Slap!

He stayed glued to where he stood, completely shocked as to what was happening. She's... engaged? He remembered to be polite... to smile nicely and not to stare blankly. Then he remembered about his high collar and sunglasses. Or at least, she's going to be.

"The negotiations started two weeks ago," Yukio stated, a large grin on his face as he looked the Hyuuga girl over; Shino glared. Bastard. "Hiashi-sama was concerned over some... rumours going throughout the village. And since Hinata-san needs to have a husband before she can become Clan Leader, he thought it prudentto elliminate these rumours by announcing an engagement."

"... understandable," he grunted out from between his teeth. "And very logical. I can see why he would want to do that."

Yukio turned to look at him, and Shino understood why he was asked to show him around the village. He knew it was me they were talking about in those rumours... he doesn't want me to try anything. "Are you still going to show me around, Shino-san..?" Now that he was listening for it, Shino could hear the slight taunt in the blonde's voice, and the haughty look in his eyes.

"I'm sure Hinata-sama is more than capable of doing it herself," he said behind gritted teeth. Not that you want me to come with you...

"Ah, I'm sure you are right, Shino-san!" Yukio's grin grew evermore, and triumph rang in his blue eyes. "Be sure that you stop by the Hyuuga House though; I would love to speak with you again!"

I'm sure... he grumbled to himself, turning to leave; his gaze strayed to Hinata, and he stopped once again. Damn it... she got dressed up, just for him. Not for me; never for me. She's gotten dressed up for Kiba, and still not me. "... we'll see."

With a deep breathe, he tore his eyes away from the Hyuuga Heir and walked away.

------

"Shino..." she whispered, watching him leave. She felt an arm fall across her shoulders, and looked up at Yukio.

"And what shall we do, bride-to-be...?" he asked slowly; she didn't like the way his eyes dipped downwards, and pushed his arm away. She handed the bouquette of roses to Neji.

"Y-you can give them to S-Sakura-ch-chan," she said with a smile; Neji chuckled, a light blush coming to his cheeks.

"Maybe," he shrugged, holding the roses loosely. "Right now I get to play chaperone."

"We'll be fine," the blonde's arm was around her again; this time around her waist. "Don't worry about us... we'll just go around the village a bit and see what's going on."

"Not alone you won't," suddenly, Neji was glaring. Even Hinata, used to seeing his cold stares, thought his Byakuugan eyes looked possitively evil. "It is inappropriate for betrothen to be left alone together."

"We won't be alone," Yukio's voice was light and playful, but both Hyuuga children could hear the edge. "We'll be in an entire village of people! We could never be alone."

"It is still inappropriate."

"Really..?" The blonde's voice dropped to hushed, threatening tones; Hinata shivvered. Neji just continued to glare back, undetered. "Well, it's even more inappropriate for a servant to tell a Lord's son what do to!"

"I am not merely a servant," Neji spat out. "I am Hinata-sama's protector. I have been appointed in charge of her well being, and I will not let some stupid slip up on my behalf cause her any pain."

It became deathly silent... so silent that Hinata thought she had gone deaf. Then she once again became aware of the birds chirping overhead, and the people in the distance. From the corner of her Byakuugan, she saw Ino and Shikamaru watching them.

"Right!" Yukio was teasing and happy again, stepping away from Hinata to head farther into the village. He grabbed her hand, pulling her with him. "Show me around this village, alright? I want to see everything!"

------

Shino growled under his breathe, punching at the punching log angrilly... he was in the training grounds. Damn it! This shouldn't have happened! He punched again. And again. And again.

Then he snorted. "What was supposed to happen? Oh, yeah... we were going to run away together into the sunset and live happily ever after, neither of us having to worry about our Clan's ever again..? Right... realistic." He punched again. "Our Clan's don't even like each other that much!" Punch. "Her Father reaks of hatrid for me!" Punch. "My Father is too much of a bloody pervert!" Punch. "And she's engaged!" Punched. "Engaged!"

He lifted his fist to punch again, but his kikaichuu resisted against his movements; he snapped at them, before noticing the blood on his knuckles. Fuck. Not good. He groaned, feeling stupid. Now I've got to go and get the stupid thing bandaged...

Looking around, Shino took notice of the few other people in the training grounds... Sasuke and Naruto were heading into the woods to train in seclusion. A few academy students were practicing heir shruiken throwing. And one Haruno Sakura was walking right in his direction...

Convenient, he mused, schooling his unseen features. He tried to calm down as much as possible. It didn't work. Asides from yelling at me, she can bandage up my hand.

"Aburame!" She stopped right in front of him, a single finger pointing right at his face... an inch closer and it'd be touching his nose. He blinked. "What the hell was that all about in the hospital two weeks ago? That wonderful, beautiful, sweet scene! I could have cried! Then you ruin it by going on a bloody date! Are you insane?"

I'm insane..? Calm be damned. "Why don't you stop yelling at me and go find the girl who's managed to get engaged since I saw her two weeks ago? Go as her if she's insane!"

Yelling feels good. Very good. Good stress relief. I see why Father likes yelling at me.

"Engaged..?" One good thing... Sakura's anger seemed to deflate. "What the hell are you talking about? The only rumours going around the village are the ones about you two-"

"Seeking a forbidden romance..?" He offered blandly.

"I was going to say had a child out of wedlock," she admited. "But there's that rumour, too."

"Yeah well..." he huffed, looking away from the pinkette. "Don't believe any of it. She's probably spent the last two weeks laughing at me for enduring all this, while she's been planning some big, pink and white wedding off in the-" A loud, painful crack stopped his angry speil.

He hadn't seen it coming - which in itself was a shock. It had been fast. It had been powerful. Shino was possitive that anyone who didn't have kikaichuu to attempt to soften the blow would have been knocked unconsious from a slap of Haruno Sakura.

He had been knocked to the ground.

"Ass," she hissed at him. "Stop being so damn inconsiderate. Did you ever try to think that maybe she didn't want this to happen, either? I mean... damn it, I've heard that love makes you do stupid things, but this is rediculious! Just... stop being an idiot and get your act together!"

Shino blinked.

I... damn it. She's right...