking your back, move," he said, I nodded and he checked until he came to my black bra. I noticed he had turned slightly red and I sighed.
"You saw the whole thing last time," I muttered, I heard him growl and he hesitated a minute.
"You cut goes past your trouser line, I'm getting my mother to look at it," he said, I sighed as he left. A few minutes his mother came back without her coat or glasses. I stared as she had the brightest blues eyes I had seen since I had seen Ino cry. I noticed Shino left quickly and I presumed went to see his father in the garden.
"Its good to see you again Aiko," said his mother kindly, I nodded
"It's nice to be back, I love your clan, it's really peaceful," I said smiling
"Hai peaceful but very aggressive at times," she said smiling and she had a glazed look in her eyes.
"Now look what happened when did this happen?" she asked noticing the long gash and forming bruises.
"When I was going to go meet everyone for foot. I was running too fast that I was getting chakra burns on my feet. Which sting but anyway I fell and hit the wall. I was going to hit head on but I moved round so it hit my back." I explained, she nodded ad pulled up a first aid kit and started cleaning. She finished the bit about my trousers but then stopped.
"Aiko I know this is embarrassing but I need you to take your trousers off," she said, I blushed bright red but did it. She was right to ask because I saw the gash and scraps down the back of my leg. I rubbed the back of my head in embarrassment. She sighed and shook her head and cleaned it. Everytime she cleaned I flinched and edged away from her. Eventually I was cornered literally and she just finished whilst I hit the wall in pain. When she was done she chucked what looked to be a loose pair of shorts.
"They're Shino's old pajama shorts," she said smiling, I glared at her playfully and she laughed left then Shino slipped into the room. I noticed he looked at my leg and I muttered something about 'long bandages and his mum being pure evil' he smiled at me.
"Yeh laugh all you like Shino, that was embarrassing to no end," I muttered darkly as I hobbled around to the door.
"Yeh I know but you do look good," he whispered before kissing my cheek.
"Shino-san! Two children are at the door with two women and a man, they are asking for you," said a man at the door,
"I'm coming," he said and turning to leave, I grabbed his hand so he could help me to the porch. Once outside I sat down and as soon as Shino left, three little children came over. I smiled at them.
"Are you Aiko-san?" asked a little girl with unruly hair.
"Hai, what's your name?" I asked smiling
"Hotaru!" she squealed "This is Ayaka and Cho," she said I smiled at her
"Do you like Shino?" asked Cho
"Hai, we are together," I replied smiling at her again
"Are you girls annoying her again?" said Shibi walking over,
"Ano…gomen Shibi-sama," said Hotaru
"Go find your mother," he said, she nodded and she and the others left. I smiled at him.
"Arigatou Shibi-sama," I said gratefully
"You may call me –san," he said sitting down,
"I would like to thank you for everything," I said bowing my head "For letting me stay here when I was uninvited," I added
"You were with Shino so it wasn't an inconvenience." He replied. There was a silence.
"Do you love me son?" he asked. I was taken back by the forwardness of the question but nodded whilst feeling my face turn red.
"Hai, very much, he means a lot to me," I replied smiling as I watched him come back over followed by everyone.
"That is good to know, I think I'll let you have some privacy with Shino, good day Aiko-chan," he said, I bowed my head,
"Good day Shibi-san," I replied, I smiled now knowing he liked me and accepted me.
"What did my father say to you?" snapped Shino; I looked shocked at how angry he was.
"Oh he was just wondering how I was and I thanked him for everything, like letting me stay here during the festival of your clan. Then he asked me if I loved you, which I answered yes," I explained trying to keep calm. He seemed to relax a bit as he sat down. I noticed Kiba had a hand over Akamaru's mouth to keep him from barking. Hinata was staring at the beautiful garden with envy; Tenten was watching the younger Aburame's sparring. Yuki and Akane were talking to some of the other Aburame kids from their academy class. I leaned on Shino then he looked closely at my leg.
"Those are my old shorts," he said
"Hai, your mum gave them to me to wear, they're really comfy mind you," I said, he was smirking and I just hit him over the head.
"Guys you can stop staring at his clan you know," I said "It's rude," the other three jounin seemed to snap out of it.
"G-gomen," stuttered Tenten, "I've never been here, it's nothing like the other clan houses, its so calm and relaxing here, its amazing Shino," she said smiling; he gave a grunt which I took for a yeh.
"That mean thank you," I said to her, she nodded and Shino took my hand. "Hey look they're sparring," I said pointing to my students and the Aburame's. They started shouting and glaring then fighting. "Ano…..not good," I muttered, I tried to stand but not working. I ignored the pain and hobbled over. Akane and the taller Aburame were about to hit each other with kunai when I stood in between and held two fingers up on Akane's forehead stopping him but for the Aburame I missed and the kunai struck my hand. I groaned softly at the kunai protruding from my hand and the whole compound was silent. Staring. Unnervingly. Akane stopped and dropped the kunai while the taller Aburame was still glaring.
"Akane go over to Shino and Tenten," I said smiling; I turned to the Aburame and grabbed his coat collar and held him there. He tried to struggle.
"Anyone ever tell you, I'm Anbu?" I said, he shook hi head, "Now be a good little bug user and go fly away, before I squish you," I hissed at the boy, I let him go and he scampered off. I looked down and realized he had hit right in my curse mark. I muttered something incoherent about him and pulled the bandaged off my leg and wrapped my arm furiously. I heard a faint whizzing noise and held my hand up and caught the kunai from the earlier Aburame. I turned and saw him looking frightened. I threw it again just missing his head but centimeters. It hit the wooden column behind him and he shuddered. Suddenly another boy older stepped out and kikai came forward.
"Sh-shino help!" I cried when I realized I had never faced them before. I turned and saw all of my friends and genin had disappeared. The humming was getting louder and louder. I turned and ran or more hobbled quickly to a tree and did some hand seals.
"Suirou no jutsu!" I cried holding my hand up and using the water prison. The bugs stopped when this happened. The few I had caught went limp and I released. They fell unconscious for an insect and I realized there were still a lot more where they came from. Suddenly there was a sharp pain on my arm. I looked and saw the kikai on me. I screamed slightly. Think, think….they doesn't attack Aburame's….that's it!
"Henge no jutsu!" I muttered making it look like a substitution jutsu, I screamed turning into the little girl Hotaru. I screamed louder and clearer and the bugs retreated. "Why did you do that nii-san?" I cried as the little girl. They came closer until I was close enough, I struck out with force. The boy cried out as I started at him what I copied from Lee and Gai as 'Gouken' or Iron fist style fighting. Except I'm a girl so I like to change it to a more graceful name. I struck out fighting in hand to hand combat with the boy. I was lucky I had seen Hotaru; she was small and agile until I took a hot to my gut. I fell back and the Henge came off.
"So much for a calm clan," I muttered
"That was a Henge?" asked the boy
"What else," I said smirking, I vanished quickly but came out behind him, pinning him to the ground. I reached for a kunai and the women Shinobi stood up. I smirked and stabbed into the back of the boy. And I presumed it was a bug clone. The kikai came out of it and I just sighed sitting down on the ground.
"Shibi-san you can stop playing!" I called out to no one in particular. Suddenly a shadow came over the top.
"You passed!" said a feminine voice, it was Reika. I just smirked.
"I knew it was a test," I said
"You were facing little Hotaru's brother just then, you gave him quite a shock when you changed into her." She said, the other came out of the house followed by Shibi. I smirked at him and nodded. Shino came forward and looked at me disapprovingly.
"What your dad decided to do an unexpected test," I said smiling sweetly, he sighed and the Aburame clan went back to doing everything normally. I hadn't realized one of the most private clans in Konoha would be the most aggressive. I sighed again then swore once I realized Tsunade was gonna ask me about all my cuts. I sighed and tried to ignore it and relax for the rest of the day with the Aburame's.