Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad! and those are the only two languages that i speak....so yeah. i hope that santa was good to everyone... and for those of you who work retail, you survived!!! but if you work at old navy and jc penny, i'll see you bright and early. also is it wrong for me to play my kid's dr. layton's diabolical box game more than he is? and the boys were so happy with their wii....and as i suspected the eldest took it to his room. but the two younger boys were happy with their bikes and my youngest was estatic over his jabbawookeez mask/gloves/hat/t-shirt set. we don't over do santa....three gifts and that's it and the wii was a combined gift for all of them.
i also think i have watched 'a Christmas story' on tbs about four times, but that is a traditional Christmas for me.
anyway i hope this next chapter makes sense. rememer these are random memories that sakura and shino are having. i'm a little hopped up on Christmas candy and didn't edit as much.
oh and revolutinary girl saffron gave me the best gift, an update on her kibaxshino story, 'shameless' and fadingmoonlight updated 'when did my life become a soap opera,' the kibaxshikamaru story....awh kiba.
and bunny....i went to dump my spam box...and you reply was there with a lovely attachment that i need to read ;) thanks!
CHAPTER THREE Glow and Swords.
The meal set before her was as extravagant as one would expect for a future queen. Sakura merely picked at the food, not really hungry, but needing an activity to occupy her time. Soon night would completely take over the sky and her time of freedom would end. The only part of this day she looked forward to was being reunited with her family. It had been a month since she'd seen her mother, father, and brother. She wondered if he was still angry with her.
Sakura and her mother served the meal to her dad and brother of two years younger.
"Sakura is fourteen now," her father began. He looked at her with both sadness and pride. "Soon there will be a suitor on my doorstep. How will I handle that?"
Sakura felt a blush cover her face at the words of her father.
"As if anyone would find her attractive enough," the youngest Haruno replied before digging into his food. Ganelon was at twelve years old already four inches taller than his sister, with his body starting to develop into that of a well built man. His darker pink hair was pulled into a ponytail. With handsome features, and his confident as always voice, the blue eyes he shared with his father narrowed in on his sister. "That forehead, and body, plus freakish strength, like some sort of sorceress. I would not sweep the doorstep in anticipation."
Sakura had two months prior develop a large amount of strength that amazed her friends. It wasn't just that, but Ganelon had cut her by accident when they were playing around, but no wound appeared. Sakura begged him to keep that information a secret.
"Ganelon," his mother motioned to smack the back of his head. The green eyes that were passed on to her daughter glared at her son. "Do not talk of your sister that way."
"It is true. My poor spinster sister will be living with me and my family," he reached for his glass of water.
"Then I shall make sure to prepare your food for you daily with something to help you sleep into the next world," the eldest child sneered.
"As if any poison could improve the taste of a meal created by your hand." Ganelon chuckled, but the noise died when his father cleared his throat.
"Ganelon, you should not speak so unflattering of your sister." Tarek Haruno reminded his son. "She is a vision of beauty just as her mother was at that age."
Sakura's mother turned her head at the compliment. The fourteen year old smiled at the love her father's voice held. A surge of hope filled her heart that she would one day hear the same in Shino's voice.
Ganelon grumbled under his breath the doubt he felt of that statement, but did not voice the opinion for respect of his father. Sakura knew in her heat that her brother was not being honest with the constant teasing. Truthfully she and her brother were very close. It made her sad to know that one day she would leave home and not have him there everyday.
Many nights had they reached across the small space between their beds and held each others hand when a bad dream plagued them. The blue eyed boy was strong and the promising swordsman of his age group, though he preferred to use a bow and arrow. His ability to create water and ice left him with a never ending supply of arrows. He shared no talent of tailoring that his father or mother held, and found an apprenticeship with Shikamaru's father on his farm. It was also no secret that he was quite infatuated with Ino's younger sister, Gracia. Of the boys in his age group he'd, made it clear that he would be the one to court her. As far as Sakura had seen, none had challenged him in this.
For this reason, Sakura was sure of her decision when Aidric and his men entered the village. Ganelon had his destiny, and Sakura was sure she was following hers.
Looking out at the sun subtle shift from day to night, Sakura's mind floated to the day that was the root cause of her current situation. The day she her powers revealed their true self.
She had just celebrated her fourteenth birthday, and was excited to reach the training field with her classmates. Ino met her at the gate of her home and the two walked together. Each smiling at the discussion of their crushes. Ino had kept it a secret from her parents and younger sister of her feelings for Chouji. She was to have an arranged marriage and feared jinxing the pairing. Though when with her closest friend, she had no trouble letting herself smile and blush at the idea of being his bride. Sakura had taken some time to tell Ino of her feelings for Shino, for fear she would say the other was out of her grasp.
Sakura loved to listen to his voice as he read prose in front of the class. The smooth rhythm it possessed made her want to her him read each time there was a lesson. Small observations he shared of nature and science. His swift and powerful use of weapons. From the age of thirteen, she'd secretly liked him and was completely unsure of how to get his attention. She wasn't even sure he would consider her. Unlike Ino, her parents gave her the freedom of choice for her husband. With Naruto and Lee making nearly weekly confessions to her, she was sure he would never take the first step, if that was what he wanted.
Aside from the large amount of confidence Shino possessed in every other subject, he was extremely shy. That at least was the tidbit of information Kiba had given her. To Sakura's despair, Kiba overheard her secret as she spilled to Ino. The Inuzuka was transformed into a dog running wildly with his large white wolf companion, Akamaru. After the two girls threatened him with loss of limb and life, he swore to keep the secret from his closest friend.
The two girls approached the field and walked over to Hinata to continue their discussion. Iruka was being particularly hard on the group. Pushing the boys to fight with not only their weapons, but their abilities. For the girls he was more aggressive to the point of frightening them. The threesome knew something was wrong, but could not be sure. There were more whispers among the men, and now the boys were included in meetings held with the elders.
Sakura watched as Lee and Naruto fought one another, Lee having the upper hand since Naruto feared releasing fire from his fingertips inside the village. A messenger from the next country arrived at full speed looking for the elder Sarutobi. While rounding the path, a squirrel frightened his horse, causing it to buck him from the saddle.
Gasping in horror, Ino and Hinata stood looking the man's head connect with the rock on the ground. Sakura could see the small, black creatures of death crawling over him. Immediately she began running toward him. The others behind her, looked on shocked, when Sakura began to push a green aura from her hands to the wound on his head.
Blinking she saw the creatures start to move faster. Harder she pushed the glow from her hands, and it grew covering her arms in the radiant heat. Had she been asked what she was doing, she would not be able to answer. This was pure instinct, and the faster she pushed, the less the animals worked.
The whispering of her classmates was ignored, and she could only focus on the noise of the death demons. Iruka sent Lee for the village healer. At six minutes, two of the three elders returned with Lee and ordered everyone to the small classroom. The Aburame reluctant to leave his crush there stayed until called by name to leave. Iruka pulled him along, and began the lesson of their mathematics curriculum. Though each of the nine students waited anxiously for Sakura to return to the classroom, they knew she would not. Being a healer was a serious power.
For two days she remained absent from lessons. None of the other students of younger ages questioned her absence, assuming she was home assisting her mother with her apprenticeship. On the third day, Iruka sent all the other children home, leaving the nine students of Sakura's age. The elders entered the room, with Sakura trailing behind. Her eyes were puffy from crying, and her skin pale and sickly. Shino's first reaction was that she had been harmed, but she gave a small soft smile to her friends that reassured him.
The three elders stopped in front of the classroom looking at the group. Sarutobi spoke for them as he normally did.
"Each of you witnessed Sakura's healing ability. While we are grateful she is able to help so many, it does not come without sacrifice," the older man paused. Remembering the death of the healer Shizune, not just three years previously.
"Initially I wanted to remove this from your memories, but she is quite headstrong and felt this burden was for each of you to bare," he clasped his hands together and walked around the lectern. The white haired man was able to adjust the memory of a person. "This means carrying her secret and protecting her. All others with knowledge of this have already been adjusted, aside from her parents. If you feel this is too much for you then please allow me to help you forget. There are no repercussions, for this is a heavy burden."
Shino looked at the girl he loved. He had not formally confessed to her, but after skating with her, he found her taking over his mind. Before this fact was revealed Shino would die protecting her. This information only gave him more reason to.
He rose to his feet and walked to the head of the class. Stopping in front of her, he dropped to one knee.
"Sakura, you have always had my life as your guardian. I shall not remove that protection from you." Shino spoke firmly. "In this life and beyond, I will be your shield."
Sakura's heart swelled with hope. Her face blushed deep crimson. This was the first step he had made to making a confession of his feelings. She could barely get the thank you to pass from her lips.
Naruto succeeded Shino, who was then followed by Kiba. One by one each pledged their loyalty to the healer.
Sarutobi looked at the group of ten. "I have known this generation was special. Each of you gifted in your own way, but will be the strength and future of our country."
Sakura exited the room with the elders. Her heart full of promise after Shino's words. During the winter the two skated hand in hand, now today he promised to protect her. Her petite hands clutched the front of her shirt, with anticipation of things to come.
Had she never took that step forward to help that messenger, would she not be here now? No, she had resigned herself. Aidric was a cruel man, who would have taken whatever he wanted from her village. Sighing she pushed away the plate. If the fates were kind, Ganelon would be with her father and mother. She was sure he would not let her mother travel without him. Their father was good with a sword, but Ganelon would truly only trust himself with his mother's safety.
Shino took the first watch of the evening. Sleep would not be easy for him, so this is what he could do for his comrades. Sakura's voice filled his head and pushed him through this mission. He touched the cool metal that laid across his lap. The sword that was Sakura's, the one he'd made with his father's help.
Shino wiped the sweat from his brow. He wielded the hammer down with a hard clang. The upward motion of the hammer stopped when his father grabbed his hand. Kiba was acting as assistant to the other male, with Akamaru sleeping in the corner.
"Son, what are you doing?" Shibi looked at the boy.
"I'm making a new sword for Sakura father," he admitted. He had not yet spoke his true feelings for the girl to anyone, but Kiba.
"Not with this material, it is heavier than iron. She stands slightly above your shoulder, would you have her wield a weapon she can not pick up," his stare intense. "Is this some manner of joke for the girl? She does not have any known power, and you tease her with a sword that she is unable to use? Do you mean to mock her?"
"Mock is the last thing Shino would like of Sakura," the inu laughed.
A dagger of metal shot out toward Kiba, who swiftly turned into a bird dodging it.
Shino shook his head, "No father, it is no joke. She is stronger than you can imagine. This material will be no problem for her to manipulate."
"Tis true." Kiba interjected. "She has a strength that shocked us all. Twice she defeated Chouji in arm wrestling, and I even transformed into a bear and she had no problem with defeating me."
A quizzical look covered Shibi's face. He rubbed his beard thoughtfully. "But she is so small. How could this be possible?"
"Of that I am not sure father," the metal wielder answered. His gaze going beyond their workshop. "I just know that the lighter sword that she has will do her no good. She needs this material to reinforce her power."
"Then let me look at your design," he reached for the paper Shino had used. Upon a whim, he continued. "And has Sakura given you payment for this sword yet?"
His cheeks warmed and brightened red, Shino mumbled, "No, she has not. It was to be a gift."
Shibi smirked, and looked over the drawing, "Then let us make it a fine one."
Shino looked down at the weapon he now held. When Sakura left, Aidric's men did not allow her to take anything with her, stating all her needs would be provided. Thinking of her there unarmed made him as well as the other's uneasy. Though she did have some power. Being a healer, she was unable to be hurt. Whenever he thought of her gift, he was reminded of the day he'd confessed his feelings, for it was the same time her powers manifested.
The elders had left the classroom with Sakura, and Iruka attempted to teach the group. Shino could not concentrate on the lesson, but only think of her. He knew Tsunade would return to the village to teach Sakura how to use her powers, but would that mean she would leave with the blonde woman? He needed to talk to her to find out.
He wandered through the village and to it's outskirts. His father and the elders were nervous of rumors that a ruler in a nearby kingdom was overpowering smaller countries. For this he and his friends were training harder to be prepared. As the village started to fade he traveled a familiar path. One often taken by he and the others to their own training area. Thinking of Sakura and her new discovery, he wondered how she was. After leaving the small classroom, he was unable to see her again. He had hoped to visit with her, but her parents were not home to allow it her brother informed him.
Thinking his mind was playing tricks on him, he blinked looking at the blur of pink in the top branches of the tree than overlooked the lake. Hoping up two branches, he walked beside her.
"You are here without a weapon," he questioned. His voice serious and deep, with his sword drawn and at her throat.
"Shino," she whispered taken off guard, her head snapping up. Clumsily her hand went to her side, where her sword should have been.
"Had I been an invader, you would be a captive or dead." Shino removed the cool metal from her throat.
"I left without thinking." Sakura responded. Her face flushed with embarrassment at being taken so easily. "I have had more than one sleepless night."
"That is no excuse, your safety is of great importance to us all," he sat beside her. His face turning to hers, "I am unable to see a world in which you do not exist."
With those words spoken, Shino turned back to look out over the horizon.
"I shall, be more careful," she looked down at the rocks that were in her lap. She picked up one to skim across the edge of the water.
"How did you know you could heal that man," he asked after several moments of silence.
Sakura's feet swung back and forth. "I don't know. There was something inside me that pushed me toward him."
Shino rubbed his fingers together, producing a smooth metal pebble for her. His hand lingered atop hers for a moment.
"I thought, I thought, I could only see those death demons. Then the strength came, and the fact that I never got hurt or sick," she swallowed hard. "I guess that's a part it all. Healing, death, my weird strength."
"Did they hurt you?" Shino asked her. Elders or not, Sakura would be the catalyst for Shino to start a war.
She tossed the metal stone into the lake. Her strength making it travel further than any other girl could.
"No," she shook her head. Tears filled her eyes. "They had query after query, and I did not have any response. It made me feel as though I were a criminal. For two nights they questioned me, and I'm just so tired."
Shino moved his hand forward to tuck a hair behind her ear. Then wiped the tears that slowly crawled down her face.
"Then rest," he moved his hand from the spot on her cheek, to embrace her. "Sleep, my beloved."
"Beloved?" Sakura's voice cracked.
"Yes, Sakura. I know that I am to speak to your father first, but I can not keep this from you any further. I have loved you for some time now." Shino abandoned his fear. "I can not be without you and your smile warms my entire being. I can only hope that you feel the same way as I do."
Sakura felt her entire being heat up at his words. Tears flowed faster from the green orbs.
"I do," she whispered. Her tiny hands balling into fists, to continue. "I have admired you, and only wished to be closer to you."
"Then we shall be. I will speak to your father immediately." Shino proclaimed. "For now, it is best that I see you home."
"But, Shino," she protested. The warmth he emitted caused her exhaustion to resurface. Being bold she leaned into his arm more.
"No, Sakura. Our confessions have been spoken," he shifted and inhaled her sweet scent. "If we do not have the blessing of your family, this could all be seen as inappropriate. And now that you know my true feelings, and your powers, I must ask that you are not without protection or escort again."
Without another word spoken, he lifted her into his arms and hoped down from the top of the tree. Walking her back to her home, he set off to the workshop he served as an apprentice for his father. Before speaking to Sakura's parents he needed the blessing of his own.
Shino looked at the night sky. A star shot over the darkness. Until his courtship of Sakura, he never held truth to wishing on a shooting star, but watching her close her green eyes and secretly saying her wish with hope, gave Shino enough to at least try. The Aburame closed his eyes and wished to have his love in his arms for eternity.
ok, let me know what you think...i'm not satisfied, but hey i'm waiting for an update on the kibaxneji story, 'uninvited' maybe i'll go bug leilita...