Chapter 6: Jealousy

What's with these feelings I get every time I'm near her? Lately, I've been so flustered and embarrassed around her. I can't even think straight when I'm in the same room as her! I lose my focus, my strength, my balance. She's so distracting! But yet, she does nothing! She just sits around and smiles! Her smile…She says that she has a fighting style, but that smile alone is enough to bring down even the strongest of men! These feelings are throwing me off! What are they and where did they come from! It's driving me mad, but when I'm near her, they seem to go away. How do I quell these feelings?

X-X-X-X

"Look Shino! Look!"

Shino turned his head to Kiba and Airi. "What?" Squad eight, accompanied by Airi, had gone to a local bar hoping to have a good time.

"RAHH!" Both of them had one end of their chopsticks up their noses and the other end in front of their lower teeth. "Look out Shino! We're gonna get you!" Shino simply rolled his eyes.

"Huh?" Hinata turned to them. "What're you two doing?" She took another sip of her tea.

"And we'll get you too Hinata!" they screamed in unison.

Hinata gasped as soon as she saw their faces. Tea shot out of her nose. "Oh!" She covered her nose in embarrassment.

Shino looked at her. "You alright?"

She nodded. "You guys are horrible!"

"It's alright Hinata," Airi said pulling out the chopsticks. "Don't be embarrassed."

"Yeah," Kiba added, also removing his chopsticks. "That sort of stuff happens to people all the time!" He took a sip of his soda.

Airi smiled deviously. "…DIARRHEA!"

Kiba's eyes popped and soda shot out of his nose. "Dammit!"

She started laughing. "Kiba, you're priceless!"

"What the hell was that all about!" he asked as she wiped the soda up.

"Pay back on Hinata's behalf." Hinata started to giggle.

"Oh yeah?" He threw his soda in her face. "Take that!" Hinata and Airi gasped. Shino turned quickly to them. "Ha! I got cha good!"

"Grr…" Shino made fists. "Dammit Kiba! What's your problem!" He grabbed several napkins and began to dry Airi off. "You went too-"

Airi burst out in laughter. "Kiba you soda-drinking bastard! Good job!" She turned to Shino. "It's alright Shino. I'm fine." She turned back to Kiba. "So ya wanna play rough now, do ya!"

"Let's see what you got Airi!"

Hinata tapped Shino's arm. "Um, Shino?"

He looked at her. "Yeah?"

"Were you really angry just now?"

"And if I was?"

She shook her head. "Never mind, forget I asked." She looked back at Kiba and Airi. "Those two are so much alike."

"Hmm?"

"Just look at them. They're a perfect match! Kiba's bossy and impatient and he's loud. Airi's not shy and she's a loudmouth too. Not to mention that she's forceful and very patient. When they're together, their personalities seem to compliment each other and they balance each other out. It's funny, I've never seen such a perfect match…"

"Are they really that much alike?"

"Huh?"

"Do you…Do you think Airi would actually…fall for Kiba?"

"She mi-"

"Hey Shino!" Airi screamed, "Quit being boring!"

"What?"

"You need to," she stuck her pinky finger into her mouth, "loosen up!" She crammed her finger into Shino's ear.

Shino's eyes popped. "AHHH!" He covered his ear and fell off his chair.

Airi looked down at him. "Come on Shino! Play with me!" Everyone in the bar looked at Shino and started laughing.

"Oh man!" Kiba laughed, "She got you good!"

Hinata looked away and held in her laughter. Oh my, I shouldn't laugh. How rude of me.

"Come on Shino! We came here to have a good time and you're being all quiet and pokerfaced!" Airi giggled.

Shino looked around at the people laughing at him. Th-Those drunkards! What're they laughing at! Why don't they just mind their own damn business! He looked at his friends. Airi and Kiba are laughing at me. Even Hinata! He got up and ran out.

"Sh-Shino? Where are-"

"Forget about him," Kiba said, "He doesn't know how to have a good time."

"…Shino…"

"I think you guys went too far," Hinata said after calming down.

"Nah, Shino just needs to learn how to get into the mood!"

Airi winced. Shino… She got up and ran out as well.

"Airi! Wait!" Kiba called after her.

"We should go catch up with them," Hinata said.

"Yeah, you're right."

XXXX

"Shino? Shino, where are you?" Airi called out as she wandered into the forest. "I need talk to you! Shino?" She climbed up a large tree. "Maybe he's up here…" Just as she suspected, Shino was sitting on a large branch, staring out at the night sky. "Shino?" She went over and sat next to him. "Hey?" He remained silent. "Okay, I understand. You have every right to stay quiet…especially after what I did…" She sighed. "Shino, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do that, I was just caught up in the moment. Kiba and I were having such fun and I wanted you to join in too. I kinda lost my mind back there and acted childishly. For that, I apologize. That was rude of me. In all honesty, I'm sorry. If you don't forgive me, that's reasonable." She rubbed her upper arms.

"…What do you see in Kiba?" Shino finally asked.

"What?" Why is he asking that? "What do I see in him? Oh…Well, he's just someone that I can connect with. He's a fun guy and I love to spend time with him. We both enjoy having a good time. He's funny and kind, but boy is he loud!" She giggled. "Kiba truly is something else."

Hinata was right. They're very much alike. "So would you say that you two are a perfect match?"

"Perfect…match? Um, in a sense, maybe?" What's up with him? She shivered a bit. "It gets colder here than in my village."

"It is winter."

"I know that!" She pulled his left arm around her. "There! You're nice and warm, so sitting like this should keep me warm too!"

He blushed. "H-Hey…"

"Thanks Shino."

"B-But…" He sighed and turned his attention back to the stars. "…I…I guess I forgive you."

"Obviously."

"Whoa, hold a second there! What!"

"You like me too much not to forgive me."

"L-Like? I-I never said-"

"Besides, my heartfelt apology was moving, wasn't it? It got to you, didn't it?" She giggled. "I always get my way."

"Well if you put it that way, I don't forgive you."

"Too late, you can't take it back."

"Why not?"

"Because you already said it and you meant it."

"How do you know?"

"Trust me, I know."

"You know what, you--" He sighed. "Never mind."

"Yeah, let's not ruin a perfect night like this. Now is a good time to stay quiet." She snuggled closer to him. He really is warm…

Must she be so close? He blushed again.

----

Hinata and Kiba watched their two friends. Hinata smiled warmly. "That's so touching. I've never seen Shino holding a girl like that before…" She blushed.

Kiba crossed his arms. "I don't like it."

"Huh?" She looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"Airi's mine."

"Kiba are you…are you jealous of Shino?"

"What! Hell no! I'm just, you know, protective of her." Shino, you better make sure that you keep your hands to yourself.

Hinata frowned. This is bad. If Shino happens to fall for Airi, Kiba will be mad and that would cause problems. But I wonder, how does Airi feel about the two of them? However she may feel, I just hope that it doesn't ruin Kiba's and Shino's friendship…