Trouble

It was a month and a week after that incident, and that whole incident with Kuroi had ended up solved, finally. Yutaka was back with Cho, though he was insecure about that whole arrangement. He still had to do his weakly bug hunt, a hobby/habit of his that helped calm his nerves and also allowed him to think about things.

Cho was amazing. More insecure about things than he thought, but he was slowly helping her with those. Many times they kissed, and each one made him glad he had made the decision to be blunt and have her marry him. He still was a bit too blunt sometimes for his own good depending on the situation, and ended up making her uncomfortable but they were always able to work it out.

What the Aburame had the most fun doing though, which Cho had gradually gotten used to, was the fact he would use the Kikai he placed in her to …please her, in the most unexpected times. The first time he did it she nearly bit his head off in a lecture about he shouldn't do that since she apparently forgot they were wed. He took care of that and blew her away when he reminded her they were indeed married so he had the right to do what he wished to her. She had shut up about that but she still got mad at him for making her feel pleasure that way when they hadn't gone farther than kissing.

Shino chuckled as he examined a blue monarch butterfly. He'd been seeing more of them lately, and he figured it was because of Cho. Butterflies swarmed around her always outside in these forests, but they kindly stayed out of the house. It all seemed so surreal, so amazingly wonderful, except for the constant uneasy feeling he had, like he was being watched by a bloodthirsty being. It bothered him, but he continued hat he was doing, letting his Kikai sense out danger. Just hopefully the opponent didn't attack him dead on, he really was no good at hand-to-hand combat.

Shino continued looking at the butterflies he kept finding all around. Little, bit, and in many shapes and colors. He could've sword some looked like fairies the wings were so unique. Then he felt that unease again, and knew something wasn't quite right, "Butterfly-hime, is that you?" he called out turning around to look at his surroundings.

Hideki smirked as he stepped out into the light. "Not quite, bug-boy."

'Bug-boy?' Shino faced his stalker, 'Can't anyone thing of anything original anymore?' his inner self ranted. He then looked up at Hideki, "Have you come to complete your threat?"

"Hai, Aburame, Once you are gone I can take back Cho." Hideki smirked, pulling out a sword.

"What would you do with her?" Shino asked. He placed his notepad in his pocket and put his glasses on. This was how he always fought, and not even the children of his friends could change that. He didn't really want to fight, though, so just kept his hands in his pockets and watched Hideki, ""You'd be cruel to her, order her around, give her no freedom, that's what you'd do. You would never love her.""

"Do really think that? I love her. She is beyond beautiful." Hideki spat, slowly advancing towards Shino.

"Hai, she is...but do you just talk of her outside beauty?" Shino tried to make them start circling, but Hideki cut him off when he tried, so he was forced to step backwards, "Do you think anything of her soul, her personality and who she is?"

"Of course, I do!" Hideki snapped, grinning as he watched Shino being forced back. "You don't understand, I love her! I watched her grow up with me. Sure I am a couple of years older than her, but it doesn't matter! As a child she would play in the gardens with those butterflies while I watched from afar from within the shrine during my studies. I knew she would be a High Priestess so I made it my life's work to become High Priest so that we would marry. We were so close to being with another forever when she betrayed me and left. She betrayed me more so now that she married you. I will not allow you to get in between Cho and me!"

Shino folded his arms and his bugs surrounded him, "You don't deserve her. You are a corrupt, abusive man after a pure and kind woman. I will never let you have Cho!" He shot his bugs out to Hideki and gritted his teeth, adding his aura so they would be even more deadly.

Hideki smirked as he made a couple of hand signs to create a wall of fire around him. "Too bad. Because as soon as I'm finished with you, Cho will be mine."

Shino gasped and stepped back, his bugs retreating, "Shit…" he'd never done well with fire users, for obvious reasons. He didn't know what to do. His insects would just be simply burned alive, and he hated seeing Cho's butterflies and the creations they made with his Kikai burn. All he had were his fists and legs now, but his taijutsu was just as useless because Hideki could add fire to his punches and kicks. Oh man…he man he might as well just count himself dead now.

Hideki smirked as he walked closer, the flames forming an armor around him. "What's wrong? Afraid to get burnt?"

'Yes,' Shino thought but outwardly said, "No I'm not. II will take whatever you dish out on me, and not once will I back down. Cho is mine now, not yours!" he did it…he signed his death sentence right there. It was the truth though, he would never give up Cho.

This flared Hideki's anger and the said male rushed at Shino. "You will pay for taking her!" he bellowed, swinging at the bug master with his right fist that was covered in flames.

Shino saw his opening. He braced himself and took the hit, but since Hideki's fire was only focused on his fist and him, not the rest of his body, he didn't notice the Kikai sneak up behind him. Shino had been knocked against a tree by the punch and he staggered back to his feet, feeling the left side of his face burnt. His coat was also in tatters on his right side but at least it protected him from the fire.

Shino smirked at Hideki, ignoring the pain, and looked at him directly through half of his shades since the right lens broke, "She is legally mine, and I have witnesses to prove our union," he held up his wedding ring, "You can never have her, and if you try to take her, I have the right to send my friends after you or even AMBU," he smirked, "Beat me to death, burn me to ashes, whatever, but she is mine." Yes…while he distracted Hideki his Kikai formed a swarm behind him, as well as the Kikai/butterfly mix that looked more like Kikai. Well, if he went down, he'd take this jerk with him. 'Bug boy…hmph…' he snorted.

With a growl, Hideki charged at Shino again. He somehow managed to grab Shino by the collar and began to beat him.

Shino felt the fire burn away his coat and shirt underneath until Hideki's fire punches finally hit at his skin. He winced and gritted his teach against each one, tears of pain threatening to slip down. His skin was so sensitive due to the fact he always kept it hidden. The bugs inside him also started reacting negatively and that was when he started crying out, feeling their pain add to his. Shino then smirked up at Hideki before he closed his eyes and flared his energy, his Kikai quickly surrounding the fire user and attacking him.

Hideki cried out, swatting at the bugs and stumbling away from Shino. He continued to swat at them until he made some hand signs and disappeared into his flames.

Cho pouted slightly as she sat on the window seat she had found, to her delight, was already there just covered with books and papers. It had been priceless when Shino tried looking for her and found her on the seat. Apparently it had been a while since he seen the seat.

Cho rested the side of her forehead on the glass as she gazed out at the various places where families walked. Most were of two parents laughing as their child tried showing off to them, sometimes succeeding, other failing but always welcomed by love and affection. She longed for that. She wanted her mother to welcome her back with love. She want her own child to love. She tensed up at this one. She couldn't even imagine going passed a kiss right now! She felt like such a child…

Cho shuddered slightly. Was something wrong with Shino?

"Girl..."

Cho snapped around and came face to face with her mother. "Moth-I mean High Priestess Mariko, what are you doing here?"

"Why did you choose here? Why did you choose a life in such a small house? Look at yourself. You are watching people pass by. Does that...boy not give you enough to do?" Mariko sneered as she glanced around.

Cho remained silent as she tried to gather her words, "I do as I please. You worked me all my life, Shino is giving me a chance to rest," she said sternly.

Mariko tsked and looked over her 'dead' daughter. "You were so young and beautiful…I remember how you would play along the river and in the gardens with those insects of yours. You even talked to them. Then once you came inside you would dance for me…"

"Mother, please we don't have to live like this. I am just not meant to live the lifestyle you have, but does that really mean that we can't be family?" Cho turned her head away to allow a few tear to escape. "Mama I want to be your daughter again, but I need to stay here. Shino loves me, and I him. Please can't you understand?"

The High Priestess locked eyes with her daughter for what seemed eternity, before she closed them with a sigh. "...I expect to have grandchildren soon, daughter."

Cho's eyes widened in shock. Her mother was excepting her back! The butterfly priestess teared up as she all but tackled her mother in a hug, "Oh Mama, thank you! Thank you!"

The High Priestess gripped onto her daughter's shoulders as she suddenly yelled out in pain. "Daughter? What is wrong?"

"I feel as if I have been burned! My face! It hurts!" Cho cried out, holding the right side of her face.

"Child, where is your husband?" Mariko demanded, forcing her daughter to look at her.

"H-He went on his usual bug hunts in the forest." Cho stated, cringing as she felt more blows and burns rack her body.

"Come, he must be in trouble." Mariko said, pulling along the butterfly priestess in a hurried manor.

Fairly soon, the two priestess came across the clearing where Shino sat leaning against a tree. "Shino!" Cho cried out as she raced to her husband's side.

Weakly Shino lifted his head and saw his wife. He had one arm around his waist gripping a burn that also had a gash through it, so he reached out to her with his free hand, "Cho…" he stumbled forward and nearly knocked her over since he could barely support his own weight, "I'm so glad…you're safe…" he murmured, "I'll make sure he…doesn't have you…Cho…"

Cho caught her husband and slowly lowered him to the ground. Tears blurred her sight as she looked over his wounds, though she herself could feel them, "Who? Shino-kun, who won't have me?"

"Yes, tell us who is after my daughter." Mariko softly demanded, as she studied the wounds. Burns and a gash.

"Hideki," Shino growled and looked at Cho through his broken shades, "He got away…this time. I'll make sure…he stays away…from you." He gritted his teeth and his hand found Cho's blindly. He laced their fingers together, "I'm sorry…"

"No, no, no! It's not your fault, my dearest." Cho hurriedly said, kissing his hand. "Just...please stay with me...I could go on the rest of my life, fearing Hideki, with you by my side, then to life my life alone and safe." She placed a tender kiss on Shino's lips. She felt useless right now. Back at the hospital, she only helped Sakura. Never had she faced healing someone on her own. "I am the one who is sorry, Shino-kun. I am useless, and can't heal very well."

Mariko stood straighter with a tight face marked in a scow. How dare Hideki go against her orders! She specifically told him not to do anything rash. Hunting down her daughter's husband is the very definition of rash. Now Shino had the rights to bring Konoha and the Aimi clan. "Daughter, I will send for the Aimi healers. Their clan is not that far away, but I do not think we will be able to help him there." She raised her hand and whistled a high pitched note. A flaming red falcon cried out as he landed on Mariko's arm. She pulled out a piece of paper and pen from a pocket with her kimono sleeve, and, after moving the falcon to her shoulder, wrote in hurried scratches. She gave the note to the bird and instantly it flew off towards the Aimi clan.

Shino gripped Cho's hand tighter but moved their hands up so he could wipe at her tears, "I'm not…going anywhere," he told her firmly but winced as his side started throbbing, the insects he carried moving and he closed his eyes, gritting his teeth. Opening them again he glanced down and saw the butterflies and the butterfly/Kikai mix had emerged and was fluttering around Cho's head. The blood loss was making him foggy so he couldn't understand what they wanted. He just hoped Cho did.

Cho gasped lightly as the butterfly/Kikai insects seemed to 'speak' to her. She nodded slowly and the insects landed on the burns and gash. With shaky hands, Cho made a few hand signs that the insects had whispered to her and held her hands above the mix breeds; one about Shino's gash, and the other above the face/neck area. The insects started to glow and after a moment flew rapidly away from the healed areas.

Shino smiled at Cho, his vision still fuzzy, "I'm tired Cho," he brushed his fingers on her cheek again, "I'm going to rest, but I swear I won't leave you." Cho couldn't protest after that since the poor Aburame passed out.

Cho panicked slightly, but when she noticed that his breathing calmed and she could still feel his heartbeat, she calmed down. The Aburame wife gently brushes some of the black locks from his face and removed the broken sunglasses, making a mental note to get him new ones.

A rustle came from the bushes near by, putting the two priestesses on alert. When three men dressed in white traveling clothes and carrying a stretcher appeared, the mother and daughter relaxed. Cho continued to stay near Shino as the men; the healers placed him on the stretcher and began to walk back the way they came.