First off: Sorry for the reference of 'alone time', but I started writing, and couldn't stop.
And Thank you to my reviewer: Shoujok! Thank you so much. Your review got me off my butt and writing! 3
I do not own Naruto: Kishi-sama does!
As I walked straight up to Shino's door, I felt courage welling inside my chest; I was going to speak to him of team dynamics, and possibly broach feelings. I went to knock, but my fist stopped half way there. I'd only stopped dating Naruto a little while ago, so what would it look like telling Shino that I thought I had feelings for him? Like I was being easy. Not to mention, what if Shino didn't have feelings for me? I'd be so embarrased.
Hinata... He calls you 'Princess', and that day... In the kitchen... He has feelings for you. My mind tormented me with the ideas, but I had to look at the logically. 'Princess' may just be a term of endearment for a sister like figure, or a way to say 'sama', but more sweetly.
Why would he call you 'sama'? He's an heir! The question made sense, but Shino was respectful.
"Hinata?" I almost groaned when I heard that deep voice say my name, but then I realized it wasn't a fantasy. I looked up at Shino with wide eyes. My fist was still raised as if knockig, and Shino had one delicate eyebrow raised as he stared at me. How long had he stood there? Just watching me...
Oh Kami Hinata, you must look like such an idiot. To confirm that sentence an uninteligable noise escaped my lips as an answer.
"Enngh.." I was mortified, and worse... Shino seemed amused.
"Do you need to talk, Hime?" I heard the smile in his voice, and, not trusting my woords, I just nodded.
"Come on." Shino reached an arm around me to put it on the small of my back as he ushered me through the Aburame living room, and down the hall to his room. I'd been here before, and knew many members of his family, but the weird sneers they sent Shino confused me today. They snickered, and elbow to eachother all eyes on us. Shino acted as if they weren't there, but I stared curiously causing more giggles to ensue.
"Why are they looking at us like that?" A blush was spread across my face from all the attention. Shino shut his door, and pulled up a chair allowing me to sit on his neat bed. Shino's room was plain, except for a bookshelf, and a dresser against the white walls.
"What did you need to talk about, Hinata?" Just like Shino, straight to the point. I wonder if he wanted to avoid that subject. No matter.
"Well, team dynamics actually." I tried to keep the blush off my face as he nodded for me to continue just now realizing he wasn't wearing his over sized jackets just a white t-shirt. He was at home, so he was more relaxed, but always... His glasses remained.
"I believe Kiba may... Well... N-Not to be conceited, but-"
"Have feelings for you?" Shino interjected. I nodded.
"I feel horrible for such an assumption, but-" I was interrupted again.
"He does." Shino shrugged.
"What?" I was actually stunned that Shino would just say that. No lecture about assuming, no inflection, just a simple fact.
"Kiba has feelings for you, Hime." His voice still held no emotions, but his jaw was tight. He was upset about this fact.
"Oh! Shino-kun, Kiba would never allow that to get in the way of our team work! He's a great ninja, and I think it'll pass, just an infatuation!" I was defending Kiba so easily, so passionately. I'd stood up and was motioning with my hands as I continued the speech. "Feelings amongst team mates is normal! They are the people you know most intimately, they are the people you fight with, and protect. The people you spend most your life with. You shouldn't judge them for that!" Was I even talking about Kiba anymore? "I'd die for you, Shino!" Shino's eyebrows rose to new heights. Crap! "As would Kiba! And you'd do the same for us. So why shouldn't he, Shino? I'm so confused as to why this is a bad thing." Was this even waranted? I didn't know why I was so passionate about this, and I rarely acted so brashly. Maybe it was stress.
Shino stared at me silentlly no emotion, no movements, no nothing. I felt a hot blush moving up my neck, and unto my face as what I'd just done fully sank in.
"I'm sorry, Shino-kun." I muttered looking at my feet. Shino just nodded, and kept staring.
"I never said Kiba's feelings were a bad thing, Hinata... And you were right. I would die for both of you. But Hinata..?" Shino rarely sounded so concered since I'd met him.
"Yes?" I looked up half hoping he'd kiss me.
"What is bothering you? You seem flustered." His voice was back to normal, but I could feel his eyes, his mysterious eyes, on mine. The courage welled up in my chest.
Tell him... My inner self urged, and I obliged.
"Shino-kun... I-" The thoughts were interrupted as Shino's kid brother, Shihazuna, burst in my courage bursting out at the same moment.
"Shino-niisan." The fifteen year old seemed a bit excited, but like Shino it was hard to tell.
"Yes, Shihazuna?" Shino sighed as he looked towards the boy three years his younger.
"Come see Tiaka. She's walking." Shino looked over me and motioned for me to follow. Aburame rarely had femalle children, so each one they did was cherised by everyone. Their princesses, their wives were also treated as such. As I thought of this I froze.
Princess... He does have feelings for you! I shook my head. There was no way. I dismissed the thought quickly. Shino took our job too seriously to endanger it with a crush.
I continued walking towards a group of people smiling and sitting around the living room as Tiaka took a few wobbly steps towards Shikoru, Shino's older female cousin. Shikoru was tall, and slim her face alight as her little cousin chose her. It was an adorable scene that produced a collective "Awh" from the whole group. I smiled from the back, and snuck a glance at Shino as Tiaka reached for him. He had a slight smile as he accepted her. Shino had a way with childre, suprisingly they didn't find him scary like I would have; Kiba was convinced it was because of his afro. I watched Shino hold the little girl gingerly in his arms proudly sporting his small prize, and my heart swelled. I imagined the black haired child's eyes a Byakugan grey as Shino bounced and played with her in his arms. He'd be a great dad. I tapped him on the shoulder and waved goodbye he nodded, and pushed Tiaka towards me. The tiny girll gave me a sloppy kiss on the cheek making all the Aburame laugh before I took my leave. Family time was family time, I'm sure they didn't want any Hyuga's there. The clans were actually a feuding reason? I did not know.
You saw your baby... My eyes widen as I remembered my image of Shino's child.
Oh, Hinata... You got it bad again... I just nodded accpeting the thoughts. I had to forget about this.
As I reimagined the baby again, I felt a cold nose in my palm. My heart stopped.
"Akamaru? If you're here then that means..." I turned and saw Kiba behind me. Tomato red, and kicking dust like a school boy.
"We need to talk, Hinata."