Hey and sorry to anyone who saw the last chapter 10. I had written about half of that one before i decided i hated it so i left it alone to talk on it but nothing came to me. My brother got on my computer and messed with everything and even typed that last part up and post it. he also messed with some other things like my background, files, saved games, etc. So here is the real chapter!

First let me say sorry to Illusion; i know i said i would have this up sooner but i had writers block on this one but i hope you like it and thanks for being a repeating reviewer!!

Next is... i got stuck on this because of thier talk and couldnt word everything correctly but hey ... its there? At least Shino is back within the story huh?

well ahh enjoy, i'll try to post the next chapter up sooner.

-Felina

Always Here

Chapter Ten: A Talk

What are you doing?

He had a good idea as to what she was doing, at the moment; strangling under his clone which from where he stood, didn't look like he was having a good time trying to keep the feisty blonde under him but was managing. Of course he couldn't stop the high pitch yelling coming from her. He couldn't stop the wince when she let out a wordless scream before opening his door and poking his head out to see his dad just coming out of his room.

"Ah sorry, I'll keep it down." Shino said knowing what his father was going to say. Shibi just gave a questioning look before tapping his finger against the wall than placing to his mouth and walked back into his room and closing the door. Shino took a deep breath before ducking back in and closing the door before putting the silencing jutsu for the whole room. He turned to find everything that was on his bed expect his sheet, on the floor in a wiggling mass of blankets and… there goes a pillow. He watched it get thrown out from under the blanket and again he stand next to the door as his kikaickuu flew out a few seconds after it.

"Ino?"

"Aburame…" Came a voice that was trying for sweet but came out fake sounding and growling. "What was that for?" Ino said pulling out of the blanket slowly, leaving it to leave around her shoulders and hiding her body. "And don't give me the 'what was what for' question; you're not stupid so not act it."

"I wasn't going too."

"Good!" Ino snapped leaving the two in silence with the only sound being from the kikaickuu who hummed in annoyance after being attacked as they flew around the room before landing around or going back into their nest. Shino stayed next to the door letting her fume under his blanket not wanting to set her off when she was in one of her moods. He knew well of these moods and how it can be deadly for the soul who gets caught in her way. It would seem the only ones who could stand up against her on-slot was Sakura; who took it and threw it back at her, Shikamaru… be damned… but still he would sit there and let it go through one ear out the other. Asuma seem to just let her unlash whatever it was but seemed to tame it or at least get it back under control.

Him… well before he would just follow along with whatever the girl wanted because she had a nasty habit of running to her father or his parents which caused him some trouble so he stuck to listening to her. Now… he wouldn't follow but then… she had gotten better at controlling her anger towards a lot of people but set her off… he struggled to keep the grin off his face.

"Oh damnit!" Ino yelled holding her hand, shaking Shino from his thoughts, wondering what she did this time. Her blue eyes flash at him. "This… all of it is your fault! You know I've tried, ready I have. Sure it was rocky and you had to be a stubborn… Male!" She hissed out.

Shino pointed a finger at himself amused by the almost purple colored faced girl who nodded quickly. "And how would this be my fault?" he asked as he crossed his arms over his chest while Ino sputtered for a moment before throwing the blanket off her as she stood, probably not liking to look up at him.

"There you go acting dumb!" Ino yelled hotly, pacing from the closet to the window keeping a good two feet from Shino as if to get close would hurt… he had a feeling it would be a double edge blade if so. "Why is it that men have to do that? It should be, well I don't know, right there in front of you!" A hand is waved in front of their faces while the owner stops for instant to do so before pacing again. "And here I thought you were different with being smart and all but I should have known better seeing how I got Shikamaru on a team and had to deal with him for all my life! I should have listened to Tsunade!"

"There's a point to this?"

"What?!"

"How is this my fault; all you have given me is that my only fault is I am a male and not so much proof that that's a bad thing." Shino said calmly.

"Ok fine! Why don't I started from the latest thing on back, hm?"

"Only on two things; one quiet down two you will let me explain these things to disprove them." Shino said moving to his desk and leaning his butt on top of it, keeping his arms crossed. Ino took to standing in front of him glaring with her hands glued to her hips.

"Fine! You had a clone pin me!"

"You came through my window without saying you would be by."

"If that was true than you wouldn't have known I was coming! So now you're lying!"

"No, am not." Shino said with a small frown. "I saw you. I wasn't lying because it is true; you came without confirming I would be home."

"Oh and how would I confirm it when you've been hiding from me?!"

"I wasn't hiding; I've been training and going on missions."

"So? I have too but I still made time to try and find you!" Ino shouted before starting to pace again. "I've tried to talk to you since you've been back! You don't return my messages and I know you have gotten them because I left some with your mom and I gave you afew myself!"

"I've been busy." Shino said looking away.

"So what; is that your only excuse? I have been busy too but I tired and that's more than what you've been doing!"

"I gave you space, isn't that enough?" Shino said making Ino paused in front of the window.

"Space?" She said quietly before turning around to face him. "Space for what, driving me loony?"

"You and your boyfriend."

"Boyfriend… oh that? How lame are you!" Ino said loudly again making him glare over at her before facing the door again. "Shikamaru and I weren't dating! Not really and that's over."

"I saw you two-"

"A lot of people saw us, so what?! I still had time to do my own thing and he did too!"

"So you were dating."

"No well yes but not really." Ino said before sighing and rubbing her temples. "My father wants me to get together with Shikamaru or Chouji or just one that has his blessings and those two have it because of our father's friendship. Chouji's parents been cool about and not push him into it. But Shikamaru's mom thought it would be for the best if me and him got married and my dad didn't stop pressing on with it."

"Your not even 15…"

"I know! But you know my dad." She said rolling her eyes and began to pace again before clearing her throat and saying in a deeper voice. "'I want my little girl to be protected and cared for and who would do it better than anything.' So yeah we got them off our backs by dating but it was more like us just hanging out and we even went to Asuma's place with Chouji or just hung out with Chouji on our 'dates'."

"So you weren't dating."

"No! I just said that and even if we were I wouldn't want that to get in the way of my friendships and wouldn't allow it either! How could you think that?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Yes, yes it does matter, Shino. It matters to me! Why did you think that?" Ino said stomping her foot down when she stopped in front of him.

"…" Shino looked around before glancing at her and looking away not wanting to tell. With just that last part his whole idea went down the drain. She wasn't being his friend as a joke because if she was she wouldn't be here right now demanding answers about his behavior towards her. She had once again came to him and she most definitely wasn't shying away from him or the bugs. "I was just… I didn't understand what you wanted and had thought that, seeing how you were dating Shikamaru that you would want to be with him. I also knew your boyfriend wouldn't like you sleeping over at a guy's house or that guy sleeping at your house no matter whom."

"Even someone who's gay?" Ino ask grinning, when he coughed and lost that stiff and outsider air he carried around him like a blanket.

Coughing into his fist to keep from yelling. "I don't… Maybe it would be alright if the man was gay but I was talking about my- your really cruel, Ino." Shino said with a glare as she giggled while sitting down at the edge of his bed. "I am not gay."

"Well I never said you were."

"You imposed it."

"No, no all I did was ask a simple question. You're the one who took it that why and," She leaned forward smirking. "If you wasn't gay than why defend yourself to me?"

"I was not-"

"See you were and it proves something." Ino said leaning back on her hands before her not even fazed that he kept the glare going. "It proves you're afraid of what people think of you. See I figured it out; I mean why else would you go through this and risk our friendship? Don't try to say you don't either, let me finish first." She asked him when he opened his mouth but he closed it and gave her a nod to continue; besides she's acting some what normal and wasn't yelling now.

"You see I've been wondering about you for awhile now and had some time to think about it all." Pointed glare before she moved slightly allow her hand to pull the hat off her. "You got these parents that are just goof balls and love being around each other, you, and their family. This family that in their own way, are weirdo's as well but nice weirdoes. Outside of this compound they may withdraw into themselves and don't talk to a lot of people but behind this walls, they act normal, they act like the world outside of their gates isn't there and everything they do out there is just a facial. But you, you take that outside person and keep it around you even when you're inside your own room. Or maybe it's just to me but I don't see it being like that."

Ino leaned forward with her arms resting gently on her knees, staring at him; the tightness at his jaw, narrow eyes. "What happen that makes you keep people out of arms reach? What happen to the kid who used to chase butterflies or fireflies with me and play tag with me?"

"I'm a ninja."

"Yeah well so am I but I still do other things. Most of your family members are ninjas but I still see them doing normal stuff like your dad and uncle, always pulling pranks on each other. My own father runs a flower shop when he isn't on a mission. So why is it that you can't loosen up? I know you can… are you afraid?"

"I am not afraid."

"You are too!" Ino shouted standing up again. "You are and if you're not than you're worried and that is basically the same!"

"They are not and I am not."

"Oh? Than tell me if I get this wrong, alright? Worry or worrying is to have some sort of cause to cause an uneasy feeling. Fear is a more uneasy feeling to the point someone will sometimes lose logic or have it but their eyes or mind tells them to keep it away. A child will sometimes be scared of the dark, believing monsters are under their bed or in their closet. This can stay with them till they die or they out grow it. But before they do, logic will escape them even after their parents tell them nothing is there and check for them to prove nothing is there. The point of it is no matter what their told in the back of their minds will have that thought that says that monsters are real and their waiting to attack. A parent will worry because of that reason too. They'll worry if their child will be ok or if they forgot to pack a lunch or when a child becomes a ninja their going to worry no matter how strong or tough the child grew that one mission could be their last. Is all fear and doubt."

"I'm not afraid of the dark."

"No… you're dark and monsters are people and their thoughts or words. You let them get to you."

"Your one to talk." Shino mumbled.

"What?"

"Ino you can't stand there and tell me I let them get to me when you do the same thing."

"I do not!"

"Yes, Ino, you do."

"Oh is this because of how I act or dress?" She waited for his nodded before stomping her foot again. "I don't do this because of what anyone thinks! I am my own person and if I want to walk around in a pot a dotted dress with neon yellow pants than you know what? I will! If I don't like something, I'll let it be known! So now I'm letting you know I hate what you're doing! I hate how you haven't talk to me and how you put all your time into training, missions, studying, and sleeping! So now you're going to tell what the hell happen to you when we were kids! I can see something behind your eyes and I know this is it. Someone somewhere said something to you and whatever it was made you lock yourself up."

Shino ripped his eyes from hers to look back to the door, checking the seal making sure it was still holding. It hurts how close she cut, how she got it on the bulls eye. But than she was like this, once she got her mind on something and unless she decides she didn't want to do it or want it she wouldn't stop till she had what she wanted. He started to take the calming breathes to get his mind relaxed again and thinking more clearly. How do you word something like this? Shino thought before rubbing his check mentally shrugging at his own question and decided to just speak; it seemed to work with everybody else.

"Ino… It's not that… am afraid. It's just I do hear what people say and even my clan hears what some say about them and it's true they, for the most part, when they step out of these walls they tend to hide behind a mask of indifference; letting the words fall in one ear, out the other. But the problem with that is, we hear and remember before letting it go. We remember what is said and sometimes they seem to just stick out and make you feel… upset. With those days you will find yourself at a friend's house or family member's house and they wash away everything that happen. Most will say that the Aburame clan is antisocial, we say we're just anti-rude."

"Well that's something." Ino said with a blonde brow raised slightly while Shino just shrugged.

"I guess… I brought my mask inside and left it like that though after, hm… the Sasuke thing, I had thought I had changed."

"I guess you did, a little." Ino said with a small smile, knowing he didn't like speaking of when the boy left and almost caused him and her to lose some teammates. She for the better part just calls it 'that thing' or 'don't speak its name or I'll break you'. "But don't stop there! You can't let the get to you and you got to start talking to me again!" she said after the silence came over them.

Shino chuckled quietly. "I think we have a messed up friendship."

"Yeah I guess we do." Ino said smiling. "But hey it's all part of growing up and being around people!"

"Hey, Ino, when did you get so smart?" Shino asked smirking softly as she huffed and pushed the hair that got out of the bun behind her ear.

"I have you know I've also been smart! Just no one listens to me. So hey, you doing the Chunin exams next month?"

"Yes."

"Me too. Chouji and I are having Sakura replace Shikamaru and we're going to start training together for it. I think we'll make it this year."

"Ah."

The two stood in silence again smiling at each other before Ino put her arms out causing him to give her a questioning stare.

"I'll forgive you for being a rear end if you get over here and give your best girl friend a hug." Ino explained.

"Fine and I'll forgive you got attacking me at night and stalking me for a month." Shino said stepping forward and giving her a one armed hug while she squeezed him which made him laugh.

"You're a butthead, Shino." Ino gritted out. Shino pulled out of her arms making a face as he sniffed around before looking at her with something close to disgust.

"Have you… have you been rolling in dung?"

"No!"

"Took a bath?"

"Before I came here… oh." Ino sniffs herself but couldn't smell it but knew it had to be the scent remover. "It's that stuff that removes someone scent! It smells awful before it goes away but Kiba didn't say anything about it coming back afterwards! Oh he's so toast!" Ino shouted sniffing at herself and moving away from Shino not wanting him to keep smelling it on her no less.

"Kiba? He helped you with this… attack?" Shino asked watching her put the hat back on before fixing her hair under it.

"Yeah he did plus Shikamaru helped with the planning and I even got Temari into it." Ino said pulling the window open and poking her head out.

"Wow?" Shino said thinking that all over. So that's why he didn't smell her at his window. He was just lucky he saw her on the wall and again with the shadow of the tree. "Let's me know who needs a harder training tomorrow, I mean today." He corrected after glancing at his clock.

"Good make him so tired he can't move. That way when I get out for lunch I can find him and beat him easier and faster so I have enough time to get back to work." Ino said but stopped and turned her head to look at him. "What are you doing at one o'clock?"

"Getting something to eat."

"Meet me at the Hokage Tower and we can get something together with Sakura. That's when we have our lunch break, alright?" She asked.

"Sure. Good night, Ino."

"Good night, Shino." Ino said before leaping to the ground. She was about to run but was stop when she heard Shino again.

"Ino."

"Yes?"

"Take a shower."

"You're an ass, Shino Aburame!"

"No am not. I'm a friend, Ino Yamanaka."

Even though he didn't give the answers she wanted, Ino was happy to have him back as a friend. She also found out that she couldn't stay mad at him. If her anger was like the water in tub than he was the drain and as long as there wasn't a plug the water will run down and disappear.

He was just to clam to stay mad at and even if he was mad he didn't yell or shouted last night like she did. He probably said a lot of that stuff just because she was brothering him but at least she knew what she had to do now for him. So even if she had to drag him around and push every button he will be going out and have fun with their friends.

It's for his own good, really.

Last night she had scrubbed her body red and took half a bottle for her hair to at least feel like she was clean before lying in bed and catching a few hours of sleep.

The clothes she wore with the remover were burned when she left to go training and stayed outside after she disrobed.

Sakura being Ino's best friend got to hear everything Ino did last night, which left the pink hair girl laughing and the blonde sending her fish slashing over at her. It was a good training day with the two girls talking and having their sensei come in sometimes to check on them or get something but for the most part they did their work while working a plan out for training as a team with Chouji; who Ino forgot was going to meet them at the restaurant.

But oh well.

At one o'clock the two in training medics walked outside and met with Shino, who watched them as one took to each side of him and looped an arm with his arms. The girls just grinned before pulling him along while talking about some differences they saw on the fish they were working with.

"Oh look there's Chouji." Sakura said waving to the snacking ninja who was leaning against the wall.

"Yup that's him alright. Chouji's joining us for lunch so we can set a time up for team sparing." Ino said to Shino while the group got to Chouji who happily walked in front of them saying he was already hungry before throwing his empty bag away.

Shino asked them, in a week's time, to have a team versus team spar which would be good training as a team plus a workout for all and after they gave Chouji most of the meat the group agreed.

After everyone ate and the boys got to watch an Ino Sakura verbal fight, they paid and left.

Ino's days were made up of wake up, eat than clean up and be out the door by six. By nine in the morning her and Sakura would be going on their second lesson that they do on their own while the Hokage does her duties. By lunch time the girls would meet up with Chouji and sometimes Shino when he wasn't on a mission or with his own team and have lunch afterwards Sakura, Chouji, and Ino went to a training ground and between Asuma and Kakashi they were trained for three hours with them before working on their own for another two hours before the girls met back up with Tsunade for study and help with paperwork. After that she found herself home getting something to eat or helping at the flower shop for afew hours than showering before passing out while listening to Shino talk about different things after he came over.

In other words just a lot of stuff to do.

So it didn't help when she got into a fight with Kiba and all too happy to help him met the wall with her fist. Tsunade was pleased and angry at the same time because of it. As a reward for learning so well, Ino got to do the paperwork for the school and help bring coffee or books and scrolls to her. She blamed it all on Kiba.

When the first meeting between teams came, Sakura and Ino were mad at Kiba while Chouji stood off to the side as the girls fumed. Shino and Hinata wisely kept afew feet away from Kiba who seemed confused as to why his dog was backing away from him. But with a battle cry Kiba found himself with two training medics after him while the other three stood off to the side with Akamaru letting the two girls attack.

"Y-y-you think w-we should help K-Kiba?" Hinata asked Shino.

"No. He brought this upon himself." Shino answered watching Kiba take to the trees leaving the girls to chase after him.

"Yeah, he told Ino girls were weak on the battle field. I think he said something about he was glad her and Sakura became medics before that." Chouji said finishing up his bag of chips before popping the bag. "Would you two mind to help with me with this jutsu I've been working on?"

"Sure, Hinata?"

"Oh… ah… s-sure."

It made team sparring into Sakura and Ino team tag Kiba who finally got help by Akamaru while Chouji showed and got helped by Hinata and Shino before they finally got to the reason why they were there. They battled stopping only to get healed up if they had gotten beaten too much before continuing to fight. They only stopped when Asuma and Kurenai came looking for their teams and told them to stop and get something to eat.

Both teams agreed to that.

"So Kiba will you now learn how you think before you speak?" Sakura asked while the group sat around two tables that were pushed together so they could all sit with each other, after they ordered.

"I tried telling you that She over reacted!" Kiba stated even though Shino and Asuma was shaking their heads. Kurenai blinked before looking over at them from the other end of the table.

"What happen?" She asked.

"He called women weak!" Ino and Sakura piped in together.

"Kiba?" His sensei said questioningly.

"Not all girls, sensei! And I didn't mean it that way!" Kiba kissed at the two sitting across from him and Hinata.

"That's why Sakura said what she did." Ino said flip floppy before taking a sip of her water.

"I know that too!" Kiba said in a pitch lower than shouting, it still got some people to turn their heads for a glance.

"Temper, temper, Inuzuka, don't want to cause a fuss now, do we?" Ino said sweetly while Sakura grinned. Surprisingly Kiba shut his mouth and took some deep breathes after his eyes closed.

"Ino, don't bait him." Asuma commented dryly from his end of the table, in front of Kurenai.

"Fine, fine. Chouji don't eat that!"

"Mmmm!"

"Wow he does eat about anything…"

"Akamaru don't!"

"Don't tell not too! You got enough!"

"I'll eat you…"

"Ch-Ch-Chouji!"

"Could I get some more Sake' over here, please?"

"You shouldn't drink so much."

"Don't even try, Shino. Asuma won't listen."

"You try to be on this team…"

"Sensei!"

"This is going to be a long night." Shino sighed while the table continued its small up roar.

"Pass the barbeque!"

"I don't think so!"

A very long night. He thought.