Koishii (Beloved) Part XVII

By: Rylolynn

This is the sequel to Shadow of Hinata continuing after Shino and Hinata's first kiss.

Summary: 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.)

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.)

Warning: lovey dovey fluff, WAF (warm and fuzzy) prolly a little angsty too. Takes a different direction then the canon and now some fluffiness.

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

Italics: Thoughts

Koishii (Beloved/yearned for)

Shitawashii (beloved/dear)

Otosan (Father)

Previously

Here we go again she thought, wondering mildly if she would pass out before or after she would hit the ground.

She never felt the darkness claim her or felt the hard impact of cold ground.

Hinata collapsed into soft thick green fabric.

"Koishii." She whispered. "Can we go home?"

Chapter 17

Hinata enveloped herself in a nest of soft fabrics willing herself to stay awake. The warm blankets smelled like fresh laundry and she leaned into the expansive bed stretching out her arms and legs to take up as much room as possible.

Shino couldn't help but smile to himself. She looked just like a cat. The way she started off all balled up in fluffy blankets and then finally proceeded to slowly stretch and sprawl herself out with her hair all in disarray.

From his spot at the foot of the bed he quietly watched as a soft and warm hand found his. He gently caressed the pads of her fingertips. Hinata hummed quietly in reply.

"Just rest my shitawashii."

Bleary soft lavender eyes found the source of the beautiful voice that she loved and an easy smile graced her features.

"Hi." Hinata grinned a very cat-like smile.

"Hi." A deep and comforting voice replied.

"Sooooo…. Do you bring all your girlfriends to your place? Or just the ones that ask you to take them 'home'?"

Hinata loved it when Shino smirked.

He watched as she gathered up a mountain of blankets and patted a spot next to her.

"Kioshii, why do you have such a big bed?"

The young Aburame arched an eyebrow at her question.

"I mean other then the fact that you're so tall…"

There was that handsome smirk again.

"To entertain all the girls that I bring to my place." Shino deadpanned.

Thump.

A pillow he saw coming a mile away planted itself across his face and he made no movements to dodge it.

His smirk widened into a full smile that crinkled the corners of his almond shaped eyes.

"My father went through a 'carpenter/handyman/know-it-all stage' and this," Shino eyed the outlines of the ridiculously large bed frame, "ended up being the result."

"He had to get a king sized bed just to fit the thing. Of course he maintained his stance that he 'meant to make it that way' because he knew I would be so tall…"

"And…" Hinata encouraged.

"…and because I toss and turn when I sleep. Otosan said 'That way son, you won't fall off the bed.'" Hinata burst into laughter at Shino's perfect impersonation of his father.

"Really? You never did on our missions."

"Well," Shino faced Hinata fully his sunglasses safely away on his desk "you were there."

"Kuso, still making me blush."

"Hummm… a blushing girl in my bed." Shino's temperature began to rise.

"Yeah and how many of those have you had here before?!" Hinata elevated voice was a whole octave higher. Her face winced slightly as she hurt her finger jabbing the massive bed.

The offending hand was captured by large warm Aburame hands to be brought up to Shino's lips for a reverent kiss.

"You're cute when you're jealous."

"Jealous? Who's jealous? Kiba's truly right about you. You've never had a girl before. I have nothing to be jealous for. You're just a 'bug-wielding prude.'"

It was Shino's turn to laugh as Hinata made a terrible impersonation of their dog loving teammate.

"…had a girl before?" He repeated her words.

A searing heat crossed Hinata's once pale face.

"I-I meant…"

"Hinata." Shino wrapped his arms around the blushing girl in his bed. "You're too easy."

The young Aburame made no movements as Hinata pinched him in his side.

"Too easy to tease, what did you think I mean?"

A small hand wrapped around Shino's tall collar and pulled him down into the bed so that he was flush against Hinata. His whole body responded in an Aburame version of a blush his skin was searing hot to the touch.

"Now who's easy?"

Shino hid his face in the curve of his captor's neck and inhaled her feminine scent. His hot breath made her tremble slightly.

"Are you cold?"

"N-No, I j-just think you're really hot."

Hinata could feel Shino's smirk on her delicate neck.

"So, do your kikai blush for you when your temperature rises?" The flustered Huuyga added before Shino could come back with a smug quip about how "hot he was."

"Would you like to see?" Shino rested his head on Hinata's small shoulder.

"Honestly, I do not know." He thoughtfully added ready to summon a single kikai for her to inspect.

"Please, come here." Hinata beckoned, and a small scout landed on her extended finger. It was surprisingly warm to the touch and was vibrating as though it was silently humming.

Shino's eyebrows furrowed slightly as the kikai danced on the end of Hinata's fingertip.

"Well, he doesn't look like he's blushing, but he certainly seems happy." Seeing Shino's hair sticking up in all directions Hinata placed the little scout on a wayward lick of hair.

"Hinata-chan, you don't have to pretend." Shino's voice turned grave.

"Pretend?" Small hands traced the outlines of Shino's solemn face. "I'm not pretending."

"I have failed you, I have not protected you-I need to save you." He thought silently to himself.

"Shino-kun. Stop. You are my everything. You have not failed me." Hinata entwined her fingers in his wild hair and smothered his doubts in gentle and needy kisses.

"All I need is you." Hinata's possessive embrace tightened around her koishii.

"Please don't leave me…stay with me…"

"I'm not going anywhere."

"I mean…be with me…always." Shino inhaled slowly. "Hyuuga Hinata, I want you to be my family. I want…what is not possible."

A/n: (looks left and right) No Kiba?

Good because I don't think he'd like me referring to Hinata as a cat. Oh no, not a cat… that is like a bad word. So does Shino finally see Hinata's tattoo? Or get what he believes is "not possible?"

Please review I'm having a bad day and it would really cheer me up. Then I'll be inspired to update faster. (bribe, bribe)