Koishii (Beloved) Part VIII By: Rylolynn

This is the sequel to Shadow of Hinata continuing after Shino and Hinata's first kiss. Hinata and Shino share an empathic bond that is tied to their feelings for each other. (If the premise sounds familiar it is loosely based on Imzadi.) Warning: lovey dovey fluff, WAF (warm and fuzzy) prolly a little angsty too. Takes a different direction then the canon.

Team 8 are now all Chuunin ranked ninja. (Timeline wise, Tsunade is Hokage, Naruto is away training, Sauske is a expletive who ran away with Orochimaru—basically a little before the Shipuuden series, pre-time-skip.)

A/N: Imzadi belongs to Peter David, Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.

Italics: Thoughts

Koishii (Beloved/yearned for)
Shitawashii (beloved/dear)

Okasa (Mother)

Oneesan (older sister)

Otosan (Father)

Now back to the story line….

Previously

Hinata traced the path of the flying sparrow and brushed the back of her hand across her eyes. "Aburame Hinata…"

Shino drew in a sharp breath…

The Hyuuga estate was cold as usual, none of lights were lit (not that Hinata was expecting anyone to wait up for her.) Pale moon eyes trained themselves on each silent footfall, her chest fought back the disappointment she felt when no one greeted her upon her return.

Her cousin had wished her a congratulation of sorts before he was sent off on a mission with team Gai. She figured he was in a hurry because he didn't talk long (well not long for him anyway.) A soft smile broke her saddened features remembering his words. Even though he was a Hyuuga genius, his social skills still needed a bit of work.

"You did well, Hinata. Train hard and achieve what you wish to accomplish. Let today be your path for future accomplishments, your dreams and goals your guide." She almost heard him say it then. "I am glad that you are heir and I am honored to protect you…" She did not know if she truly heard him because she herself could not believe it.

She wanted to hug him for his kind words but knew better then to make him feel awkward. Her frown returned when she tried to think of the last time someone embraced her protector and cousin.

An image of her uncle flashed into Hinata's mind. He was like a mirror image of her father. They had the same white eyes but had subtle differences between them that had made her heart ache. Her father's eyes were cold and detached whereas her uncle's eyes were warm and caring. He looked at his son with love and pride; her own father looked at her with disgust and disappointment.

"Shino, Kiba, Akamaru, Kurenai, even Neji I think…are proud of me….I'm proud of myself… but why isn't it enough?" The raven haired kunoichi felt as though her very soul was betraying her.

"Okasa would be proud." Hinata finally broke down into sobs that raked her body. Her crumpled form shook with each bittersweet memory that flooded her. When her mother died Hinata had shut out her memories of her. She could not bear the feeling of loneliness that griped her. Finally they would be ignored no longer.

Secretly she had wished that there was no distinction between the main and branch family. That her sister saw her more then just an undeserving heiress. That Hizashi not Hiashi was her father, that she was not the heir to the Hyuuga clan. That Neji was. That her mother…her mother…

"I can't even remember her name…I don't even remember her name…" Hinata collapsed to the ground letting the cold darkness claim her grief.

Shino had awoken from his sleep his kikai stirring with agitation. A flash of Hinata's face etched in his mind. But he was mistaken. It was of a woman with beautiful long violet hair and large opal eyes, she was smiling but her eyes were full of sorrow.

Suddenly he felt as though he couldn't breathe as if a massive weight was placed on his body while his chest was being broken into a thousand pieces.

"OKASA!" he heard her cry. A little girl's voice cut through a winter day. But she was not crying, she was screaming. Her milky white eyes were free from tears. The world was oblivious to her pain as she wept inside all alone.

"HINATA!" Shino heard someone cry. Was that really his voice screaming?

"Koishii… your not alone, your not alone…his mind kept repeating…" Images of his own mother flashed into his mind, his own grief mixed with hers.

It smelled like sweet wet earth and a wisp of rain, like the promise of spring. Strong warm arms encircled Hinata.

"Shino…I…I…" her voice broke. I can't remember her name. She could not finish with words.

"Shhhh….it's ok, just be still."

Hinata felt the soft vibration of his words, the gentle rhythm of his heartbeat and his warm breath on her cheek. Soft fingers brushed her tearstained lids.

"I miss her."

"I know."

Scooped up in his arms Shino carried Hinata to her room and laid her softly on her bed. Her hand griped his tightly.

"Don't leave."

The stoic Aburame freed his hand from hers and placed it around her waist climbing into her bed and cradled his body to hers. His thumb made small circles on her stomach when finally Hinata stopped trembling.

"Never. I love you." His last thought he said more to himself then to her. She was finally asleep.

"Hinata-neesan!" Hanibi burst into her oneesan's room only to be stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of a hooded figure cradling Hinata. A pair of dark round glasses stared into wide milky eyes.

"I am Aburame Shino, from Hinata's team."

Hanibi shock froze her in her spot.

Hinata slowly blinked the sleep from her eyes and faintly saw the sideways outline of her littler sister.

"Oneesan! Oneesan! It is otosan…" Hanibi's breathing was rapid as her eyes darted from Shino to Hinata.

"What? What happened?" Hinata's voice was raw and she struggled to sit upright.

Hanabi pulled her sister by the wrist out of her bed and away from the double cloaked figure in her bed. She rushed them both down the corridor towards their father's room.

The sound of labored breathing and loud coughing reached Hinata's ears before her Hyuuga eyes reached the sight of her ill father.

Hiashi's body was limp under his covers only to violently spasm with each bought of coughing that would rake over him.

"He was so tired this morning, but he sent me out to watch your progress during the Chuunin exams…I told him no…but he insisted. When I came back he was coughing so I stayed here. I-I must-of-fallen-asleep-because-when-I-woke-up-he-was-coughing-up-blood." Hanabi's voice was an octave higher then normal and she rushed out her last sentence in one breath.

"Otosan." Hinata spoke almost hesitantly afraid to wake him up.

"Otosan!" She tapped him on the shoulder.

"OTOSAN!" Screaming she was nearly shaking him. Shino pulled on Hinata lightly so that she was facing him.

"I will get Tsunade-sama. Stay here at your father's side. We will return quickly." With a flash Shino was gone.

"Hanabi-chan I need you to find Sakura." Hinata managed to calm her voice down.

"Hanabi-chan go quickly." She urged a little more forcefully, yet gently all the same. Hanabi finally snapped out of her daze and quickly headed in the direction of the Kohona Hospital.

Hinata's pale lilac eyes traced the outline of her father's form.

"Otosan…I've been training hard…I h-have n-not been getting in anyone's way." Hinata's voice choked in her throat. "Team 8…that is…I…I-I a-am a Chuunin now."

"Otosan, Otosan, please, please wake up. I'll work harder, I'll train harder…I won't get in anyone's way. I'll make you proud. I promise. I'll make Okasa proud." Hinata took a damp rag from the nightstand table that Hanabi previously set up and wiped her father's feverous face. His skin was damp with sweat and his complexion was deathly pale.

Hiashi's limp body registered no signs of recognition. His weak shallow breathing was Hinata's only response.

Her fear began to choke with the feeling that radiated through the whole of her.

"I didn't mean it. I didn't want…this…I hated you. I just wanted…wanted…" Hinata barely registered that her voice was on the verge of screaming

"…wanted you to be proud of me, love me…"

"I hate you." Hinata's voice was a soft whisper.

"Haruhi?" Hiashi's said laced in sorrow in a voice that was scarcely a murmur. It held traces of grief and longing that Hinata's father never shown.

"Unemotional," "detached," "cold," "calloused" were all words that could easily describe the Hyuuga clan leader.

Hinata found his uncharacteristic vulnerability only shadows less frightening then his weaken health was. She found herself trembling in shame, because she had finally labeled the feeling that was overcoming her.

"I didn't mean it. I didn't want…this…I hated you. I just wanted…wanted…" Her thoughts repeated.

Had any time passed? Hinata felt herself step away from her father's bedside while the distinct feeling of being engulfed by a strong warmth that smelled of the ocean after the rain.

Tsunade-sama was tending to her father and Shino held her close. Hinata knew that if he wasn't holding her just then she would have fallen unceremoniously to the floor.

The fifth hokage was speaking words that didn't reach the Hyuuga heiress's ears. Hanabi's return was shortly followed.

Sakaura's short pink bob contrasted next to Tsunade's long blond ponytail as they worked side by side.

Hanabi's panting echoed in the quiet room. Hiashi's shallow breathing and violent coughs could be heard over the soft crackle of chakra. Swift movements of hand seals seem to contradict the deathly stillness of the room. Two of the greatest healers of Kohona stood side by side each other trying to heal the clan leader of the strongest and most noble Hyuuga house.

A man from the moment of her mother's death, Hinata had wanted dead in her place.

Hinata turned to hide her face into Shino's shoulder willing her nightmare to pass.

"Haruhi" her father whispered.

What will become of Hiashi? What of Hinata's guilt and who is Haruhi? Stay tuned for more…

A review will help answer these questions and more.

This chapter's bribe: Review and get a comforting shoulder to cry on (Team 8 member of your choice.)