Tenten grumbled as she packed her necessities. Sakura was idly propped up on the futon, watching Tenten's hurried packing.
"So, you're moving into the Aburame compound?" she asked, a smile on her face. She was happy for Shino. He deserved a good woman, and Tenten was definitely a good woman.
"Quit smiling, it's not permanent!" Tenten warned, as she cast a glance toward her door. Outside was an Aburame guard. Shibi had assigned him to help her retrieve her things and return to the manor.
"Oh, I passed him on my way in," Sakura waved her hand toward the entrance. "Tall, face completely hidden, dark glasses, overdressed...an Aburame for sure!" she giggled.
Tenten smiled in acknowledgment, her face suddenly falling in frustration as realization sunk in. "I didn't sign up for this," she sighed, plopping down on next to Sakura.
"I know," Sakura replied, patting Tenten's hand. "These things...tend to happen," she said thoughtfully, as if to an invisible presence.
"Thanks for your advice, Sakura. Really." the dark-haired kunoichi replied. "For all of it!"
"What are friends for?" Sakura nodded solemnly.
"Where is Kushina?" Tenten asked, as she folded the last of her clothing. She knew that in a matter of months, none of this would fit her anyhow. It was silly to pack any of it.
"My mother's house," the pink-haired woman sighed. "A much needed break."
"Is Naruto busy with his training with the Hokage?" Tenten pointedly asked.
Sakura shrugged, they hadn't really spoken much about his future goal of becoming Hokage. "He's just learning the basics. You know, Naruto needs a few trips around the block to get the hang of things."
Tenten understood, "He'll be a great Hokage someday."
"I know," Sakura smiled tenderly. "I know."
"So, what's it like," Tenten looked at her still-flat abdomen, "being a mom?"
"It's different," the new mother admitted. "Eh," she waved her hand, "you'll see, soon enough."
Tenten gulped, she wasn't sure what to expect from this pregnancy. She had told Sakura of the interaction she had with Shino before he left for his current mission. Sakura had merely nodded, saying that she had long suspected that Shino still pined for the mother he had lost during his childhood. Tenten's conversation with Shibi confirmed those suspicions. Still, Tenten was anxious about telling Shino.
"What if he doesn't accept it? What if he doesn't want me?" Tenten whispered.
"How could you even say that?" Sakura sat up. "Tenten, I've seen the way he looks at you--"
"He wears sunglasses, Sakura!" Tenten interjected.
"We jonin are trained to read facial expressions, body posture, and intonation--not just eye contact," Sakura tsk-ed her. "I can tell."
"But what if..." she trailed off.
"Just give him time," Sakura advised. "That's all you can do."
Tenten nodded. Time. She didn't know what to think or how to feel. The buzzing insect that flew in front of her face caught her attention. She used her hand to wave it from her view. Her face turned slightly pink as she turned her head toward the closed door.
"Are you spying on me? I'm going as fast as I can!" she hissed at the waiting guard. "Idiot," she spat, angry that she was being rushed. In her own home, no less.
Sakura guffawed, falling backward on the futon in a fit of giggles, while Tenten shook her head. She looked at Sakura, her eyes showing her misery.
"You better come visit me," she growled, as she snapped her bag shut. "I'll go crazy, if you don't!"
Shibi led her around the studio apartment as she stared in awe. Tenten had expected a tiny one-room studio, but this was beyond anything she ever expected. It was like a mini mansion!
"Do you approve?" Shibi asked, studying Tenten's reaction.
Tenten nodded wordlessly. She didn't know what to say. "It's...so large!" she squealed, immediately blushing at her immature, giddy response.
Shibi chuckled, rubbing his short beard, "Yes, I suppose it is, Tenten." He looked around the sunny studio, "I made it myself."
"You made this?" she asked, incredulous. She couldn't imagine Shibi performing manual labor.
"Difficult to believe, no?" he asked, a half-smile on his face as he became lost in memories that Tenten couldn't share. He nodded at the abode, "For Hotaru. It was her place to come and be alone. To think. She loved this place."
"Oh," Tenten answered, feeling sheepish. She didn't know what to say to the Aburame leader.
"It's far enough away from the main manor that you'll feel independent, but close enough that I can be of any assistance. I have sent a tracking bug out to alert Shino--," he began to explain.
"You what?" she asked, her voice gruff with disbelief. "How could you do that?"
"Easily, I sent the beetle out with directions--," he explained.
"I get that," she rolled her eyes, "but why would you interrupt his mission?"
"I merely asked him to return home as quickly as prudently possible, Tenten," he said soothingly. "I gave no indication as to why."
She groaned, this was already turning out to be a much bigger mess than she had anticipated. "What happens when he returns?" she asked, fearing Shibi's answer.
"I will speak to him," he replied seriously. "Then I'll leave you to do the rest."
"Great. That'll be easy," she complained.
She felt a hand on her shoulder. Tenten turned to find Shibi staring at her from over the rim of his glasses. His eyes were almost black. It was nearly impossible to distinguish his dark irises from his pupil. She held back a gasp. Is that what Shino's eyes look like? she wondered quietly.
"Tenten, I know you are worried, but have more faith in me--in my son. He has had a different life than you had. And I have been irresponsible in not talking to him about his mother." His voice was soft, and Tenten wanted to cry at his heart-felt explanation.
She nodded, holding back the tears. "Ok," she whispered. "I trust you, Aburame-sama."
"Shibi," he corrected, as he turned toward the door. "You are going to have to start addressing me as so, from now on. I forbid you to address me so formally."
Tenten just gaped at him as he calmly strode through the doorway. Before he exited, he stopped, his back to her. "After all," he continued, an invisible smile playing on his usually serious features, "we will be family soon enough."
He quickly exited before Tenten could hurl her shoe at him.
"Hmm?" Shino spoke to himself, confused by the sudden thrill of his kikkai. "What is it?" he spoke aloud. He cocked his head, listening to the singing of his kikkaichu. He narrowed his eyes in concentration.
A female! It was a tracking bug. He recognized the familiar presence of his father's kikkai. He felt his heart begin to race. Had something happened? Is Father alright? Tenten? He briefly thought of Sakura, Naruto and Kushina.
He saw the tiny jeweled insect fluttering toward him. He called out for it, as it hummed melodically. He was sitting against a tree, awaiting news from his recently released kikkai. It would be another hour or so before he received his intel from the tracking bugs. His mission was quite simple, but tediously boring. He was counting down the days until he could return home. Return to Tenten's arms. He smiled at the memory. He felt a faint flush on his face as he lingered in his fantasy.
The tiny insect perched on his finger. "Father wants me to return home? Why? He needs to speak to me?" he spoke to no one in particular. The forest surrounding him remained silent.
"Is it an emergency?" he concentrated on the insect's message. No. No emergency.
"What could he want?" he murmured. It was unusual for the Aburame leader to request his son's hurried presence. He sighed, leaning his head back against the tree. The rough bark scraped his scalp. He didn't like the feeling of anxiety that this message provoked.
"Anything else?" he softly asked the kikkai. When he was satisfied, he allowed the tiny insect to burrow into his skin, feeding off of his chakra. He closed his eyes, allowing his thoughts to drift.
I'll wait until my tracking insects return, then I'll take the intel I have gathered to the Hokage, he thought to himself. This was a solo reconnaissance mission, and he did not need a partner or teammates to help him. It was originally supposed to be a two week-long mission, but the suspicious activity had quieted since the Fifth had received intel that there were a few rogue ninjas roaming freely in this area. It was a two-day trip, and counting the two days he had been gone—he would have been gone for almost a week.
"It'll have to be good enough," he replied as he took a sip of his water. He sat quietly in contemplation as he awaited the return of his kikkai.
"You wished to speak to me?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow, questioningly, as she leaned back in her chair. She folded her ankles across her desk, resting her chin on her fingers as she quietly watched Shibi take the seat across from her desk.
"Yes, Hokage," he replied calmly. "I wanted to ask for a favor."
"Favor?" she echoed. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. It was not often that the elder Aburame came to speak to her, much less ask for a favor.
"Why? You may wish to ask," he explained. "I need some extra time." His answer was cryptic, and she was not following.
When she did not reply, he waved his hand dismissively. "I have requested my son return from his mission."
"You overrode my instructions, to my jonin?" she asked her eyes flashing dangerously.
"Yes, my apologies, Hokage, but I need to speak with him about certain issues," he offered. Hopefully that would be a good enough reason.
"Certain issues?" she repeated, obviously waiting for more of an explanation. She tapped her chin with a painted fingernail.
"Er...issues pertaining to his deceased mother." His winced as he spoke about his late wife.
Tsunade had never heard him discuss Aburame Hotaru; she was suddenly intrigued by his request. "Go on," she murmured.
"Thank you," he replied. "I wish to speak to my son...about certain events."
Tsunade sighed, "Is this about Tenten?"
Shibi was quiet for a few moments, as if deciding on how he should answer. He nodded, though it was barely detectable to the human eye.
"I know about her current condition," she answered coolly. "She spoke to me about it...as well as her future career." She did not share any more information with Shibi.
"My son does not know."
So that was it! she thought. "You need to soften him up?" she inquired carefully. Again, a slight nod.
"I see." She folded her arms behind her head. "This is apparently a wonderful time for all of my highly-skilled kunoichi to get knocked up," she smirked grimly. "Tenten had such promise, too," she replied thoughtfully.
"You fear this will affect her career choice?" Shibi asked cautiously. His tone betrayed his careful stoic aura.
Tsunade watched him with narrowed eyes, "You are not displeased by that thought?"
Shibi shrugged, "I do not think ANBU is family-oriented, that is all."
"I couldn't agree more," Tsunade nodded. "I think that it will be difficult for Tenten to continue as a member if she has a child to worry about. Or a family. It is not a bad thing, just a complication of the profession. I do not think that it would be to Tenten's advantage to stay in ANBU under those circumstances. I explained that perhaps becoming a team leader or instructor would benefit her more."
Shibi nodded his understanding. "She is very," he thought of an appropriate description, "strong-willed."
"That is an understatement," Tsunade chuckled. "She is one of the best kunoichi--no, shinobi--that Konoha has ever seen. She brings great respect to the women ninjas of the world. It will be difficult for her to adjust to being adequate."
"She will be well taken care of after the child is born," Shibi offered.
Tsunade smirked, "You are forcing her to marry your son?"
"I would not force her, no. But, it is against our customs to have a child out of wedlock," he offered.
"Snooty bunch, you are!" the Hokage scoffed, laughing haughtily.
"I like to prefer to think of our clan as...traditional," he smirked. He knew it was unfair, but it was how things were done. "Besides, they should have thought of the consequences," he replied seriously.
"Tea?" Tsunade offered, as she raised her cup to her mouth, hoping to change the subject.
"No thank you, Hokage," Shibi replied, not entirely oblivious to her efforts.
"So, this favor.." she trailed off, expectantly.
"I wish for you to tell my son that Tenten is away, on a short mission, so that I may have his full attention for the next few days."
"Does Tenten know about this? Shouldn't she ask me for such a request?" her eyes were slits as she watched the elder Aburame.
"I haven't actually discussed this with her," he explained. "She is currently residing in Hotaru's studio. A few kilometers from the main house."
"And you figure that is far enough away so that I may excuse her absence," Tsunade finished.
"Exactly," he replied calmly, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest.
She studied his odd attire. "Aren't you stifling in that?" she pointed to his heavy jacket.
"I'm used to it," he merely replied.
"Hmph!" she rolled her eyes.
"Well?"
"Fine!" she agreed, "But I take no responsibility in the events that occur between Tenten and Shino."
"I am amiable to that," Shibi answered. He bowed his head in respect as he stood to take his leave.
"Shibi?" Tsunade's voice rang out. "What does Shino think happened to his mother--I mean, how she passed?"
Shibi did not respond right away. "It was...is...too difficult to speak about. It was always easier to allow him to come to his own conclusion. I have failed my son," he admitted. "He has been allowed to carry the burden of his mother's death. I wish to make amends for this."
"I see," she replied. She could not fault him for it. She understood the feeling of losing a cherished lover. "It will all work out, I'm sure."
"Thank you," he replied softly.
"Oh, Shibi?" She was not finished. Not yet. One more question. He paused in the doorway, turning to look at her from behind the dark glasses that hid his eyes. "Excited for grandparent-hood?" she continued.
She thought she heard him chuckled as he disappeared through the double doors of her office.