Sakura couldn't recall how long they had been there curled up on the scratchy carpet of her office, but she couldn't quite bring herself to care. The two had collapsed shortly after her outburst, her stoic companion pulling her into a gentle embrace as she struggled to stop her tears. Bubblegum hair cascaded down her head in wild curls as Shino had taken to running his fingers through the strands once more, though she couldn't bring herself to care.
Her head hurt terribly, eyes swollen from her hysterics, and her lungs ached with each ragged breath she pulled. Pain washed over her from head to toe and yet all she could focus on was the dead face of an old love, the utter despair that consumed her being that night, the one that never fully went away. Even now as she lie heavily against her silent companion, she couldn't help but be disgusted with herself and the weakness with which she suffered.
There was so much to be done, so many people to care for; and yet she couldn't shake the overwhelming despair that hid just beneath the surface of her cheery facade. She had tried for so long to bury her feelings, not wishing to burden anyone with problems they could not solve, but it hadn't worked. Almost all of Konoha 11 had come at one point or another in an attempt to cheer her up, yet none of them could. The only two that had made any sort of progress had been Naruto and Kakashi. The remainder of Team 7 was what held her together most days, but they could only do so much. She plastered on a smile and tried her best to participate in their attempts at normalcy, but it was obvious to them all that a rift had formed in their once knit-tight group.
It wasn't that they tried to distance themselves, but they all needed time to grieve. Kakashi had taken on several A-ranked missions since the funeral, and though he never would admit it aloud, she could see the dull in those onyx eyes, the remnant of another loved one's death simmering just beneath the surface. It was a wonder that he made time to tend to her, and for what had to be the millionth time, she reminded herself to visit her former sensei when he returned.
Naruto had been inconsolable from the moment his body had been recovered. When word had been delivered to Konoha, Naruto had been the first to depart, claiming that such a thing was impossible; that Sasuke was too strong and stubborn to die. Tsunade had complied, knowing there was no use in stopping the hell-bent blond, but had assigned a squad of anbu to accompany him as well. It was Naruto that delivered his body for examination, twin trails of tears rushing down whiskered cheeks as he begged for forgiveness.
She could still recall the ragged way with which he clutched the scroll, the tremble of tanned fingers as he performed the necessary jutsu to summon the lifeless corpse of her once long love. He had caught her as she fell, the realization of the body before her having wrenched for a deep keening wail from her throat, the anguish with which it held only furthering his tears as he crushed her to him in an apologetic embrace.
He hadn't known what more to do as she struggled for air, his broken sobs reaching her ears as he tried to soothe her pain while also pushing through his own. They had been more than a team, more than a family, and with his death, team 7 had been destroyed. Sakura couldn't recall much of the encounter other than their mutual breakdown, but she had remembered the blankness on his face as the funeral commenced, the way with which he declined speaking at his best friend's funeral. It had all been too much for them to handle, and with a remorseful speech from Tsunade, the procession concluded, the remainder of Team 7 had stayed long past the ceremony had ended. Each member spent time praying over the Uchiha's gravestone, the others offering privacy and comfort when needed.
She knew the others had mourned his passing with equal fervor, and though she wished she could be cool and collected, the sight of the marbled headstone brought on a fresh wave of grief that consumed her heart. She had collapsed before the marker, her body giving out as she traced the smooth carving of his name. He was gone; their best friend, teammate, love, all the hopes and dreams, memories yet to be made.. All gone. Her heart had shattered that day, and as she mourned for the future that would never be, she pounded her fist into the earth, only stopping when Kakashi caught her fist with a gentle grip. She had turned, tear-filled eyes meeting a quiet grief as he quelled her outburst with a knowing look and a gentle urge to not disturb his final resting place. His words rang true, and though it added another tick to her long list of regret, she slumped toward the earth, all remnants of fight leaving her body.
Her chest heaved harder, her body spasming harshly against Shino's as she fought off another onslaught of self-hatred. They had been so kind to her, so understanding of her grief that it was even more upsetting that she still was not over it. The rest of her team had since moved on, or at least had made progress, but she had been the lone member that remained stagnant, trapped in the memory that plagued her every waking moment.
Tears had long since soaked his shoulder, but if it had bothered him, he had not once complained. He had been remarkably calm despite the sheer force of her meltdown, and she wondered absently if he had grown tired of dealing with her distress. Her heart twisted at the notion, but she couldn't deny its probability. After all, he had only been around for two days and he had seen her at her worst in the short time they've spent together. Which begged the question: why was he really here?
Perhaps he was only around to fulfill a promise to Hinata, the kind-hearted girl that she was. Maybe Naruto had blabbed to his fiancee for help, and word had been passed to Shino subsequently? It would suit him just as well; after all, the pair had been teammates for so long they were practically family.
The idea sprung forth more tears, though she tried desperately to hold them back. It was silly she knew, but a small part of her hoped that he had been around of his own free will. Her head spun sharply, a fresh bout of tears threatening to spill, but she stubbornly blinked them away. Fighting off the wave of nausea she felt, she tried to pull away from his grip, only to be met with a band of resistance around her midsection.
When did he..?
"Stay still. You may cry as much as you need," he assured, voice soft as he reclined against the filing cabinet. Shifting her body until he was more comfortable, he pulled her into his chest, not minding that she ducked her head out of his sight, "You don't have to worry. No one will find us here. You are safe."
She managed a weak nod, but her head throbbed violently with the tell-tale signs of exhaustion. Trying her voice, she made a half-hearted attempt at a joke, "It probably wouldn't look good, the two of us cuddled up on the floor of my office.."
"I don't care what others have to say. You are my priority," he murmured, shifting a hand to cradle the back of her head. The gentle touch did not go unnoticed, but Sakura didn't know what to make of it. Ducking her head even farther, she tried to stop the quickening of her heart and the flush on her cheeks. Surely he hadn't meant it like that. Shino wasn't one for words and lying sprawled out on his chest in the midst of a panic attack wasn't exactly the time or place for those kinds of sentiments.
In any case, there was still so much uncertainty surrounding his sudden willingness to help. Brief thoughts flashed through her mind as to his reasons for staying with her, and almost as soon as they came, her nerves deflated, replaced by a twinge of sadness. Though she wanted to know, she found herself debating over whether to ask him. The silence stretched between them for some time as she lay against his chest, taking a small comfort in the steady beating of his heart underneath her ear. Gentle hands rested around her middle as he reclined against the wall, and a small part of her worried that she was too heavy against him but was too afraid to shift any farther.
"Sh-Shino?" she croaked, voice shaky. It was too quiet, the silence overbearing under the onslaught of her overactive mind. If she stayed here too much longer then they'd run the risk of being caught, but more importantly, she would find herself growing more attached to the stoic bug nin.
"Thank you," she mumbled, pulling herself from his grasp, though she could feel the hesitance in his arms as he slowly released her.
"It's no problem," he assured, watching as the pinkette sent a small stream of chakra to her eyes. Within no time, her vision had returned and the irritation that had once lingered in her viridian gaze had been alleviated. Her head pitched quickly and though she tried to ward off the pain, he watched the grimace cross her features before she had the chance to smother it.
Tired eyes slanted to the clock hanging above her door, the time reading a quarter past nine o'clock. She couldn't stop the groan bubbling in her throat, nor the ache in her bones as she settled herself against his side, her body giving out as she slumped against the wall. Though she was loath to admit it, she was far more tired than she would ever let on. The day's events had drained her chakra considerably and even the wonderful sleep she had last night hadn't been enough to completely quell the exhaustion she felt.
"It never feels like enough time in the day," she mumbled, a frown on her lips.
A few beats of silence passed and though she didn't truly expect an answer, she was surprised by his response all the same, "Mm, perhaps if you weren't so busy it wouldn't feel that way."
"There's no one else," she sighed, her voice hoarse, "Tsunade is the only one I have, but she's busy enough as it is. I can't afford to slack off."
It took some time for Shino to gather his thoughts, but when he found his voice it was filled with a thoughtfulness she wasn't prepared for, "Healing is not slacking. You should give yourself more credit."
Rising to his feet, he held out a hand and offered her a small smile, "Come on. You've put in enough hours for one day."
Sakura nearly choked at the small gesture, but managed to bite her tongue and take his hand. A blush lit up her cheeks at his softened features, but she nodded nonetheless as he tugged her upright in one swift motion. Almost as soon as she stood, however; her knees buckled, nearly pulling her back down, but Shino tugged her forward into his arms before she had the chance.
"Are you okay?" He murmured, checking her body secretly with the help of his kikaichu, "Your chakra.."
"I know," she sighed, a flash of annoyance flitting across her face, "the surgery took so long that I missed lunch and the ICU was slammed. I didn't have time-"
She stilled as the air became tense around them, Shino's hand tightening in hers, though not nearly enough to hurt her. Brow furrowed and a scowl on his lips, the bug nin scooped her into his arms and proceeded to carry her out of the office despite her protests.
"Sh-Shino! Stop! Wait!" she cried, though he pretended not to hear her as he used a foot to kick her office door closed and strode down the hall with a disheveled pinkette. Lashing out, she caught him in the shoulder and though her punch held no chakra behind it, it did cause him to stumble a bit.
She froze at the harsh glare he sent her way, but refused to fall quiet. Glancing around warily, she hissed into his ear, "Stop, please! I can't be seen like this!"
He frowned momentarily, but after noting the genuine worry etched onto her face, he let out an exasperated sigh and ducked her head into his chest once more, "Hold onto me for a minute."
When her arms reached up to grasp his neck, he shifted her legs to cling to his hips as he made the necessary hand signs for teleportation. It was an innocent act on his part, Shino was nothing more than a gentleman, but Sakura couldn't help the flush rise on her cheeks as she struggled not to squirm. The pair disappeared in a flurry of smoke, only to reappear in Sakura's living room. He sighed softly before carrying her into the kitchen, depositing her into an empty barstool while he went to rummage through her fridge.
Emerald eyes watched as he began to pull out a carton of eggs and fiddle in her cabinets until he found a skillet. Though it was pretty obvious what he was doing, she still felt the need to ask, "What are you doing?"
"Making dinner," he sighed, his earlier mood not yet tempered, "It's late and since you haven't eaten, I figured something light might settle your stomach."
She nodded softly, watching as he went through the motions of omelet-making. It was almost comical, watching the infamous bug nin prance around her kitchen in a frilly polka-dot apron, making omelets. She'd seen this man knee deep in guts, a remorseless killing machine, but now he looked just so.. domestic.
Though she knew he was still angry, she couldn't stifle the laughter bubbling forth. It drew the attention of her not-so-happy comrade, but she could see the tension ease a bit on his face as he took in the genuine smile on her face. A quick flutter of curiosity lit up his face, but he simply turned back to his task, a quiet hum on his lips, "What's so funny?"
Sakura struggled not to laugh again, but shot him a beaming smile as he poured the eggs into the pan, "Nothing really. I just haven't quite gotten used to you in the kitchen."
He hummed in a semblance of irritation, but judging by the small upturn of his lips she supposed he was merely playing along, "You might as well get used to it, seeing as how you forget to eat and all; you'll be seeing this more often."
"Hey now, I didn't forget. I just didn't have time."
"Make time," he snipped, "Taking a break long enough to eat won't hurt, Sakura."
She frowned minutely, her earlier amusement fading as she watched the shinobi in front of her click off the stove and pull out the plates, "I can't just-"
"You can. You can't save everyone if you pass out," he interrupted, placing the dish before her. A knowing lilt eased into his voice, and the gentle manner in which he spoke soothed some of her frustration as well, "Even if it's just ten minutes to eat, make the time. If not for yourself, then do it for your patients."
Cursing him silently, she nodded, "I'll try, okay?"
"You will," he hummed, turning to clear the dishes once more, "You have to show me you can take care of yourself, remember?"
Leveling him a glare, Sakura turned her attention down to the food and got to work clearing her plate. She had to admit, even though he could be a pompous ass at times, he made one hell of a chef. All too soon the plate was cleared and before she could make a move, he had silently gathered her dishes and began to wash them too.
With nothing else to do, and slightly annoyed at Shino's constant fussing, Sakura left the table and retired to her room, snatching a clean pair of clothes before heading to take her shower. With a conscious effort on her part, she did toss her clothes into the hamper and refrained from throwing her medical equipment all over the place. After disinfecting her supplies and leaving the bathroom clean once more, she stepped under the spray and made quick work of her shower. Far too tired to bother with extra pampering, she hopped out of the shower twenty minutes later, cleaned and refreshed. Dressed and more than ready for sleep, she stepped out of the bathroom and sat on her bed funneling a small amount of healing chakra to her temples.
Night had come quickly, and with it brought forth the restlessness of her upcoming dreams. Last night had been wonderful with Shino's help, but she was under no illusions. The nightmares would come again, and there was no way she could stop them. She had tried various medications prescribed for sleeping disorders, but none had helped. Her subconscious refused to be silenced, much to her chagrin, and with today's events there was little chance she would rest well tonight.
It was at this time that Shino knocked on the door, a familiar sight of tea in hand. He frowned minutely and set the cup down on her nightstand before settling on the bed beside her, "Sakura? What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, Shino. I'm just tired," she sighed, cutting off her chakra and grasping the cup carefully. Freshly brewed, the amber liquid steamed in her grasp and she fought down a small smile at the subtle scent of jasmine, "Thank you by the way."
He nodded softly as she sipped on the drink, waiting until she had finished to take the dish and sent it away with a small swarm of kikaichu, "You're welcome."
Sakura watched curiously as they disappeared, emerald eyes following them until they were out of sight. Attention shifting back to her silent companion, she noted his slightly rigid posture and the small furrow of his brow. She was just about to comment before his quiet voice broke the otherwise silent room, "I hope you aren't bothered by them. I merely wished to stay for a few moments longer."
"Oh no! They're fine," she smiled, stifling a giggle as he seemed to relax with her confirmation, "You don't have to worry about that around me, you know?"
"Others are less than accepting when it comes to my insects," he shrugged, though she was sure she heard a semblance of hurt in his tone. Outwardly, he seemed so aloof and indifferent, but underneath the persona, he was fairly sensitive. It was times like these that she wanted to tease him, but after all he had done she figured she owed him a little reassurance.
"Well, that's their loss," she hummed, pushing his shoulder lightly, "Besides, they're pretty cool. Very handy little creatures."
He hummed softly, rubbing his arm in mock pain, but judging by the small smile on his face, it was safe to say he was feeling relieved, "That they are, but that's a matter for another day. For now, you need to rest."
She watched as he rose from the bed, his hand outstretched as one of his infamous kikaichu crawled from beneath his sleeve, its wings flapping rhythmically in greeting. He mumbled a few words before the bug flew swiftly over to the pinkette, landing on her thigh and humming softly. A small smile lit her features and with a tender hand, she reached her palm out for the bug to crawl onto, "Hey there, little guy. Thanks for staying with me tonight."
Tiny wings lifted up and flapped quickly, a pulsing noise flitting through the air before it began to flutter its wings in a manner she couldn't understand. The confusion must have been plain to see since her companion spoke up from beside her, "He says you're welcome and that you should cover up. It's gonna be cold tonight."
"You picked up all of that," Sakura quipped, a cheeky smile on her face as Shino moved to grab the kikaichu. She crawled under her covers, watching as Shino placed the tiny insect on her nightstand. The bug chirped quickly before starting up the familiar rhythm as the night before, the gentle humming allowing her to relax a tad.
"Of course. What good would it be if we couldn't speak?" he chuckled, "Rest. We can always talk later."
She nodded briefly, her eyes fluttering closed as fatigue kicked in. Shifting until she found a comfortable spot, she bundled under the covers and hummed in appreciation. She heard the soft padding of footsteps and watched the light flicker off as he prepared to leave.
"Shino," She called sleepily, her body feeling the effects of another long day, "Thank you."