Chapter 9 – Ichizoku
It was a hot September weekend. However, it was windy and the breeze cooled the air down enough so it was not oppressive. The weather was reminding children a new school year was about to start. However, one teenager had graduated and earned his Konoha forehead protector that early summer. Tesuro had been assigned to a three man team as his sister had five years prior. He had high hopes to match his sister in excellence, but she did have a bit of a jump on him though time-wise.
Meanwhile, there was another small milestone to be covered for another young clan member,
"It's beautiful out today; how about we take Shino to the park?" Kaho asked. They sat out in the groves reading the paper, Shino toddling around not too far off.
"You think Shino is ready?" Shibi replied to Kaho's suggestion.
"He'll be fine," Kaho tilted her head.
Shibi stared at her.
"When was the first time you were let out of the clan walls?" She asked.
"When I started pre-school at the academy at age four."
She seemed surprised, then thought for a moment, well this is Shibi we're talking about… "Is it clan tradition to shelter children from the world as much as possible?"
"We are a very private clan, in case you hadn't noticed."
She smiled, "I know that dear."
"But if you were curious it's a rule, no, it's not."
"Alright," she went and picked up Shino.
"Eegawaa…" He flailed around slightly.
Kaho walked back over, "I think Sakuya is home, let's see if Yesetteru wants to come too. She's been feeling better recently."
Yesetteru was not too far away from the one year mark from getting her kikaichu. She had been feeling understandably ill for the past few months, but for the last couple days her condition had improved. Kaho thought a trip out may do her good. Kaho also wished in the back of her mind that she had been feeling so well during the same time when she got her kikaichu. She was glad it wasn't so hard on the children as it was on her.
"You just missed her," Ussa answered the door. His arm was no longer in its cast, he had healed quickly and taken up his ninja duties again.
"Oh?" Kaho looked down, "I thought she just got back from a mission?"
"No, she's not on a new assignment yet, she went over to the hospital."
"What!?" Shibi and Kaho said in unison.
"CALM down, she was only feeling sick-ish, I'm sure it's just a summer fever."
"Humm…" Kaho sighed, "Don't scare me like that."
"But I'll come with you to the park," Ussa replied, looking down at Yesetteru, "You up to it honey?" Yesetteru was 'bundled' up in a silk, lavender high-collared jacket; she nodded gently.
On their way out, they passed by Fujita. He was training with his daughter Fu, and scolding her for something she was doing improperly.
"Hey Fujita, want to take a break and bring Fu to the park with us?" Ussa asked.
Fujita looked up, "She's a bit old for that don't you think?"
Fu looked over in such a way that Ussa's suggestion was very desirable to her.
"Seven is not too old for playgrounds." Ussa put his hands on his hips.
Shibi thought to himself, it's not my place to tell someone how to raise their child…but…he does seem to be a little scrutinizing with her sometimes.
"…Um…" Fu said softly. Her father looked down at her, "Yes Fu?" He said in such a way that was not conducive to encouraging a reply.
"May I…go to the park?"
"…" He paused, "Alright - but be careful, and don't make a fool of yourself or let any other outsider children give you any grief."
"Yes father." She bowed and ran over to the others.
All the way there Fu and Yesetteru stuck together and softly talked in insect language. Being the only young girls around in the clan, the next closest in age being 16-year old Yusuro, it was obvious they would be playmates. However, Fu was very quiet and shy, and rarely left the house. Her father also kept her busy with school work, reading, writing, and training since she got her kikai bugs. It was like he was trying to make up for lost time, since she was adopted into the clan at age 3, as the story went with her mother dying, and Fujita being her only living relative to take her in.
Shino looked around with interest. He had never seen anything besides his home and the tree groves. The tall buildings of the city must have seemed very intimidating and alien to him. He sat with his little head peeked over Kaho's shoulder facing backwards.
"Waz dat?" He said cutely in baby talk to his father, who was walking just behind Kaho.
"Those are buildings Shino, Konoha is a large village, I'm sure you'll get to know it more as you get older," Shibi replied.
"Waaa…." He said as if impressed.
Shibi cracked a small smile behind his collar.
"Der!" Shino pointed at the Konoha schoolhouse as they passed it.
"That's the school, you'll be going there before you know it."
"Gaa…!"
"He seems to like it," Kaho mused.
"He better."
"I'm sure he will."
Other families had decided it was a nice day to visit the park too. It was almost crowded enough to scare off Shibi. He gave a cringing glace towards Kaho.
She knew Shibi was not one for public displays of …well, any kind. He may have been worried to be seen by so many people possibly doing 'cutesy' things with Shino. Kaho herself had come to understand his mannerisms and behavior since getting her own kikai bugs. She could feel their uneasiness jittering under her skin at the barrage of noise from the playing children and people all around. She had no problem showing her emotions to the world, and her kikai bugs did not excite as easily as Shibi's….but that was not all that was in the equation.
She and Shibi had an image to upkeep, the honor of the Aburame clan, the last she wanted to do was something that would make her family look bad. However, to her, being motherly to her child was anything but silly. Some people could see being cute with your toddler as…well…'weak'; at least the sight of an Aburame playing with their child as anyone would do seems just 'weird' to some people apparently. Like watching a nurse spider defend and care for it's young. It's not a creature you expect such…actions out of.
Sometimes the world really could be a complicated place.
"Was dat dere is?" Shino looked towards the swings, entranced.
"I'm not so sure about this…" Shibi said quietly to Kaho. Bad memories of his childhood in the academy came flooding back. Fellow school children were usually not too forgiving when it came to those who looked and acted differently. It was far behind him now, and not something that affected his confidence in any way, but he finally fully realized at that moment that Shino would have to go through the same thing. The fact that he KNEW it was going to happen, that there was nothing he could do about it, saddened him greatly. It was just the fate of Aburame children.
Ussa ran off to watch Yesetteru and Fu. Yesetteru was too sore to climb around the jungle gym and such like all the other young ninja children, so she took a seat on the swings. Fu happy ran behind and started to gently push her. Yesetteru laughed, she was glad to get to play with Fu. Some girls that had been on the swings next to them gave some funny looks, and ran off chattering to each other.
"We're a family at the park, and I'm going to play with our son. If people have a problem, they can take it up with me." Kaho whispered to her husband. Shibi sank his hands and head down into his coat, and followed slowly behind Kaho in his usual pose with his hands in his pockets.
She placed Shino down in the grass near some little climbing sculptures. He ran his hands over their outside and got absorbed in their different textures. Some was smooth brass; another was rougher concrete. The brass one was shaped like a frog, and was warm from the sun. As he toddled around inspecting them all Kaho sat on the raised wooden edge of he playground to keep an eye on him. Shibi stood still like an observing spider from behind Kaho.
"Hey Aburame-sama, out enjoying the nice weather?" a voice said to his right.
Standing there next to him was Nara Shikaku, a 'dead' child spayed out over his shoulder.
"Ah," Shibi replied, giving a curious look to the kid.
"The misses made me come out here, says Shikamaru needs exercise or he'll melt into a pile of goo or some shit like that."
"…" Shibi tilted his head.
"Yea I know it's so troublesome, sheesh…the kid doesn't LIKE to run around and stuff. He just sleeps all day. I say if he likes it let'em do it."
"Kaho suggested we come out today as well."
"Don't tell me you're whipped by your woman too?"
Shibi gave him a 'I don't know what you're taking about' look.
"Oye oye, don't get all riled up, I'm just warning ya, don't let them start or they will. Women are really troublesome, but us guys can't live without them either."
"Thank you Shikaku-san…for the advice," I guess.
"Come'on little deer, go play," He put down Shikamaru, who toddled off across the grass, found a shady spot, and flopped down.
"Ahh, I give up."
"Heh," Shibi smiled.
Shino was reaching for a shiny jewel beetle higher up on a playground sculpture. It went to him willingly, settling on his finger. Shino smiled triumphantly and sat down in the grass.
"Hum," Kaho smiled approvingly, and looked back over to Shibi.
"That one yours?" Shikaku pointed.
"Ah,"
"I see?" Another kid, who looked a bit older, walked up cautiously to Shino. He had jet black hair and milky eyes that seemed to fascinate Shino.
"Mmm," Shino drew away a little, after thinking about it.
"I wanna see," He tried to grab at it, and Shino held it away from him. The other child was not being very careful, and being a little bigger and older he was able to out maneuver Shino. He caught the beetle with his hand, smashing it to the ground in his haste. Shino looked down and saw it twitching, but definitely dying. His little brain couldn't process the complex cries of pain and distress it was babbling as the life ebbed out of it, and it confused and scared him. He burst out crying and flailed, thwacking the other child in the face, who hit back, not liking being hit very much either.
"Shino!" Kaho darted in, grabbing him out of the middle. A white-clothed figure came in and grabbed the hand of the other boy. Shibi darted over.
The two sets of parents exchanged glances, and they were not friendly.
Many things that were running through their heads could have been said.
None of them were too pleasant.
So both just stayed silent.
Shino was still crying and clung to Kaho, hiding his face.
"We're going home," Shibi said flatly.
Kaho nodded.
"Tch, Aburames," the white-clothed figure mumbled as he walked off with his son.
Ussa darted after Shibi and Kaho, Fu and Yesetteru trailing behind.
"What happened back there?" Ussa asked.
"Kids being kids," Kaho sighed. Shino was down to whimpering, he was all cried out.
Shibi sighed as well.
They got back to find Sakuya home from the doctor. She assaulted Ussa with a kiss.
Shibi and Kaho stared at them with confused looks from behind their sunglasses.
"Ussa," Sakuya said, "I'm pregnant."
"…ehhh?" Ussa replied in shock.
"That's why I was feeling sick."
"You didn't get morning sickness last time…"
She shrugged, "I guess I am this time. But Ussa, we're going to have a baby! Yesetteru can be a big sister!"
"I'm sorry I was just surprised…I'm so happy for you!"
"For US you mean?" She corrected him.
"Oh! We have to think of names right away!" He put his hand up.
They chattered happily about the new discovery and walked off towards home together holding hands . Shibi smiled, "Another little Aburame on the way…"
"I can see one little Aburame whose ready for bed…he's exhausted from crying," Kaho said.
"It must have been traumatizing, what happened." Shibi replied.
"I'm not entirely sure the total circumstances, but for all that to happen on your first trip out is not the best initial impression."
"He should stay at home until he goes to school; its best."
"One little fight and you're running scared? I'm ashamed of you Shibi."
"I just don't want him to get hurt…"
"Sheltering a kid is not how you prevent them from getting hurt, but I appreciate your fatherly instincts," She leaned over and kissed his forehead.
"I love you too…" He replied softly.