Bodyguard
Inside the Yamanaka home Ino made her way upstairs and sat in the window seat. Curled up she looked out the window at the night sky. The moon was rather full and the light cast shadows on everything around. She thought of Sai.
A voice interrupted her thoughts and she turned to find Raido.
"What," Ino asked.
"I just said you should try to sleep," Raido stepped from the shadows of the doorway and came inside, "are you alright?"
"I don't think it's good to have strange men who aren't my husband peeping in on me at night," she said.
"Don't be ridiculous he's the one who insisted on a bodyguard," he said then grinned, "I wouldn't want to get on his bad side or yours for that matter. Somehow I have a feeling that you would knock me out the window if I tried anything."
She laughed and continued looking out the window. The view was magical. In the light of the moon the trees looked silver toned. She had no doubt that Sai could capture the essence of this night on one blank canvas. It was fun to have an artist at home and he didn't mind her sometimes offbeat requests.
"I know you're just doing your duty," she said, "I'm just irritated with all this."
"You've been doing well," he said. Ino didn't look like a person struggling on the outside anyhow.
"I can really feel the little one growing inside me," she said a hand on her stomach.
"Is that even possible," he asked.
"I don't know but I feel it. I can't afford to blow this," she said.
"You speak as if you're going on a mission," he said.
"I guess you could think of it as a mission I can't fail at," she said.
"Who would have thought little Ino-chan having babies," he said.
"Ha," she imagined how she must look to him.
"So should I sit outside the door again," he asked.
"I'm not ready to sleep yet and I know if I told you to leave you wouldn't out of loyalty to Sai. Stupid jerks giving me babysitters," she joked. She had talked to Sai about having a guard around her earlier she should have suspected it would be him.
"Babysitter," he questioned.
"Anyway come sit and talk me to sleep. I am stuck here with nowhere to go and no one else to talk to," she said.
"Oh, he wasn't kidding," he said.
"What's that supposed to mean," she asked.
"Never mind, nothing," he said. Raido took a seat in the chair she offered and they continued to talk. He was so used to working in the shadows alone that he forgot how much he enjoyed small village talk. It was refreshing to hear so much about the people he vowed to protect. That they were all under attack lately did not sit well with him.
"Are the rumors of you and you know who true," she asked.
"No," he answered a little too quickly then added, "I enjoy her company and all but there isn't anything romantic about it."
"Uh huh," she said convinced she uncovered something. For months Ino had heard the rumor that Tsunade was dating. She was almost sure that the rumors pointed to Raido but this was the first time she had the opportunity to confront him face to face about it. She would have preferred to talk to Tsunade about it but somehow it seemed easier with Raido.
"It's more like she more like a drinking buddy," he said.
"Yeah right, so anyone else," she asked.
Raido wasn't about to break his rule even if he was in a private setting. He had his wife and daughter but didn't really want his personal life mingling with his work. His mission was as bodyguard not Ino's friend.
"Nothing serious," he lied and added sarcastically, "Temari is turning you into gossip central."
Temari was anything but a gossip and Ino laughed not quite getting the meaning. Ino stopped laughing to add the comment, "Well you're like the exception. It looks like everyone is coupled up these days."
"Nawh. That's just the natural course of things. I mean you're getting older. I used to think the same thing about ten years ago," he said.
"I'm not old," she said needlessly.
"I didn't say that, I said older. There is a difference," he said.
"Is that Tsunade talking," she asked.
He wondered where the rumors about Tsunade came from. Maybe he needed to open up to more people about his personal life after all. Maybe Tsunade just had too much free time on her hands.
"You are too much," he said.
"Oh boy," she yawned, "I think I'll try to get some sleep now."
"I'll be downstairs if you need anything," he said rising from the chair.
"Thank you Raido-san," she said.
She knew that as a bodyguard Raido was one of the best. It made her feel safer and she was glad that Sai had the forethought to think of that. She slipped in bed hoping for a peaceful nights rest.
000
Hinata left the Aburame compound and walked into the cold of night. She rejected any offer to be accompanied home but Shino was too good for that as he followed alongside her.
"You didn't have to walk me home," Hinata said.
Shino stared at her but made no response.
"I miss the days when the village felt safe and we had no worry about walking the street alone at night. I hope you don't think I'm not capable of getting to the Hyuuga compound from your house after all the years I've been doing just that," Hinata said.
"Those days can be again you see because Naruto-
"No don't bring up Naruto-kun. I'm sorry Shino I just don't want to talk about it. The things that are going on in the village with all my friends are a lot to handle as it is," Hinata said.
"Are you still hung up on him," Shino asked.
"You've seen me. You know me. So what do you think," Hinata asked.
"You are acting strange because in the past you would always love to hear about the Hokage," Shino said.
"Let's talk about some one else. What about your friend," Hinata asked a little hesitantly. Shino wasn't one to talk about his romantic life but they were very close friends so it wasn't out of the question.
"I am still single you see because I haven't asked anyone for their hand in marriage yet," Shino said.
"I haven't been asked so we are in the same boat," Hinata giggled nervously.
"The right man will ask you," Shino said.
"I am sure he will someday," Hinata sighed and looked up at the night sky. They were nearly in front of the Hyuuga compound now and no one had bothered her. "Now who's going to take you home Shino-kun?"
"Because the attacks have all been on women of the village and I am sure-
"Nevermind."
"Have you spoken to Kiba lately?"
"No."
"I think it is best that you speak to Kiba about the way you are feeling. Because more you go on dreaming up your perfect moment the longer you'll spend alone," Shino said.
"Shino-kun I have told Kiba how I've felt. What I meant was I haven't spoken to him since then," Hinata admitted.
"Your serious," Shino questioned. It took him completely by surprise that Hinata would confess to Kiba at all especially after getting rejected by her longtime crush in the past. It always seemed to him that she would be more cautious.
"Yes. I must have picked a bad time because he seemed to be expecting someone else or something. I just looked like such a fool and I'm not sure where we stand. He just said he had to 'think about some things' and that he'd 'get back to me,' but it's been weeks," Hinata said.
"Because he never mentioned anything to me I am wondering why…I really would have thought that he would have jumped at the opportunity to answer your confession. There can only be one other reason for the confusion," Shino paused not wanting to hurt a friend.
"It is alright Shino I think I can handle it what were you going to say," Hinata asked.
"You see because there might be someone else he has obligations towards," Shino said but would not mention the woman he had in mind.
"You know this person don't you," Hinata asked although she couldn't think of anyone in Kiba's life. There were a limited pool of single women in Konoha that associated with Kiba and none of them made any impression in her mind.
"I have met her from time to time," Shino replied.
"I see," Hinata said mournfully hanging her head her dark locks hid her expression from her friend but he knew she was down. She wanted to ask what kind of woman she was but this was Shino she was talking to and she couldn't bring herself to ask those questions.
"I still stand by my original statement you should talk to Kiba about how you are feeling," Shino said placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I'll think about it goodnight Shino-kun," Hinata said as she turned waving and heading to the gate.
"Goodnight," Shino replied in kind. He felt fraudulent giving advice to Hinata about feelings when he couldn't even take the leap to try his hand at love.
Once satisfied she got home alright Shino headed to the Jounin quarters to check in for his latest assignment. He needed something to do to take his mind off tonight's conversation. He knew his friend Kiba far too well to know that he'd do anything for Hinata; something else must be wrong for him to put aside her confession for as long as he has.