Hinata was giggling as she walked out of the ramen shop. Naruto had been slurping down bowls left and right with no intention of stopping when she'd left. She wasn't laughing at Naruto, but at the baffled cook as he handed Naruto yet another bowl. Picturing the cook's face again, she laughed even harder as she proceeded down the road, trying to figure out where to go next. A thought suddenly flashed through her mind, and she grinned, running toward the forest while thinking, "I wonder what he's up to…" Within a few minutes, she found herself submerged in the woods, hiding in a tree, watching Shino train. He moved effortlessly as he practiced his technique, and Hinata couldn't help but stare at him in wonder. She watched him for a while, frozen, and then she heard Shino sigh and say "How long are you going to watch me Hinata?" Moving from her hiding place and blushing furiously, Hinata said "S-s-sorry Shino-kun."

"That's ok. What did you want?"

Inside, Shino smiled seeing Hinata blush for him, but he also knew that she had feelings for Naruto. She's never told him specifically, but it wasn't that hard to see, especially when she was around him. In all truth, he loved Hinata. He really did. He did everything in his power to protect her and to be a good friend to her; but most of all to be there for her. She was always after Naruto though, and it killed Shino to see her want another guy. He would never hurt her like that, though. He's never get in the way by telling her the way he felt for her, and he figured that if she wanted him the same way, she'd figure it out on her own soon enough and she'd come to him. Right now that didn't seem to likely….but he wasn't going to give up on her.

Hinata barely heard his question, and he had to blink and repeat it before she finally heard it-she was too busy starting at his sunglasses, thinking "I wonder what his eyes really look like...are they as warm and kind-hearted as he is?". Snapping out of it, she smiled and said "Sorry, I was just bored and I wanted to see what you were doing…but if you're busy, I can go…", a disappointed frown plastered on her face. Shino, seeing this frown, erupted into a strangled sentence of "no's!". He laughed at his sudden outburst and said, "No, I was just finishing up here, anyway." Hinata's smile returned, and she said "Oh! I'm glad I wasn't bothering you! I was worried for a minute I was…" and Shino turned her to face him, looking into her eyes. "You'll never bother me, Hinata. I'm always here when you need me, no matter what. You know that."

Hinata noticed the hidden meaning behind these words, and almost gasped right then and there-she knew what he'd meant. Finally, after weeks of trying to figure it out! She couldn't help but remember the mission when she'd first noticed something was definitely up…


FLASHBACK:

"HINATA!" She'd heard a voice ringing through the air as she fell to the ground. They were on a mission, and had been attacked by a group of rouge ninja on the way. They weren't there for anything special, just to rob them; that is, until they saw Hinata. "The girl's mine." The 'leader' said to the others as they leapt from their hiding places to attack. There were three of them, one for Kiba, Shino, and Hinata each, but Hinata, being slightly smaller and frailer than her teammates was the first to fall, as the Nin she had been battling stabbed a kunai in her stomach. Shino had been watching her, making sure she was okay, as he tried to hurry and defeat his own opponent so he could help her. He'd just defeated his own opponent when he heard the other ninja laugh and say "Haha! What are you going to do NOW? Your little girl is hurt-are you going to run and taker her to the hospital?" The ninja was behind him now. "Or are you going to kill me and my other partner instead?" Shino could hear Kiba and Akamaru fighting the other nin-it was only a matter of time before Kiba won his fight and could help Shino kill this threat in front of him…but right now he had to see about Hinata. He ran over to her and took her in his arms, rocking her back and forth, and muttering soothing words to her-she'd lost a lot of blood already. The Nin laughed-a cruel, hard laugh-and said "I saw how you were watching her as she walked in front of you. You looked upon her with-he giggled-love. I do love it when there are romances in my battles-it makes them so much more enjoyable. Anyway, you love her, do you not? You were watching her ever so PROTECTIVELY…and I had to teach you a lesson. THIS is why you don't fall in love as a ninja." He pointed to Hinata-passed out, fragile little Hinata-and indicated to the kunai in her stomach. "They get targeted WAY to easily…" the Nin grinned a reckless, evil grin, but those were the last words he ever spoke, because as he'd been speaking, Shino had been strategizing. Shino saw her life's blood was slowly oozing out of her, and he felt more enraged then he ever had before. He had his 'little friends' deal with him while he held on to Hinata. Kiba had finished with his Nin and saw Hinata's condition. Both boys wordlessly took off toward the nearest town-the nearest hospital.

Obviously Hinata had got to the hospital in time, and when she woke up, Shino was waiting in her room, sleeping in the chair next to her bed. She looked out the window, it was dark outside. She wanted to know how long she'd been there and what had happened, but she didn't want to wake Shino, so she contented herself with just watching him sleep. He looked so peaceful, lying there. 'He's really handsome' she found herself thinking…and she blushed. 'Wait, I love Naruto-kun-how can I think that about Shino?'

She sat there in thought for a while. She'd always known she stood little to no chance with Naruto…he loved Sakura. But did she…COULD she like Shino-kun? The more she looked at him, watching him sleep, the more she thought about it. She'd finally started to realize just how little Naruto was starting to matter to her, and how much Shino DID mean to her.

Kiba eventually told her what really happened, and ever since then Hinata had been asking herself why. Why had he acted like that? Why? And as she finally arrived home and was walking to her apartment, she walked right past a waving naruto without a second thought.

END FLASHBACK


As Shino stared into Hinata's faraway gaze, he began to grow concerned. "Hinata?" he questioned, but he got no answer. He repeated her name several times, but still no answer. The worry finally made itself known. "H-Hinata?" He said, gently shaking her.

Her eyes snapped open, her mouth slightly agape. She couldn't believe he loved her, too. "I get it now…" She said, looking into his eyes, smiling. Her eyes glittered. Shino just looked at her, puzzled. "What?"

Hinata looked at him and said in a clear, strong voice, "You love me, don't you?"

Shino looked down at her in shock—but it wasn't because of her question, no not at all! As he gazed into her eyes, he saw them change. A flurry of emotions whirled in those glowing, lavender, moonstone eyes. He'd always thought they were the most beautiful things he'd ever seen in his entire life, but he'd never felt as compelled to them as he did now, because he'd finally saw it. He'd finally seen what he'd always hoped for.

He'd seen the love in her eyes.

He'd seen it before as she watched Naruto, and now he saw it as she was looking at HIM. It was everything he'd ever hoped for in this one instant. He gazed into her eyes and answered her question with one simple word.

"Yes."

Still staring into Shino's face, all she could see was his sunglasses. Those damn sunglasses that hid everything, every emotion, everything that was HIM. Shino. The man she loved so much, yet knew everything and nothing about him at the same time. Either way, it was time for them to go.

She lifted her hands up, slowly removing his sunglasses. Shino's breath caught as Hinata slowly, torturously pulled on them, and finally ripped them off his face.

Hinata nearly gasped right then and there. Starting back at her were the most beautiful chocolate brown eyes she'd ever seen-and the way he was looking at her! It was as if she was the only thing in the world, as if she was his one, most precious possession that he had. The depth of his emotions echoed in these eyes, all his thoughts, feelings, ideas, everything was out in the open for her to see, and she couldn't believe he'd actually trust her enough to let her see him like this. This was Shino at his most vulnerable, and NO ONE saw him at his most vulnerable…he was never vulnerable-it just wasn't possible! Every moment, he was in control, silent, and in charge. He never let his guard down. He was always stotic, always quiet, always detached, but one girl had changed all that.

Hinata.

Oh, how he loved her. He stared into her eyes, loving every second. Her beautiful, glowing, brilliant eyes, that seemed to stare into his very soul. There was no other way to say it. She was the only, ONLY person to ever touch his heart so deeply, to get so close to him, and the ONLY person, besides his family, to ever see his eyes. If it had been anyone else, he would have shown them who they were messing with, but not her.

Not Hinata.

You see, he was already so irrevocably in love with her, it hurt. It hurt every time he saw her with another guy, every time she hung out with her friends, every time she went somewhere without him. It hurt him that he couldn't be in any other aspect of her life besides being there as her teammate. He wanted so much more, but he would never, NEVER hurt her like that. He'd never try to take advantage of her when she was hurting over another guy, and he'd absolutely refused to be with her until SHE was ready. You see, he was an Aburame, and respect and self-control were the very first things they were taught. Not only was that his upbringing, but this was his life, and this is the way he would want his Hinata to be treated.

His Hinata…

She stood there before him. It seemed like ages had passed with them staring into each others eyes like that. He was so taken in by this moment, it was so perfect, and he remembered what had started it all. Her simple question…

"You love me, don't you?"

It echoed in his mind. His mind wasn't even working anymore. Instinct took over, and he put his arms around her waist, gently pulling her toward him. "Yes." He repeated.

"Yes, yes, YES, I love you Hinata." he said again, breathlessly. He pulled her in even tighter, and he gently lowered his head so that their foreheads touched. "I love you more than you will EVER know."

And with that, Hinata smiled. She wrapped her arms around his neck, still holding his gaze.

"I love you, too." She answered him, her voice barely more than a whisper. Closing her eyes, she leaned in and brushed her lips lightly against his, so gently it felt like it was just a feather-light breeze of the wind, caressing them both.

Shino's heart stopped. His eyes looked into hers, filled with love, yet they searched her own for any sign of wavering, of lies. She wasn't serious-she loved Naruto! How could she love him? BUG BOY?

"But…" Shino started, "I thought you loved Naruto!"

She merely smiled at him, smiled that sweet smile that drove him crazy, and pulled him into another tender kiss. It was small, but meaningful. She finally pulled back. "I did love Naruto…I DID…but ever since that mission a few weeks ago, that's all been changed. And Shino?" She asked, moving his eyes to look into hers again, "I'm sorry for not noticing you before. I can't imagine how much hurt I've caused you with my chasing Naruto around. Yet you still listened to me, you still stayed my best friend." She paused and moved her gaze to her feet. "I don't deserve you."

Shino listened to her explanation in shock. She KISSED him! He wanted to sing, dance, fly-anything! He was soaring spirit-wise, floating in the sky, but still listening to her intently. He listened to her happily, until her heard her last sentence.

"I don't deserve you…"

Angrily, he pushed her up against the nearest tree, kissing her violently. Lust, passion, need, frustration, every emotion he'd experienced within the past few months exploded in this kiss. Finally, when he pulled back to let her breathe, he looked her deeply in the eyes and said in a firm voice "Don't EVER say that again. EVER. If anything I don't deserve you." She opened her mouth to protest, but his lips found hers again, silencing her.

Once again they parted, and Shino's eyes looked into hers, pleading, as he whispered, "Please don't argue with me."

He kissed her again, slowly and sweetly, just like their first kiss. He pulled her even tighter against him, and he felt her hands slip into his hair, since they were already positioned around his neck before. He liked this kiss, simple but sweet and meaningful, at the same time proving to each other just how much they cared. She moved her lips perfectly with his, synchronized. Finally she pulled away to breathe, and he took his chance to talk.

"Hinata, I've always loved you, ever since we were little. But it was only puppy love-we were only kids, and it was just a crush."

"And then we were put on the same squad-you were always so shy…" Shino grinned and she smiled.

"I watched you mature and get stronger…and I got more mature and stronger, too. I had a growing amount of respect for you…

But I think that mission was my little wake-up call, too. While we were fighting, I was watching you, still protecting you…and then I saw you lying there…"

His voice broke, and Hinata looked at him, opening her mouth, and he put his finger to her lips, once again silencing her. He took a deep breath and continued.

"I saw you, broken and bleeding, and that-that-that SCUM standing there, laughing…"

He started shaking uncontrollably, and that's when Hinata saw the water in his eyes, and when he blinked, it rolled down his cheek. The impossible had happened. The normally stotic, cold, and emotionless Shino was crying.

A few more tears fell, and he composed himself, finally looking at her again.

"I couldn't put you down, I had to hold you. I wasn't going to physically attack him, anyway. His ego was his downfall, in the end. While he was shooting his mouth off, I got him…"

He pulled her closer, burying his face in her hair, as the tears started to fall again. Both of them were crying now, but at least they both had each other to cry on.

Hinata laughed, breaking the tension, and Shino grinned, wiping his eyes.

"Is something funny?"

Hinata grinned back.

"Just look at us, alone in the woods, bawling our eyes out…"

This sent a wave of embarrassment over him. 'Oh, kami, I'm actually CRYING. On HER shoulder, too…' He inwardly groaned and mentally slapped himself.

Hinata sensed the change in him and giggled. 'Boys and their pride…' she found herself thinking. She buried her face into his chest, inhaling deeply, memorizing his scent.

Shino just stood there with her in his arms. He'd never been so happy…ever. He just wanted to stand there forever and be with her-but she was right. They were just standing there in the woods, hugging and crying…that's not exactly one of the most normal things couples do; Even though he'd never dated anyone before, he was positive about that. An evil grin appeared on his face, he was about to change that.