Ino's POV
News travels fast.
I was having dinner with Neji when the topic of Shikamaru surfaced. I perked up to hear it, "Temari passed giving birth, and Shikamaru is set to return to his post," Neji watched me for a reaction, knowing this would mean something to me.
"That is terrible," I replied honestly, imagining Shikamaru's sadness. "Is the baby okay?"
"Yes, a boy. He survived, even premature, and is in good health, no complications," Neji replied, sipping his coffee.
"Good," Ino replied, not having more to say about it. She had cried all the tears and shattered her heart after Shikamaru had left. Now, 6 months pregnant, her priorities drastically changed, and it had been none other than Neji who had come to her to protect her in her most challenging days. "I have a clinic visit today. Want to come?" I asked, rubbing my enlarged belly and smiling at him as we changed the subject.
"Of course," he replied, relieved I had not reacted badly to the news. I love Neji, and he is whom I need.
Since Shikamaru left, Chouji was the one to explain the reason.
I had taken a step back from my responsibilities as a ninja. I was not in the right mindset, and with a baby growing inside me, I needed to heal myself to protect the life inside me.
Neji was the first to figure out I was pregnant. He had seen it with his byakugan without meaning during our mission together. Throughout the years, Tenten, Neji's on-and-off lover, died a few years back during a dangerous mission. Neji chose to be alone with his pain, and when he realized I was pregnant, I suspected that I reminded him of Tenten, who died with their unborn child.
Neji's love was not passionate, but it was stable and consistent. He never made me guess, worry, or fear about his love and commitment, and it healed me after Shikamaru left.
(6 months before, after a dinner with friends)
Chouji had planned dinner with Sakura, Naruto, Neji, Sasuke, Lee, Sai, Shino, Hinata, Kiba, and me. It was the first time most of us were home in a long time.
"It was great seeing you all," I said, smiling and waving as we separated in front of the restaurant. "Let's do this again soon," I called as everyone went their own ways, only Neji remained, and I smiled at him. He stared at me and looked thoughtful.
I had noticed his concentration since dinner, but Neji has always been on the severe side. "See you soon, Neji," I said, smiling as I turned to walk home. He didn't say anything, only walked silently behind me as he headed in the same direction as me. I slowed so he could walk next to me in silent companionship.
He walked me to my house and stood waiting as I opened the door. "Would you like to come inside?" I asked, thinking maybe he had something to say to me since it was unlike him to walk home with me.
"Let's date Ino," Neji said after a long pause. I think my mouth fell open, to my surprise. This was not even on the list of everything I expected him to say.
"Come inside," I finally said, opening the door and walking in, leaving it open for him as I turned on the lights. My mom has lived in the main Yamanaka house since my dad died, and she retired from the flower shop.
Neji entered and closed the door behind him as he followed me into the living room. "Make yourself comfortable," I invited as I went to the kitchen to prepare some tea.
My mind was going 100 miles an hour, trying to figure out what was happening. "So…" I said, placing down the tea and snacks. "What did you mean outside?" I asked, getting to the point, knowing Neji was not the type to beat around the bush.
Neji stared me in the eyes, repeating, "let's date Ino, I cannot offer you what you had with Shikamaru, but I can offer consistency and protection for you and your baby."
I spilled hot water I poured into a cup, burning my hand. Neji caught the kettle and cup before I made a mess. And I hurried to the kitchen to run my hand under cold water. "How do you know," I called as the water ran through my fingers.
He was behind me, reaching out and grabbing my wrist to inspect my hand. He had an ointment in his other hand and layered the cream on my reddening hand, and the cream offered instant relief. "Thank you," I said meekly as he led me back to the living room.
"I knew since our recent mission; you were exhausted, and I used my byakugan every time I led ahead. When you fell from that branch, it's when I noticed," he explained.
I covered my face with my hands. Of course, Neji would have noticed. He could see and sense everything. I hadn't even known then.
"Then why would you want to date someone pregnant with someone else's child?" I asked, not looking at him. Trying to gather myself and my embarrassment. Is this for pity?
"I want us to be together because we are the same and can create something great together," he said so honestly, so sincerely, that I looked up at him, letting my hands fall to my lap.
"Do you want to know who the father is?" I asked, my eyes watering, considering.
"I would be," he replied too simply.
"It's too sudden, too much Neji," I said, trying to put this together.
"No, it's what I want if you will accept me," he replied.
It's been so long, I thought, looking at Neji. It's been so long since I could depend on someone emotionally to connect with me and accept me.
"I'm tired, Neji. I don't know if I can offer you anything like this," I wiped at the sudden unbidden tears. "I would need you more than you need me, and I don't know if it will even be worth it for you," I said as steadily as I could.
"That's not something I need you to worry about. If it doesn't work out, I will still be here for you and the baby. Let's try," he said earnestly, understanding that we cannot force who we love.
"Okay…" I said so quietly that I wasn't sure he could hear me. I had not realized how much I needed someone until someone offered me exactly what I needed.
"Okay," he repeated, getting to his feet. He moved closer, crouched down to my level, and kissed me on the cheek as I cried.
Shikamaru's POV
I sighed as the Konoha gates came into view, finally home. I spotted a single figure leaning against the gate, waiting.
Smiling, I jumped out of the carriage, leaving Kenji in the carriage basket bedding as I greeted my closest best friend, Chouji. We hugged happily, excited after almost 7 months of not seeing each other. "Where is my nephew?" Chouji asked, looking back to the carriage that stopped at the gate. We walked to the back of the carriage, and Chouji looked at the small blonde-haired child wrapped in his cradle basket.
"He looks exactly like Temari!" Chouji exclaimed as the child opened his dark green eyes and looked up at him curiously. They instantly bonded as he snuggled the baby close. "I'm sorry for your loss, my friend," he said to me, and I nodded my acknowledgment.
"How did you know I was getting back today?" I asked, smiling, gathering my few belongings from the carriage. We would walk the rest of the way to my parent's house to prepare the cottage for their move-in.
"The Hokage let me know, so I volunteered to help at the gate today just in case," Chouji smiled, mainly focusing on the infant, who still watched him curiously.
"Thank you for the welcome. It's been a long trip. But I'm happy to be home," I said as we reached my parent's house.
"I wanted to tell you something as well," Chouji said as we stood in front of the house awkwardly, gently swaying Kenji, and he contemplated how to say it.
"Is Ino okay?" I asked immediately, my first thought always about her.
"Ino is doing very well. She is happy and has been dating Neji since you left… They are expecting a baby together," Chouji said, avoiding my eyes as he stared at Kenji. "I thought I should give you the news before you run into them without warning."
I felt my shoulders droop ever so slightly. But I kept my face passive. I nodded to my friend and held my arms out for my son, who had begun to fuss.
"Thank you, Chouji, for telling me," I signed, giving Kenji his bottle and heading into the house. I left without even explaining, and this is what I had asked her to do, I reminded myself.
Ino's POV
I almost turned and went back home. I stood outside Chouji's favorite BBQ, where he often celebrated his birthdays. Chouji was celebrating a birthday, and I stood outside with a swollen belly at seven months pregnant, afraid to go inside.
Neji would already be inside, he had wanted to pick me up, but I was running errands preparing for the due date. He had just returned from a mission, and I wanted everything ready.
Taking a shaky breath, I shuffled up the restaurant steps, holding my belly delicately. Then Neji was beside me, taking the present from my hand and placing a protective hand behind my lower back as he guided me inside.
"How was your trip," I asked him, glad he was here, looking up at him lovingly as he looked down at me with a small smile. He had showered somewhere before coming.
"Long, I was worried you would go into labor before I could get back," he said, touching my belly as they entered the restaurant.
Neji captured nearly all my attention as we walked through the restaurant, catching up with me on his recent mission. I did not even see Shikamaru stand and stop before us until Neji grabbed my upper arm to stop me from running into him.
I looked up at Shikamaru in surprise, our eyes clashing suddenly, and I felt my heart squeeze.
"Shikamaru, welcome back," Neji said first when I said nothing.
"I got back last month. It is nice to see you," Shikamaru said, looking at me as I broke eye contact and looked down.
"We are glad you are back," I said quietly. I made a small awkward smile and moved past him to greet the rest of the party. "Hi, everyone," I said, glad the interaction with Shikamaru ended quickly.
Shikamaru and Neji were still talking. When I looked back, I realized Neji had not continued with me. I sat next to Sakura, who made space for me to rest my feet, and I quickly merged into the conversation. Sakura was holding a newborn baby, which she introduced to me as Shikamaru's baby.
"His name is Renji," she gushed, passing the baby to me to take a closer look at him. I accepted the bundle and looked at his eyes so dark green, just like Temari, and his hair, a beautiful ashy blonde. I fell in love immediately. What a beautiful baby.
"He's adorable," I gushed to the baby, who looked at me wide-eyed. "Hi Renji, why are you so cute?" I asked him, not expecting an answer.
"He gets it from his mother," Shikamaru was behind me, smiling at them as she talked to the baby.
"Definitely from your mother," I agreed teasingly, feeling our acceptance. Neji pulled a chair beside me, also looking at the baby, pulling at the baby's wrapping to release his hands and giving him his finger, which Renji grabbed instinctively. Neji smiled at the baby, not being one for many words, but I could tell he also found him cute.
The rest of the night went on uneventfully, and Renji was a hit with everyone. Especially the women.
Shikamaru POV
Ino was glowing, she walked into the restaurant with Neji next to her and looked up at Neji, enraptured. They looked good together, I felt my heart give a painful throb, but I was glad she was happy.
Ino moved around me and sat with the group, and Neji stayed behind and held out his hand to shake mine. "She looks well," I told him, glad it was him, as I shook his hand.
"She is," Neji confirmed, "I'm sorry for your loss but happy you are back. Konoha needs their strategist."
I nodded, accepting his condolences, and turned to check on Renji. I found him in Ino's arms. She looked beautiful with his son in her hands. He cleared his throat, feeling the loss of that future with her. But needing the friendship to continue, "he gets it from his mother."
"Definitely from your mother," she smiled at me, teasing me. We will be okay.
Ino's POV
The baby was late just reached 41 weeks. My midwife had scheduled to induce labor this week. I walked around my house miserable, and Neji walked closely behind me in case I needed his help.
"Ughhhh," I whined, his hand instantly curving around my waist from behind for support. I leaned my head back to rest on his chest and closed my eyes. It was miserable, and the last month has been horrendous.
"Let's have sex again," I suggested desperately. Neji chuckled, placing his hands below my belly and lifting slightly to help with the weight. I groaned in appreciation; I was tired and wanted to meet my baby.
"Let's," I could hear his smile as he gently nudged towards the bedroom. He doesn't joke, so the thought made my heart flutter for a chance to forget all the discomfort.
That's when I sensed it, someone in my bedroom. I planted my feet, but Neji was already in front of me, on full alert. Two intruders had been hiding their chakras.
"Neji," I murmured, holding my stomach and sending out a call to my friends. This could not be happening now; they would have backup in minutes.
"Stay behind me," he said, his byakugan activated. Watching the two figures, stalking them through the walls. "Send for help," he murmured in his stance, concern lining his face for her safety. He could not move freely with me being so defenseless.
"I did, do what you must do. I will protect myself, do not worry," I told him, feeling my need to protect my child fill me with power as I focused on the two minds.
Neji gave a short nod and disappeared. Attacking first ferociously, trying to end it before it starts. The walls exploded with their fight, and I moved out of the way, keeping my distance from the foreign chakras as much as possible. Trying to hide my presence, but knowing I could not, with the baby ready to be born.
Then I felt them, our friends. On the roof, helping Neji. Coming in, and at that moment, I let my guard down, walking towards the living room to meet them. Shikamaru was the first to rush in. I felt relief as I moved towards him. He turned towards me, also taking a step, I opened my mouth to speak, but a hand clamped down over my nose and mouth, pulling me back against a body.
Shikamaru held his arm close, a long gash dripping with blood as he moved closer to my captor and me. I felt many chakras around us now, but no one would be able to get to me in time. The intruder rounder his blade around my belly as I stared in horror, running out of air with his hand on my face. My eyes rolled back into their sockets as sudden power surged, ripping a scream from me. My power tingled up my attacker's arm into his mind, emptying his mind and breaking it with no possibility of repair.
I sensed the blade still getting closer, even though my attacker's mind was now blank. I raised my hand to try and block the attack from stabbing my belly. Neji and Shikamaru were suddenly next to me, Neji's hand gripping my attacker's wrist with the blade, only inches from my belly. Shikamaru had removed the hand, preventing me from breathing.
Neji's knuckles were white as he gripped the wrist and threw the assailant back so hard he went through the wall. Neji checked me, touching my face, arms, hands, and belly, making sure I was not hurt. Shikamaru slowly released my arm and stepped back to give us space.
Neji placed a hand around my waist as my knees gave out, and water spilled between my legs. My eyes had closed, and now I slowly opened them. I was so afraid, and my water just broke. I am okay, the baby is okay, and we are okay. I kept thinking until Neji nodded to me, still looking pale.
I felt the tears of relief rush out; Neji sat me down in a clean chair in the kitchen. Shikamaru stood by me as Neji recounted what had happened to the team. He was bleeding, I suddenly realized. He had large gashes all over his body. The attackers had been very experienced to harm Neji like this. Shikamaru also. I glanced at him and caught him looking at me as well.
I wiped at my tears and pushed myself up, feeling a massive contraction. I held the chair and breathed. "You guys are hurt," I breathed out when the pain subsided. Neji came back to me and picked me up in his arms.
"Get information from the one I captured; the other one's mind is lost. It will be useless to question that one," he said before hurrying out of the house with me. Shikamaru followed us quietly to the hospital, ensuring nothing else happened on the way.
I groaned in pain as another contraction rocked my body. Neji stood next to me; blood still covered his clothes, but he had already received care for his injuries.
"This may take a long time. You can get cleaned up if you want," I looked up at his concerned face, holding his hand. The warmth made me feel safe, and he wouldn't let anyone hurt me.
"No, I will stay next to you until we figure out what's going on," he said. Nothing could move him from my side at this point. We were attacked, and it was a targeted attack by professionals. He looked at the door as someone knocked gently. I squeezed his hand but then relaxed when I sensed who it was.
"Neji, I brought you some scrubs," Shikamaru came in and tossed them to Neji, who caught them effortlessly.
"Thanks, I'll clean up quickly," Neji nodded, going to the adjoining bathroom. "Stay until I come out," he said to Shikamaru, who nodded.
"Of course," Shikamaru said, leaning against the wall across from me, with crossed arms, deep in thought.
"What are you thinking, Shikamaru?" I asked, uncomfortable with the long silence, especially in my current predicament of preparing for our baby.
"About the attack," he replied. Of course, he would be analyzing the incident still. "Why were they targeting you?" he wondered out loud, not expecting an answer from me.
"I haven't had a chance to think on it yet," I groaned as another pain shot through my body. I arched my back, writhing in pain.
He was suddenly beside me, holding my hand as another pain went through me. "Take a deep breath, and let it out slowly," he said, letting me squeeze his hand as another contraction rocked through me.
"Thank you," I said, the pain subsiding, so I pulled my hand away. He looked a little saddened when I withdrew.
"Thanks for helping us," Neji said as he exited the bathroom, not wearing the usual forehead wraps to cover his tattooed '-X-'. "We should be okay now. I have ANBU stationed throughout the city in case of another attack," Neji said, looking at Shikamaru, waiting for him to move out of the way to reclaim the spot next to me.
Shikamaru stepped away, giving Neji space as he leaned against the bathroom door. I groaned in pain again, reaching for Neji's hand and holding it tight. "Should I ask for a pain injection?" Neji asked, concern on his face.
"The last nurse said it was too late," I replied miserably as the hospital midwife walked into the room.
"Time for another check," the midwife said, glancing at Neji, who looked pretty battered with the visible injuries on his arms. Then to Shikamaru, who stood by the bathroom, "Who's the father?" the midwife asked, looking between Neji and Shikamaru. I winced at the question.
"Stay strong, Ino. I'll be right outside," Shikamaru said, squeezing Neji's shoulder on his way out. Neji nodded, but his full attention was on my pain. I watched Shikamaru leave feeling guilty. The midwife's question had struck too close.
The baby's father… It has always bothered me not to have told him the truth. But today, as my child is close to being born, Shikamaru had to leave without knowing that my baby was also his. And he would never know. I don't know why things turned out this way. But it is for the best, right?
I sighed as she checked me. "This is your first baby?" she asked, looking up suddenly, pressing the nurse button, and preparing things in the room.
"Yes," I groaned, squeezing Neji's hand again.
"You are fully dilated. This is very fast for a new mother," she explained to other nurses. A doctor appeared, looking alarmed and speaking quickly.
"Is anything wrong?" Neji asked, capturing everyone's attention with his sudden loud question.
"No, we just need to have everything prepared quickly. We must begin very soon," the midwife explained, looking excited, not concerned. "All her vitals are good," she reassured us.
Neji stepped back when the nurses fluttered around the hospital bed, checking iv bags and monitors and setting up tools. He watched me closely, reassuring himself that I was okay.
"Okay, Ino," the doctor said, now positioned at my legs. "It's time to tuck your chin into your chest," he said. Neji reached to my back and helped me lift a little. "Push during your contraction, rest in between. If I tell you to stop pushing, you must stop," he said quickly.
I grit my teeth as a significant contraction suddenly hits me, and I push. I screamed in pain, then breathed heavily.
"You can do this, Ino," Neji told me, kissing my temple.
I screamed through my push, squeezing Neji's hand hard. He didn't seem to notice, pushing the hair out of my face and cleaning away my sweat as I rested after the contraction.
"Ino, a few more times should do it," the doctor encouraged, giving his nurses instructions and waiting for the next contraction. I breathed hard. The nurses moved around the room quickly, leaving and returning many times.
I groaned in so much pain, pushing again when another contraction hit. "Ino, stop pushing please," the doctor said suddenly, focused as he looked at the baby's heartbeat, which had lowered in the last push.
"What's wrong?" I cried out from the pain, hating the fear in my voice. Neji, also concerned, looked at the doctor waiting for an answer.
"The baby's heart rate lowered when you pushed," the doctor explained, talking with the midwife seriously. Making a quick plan, "the umbilical cord may be around the neck."
"Okay, Ino, we will try for a vaginal birth, but if the heart rate lowers too far, we will need a cesarean," he explained. I looked up at Neji, terrified, and he looked back at me, grim but determined.
"It will be okay," he murmured, kissing my head.
I looked to my right as Shikamaru appeared at my side, his eyes wide with fear as he looked at me, pale and weak. "I'm sorry, I couldn't stand it outside."
Neji frowned at him but said nothing about it. He raised my back again, helping me to position as another contraction hit me hard, and I pushed, groaning in pain. The baby's heartbeat dropped slightly, and the doctor said to push again.
"One more time," the doctor said, concern lining his face as he saw the head in the canal. I screamed, grabbing Shikamaru's hand unintentionally as I squeezed the baby's head out with all the remaining strength. Neji and Shikamaru held my hand, lending me their support as the doctor exclaimed that the head was out.
"The cord is around the neck, and he was not getting enough air," the doctor said to the midwife, who pulled the cord away as they gently guided the baby out. One shoulder, then the other, then the legs.
"Here, clear him. It's a boy," the doctor said, passing the baby to the midwife, who cleared the nose and mouth and rubbed the chest.
I tried to raise higher to see my baby. Neji helped me, "why isn't he crying, why can't I hear him?" I asked, fear in my voice, struggling to see. Shikamaru moved closer to the baby and watched as they rubbed his little chest in circles, turning him over and rubbing his back. Then all at once, there was a cry filling the room.
Shikamaru's shoulders slumped in relief, looking back at me as I cried joyfully. "He's okay," Shikamaru told me as the midwife brought the baby to my chest.
Neji helped me back onto my pillow with my baby in my arms. I didn't notice when exactly Shikamaru quietly left the room. Neji cut the umbilical cord and held us while I cried.
I felt extreme love, like nothing I'd ever felt before. I rubbed my baby's cheeks as I memorized his face. His eyes were closed, with little pink cheeks and chubby arms. I touched his cheeks, feeling the softness. He opened light blue/green eyes to look at me, with shiny black hair. "He will have your eyes," Neji murmured, leaning his head on mine as he memorized our baby.
I am glad that Shikamaru was able to witness his birth, I thought, closing my eyes, feeling that guilt again. "I'm so sorry," I whispered into my son's head, feeling the tears drip through closed eyes.
Shikamaru's POV
Ino screamed in so much pain like Temari had. I stood up and paced the hall, hearing her pain. I have no business being inside, but my body moved closer to the doors with every scream. "What's wrong," I heard her whimper, fear evident. I entered the room just as they explained the issue.
Ino looked so tired and weak, Neji holding her hand and looking towards the doctor in concern. Don't die, I thought, automatically going to her side. "I'm sorry, I couldn't stand it outside," I said when she looked up at me. Ino pushed, and her hand found mine on her bed rail and gripped it hard, asking for strength.
I felt my chakra respond, lending support without intention. I looked up at her face when I felt the pull. She looked at the doctor as she pushed. Then I looked up to Neji, who glared at me before returning his attention to Ino and the doctor.
The doctor encouraged Ino to push one last time, and finally, their child was born. I moved closer when it took several seconds to hear from the baby. The midwife held the baby, clearing his nostrils and mouth and then rubbing his chest. The baby, a boy, suddenly cried, and my first thought was of how beautiful he was. "He's okay," I said in relief, watching as they brought the boy to Ino, and she held him as she cried.
I stepped back, feeling pain as Neji completed a family with Ino. Neji hugged Ino and the child, meeting their son.
I left the room, finally giving them their space. I shouldn't have intruded like I did, but Ino in pain is something I can't stand.
"Shikamaru," I was leaving the hospital when an ANBU ninja stopped me. He stepped close, "the investigation is complete. We need you for the briefing," he said in a low voice.
"Can it wait until tomorrow?" I asked, surprised they could get information from the intruder so quickly. I needed to stop at home to check on Renji.
"It's important, and the Hokage would like to discuss this immediately," the ANBU ninja replied, catching my attention. The news was important enough to get the Hokage out of bed late. I nodded to him and followed him out of the hospital towards the investigation building.
I entered headquarters and found Tsunade speaking with Naruto, who looked gravely at me.
"There is a price on Ino's head," Naruto went straight to the point. "The prisoner gave us the notice poster and let us know that they were not the only ones aiming for the rewards. It's a significant reward."
Naruto handed me a folded piece of paper with Ino's picture and details. "We believe it's in connection to our last mission. The translator escaped after we annihilated the target. We had not expected him to become a problem at the time," Naruto explained, turning to Tsunade. "We need to set up security for Ino."
"Yes, and send out scouts to investigate the source of these posters," I agreed. Ino was in no condition to fight or protect herself.
"What's going on?" Neji walked in, looking around the room, I handed him the poster, and Naruto gave him a quick rundown. "Ino has two ANBU ninjas watching her now, but we cannot prepare for everything. She must go into hiding until she regains her strength."
Tsunade, who had been listening, turned to Neji, nodding. "Take her into hiding."
"You can use my cabin in the Nara wood, it's hidden, and unless you know those woods, you cannot navigate through it," I suggested, feeling it was the safest place in Konoha.
Neji stared at me, considering, then nodded his agreement.
"We can't move her until tomorrow," Neji turned to Naruto, "after she is safe. What is the plan?"
"We need to eliminate the threat; we'll send a four-man team to search for the source of the threat. It may be a long mission," Naruto said, opening a scroll on the main table. "These are the instructions taken from his mind on where to take her if captured. We think it's the halfway point."
I stepped closer to peer at the map, "that's where we completed our last mission," I realized, surprised at the apparent location.
"Right, which is why we believe it's connected," Naruto said, "the team can include Kiba, Chouji, Sai, and I."
"No, they are not familiar with this threat. I will go," I stepped forward. It did not make sense to place other teammates that were not in the original group.
"I will go as well," Neji said with finality, "Sai is the best fit for this new team. He can help us gather information if he is willing to volunteer."
"You two have newly born sons. It is not a good idea to leave now," Naruto replied, looking to Tsunade for support. She shrugged and understood that Neji and I were the best candidates for this mission.
"That is why I need to ensure my family is safe," Neji replied, leaving no space for discussion. "Will you speak to Sai?" Neji asked Naruto, who nodded his head towards the head of the table. With his usual pleasant smile, Sai raised his hand in greeting, already in for the challenge.
"He's the one who conducted the interrogation, and he volunteered already," Naruto smirked, proud of himself.
"We leave in three days," I said, stepping away from the group. "I will see you at the front gate at 4am to leave while it's still dark."
I left the room, heading home to see my family and Renji and set preparations for Ino to stay at the cabin.
Ino's POV
I looked at Neji's face as he slept next to me. He had brought me to Shikamaru's cabin after I was discharged from the hospital. And stayed with me until his mission in a few hours. He looked so carefree when he slept.
"Go to sleep," he murmured sleepily, feeling my gaze.
"You aren't sleeping either," I accused, touching his cheek as he opened clear gray eyes to look at me. "I can't ask you to stay…." I said regretfully, feeling my tears well up for the 100th time in the last few days.
"Don't cry, Ino," he said, wiping my hot tears in vain. They just kept falling.
"I want to go too, but I know I can't," I said miserably. I knew that life was done for me for a while, I could not leave my child unprotected, and he could also be targeted to hurt me.
"I know," he sighed, accepting my tears, still brushing them away. Since the birth, I have felt many emotions I had not expected. Sighing good-naturedly, Neji came closer and hugged me into his chest. I buried my face there, snuggling close to be sure I did not forget his smell or warmth. After some time, we sensed Shikamaru outside, here to guide Neji through the forest.
Neji pulled away and sat up, dressed quickly, and leaned down to kiss me.
"Did he bring Renji?" I asked, also getting up and pulling on my robes.
"Yes," Neji replied, leaving the room to speak to Shikamaru outside. I trailed behind slowly, giving them some space before exiting the cabin. Shikamaru had Renji asleep in his arms, with a backpack.
"Hi, Shikamaru," I greeted him, reaching out for the infant. I had agreed to look after Renji while Shikamaru was on the trip since his mother was not in good health recently. Renji had breastfed with other mothers, and now that I could breastfeed, it made sense to volunteer to help when I heard of it.
"Nara ninja will stop by periodically and call out the phrase we agreed on to check if you need anything," Shikamaru said, following Ino inside to drop off the backpack. "If you need anything before they come around, just blow the silent whistle, and they'll come quickly."
"Yes, don't worry," I replied. It was the 5th or 6th time he had explained the plan to me. "Do you want coffee?" I asked, trying to keep them longer. Neji returned to the bedroom to gather his bag.
"No, we have to get going," Shikamaru sighed, leaning down and kissing Renji on the cheek as he slept in my arms. I felt chills, he was so close to me, and I could smell his familiar grass, a natural smell. "You were crying," Shikamaru commented, referring to my puffy eyes.
I looked away, embarrassed, not responding.
"I'll be sure to watch Neji's back," Shikamaru reassured as Neji joined us.
"Ready?" Neji asked Shikamaru, who nodded and walked outside to give us space. I placed the baby in a cradle and turned to embrace Neji. "I'll come back as soon as I can," he promised, hugging me back, brushing his cheek against mine, then kissing me.
"Be careful, please. Get back safe," I murmured into his chest, snuggling as close as I could.
"I will," Neji promised, pulling away and leaving the cabin. I trailed behind him slowly, making it outside to raise a hand to Shikamaru, who nodded and disappeared.
I am generally not so emotional, and I know the risk. But this threat is my new responsibility as a mother to protect my heart that is outside my body. It has taken an enormous toll on me, and now Neji would place himself in danger with Shikamaru and our friends to protect me.