Koishii -Beloved- Part 2

Koishii (Beloved) Part 2
By: Rylolynn

This is the sequel to Shadow of Hinata continuing after Shino and Hinata’s first kiss. Hinata and Shino share an empathic bond that is tied to their feelings for each other. (If the premise sounds familiar it is loosely based on Imzadi.) Warning: lovey dovey fluff, prolly a little angsty too.


A/N: Imzadi belongs to Peter David, Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.

Koishii (Beloved/yearned for)
Shitawashii (beloved/dear)
Aiko [girls name] (little love/beloved)
Okasa (mother)
Otoosan (father)
Haka (family grave)

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“She’s beautiful, hahaoya, I love her.” Shino brushed some dust off of the granite pillar ashamed that he felt guilty. He glanced around at the other gravestones near by and let out a soft breath.

“I’m sorry I have not visited more…” Shino continued to tend to his mother’s grave, lighting incense, and arranging the fresh flowers that he had previously picked with Hinata placing them near his mother’s photo.

“Otoosan has been busy with missions, I’m sure he would have visited more too…” Shino’s fingers found the engraving on the gravestone and a sudden smile broke his stoic countenance.         

“Shino…” The name was a whisper in his mind. Suddenly a childhood memory found itself unwelcome in the bug user’s thoughts, like so many other childhood memories. They were ignored and unvisited, wished to be forgotten.

“Shino! Shino! Bahaha wahaha!” Barked a small Inzuka child with painted red cheeks. “Sh-Shino…heheh…th-that’s a…that’s a…GIRLS NAME!!!!”

The sickening sound of a balled up fist hitting a plump cheek and cheekbone was followed by the “thump” of Kiba falling unceremoniously to the ground. He did not move. He did not make any sounds.

The young kikai that inhabited Shino radiated a heat that the small Aburame found difficult to handle. His anger and disgust welled up inside him.

“Shut up! Leave me alone!” Shino is my mother’s name…Shino was my mother’s name. Otoosan named me after her.

Quick jagged breathes filled Shino’s chest. Kiba wasn’t moving. Shino’s balled up fist were shoved deeply into his pockets.

He had introduced himself,  “Hi! Cool shades, my name is Inzuka Kiba. What’s your name?” and I socked him in the face.

“Uuhhgg…” Kiba began to pick himself up. His left cheek was swollen. The young boy brought up a clawed hand to his face and caressed his injured cheek.

“Sorry, I meant no offence. Hehehehe. That was a mean right cross! Well, uh, I’m going to the academy, so I guess I’ll see you in some classes. Catch you later Shino.” A small smirk flashed across Kiba’s face. The Inzuka boy spoke without any resentment in his tone while a feeling of shame radiated in Shino. The unbearable heat vibrated within him.

Hahaoya it’s just so hard. How do I control them, how do I control myself? Otoosan is lost without you…I’m lost without you.
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“Shitawashii, I’m telling you it is a girl, our baby is a girl. A beautiful daughter. We will name her Shino after the most beautiful, smart and strong woman I know.” Shibi exclaimed to his wife. His hand caressing circles over her round and ever-growing stomach.

“Koishii, you must not know very many women.” Shino responded with all the wisdom that being “the one who won over the elusive Aburame Shibi” could offer.

“Shino is the perfect name; we will name our child Shino.”

“Koishii, I think you are biased, but when you look at me like that you know I can’t deny you anything.” The hazel eyed woman smiled sweetly at her husband.
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“Bug freak…” The words had a usual taunting tone to them carried by a loud-mouthed Inzuka. Kiba had been Shino’s first friend aside from his kikaichu. Although he had always declared that he had wanted to be left alone, he had never truly wanted it. And secretly he enjoyed Kiba’s obnoxious company.

The first day the two had met Kiba insulted Shino’s name and Shino responded by punching him in the face. Later they would share classes together and eventually be in Team 8 together with Hinata.
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Shino’s fingers left the etchings of his namesake. It was very like his mother to hold Aburame Shibi to his word. His father declared his child to be named Shino, and as such his wife named their son Shino.

After paying his respects, Shino rose to leave the cemetery. He had been to the small burial grounds before, but a dark gray tomb that he had never noticed before caught his eye.

Hyuuga Hizashi.

“Why would a Hyuuga be buried here? Wouldn’t they be buried in the Hyuuga haka?” Shino questioned himself.

“Because Hizashi was second born to the Hyuuga family. Though Hiashi and Hizashi were twins and sepreated by only a few minutes, Hiashi’s birthright was sealed the moment he was born first. And Hizashi was cursed into the branch family, while Hiashi was a glorified heir to the main branch.

Though my father was cursed he died a free man. No mater the status of my father or Hinata’s father, Hizashi died in Hiashi’s place because he chose so. With this choice he is buried here. In a place that families who could not afford a better resting place bury their loved ones.” Neji’s voice had melodic tone about it. It was as though he was reciting a poem rather then talking to a person.  

“I am telling you this because of your relationship to the one I am sworn to protect.” Neji answered Shino’s unvoiced question.

“The branch house protects the main house. Protects the secrets of the Byakugan. Hinata is the first born child of Hyuuga Hiashi. She may be the neglected and maltreated heir to the Hyuuga clan, but she is still heir none the least.”

Shino’s kikai felt as thought they were swirling under his skin. The shinobi that had almost killed Hinata was now lecturing him on the history of the Hyuuga family. Although he knew that after Neji’s fight with…with Naruto, (even Shino’s mind did not want to repeat the name,) Neji’s relationship with his cousin had changed. He was no longer cold to her, he respected her in a new light and acknowledged her.

Yet Shino never truly forgave Neji for bringing Hinata within an inch of her life.

“I do regret the ways I have acted in the past. I have tried to make amends for my errors. I was wrong in the way that I treated Hinata. Destiny and fate have a way of unfolding themselves. And have a way in that they do not exist other then to be molded and formed by the choices we make.” Neji inhaled deeply.

“Do you understand?”

“…” Shino’s brows furrowed at the Hyuuga genius’s question.  

“Fate and destiny are just an excuse of those who resign themselves to it. One must choose their own path and shape their own destiny. Hinata in her own way has taught me so. She who was so unwilling to accept the lowly views of her father, she who so wished to be acknowledged, who wanted to change herself and refused to give up.” After a small pause Neji spoke again.

“Maybe this is why she had such strong feelings for Naruto. He too never gave up and did not accept the title of loser that I (and many others) had so freely assigned to him.” Neji arched an eyebrow at the silent Aburame and sighed.

“One who chooses to walk a path beside my cousin, better well know where he is headed.”

“Are you questioning my intentions?” Shino responded with cold seriousness.

“As Hinata’s protector…it is wise that you do not put yourself in a position where my services as branch member to the main family are needed.” Neji stated simply.

Shino felt as though he had ran miles and was about to collapse before feeling repeated blows to the body.

Hinata! Shino’s mind raced. She was in trouble. Several of Shino’s destruction bugs flew in a fury leading him towards Hinata. Neji was quick to follow activating his Byakugan.

The flury of chakra radiating off of Shino surprised Neji. It also had an all too familiar signature to it. It was as though the chakra of his cousin and this Aburame were mixed. Neji ran a hand through his long raven hair and tied it back as he chased after Shino in the direction of the Hyuuga estate.

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Now with all new Neji POV. Hopefully all in character.

I know Neji loves to talk and is now a reformed @$$ after joining the “Got beat up by Naruto, now I got a whole new lease on life fan club”  no more destiny this…blame the main branch that. (But hey I love Neji, I didn’t name my corgi Neji for nothing