Chapter 11 – Catching a Bug
"Ah-CHOO!"
"You're sneezing again…did the medicine wear off already?"
"groan... "
Poor thing… "I'll go boil some water…"
It was January 22, the day before Shino's third birthday, and Shibi had come down with rather nasty cold. He caught it on his latest mission. It had been years since he had gotten sick. Certainly more years since Kaho knew him, since she could never remember a time when he was sick.
Aburame's tend to take good care of themselves, as their bodies are not just their own; they are a home for a million small residents. Eating healthy, sleeping regularly, and training not only for the ninja arts but for staying active. Also, their exposure to germs is rather limited, like their encompassing clothing shielding them from other people; whom they tend to avoid touching or being near in the first place. This, AND their kikaichu can destroy most toxins or pathogens with training. Shibi's kikaichu were especially skilled in toxins. It's no wonder a sick Aburame is a strange thing; much less Shibi. It surprised everyone in the clan.
It was not all bad though, because Kuroji had been with him on the same mission, and caught the same 'bug' (another pun the Aburames most likely hate). Knowing Kuroji was suffering at the same time made it almost worthwhile to Shibi.
Meanwhile, Kaho was trying to keep Shino distanced from him; she didn't want her son getting sick, much less on his birthday.
"Why can't I see daddy?" He asked, tugging on Kaho's pants as she took the boiling kettle off the stove. His big blue eyes stared up at her.
"Daddy is sick honey; I don't want you getting sick too. If your father and Kuroji could both come down with it at the same time it must be a nasty cold."
"Mmmm," Shino lowered his head into his collar.
"He should be better really soon, don't worry. We can still celebrate your birthday tomorrow. You're going to be three, you're getting so big!" She kneeled down and smiled at him.
Shino smiled gently.
"That's my boy." She nodded.
"Can I go owtside?"
"Yes, go see if Yesetteru is out with Uschi," She stood back up.
"Ah-CHOO!"
Kaho sighed.
"Daddy git better?"
"He will soon. Don't worry."
Shino thought for a moment, then ran outside to play.
"…" Shibi curled up in another blanket and groaned again. Sneezing was painful. If it's jarring enough for a normal person imagine what it would feel like to an Aburame who is hyper-sensitized from illness. Every time he sneezed or coughed it was like someone was jabbing toothpicks into his ribs; and afterwards it felt like a rubber band was being tightened around his torso. It also made for some unhappy kikaichu (the ones living in his lungs). Not very amiably, when he sneezed some would occasionally come flying out with it.
Kaho sympathized with her poor sick husband. She knew how uncomfortable he must be. She had only got a small cold since getting her insects, the sickest she had been was when he first was getting used to them.
She sat and handed him a new cup of medicinal tea.
"Arigatou," He said slowly, barely audible through the big blanket wrapped around him like a cocoon.
Kaho smiled and watched him.
He uncurled the blanket a little, and was about to tilt it back to take a sip when he broke into a coughing fit. He quickly put the cup on the coffee table and leaned over holding his sides, his brow furrowed in pained discomfort. A moan escaped his lips as he let his head sink to his knees. He didn't sit back up and just stayed in that position.
Kaho's expression fell, "Is there anything I can do for you…?" she said softly.
"…" He sighed once and paused for long time, letting his kikaichu settle. No response came to mind.
Kaho reached out a hand and gently rubbed his back.
He made a small, approving sound, so she kept doing it.
"Humm," She smirked, feeling his kikaichu buzz.
"Where is Shino?" She could just barely hear him mutter.
"Outside playing, I don't want him getting sick."
He nodded in agreement.
"I'm sorry to keep him from you, and tomorrow is his birthday."
"I would do the same," He replied.
She carefully kissed his head, "You just focus on getting better."
…
"Shibi-sama is sick huh?"
"Sick," Shino echoed her with a nod. He and Yesetteru were walking around checking the ties on the nets protecting the grove trees for the winter. Not too far off, little 8-month year old Uschi was cocooned in a blanket next to Sakuya, who sat reading a scroll on techniques. Ussa was following Yesetteru and Shino around.
"I hope your father gets better soon," Ussa told Shino.
"Hee' will." Shino nodded.
"This knot is loose," Yesetteru squatted down, "Do you know how to tie a knot Shino?"
"Mommy wuz teaching me."
"Here," she handed him the rope. Shino thought for a moment, then tied a good little knot. However, it was loose. He was too little to tie it tightly, so Yesetteru tightened it.
"Good job!" She smiled.
Shino nodded.
"Hey, let's go check the herb garden," Ussa looked down at them.
"Don't step on my lavender this time!" Sakuya voiced at them from across the clearing.
"Her hearing is way too good," Yesetteru sighed.
"Gaaa…!" Uschi laughed.
…
Meanwhile…
…
…Kuroji had no one to take care of him. Yusuro, now a Jounin and almost 18 years old, was on an A-rank mission. Tesuro was away on training exercises, as 14-year old ninjas tend to do.
cough cough!
moan
Shen had brought him some medicine earlier. It was an interesting sight; a sick, mussed-hair Kuroji attempting to keep his pride with Shen coming to give him tea like a mother.
"I heard you were all alone over here," Shen said standing in his doorway.
Kuroji stared at him, then coughed in a painful looking manner, before readjusting himself in his coat.
"I figured you could use some medicinal tea, it should help the coughing."
"…" He paused, and took the tea kettle, "…Thank you."
"It's not a problem," He adjusted the strap on his large kikaichu gourd, which Kuroji glanced at, admiring his handiwork for a split second before he started coughing again. Shen winced, drawing backwards, "Now go lie down, you look miserable."
Of course, when you are really sick medicine can only do so much. It was stopping his coughing though, and he was thankful for that.
He burrowed into his blankets deeper. He wanted to put them completely over his head, but since breathing was always a good idea, he had to keep his head exposed.
A blackish-brown Theraphosa blondi (goliath bird-eating spider) jumped down from a grass nest on a shelf above his bed. The largest species of spider aside from magical summoning animals, its slim, tarantula-like body alone was 8 inches long. With all its legs it looked as big as a dinner plate. Something of nightmare for your average person, but to Kuroji she was as normal as any other pet.
She crawled up onto his head and arranged his loose, reddish-black hair into a nest before lying down like a dog.
"Thank you Mu-chan," he said softly in arachnid language. His kikaichu made a mild 'puur' like vocalization. The spider gave no response except for a low 'churr' and fell back asleep.
…
"Mommy!" Shino walked back inside.
"Welcome back," Kaho said quietly. She had nearly fallen asleep, as she was curled up next to a sleeping Shibi on the couch.
Shino stood in the living room doorway.
"Is daddy sleep?"
"Yes, he's asleep. Don't bother him," She got up carefully so as not to wake him, and went to Shino, and shooed him into the kitchen.
"I foun' sumone for you," He reached into his pocket. In his hand was a pinkish-purple-green mantis.
"Oh, he's a handsome fellow, where did you find him?"
"Sak-kue-ya's 'erb garten."
"He must have been sleeping, this is their time of year to hibernate."
"Hi-ber-nate?"
"Some animals hibernate through the winter, because it's too cold for them or there is not enough food. So they just sleep."
"Sleep 'at long?"
"Yes."
"Woah," He smiled, looking at the mantis, "Do you ever get bored, sleeping that long?" .
-"No, not at all."-
"Humm?" She blinked.
Shino looked at her.
"Did you, say something?" She asked.
"I 'sked him a questin."
"…" She squinted, quite obviously as she was not wearing her sunglasses.
Shino looked confused.
"Ask him…something else."
"Mother wanted me to ask you something else, but I don't know what to ask…"
-"That's okay."-
"Maybe you could go keep her company? I think she likes that."
The mantis flew up and landed on Kaho's head right between her two ponytail puffs.
Kaho sat starring silently at Shino, her lips slightly parted.
"Mommy?" Shino tilted his head, "You s'okay?"
After a pause, "I'm, I'm fine…but you! You speak insect language better than…well, talking!"
"Was you 'n daddy teachin' me?"
"I…I know," She smiled still not knowing quite what to say.
Shino smiled seeing she was happy.
"Let's show daddy tomorrow on your birthday, okay?" She grinned.
"Yea!"
…
Shibi was more than shocked when Shino surprised him the next day with his insect language skills. He couldn't believe he had never noticed how affluent he spoke it until now. He never was during when he was teaching Shino before, not that they had too many training sessions specifically, as it was something that just came up in everyday talking. (Like a child being raised in a bilingual house, where the parents spoke both English and Spanish. The child would hear both languages all the time and learn both as they grew up, with there being very few actual learning 'sessions' in speaking either.)
However, Shibi was still miserably sick and soon Shino had to distance himself from him again.
Everyone in the clan bid Shino happy third birthday. It wasn't a 'celebration' as most would see it. No big cake or singing or people yelling and ripping open presents. Shino was given a few Aburame-appropriate presents from some fellow clan members. Not all things your average person would consider a 'present'.
One thing more traditional was Sakuya's gift; she made him a new jacket, a little high-collared, zip-up, cool-blue and white colored coat. He would most likely be getting a new one when he got his kikaichu, so this was a good in-between. Kaho thanked her graciously.
"The color was my idea," Ussa grinned.
"Do you like the color Shino?"
"Is okay,"
"What color would you like your next one to be?" Sakuya asked, kneeling down.
"Mmmm…" He thought of how the sky looked right after it rained, how it was kinda gray and hazy, but left the air with a really clean, new smell. He liked that, "Lik' a cloud." he replied.
"A cloud? You mean white?"
He shook his head.
"Different kind of cloud?" Ussa asked.
He nodded.
"Oh, like a rain cloud?" Sakuya mused, putting a sleeve to her cheek.
Shino smiled. He had to tilt his head up to look over the new coat's collar. It seemed to swallow him like a protecting shield.
"Gray it is, but that's a year away, I think you look pretty handsome in this one," Kaho picked him up. He was getting so big, but she had no trouble.
"Hehee!" Shino giggled like only a little kid can.
Kaho took in all these waning moments of his childhood, because she knew when he got older she would never hear him giggle like that ever again...
…
"AH-CHhooo!" Shibi almost dropped the rice pot that was in his hand.
He just then heard the front door –
knock knock
"Enter," He voiced weakly.
Kuroji walked in, hair down from its high pony tail, and his tall frame hunched over slightly so that he was not as forebodingly tall as usual. A thermos-like gourd was in his hand dangling from a strap. Shibi blinked, and held back his amusement at his unkempt appearance. Kuroji was thinking much the same thing. He especially was amused at Shibi's round kikaichu gourd strapped crookedly on over the blanket curled around him.
"Shibi-sama, how are you feeling?" He began silently, saving his sore vocal cords.
"Apparently not much better than you,"
"Apparently not."
"…"
"I made a new blend of tea from some that Shen gave me, it really helps."
"Oh?" Shibi walked over, and was handed the small gourd. It was refreshingly warm.
There was a pause.
"Well…that was all. Good evening Shibi-sama. Tell your son my congrats for his birthday." He turned to leave.
"…Wait Spider-lover,"
"…?"
"Aren't you all alone back at home?"
"Since when was it strange for an Aburame to be alone?"
He laughed once, "Heh," "…how about you stay and we talk over the tea you brought?"
"…" Kuroji stared at him, then walked back inside, "You would never finish it anyhow, I know how you leave half a steeped pot on the stove and just let it get cold."
Shibi coughed, and took a seat on the couch, leaving a spot for Kuroji to sit. He sent his kikaichu to fetch some cups and un-corked the gourd's top.
"That - and seeing you like this gives me such unimaginable joy."
"I'm sure it does. And the feeling is mutual."
They heard the door open.
"Daddy look!" Shino ran into the living room archway and held up his arms to show off his new jacket. His hands only showed when the sleeves fell down from him doing so.
Shibi nodded at Shino, smirking slightly at the sight.
"Oh, now are the sick people hanging out together?" Kaho laughed.
"Humph," Shibi replied.
"Good evening Kuroji-san," She bowed to him, not missing a beat from her previous comment.
"Good evening Kaho-sama," He nodded his head in a manner of bowing, "And happy birthday little Shino-sama."
Shino hid in his collar, "Thanks Ku-rowgee."
This tea really is helping, my sneezing is gone, Shibi thought, thinking about how he was able to hold a conversation.
"Lookie," Shino took a piece of paper from his pocket. On it was a very nice rendering of a helmet beetle.
"Who gave that to you?" Shibi asked.
"Ye-sea-tteru."
"She's quite the artist."
"Just like her mother," Kaho interjected.
Before I know it he'll be going to the ninja academy and getting his kikaichu…Shibi thought.
"Did one of you leave rice on the stove?" Kaho craned her head back towards the kitchen.
"…!" Shibi looked up quickly.
Kaho shook her head, "It's alright; I'll get it." She disappeared.
Shino walked up towards the two sick men and stared at them. Kuroji and Shibi were not the kind of people you wanted to have staring contests with, as you will always lose. Kuroji was sunglass-less which is what made Shino come over, he had never seen Kuroji's face. (He was used to his father without sunglasses tho; but at that moment he did have them on.) Shino wondered what the red marks on his face were, and if they continued down past where he could see.
"Wat is those for?" Shino finally asked Kuroji.
"Hum?" Kuroji blinked.
"Ask him as if he was a beetle Shino," Shibi requested, then waited and watched for Kuroji's surprised expression he knew was coming.
"What are the red marks on your face for?" Shino asked in insect language.
Kuroji's lips parted in a stunned expression.
"Hum," Shibi smirked gently, "I just found out today."
"Well, it seems your son is a little genius," Kuroji said, using the term often applied to ninja's with natural born talent.
"At least with insect language. I am sure with Kaho and I's training he will be an affluent kikaichu user in no time."
"I have no doubt – not that I expected any less of Gen's grandson."
Shibi leaned back, "What about me?" He seemed hurt.
"Heh, as I seem to recall you were having a tough time learning insect language as a child up until age FIVE."
Shino blinked and watched Shibi and Kuroji 'fight'. He still didn't get an answer from Kuroji...so he fidgeted and sighed, but stayed quiet. He figured he could ask later when they didn't look so mad.
"Humph," Shibi grunted, his kikaichu buzzed with a slight menacing tone. Kuroji knew it was only for show though so he just continued to grin behind his coat's collar.
"Who wants rice?" Kaho walked in with four bowls.
"Me!" Shino voiced.
"And get away from those two fomites; come sit by me."
She handed him a smaller bowl with little beetles painted on the ceramic.
"So you heard Shino's ability with insect language, eh Kuroji-san?" Kaho said, sitting across from them. She helped Shino up onto her lap.
"Quite impressive, the genes must have skipped a generation." He looked at Shibi.
Shibi adjusted his glasses with a frown.
"Humm," Kaho smiled and tilted her head against her collar.
…
"Mommy?"
"Yes?"
"Tell father I hope he gets better."
"He will, don't worry."
It was that evening and Kaho was putting Shino to bed.
She kissed him on the forehead and softly said, "Goodnight three-year old. Happy Birthday."
"Oyaasumi," He said, already falling asleep.
Kaho silently stepped out and closed the door.
…
A FORTNIGHT LATER
…
"Ah-CHOO!" A flurry of kikaichu went scattering.
"…" Shibi sighed.
"GREAT Now I'M sick!" Kaho yelped at him between coughs, sneezes and body aches.
He smiled nervously, "Better stay away from Shino."
"Grrrr," She sighed.
…
…
…
Heh, A bit of a 'fun' chapter. There's seriousness to come so I wanted to have some fun before it all started. :D
Hope you are enjoying the story, thanks everyone who reviewed! I love hearing from other Aburame fans about what they think of my version of the Aburame clan. I like to think I keep them in character and have done justice to fleshing out the clan and made it believable (as if it could be canon).
See you next chapter!