Shino was off active duty for the time being in order to get aquainted with his bride to be. Of course this was all political. If it didn't go well then the peace between Sand and Leaf could become tense. Shino did enjoy Cora's company but he was still unsure of himself around her. He had no idea how he was meant to act really. And with this fascination of hers with his eyes... well he was more than a little baffled.
The Aburame in question was feeling quite lonely really when he found himself without the company of the Sand kunoichi. It took a few of his kikai being sent to look for her but he discovered that she was training. When he arrived he found Cora dressed in a pair of black shorts and a white tshirt looking as if she had been out there for hours. She stood with her feet slightly apart, eyes closed. She brought her hands up in a seal and muttered something under her breath. Much to Shino's surprise he watched as metal spikes sprouted from her forearms; around six per arm. He had wrongly assumed she could only conjour the blades she had shown him. Cora took up a battle stance infront of a wooden training post with a target on it. Her eyes snapped open and she began to move.
Cora jumped back and pulled a spike from her arm, making Shino mentally wince at the thought of it. She threw it, hitting the target just outside the bullseye. She frowned and pulled a spike from each arm, throwing them in unisen. One hit the centre dead on and the other was right next to this. She continued until she had a single spike left. She pulled it from her arm and watched as the skin covered over once more as if it had moved out of the way rather than torn. She eyed the target carefully then threw. The spike hit the other at the centre of the target and shattered it on impact. Cora laughed in delight. She held out one hand with her palm vertical. She called to the metal. It all turned to liquid and moved through the air before seeping into her outstretched hand.
"You know it's rude to stare, right?" Cora called out, turning her mismatched eyes to settle on Shino. The bug ninja had the decency to seem at least a little embarrassed. Cora chuckled and walked over to him. "How're you this morning?
Shino shrugged, "I can't complain. I hoped you could help me with a problem."
Cora looked slightly startled by this. She hadn't expected Shino to ever ask for her help. "Um... ok. What's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong as such. I just can't decide what to buy Kiba for his birthday" Shino replied. In truth he really did have no idea at all. It was just a bonus that he could ask her to help him thus spending more time with her. He wouldn't admit it yet but he had feelings for Cora beyond friendship.
"Hmm that's a difficult one" Cora replied. She bit her bottom lip in thought, not in worry as she usually did. "When is his birthday anyway?"
"Tomorrow."
Cora shook her head in mock despair. "I thought Aburame were always prepared. How wrong I was... Ok Mr-Last-Minute, I'll shower and change then we can go look for something. 'kay?"
Shino nodded his acceptance of her plan and they walked back to the compound together in comfortable silence. Cora dashed off once then arrived to shower and change. She returned dressed in her usual attire of loose black trousers and a hooded top which, this time, was sky blue.
"Ready?" she asked with a small smile. And off they went.
It wasn't long before Cora and Shino stood side by side in a small weaponry shop. "Kunai?" Shino suggested.
Cora rolled her eyes "You're really bad at this, Shino-kun." She hadn't called him that before and he fought back a smile at the sound of it.
"What do you suggest then?"
The kunoichi let her eyes wander around the shop before she spotted the perfect gift. It was a woven leather bracelet with a seal on it. She walked over and picked it up to have a look, recognising a seal with which things could be stored like in a scroll. "What do you think? We could put something in the seal part too.. if you don't mind going in for a gift together?"
Shino nodded "It's a good idea."
Cora smiled at him before picking something else off a shelf. It was a nindog whistle "Think he'll appreciate the joke?" she mused before deciding he probably would.
"I'm sure he'll find a fitting way to get you back for it" Shino told her wryly.
Cora shrugged "Nii-san will get over it eventually." She had been referring to Kiba as her brother ever since they had first met. Shino was secretly pleased that she thought of Kiba this way and not in a romantic sense. He couldn't see why any girl would choose him over his handsome team mate.
They paid and left the shop, heading home.
"Glad you asked me?" Cora inquired with a cheeky smile.
"Of course, Harinezumi-chan," Shino replied, thinking of earlier that day. He stopped dead in his tracks when he realised he had spoken his thoughts out loud.
Cora realised what he had called her and blushed a little. "Hedgehog-chan?" He had a nickname for her... "I like it" she decided with a grin.