A/N

I think I got a little too carried away while writing this lol.

My Ino/Aoba oneshot is still unfinished ): We need more Ino/Jounins stories because Ino would date a much older guy (: (though SaiIno probably triumphs over all of them; except for Kakashi haha)

[Ino x Aoba] – TRAX | Oh My Goddess

It felt unreal at first, to be keeping tabs on the girl's movements. Aoba had seemed almost obsessive, almost because he had Asuma to keep him in line.

He hadn't noticed when he first had developed feelings for the Yamanaka heiress, but the past few weeks had been hell for him. He had been excited once when Tsunade had placed him in a team with her for a mission. His excitement died when he found out that she thought of him as just a senior shinobi.

Aoba had tried giving Ino subtle hints for the next few days, but he noted she was pretty dense for a girl. When he had said that she looked exceptionally beautiful that day – and it wasn't an empty compliment for he really meant it – she had muttered a quick thank you. There were no blushes, no turning red in the face or no nervousness at all.

Just a simple thank you.

He almost believed that she was playing hard to get, but Asuma had told her that it was impossible for Ino was known to be flattered at compliments. His only reason then had been that she thought nothing of him. Perhaps he blended too perfectly with the background for her to even glance his way.

"Ino?" Aoba had furrowed his eyebrows in confusion one day. "Why do you seem so distant?"

The blonde girl only gave a knowing smile. "What do you mean by distant?"

The man bit his lips, wondering if he should just be straightforward with her. He was no stranger to Ino's playfulness for he had once seen them used against her many admirers. He didn't want to be lump in together with them; he was sure he wasn't just an admirer.

Aoba knew that he had thought of her as something more than a fleeting crush, perhaps even as his love.

"You don't really react much to me." He mumbled softly. There, he finally said it.

Ino laughed. "But I do. I just don't think you've noticed."

He had wanted to retort that she didn't for he noticed all her gestures and expressions before. On another hand, he didn't because Aoba didn't want to come off as being creepy.

"I really do." This time Ino looked to the ground instead. "I realised I might come off as being indifferent, but really, it's only to the people that I do like."

He knew that was a lie for he had seen her blush whenever Sasuke was mentioned.

"You're not really indifferent with Sasuke, though." Aoba pointed out sourly.

"That was years ago!" Ino protested. "I'm no longer a teenager!"

"Ino… You stopped being a teenager a year ago."

This time she giggled, scratching her head sheepishly.

"Well, people change." Ino gazed into Aoba's eyes seriously. Her gaze had him nervous, but he remained the eye contact. "I really do like you, I'm sure."

"O-Oh."

"Aoba san!" She frowned. "I practically confessed to you!"

The man chuckled, before taking her hands into his. "Sorry, I'm still processing all of this."

Upon touching her hand, Ino had blushed furiously, although her eyes were still on him. So much for saying that she'd changed.

"I guess some things never change, huh?" Aoba teased before adding seriously. "Be mine?"

She hiccupped at his sudden straightforwardness. His confession had felt pleasing to her ears, and the girl nodded her head repeatedly.

"Always."