Bleh one of my older stories, it kinda needs work, but I love it anyway. Shino is a bit OOC in this, but oh well, I don't own Naruto.

Nine years before...

I ran through the streets of Konaha, exploring the place. It was the first time grandfather had let me out of the house. One, because I was old enough to start the ninja academy, and two, I escaped.

"Hey look!," I heard someone shout. "Its the Honorable Granddaughter!!" My eyes grew wide as all heads turned toward me.

"Oh no...," I breathed, then took off. No doubt they would tell Grandpa about me getting out, if he hadn't found out already. But I was running so fast that I wasn't paying attention and ran into a gray blur. We were both spent sprawling. It was a small boy with brown hair.

"Eek! I'm so sorry!," I shouted running frantically over to him. Crack! I looked down to where I stepped. There was a pair of dark glasses. I sighed.

"Oi..." He stood up and rubbed his eyes, not used to the bright sunlight, then looked straight at me. "Who are you?" I laughed nervously.

"M-my name is May. Who are you?"

"Shino Aburame."

I grinned. "Um, sorry about your glasses, Shino-kun..." He just walked calmly up to me, bent down, and picked up his now cracked shades. He turned around quickly and walked off. "W-wait! Shino-kun!!" I grabbed his sleeve and he stopped.

"What?" I looked at him with pleading eyes.

"Please, hide me! I can't let them find me! If they do..." He sighed.

"Fine. Just follow me and be quiet."

"Yes, Shino-kun!"

"And stop calling me that."

"Yes, Aburame-kun!"

"Oi..." He grabbed my hand and led me throughout the twisted streets as if it was totally normal helping the Honorable Granddaughter hide from ninja. What he didn't notice was my face turning as red as my kimono.

"Here." I looked around, marveled at the sight before me. It was a field, but it seemed different. The wind blew my hair around, and the grass was like a wave on an ocean shore. It was a haven for creatures, human, insect, and animal alike. Everything here was...just beautiful. The sun shone down on my face, and I breathed in deeply.

"Aburame-kun... is this your secret place?" I looked at him, but he looked away, a light pink tint on his cheeks. "I like it... but, if its your secret place, why did you take me?"

"This is the only hiding place I know."

"You're really nice, Aburame-kun!"

"Stop calling me that too."

"What can I call you then?"

His eye twitched. "Just call me Shino-kun..."

"Huh?," I asked, even though I heard him. But he ignored me and sat down in the grass, taking in the moment. I sat down beside him. "Shino-kun?"

"What?!" My cheeks turned a light pink and I played with my necklace. "I-I...well...I-I..." I gulped. Then I kissed him on the cheek, making him jump with face also turning a pink color. "Th-thank you, Shino-kun..."

Fast forward nine years...

"Honorable Granddaughter, your next," Iruka-sensei called out, and I beamed. I stood up and walked into the room where the jackets lay.

"Go ahead." I nodded and picked up a jacket.

"I'm finally a Chunnin..." I decided on one from the front row and I ran outside the academy, looking for Shino. "Shino-kun!!! Shino-kun!! I passed!" I stopped and looked around. No Shino. I sighed in defeat. "Oi..." I was hoping he would be here to congratulate me. He had graduated years ago and I couldn't really see him as much as I used too. And I really missed him.

"Big sister!," a voice yelled. I whipped around and grinned at my little brother.

"Hello, Konahamaru!" He gave me a toothy grin back at me, along with Moegi. Udon just sniffed, and blushed a little. "You finally passed! I wonder if Boss knows..."

"Naruto-kun? No, I haven't seen anybody in ages, unfortunately. Not even when we hosted the chunnin exams."

"Aw man!! I was hoping he would teach me a new jutsu!!" I laughed and rubbed his hair.

"Hey, Naruto-kun will be back soon, don't worry!" But, even as those word left my mouth, I began to have doubts. Most genin missions were pretty easy, but since the attack on the village... I looked up into the sky as the wind blew my hair around. Shino-kun...when can I see you again? "Now..what was I here for...Oh yeah!! Tsunade wants to see you!!" I blinked. Why would she want to see me?