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Shino smirked as he fumbled with the keys. He had put a Kikai in Cho for her own protection like he had all his friends and her wonder was amusing. Since all his Kikai were connected to him, he chuckled each time she would try and do something with it, figure out what it could do. She'd already figured out that if she made it hum and buzz real fast, it was like she was tickling him. It was fun, when she figured out something new.

Shino finally opened the door and kicked off his shoes in the corner of the sun room/porch before he stepped inside and turned back to Cho, grinning, "Welcome to my home. My dad, Shibi, might be passed out on the couch, and my mother, Kaho, will probably be baking, since I wasn't home at suppertime." He saw her raise an eyebrow and sighed, "I do live alone, but it is Wednesday…they always come over on Wednesdays and Sundays."

"I presume that you are going to introduce me then, correct?" Cho asked with a smile as she continued to play with the Kikai. She giggled as she made it hum and buzz again causing Shino to pause a moment to laugh.

Shino used his influence to put the Kikai under wraps so he could put on a straight face and slide on his glasses. Through all this time his friend's children had forced him to not wear his shades, he'd been caught only once without them by his parents, and he only got out of that by saying they got broken by a kunai. He watched Cho, "Please, they've mellowed out over the years, but not once have I had a lady with me, besides Hinata. You'll be just fine, but I have no idea what sort of questions I'll get, especially when I tell them I'm going to marry you."

At the reminder of what was to be, Cho blushed deeply. She slipped her hand into Shino's with a shy smile. "Well, it shouldn't be worst than facing my mother..."

Shino chuckled and opened the main door, and they were blasted with the smell of fudge and peanut butter and strawberries. He breathed deeply and then turned his head in the direction of Cho since though he'd taken his main jacket off, he still had his other one with the collar. He brushed the hair from her face, "Hey now, no need to think about that. You're safe now, here with me," he nodded his head and his eyebrows arched in what would be a kind, smiling sort of way.

"You'll learn quick to gage expressions in my clan by tone of voice and how our eyebrows and cheeks move, by the way," he chuckled. Shino then led her forward, and through the living room where they were all of a sudden blocked by a bunch of Kikai, "Father…I thought you'd be asleep," he sighed as he just pushed forward and kept Cho close with an arm around her waist. He paused at the arm of the couch where Shibi was lounging.

Shibi arched his head up toward his son, "Well, I'm not. Good thing, too, you got a pretty lady friend with you! What's your name, miss?" he asked and stood so he could look at the woman, but the Kikai still did not disperse.

Cho glanced nervously at the Kikai, but bowed to Shibi. "My name is Cho A-" She paused to cough, "Ayano. Please forgive me, I'm not feeling well." She felt her cheeks burn slightly at having told a lie, but tried to continue to act as if everything was fine.

"Shino…" Shibi turned slightly to his son who flinched violently but didn't move from his position.

Shino flared his own Kikai to protect Cho, since his body was already invaded by his father's more experienced and more powerful Kikai, "Cho…my father does not…take lightly…to liars," he tried not to shrink away, but his insects were being overwhelmed. He bit his lip and tried standing tall, but Cho's fear flashed through him from the Kikai he had put inside her, and it even pierced their link. He growled and the half breeds burst from him next, flying around and creating a tight barrier, sprinkling a strange dust that drove away his father's Kikai.

Shibi was shocked, and took a step back, his Kikai returning to the guard they belonged in. Not once had his son been able to repel him. However, those insects were new. He looked accusingly at Cho and then smirked, "Cho Aimi, the Priestess in training. So you are the girl of the legend the butterflies talk of, are you? You've also caught my son's heart."

Cho clinched Shino's arm nervously as she tried to remind herself that he was Shino's father, no one to fear...hopefully. "Hai, that is me. I am sorry to have lied, but I am here in secret…"

"Because you denied the Trail of Fire, I know," Shibi nodded and ran a hand through his hair, "You really don't have to worry about being taken away. There've been others like you in the past, and they were all banished and became Rogues. They married into another clan and all forgot about them. Though, you," he waved a calm hand in front of a butterfly and they all went back into Shino, "You have to worry about your insane mother trying to kill you and your "arranged" fiancé to try and make you his."

Shibi chuckled, "Of course, you shouldn't worry about that either, so long as you have Sanctuary and Shino. Right, Kaho?" he asked since the stove had been off for a while, meaning she had been listening.

Shino smiled and smelled the fudge covered strawberries and rolls of peanut butter getting closer, "You'll like my mother," he soothed Cho.

Cho's mouth watered at the smell of wonderful goods, but most of all, chocolate. A treat she only had once before and the man who gave it to her was beaten. Chocolate was considered 'unclean' to her mother. She, on the other hand, had longed to taste it again. She never could, though, even in Konoha, because in all honesty, she did not know what to call it. The man had told her it was a sweet, but nothing more.

'She smells wonderful…' Cho thought to herself, finding herself wishing to meet the woman even more.

Kaho smiled as she came out with a huge plate full of fudge, "Quite right, Shibi," she answered with a smirk. She grinned at Cho, "Hello, dear. So you're the lucky girl Shino's tried to find, eh?" she offered Cho the plate, "Have a fudge!"

Cho bit her lip as she reached for the brown square Kaho called, Fudge. When she picked one up timidly, the food squished slightly. Cho lightly bit into the fudge, finding that it sumptuously melted on her tongue. Cho closed her eyes at the wondrous sensation. She blushed as she opened her eyes again.

"I'm sorry, it's just I...I have no words to describe this sensational food. You call it fudge? I have had something similar to this only once before. I do not know what it is call but both are...magical." Cho explained shyly.

Kaho blinked and then grinned again, "That could only be chocolate you're talking about," she chuckled and set the plate down on the dining table, "Sit, sit! There're plenty more, Cho," she said, "Shino, help me with the plates. Shibi, you get the drinks," she ordered and went back into the kitchen.

Shino chuckled and went to help his mother with what was needed. They came out with the chocolate covered strawberries and other sweet treats. Once they were all set on the table Shibi placed down milk and juice. Shino sat next to Cho, "Have as much as you want, Butterfly-hime."

"Yeah, Kaho loves it when others love her cooking," Shibi said wrapping an arm around his wife.

Cho blushed at the name, carefully picking up one of the strawberries. "It is not everyday that one meets an excellent cook." the butterfly priestess complimented, biting into the sweet treat. "You both have raised quite the charming man." Even though she meant the words, her heart fluttered quickly. What was wrong with her. She had never felt such a way before.

Shibi smirked behind his collar. Kaho openly grinned, "You are suck a charming woman as well," she complimented.

Shino finished off a strawberry before breaking the news, "Cho will be living here with me. I proposed to her and we'll be eloping so her mother and "arranged fiancé" cannot take her away. Then when she is more comfortable with the idea of being with me, we'll have a proper marriage."

Kaho gasped and she then went over and hugged Cho tightly, "Oh! I'm so happy!" she cooed.

Shibi laughed, "You sure do have your own way of doing things. Well done, Shino. We'll get the papers from Naruto and you can fill them out. Though, Gomen, Cho, but I suggest you have it soon, within the next few days. You mother will sure to be by here unfortunately sooner rather than later."

Cho blushed more from such show of emotion, but hugged back nevertheless. "Hai, I understand...if need be, I will do it tomorrow or even today."

"It is too late tonight," Kaho chuckled. "Two days from now. I'll get the papers tonight and also get my wedding dress if I can find it in the back of the closet. Though you'll be eloping, it's fitting for a beautiful lady be be dressed right for the occasion. Or…would you prefer a Miko outfit to marry in? Since you'll always be a Priestess, just not the High Priestess…" she chided herself for not thinking of that first.

Cho shied from the woman, feeling the weight of change once more on her shoulders. Dresses? Still be a Priestess. All she wanted was to be live without fear of her previous life style. "I...I'm sorry I need to use the restroom...um can you tell me where it is?"

"Down the hall, right then left," Shibi answered and watched her dash off.

"Great…you scared her, mom," Shino sighed and stood with a fudge chunk in his mouth as he followed after Cho and rubbed his neck as he saw her slam the door. He stood across from it, "Gomen, it's a family trait to be blunt and unthinking…" he didn't get any response, "You can wear anything you want, Butterfly-hime. You can wear torn baggy grungy clothes for all I care."

Cho pressed her back to the door as she hung her head. "It's not about the clothes or the bluntness and unthinking....it's the fact that I have to change again. Shino, I never wanted to be a Priestess in the first place. I was forced to change then as I am now...so much is changing……I'm…I'm just so scared!"

Cho covered her face to try and hide her sobs. She hated crying so much. She hated the changes she was forced to make. She hated hating so many things.

Shino placed his hand on the door, feeling her presence. He focused and tried making the Kikai he had placed in her calm her just a bit, "Cho…" he breathed softly, "My Butterfly-hime…what do you want to change into? I will try my hardest to help you, just tell me what you need."

He rested his head against the wood of the door, "I won't force you to change if you don't want to. Marriage is a big change, but it's for your protection. You can think of it as a confirmation of our friendship if you wish." He tried to think of what else he could say to make her feel better, to extinguish this fear he felt from her. He didn't mind if she cried, she obviously had a lot to cry about, but it was her fear that bothered him.

Cho shuddered slightly at the feeling the Kikai was making. "…Shino…the only changes I want right now is…to be with you and to be safe……" Cho blushed as she hiccupped from her crying. She stood away from the door and moved to the sink. Cho turned the water on so she could wash her face. She didn't want to face anyone with tear stains.

Shino wanted to ask the obvious question of 'in what way with me?' but didn't want to mess up any more than he had. Instead he opted for waiting until she opened the door to lean in and kiss her, "I'll be with you in whatever way you need." Yes, that did sound a lot better, so he continued as she was still stunned in place, "You are my precious Butterfly-hime, and I'll do anything for and with you. Just tell me, and I'll try and make it happen."

Cho bit her lip as Shino continued. "Shino…" she closed her eyes and hugged him. "I'm sorry for being difficult again…how can I face them? I acted rather rudely."

Shino laughed and kissed her hair, "It's alright. Humor my mother by wearing her wedding dress and all will be fine," he assured and led her back to the living room where Shibi was gone and Kaho was cleaning up the kitchen.

Kaho grinned, "Shibi went to get the paperwork. I wanted to stay here and make sure you're alright. I'm sorry for upsetting you…daughter," she grinned at Shino's blush but watched Cho's reaction carefully.

Cho nervously shifted around, glancing at Shino with a blush, "…Gomen for acting rudely. I would be honored if I could wear your dress."

Kaho clapped her hands together happily and hugged Cho, "Oh! This is so wonderful!" she cooed, "Welcome to the family, dear!"

Shino placed his hands on Cho's hips and kissed her cheek, "Indeed…welcome home."