(A/N: This is my favorite chapter…….)

Chapter 9

The next week I had given my team the week off while I went and relaxed and for the festival coming up. I was going to see them that evening at the festival. It was a Saturday when I was walking off by the training posts and I heard someone training. I looked around and saw Yuki doing palm thrusts at the post. There were bloody marks on the posts and she was crying. I watched sadly as she gave up and sat down with her head on her knees. I slowly walked over to her and too some spare bandages from my hip pouch.

"You shouldn't train this hard," I said softly,

"You said I was not strong enough," she replied sniffing,

"You heard?" I asked trying to hide the shock

"I had Kaito listen in," she said

"Gee aren't you the little hidden rebel," I said, "I never meant you had to train harder, you are making progress but at a slower rate then anyone else. You remind me of myself in that way. I was the slowest in my Village until I found my element, it could be because I was teaching you the wrong stuff," I finished. I grabbed her hands and looked at them and grimaced as I looked at them. They were rubbed raw and her left was bleeding. I gently wrapped them up and gave her a spare pair of gloves.

"Now I want to take you shopping, because from the look of your clothes you need new Shinobi clothes, also Akane won't like how your dressed tonight," I said giggling, she nodded and stood up smiling, I bent down and motioned for her to get onto my back. She jumped on and we set off walking toward the shopping center section of Konoha market. We walked through the town with her talking to me, we hadn't done this in a long time and it was good. Everyone was happy in the town and smiling and saying hi to us.

"Hey Hinata, Tenten, Wassup," I said waving my hand,

"Hey Aiko, Yuki where are you going?" she asked

"Shopping, someone went training all night and needs new clothes and a new kimono, wanna come?" I asked

"I have to go tell Neji-san if we do go," said Tenten,

"You like him don't you?" I said slyly,

"What! Erm…..no, I don't" she said stuttering and looking away,

"Ahahaha don't worry Tenten I know you do already, its obvious," I said "Isn't it Hinata,"

"Hai, I agree with Aiko," she said smiling,

"Hina-channnnn!" shouted Naruto running over smiling, Hinata turned slowly and blushed

"Hai Naruto-kun?" she asked

"Want to come for ramen?" he asked grabbing her hand,

"Oh Aiko just invited me to go shopping," she said quietly afraid to hurt his feelings,

"Naruto can come as well if he can stay away from ramen for a bit, we'll go there for lunch," I said "Is that alright Yuki?" I asked the genin sitting on my back, she nodded and I looked back at them.

"I'll see you guys there I'm going to go tell Neji," said Tenten, I nodded and waved bye to her, we carried on walking to the market. Naruto was talking while Hinata listened and I chatted to Yuki for a bit. When we arrived I let Yuki off while we went to look for clothes. After 0 minutes she came back with some stuff. I looked at them and said yes and no. She had chosen full length trousers which I told her no, she had chosen a sleeveless white shirt and then changed the trousers to black shorts. I bought her a jacket to go over her and she bought some hand, arm and leg guards. She looked like a full blown Shinobi; it was almost the same as what I had worn when I was younger. Next we went to the kimono shop. Hinata and Naruto had disappeared to god knows where but I didn't mind.

"Aiko-sensei how about this one?" said Yuki holding up a snow white kimono with a black obi,

"Is that Aiko I heard?" said a voice; I turned and saw Ino standing there with Sakura,

"Oh hey guys," I said "Just picking a kimono for tonight," I added.

"Ooooo and who are you going with?" asked Ino slyly,

"Erm….no one, Yuki's going with Akane," I replied quickly, I grabbed Yuki and the kimono I had and raced off to the cashier. I paid and we ran out. I was panting as I dropped Yuki at home and dropped off my kimono.

"What should I do?" I asked myself, "I know I'll go see Shino, I've never been to his house, I'll see if he wants to train or just walk around," I added to myself. I walked off to the Aburame compound. It was unusual to the other clan compounds; its doors were closed while the others were left open. I nervously rang the bell. A man opened up and looked at me incredulously.

"Yes can I help you?" he asked quietly

"Erm…heh yeh is Shino-san around?" I asked nervously at his sunglasses glare,

"Hai, I'll just go get him, stay here," he said as I walked through the door. I looked around the compound and saw that instead of having a training area or dog houses or even food patches like the other clan compounds this had a garden with kikai bugs flying around. I smiled at this and saw younger Aburame's running around in shorts and their long jackets as a trademark Aburame. Their scruffy spiked hair standing up as a secondary trade mark but they didn't have glasses on so their brown eyes were flashing with enjoyment. I noticed the man at the gate and Shino walking over.

"Afternoon, Shino," I said waving,

"What are you doing here?" he asked, my face faulted and I slightly crestfallen inside, "I mean what made you come here to visit?" he said obviously noticing my sadness. Either that or the kikai's noticed.

"I was just wondering if you wanted to train or just go for a walk." I asked "I have nothing to do because Akane and Yuki persuaded me to give them a holiday and Tsunade is so boring at home," I explained and asked "besides I beat her at every card and gambling game she has and knows," I said exasperated. He nodded and looked at the garden.

"Why don't you stay for lunch then we go for a walk," he said quietly, I nodded slowly thinking. He turned to the garden again and sighed.

"What's wrong Shino-san?" I asked

"You know you don't have to call me –san," he said

"Okay then Shino-chan!" I cried running away as he looked slightly angry in a funny way he turned and followed as I ran away.

"Don't call me that!" he said loudly, I grinned and ran until I hit someone. I fell over onto my butt and looked up. It was creepy like seeing Shino only 10 years older.

"G-Gomen," I stuttered standing up slowly, I could tell he was staring at me, Shino caught up and looked at me.

"I said I'd catch up, oh, hello father," said Shino getting serious again, "Who is this?" he asked sounding angry,

"This is Nidaime Aiko, Hokage-sama's niece and ex-ANBU squad leader, she is a fellow jounin," he explained I blushed as he mentioned all the 'achievements'. Shibi stared at me a bit longer then nodded and left. I sighed and turned to Shino. He was still looking serious.

"What's the matter?" I asked

"Nothing, I'm fine," he replied, it's an unwritten rule. : Never bug an Aburame and try to pry into their private life. I nodded and sat down under the tree I was next to. Shino looked down at me.

"Nani?" I asked looking up.

"Come on I'll get us lunch, I hope you don't mind most of the clan will be eating in there right now," he said, I shook my head and followed him. We walked into the dining room and boy was there quite a few Aburame's in there. We sat down and got our food. I could tell many of them were staring at me. It was eerie but it was their way of assessing you. I looked down at my chicken and egg noodles and just poked it. I was trying to eat but with everyone staring I could do it. Shino noticed and looked up from his food.

"Why aren't you eating?" he asked

"Oh Gomen…." I said quietly picking up some noodles and eating it quickly while he looked on, I really didn't want to offend them. As I tried to swallow a really big portion it went down slowly and started hurting. "Itai…." I groaned putting a hand on my chest and trying to ease the pain. I looked up and saw Shino smirking. "Not funny Shino…-chan," I said smirking now as he scowled at me. I smiled innocently at him and he just carried on eating. After a bit I finished after a few bog portions. Shino had finished way before and was just zipping up his jacket collar. He stood up and helped me up and I just stood dumbly as he dragged me outside. He stopped by the garden again.

"You know you didn't have to eat," he said quietly

"Iie…it's rude and all of them were staring at me, I felt like I was imposing," I said nervously

"Its okay its because we don't usually have visitors here," he answered "Lets go for that walk now we've eaten," he said I nodded and we left the compound after I waved at the man at the gate as he grumbled something about me being too happy. As we walked we passed all the stalls setting up for tonight. I noticed Naruto and Hinata walking around holding hands and soon followed we saw Ino and Shikamaru, Ino dragging Shikamaru around but he looked like he was okay with it. I heard Shino grunt next to me. I turned and raised an eyebrow at him.

"You don't believe I love?" I asked

"No," he replied. Ouch, that hurt strike one.

"Why not?" I asked

"Because it illogical and it means nothing," he said, I flinched at this and turned away. Strike two.

"Oh," I said quietly "So are you saying 'love' is just a figment of someone's imagination?" I asked quietly again

"It's a hormone that affects people," he replied coolly, ouch strike three and he's out. I nodded thoughtfully and as he walked somewhere else I slipped into an alleyway. Heh it was now my turn to ditch him. I walked off to training area 10 by the river. I carried on and made my way there. As I walked I felt something on me crawl by my arm. I looked down and saw a kikai bug.

"Damn it Shino leave me alone," I muttered darkly. I didn't dare kill the bug, it wasn't doing anything wrong. I took it with me knowing Shino was looking for it. As I approached I noticed someone standing in the center waiting. Shino. Dammit how did he know I was here?

"So you just leave people when you asked to go for a walk?" he said sounding amused. I scowled at him but looked down. I didn't want to deal with him.

"Well I wonder why?" I muttered holding up the kikai bug on my finger and letting it fly off back to Shino's colony. "Shino you don't bug people, especially people you can trust!" I shouted at him,

"It's so if I lose track of you on a mission then I can find you quickly. A female carries a no scent but only a male can them, making them the perfect trackers," he replied coolly, I shivered at the thought of it crawling all over me. I mean I don't hate bugs just all the legs get to me. I just ignored him and went to sit by the river and just paddle my feet in the water.

"Well you still got here before me." I mumbled

"I moved faster then you," he replied

"Grrrrr," I growled at him as he sat down besides me, I just looked up at the clouds and started to relax, "I can understand why Shikamaru likes watching the clouds, they're so relaxing," I said yawning,

"Aiko?" asked Shino

"Hmm?"

"I would like to accompany you to the festival tonight if you aren't going with another," he stated, damn that collar I can't see if he's smiling or blushing….I sat up on my elbows and looked at him,

"If that's your way of asking me tot go to the festival with you it's quite a funny way." I said, he looked down, I had known Shino long enough to know that simple signs mean a lot "But sure, I was going to go by myself anyway," I replied, he slowly looked up and I blushed lightly. "You know I really wish you would stop putting me on the spot!" I hissed but trying to hide my laughter.

"But then you no fun," he replied quietly

"Ooooo so Shino finds me fun? Well isn't this a new predicament!" I laughed,

"I'll come get you at 7 okay?" he said

"Yup! And you better be smiling!" I laughed lying back down to stare at the clouds more.