Chapter 5 – Maybe, just maybe

"Kiba…I know what we're doing tomorrow."

That was last night, and what Hinata said to Kiba across the dinner table in about as assured a voice as Hinata could muster. She then had informed him she would visit Shino at his place, alone, but still wanted Kiba to accompany her to the clan archway.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you inside? I am actually kinda curious…I can't believe neither of us have EVER been inside Shino's clan." Kiba mused.

"That's….that's okay Kiba-kun," she blushed, "I want to…" she poked her fingers together, "…do it myself."

Kiba looked seriously over at Hinata. She had gotten so bold (for Hinata) over their years as a team together. She had become more confident in herself. She still had a long way to go, but after her harsh training she inflicted upon herself, and her performance on the last mission, she was obviously a different person. She was much more grown up from when they first met. And Kiba was proud of her for that, and he was sure Shino was too.

"Tch," he smirked, starting to form ideas about what happened that night Shino disappeared, "I still don't know what happened between you and the bug-freak but - "

"Don't call him that!" She burst out. After she did it and realized what she said, and how loud, she blushed profusely and looked at the ground.

Kiba blinked, surprised beyond measure at how forcefully she just yelled at him. "Ummm, okay, sorry Hinata," he smiled nervously, scratching the back of his head, "I didn't know that my nickname for Shino offended you. I don't mean it in a cruel way or anything…I just like the look he gives me when I call him that!" He jested.

"I know….I…I'm sorry, it just came out."

There was an awkward silence for a long time, until Kiba spoke up, "Hey, this must be it!"

They looked up to see a weathered clan archway inscribed with the kanji for "Aburame". Behind two doorway cloths decorated with sumi-ink paintings of various insects were 8-foot tall, closed bamboo doors. Next to them hung two large, jingle-style bells attached to a shimenawa style rope with some gohei hanging off the top (those little zigzag-shaped paper streamers).

"Must be…" She agreed.

Kiba looked at the closed doors, "That's odd, most clans keep their doors open during the day. I guess they are a private clan, just from the vibe I get from Shino!" He laughed.

"Umm," she nodded.

"And I bet everyone on this side of town wouldn't want their bugs flying out of here and all over too, huh?" He said obviously joking, because the doors wouldn't stop bugs at all.

"Should, we knock?" Hinata said.

"I guess ring the bell," he walked up to the large red/white rope, "Should I?"

Hinata nodded, and Kiba shook the rope.

Kiba stepped back to be next to Hinata again. They waited about 30 seconds and then the doors creaked open jut enough for a figure to step out. They didn't recognize who it was, but they were obviously an Aburame, with dark sunglasses and a high-collar jacket.

The man wore a black, button-up jacket, and long, flowing dusty red pants that faded out to tan that almost completely covered his feet, which were bare. His poofy red-black-brown hair was in a high ponytail, and his slanted sunglasses a slight tint of dark red, and mirrored, making them just as impossible to see through as Shino's glasses. He seemed to be in his early 20's, as he was adult height but still seemed youthful in dress and apperance. Their only indication to him being a boy (as he looked father feminine) was when he spoke, "May I ask who is calling?" He asked, his voice neither deep nor girly, but obviously male.

Hinata blushed and all the courage ran out of her. Kiba swallowed, slightly intimidated, and bowed quickly "I, umm, I mean Hyuuga Hinata came to see Shino, is he here?"

Hinata didn't look up, but the stranger stared at her, bending over slightly. This let Kiba see over the edge of his high collar, revealing the dark red, swirly tattoos on his cheeks and lips, and only on the left side of his face. "I believe he is," The Aburame paused, then straightened up, "You're his teammates aren't you?"

Kiba smiled, "Yup, that's us! I'm Inuzuka Kiba, and this is Akamaru,"

"Arf!"

The figure drew back slightly from Akamaru, but didn't back away, "Follow me then," he began to walk back towards the cracked open bamboo doors. Hinata paused for a moment, then shakily ran after him.

The second she was inside the doors slowly began to close, seemingly on their own. She looked up to see a large grouping of kikai bugs shutting the door. Turning back around she could see them returning to the figure that had greeted them, who was walking away from her, "I'll inform Shino's family," he said, not looking back, "Please wait here, and don't worry, none of the insects here will hurt you." He seemed to smile gently, but Hinata couldn't see his face so she could not be sure.

Hinata stood spellbound by what she saw. She was standing in a large, grassy grove of various species of trees, from hemlocks to large oaks. About 200 feet in the distance she could see buildings, which she assumed must be everyone's apartments and houses. Gardens of flowers and vegetables were sectioned off near the edges of the wall. Everywhere, on the trees and the plants, must have been hundreds of species of insects and arachnids. She could spot at a glance beetles, butterflies, praying mantis, grubs, spiders, and caterpillars. She was especially entranced by the butterflies, that were in every color imaginable. They were mostly on the flowers that were here, there, and in the gardens. There were also some nets held up by wood frames in one area, and inside them she could see many insects.

Between two trees to her left, she noticed a figure lying in a hammock. They had on a muted-purple jacket, which almost blended in with the purple flowers in the garden behind them. She blinked, and turned back forwards again to find a woman's face disturbingly close to hers. Hinata had not heard her walk up nor sensed her. She stumbled backwards in surprise, "Wahhh!" and fell on her butt.

The woman laughed as one would at a cute, young child trying to do something they were obviously too small or young to do, "You alright?"

Hinata was offered the woman's hand, and she took it and was helped up. The blue haired girl blushed, getting her first good look at the tall figure. Hinata thought she was a very beautiful woman. Her eyes were covered bydark, slanted sunglasses that reminded her slightly of the eyes of a praying mantis.

"Sorry to startle you. I heard you were here for Shino, you can come with me," She smiled and turned. Hinata jumped forward to walk along side her. However, after only a few steps, the woman stopped, and looked at the figure in the hammock, "Yesetteru-chan!" She yelled forcefully.

The person in the hammock, startled, causing them to tilt and turn over, falling onto the ground. "Itttaiiii…" she yelped.

"Sleeping on the job again?"

"N…no mam," the girl stood up, she seemed to be not much older than Hinata. She also wore sunglasses.

"Well get to work, or I'll tell your father and mother you were being lazy again," She smirked.

"I will!" She put her hand up and ran off towards the nets Hinata saw earlier.

The woman shook her head and laughed quietly to herself, "That girl, always sleeping on the job."

Hinata looked up at her, mustering up some courage "Ano, w…what is your name?"

The woman returned the glance, turning her dark glasses down towards her, "My name is Aburame Kaho, I am Shino's mother."

Hinata blushed even more, this time from embarrassment, "Falling on your butt for a first impression to Shino's mother…nice job Hinata," She thought to herself.

"I..I am Hyuuga Hinata, good to meet you," She bowed.

"Hyuuga Hinata! Ah, well, then you are most welcome. It is nice to finally meet one of Shino's teammates," She bowed very slightly, which surprised Hinata, "Tesuro didn't say WHO was at the gates, just that they were here for Shino. He has a bad habit of not TELLING people important details." She continued walking, and Hinata followed.

"Y…you have a very beautiful clan," She smiled.

"Thank you. We do our best to keep it in order. Not many people come in here, so few see it. We only open the doors to the public during the Spring Festival . Our clan is very private and we like to keep to ourselves, but also because people are afraid."

Hinata nodded, not knowing what to say in response.

They passed the girl from before, who was inside one of the nets "W…what is she doing?" Hinata quietly asked.

"She's collecting the mature and dying scarab beetles, we use them in medicines."

"Oh…"

They waked up to the door of a house made from unpainted redwood. Kaho opened the door and Hinata continued to follow. Inside, Kaho motioned to the stairs, "First door on the right," She paused, looking serious, "I hope you clear things up." She walked away and into the next room.

Hinata swallowed, and went to walk up the stairs when she heard a deep voice behind her, "Who are you?" She turned instantly and was again surprised by another pair of dark glasses, and fell on her butt.

"Oh, it's you. I'm sorry, I did not recognize you from the back," He watched as she quickly got up, blushing like mad, "I am Aburame Shibi…and you better have Shino's glasses."

She nodded, "Fell on your butt for his dad too… XD …nice one Hinata…" taking them out of her pocket, "I …I do, I was…just going to go upstairs."

He paused for a moment, "Alright then, get going," he turned and walked off in the same direction Kaho went.

Before she ran into any more Aburames / falling on her butt again, she scampered up the stairs and stopped in front of Shino's door. After hesitating, she very gently knocked.

"Come in," A voice from inside said.

She very carefully opened the door and peeked inside.

Shino sat on the bed facing away from her, "I said come in," Hinata was surprised to see him not wearing his usual gray jacket. Instead he was only wearing a black, short-sleeve button up shirt. Hinata stepped all the way inside and shut the door behind her. A grouping of glass tanks that had many types of insects in them caught her eye. They sat on shelves covering the left wall.

Hinata was too scared and nervous to speak. She was sure Shino was mad at her. Unfortunately, Shino thought the exact same thing of her. After what seemed like a eternity of silence, Hinata looked at the sunglasses in her hand, and gained up enough courage to speak, "S…Shino-kun… I brought you back your glasses." She stepped forward just enough to lay them on the bed next to him.

He picked them up, putting them back in their respective place on his face. Slowly standing he turned to look at her.

"I…I am sorry for my behavior before on the mission…it was uncalled for." He lowered his head slightly.

The familiar sight of Shino with his glasses on relaxed Hinata, "No, it's alright! I'm n-not angry…" she said quietly, and poking her fingers together, "you were…just being truthful, and that's good."

"I nearly killed you," He said sadly.

"I was just surprised!" She looked up with a sudden burst of vigor, "I wasn't scared of you, you just…turned around so suddenly and I've never seen your face before. That alone was surprising enough."

Shino's expression softened, as if he was saying, "You mean it?" but not with words.

She reached up her hand, hesitated, then laid her fingers onto the rim of his glasses, taking them off gently. She blushed and quietly smiled, "You…have unusual eyes, just like me."

Shino's face showed an emotion of happiness that is the kind you look like you're about to cry from. He smiled very genuinely, and Hinata found she liked it.

"I don't scare you?"

"When I…first met you back in the academy you did, a little. I think all the girls were, knowing about your clan," She smiled nervously, "I was a kid, and didn't understand or know you at all...but then I did get to know you. You were a little different, but were kind and respectful, more than anyone I know. And now, we've worked together as a team for so long - you, me and Kiba…" Her smile turned to happiness, "and I've really grown being with you. I feel like a different person."

Hinata had really surprised herself over the last few days. Her emotions were so mixed up inside her. She had considered Shino before, his mysterious and quiet nature had attracted her since the start, as well as his intelligence, strength, and caring for animals. However, he always seemed so emotionless, cold, and distant. Like a piece of art behind a glass case, untouchable, and unattainable. So strong feelings for him had never really surfaced in her. But now, after his confession of love for her, and him revealing his true self to her…

"Come outside with me," he broke the silence, reaching out and taking her hand.

Shibi look up from his mission reports, hearing footsteps coming down the stairs. He saw Hinata led by Shino darting out the front door.

"Those two," he glanced at Kaho, sitting across from him, "you think they…?"

"Maybe, just maybe," Kaho smiled knowingly, "you heard what Shino said before, when you had him explain what really happened on the mission."

"He really does love her," Shibi smiled beneath his collar, and Kaho could tell without even being able to see it.

"I wonder if she feels the same way," she took a long look at the jarred open front door.