The Bug, The Dog, And The Blossom

Darkkinkachu: there just aren't enough Shino/Sakura and Kiba/Sakura stories out there! So I got tiered of waiting for some and wrote my own! Bah…how troublesome…

Lawyer Lemur: Darkkinkachu does not own Naruto

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Chapter one: Healing and Bubble baths

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Team 8 trudged into Konah, tiered, sweaty, bloody and smelly. It was meant to be a simple mission. Escort some stupid rich guy to Suna and protect him from harm. Simple, right? Wrong. It had seemed like every bandit, thug, robber and renegade in the world had been after this guy. Now all Kiba wanted was to take a good long soak and sleep for a couple days.

"I will go report to the Hokage." Hinata said softly, turning down a different street, "You two should go get healed." And then she was gone.

"Uhg….what a day!" Kiba groaned earning a sidelong glance from Shino, "C'mon bug-boy lets get to the hospital…"

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Sakura was just finishing some paper work on her most recent patient when two familiar forms walked in, "Kiba! Shino! How did-…oh…" she had been about to ask about the mission but decided against it. Both were splattered in blood and dirt and looked distinctly disgruntled, "So um…who's first?" she said with a nervous chuckle.

Akumaru barked and Kiba shrugged, "I guess I am."

"Right this way then!" Sakura chirped and lead him to an examination room. Kiba sat on the table watching the pink haired girl with curiosity. Ever since she had gotten over that Sasuke brat she had changed so much. She had suddenly begun pouring all her efforts into becoming a better ninja and honing her medic skills and now she almost surpassed Tsunade. She abruptly turned around and clapped her hands together, "Ok then! Lets see the damage, shall we?"

Kiba couldn't help but grin as he carefully pulled off his shirt. He had missed her, he realized, as she began prodding the gash in his arm. He had always kind of liked her and now that she wasn't brooding over Sasuke-kun anymore he liked her all the better. He smiled blissfully as small warm hands roamed his chest, seeking out and healing all the minor cuts and bruises. All too soon her voice brought him back to reality.

"All done! But you should really wash up in case I missed any thing…" she said, bending down and patting Akumaru on the head. The dog barked happily, his tongue lolling out, "Send in Shino on your way out ok?"

"Sure thing." Kida said raising one hand in a lazy farewell, "He's not as bad though."

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Shino walked into the room, cold and stiff as ever, "I don't need to be healed." He stated calmly. It was mostly true. He only had a bad bruise on his back from when he had been hit with what seemed to be a baseball bat and a small cut on his face.

"Oh don't be like that Shino!" the girl said closing the door and blocking his escape, "I wont hurt you."

"That's not what I meant." He grumbled. He just didn't want to have to take off any of his clothing but he didn't tell her that. He sat down all the same, "This is the only thing that needs healed." He stated, pulling down his high collar and exposing a slice across his cheek.

She looked at it for a moment then scribbled something down on her notes, "Can you take your glasses off?"

"No."

Sakura rolled her eyes, "So stubborn…" she sighed and sat down on the stool across from him, much closer than he wanted her to be, "Just hold still, this will only take a second."

But when she reached up to touch his face he jerked back, "Really Shino, I'm not that bad." She joked, but he picked up a trace of hurt in her voice. It made him sad, though he wasn't sure why. He leaned down, trying hard to keep his face emotionless and mumbled a quick, 'sorry'. He resisted the urge to cringe as she placed a hand on the side of his face. Slowly he felt warmth spreading into his cheek and held back a sigh, its so soft…and warm…its nice… Shino thought. But then it was gone and he felt oddly cold.

"There. Now are you sur-" she started but then stopped. The bug wielder opened his eyes and looked down. Apparently unnerved by some one else Chakra, a few of his bugs had slipped out of the wound before it was fully healed and were now wandering about Sakura's hand. To his great surprise, the green-eyed nin grinned slightly and held out her hand, "I think these belong to you."

Shino coughed slightly and held out his own hand. The little insects all fluttered back to him and ran up his sleeve- all but one, that is. He frowned and beckoned the bug with his charka but it continued to scurry up and down Sakura's finger, stopping at the tip of her nail to flitter its wings.

Sakura giggle and touched the tips of her fingers to his, sending a jolt of electricity up his arm and down his spine. Finally the wayward creepy-crawly crept almost dejectedly off of her and into Shino. The girl smiled at him and Shino felt his insides squirm. What was she doing to him?

"Thanks…" he muttered quickly and darted out the door.

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Kiba issued a long blissful sigh as he slipped into the hot fragrant water. He had been looking forward to this bath all week and now he was going to stay there until he became all prune-y. He watched as Akumaru swam around in circles in the lager tub and grinned.

'So when are you going to tell her?' the nin-dog barked, jumping out of the water.

"Tell who what?" Kiba said sinking deeper into the depths.

'Tell Sakura that you want her to be your mate.'

Kiba sputtered, going down more than he meant to and getting water up his nose, "ack! What? What makes you think-"

'Oh stop it, I already know you like her. I saw the way you looked at her when she bent down to pet me.'

Kiba coughed slightly, a blush mingling with his face tattoos, "uh…I was just…uhm…"

If dogs can roll their eyes, than Akumaru did, 'why do you humans have to make things so complicated? I think she would make a perfect mate.'

Kiba rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He did like Sakura. She was pretty, smart, strong, and she liked dogs. Slowly a grin crept across his face. It would be at least two weeks before he was sent on another mission. That would be plenty of time.

'Let the courting begin!' Akumaru barked, dodging the shampoo bottle thrown at him.

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Shino lounged in his bath tub, trying to clear his mind. Only a certain pink haired nurse kept popping into his brain. He growled and opened his eyes. He didn't like the feelings she kept bringing up in him. He didn't understand them and, as a ninja, the unknown was a bad thing. Sighing he looked over the edge of his tub at the Destruction bugs milling around on the tile. This only made him frown more. Stupid bugs…even they were acting odd around that pesky girl. The little creepies seemed to sense is gaze and turned to face him.

Suddenly they all began to skitter around, forming a shape on the floor. Shino's eyes widened for a moment then he scowled, "Cut that out!" he snapped. One could almost hear teeny tiny bug giggles as they scurried away, braking up the picture of Sakura's face.

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Darkkinkachu: wah giggling bugs! XD I wish I had some giggling bugs…wait I hate bugs… o0 aaaaaaaany-who tell me what you think and if you think I should continue it. I'm having fun with this Shino/Sakura/Kiba triangle! Ne hehehehehehe… R and R!