A Class Act

Chapter Nine

Shino's Revenge, Sleeping Arrangements, and Fairy Queens –Finale-

For being terrified of public speaking, Hinata found herself thrust into the spotlight again, having to explain the plan to everyone present. "So uh...that's how it's going to be tonight." She paused to take a deep breath, "We'll just have to make the best of a bad s-situation." Hinata ended with a weak smile, thinking she had done a good job. Only problem was, no one had heard a word she had said.

Looking around, she saw that everyone was busy with one task or another. The seniors were the first to get their tents up, so they were off in their own little circle, brooding. Well, with the exception of Tobi who seemed to think this was a grand adventure and started looking around for 'firewood'- even though starting a fire on campus was strictly prohibited.

When he couldn't find any wood, Tobi loudly expressed, "I know! I can go into Saso-san and Kanku-kun's rooms. They have a lot of wooden things."

This earned him a glare from Sasori while the second puppet collector, Kankuro, had Tobi pinned to the ground with his foot before the Uchiha could reach the door.

"I was only joking! Hina-chan save me!" Tobi yelped. Hinata ducked her head and moved on to another group, not really wanting to get in the middle of that particular dispute.

One particular group of her peers seemed to have found an interesting way to past the time. For rather than setting up their tents Naruto and Lee were play fighting. Hiding around trees and throwing stuff at each other while yelling out seemingly impossible attacks. Almost like they were a group of ninja or something.

'Although, I don't think ninjas would purposefully call attention to themselves.' Hinata thought before wandering over to another section where Kiba and Chojuro were talking. The blue haired boy had his guitar out, which had drawn the other's curiosity.

"See. You don't need an amp. Just strum the strings."

Kiba's gaze narrowed, "Well yeah, I can see that much, but where do you have it plugged in?"

Chojuro hung his head; this might take awhile to explain since Kiba was so sure there was an invisible electric cord somewhere on his guitar.

Moving on, Hinata turned and nearly tripped over Sasuke who was crouched on the ground and trying to construct his tent. Despite the look of 'back off' he was giving her, Hinata swallowed her nerves and offered a smile, leaning a little to be eye to eye with Sasuke.

"Um...if you need help with your tent I don't mind..."

"Yeah? Well I do mind." he snipped in response.

The pale-eyed girl flinched and quickly backed away from the angry Uchiha, only nearly trip over yet another one.

Like Sasuke, it seemed that Obito was having a difficult time with his tent. When the 'nicer' Uchiha gave her a sheepish grin after his temporary home collapsed, Hinata felt maybe it was better to socialize only with those who were willing.

"Obito-kun...mind if I give you a hand?"

From inside the dormitory, Shino could hear all the commotion outside, it almost sounded like a party rather than people sulking about not being indoors. Pulling back the curtains to one of the senior dorms, Shino frowned as he watched Lee and Naruto chase each other around, acting like a two kids- and accidentally stomping across Sasuke's tent in the process.

Shino smirked a little at the Uchiha's sudden rash of bad karma. Justice would soon be served to he who scoffed at the plight of innocent insects.

Back outside, Sasuke glared at the pile of tarp and broken poles that was his 'tent'. Naruto had only spared him one look of guilt before he spotted Lee and took off running while shouting "Kamehameha!"

To make matters worse, Sasuke found himself becoming increasingly annoyed by how Obito and Hinata were cooperating right beside him.

"This pole goes here"

"Ah, no wonder it didn't work last time, had it upside down" Obito muttered. Hinata smiled at him, "its okay. The instructions confused me too at first."

Sasuke froze both of them with a look. After a tense moment of complete silence, Obito cracked first.

"You know, maybe we should set my tent up someplace else."

Hinata nodded, "Good idea..." she whispered.

It was only after they left and Sasuke's tent was still a pile of worthless poles and tarp, that the young man regretted sending them away, because at the very least he could have observed how they set up Obito's tent.

Naruto felt dizzy and light headed from chasing Lee around the courtyard. Even though the blonde was far from being out of shape, he had to admit that Lee was in like an Olympic athlete in terms of speed and stamina. While Naruto had collapsed onto the grass, Lee was still standing, however his alert stance and abundance of energy was no match for...

Naruto heard a strange 'buzzing' noise. Looking to his right and up at Lee, the older boy seemed to be a touch confused as to where the sounds were coming from as well.

"Sounds almost like a bug zap..." Naruto self-censored himself when one of the windows opened up. Shino glared at the two of them, but mostly fixated on Naruto as if daring him to complete that sentence.

The 'buzzing' electric crackle was overpowered by loud and raspy breathing. Heads turned to the cloaked figure, but at a second glance it wasn't a cloak but maroon bed sheets wrapped around the masked person.

Lee, Shino, and Naruto gaped at the being as it twirled around something that looked like a giant red glow stick.

"Naru-to" the person rasped, causing the blue-eyed boy to blink. "Uh...me?"

"Yes. Naruto. Come to the dark side"

At this Naruto exchanged looks with Lee and they shrugged in unison having no idea what the 'midget' Uchiha was going on about.

Tobi extended his right hand to Naruto then curled into a fist, "Join me Naru Walker. And together we can rule the Empire like father and son."

"Uh...dude, you're not my dad. You're only a year older than me."

"Silence! Don't deny what you know to be true Naru Walker. I AM your father."

One could almost hear the cricket chirps that followed Darth-Tobi's confession. Then, the silence broke as Shino closed then shuttered the window. Lee helped Naruto off the ground and they walked by the masked villain, but not without Lee giving a parting pat to Tobi's shoulders.

"You act with such conviction and youthful enthusiasm. Maybe you should think about joining the drama club next week"

However, Lee failed to see that all the condolences and 'nice guy' smiles couldn't change the fact that he and Naruto quickly left when Tobi wanted to join in their game. The Uchiha sulked for a moment then he started stabbing the air and swinging around the light saber.

"And that kid who had detention with the Headless Math Teacher was never heard from again" Naruto whispered, flashlight so close it even illuminated his nostrils. With a click, the blond turned off the flashlight and tossed it at the next person. Turning to face his audience, the boy was disappointed not to hear applause or even see a few pale scared witless faces.

Disheartened for a moment, Naruto trudged to sit on the grass, finding himself a seat beside the female dorm manager.

"Are you having fun so far?"

He noticed how Hinata jerked first at his voice then a blush started to creep up her cheeks.

"Yes...so far" she replied in a quiet tone.

Naruto grinned, "That's great! You know, despite how this happened, I think it's great that we could all do this. Camping out I mean"

Hinata nodded, her gaze wandering to Gaara, who had the flashlight now and it was his turn to tell a story. Only he wasn't say anything. Instead, he stared his dorm mates with the light shining on his blank expression; but that was more than enough to make more than a few shudder before Gaara passed his turn onto the next person.

Kakashi's 'ghost story' wound up sounding a lot like a hentai novel, since it was apparently a succubus ghost that loved going around and sucking the sexual life force from high school boys. Naruto almost felt embarrassed for Hinata as her blush grew hotter and she stammered about needing to leave and get a drink of water.

Instead of getting just a drink, Hinata stumbled into the dorm and into the kitchen. After wetting a towel under the faucet, she pressed the cold cloth against her face, taking in deep breathes.

'I really need to stop behaving like this in front of Naruto' she thought, eyes downcast. He was the first person in the dormitory to reach out and befriend her. Yet, Hinata couldn't help but think she wanted more than to just be friends with Naruto. Just being around him, made her feel so...happy. And embarrassed. And confused. But, mostly happy.

'Is this...what love feels like?' the girl wondered. She had never had a crush on a boy before, let alone been out on a date, so Hinata wasn't sure what else to conclude about the tightness in her chest and giddiness she felt around Naruto, other than it being love. Yet, for all of the good things he made her feel, Hinata also had conflicting thoughts. Self-doubt and shyness made it so she couldn't really talk to him.

Everything Hinata could think of to talk to Naruto about flew out the window when he sat right beside her and tried his best to strike up a conversation.

'And here I am, once again being a coward' Hinata looked down at the towel in her hands. She couldn't keep running away from situations or allow someone else to do all the talking. Looking around the dorm's small kitchen, Hinata realized that before she could take the step to talk to Naruto, there was someone else she needed to confront first.

Shino closed his book and sat up in bed when he heard someone knocking on his dorm door. Before he could fully stand, it opened all of its own, the female dorm manager standing in the hallway.

He observed that she looked very uncomfortable, all fidgeting fingers and nervous glances. For the longest time, she didn't say anything. Finally, she stammered, "S-Shino-kun? I came here to...apologize. The way everyone treated you this morning...was inexcusable and I hope you can forgive them...and me."

Shino blinked behind his sunglasses. She was apologizing? Not just for her but for the entire dorm. Still, Shino wouldn't be budged by a single apology and he told the dorm manager so.

"That's kind of you Hinata-san, however I won't leave until my demands are meant"

She nodded, "I figured as much. Still..." Hinata gave him a small smile, "I would like another chance...to sign the petition you were passing around this morning. I-if it's not too much trouble."

After her brief talk with Shino and signing the petition to humanly remove the termites, Hinata re-entered the courtyard to find that a majority of her charges had decided to turn in early.

Only Tobi, Hidan, and Deidara were still seated in the circle and telling ghost stories; although it seemed they were having more fun waving the flashlight around and aiming the beam at people's tents, rather than using it as a ghost story prop. Glad that she thought of to change into her pajamas while inside the dorm, Hinata pulled her robe over the pj's tight and ducked into her tent before being discovered.

Only to find out it wasn't 'her' tent.

Hinata froze as she spied ruffled dark hair resting on a pillow, blanket pulled up high that she could only see his nose.

"I think I saw something over there, un"

"Huh? Probably just a squirrel. Now give it back." Hidan demanded.

"Tobi saw it too! It was a person!"

Hinata tensed up, she didn't want them to see her inside Sasuke's tent. Then again, she didn't want to be caught leaving it either!

"What are you doing here?"

Pale eyes widened, her gaze darting left and right. The light from the flashlight outside coming closer as were the voices of the three boys.

Sasuke scowled at the floundering girl. "Stay right here" he said, moving around Hinata then motioned for her to hide under the sleeping bag. Doing so, Hinata heard the Uchiha call out to the three seniors.

"Go to bed. Everyone else is trying to sleep."

"Sasu-kun! Tobi wants to make sure that your bed has been invaded."

Deidara snickered, "Not hiding Naruto-kun under those bed sheets are you?"

Hinata tried to with hold a squeak. Naruto and Sasuke? Was there something about them she didn't know?

Sasuke barked in response, "It's just me in here, losers. Go to sleep already."

After a few moments passed, Hinata saw the light disappear and the sound of feet shuffling off to different tents. Sasuke backed into his own tent then pulled the covers back to reveal the girl.

"They're gone. Now get out."

"T-thank you" Hinata muttered, honestly grateful that Sasuke didn't draw attention to the fact she had accidentally entered his tent. She could only imagine how Hidan and Deidara would rag on her. And if word got out that she had been caught in a boy's bed -even if it was accidental and innocent- Hinata could just see herself not only losing her post as dorm manager, but also being expelled.

"Whatever, just go" Sasuke said, now all but pushing Hinata to the exit of his tent. Once she was out, Hinata quickly scurried to her tent and was very relieved to find it was empty.

As she drifted off to sleep, Hinata hoped this 'camp out' would be over by tomorrow morning. While her apology hadn't compelled Shino to give up his stakeout, the young woman wished he'd come to his senses soon.

Sadly, the overnight 'camp out' for the male dormitory wasn't a single night affair. Shino still refused to leave the dorm and allow exterminators to fumigate. While the natives outside were getting restless, Shino knew he was on borrowed time.

Since they were allowed to go in and out of the dorm, so long as they slept outside; the bug-activist knew that his point had yet to come clearly across. His dorm mates had to be more than 'mildly inconvenienced' in order for change to happen.

With that in mind, the residents of the Gingko Dorm awoke on the second morning of their 'camp out' to find the front and back door blocked by furniture. Most managed to hold off showering until after gym classes. However, by day five, things started to get ugly.

"Please don't! Violence...will only make it worse." Hinata begged, trying to keep Hidan and Deidara from throwing rocks at the windows, their way of getting Shino's 'attention'.

"I don't see how it can get much worse than this" Itachi remarked, his hair loose of its signature ponytail and frizzing at the ends. If something wasn't done soon, he'd have split ends. And Itachi would take burning a pile of math textbooks over having damaged hair.

"Look at this!" Hidan yelled, pointing to his own silver 'curls'. "I can't walk out in public looking like a gray-haired granny with a perm!"

Deidara nodded, running a hair through his own long blonde locks, trying to tame the frizz. Sasuke was the only silent member of the 'hair group' that needed daily washing, conditioning, and maintenance in the morning. Dark ruffles were flat and smooshed against the back of his head and the bangs hanging in his face. It looked like a mix of helmet dome and cowlicks: the worst case of Uchiha bed head imaginable.

"We can't go on like this, un."

Hinata sighed heavily. She didn't know what else could be done. Shino had cut off contact with her and Kiba after he barricaded the doors. And brute force didn't seem to do anything to budge the doors- a truth attested by the fact Lee and Naruto tried their best to pry it open only to come back with wood splinters and sore hands.

"Oh, so it is true"

Hinata looked up to see Suigetsu sitting on the awning above the dorm's back porch.

"What are you doing here?" Sasuke asked before anyone else could.

The pale-haired boy grinned, showing off tiny fang-like teeth, "Nothing much. Just thought I'd see what you guys were up to. Heard rumors that one of her" he pointed to Hinata, "harem boys was having a temper tantrum."

Sasuke rolled his eyes, "We're not harem boys. And...As for a temper tantrum, this could have ended a lot sooner if the school had just forced Shino to come out of the building."

Hinata was about to cut in and say that Minato-sensei was trying to be sensitive to Shino's convictions; yet the words wouldn't leave her lips.

"So...you guys need to get in?" Suigetsu asked, looking at the four boys and pathetic hair.

"No. We're just standing around and telling the termites how 'wonderful' they are. Of course we want inside, dumbass!" Hidan snapped.

Suigetsu grinned, "I think I've got a solution then. Be right back."

Since it was a Sunday, the residents had no other choice but to bide their time in boredom since they didn't even have school work to keep them busy. Suigetsu appeared, ridding on the shoulders of a boy who had to be at least eight feet tall, or so he appeared to Hinata.

"Guys," Suigetsu leaped off the red-head's broad shoulders, "this is Jugo. Don't let his size intimidate you though, he's a big softie and was kind enough to help."

Jugo ducked under the awning to reach the door. He didn't even bother trying the door. Instead, the red-haired boy pulled back his right fist and shoved it into the door. Everyone heard the crackle of wood as the door splintered in his hands. Then, once the door was shattered; Jugo shoved the furniture out of the way.

"Thanks Jugo" Suigetsu said with a grin, the only person to witness to his demonstration of strength that wasn't rendered speechless. Ducking inside, Suigetsu paused when he noticed no one was following him.

"Hey, what are you guys waiting for? I thought you wanted in"

In the next second, Hinata found herself nearly knocked off her feet by a four-boy stampede, all in a hurry to hit the showers and fix their hair. It was only thanks to Jugo grabbing the girl by the elbow, that she wasn't trampled.

"Hn, how do you like that? They didn't even stop to say thank you, didn't even check to make sure you were okay." Suigetsu remarked to the dorm manager.

"Ah, no that's fine." Hinata said before she crossed the threshold and entered the dorm. She looked around, but couldn't see Shino.

"Looking for someone?" Hinata jerked at little at hearing Suigetsu's voice, nearly brushing up against him when she took a step backwards.

'So...so close' Hinata swallowed uneasily and backed away from Suigetsu, "Yes. Shino-kun."

The pale-haired boy shrugged, "Probably still asleep, I know that's what I do on a Sunday. I only came out here to see if the rumors were true."

Normally, Hinata would have been quick to agree, but something didn't feel right. Even if he had been sleeping in, surely Shino would have heard the door being busted down.

It felt like he was dying. Maybe he was. After all, Shino had deprived himself of food the last two days, in hopes that it would further his efforts in getting the message across. Unfortunately, since he had locked everyone outside, no one knew he had gone on a hunger strike.

'Guess I should have thought of that first' the young man pondered, but then didn't have room to think of much else as an empty stomach cramped in pain, making him double over then fall to the floor.

Hungry yet still rooted in his convictions, Shino wondered if he'd die here. In this dorm. With only the termites he was trying to save for company.

'Well...even if it is termites, better than talking to a volleyball' he thought, eyes squinted closed.

Then, the door opened. Last time Shino checked, termites couldn't open doors. He heard a soft gasp, but was too weak to look up.

"Shino-kun!"

The patter of footsteps was heard as a female figured crossed over from the door to where he was laying. At first, Shino could only see a vague outline of the young woman. The sunlight from window hitting her just right to give her a halo.

"An...Angel?" he asked.

Pearl-colored eyes blinked. So...odd, but at the same time they remind him of the eyes of some butterflies.

"That's it...the butterfly queen" he muttered.

Another gasp, but Shino didn't hear what else was uttered since he passed out from hunger.

"D-did you hear that?" Hinata asked the boy standing in the door way. Suigetsu nodded, "Sounds like he's gone off the deep end if you ask me."

Hinata bit her bottom lip; she didn't think Shino was crazy. Delusional maybe, but not crazy.

"Still, butterfly queen, hm. That gives me an idea."

Before Hinata could protest, Suigetsu grabbed her right arm and lead her back outside and away from the dormitory.

"W-wait where are we going?" she asked, a bit breathless from having to keep up with the boy's pace.

"To make you into a 'real butterfly queen'" was the only hint he gave Hinata.

Karin scowled at the...amoeba standing at the doorway to her room. "I don't know how you keep getting into my dormitory, but it has to stop" the girl hissed. Suigetsu grinned, but keep his hands up to show he didn't mean any ill intentions.

"Relax, Karin. I'm just here to help out a friend. Not to seduce you to bed...although if you really wanted me to, I could arrange that as well...oomph!" Suigetsu grunted as the door was closed in his face.

"Oh for the love of..."

"M-maybe this wasn't a good idea." Hinata stammered. Once she spoke up, the door opened again.

"You! What the hell are you doing here? With him?" Karin demanded. Both Suigetsu and Hinata blinked.

"H-he's helping me...help a friend."

Karin scoffed, "A likely story. You're probably sleeping with him too aren't you? Does Itachi-san know about him?"

Hinata blushed and tried to protest that she wasn't sleeping with anyone, Karin wouldn't listen.

"Well forget it. I'm not helping out a slut."

Suigetsu scratched his head, "Then how on earth can you live with yourself every day?"

Brown eyes narrowed at the boy, "Are you calling me a slut?"

"Hm, who me? Nah, just making a causal observation, since you won't help a fellow female in needed, who is trying to help out a friend. I can only observe and conclude that you are heartless, selfish, and embittered woman who..."

Hinata jumped out of the way as Karin's fist connected with Suigetsu's jaw bone. She could only watch as Suigetsu eased himself from leaning against the wall, holding a hand to the side of his face while grimacing in pain.

"Had enough?" Karin asked, cracking her knuckles.

"W-wait please!" Hinata protested, "Please...let me explain."

Surprisingly, Karin was willing to listen to Hinata's story.

"So you're 'friend' is starving himself just so save some insects?" she asked, sounding a touch incredulous.

Hinata shifted uncomfortably under Karin's gaze, but nodded. "He...Shino is surprisingly passionate...about protecting those termites."

The red-haired girl shrugged, "To each their own I guess, but what do I have to do with this mix-up. I'm not a termite-whisperer."

Suigetsu tried to grin around his swollen jaw, but it turned into a grimace once again, "He thinks Hinata is a butterfly queen. And well, since he's off his rocker right now, I figured that if we dressed Hinata up something queen-like yet still resembling a bug, he might listen to her."

It was a far-fetched plan, still Karin shrugged, "What the hell. I've got nothing better to do. However, there is a condition."

Hinata swallowed nervously, not liking that lens-flare over Karin's glasses, "A-and the condition is?"

"If I help you, you have to give up on Itachi. He belongs to everyone in the Uchiha Boys fan club. Trust me, I'm telling you to ditch him for your own good" Karin finished with a stern nod.

Still confused as to what this was all about, Hinata slowly nodded in response, "Okay. I promise."

Standing up, the queen of the drama costume department flung open the doors to her closet which was all but bursting at the seams.

"Then we shall make you, a Butterfly Queen!"

At first, the boys of the Gingko Dorms weren't sure what to make of Hinata. They had all been too busy clamoring over one another to reach the showers and toilet rooms, they hadn't even noticed she was missing until Suigetsu brought her back in.

"Gentlemen..." he looked to Sasuke, "and those of questionable genders" which earned him a middle finger, "may I present. Her royal highness, the Butterfly Queen."

If the boys felt confused looking at her getup, it was tenfold for Hinata. She was decked out in a golden gown that looked like it came from the closet of a Roman Empress. Karin had added green and gold 'fairy wings' from a costume she had from A Midsummer Nights Dream last year- the one Suigetsu said made her ass look huge, until Karin socked him again. As if the gaudy and silk outfit wasn't enough, Hinata was nearly going cross-eyed from the 'butterfly' antenna Karin had fashioned from an old headband and ridiculously long black pipe cleaners.

Hinata blushed from all the stares she earned just by being in this outfit, so she quickly turned to the door leading to Shino's dorms, in hopes of putting all of this to an end.

He had to be dreaming. Had to be. The only other option Shino could conjure up was that he had died and the Butterfly Queen was there to welcome him with open arms.

"Shino-kun."

"Yes...my queen..."

She stared down at him, a look of concern on her face, "I need you to eat this" she placed a muffin in his hands.

"Yes..." without further prompting, Shino took a bite of the muffin. Hmm, blueberry.

"You need to come outside Shino" the butterfly queen encouraged, her antenna bobbing up and down and almost brushing against his nose.

"I can't...they'll kill the termites."

"Can you hear anything?"

Kiba shook his head, ear against the door, "Not a thing."

"I knew it! He's snapped for good and he's in there killing her right now!"

"Sweet! I call dibs on her room!" Deidara said.

"Stand back everyone" a commanding voice rose up from behind the crowd of boys hovering at the door way.

A few heads turned to see Tobi, dark red bed sheets draped around his body like a cloak and in his hands was a glowing red light saber.

"I will rescue the Jedi-Maiden from evil Bug Man!"

Itachi didn't even put forth the effort to face palm. Instead, he looked at his younger brother and cousin. Without a word, Sasuke and Obito grabbed Tobi from behind.

"Nooooooooooo!"

Kiba scratched his head, "What is his problem?"

Tobi wasn't through with his Oscar winning performance though. Collapsing to his knees, he wailed, "I have nothing left to live for. I must turn to the dark side now."

Hidan beamed, "Yes! Rack up another convert"

Tobi turned to the blond haired artist, "Dei-kun, draw up plans for my Death Star."

"Uh...sure. Whatever."

Just when Shino felt he was about to lose consciousness again, a trembling hand smoothed his thick hair back, "No, we've worked out something. A group of etymologists are coming here to help extract the termites safely and take them away."

"So..." Shino paused to eat more of the muffin, now it was nothing but crumbs in his hands, "they're going to live?"

The indigo-haired queen of insects nodded, "Yes. They'll leave with the scientists. Everyone can move back into the dorm without worry...and the termites get a new home."

He nodded slowly, showing the queen that her message had gotten through to him.

"Understood. I'm glad. Do you know why?"

The queen shook her head, "No, but you can tell me later...if you want to. You need to sleep right now, Shino-kun."

With what little strength the muffin gave him, Shino crawled under the covers to his bed and then drifted off to sleep, as per orders of the Butterfly Queen.

"Well did it work?" Kiba asked when Hinata emerged, slowly closing the door behind her. She was surprised to see so many anxious and expectant faces looking at her. Hinata felt...touched. They all cared about Shino and wanted to make sure he was okay.

She smiled at them, "Yes. He's fine now. Shino ate a little...so I think he'll be okay."

"That's great!" Kiba said, however he was the only one that seemed excited.

"Great. Now we'll have to hear him ramble on about bugs." Kankuro complained as he and his brother broke away from the group of 'well-wishers'.

"Tell Aburame that if I find a single one of those pests on my puppets; he will be my slave for the rest of his insect loving life." Sasori threatened.

"Finally! I get to sleep in a bed! My back was starting to kill me."

"Sounds like you're getting to be an old man before your time, un."

"What the hell did you just say?"

Hinata's smile weakened until it was nothing more than a slight annoyed twitch.

Maybe...she had been too hopeful to think 'everyone' was concerned about Shino's well being over their creature comforts of a roof over their heads, hot running water, and beds.

Notes: It's done! I know this chapter has been a long, long, long time coming. But, I'm happy to say that the Shino arc has come to a closed! Next part will be one of my favorites, so I'm rather excited. Thanks for reading and for being so patient with me!