A/N: I wanted to address a few concerns to Erokkinit--since there is no way for me to reply to an "anonymous" review. So here goes:
1) Why were you appalled at the end of "Unwritten"? Was it because it was kind of gory? I hope you're not dissatisfied with the story--especially after reading all of it! :)
2) Shino does not want a child, since it appears that, for three generations, the woman in his family have died as a direct result of childbirth. And he feels some residual guilt in the fact that his mother died while giving childbirth to him. In reality, that's not entirely true (as is told by Shibi, but most of a sort of 'between the lines' type insinuation)--she died of a medical condition exacerbated by the pregnancy. His mother wanted to have a child, after many failed pregnancies. She did not care that her health was sacrificed, only that she managed to give Shibi an heir. Shino apparently feels that he is directly responsible for killing his mother (though we know he didn't)--at this point, it's more of a psychological hang up, plus his fear that his family may be cursed. Thus, why Shibi wanted to speak to Shino before Tenten--since as his father, he never addressed the events surrounding Hotaru's pregnancy, desires to have a child, or death.
I hope I cleared that up for you (and anyone else who was confused). I really hope that I am doing a decent job at conveying that point!
Thanks for the lovely reviews! I appreciate all the readers and reviewers!
"I see," Tsunade murmured, looking over the young man kneeling in front of her. She leaned forward, her chin still cradled in her hands. A nicely manicured nail tapped at her chin. "Is there anything else?"
"No, Hokage," his smooth voice echoed through the large suite. "That is all of the intel that I have gathered. Activity was scarce, and I cannot determine any cause for alarm in the area."
She nodded at his assessment, sitting back in her chair. It creaked from the shift in her weight. "Very well. Consider yourself debriefed." She sighed. It was a wasted mission, for sure. "No pun intended," she added.
Shino raised an eyebrow, obviously understanding her meaning. She waved her hand when she did not get the desired response from the Aburame heir. "No sense of humor," she muttered under her breath.
"Excuse me?" he spoke softly.
"Nothing, Shino. You are excused. You may go about your business as you please," she motioned toward the door.
He nodded, quickly standing. As he exited the room, he thought better of it, turning to face the older woman. "Hokage-sama," he began, his hand on the frame of the doorway, "do you have any idea why my father may have summoned me back earlier than anticipated?"
"I'm not sure I'm following you," she replied, though he thought he could see her swallow quickly. He narrowed his eyes behind his glasses.
"My father asked for my immediate return," he offered. "I was wondering if you knew of anything that may have prompted him to do so..." he trailed off.
She turned her head slightly, observing his reaction. "No."
"Is...is Tenten safe?" he asked cautiously. His eyes watched her face carefully.
"Oh, yes, she's fine!" Tsunade waved, immediately picking up her pen. "In fact, she's away on another mission. Left when you did." She looked down at her paperwork, as she scribbled furiously. "Can't share the details. You know, it's confidential."
Something tugged at the back of Shino's mind. He could tell that Tsunade wasn't exactly being honest with him. Perhaps he would stop by his lover's apartment on the way to his father's manor.
"Thank you for your honesty, Hokage," he murmured as he disappeared into the hallway.
Tsunade caught the slight inflection in his voice. Honesty.
There's no way, she thought. He's not a human lie detector, Tsunade! She shrugged her disinterest. She had done as Shibi had requested. She had done her part.
In the end, it wasn't her problem.
Shino approached the familiar, tiny apartment as the midday sun began to beat down on Konoha. He knew that Tsunade had been holding something back, but he wasn't sure of what that may be. Maybe he was being a tad bit paranoid, he supposed.
He decided to send out a female kikkai to track Tenten's chakra. Just to be sure. He had done so before his leaving his post. That had been days earlier, and still, he had heard nothing. He had sent out a second, and third. None returned. He was beginning to feel warranted in his anxiety.
He saw the front door to Tenten's tiny one-bedroom apartment open. He picked up his pace. She must have returned early! "Ten---!" he began, the familiar smile on his face. He stopped abruptly, staring at the pink haired woman that exited Tenten's apartment.
"Shino!" she yelped, as her eyes widened in surprise. "Uh, er...what are you doing here?" She was carrying a bag of items. He tried to peer into it. Sakura could see his curiosity. She pulled the bag closer to her body.
"I was looking for Tenten," he answered calmly. "Why? Because I was concerned about her. That is all."
"Oh," Sakura answered. She hadn't actually discussed with Tenten what she would say if she happened to run into Shino. Boy, was she regretting it now. "She is fine," Sakura confirmed. "I saw her...a few days ago," she smiled.
"Interesting," Shino nodded. "The Hokage informed me she had been gone for approximately a week's time." He watched Sakura's reaction. He watched her face register many different emotions: confusion, comprehension, shock, embarrassment, angst.
At the moment, her face was bright red, as she thought of what to tell the young man. "I, uh..maybe it was a week ago! Time just flies when you have a baby to take care of!" she replied quickly, as she tried to walk past him.
His hand on her arm stopped her from leaving. "Sakura," he replied his voice was almost pleading. "What is going on?"
Sakura turned to look at Shino. She could see her reflection in his glasses. Behind them, the concern was evident on his face. She sighed, "She's fine."
"Is she here?" he asked, looking from Sakura to the entrance to the tiny apartment.
"Not exactly," Sakura answered hesitantly.
"What do you mean?" Shino was becoming increasingly impatient. "I do no understand why I cannot get an answer out of you, Sakura."
Sakura chewed her lip, furious that she had to be the one to run into Shino. Why her? "Look, I was going to take these few things to her. But, since I ran into you, I think I'll leave it up to you. You two should talk," she replied, smiling weakly.
Shino stared at Sakura, confused by her words. "I-I don't understand."
"I'm going to tell you where she is. When you get there, do not leave until you get answers."
Tenten glanced nervously at the table. She could hear the musical beating of the small insects' wings. "I'm sorry," she groaned. "I can't let you go!"
It had been a few days earlier when she encountered the first insect. It was more of a nuisance than anything else, entangling itself in her hair. She was about to smash the tiny bug when she realized it was familiar to her. Her annoyance quickly turned to panic. Was Shino spying on her? She quickly placed the tiny jeweled beetle under a glass cup, trapping it in a miniature prison.
One day later, a second kikkai entered her new abode. A second glass prison was set up. Soon, her tabletop was littered with tiny glass prisons, each kikkai angrily humming their disdain. She felt horrible for trapping the innocent insects. But, she couldn't let them return to Shino. Not yet.
She looked down at her scrolls, as they littered the floor around her. Her days were filled with moderate weapons training. Today, however, she was re-organizing her artillery. Every six months or so, she liked to go through the inventory, re-arranging her weaponry. It had a calming effect on her. Today, not so much.
Those bugs are annoying! she angrily thought to herself. What am I going to do?
She sighed, looking down at the scroll she was holding in her hands. Let's group exploding tagged-weapons in this scroll, she set aside the alotted scroll. And how about retracting weapons on this one? When she was satisfied with the categorization of her artillery, she sat back in satisfaction, smiling at no one in particular.
She jumped when she heard the door slam against the wall. She reacted instinctively, her hands going through the familiar handseals. Within moments, she was standing, ready to attack--a kunai grenade in each hand. A melee of other easily accessible weapons was scattered around her.
"Shino!" she gasped, recognizing the intruder.
"What is going on?" Shino asked, looking around the room. His eyes fell on the three kikkai that were trapped under the upside-down glassware. Tenten could see his eyes widen behind his sunglasses. His jaw clenched in anger. "This...you didthis?" he asked, his voice rising.
"I can explain," Tenten said, sealing her weapons in their respective scrolls. She quickly hopped over her paperwork, nimbly landing a few feet from the table. She hesitantly walked toward Shino, unsure of his reaction. "What is the matter?"
"The matter?" he repeated, incredulous that she could not see the problem with incarcerating his kikkai. "I feared for your safety! I went so far as to send my kikkaichu out to make sure you were safe. And this is what happens?"
"Worried about my safety? What for?" she asked, confused by his sudden outburst.
Shino closed his eyes, trying to calm himself. Tenten was safe, that was all that mattered. "My father sent a message for me to come home, and quickly," he opened his eyes, looking at Tenten. "I thought..." he trailed off.
"You thought that meant I was not ok?" she whispered, as she closed the gap between them. She instinctively raised her hand to his face, cupping his cheek in her palm. He closed his eyes, leaning into her touch. He momentarily forgot his anger and worry. It was washed away by her warm caress.
"I've missed you," he whispered, his eyes still closed.
"And I missed you," she replied, brushing her thumb across his lips. He sighed in contentment, his body unconsciously reacting to her touch. He quickly reached out, his hands finding her hips. He pulled her against him. She could feel his arousal against her abdoment. She smiled as he feverishly brought his lips down onto hers. She opened her mouth in response. Soon, they were lost in a passionate embrace.
He quickly lifted her up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He moaned at the contact as she brushed against him, her weight lending just the right amount of pressure. "You have no idea how much I missed you, Tenten," he whispered, his voice raspy with desire.
She replied by pulling his face upward to meet hers. He attempted to carry her, but only made it as far as the table. Tenten slid her bottom along the table, her legs still wrapped around Shino's waist; her arms around his neck. He leaned into the table, using both hands to prevent him from collapsing onto Tenten's slender frame. She squeezed her legs, pulling him even closer. He growled into her mouth as his hand slipped on the wood surface.
He knocked a glass cup off of the table, freeing his kikkai as well as shattering the tiny glassware. "Shit!" Tenten sighed.
The kikkai angrily flew onto Shino's neck, telling its story. Shino immediately froze. Tenten pouted, "Don't stop!"
Shino backed away from her, as if he had been burned. He stared at her intensely: her face was flushed and her lips swollen from the hungry kiss. "What is it, Shino?" she breathed heavily. She could still taste his lips against hers. She reached toward him, but he took another step backward.
"What?" she asked, her voice rising. Shino reached over and pushed another cup over. The the second beetle followed its predecessor. A third cup shattered on the floor, a third beetle confirming the others' story.
Shino looked around, as if for the first time. "What...what is this place, Tenten?" His voice was harsh. He noticed the scrolls on the floor, the blankets on the futon. Was she living here? Had his kikkai told him the truth?
"Huh?" she echoed stupidly, confused by his sudden change in emotion. She reached out to pull him to her. Her pushed her hand away.
"I asked you a question, and I want an answer!" he barked.
Tenten jumped, as her mind swam with confusion. "I-It's your mother's studio," she answered weakly.
"My mother's?" he repeated, unsure of what to make of her confession. He glared at Tenten from behind his glasses. "Why are you here?" His words stung her, and she could see the anger written in his features. His jaw was clenched with determination.
What had those stupid little bugs said to him? she wondered. "I-I," she began. "I don't know..."
"You do know," he hissed. "That's why you prevented my kikkai from returning!" He started to piece some of the story together.
Tenten lowered her eyes in shame. Her face flushed pink. "I'm sorry," she replied softly.
"Sorry does not make up for how you caused me to worry," he shot back. When she did not reply, he continued, "And furthermore, why are you here?"
Tenten looked at him, her eyes swimming with tears. For a moment, he wanted to pull her into his arms, and forgive her. But, something was just not right. "I have never heard about this place," he spat, looking around for a second time.
The entire studio was unfamiliar to him. The smell, the appearance—it was all foreign. He stepped past Tenten, walking through the cluttered mess. From the looks of it, his kikkai had been correct, she was residing in this small apartment.
"Shino," she began, her voice wavering with emotion. "I didn't want to have to tell you this. Not this way."
"Tell me what?" he yelled, glaring at her. "What are you hiding from me?"
"I-I...," she began, the words more difficult to speak than she had anticipated.
"Out with it!" He had never raised his voice to her before. To anyone, for that matter. He felt like she had slapped him in the face by not being truthful to him. He stepped forward, taking her wrists in his hands. "I want the truth. Why? Because I deserve it. You are on my family's property. You are living in my deceased mother's studio--"
"I'm pregnant!" she blurted, the silent tears streaking her face. "With your child—no, our child, Shino!" She looked at him, her dark brown eyes begging him to understand. To forgive her.
Instead, he stared at her in silence. He dropped her wrists, his hands balling into fists at his side. "How far along?" he asked quietly.
"Two months. Maybe more," she lowered her eyes, a sob shaking her body.
"Good," he nodded. She looked up, hopeful at his reaction. "It's not too late to--," he began.
"I won't!" Tenten interrupted. "I won't do it, Shino!" She knew what he was going to say. To terminate the pregnancy.
He stared at her, incredulous at her sudden outburst. He didn't know what to make of her sudden confession. He looked around the tiny space, taking it all in—as if for the first time. This was why she was here? Why the Hokage lied to him? Why Sakura hadn't been entirely honest with him? Why his father--
"My father," he began, "he knows about this?" Shino spoke quietly. His body was numb with shock.
Tenten nodded as she heaved from another sob. "I'm so sorry!" she whispered, as she collapsed to the floor. "I'm so sorry that this is how you have to find out!"
Shino felt as if he had been betrayed by everyone close to him. He had the sudden urge to retch. He looked down at the woman he loved, watching her helplessly sob on the floor. Part of him wanted to forgive her, to tell her everything will be alright. The other part wanted to run away—away from everything. He suddenly thought of all the responsibilities that having a child would entail; what it would mean to his clan. There would have to be a wedding. There was no doubt about that. He thought he loved Tenten, but did he want to marry her? He shook his head. You are too angry to think about such matters! he told himself. He could feel another surge of anger forcing its way to the surface.
"I see," he whispered. "So you and my father thought it best to conspire against me. To leave me in the dark about this...child."
Tenten looked up, incredulous at his cold, uncaring nature. "You are not serious?" she gasped. "How could you think that?" He did not look at her, only staring at the far wall. Tenten pushed herself to her feet.
"I went to your father because I didn't know what else to do!" her voice was rising, combined with both panic and frustration. "You tell me you don't want children--"
"I don't!" he hissed. "Do you know what it means to the women in my clan? My lineage? For three generations, childbirth has killed the mother. My great-grandmother, my grandmother, and my own mother!"
Tenten shook her head, understanding his frustration. "It's not your fault," she whispered, reaching out to touch his face. He grabbed her wrist, pushing her hand away. Tenten smiled weakly, "I know that you are upset, but I needed to talk to someone."
"Then why not me?" he asked, his voice laced with hurt. His anger momentarily disappeared, replaced with terror and yearning.
"Because you were adamant about not having children," she replied, her voice wavering. "I thought that maybe your father could advise me."
"So lying to me was the only way to accomplish that?" he seethed. As he walked past Tenten. He could hear her sharp intake of breath.
"Shino, we didn't lie--," she began.
"I do not wish to hear anymore, Tenten. I will speak to my father," he replied gruffly. "As you so wish!"
Before she could say anything more, Shino disappeared through the door, leaving a distraught Tenten to wonder if she could have done this any differently.
Would it have made a difference? she wondered, as the tears silently slipped down her face. Her life had suddenly gone from confusing to an utter mess.