Coincidence was what Shino called it at first. He was reading too much into it, putting meaning where it didn't belong. What of mourners meeting at a cemetery—she lost a brother figure, Sasuke went through his brother's death twice—never to happen again?
Keeping this in mind eased his chest constrictions when memory of that day comes up; he wasn 't sick. Must be the vacillating weather.
Soon, however, they ran into Sasuke on multiple occasions. At the convenience store with bags in both arms full of cat food as he vamoosed like a passing ghost who could only see straight in front of him. But when they once met him by the gates, idle and stone-faced, he gave a slight nod noticing Hinata. At the restored library, in one of its fresh wood smelling sections—Gardening and Horticulture? What has the Uchiha got to do with these?
But it made conversation in Hinata's book with plenty of recommendations which isle, which volume. Sasuke wasn't grateful though he acquired a borrower's card and had books bound for return the same day Hinata visits the library the following week..
Sunday morning came and Hinata went up to train in the clearing by the river with Shino as often.
Sasuke was there, his top garment peeled down to the waist, expertly wielding his sword, his footing in quick sturdy forms and turns.
Shino could've stopped Hinata, grabbed her wrist, faced her his way, but the fact that she turned to Sasuke as if in urgent kept Shino from doing these things. He couldn't help think it was Sasuke's cutting black eyes framed with slick black hair, unconcerned as he swaggered scarred, chiseled body where Shino could only be swaddled in layers from the tip of his nose down to his knees. Because it couldn't be that pale amputated arm, dangling and deformed on Sasuke's left. That he flaunted this lack in front of a lady didn't make sense. And that sword, as Sasuke sheathed it, the way it glinted sharply—a wicked taunt; Shino imagined the blade tearing Hinata's neck as easily as Sasuke had slashed at his teammates a few years back.
"Sasuke's one of those, isn't he…" He directed a blow to her shoulder. She sidled, catching his forearm.
Hinata seemed fazed for a moment and then stuttered: "W-what do you mean?" He shifted on his feet, pulled her hold in a loop under his arm and bended her arm behind her.
"People under constant surveillance by the village," he spoke behind her ear, blowing strands of her hair.
She didn't try to break free and passively muttered something in agreement. Shino could hardly believe it; Sasuke Uchiha is a criminal, a ruthless killer! Why was she acting like that doesn't matter?
With a push, he let her arm fall. "I don't need to spell out what that means. What's with you recently?"
She wiped the sweat under her messy bangs and stared at him seeming offended. The sheen on her upper lips and collar bones jutting out as she breathed seemed equally steamy and metallic.
"Sasuke is not a dangerous person..." Faster than a blink, she had claw up against his chest which took him two steps back. "Well, he is; but not as bad as I thought."
Her attacks came blunt, bone crushing bone. Shino's every attempt to parry out, she anticipated with insistent counterattacks. At the slightest opening, Shino grabbed her wrists and pushed her up against the nearest tree.
"Sure you can defend yourself. But if that guy turns serious, he will fatally harm you," he said, unbearably close, staring down at her. Neither blinked. Her partly opened mouth was so close, he realized, and his heart thundered, his fingers turning cold.
Lavender wafted off her sent fire scorching his arms. He gulped. If he'd press on in a heartbeat—thudthudthud—that fast release, he'd…
Hinata held her stance, pondered, and then slowly eased, looking at her toes. "I'm sorry for making you worry, Shino-kun," she said.
Quickly as it came, the heat ebbed. How many times had he caught himself so close to doing this, thought Shino. How long must this torment fare?
Oh yes, he worried. But what pained him was how she sounded the same every single time, talking to the same Shino whose orders she started obeying their first team mission eight years ago. Was he a constant that he couldn't be something else? Something more?
"Actually, I haven't told you yet but… Kakashi Sensei had asked me for a favor is all… More like it's me who asked for a case… I'm training to get into special care after all: rehab patients, elderly, special needs children."
Shino's eyes were wide with shock; but she wouldn't know, now, would she? Behind this tinted goggles, because his eyes burned out in sunlight, no one would know.
"What about my grandmother?" he said.
"I'm also checking up on four others, including your grandma."
"It doesn't need to be him, Hinata!" His voice started hoarse, ragged between words. "There are morphine addicts, war trauma victims, special cases all over this place! You can't—" He pointed at her. Being slave to impulse will get you nowhere! He heard his grandmother's voice. She used to be particularly stern with this reminder. Because the irony was he possessed her temper and sharp tongue, as a squirt upturning tables when his kikai didn't move according to formation.
Hinata's shoulders bunched, pressed into the tree, surprise and apprehension in her features. He was being unreasonably worked up, he knew. Taking a breath, Shino finished his sentence in a calm manner, "I can search for someone for you."
Her uneasy fingers fiddled. Avoiding eye contact, she said, "No. It's alright. I'll look into it."
Shino couldn't ignore how non-committal she sounded. He made sure to mention the times they had to risk their lives retrieving Sasuke; the fact that Kakashi letting Sasuke out on parole placed the whole village at risk. Hinata didn't nod or speak against it.
"She's changed," he told his grandmother. With a wet towel he took time to wipe her fingers with their thin, chipped nails. "That wasn't the Hinata I know. She would've stayed away. She would've acted upon the right thing."
"So…" His grandmother seemed close to falling asleep, her voice only a whisper. Every now and then, that was all she did. Going in and out of slumber. "What did she say… About the zenzai?"
"I still haven't… But I tell you, she's changed. I have a bad feeling about this." He soaked the towel into the basin. His determined reflection squirmed in the water. "You might think me imposing, but what am I supposed to do?"
First thing the next morning, Shino strode into the Hokage's office.
"Lord Hokage, wouldn't you agree that the security around the Uchiha is too lax?" he said, handing Kakashi documents to sign. "Shouldn't his chakra lines be sealed at least? Who knows what he'll use his bloodline limit for."
Kakashi merely gave an airy laugh and dismissed his worries. "Sasuke doesn't have anymore reason to do that."
"How can you be certain?"
Kakashi's visible eye twinkled to a crescent. "By the way Shino, I really commend your dedication. Reporting to work even on the weekends. I must say I still badly want you on that Ninja Exchange to Sand. They're innovating new jutsu using endemic species, I hear. On the other hand, you ought to have more people working under you."
More people meant new people. Which might be a good sign for the village's economy. But a new field officer assigned under him had to be Sasuke Uchiha.
Had sentencing been a democratic process, the notorious traitor would've stayed in prison, and the citizens could truly take Kakashi for his word when he said the main priority for the post-war restoration was safety.
Everyone knew about the Uchiha Massacre, about the one child who outlive all the that. But Sasuke's cold repute garnered him no public sympathy. Added to Orochimaru let being loose and Kabuto stationed at an orphanage somewhere, free of criminal liability, people have turned weary of the justice system. And because people could only feel weariness in their hearts, the sound of Sasuke's steps as he passed the doorway put everyone in the Intelligence Bureau on edge.
Sulfur and iron suffused the air. Dark and sullen, his cloak jagged along the hems with blood caked on his brow, Sasuke dropped a scroll in front of Hinata.
She asked him to sign the log. As he was bent over, she eyed him worriedly.
"Sasuke, why don't you go to the hospital?" said Hinata, noticing something amiss. An injury most probably. Instead of sharing Hinata's concern, Shino felt breached. The way she addressed him sounded too familiar.
For the past few weeks he had Hinata tailed and his trackers had informed him she continued meeting Sasuke. Ever since then, his chest felt constantly tight, kindled without rest. But who was he to make her listen? He already told her once—a second time and she'll flick him off like a gnat.
Sasuke put the pen down. "Mind your own business," he said and Hinata seemed put down, not saying a word after.
Shino felt his guts lurch. He had been waiting for this, some flaw, some trouble, an ugly revealing in front of Hinata.
With command, he imagined himself say: "Be careful. You're just my memo away from end of probation. Back to where you really belong."
Yet, a few minutes in with Sasuke inside his office, Shino remained circumspect with a hand curled over his mouth. Sasuke indicated more relevant detail than he required in reports and was prompt on missions, returning earlier than the alloted time without mistakes.
Sasuke operated too masterfully to a fault that only made Shino more suspicious—because, there must be something. If this job was way beneath him, why would Sasuke be tolerant if not for other motives?
"Report over," said Sasuke stiffly. Dark hues sagged under his eyes.
Shino spaced out to Hinata anxiously peeking by the glass window. Her concerned expression vexed him. What does she see in Sasuke? Why does she care? On second thought, why did she suddenly care? Sasuke belonged to a different category; he isn't a Naruto or someone like him and Kiba. He was a former classmate, a morbid rumor tied to their pasts, a stranger she'd give a polite bow passed by the sidewalk—unless!
The thought came so sudden, but so clear and needle sharp:
Unless the Uchiha's doing something evil to her.
Shino sat up straight, fists now tightly grappling the arms of his chair.
Yes, perhaps for some plan to get back on the village; definitely not far-fetched. Her family, her father's position in the council, Sasuke's mind control abilities; it was all coming together.
"If there's nothing more…" Sasuke made for the door.
"I didn't say you were dismissed," said Shino. Sasuke glanced a contemptuous half-smile over his shoulder and went out.
Shino glared at the door left ajar. Kakashi may have easily trusted Sasuke, but he's different.
For the longest time, Shino had relied on Kiba to come headstrong at the forefront, the do-or-die kind of fellow. Now, who else does she have but him?
He won't let her be used by Sasuke's schemes, far from self-interest, Shino assured himself, as he once again paid the Hokage a visit. (What better way to affirm Sasuke's intent?)