Disclaimer- I do NOT own Naruto.
For those who read my last chapters, you might have seen something like this…
Shino X OC (Mitsuko)
Kiba X OC (Keiko & Midori for Akamaru :D)
Lee X OC (Haruna)
Chouji X OC (Hitomi)
Kankuro X OC (Kimiko)
Gaara X OC (Haruka)
Just so you guys don't get confused.
Falling… for him!
Chapter Three
The next day was… very difficult for our team leader. Mitsuko awoke early and excited because of something she had been waiting months for… Butterflies. They came out of their cocoons this time of year. Since the teen had never witness this herself and had only read about it, this was her perfect chance. She grabbed her jacket to cover her shirt that was two inches shorter than what she would have liked, so it showed some of her stomach. She wore simple blue jeans so it wasn't like she was drop dead gorgeous or anything. Without missing a beat, she jumped out the window and ran until she spotted the woods in the distance. Since no one was awake at six in the morning she felt almost relieved that she was alone with the unborn butterflies. The jacket was annoying her so she slipped it off and decided that her glasses could go too. As soon as her gazed shifted to the sky a cocoon shattered and a perfect dark blue insect flew out in front of her. The pieces of its shelter seemed to sparkle but once her daze was lifted she only saw one thing… well actually person… Shino. The sudden appearance caused her to step back. He'd seen her, without the jacket and glasses. The ground seemed pretty interesting at this moment to Mitsuko.
"S-Shino? W-what are you doing here?" she stuttered desperately trying to make her flush go down.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" his question threw her off for a moment, until she remembered that the man wasn't put off by insects of any kind.
She agreed and turned to watch a bluish green adult caterpillar that floated over her. It landed on Mitsuko's hand and she smiled and examined it. She sure as hell wasn't going to act different from what she normally would, that would mean that he was intimidating her, so to get her point across she stepped closer to him.
"Butterflies are just like people to me," she broke the silence only to be given even more of it as an answer.
"They are different, beautiful, and gentle. Different but born the same way. Just like humans," Mitsuko continued.
Again, nothing was said in return. The butterfly had long been gone so they stood to watch the creatures fly towards the sun.
"Do you ever speak Shino?" she asked, needing a conversation in the awkward moment.
"Would you like to sit down?" the man asked, ignoring the question completely.
The teen nodded but looked oddly at the outstretched hand. He didn't seem like the type to make physical contact. So after contemplating it, she finally reached for it… Or at least lifted her hand to do so. His met her half way, and dragged her through the trees until a bright pink cherry tree caught her eye. The old bench below the branches had its dull green paint chipping off at the edges.
"You never answered my question," the young woman stated, taking a seat next to him.
He took long enough to answer as he leaned his back against the tree.
"I don't associate with people unless necessary."
"I'm not a people person either," she chuckled joining him against the tree trunk.
He couldn't help but glance over at her, but once he did he quickly turned back towards the scenery. The graceful insects were still emerging from the small encasings. And the sun was peeking through the openings in the canopy of leaves above. Another silence was all Mitsuko could take before she felt even more uncomfortable and decided that once they event was over the teen would leave. So an hour later she stood to complete that action… but her foot caught on a root jutting out of the ground. The only thing she could do was protect her face and wait for the cold hard ground to come, but she never felt that. Instead it felt soft and warm… and smelled oddly of cinnamon. Slowly she looked down and saw that her face was buried in a light green jacket. That could only be one person.
"I'm sorry! Are you alright Shino?"
With no answer again, she remembered the position they were in and scrambled to get up. Only once she finally began to, something grasped her arm and almost pulled her down. A look back showed Shino's hand with a firm grip around her. That only screamed one think to her. He didn't want to let go… and she was thinking that she didn't want that either. 'No!' By now Mitsuko was standing two feet away, almost staring a hole through the mans' head. She thanked him for the day-as strange to her as it was-and left quickly, telling herself that if she stayed there any longer that it would be the end of her. Attachment to something as ridiculous as men was unacceptable. She recited why she started her operation and while she did Keiko and Midori were standing in the street with an opposite sex pair just like them.
"Boss, this is-"
"Can't talk," she mumbled rushing through the people and trying to find the quickest way back to her room.
By the time she got there it was dark, and the balcony seemed to call out to her as she caught her breath. 'Damn why did he have to be there?' And after several minutes of telling herself it she couldn't stay here for a few weeks like she thought, Mitsuko gathered her things. Missions were lined up already from Hoshiko's visit and there wasn't anything major that she couldn't handle. The others from her team could go through with this if they wanted but not her. Getting sucked into that world could be dangerous. No one gathered in the streets by the time the teen made it to the gates. And the so-called watch guards were fast asleep.
"Mitsuko, where are you going?" Tsunade called to her from a tree not far from where she was.
"I can't do this. Simply because I'm too focused on work, so this feeling isn't welcome," the woman sneered taking a few more steps to the gate.
"Feeling?"
"Yes, and there is no way in hell I'm going to say it."
"And why not?" the Hokage now mimicked her reaction back at the arena, the same rolling of the eyes and smirk.
"My parent died when they let their guard down for that same feeling. I was alone, but of course that's what happens when you die. Everyone leaves something or someone they love behind."
"You just said it~," her smirk grew but sank some once the teen almost killed her with a glare.
"I don't have time for this. I'm leaving."
But before she could finish her walk out of the village, the sixty year old woman raised her hand and the dark green gates started to close. 'Well isn't this nice…' Tsunade wouldn't let her leave so this was only going to get better for the young woman.
"You would leave the others behind? It's not just new to you, and they're trying while you give up. And you know was well as I do that that is something you don't do."
Tsunade thought that she had gotten her point across and left Mitsuko to think about it. And she laughed at herself once she realized the Sanin was right. Leaving would prove weakness so she had to face her emotions. Even if it did kill her inside. Once she came back to her room, the balcony called to her again. The silent streets of Konoha seemed peaceful at this time of night. And that was probably what sent her to sleep still sitting on the chair outside. It was about midnight when she felt a tug and her eyes flew open to see Shino carrying her inside. She sat up from the bed he had just laid her on and rubbed the tiredness from her eyes.
"Shino, you scared me."
"I just came to return these," he said shuffling through his pocket to pull out the dark sunglasses she left in the field that morning.
"Thanks, oh my jacket," she added suddenly remembering placing it on the ground.
Shino quirked a brow not understanding what she meant.
"I left it back in the woods. I'll go get it," Mitsuko said walking towards the door on the other side of the room.
"I'll go with you, there's no excuse for you going alone at this time of night."
.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.
The usual quiet man seemed to talk more on the way to the trees so curiosity finally got the best of her.
"Alright, I really want to know where you hid your Kikaichu while I was talking with the Hokage."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," he defended ducking under a tree branch.
"Cut the crap because I know you know," Mitsuko glared.
After he admitted to spying he stopped dead in his tracks. That confused her but before she could ask, he spoke up.
"I'm sorry."
Wow that was really confusing now.
"I'm not following," she chuckled trying to find her way back to her jacket.
"I know about your parents, and your… dilemma."
Oh how she had hoped that he didn't hear that part of the conversation.
"I should be the one apologizing; I shouldn't show weakness by running away from things like my... predicament."
"I'll try not to put you through something like that again."
He sounded hurt then, and Mitsuko could only sigh and reach for his hand. The action caused them to lock eyes. All the teen could do was smile back at him.
"Let's just go and get my jacket."
She tugged him along finally reaching the open area where she first was this morning. She never felt so relieved to see that piece of fabric again.
"Here it is," Mitsuko said as she bent over to grab it.
But gravity took over as she suddenly lost her balance… again. Shino reached out to grab her but it wasn't in the best way. A fierce blush made it's was to her face as the stood there with her half falling and Shino grabbing her. The silence was broken once she said shakily.
"Sh-Shino… Y-You're touching m-my ass."
"Uh… Sorry," he paused taking in the situation at first then helping her back up.
She wasn't the only one flushing. But seriously? Did he really only have her butt to grab onto? It wasn't until they saw a firefly that the quiet was broken by Mitsuko's giggle. Soon that one turned to many but while she was gazing at the twinkling lights, Shino pulled her closer. By this time the woman was blood red and thank God Shino didn't notice it. The blinking lights seemed to dim and the moonlight settled in.
"Shino," the female teen spoke with my closed eyes.
"Yes Mitsuko," he said placing his head atop hers.
"I like this feeling," said girl looked up and saw that the man was grinning behind his jacket.
"I do too."
