Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto nor any of its characters.

Author's Notes: Written for the 30 Smiles Livejournal community. I claimed the ShinoKiba pairing! X3 I'm so proud of myself...So this is going ot be a 30-shot, if I can finish it all the way through. Various styles.

I'M ALIVE! Yeah. I'm starting to fall out of love for the Naruto fandom. D: All the story alerts I'm getting from the fandom are piled up in a little folder in my mail. It's not so little now. x( I'll get to R and R-ing them soon, I hope! And I'm not giving up on this!! -determined face- So here's an update after about a month? D: I did it in my original style. :)

Next update soon, I think. After I get my fill of Eyeshield 21. Hiruma-sama is invading my brain right now. xDD

Enjoy the (long awaited?) tenth shot!

Warning/s: shonen-ai, fluffiness, weird? Change of tenses.

Title: Now
Theme/s: #35.Together
Summary: That was then. This is now. They're together.

Shino used to climb up a large oak tree in the middle of the night to bask in the still silence. Crickets chirped nearby, and a slow wind gently blew on the leaves, rustling them. It was there that Shino felt peaceful; his guard still up for any surprise attacks and the like, but mostly, he was peaceful, listening to the sounds of the night animals and relishing his moment of solitary.

That was then. This is now.

Shino climbs up the large oak tree in the middle of the night, as per his weekly ritual. Crickets chirp nearby, but their sounds are not heard by Shino, who is more preoccupied by the soft breathing tickling the side of his neck. He shifts, careful not to wake his companion.

'Shino,' mumbles the sleeping boy, cuddling in closer. Shino cannot stop the small smile that makes it way to his face as he drifts off to sleep himself.

Kiba used to get up early in the morning and run. Just run with no exact route or destination. Akamaru wasn't there to lead him, or him to lead Akamaru. It was just him, the wind, the chilly dawn, and the promise of a beautiful sunrise. After all the spent energy, all Kiba did was plop down on one of the Hokage statues and wait for the morning to come. It was only that period of time when Kiba was truly silent.

That was then. This is now.

Kiba gets up early in the morning and runs. He runs wherever the wind pushes him to. There's always that slight breeze that tells him where he is supposed to go. It's chilly, but he knows that the aftermath is worth it. Because after he exerts himself running, he makes his way to the top of the Hokage Mountain, where someone is waiting for him patiently. Kiba doesn't say anything as he sits next to the boy and leans on his shoulder.

They watch the sun as it rises slowly, enveloping the village with light. And Kiba looks up to see his lips inches from the other. 'Kiba,' is all his companion says before their lips connect in a simple kiss.

They slept together at night on Shino's tree. They waited for the morning on Kiba's spot. They spent most of the day together. They spent most of the month together.

And they're spending their lives with each other forever.

That thought brings a smile to both.