AN's: Ahhhh, this has been such a long time coming and I thank you all so much for your patience! School's been a lot and I've been stuck in a rut trying to piece together chapter 28 of this fic. This chapter's nice and gooey for y'all before the angst comes :) (again some more *intimate* scenes, but I'll mark them with an XXX for those that want to skip over. I'm debating if I should up the rating of this fic, but it doesn't really strike me as "M" rated yet.)
Chapter 24: Seasons of Love
At last. The current class of ninja had graduated, and his weeks of late nights and minimal sleep were done with, for the most part.
Of course, not all of Anko's students from the first day of the entrance ceremony were present for graduation, lost during the course of the year as some transferred to the general education courses or moved on to trade schools. But they had done it.
Anko seemed to always look put together even though the Aburame knew she was likely working far longer nights considering it was her class being tested. She had let out the biggest sigh of relief as she debriefed and commended her students for a job well-done.
The look of happiness and relief when rookies first achieved their headbands was one Shino never tired of seeing. Graduation from the Academy was only the beginning in their paths to becoming full-fledged Shinobi, but it was still a victory to be proud of nonetheless.
The Aburame exited the building with a sigh. It always hurt to see them go. He knew his own time with his current class would eventually end and he would have to say his own goodbyes.
While Anko would have a longer time off than he would as focus would largely shift towards his own batch of rookies, it was still a nice present from the Academy to not have classes for a week, giving him his own time to decompress.
Shino amused himself with the beautiful colors of the falling autumn leaves, excitement building up within him as he made his way towards the small honey stand, thinking that it had been far too long since he had been there.
He stopped to look at her from the distance.
Shino had toyed with the notion that Mitsubachi's bubbly, extraverted demeanor fit the best with the warmth of summer. However, her affinity for plants and love for gardening made her a good candidate for spring, as well. She certainly looked lovely with flowers in her hair, like an enchanting springtime fairy. And as he gazed at her from the distance, the shine of her russet-brown hair matching the beauty of the orange and yellow leaves and the dusting of freckles on her face enhanced by the glow of the fall sunset, he understood.
His girlfriend was beautiful in all seasons.
She paused, as if feeling eyes on her. Once she saw Shino's form in the distance she smiled at him.
He didn't think he could ever tire of that smile. His heart skipped a beat as she waved for him to come over.
Perhaps it was exhaustion, perhaps it was the romantic air of fall, or perhaps their weeks of limited access to each other was making him a touch more poetic than normal, but his heart certainly clambered as his pace quickened.
The two didn't realize they practically rushed to each other before they felt the immediate—almost euphoric—effect of a long and loving embrace.
The Aburame whispered in her ear. "Would you like to go out with me tonight?"
The Kamizuru reached up to place a kiss on his cheek. "Done!"
They spent Shino's week off making up for lost time.
Mitsubachi finally got to try one of Konoha's most famous desert parlors and they both settled on ice cream.
While Shino himself was not the most avid fan of desserts, he did enjoy green tea flavored ice cream. It wasn't too sweet and he enjoyed the mild, somewhat bitter taste. His girlfriend, on the other hand, positively adored sweets, but had a preference for anything lemon-flavored.
Upon her insistence, they briefly swapped flavors and ultimately found they didn't enjoy the other's preferences too much. The Kamizuru liked regular green tea, but not so much in an ice cream form, and the citrusy taste of the lemon was just a touch too strong for the Aburame to fully enjoy without puckering his lips.
It was simple, wonderful bliss. They got to learn far more about each other's simple interests and experiences, able to enjoy and savor the presence of the other person day-by-day.
After a date to the movies here, a trip to the museum there, and other small activities scattered around their evenings—they even went on a double date with Kiba and Tamaki just last week that ended up with the two needing to be walked home after a night of drinking—the two eventually discovered that their favorite thing to do together was go for walks in the forest.
As they were strolling through the woods, Mitsubachi listened to Shino's past stories of being a formal Shinobi and the things he would do for fun as a teenager. He rarely had time for socializing outside of training and missions as a Chunnin, but the Aburame did admit that he used to enjoy frequenting Yakiniku Q and the occasional bathhouse or hot spring with his teammates, sometimes with the rest of the Konoha rookies.
He preferred staying in the woods and collecting insects above anything else.
When it was her turn to share, Shino was more than taken aback when Mitsubachi casually informed him of her former proclivities as a teenager. The way she described her Kamizuru sisters back home made it apparent to the Aburame that they were much more sociable than he would have expected for insect handlers.
Apparently, she actually enjoyed the ambiance of flashy bars and nightclubs. Not really to drink, but more so to dance and socialize with people outside of her home.
"Oh, it's much fun dancing into a tizzy! I mean, I haven't gone out in such a long time, but I miss the energy and adrenaline. My sister was the best at getting people to buy things for us..."
Getting dressed up, going out, dancing, karaoke, flirting.
Things… not so much up Shino's ally.
"Perhaps one day we can do activities like that together. If it makes you happy."
"Well, would you be comfortable doing things like that with me?"
His answer was honest.
"… Not particularly, no."
And so was hers.
"Then I won't be happy."
He shifted, suddenly feeling all too aware of how different they were.
"Are you happy?" He asked as they continued their walk through the quiet, unflashy forest.
She intertwined their fingers together, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. "I'm the happiest I've been in a long time, Aburame-sama."
"Even… if this is boring?"
"What do you mean?" She laughed quietly, nudging his side. "This isn't boring."
"It's certainly no nightclub. I apologize that I can't take you out and do exciting activities like dancing or karaoke. I… Well, I can't flirt very well, either. Your boyfriend is rather inept."
Mitsubachi could feel a metaphorical rain cloud casting itself over Shino's head the more he spoke. The Aburame really was quite sensitive, even if he chose not to outwardly express it.
"Well, I certainly like you a lot more than the lechers and pervs I've come across at bars. And there's a lot, trust me."
Shino didn't say anything.
Noticing the glum expression on her boyfriend's face, Mitsubachi quickly moved in front of him and leaned forward, pausing their trek. Her voice deepened, as though she were imitating a smarmy adult male.
"So, what's a pretty thing like you doing in a place like this?"
He raised a confused brow. "What are you doing?"
"Hopefully you if you give a fella a chance later on, sweetheart."
The furrow of his brow spoke a thousand words.
"Exactly," she said with a sigh, returning her voice to its normal high octave. "I would rather date a guy that can't flirt to save his life over the millions that flirt like that. So don't worry so much, ok? You make me happier than all of the nightclubs in Iwa combined."
His lips curled up as the clouds began to dissipate. He cleared his throat, praying with every ounce of his strength that his voice wouldn't crack.
"So… uh, I don't believe I've seen you around these parts before. Do you come here often?"
Mitsubachi's eyes flashed when she realized what Shino was doing. She playfully leaned forward and batted her eyelashes.
"Actually," her voice came out naturally sultry and flirtatious. Shino was surprised at how good she was at this. "This is my first time around here. I don't leave my mountain much. Why?"
"You should let me show you around sometime… sweet face…?"
"No, thanks," Mitsubachi said with a snicker before erupting with laughter. "I have a boyfriend."
Shino rolled his eyes at the way Mitsubachi held her stomach, but eventually dropped his frown. At least someone found amusement that the Aburame flirted like an awkward rock.
Mitsubachi ended her hysterics with a breathless sigh. Wordlessly, she reached forward and cupped the side of the man's cheek, pulling him down with her free arm into a deep kiss.
The Aburame was quick to his arms around her sides, pulling her close. He let out a deep sigh as his eyes closed, savoring their kiss in the privacy of the forest. He hesitantly pushed his tongue to trace along her honey lips, feeling the breath of her warm mouth open as she met his without fail.
The Kamizuru moaned in satisfaction, pulling away ever so briefly to gaze at the Aburame with dilated pupils before pushing them back together, somehow managing to become even closer as she wrapped both arms around his neck. He let out a deep groan at the passionate kiss, moving his hands from her sides to rove about her soft hair.
She was so soft. So intoxicatingly sweet. So wonderfully warm.
He let out a small rumble deep from his chest, their tongues exploring each other a touch more aggressively.
And she was his.
He was melting.
For the very first time, it seemed as though an immeasurable heat coursed through the Aburame that his kikai couldn't seem to regulate. It was hot.
Too hot.
His eyes widened.
He backed up, abruptly ending their kiss as he turned around, heart still racing and cheeks entirely too warm. He could feel the change immediately. There was no way he could face her like this.
"Shino?" Her voice was breathless and hoarse. Mitsubachi placed a concerned hand on his back, using the other to fix her slightly skewed hair. "Shino, is everything ok?"
He cleared his throat. "… I'm fine. I just—I simply need a few moments."
To his horror, he heard her "Oh" in realization behind him.
"Did you get an—"
"—I do not want to talk about it," he forced out. She said nothing.
Eventually, the Aburame sat down onto the grassy knoll with a defeated sigh, making sure to cross his legs. Thank goodness no one else was around.
He heard Mitsubachi take a seat, her back pressed to his as they faced opposite directions.
Her voice was neutral behind him. "It's completely natural, you know. I'm not judging you."
"… I know," he eventually replied in a hush. "However, I don't wish to be viewed as perverse. Developing—that—from one kiss."
"Mmm, it was more like two," Mitsubachi corrected. He felt her position shift against his back. "And they were deep kisses!"
He remained quiet, fixed on maintaining what shred of dignity he had until his current problem shrank down.
Taking his silence in stride, Mitsubachi hummed, leaning back slightly.
"Can I tell you something?"
"… Of course."
"I'm actually a bit relieved you got one."
His eyebrows furrowed. Even though he couldn't see her face, the tone of her voice didn't sound facetious. But that couldn't be right, could it?
"… You're joking."
"No! I was worried that you weren't attracted to me, or that I wasn't attractive enough," she admitted, her words slightly raising. "So your little friend helped ease my worries. Truth be told, I've never really done anything overtly sexual with anyone. I always hear about how 'it's a sign that your boyfriend is attracted to you if he gets an erection—"
"—Please—"
"Sorry—one—while you kiss."
There was a long gap of silence after the Kamizuru heiress had given her small confession. Her mind raced with oncoming dread, fearing that she had revealed too much.
Unbeknownst to her, the Aburame was considering one portion of her words with a deep frown.
"… Why would you think I'm not attracted to you?"
"Oh, I don't know," she said, contemplating his question. "You're always so covered up and reserved, sometimes it's hard for me to get a read on you."
He heard her sigh behind him, feeling as she straightened up so their backs weren't pressed together anymore. With the distance between them—physically the size of a nail but emotionally grand as the sea—a wall was being built.
A wall amalgamating false confidence, hidden truths, lies, and most impenetrable of the mix, their insecurities.
It was her turn first to try and break the wall.
"The first night we met," Mitsubachi began. "I was an emotional mess far, far, far away from home. And then you came along, and now we're here."
Crack.
"You always look so put together, save for the occasional sulking. I look up to you a lot, Shino. I really do. And I mean this with every bit of my heart that I think… you were what I wanted to find in this village. I'm immeasurably happy when I'm with you, it's a little embarrassing."
Crack.
"I get worried that maybe I was just a mess you were forced to clean up and realized you liked after seeing your handiwork."
Crack.
"Of course, you can always come to me if you need a place to relax or you need someone to talk to when you grade papers, and I'm happy to be that place in the sun for you. But truth be told? What I worry about most is that I'm this small, insignificant pebble in your vast ocean. Does that make sense? I'm not as big an impact on you as you are on me—"
"You are," he interrupted, making sure his words were clear enough for her to hear. He took a deep breath out, feeling as though his heart was contorting with the truths being brought to the surface.
Crack.
"You are, Mitsubachi Kamizuru. In the last few decades of my life, I devoted myself solely to my work and the duties of my family because it was the only way I felt I could ever be needed by others. I gave up on trying to be understood by anyone else a long time ago."
Crack.
"You have no idea the amount of blind dates I've been on, set up by Kiba out of… concern? Pity? All failed, mind you. The first night I even met you, I walked home sulking and—and miserable because I contented myself to lead a life alone. I had a date that night and she hadn't even come."
Crack.
"But with every blind date, I always went despite my outward disinterest. I kept chasing possibilities that things might just turn around for me. I walked along an endless gravel path hoping the end would lead me to someone that could listen to me and connect with me and… love me despite my flaws. I'm long-winded, awkward, quiet, and filled with insects, among other things."
Crack.
"I've never viewed my kikai as a flaw, but years upon years of judgement and averted gazes—being left behind and forgotten—made me realize that to be accepted, I had to hide them. But you?"
Crack.
"You're unreal. An impossible dream I never thought I would reach. You look at me and smile at me and touch me, and I realize that perhaps I am someone that's capable of being loved and desired."
Crack.
"You aren't a pebble in an ocean. More like… a sunny meadow of assurance at the heart of my unexplored forest of doubts. I've never been as attracted to someone as I am to you. And the reason I silence and reserve myself is because I worry I might mess this up."
Crack.
"… You unequivocally hold my heart in your hands. In a metaphorical sense, that is."
Though the wall of tension between the two of them fell apart—shattering loudly like glass on hot pavement—the silence between them in the present moment formed its own identity. One made of contemplation and swelled silence.
Slowly, the Kamizuru leaned back against the Aburame. She closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of the setting autumn sun brush against her face as she faced the light.
"Hold out your hands," she ordered quietly. The shaky command, the slight croak of her words, the heavy swallow for control of her voice made it clear to him.
Mitsubachi was crying.
He did as bidded. Behind him, loud buzzing broke the quiet atmosphere as a tiny swarm of the Kamizuru's bees approached his opened palms, morphing themselves into the shape of a simple heart.
"You have mine in yours, too. She's sensitive and soft… a touch impulsive at times." A sniffle. "But she's all yours, Shino Aburame. So please take care of her."
With a smile, the Aburame mirrored the action, calling forth kikai deep within his chest, feeling their small legs creep along his arms. It was a welcomed sensation. One he found comfort in.
As he cradled Mitsubachi's heart in his hands, enclosing the bundle of fuzzy pollinators with delicate fingers, he crafted his own, sending it to twirl in a dance right before her eyes. He knew she was entertained from the gasp of excitement he heard from behind.
He didn't want her to cry.
Shino struggled to display his emotions at times, but his heart always seemed to leap when he was near her. Hopefully this could convey that idea.
It twirled gently into her opened hands and with his heart safely cradled there, he made a request.
"He has a tendency to get dejected rather easily. And he doesn't like being forgotten." The man's voice turned unexpectedly coarse as his eyes turned misty. "No one else has wanted him before, so he's rather cautious. Will you please take care of him, Mitsubachi Kamizuru? You're the only one that can."
"It's an immense honor to meet you, Shibi-sama. I am nothing but honored that a person of such high esteem took the time to meet here with me… How's that? Good? Too much?"
"Not bad. Although you sound so formal, it's strange."
"Don't make that face at me! I want your dad to like me!"
"He would like you regardless. Actually he might approve of you more if you acted like your normal self. The air's getting colder; we don't exactly have much time before it's winter. Try again, except make the greeting sound more natural."
"'Hello, Shibi-sama. It's very nice to meet you…"
"You… want to go to a hot spring?"
He shifted beside his girlfriend as they walked through the bustling village. She donned a puffy jacket and scarf decorated with small flowers, her cheeks red as she felt the nip of the cool air signifying the end of fall.
Work days at the Academy tended to lull as the Earth began to cool, so Shino was no doubt enjoying this small outing.
Mitsubachi was in fact closing her shop as the winter months neared. Honey shops like the one she was starting here and the one her family ran back home were meant to be seasonal. From how she had described her ventures, it didn't sound like the Kamizuru even needed to be working in the first place.
Her stay in Konoha truly was meant to be more of a trip abroad with a possible start-up of a store in mind. Although, she was still adamant to work. Running her own store was part of her dream, after all.
Through the weeks, they began their planning for an official dinner with his father. He had yet to ask Shibi himself, in large part because Mitsubachi felt she wasn't ready to meet him. Nights at her apartment were spent planning on what she would say, how she would react to possible questions her father might ask, and of course…
Planning how they would go about informing him of her heritage.
That part was what was making her so nervous.
They had most of the matters worked out, but she still shook with frightful anticipation of the outcome. That was where their current conversation had originated from.
"I want to relax in a hot spring," she stated with determination. "I've heard the ones near Konoha are nice because they're surrounded by forests! I think it may be what I need to take the edge off. If you want to come with me, of course."
Shino considered her request with a hum. He had been doing that a lot more as of late. They could leave Friday night after his work was finished and journey to the roten-buro an hour outside of the village. An overnight holiday might be nice.
"We can," he agreed. "Although, I might not soak."
She frowned in disappointment. "Why?"
"I get too relaxed."
"Isn't that the point?"
"… It becomes difficult for me to manage my kikai. I've been banned from hot springs before. And a few restaurants."
Mitsubachi blinked. "Why restaurants...?"
"I accidentally ingested alcohol," he admitted quietly, a touch embarassed. "The clean up was not particularly fun."
"Oh, I see! Well, I have a trick to help you with that."
"Really?" The high raise of his brows showed nothing short of incredulity.
"I do! It's a small jutsu my mother developed. I would need to perform it on you, but the basic gist is that I lull your insects into a false hibernation so they're less active. I don't use it all the time because it does leave you defenseless for a few hours, unfortunately."
The Aburame looked at her cautiously.
If he wasn't so trusting of the Kamizuru, he would decline her offer flat out. Not being able to use his kikai seemed like such a foreign concept to him, and from an objective standpoint, sounded like a plan meant to entrap him if another person was asking.
Although, he did like the idea of being able to drink and soak in a hot spring without terrifying anyone.
A brief pause of thought.
"… Alright. We can go to the hot springs together, then."
It had been nice finally being able to tell Anko that he would be taking a trip away on his Friday night rather than just staying in. Out of respect, he informed his father that he would be gone to take a personal holiday outside of the village for the evening.
Shibi looked more tired than usual—his words coming out with a slight strain—but encouraged his son to enjoy himself. He waved off Shino's concerned questioning, blaming his mood on the change of weather.
They were due for their first snowfall in a few weeks.
Currently, he was lying face down on top of the bed of their hotel room.
Having a crisis.
Not over the fact that they were sharing a bed. He had become rather accustomed to sleeping in the same bed as his girlfriend after long nights in her apartment spent planning.
No, he was panicking over the fact that Mitsubachi had asked him so casually to strip into his robes so she could massage his bare skin. Save for the towel he was allowed to keep over his lower areas, the man was as nude as the day he was born.
Apparently, the jutsu was less effective when done over clothing. He felt the bed indent as Mitsubachi sat down next to his lying form with a soft hum.
Shino's heart was racing with anticipation, and his nerves were on edge. His kikai were no doubt feeling the effect of his anxiousness, flitting about in a desire to escape their host's body. Hadn't they come here to relax?
Mitsubachi gazed at her boyfriend's tense form, knowing without a shadow of a doubt that he was panicking despite his silence.
For the sake of making sure her Aburame boyfriend was nothing but comfortable, the Kamizuru heiress withheld a comment about how nice a posterior he had. That thought would stay safely stored in her mind.
She formed hand signs, readying her fingers.
"Now, it's going to feel extremely cold when I massage you. The shock of cold chakra through your system should force your kikai into a state of stupor, and then you'll be free to soak and drink as you please! For a few hours, that is. Ready?"
Shino nodded silently, placing his head into his crossed arms as he laid face down on the bed. A pillow was propped underneath him, as though he was about to receive a professional massage.
He winced at how painfully cold the first touch was, almost felt like a frostbite on the surface of his skin seeping inwards. To his surprise, the effect was almost immediate. He could feel his kikai's movements begin to slow until the normal hum of activity that usually resonated within his body shifted to silence.
Mitsubachi focused intensely, massaging through the muscles. She was glad the Aburame couldn't see how much she was blushing.
Shino was surprisingly fit! One would never think based on how much he covered himself, but the man's body was something a girl could fawn over. Something she could fawn over at least.
Not overly muscular, but lean. A bit on the thinner side, likely because of his more plant-based diet.
After 30 more minutes of her ministrations, the Kamizuru eventually finished.
The Aburame held his hands out with a childlike wonder, attempting to summon a few of his kikai but coming up short. They were all resting underneath him, and he felt a bit of loss with the change. The thrum of his insects moving about and communicating had become a comfort to him over the years; it was strange not hearing the consistent microscopic chatter.
It was nice, however, being able to soak in a hot spring like any normal person. It felt freeing.
The Aburame sighed in relief, relaxing against the smooth stone of the spring as pleasant conversation and light wind chimes filled the background. The hot mineral, rich water eased his nerves and relaxed the tension he felt within his shoulders as he sank lower.
His glasses slightly fogged from the steam of the hot water, but beneath them, his eyes were peacefully closed.
His ears perked up at the sound of his girlfriend's laughter on the other end of the bamboo divider.
It sounded like she was speaking to another younger woman.
"My boyfriend and I are here for a small vacation… really so sweet…"
"Ooh romantic… actually our anniversary today…"
"Aw…tulations!"
"… You two having fun later on?… know I certainly am."
More laughter. "Mmm, maybe…"
His face warmed and not just from the water.
Mitsubachi entered their room with a quiet hum. Her hair was still a bit damp, but her body felt so nice and loose from the soak.
The hot, mineral rich water of the roten-buro partnered with Konoha's fall scenery certainly did the trick to ease her nerves, but if she were to compare the springs of Konoha and Iwa, she would give her credit to Iwa. The land of Earth had the nicest hot springs by far.
Shino sat on one of the chairs, still clothed in his robes. He was perusing through the travelers guide to Konoha they were given when they checked in.
"So," she began, closing the door. "How'd it feel?"
"Honestly? Freeing. Although I do miss the activity of my kikai."
"You should be back to normal in a few hours. But until then…"
He looked up, raising a brow.
From her back, the Kamizuru revealed a small bag containing what looked like shochu and fruit punch. She grinned.
"… Do you want a drink?"
He hiccuped, cheeks warm.
Had the Aburame been more sober, no doubt he would have felt more conscious of the fact that he was indeed a lightweight. He tried not to make it too apparent that he was out of his senses, but the Kamizuru heiress could already tell he was drunk.
She giggled with delight.
While Mitsubachi absolutely adored her regular Shino, inebriated Shino was so fun! And so easy in handing-out compliments, she could have blushed from that alone, never mind the alcohol. This certainly was a night she was going to savor forever.
From what Mitsubachi could tell, she had definitely drunk more in her teens than what Shino had in his entire lifetime.
"… You-You really are so really pretty, love bug," he said, swaying as they sat before the traditional table.
"Am I? Tell me more, honey," she said, feeling more buzzed than tipsy.
"The way—the way you smile? Wow. Radiant. I could watch you smile all day. I adore your smile. How—why is such a pretty girl like you with an old man like me? It doesn't make sense."
"You're not so bad on the eyes yourself," she admitted, discreetly removing the bottle from the table and calling it. It was just about time for them to call it a night.
"But—But I'm so plain looking. Look, here—"
Just as the man was about to remove his glasses, Mitsubachi stopped him and shook her head sweetly. Not here. Not with drunk Shino. She would rather the Aburame be his normal, sober self and be ready to show her when the time came.
"Let's get you to bed, huh?"
She guided the man to the mattress, watching with amusement as he slowly maneuvered his way under the covers.
The Kamizuru placed two water bottles and a few tablets for the headache he was sure to experience come morning on the nightstand. Just as she was about to go to the bathroom, a hand paused her.
"Thank you," he mumbled.
With warm eyes, Mitsubachi leaned down and placed a kiss on the man's cheek.
"You're welcome."
"… I love you."
Her eyes glistened as she watched the holder of her heart quickly drift off to the land of sleep. A few tears fell as she quietly wept with inexplicable joy.
"I love you, too."
"Look! More snow," Mitsubachi said, eyes glittering. Her hold on his arm tightened with excitement.
Walks through the forest had become almost ritualistic for the two of them when they wanted to be alone with each other. The trees were left bare, their leaves long since fallen off, and most of the forests' natural insects had departed or burrowed underneath the ground as winter fell upon the Land of Fire.
Shino glanced at the small flurries around them. He let out a puff of breath, watching it cloud in the cold air.
His eyebrows furrowed.
He was not a fan of winter.
His insects became less active and harder to summon, unwilling to leave the warmth of his body unless they took a larger portion of his chakra as a reward.
It wasn't an uncommon occurrence for members of the Aburame family to flat out refuse winter missions because of the heavy chakra-toll on their bodies. Most of his family faced the cold seasons with uncharacteristic dread.
Academic lessons—his students ripe with energy and hopes of being able to enjoy the snow—made it almost impossible to teach, as well. Winter break at the Academy was probably one of the only reasons he could enjoy the colder months.
But as he gazed at the glitter of steel-gray, watching the amused stomp of winter boots against the fallen snow to create a loud crunch, Shino added another reason as to why the cold might just be a good thing.
Beautiful in all seasons.
"What do you like to do in the winter, Aburame-sama?"
He paused to think, but he didn't have to think too hard.
"Stay inside. Drink tea. Wait for the winter to end." Shino's words came out in a flat drawl.
"I never pegged you for a grinch," Mitsubachi said with bright laughter and a nudge to the side.
"Winter is my least favorite season, Kamizuru-sama," he admitted.
"Yeah, mine too," she agreed with a hum. "But the snow is so pretty. It's really nice for photos! Making snow angels, snow people, and…"
She unlinked their arms to move up ahead, pausing before a large snow mound. Her hands were sheathed under wool mittens, worn and noticeably tattered at the ends, but a favored gift from her mother that she refused to part with. They worked fast to pack a small amount of snow into a ball.
As Shino approached with an amused smile, he stopped entirely.
His eyebrows raised at the impudence. The audacity. The complete and utter disrespect to his name as the rightful heir of the Aburame clan.
She had thrown it at him. Directly to the chest.
He marched right up to the snow mound, quickly removing his gloved hands from his coat pockets as he began to pack his own cold weapon.
Mitsubachi's delighted laughter filled the air as she attempted to run away, being hit in the back with his snowball. Somehow, in her weakened attempts to flee, the Kamizuru managed to trip over a pile of snow, falling face first into the white powder.
Through various training sessions with each other, Shino knew Mitsubachi was very agile and controlled when she seriously sparred using taijutsu. The precision of her body—the ingenious kinesthetic knowledge as she comfortably contorted her limbs to fight—made it appear as though each strike were a graceful dance.
With that being said, watching her fall into the snow with an abrupt 'oomph' did admittedly make him laugh.
He approached his girlfriend as low snickers erupted from him. But getting too close was his first mistake.
Her lifeless form in the snow bounded with unexpected energy as she quickly maneuvered her legs to trip him, making him fall next to her. She managed to twirl his legs as theirs hooked together so that he fell on his back.
Shino sniffled from the cold, feeling a familiar weight push onto his chest as Mitsubachi smiled down at him with a gleam in her eyes.
"Gotcha," she said with a pleased hum before leaning down for a kiss.
Their lips were certainly cold, tinged by the chill of winter, but their hearts were as warm as they had ever been.
XXX
"Your room is very warm," he stated, slightly bouncing on the edge of the mattress.
Soft laughter echoed behind the door of her closet as her words came out muffled.
"It's winter, I don't want it to be cold."
The Aburame, dressed in his own sleepwear, gave a thoughtful hum as he considered the layout of his girlfriend's room. A cozy glow from the light of scented candles, splashes of yellow and broken by the color of flowers, plush pillows and soft comforters.
Her room was warm, but not in the literal sense.
Despite the initial turmoil he experienced on his first night sleeping over, Shino had become rather adjusted to nights spent at Mitsubachi's apartment over the course of the months. He even had his own overnight bag.
He had asked if Mitsubachi was unhappy that she had never seen his own home—he was rather dejected by the fact that she couldn't visit without being detected by the rest of his family—but the woman simply said she would visit when the right time came. His own room was rather minimalist, but he wanted to host at some point in their relationship.
His eyes focused on the sound of the closet opening.
He swallowed, in a state of stupor as his focus transfixed completely on the woman standing bashfully before him.
Rather than wear her usual pajamas, she was clad in a black lace nightgown that left little to the imagination. He could see every curve of her beautiful body, even received a small glimpse of what was hidden underneath the thin cloth.
He could barely manage the words over the loud beating of his heart. The Aburame hadn't even realized that a few of his kikai managed to break loose in his shell shock.
Mitsubachi laughed in quiet amusement, watching as one of the stunned man's insects made itself comfortable on her shoulder. It was a happy thought that their insects had finally become accustomed to the presence of the other person in the last few months.
"…You—I look—you look…"
Using every ounce of her confidence, the Kamizuru quietly approached the Aburame on her bed and sat upon his lap. Not as one would regularly sit on a chair.
No, she positioned her knees to lay at the sides of the man's waist, effectively straddling him.
He swallowed again, his mouth becoming dry as heat pooled in his stomach.
She leaned in close, hot breath brushing against his mouth.
"… Is this ok?" Her breathless whispers were almost enough to make him whimper.
"Yes," he managed to say.
Shino couldn't begin to hide the obvious state of excitement within his lower half. He could hear his heartbeat racing in his mind as Mitsubachi leaned in for a deep kiss.
He let out a throaty moan as their tongues immediately met. Unsure of what to do, he instinctively began roving his hands along her back. His being managed to heat even more when his fingertips brushed the soft mounds of flesh of her backside.
She moaned at the sensation, immediately placing his hands more comfortably on her behind. With a slight growl, Shino denied himself no longer and gave the flesh a firm squeeze, delighting in the whine he received.
A few more of his kikai managed to escape, but the man found it impossible to control the emotional state of disarray causing them to leak forward in excitement. He would have been embarrassed of his lack of self control had it not been for the melting sensation of heated friction between their hips.
His father explained it to him as a teenager once in the teeth-gritting, painfully uncomfortable conversation known as "the talk."
As an insect handler, in order to make his future partner more comfortable, he needed to briefly seal away his kikai so as to prevent any leaks. Were he to marry another Aburame—another understanding insect handler in a similar position to himself—jutsu-based preparation wouldn't exactly be necessary, but precaution must always be taken when it came to their kikai and intercourse.
He didn't want Mitsubachi to be uncomfortable. Not in the slightest.
He knew she had no issue with his insects, but having a tiny swarm of parasites fly about in your room because her partner couldn't control himself? Couldn't control his desires?
A few kikai managed to land themselves on her shoulder, and the Aburame knew right then and there that he had to stop and prepare himself so she wouldn't be disgusted…
A pause of judgement.
Enthralled and exceedingly curious, he hadn't even noticed that one of the Kamizuru's bees landed itself on his shoulder, vibrating on the milky skin with a soft buzz.
He looked up to find her face in a state of euphoric bliss as she rolled her hips along his, her insects circling and dancing around her in a halo of black and yellow.
She couldn't control herself either.
But she didn't seem to mind, did she? It was an enchanting, heavenly sight. Her insects appeared in droves from her back, circling around the both of them just as his own kikai were. More bees landed on his skin just as more beetles landed on hers.
Their insects almost became one identity as they swarmed about their almost-connected handlers. One could only describe it as magical, their collision of worlds. The touch of skin never meant to meet. The illicit friction of hips banned from ever being with the other, etched in the history of hatred between their parents and of their parents' parents, and so on and so forth.
The forbidden dance of bees and beetles.
It was unacceptable. Disturbing. Grotesque.
Beautiful.
Throwing cares and caution to the wind, more insects poured forth—what kind, he couldn't exactly tell—as their lips connected once more.
The pressure was building, building, building.
As the friction of hips became almost unbearable, the beautiful Kamizuru woman openly gasped and whimpered as she bounced up and down, watching her heated form reflected in dark sunglasses. Her night slip managed to stay on during their intimate clash of hips, but her chest was undoubtedly exposed.
It was too much.
They needed to find release.
With a growl, the Aburame wrapped the Kamizuru in his arms, firmly placing her down on the mattress. Her hair pooled gloriously around her, dilated steel-gray staring into the swarm of insects moving about her ceiling like black splotches of shooting stars in a sky of white.
She moaned in pure blissful relief when the holder of her heart held her hips in place, grinding down. Shivers sent down her spine as their hips collided against each other. Her lips were bruised and red as they kissed once more, and she felt so very very close to the precipice.
It was agony.
Beautiful, beautiful agony.
They were reaching their limit.
As Shino's pace increased, the fabric of his pants rubbed against her thighs and the warm space between them. She could feel the heat beneath his drawers. The beautiful, beautiful heat. The Kamizuru felt lights flicker beneath her skull as she moaned loudly, closing her eyes as her world went white and her mind went numb.
Her body—so very sensitive and still reeling from her high—continued to brush against his. She watched him with hooded eyes and a racing heart. Eyebrows wonderfully furrowed in tense concentration, sweat along the top of his forehead, dark stray hairs loosening from the bun on his head.
Shino was almost there. He needed just another push to reach the euphoric high.
Cheeks still red as her high took its toll, the Kamizuru felt his hot breath, his heavenly quiet pants of pleasure, in her ear.
And with a gentle whisper, she undid him completely.
"I love you, Shino Aburame."
With a final grunt—a cry—the man reached his blinding release.
XXX
"I'm glad I brought spare pants," Shino said, surprisingly being the one to break the silence.
The heavy breathing and heated air of the room had dissipated some time ago. The two insect handlers lay on top of the wrinkled sheets, watching their insects slowly move about the ceiling, illuminated by the soft glow of candlelight. Neither had the energy or complete desire to draw them back just yet.
Mitsubachi turned to the man that just spoke, observing him, adoring him, loving him, and began to laugh.
Him, him, him. It would always be him, wouldn't it?
"I hope you brought spare underwear, too."
"Thankfully, I managed." He let out a soft chuckle.
A few moments later, he reached out, tracing the back of his finger along a freckled cheek. Her eyes were peacefully shut, chest slowly moving up and down as sleep began to take her. He removed his glasses, watching her with tired, light brown eyes.
Even as she snored, her vision was nothing short of loveliness.
It will always be her.
He whispered his own confession.
"I love you too, Mitsubachi Kamizuru."
AN's: I mentioned before but there's gonna be a lot of angst up ahead as the plot builds. It's gonna take some time to get there, but hopefully I'll have more free time once I'm done with classes for the semester :,)
Nolwe: Ah, I'm so glad the last chapter eased up your day 3 Hopefully this one did too (if you're still following this story that is lol). And a recipe for disaster certainly is correct.
Yakitori-Chan: Ah, I'm so so glad you enjoyed. I always appreciate your comments :)