Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters in it.


IV.

- Everyone But Me -

"Now..." Shino took a breath, turning to the class. "The faster you find a solution, the quicker I'm letting you go."

"Counting on you, Boruto." Mitsuki murmured but it was quiet enough for the whole class to hear and snickering spread across the room right away.

"It wouldn't be bad if someone else tries to solve the problem, too."

"You can do it," Sarada pushed Shikadai's shoulder and he startled, heaving up from his previous sleeping position.

"What? Who?"

Shino heaved a sigh but Amaya's suppressed chuckle in the distance drew his attention and he looked up at her. She sat on the far end, in the back, and observed the school process with genuine curiosity. Her cordial aura radiated from the very morning and when she shared her strong desire to see him teach, he just couldn't bring himself to refuse. He tried, of course, but to no avail. She was as insistent as it could get.

The class noticed her when she entered with him but he promised to introduce her right after they finish with the important lesson.

"Shikadai, if you're interested in solving the math problem I've currently given to all of you on the board behind me, the whole class will be going home earlier."

"Tch," He puffed, furrowing at the equation. "I could do it if I wanted to but I don't."

"Come on, man." Chouchou turned back to look at him. "You gotta save us."

"Yeah." Sarada leaned to him, putting an innocent smile. "Please."

"I'll do it." Boruto snapped, suddenly infuriated by the view.

Sarada's lack of faith in him always led to wondrous results. Shino didn't think Naruto realized how much his son was like his father in some ways. He didn't care what was the fight for as long as he was proclaimed the winner.

"I don't see how you are gonna solve that," Shikadai murmured, opening his notebook. "Dumbhead."

"Shut up, nerd." Boruto started writing fast in his own sheet of paper, the determination in his eyes sparkling visibly. "Just watch."

"Competition is always useful." Shino folded hands, proud of the lively response his students showed.

The room sank in silence for a short amount of time while the competition lasted but Boruto was the one to find a solution to the math problem first, in the end. Shino saw the great potential in the boy long ago. The problem was that he was too good in spite of his classmates. Shikadai, on the other side, was as brilliant as Shikamaru himself. Not much of a surprise, though, a Nara's mind was always a wonder.

"I think you two should solve harder problems. Boruto, do you want me to give you something more interesting?"

"Yes." The boy snapped but then his cheeks slightly reddened with inconvenience. Showing that much enthusiasm about mathematics could turn him into an object of mocking. His first reaction told Shino enough, though.

"Shikadai, do you want one, too?" Shino turned to him but Shikadai only puffed, furrowing.

"No, thank you, sensei."

"Alright, everyone is free to go. Boruto, come to me with your notebook."

A couple of students stood up but most of them hesitated, noticing something else.

"Aburame-sensei, you promised to introduce us to our guest!" Sarada reminded out loud, glancing at Amaya.

Shino looked up at her, taking a few seconds before finding words.

"But of course. I promised. Just a moment, please."

Amaya raised her hand in a gesture that was supposed to calm everyone down and show them it wasn't much of a deal that they have forgotten her.

Shino went to Boruto and quickly wrote something in his notebook, leaving him furrow over it.

"Alright everyone, I'm sorry for keeping you overtime but you asked for it." He said out loud, hands up in the air and was followed by a quiet hoot.

"I don't wanna go home anyway. It's a hell of a fuss with the coming party."

"Yeah... can't wait." Shikadai pouted. "The next birthday we'll just sit and do nothing while our parents cheer and talk for hours. Boring."

"Your parents?" Shino slowly rested his hands on his sides, his intonation completely even.

"Yeah." Boruto blew off his cheeks, heavily irritated. "Dad's birthday. He and mom just had to invite the whole world in our house."

"Did they?" Shino's voice lowered an octave.

"It's cramped enough." Boruto furrowed.

"Your mom cooks delicious, though." Chouchou giggled. "I'll be happy to eat some of those home-made bonbons she makes."

"Excuse me for a moment," Shino said abruptly and headed out of the classroom.

His strange decision surprised the students and they silenced immediately, following their sensei leave at a fast pace. Amaya stood up, smiling at them.

"Uh, I'll go see what's wrong." She announced softly. "We'll be back in a minute."

"Is he alright?" Sarada raised a brow.

"I don't know." Amaya gave them an apologetic expression, walking down the aisle. "And I am very sorry to keep all of you here because of me."

"Not a problem." Boruto drawled, still confused.

"I'll bring him back, no worries." She chuckled, leaving the classroom.


How foolish of him. To think his friends would act like friends. It wasn't too much to ask, wasn't it? For them to care. Guess he was the useless one in the group after all.

He leaned against the concrete wall, sudden shortness of breath attacking him. Nothing serious, just a little trouble with breathing.

They forgot about him. Forgot... to invite him. There was this dull ache in his chest that he couldn't get rid of. It was so heavy and painful that he couldn't manage to scatter it away. It suffocated and pulled down like an anchor. It wasn't that unfamiliar of a feeling, it just hasn't ever been so strong.

"Shino. Are you alright?" Amaya called from behind and he turned around but as she neared her steps gradually slowed down and her face... with every inch closer it withered until she didn't stop within his range, tears filling her eyes. They soon brimmed over, falling down her cheeks and she parted her lips in what looked like a mixture of dread and awe.

Shino made an unconscious step backward. So she really sensed others' emotions, after all. He thought it wasn't completely true when she told him back then. Now, she appeared even more upset than last night. Matter-of-fact, that upset he hasn't seen anyone recently. The heavy pain was written all over her face and she seemed to have trouble comprehending it. He took another step back, suddenly a feeling of guilt washing over him. It was his fault she was in pain, right?

"You," She whispered, narrowing eyes. "You're..."

Her trembling hand reached for him so carefully that it looked like she was reaching for an apparition that was about to disappear in front of her very eyes. Shino was taken aback by her state, still not sure whether she was a strong empath or just a good actress. But his own senses were clear enough. What she felt, it was completely real.

The tears still gushed from her eyes when she stepped to him but he recoiled once again.

"You must stay at a safe distance. It seems I have a heavily negative influence on you." He noted, matter-of-factly.

"Shut up." Amaya snapped but her voice failed her and broke off. "Don't speak."

Shino stood still, furrowing at her. What did he say, again? She covered her face with hands, trying to hide her tears.

"I am very sorry." He tried again, though his formal tone didn't change a bit.

"Shino..." Amaya neared him and wrapped her hands around him in a gentle hug. "No need to apologize for that, alright?"

He was even more confused than before so he didn't know what to say to that. Or what to do.

"Hug me." Amaya hinted with a frail chuckle. "Please."

Glad that she has granted him with a solution, he obliged.

"That's right. I knew you could do it." Amaya closed her eyes, leaning on him. "I don't know what happened in that classroom but you are not alright."

Shino closed his eyes for a moment, breathing in the light fragrance of Amaya's hair. That heaviness in his chest... faded away. How did she manage to fix everything so easily? Perhaps she was a witch after all.

"I didn't mean to hurt you."

"I know." Amaya's body trembled with a quiet laughter. "I just... wasn't prepared. Didn't think anyone can get that upset."

"I'm not upset."

Amaya heaved a heavy sigh, continuing with a pleasant murmur.

"You might've fooled everyone by now but it wouldn't work with me, you know. Sensing emotional states is one of my strongest abilities." She paused. "May have something to do with the fact that I'm a woman. Innate empathy."

"I think we should get back to the classroom." Shino opened his eyes but the thought of parting with her panicked him a tad. What if he couldn't restore his stability of mind again? If the pain returned?

"Shino, I'm not gonna let you go." Amaya pulled away a bit, her hand interlocking with his so casually, as if she's done it a million times.

It was frustrating to have someone read him like that. He thought himself a lot of things but nothing was close to transparent. Shino looked at their entwined hands for a second and back to her face. She waited for him patiently, a tiny smile on her lips.

Shino made a step forward but stopped again, turning to her.

"We shouldn't do that in front of them."

"Why?" Amaya raised a brow but the thought came quickly to her mind. "You fear gossip?"

"I..." Shino didn't quite want to let go of her, that was the truth. But his students could spread some rumors he wasn't completely fine with. "Just for now."

"Okay." Amaya shrugged, detaching from him.

They quickly returned to the classroom and remained in the front while all of the confused and curious pairs of eyes were fixed on them in silence.

"I promised to introduce our guest. I must apologize for keeping you for so long." Shino spoke out loud. "This is Amaya Kamizuru. She's an ambassador coming all the way from Iwagakure."

"Woah," Boruto blurted, followed by his classmates' comments.

"Nice to meet you, ambassador."

"Is it cool in Iwagakure?"

"It is." Amaya laughed. "But I like Konoha better, I'll be honest."

"Are you a shinobi, too?" Sarada asked, on top of the excited voices.

"I am." She looked at Shino. "I'll leave it to your sensei to explain."

"Explain what?" Shikamaru's gaze bounced between the two of them suspiciously.

"She is..." Shino glanced at her for a moment before looking back to his students. "Like me."

"An insect user?" Chouchou's eyes widened in fear. "More bugs?!"

Amaya chuckled.

"Yes, I'm afraid." Shino sighed. "More bugs."

"Why doesn't she cover her eyes, too?"

"I am a bee user, I can handle light." Amaya hurried to explain. "His type of bugs don't allow him to have his eyes unprotected like the rest of us. It's called crepuscular vision."

"Aburame-sensei never told us anything about his clan so... thanks for sharing." Shikamaru pouted.

"Yeah, he never says anything."

"Yeah."

The verbal riot that rose up didn't bother Shino in the least. He was glad they knew nothing of Aburame. Thoughts sinking deep into his past, he reiterated the childhood memories of those dark hours, spent in dark rooms with creeping and whizzing insects, making his way through his body when all he could do is stay silent between four walls that isolated every noise.

It was as if the darkness became denser and denser with every minute, crawling underneath his skin and the pain more unbearable than in the minute before. The horror exceeded every other emotion raving inside of him. Then it slowly hushed, leaving no choice for him but to reconcile with it and accept the shadows and that noise as a part of himself, as his ultimate strength. Variety of powerful bugs. Thousands upon thousands of living cartridges that could crush the target of his anger, if he only wished.

He knew that as the son of the clan's leader he'd have to cover expectations and even surpass them. It fell upon him to thread the path of perfecting and polishing his clan's skills as they have never been before. A new generation, with a greater power.

Days of fear alternated days of pain. He couldn't remember when but he gave up on calling for help at some time. It was a hard thing to do, having to realize that no one's gonna come and wrench him out of that madness his clansmen called a process of hosting. He was never to seek light anymore. And never to question his superiors' will for he was meant to become a living weapon.

Surprising. Did he really think everything in that complicated way back then? Probably not because children don't think that way. They can't even speak in their first years.

"Shino," Amaya whispered hoarsely, leaning to his ear. "Stop it."

He startled, returning to reality. Looking at Amaya's tearful eyes confused him, although he knew he had to continue talking. The class waited in awkward silence. Shino never thought he'd feel so helpless in a situation. As if he fell into a pit and he didn't know how to get out or what to say.

"Ambassador, are you alright?" Sarada broke the silence.

"Yes, I just have something in my eye." Amaya slowed down with her reply, trying her best to smile. "In both eyes."

"Anything else you want to ask ambassador Kamizuru?" Shino intervened abruptly.

"Is she your girlfriend?" Chouchou asked all of a sudden and Amaya exchanged glances with Shino.

"No." He replied, quickly.

"Yeah, she is." Shikamaru puffed. "It's obvious."

The class burst into another clamor, leaving Shino completely baffled.

"We'll go, sensei." Boruto waved a hand, standing up.

Shino didn't mind them leaving the Academy already, he did hold them overtime but he couldn't manage to speak out loud. There was a small chance but it completely blew off when Sarada and Chouchou came to part with Amaya officially and left another striking comment.

"I'm very happy you visited us, ambassador." Sarada took a bow of respect and smiled at her. "Hope Aburame-sensei would keep you longer in the city."

Chouchou leaned to Sarada and whispered something that could've been impossible for the ordinary person to hear but the attendants didn't really fit into that category and could hear a whisper from very far.

Maan, I can only wish to be as beautiful as her!

Amaya blushed against her will, nodding at them.

The hall emptied a few minutes later but neither Shino nor Amaya had made a single move.

"Shino, mind explaining to me... what's happening?" Amaya spoke quietly, first to shift closer. "It hurts."

"Nothing," Shino replied evenly and went back to take his things from the desk. "Just memories."

"Of what?"

"It's not important." He commented absently, caressing his forehead.

Amaya went to the desk and leaned her palms on it, furrowing.

"You can tell me."

"You keep secrets from me. I think it's fair if I do it too."

Shino took everything and headed out of the room.

"Is that it? You're not telling me because of last night?" Amaya tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, following him out of the building.

"No. I just refuse to share. I have that right."

With those words, Shino locked himself in silence and left Amaya pout after him.


"Oh, Shino! Hey." It was a quiet, ethereal voice that reached them from behind and they both turned around at once. It was the tiny figure of a dark-haired woman with silvery eyes that caught up with them on the same side of the lively street they walked through.

"Hinata." Shino greeted with a nod.

"How are you?" She smiled, looking at Amaya's cross expression. "Will you introduce me?"

Shino was still and quiet for a moment but he made up his mind and decided pouting was for children.

"This is Ambassador Kamizuru Amaya. She's coming from Iwagakure." He glanced at her. "Ambassador, this is Uzumaki Hinata, a shinobi from the noble clan of Hyuga. Wife of the Seventh."

Hinata's face flushed red at his words but she managed to bow, greeting Amaya whereat the latter responded with the same.

"Hope you have a pleasant stay at Konoha, ambassador Kamizuru." Hinata chuckled faintly. "I'm afraid my husband has too many things on his mind and couldn't pay you much attention. I assure you, he's n-not ignoring you on purpose."

"Thank you. But don't trouble yourself with that. I'm perfectly content with everything I've been given by now."

"Is Shino taking care of you?" Hinata slightly tilted her head, her voice a tad teasing.

The postures they have taken were rather odd, both of them have turned more of their back to the other and the scene gave rise to doubts. Amaya just opened her mouth and closed it soon after, furrowing.

"Well, he does. But I'm not sure he does it willingly." She said, at last.

"Shino, what have you done to the girl?" Hinata's eyes changed, colored by concern.

"I don't know. Surely something that I'm worth scolding for." Shino pondered.

"He might be strange sometimes." Slightly touching Amaya's hand, Hinata whispered to her with a faint smile. "Don't mind him."

"He's not strange." Amaya snapped, drawing Shino's attention. The tone was almost harsh and Hinata stepped back, surprised. "Stop calling him names, please. He's as human as all of you."

"I'm s-sorry." Hinata's voice trembled as she placed a curled fist on her chest. She bowed low. "Very sorry. I didn't mean to be rude."

Amaya released her breath, glancing at Shino for a moment before her amber gaze went back to the white-eyed woman.

"It's me that should apologize. Please, accept my deepest apologies. I was being too harsh." It was Amaya's turn to bow and Hinata straightened up, still perplexed.

She extended her hand with a warm smile and Amaya heaved up.

"Friends?"

Amaya gladly took it and smiled back.

"Friends."

Shino shifted uncomfortably when a large group of loud-talking teenagers passed by them. Amaya noticed his reaction to the unpleasant noise and hurried to help.

"We should go." She suggested, trying to hint at Hinata their intentions.

"Of course, I'll leave you." Hinata put hands in her pockets, stepping back. "Ambassador Kamizuru, you are invited to the birthday, too."

"Call me Amaya, please. What birthday?"

Hinata chuckled.

"The Hokage's birthday. You can come with Shino."

"I'm not invited." Shino intervened, at last, his voice as calm as ever.

"Of course you are," Hinata exclaimed. "We sent you an invitation, didn't we?"

Shino's continuous silence filled the space with a heavy tinge.

"Let's go, ambassador." He said, not bothering to even look at Amaya. "It was nice to meet you, Hinata."

"Shino, I'll be waiting for you on the birthday!" Hinata's hand rose as if trying to make him stop as he surrounded her and went on his way.

Amaya held Hinata's pained expression for a second before hurrying to catch up with her previous companion. They walked in silence for quite some time but Amaya seemed to fight an inner battle whether to speak out loud or not. Shino was convinced she need not ask all those questions she asked earlier. Hinata managed to give her a clear enough answer.

"Do you know what you feel like from my point of view?" Amaya glanced at him.

"I don't."

"You feel like a big bundle of crumpled steel," She slowed down, looking down at her feet. "that keeps on crumpling and shrinking, more and more."

"You fear the outcome."

"I fear you've grown used to something that no one shouldn't."

Shino stopped abruptly and she mirrored right away but neither of them spoke. All they did was stare at each other. As much as he was angry, the fright in her eyes was tangible. It was clear to him that she tried to put on a proud and strong appearance but what she felt was slightly different. He was about to raise his voice at her but changed his mind when she, still looking cross, took his hand abruptly and squeezed it, stepping at him.

"You are so going to that birthday." She said through clenched teeth.

"No, I'm not. I wasn't invited."

"Don't make me slap you in public." Amaya narrowed eyes.

Shino backed up a bit, fazed at her sudden aggression.

"Quit feeling sorry for yourself."

"You think I feel sorry for myself?" He asked slowly but his tone applied wonder to her fair eyes.

She was confused for one long moment but then decided to step even closer, raising her eyes up to his. Shino didn't feel like he could think straight when someone was invading his space to that extent but chose to stay still and wait to see what she had on her mind. Never before the dark layer of his visor has seemed so hindering for him for he was touched by the desire to see that beautiful skin of hers with his own eyes.

He wondered where he'd seen these nuances before. Perhaps those early spring ladybugs that usually swarmed the forest in April.

"What are you thinking about? You're not angry anymore." Amaya gave out a breathy laugh.

"Ladybugs."

Amaya bit her lip, attempting to stop the laughter from coming out.

"Shino," She sighed, acquiring her serious expression once again. "That they've forgotten to invite you doesn't mean they don't care about you anymore."

Shino raised a brow.

"I thought you didn't believe in such things as friends."

"I want to believe I have just run into the wrong people. Getting to know your friends..." Amaya shrugged. "They're nothing like mine, you know."

"And you're just gonna give up on your conviction?"

Amaya swallowed, eyes dropping down.

"I don't want you to feel the way you did today. It was awful."

What was she aiming for... Shino furrowed as his thoughts flashed through his mind. Was she sincere? And why would she be, they barely knew each other. What disturbed him most was that she knew so much about him when he didn't even get to ask her if she had a family or... why did she come to Konoha on her own. And he hated it but she was so clever. She knew her power over him because her very presence confused him and didn't allow him to think as methodically as he wished to.

That she was warm and soft to the touch didn't help much, too. Something of an insanity was starting to crawl its way through his mind and enfetter it, giving him no peace of mind. Dangerous or not, she was so cheerful that he found himself magnetically attracted to her unceasing joy as if the closeness would somehow brighten his identical days and infinite nights.

But she was nothing like those insects he wanted to possess. She was way too fragile for him to have his will the way he usually did. She wasn't an inferior nor was she a friend in the sense he put that word in. Whatever she was, he had to weigh his every word very carefully because she seemed to get hurt easily. But that didn't mean he would change. Especially if she thought pitying him would work. Pity could work with others, not him.

"I'm not going to that birthday," Shino announced nonchalantly. "Neither am I forgiving them for what they did."

Amaya raised her eyes up to him sharply.

"Shall we go back? It's getting cold, ambassador." He stepped away but she pulled his hand enough to get him looking her way.

She pouted until he decided to transform his sentence in a way that might... or might not work.

"It's getting cold, Amaya."

The frown on her face didn't evaporate but she did murmur a reconciled Better, joining his slow pace.


A/N: Thanks a lot for reading, guys! I thought I'd have two or three people 'till the end haha. Glad so many share my thirst for a ShinoxOC. We'll see how big in number we'll get when I reach the tenth chapter. I hesitate whether to end it there as planned or just add a few things more. Really can't decide.

Now, they have always shown Shino as someone who loves his bugs but I don't think that hosting thing (Kishimoto never said anything about) was quite pleasant and pretty great for a little child. I'd leave people to think about it. I see a trauma here, I don't know about you, guys. It's fanfiction's job to fill in the blank spaces in the characters and I sat down and thought a lot about Shino. Come on. How do you get hundreds of insects under your skin without having nightmares for years afterwards?

Anyway, it's my thing to thank everyone that left a review, one by one, just because the reviews people leave are so inspiring and let me know I should not give up on the story. See you next time, to everyone else.

P.S. Sorry for the mistakes. I fixed them. I tend to update at 2 am and miss some things.


Imogen, thanks for the compliment. I'm happy you like the pace because I love doing slow pace + important details combinations. I'd say pay close attention to Amaya, things are really interesting there haha Shino, though... goodness I am too emotional to write Shino, lol. I get really upset with this fic and it was supposed to be cute.

Thanks for dropping another review,
Kairakiani! Do you even know how much that means to me? My story has gone through your heart and mind and it's reflected in your subconsciousness. This is all a writer could ask for haha Thanks for sharing.