'Why? Why?!' Masako screamed inside her head as she stumbled up a big hill. She didn't realize it until later but it was the hill that over looked the village. The same hill where she would see the village for the last time.

She was crying hard and her vision was blurred. It was hard to see more than a foot in front of her. She could see a silhouette just in front of her but she didn't care.

"Masako?" A familiar voice asked. Masako was so confused she couldn't place the voice to a person then, but she knew they were safe and ran to them. She cried into their shoulder as they held her in their warm embrace.

"Hide." Masako whimpered.

"Okay." The voice said soothingly and led her somewhere, but Masako didn't bother to open her eyes and see where.

"We're hidden." The voice called and Masako opened her eyes and peered out. She saw the un-inviting forest floor about two hundred feet down.

"Thank you." She sniffled and turned to look into the face of her comforter. It was Shino.

Seeing that it was him she cried more and he hugged her tighter.

"Haven't seen you in awhile, Masako-chan." Shino said as he held her close.

'It's been far too long.' He thought as he stroked her hair lovingly.

"What's the matter?" He asked and pulled away from her so he could see her face. She had long tear marks through the streaks of dirt on her face and she didn't smile like she always did. It was like all the happiness and love she always had had just been drained out of her. It really hurt Shino to see her in such a state.

"Not dead…" Masako mumbled.

"Who?" Shino asked as he wiped a few tears from one of her eyes.

"Obito." Masako said as she sat back against the trunk of the tree and wrapped her arms around her knees. She looked like a little girl who was hopelessly lost, which she very well might have been.

"Obito? Uchicha? I'm sorry Masako, but he died back when Kakashi was a kid." Shino said softly trying not to be to rude about it.

"No! You're wrong Shino! He's alive! I know!!!" Masako screamed at him.

"How?" He asked.

"He's my older brother. I've met him." She said and buried her face against her knees.

"I tried to prove it to Kakashi, but…" She began to explain, but was cut off by Shino wrapping her into a hug.

He didn't say anything, but when he pulled away Masako was looking at him strangely.

Shino smiled, "Is that why you're out here?" He asked.

Masako nodded.

"Please, don't ever get this away over something like that again. Kakashi doesn't want to know that his best friend is alive then that's fine. That's no reason for you to get like this. I- you know its torture for me." He finished quietly.

"You?" Masako asked as she wiped away a few tears.

"Yes." Shino answered. "Masako, Kiba told me he's told you this before and I bet Gaara has too, but… they were lying because…" He stopped and shook his head. Masako just sat hugging her knees and staring at him with her eyes, her crystal blue eyes.

"Masako. I- for some reason I- think I… love you." With the last two words he began crying. The only way Masako knew he was crying was from the tears falling from behind his glasses. She was surprised at what he just said, but didn't show it. Just sat hugging her knees.

Shino looked pained, like a knife was just stabbed threw his heart multiple times and he couldn't die so the pain just kept coming.

"I understand. How could a girl like you ever love a 'bug boy' like me?" He said and was about to jump down from the tree when he heard a small sound come from Masako. He looked over to her and saw tears flowing down her face. It was like flood gates had just been opened.

"Don't say things like that. Shino… w-when Kiba told me he loved me I said it back, but when I did it didn't feel any different then telling that to Tinnara or Naruto or Mama Tsunade. It wasn't a lie. I do l-love him, but not the way he seems to love me. When I was younger I kissed a lot of guys. I've always been told that I'm pretty." She paused and wiped her eyes a little then continued, "When I kissed those other guys it felt nice and sweet and I don't know what happened, but when we shared our first kiss that night… I- I don't know what I felt, but it was different than the others. And this will feel different too." She paused and crawled towards him on the branch.

"I love you too."

Shino smiled and they kissed. It wasn't like the other guys. Like Kiba and Gaara and Shikamaru. This was a different feeling. Masako had thought that her first kiss with Gaara was what some people identified as 'love', but she had been wrong. This feeling she felt now while kissing Shino was what love was. It's always been hard to explain even today she says she finds it hard to put into words, but you just know it when it happens. And right then while Shino held her close and they shared that kiss. She just knew it was love.

When they pulled apart Shino flipped down off the branch while holding her in his arms still. When they landed he put her down and they hugged and kissed some more. Right then and there, and she was sure of it this time, Masako knew she was in love. And Shino felt the same way.

"Found ya." They heard a voice say and the two split apart and Masako smiled at her pursuers.

"Bug boy, eh, sis?" Naruto asked and smiled at Masako.

She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Glad you're okay." Tsunade said as she smiled at the young couple. 'She's finally found her love in Shino. That's excellent.' She thought to herself.

"Settled for Shino-kun, Masako?" Tinnara asked as she smiled softly at her friend. Masako nodded.

"Well, it's midnight now. So why don't we all get some sleep?" Tsunade asked.

"Midnight?" Masako asked confused.

Tinnara nodded, "We've been looking for you for a long time."

"Sorry." Masako mumbled. Shino pulled her closer to him as he said,

"Let's all walk home then. Naruto, Masako?" Masako smiled and nodded as Naruto scratched the back of his head.

"I dunno. Maybe I'll walk home with Tinnara-chan and let you two have your time together." He said.

Masako nodded, "As long as Tinnara doesn't mind." She said and looked to her best friend.

"I mind, but for you, Masako-chan, I guess I'll suffer." The two exchanged smiles then Shino and Masako started towards home.

"Come on idiot." Tinnara said as she drug Naruto off in the opposite direction.

"Wrong way Tinnara-chan!" Naruto said as he struggled to get up.

"No, it's not. We're giving Masako and Shino some time alone." She answered and continued to drag Naruto off. Then she stopped and turned around,

"Sorry Lady Hokage. Wanna come with us?" Tinnara asked with a smile.

Tsunade laughed lightly, "I'll be fine. Go on." Tinnara nodded and continued to drag Naruto like a bag of rotten potatoes.

Masako held Shino's arm a little tighter as they walked, she hadn't realized how far they had gone into the woods, or how cold it had gotten. Shino looked over to her and noticed her teeth chattering.

He stopped for a minute and Masako didn't ask questions just let go of his arm and did a dance around in a circle as an attempt to keep herself warm.

After a while Shino stood up and wrapped her up in his jacket.

"Shino, won't you be cold?" She asked and looked over to him. He had another jacket on, but it was only a thin one.

"I'll be fine." He answered and put his arm around her again. Masako smiled and buried her face into the warm fabric of the jacket.

'Jacket. Shino's jacket.' Masako thought.

After a little longer walking the village came into view over the large hill Masako had climbed earlier. She and Shino stopped at the edge and looked down over the village. The lights slowly blinking out one by one.

"So does this mean we're a, uh… couple?" Shino asked quietly.

"I hope so." Masako answered back, quite as well. Shino turned to her and smiled,

"Do we want it to?" He asked.

Masako twiddled her fingers under the jacket,

"I want it to be." She said and nervously looked over to Shino.

"So do I." He answered and kissed her in such a way that made Masako remember how much she undyingly loved him. When they split apart she beamed up at him.

"I guess it means we are then?" He asked.

Masako just smiled and nodded. She turned back again to get another look at the beautiful village below.

"By the way…" Shino began. Masako turned to him, "I love you. Did I mention that?" He said and smiled at her.

"Maybe once or twice." Masako smiled back. He nodded and turned to look at the village.

"Did you know? I love you too?" Masako asked and when Shino turned to look at her she tackled him and they landed on the soft grass. They were both laughing.

Shino laid Masako's head on his chest as they looked up at the stars. He stoked her hair and every once in awhile he would kiss the crown of her head and in return she would kiss his neck which was the only skin she could reach.

They both drifted off and the next morning Masako woke to a loud sigh. She sat up and saw that Shino had sat up with her.

They saw Shikamaru standing with his hands in his pockets.

"Man what a drag. All the couples always love to hang at my favorite spot." He said and sighed again.

"Sorry Shikamaru. We'll leave." Masako said as she stood up and brushed herself down. Shino nodded and did the same. Masako handed him his jacket and the two set off down the hill leaving Shikamaru in his peace.

"How long were we up there?" Shino asked.
"I don't know…" Masako answered.

The two walked back to Masako and Naruto's house. When they got there Masako and Shino expected to see Naruto and Tinnara at the table eating breakfast, but all the lights were out and when Masako went into the bedroom the three stayed in they were both asleep and the clock on her night stand read: 3:07 am

She looked at Shino and flashed him the clock.

His eyes widened under his glasses, "Whoa. I didn't know Nara could get up so early." He said. Masako smiled and set the clock back down.

"I'm tired." She said and yawned.

"Then I'll go and let you sleep." Shino answered and leaned over to give her a goodnight kiss.

Masako grabbed him and pulled him onto her bed with her, "Who says you have to leave?" She asked and smiled.

Shino smiled back and the two slept soundly in each others arms.

Later in the morning Masako and Shino woke up to Naruto yelling at them,

"Masako! You get a boyfriend and on your first night this happens!"

"Shut up mother hen. Nothing happened. We just slept together, like, literally." Masako answered as she rubbed her eyes.

She looked over to her clock and it read: 6:37 am

"Asshole!" She screamed at Naruto as she chucked the clock at him.

"What'd I do?!" He asked dodging the flying object.

"You freaking woke me up 3 hours after I went to sleep!" She screamed as she got out of bed and chased her little brother out to the kitchen. Shino laughed tiredly and followed the two.

Tinnara was in the kitchen preparing cereal for herself.

"Good Morning, twin terrors." She mumbled as the twins ran past.

"I resent that!" Masako screamed as she chased her brother, now into the bathroom.

"Trapped!" Tinnara heard her scream. Then just muffled sounds of Naruto and something water related.

"This how mornings often go?" Shino asked walking in.

"Most of the time." Tinnara answered then looked up to who she was talking to. She smirked, "Sleeping together on the first night?" She asked. Shino blushed. He was going to answer, but Masako walked in,

"We literally slept together Tinnara-chan. Nothing weird." She answered as she got out two bowls and poured cereal for herself and Shino.

"Thanks." Shino said as she sat down next to him and gave him his bowl. He kissed her on the cheek.

"Aren't swirlys' a little young for us, Masako-chan?" Naruto asked as he walked in with a wet t-shirt and a towel on his head. Masako opened her mouth to answer, but she got cut off by an older Chunin bursting threw the front door.

"Hurry! Lady Hokage needs you all now!" He said out of breath.

Masako and Tinnara exchanged worried looks. They all stood up and left right then.