The Bug Queen

I'm Not Leaving Without Her - Shino / I Hope You Find A Reason To Live - Ino

Shino wasn't sure what to do. He couldn't read social situations very well, so he usually just did what the person asked. But in this case, even he could tell that she didn't mean it. 

Maybe she really did want him to leave.  Maybe she didn't want to be alone, she just didn't want him around.  She was really pissed off that he insisted she go out to the bar with them an hour ago.  Maybe she was still mad about that. 

Either way, he had underestimated how sick she was.  He knew that Team Hana was coming to Suna to escort Ino and relieve Team Shikamaru, but as a shinobi, Shino knew not to ask too many questions about a mission.  He simply did his job.

But he didn't know that she was sick until he had picked her up from the bed and felt her skeletal body.  She had hidden it well.  From everyone. It was crushing to watch someone he had grown up with in such agony.

He wasn't going to leave her, but if she needed some space from him, that was what he'd do. Maybe that was what she was asking for. Hell, he didn't know.  She had told him to leave, and he left.

He'd make sure to stay close by, though.  He curled up out on a bench in the hallway, tucking his arms inside of his jacket and laying his head on the arm of the bench. Angry or not, he wasn't leaving without her.

***

Ino had fallen asleep and woke back up a few times during the next couple of hours. She never slept well.  The fourth time she did it, a healer was in the room.

"Hey, how are you feeling?"

"A little better. Thank you."

Her head wasn't pounding anymore, at least.  The healer spoke to her gently.

"Did you and your boyfriend have a fight?"

"My boyfriend?"

Now they were both confused.  The healer smiled.

"Yeah, the guy with the glasses and jacket who brought you in? The guy sleeping in the hallway?"

Oh, no.  He hadn't left.

"Oh, that's not my boyfriend; that's just my friend. He's still here?"

"Yeah, he is."

"Could you ask him to come in?"

She nodded as she put up attached another saline bag to Ino's tubing, hanging it back up on the IV pole.

"Sure. He can sleep in the other bed; the hospital is pretty quiet tonight."

She left and returned a moment later with Shino, motioning to the empty bed with her hand. But he didn't move from where he was standing.  The healer left, leaving them alone, shutting the door behind her.  He spoke to her quietly, his voice full of emotion.

"Are you okay?"

"No, but I'm not dead yet."

"I can go back out and wait in the hallway if you want to be alone."

"No.  If you want to stay, I'd like you to stay with me."

He was all jacket, hood, and glasses. She couldn't even see his face. He sat on the other bed awkwardly, his hands shoved into his pockets.  He looked so uncomfortable.

"Thanks for helping me, Shino."

She didn't mean it, but it still needed to be said.

"I wasn't going to let you die."

You should've, she thought to herself. She shook under the thin sheets and blanket. She could feel his eyes on her. She sighed, wanting to cry.

"Get some sleep if you're going to stay. No point in ruining your day tomorrow because you're tired."

"You should get some sleep, too. Maybe it'll help you feel better."

His kindness made her feel warm for a moment before she remembered that Kakashi had sent him to keep an eye on her. He was simply doing his job.

She was now a job, delegated by the Hokage. Great. He didn't lay down, and it was starting to frustrate her.

"Please, Shino. Lay down and sleep. I can't have you staring at me all night."

She tried to roll away from him, but a moment later she felt something warm on her body. He had taken his jacket off and laid it over her. It felt and smelled wonderful. Or maybe it was just that she hadn't been around another person for so long. But Shino's scent was warm and oaky and musky. She looked over at him in the dim light, finally uncovered.  Even behind his dark shades, his face was full of worry.

"I hope you feel better, Ino."

Shino had grown up a lot. He was handsome and muscular in his gray V-neck shirt.  His hair was shorter and had some curl to it.  And here she was. A skeleton. She began to cry softly.

"I'm dying. I can't wait to go so I don't have to live like this anymore."

He watched her for a minute before laying back down in the other bed as she had asked.  His soft, raspy voice was emotional.

"I hope you find a reason to live."

Ino turned away from him and wrapped herself in his jacket, crying herself back to sleep.