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Chapter 21

Head over heels

Shino turned to the origin of the sound confirming it to be the boisterous, blond knucklehead from their academy days as well as five others.

"What is it?" Sachi asked.

"My friends are coming over, likely to meet you," he said, returning Naruto's wave.

"Hey, Shino-kun. How's it going?" Naruto asked when the group approached.

"Things are going well, Naruto-kun."

Ino, ever the one to get to the point, interrupted. "So, Shino-kun, is this the girlfriend you mentioned?"

"Yes, Ino-san," adding the name for Sachi's benefit to help her match a name to the voice. "This is Sachi Hara, my girlfriend."

"Hello, it's nice to meet you," Sachi smiled politely.

"Hi, I'm Ino Yamanaka. This is my boyfriend, Sai. This is Naruto, Hinata's fiancee. Of course, you've met Hinata, here. And over there is Sakura Haruno and Sasuke Uchiha." It was only after the introductions were made that Ino realized Sachi couldn't see who she was pointing to and uncharacteristically clammed up at her faux pas.

"It's great to meet more of Shino-kun's friends," Sachi said, ignoring the tense feeling emanating from Ino. Sighted people that did not regularly deal with blind people often reacted like Ino when they thought they made a mistake. Luckily for Sachi, Ino had already given her quite enough information. Knowing their names was half the battle in identification and matching a voice to them was the other half.

"So, what do you do Sachi-san?" A feminine voice asked. Through the process of elimination, she guessed this voice could only belong to Sakura.

"I work at a bookstore. Mostly I just stock the shelves and clean," she answered.

"How do you stock books if you're blind?" Naruto asked.

Sakura hissed out a reprimand to Naruto and the silence from the group told that they thought it was a great insult to mention her inability to see.

They were surprised into more silence when Sachi's laughter rang out in their bubble of silence.

She couldn't help herself. The question had been posed in an innocent tone that reminded her of her brother as a young child. It made it seem like Naruto held a child-like innocence as well as lacking a healthy amount of tact expected of people their age.

It was refreshing to meet someone like herself that simply asked questions without a second thought and without noticing the possible insinuations in their words.

Through her dying laughter, she said, "I guess we all have our talents. Usually, book titles are engraved or smooth. So, when I run my fingers over them I can read them."

"Huh. I guess I never realized that about books," Naruto responded.

Sakura groaned. "Really, when was the last time you picked up a book, Naruto?"

"So, Sachi-san," Ino began, "Shino-kun told me you met on the street. That must have been romantic."

"Hmm, not really. I asked him about a bee hive and then I walked away."

"Is that an innuendo I am unfamiliar with?" Sai intoned.

Sachi correctly pinned the voice as Sai due to his proximity to Ino.

"So how did you start dating then?"

"We just did, I guess." She thought back to the unclear moment where she had asked, 'are we dating then?' "We both just liked each other and I guess there was no reason to say no. It's not exactly the romance you assumed but there it is and I wouldn't have it any other way."

"She caught my interest from the first moment. I sought her out and walked her home to eventually build a relationship."

"Shino-kun, I had no idea you were a romantic at heart!"

He couldn't exactly agree with Ino's inference but he wasn't about to argue with the woman who currently had stars dancing in her eyes at the thought.

"Shino-kun is pretty great. I'm really lucky," Sachi smiled.

"Hey, you guys are holding up the line. Are you buying or what?" The voice of the dango stand owner called to them.

"You will have to excuse us," Shino said to his friends.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"Your friends are interesting," Sachi said between bites of dango.

"Ino-san must have gathered them up to meet you."

"I hope I made a good impression."

"I believe they approve."

"Well, I'm glad to hear it. You know, with all the things I hear about Naruto-san, I didn't expect him to be so..." She trailed off to find the right word.

"Moronic?" Shino suggested.

"I wasn't going to say that. Maybe more naive or thick. He doesn't seem subtle or held back."

"You are not the only one who is lucky. That is because I am lucky to have you."

"Are you hung up on that?" Sachi asked after swallowing another bite.

He grumbled slightly and adjusted his glasses. He knew himself well enough to know he never let things go. Her hand found his and she squeezed it gently.

"I am lucky to have you," she whispered fondly.

XXXXXXXXXX

Sachi wanted to try her hand at a fishing game. Using her chakra sense to direct the large plastic fishing rod to catch a fake fish. She was ecstatic at her success at catching one, despite the fact she still lost having not caught the right fish to win.

"Do you want to try, Shino-kun? Maybe you can win me something," she said cheekily.

"I have no interest in playing those games. Most of them are rigged for the stand's benefit and the prizes are cheap. If you would like a gift from me you should know I already have one."

"You do?" she asked in surprise.

"Hold out your hands."

She did as he asked and studied the object he placed in her hands. It was a simple necklace with a thin chain and an oval pendant. She smiled enthusiastically.

"Aww, you got me a necklace! Thank you."

"No," he was quick to correct, "I made you that necklace. I preserved Kai-san in amber."

She gasped and ran her fingers over the pendant again. "This- This has Kai-san in it?" she asked reverently.

"Yes, I thought-" He was interrupted when she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

"Shino-kun that's amazing!" she said joyfully in his ear. "I can't believe you did that for me! I can't imagine a gift better than this one!"

She detached from him and Shino placed the necklace around Sachi's neck at her insistence.

The rest of the night was uneventful.

Sachi touched the amber necklace with one hand as Shino walked her home.

"That was a really fun date, Shino-kun, thank you."

"There is no need to thank me because it was just as pleasing for me. Thank you for accompanying me. There is still one thing left. You promised to tell me what Kiba whispered to you on our first date."

Her cheeks pinkened at the memory. "Oh, that. I was really hoping you would have forgotten about that. He may have mentioned that as your only male teammate he has seen you naked and he told me you would be more than just pleasing to the eye to women." He watched her face become darker with every word as she danced around the subject. "I mean he said you would obviously be pleasing- uh-"

"Sexually?"

"But I n-never looked. I swear!" she rushed out hastily. "Not before or after he said it! Though I was really curious and-and I could have but I didn't!"

"What are you talking about?" he asked.

"I never confirmed the detail with my chakra sense. I felt like I would be invading your personal space and breaking your trust."

"So that's why you were so embarrassed."

Suddenly her reaction made sense. Of course, she wouldn't be able to brush such a detail aside without a thought. He found himself, if not enjoying, then at least appreciating her innocently prudish nature.

"Are you mad at him?" she asked.

"I would be more upset if he lied. Now, I believe our date is coming to a close."

They had been standing outside her home for a good part of their embarrassing conversation.

"Shino-kun," she placed her hands on his shoulders, "I'd like to thank you again for my gift."

He had a good idea of what she meant. The corner of his mouth turned up imperceptibly.

"You have already thanked me profusely."

She could hear a tone in his voice she wasn't used to hearing from him. Was he teasing her?

"I know," she said, closing some of the distance between them.

Like many times before he could feel her chakra passing over him, exciting his insects as much as him. He stooped slightly, making it easier for her to reach his height.

He heard the sound of a thrilling gasp as he took her chin delicately between his fingers.

"Sachi-chan, may I see your eyes?"

Her immediate reaction was a slight retreat backward. It was nearly undetectable and he might have missed it if his hand wasn't holding her chin.

He knew very well why she hid her eyes. She wore her glasses believing it disturbed those around her. It was his goal to one day rid her of such insecurities.

She took a few moments to respond. He waited patiently until she reached her decision. She lifted her sunglasses to the top of her head, revealing her unfocused gray eyes to him.

It was a moment he would never forget.

This was the first time she had willingly shown him her eyes. Though he had seen them before she seemed to be holding her breath until he responded.

He let his thumb trail down her temple and brush the corner of her eye.

"Beautiful," he whispered.

His breath dusted across her face making her eyes flutter shut just as she leaned into their first kiss.

It was both thrilling and gentle, exciting and sweet. Neither moved or breathed. Sachi could feel his heart beating beneath her fingers, confirming her suspicions that it was racing as fast as hers. Her heart warmed and swelled at this revelation.

When, at last, they separated to breathe they remained close, drinking each other in.

Shino let his thumb trail along her face as he watched her eyes flutter and her lips curl into a smile.

"How's that for a thank you?"

Amusement filled him, overflowing in an unexpected, quiet chuckle at her cheekiness.

"Exceptional. But I hope you don't thank everyone this way." She laughed.

"You'd be the first."

When they finally said good night each parted as is they were walking on air. Sachi couldn't stop blushing and smiling when she reflected on the night, remembering bits and pieces as she dressed for bed.

One memory caught her attention.

'I would be more upset if he lied.' Shino had said.

She paused to consider his words. If Kiba had lied... meaning Kiba had told the truth...

That could only mean...

Sachi clapped her hands over her mouth to stifle her shocked yell.

I'm not a prude but I can hardly believe I actually wrote that in there. I hope you all enjoyed it so that it was worth it!