DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.

Airplanes Take you away again Are you flying Above where we live

It turns out that the hospital was plagued by little frogs. It was said that the tadpoles residing in a nearby pond grew a little and chose the hospital as a new home. Silly as it sounds, they came one by one, then in groups and now, people were freaking out. Nurses were getting scolded at, doctors were furious, the maintenance team was rushing about but the problem remained. The frogs were still hopping about, wondering what the ruckus was about.

When Team Eight heard the news, Kiba thought the situation was funny and quite stupid. He laughed the matter out, saying that the medic-nins were 'too idiotic' to handle such a silly situation. Shino just nodded and Hinata fringed, she wasn't a big fan of frogs. Kurenai wasn't pleased either to have her team assigned to do the job of exterminating the slimy amphibians but she knew that Team Eight was the most appropriate group to do the job.

Kurenai grimaced as she watched the three go on their way, taking their time as they went to the hospital. She didn't rush them because heaven knows she didn't want to spend her time catching frogs either.

As the trio walked, Kiba led the way while Shino and Hinata trailed behind him. He stole a glance at Hinata and saw the uncomfortable look on her face. "Oi, Hina-chan. Don't worry, 'kay? You don't have to dirty your hands with frogs. Akamaru and I will handle it. Bug boy could help too, incase the frogs don't get him first." He mockingly laughed at Shino as he continued to walk.

Shino gave him a snort and Kiba looked up ahead the road again. He noticed Hinata's silence and he wondered if she was really bothered about the frogs or… what happened two days ago. Because he knows he was feeling uneasy about what happened as well. He tried to act normal, like kissing your friend was a usual thing to happen. As he took one step, he suddenly felt a warm touch on his hand. His eyes widened behind his shades and he darted his head lower to their hands.

Hinata was walking normally but now she was holding his hand with hers. Their linked hands were swinging back and forth like they were…

In an instant, Shino stared at Kiba's hood. What was Hinata thinking? What was she thinking while doing this? She knew he couldn't just let go because heaven knows she was the one holding his hand! It was just like that kiss they shared. She took it first! And now they were holding hands, behind their friend -acting like nothing was happening! He stole a glance at her from the corner of his eye and saw that she had a pink blush on her face, and a little bite on her lip. Was she enjoying this? Her face was held high, as if confident… Wasn't she scared someone might see?

His heartbeat raced every time they took a step, and Shino had to be careful not to walk too fast to bump into Kiba's form or to walk too slow to make Hinata fully aware that he was aware she was holding his hand! Cold sweat formed on his temples. Now he wasn't really sure if this was the love he felt for her, because it felt more like nervousness. He was secretly suffering from severe palpitation and he knew he could break down right there on the road if they kept the normalcy going on.

Unable to keep up with the tension raging inside his chest, he decided to play it safe. He gave her warm hand a soft squeeze and tried to take something from his coat pocket. Something must be there. But aside from a few insects, there was nothing but cloth fiber. Murmuring a 'where's that thing' lie, he fumbled for his pockets, desperately searching for something nonexistent. He let out a fake sigh of disappointment of being unable to find his 'thing.'

Shino's eyes widened even more when Hinata took hold of his hand again. Gods! he yelped inside his head. If he weren't sane enough, he was so sure he could have jumped off out of excitement. She was driving him wild! The longer their skin was matted together, the more Shino felt how warm, soft, smooth and nice she was to hold. His fingers unconsciously knotted around hers, fitting their hands perfectly with one another.

Kiba, on the other hand, was bestowed silence by Kami-sama. He was behaved and concentrated on walking. And if it weren't for Akamaru's barking, they wouldn't have realized they already reached the hospital and Shino and Hinata's hands might have never separated.

From the distance, Shino's sensitive hearing could feel how stressed the people inside were. There clearly was trouble inside.

"Okay, Hinata, be in charge of the people," Shino said, his gaze on the building. "Kiba, let's go."

Before any of them made a move, Hinata quickly dashed inside the hospital hearing a frantic baby cry.

As Shino entered the hospital, green was hopping everywhere. Slime was staining the floor, circular wet patterns scattered in different directions. The medic-nins were busy trying to keep the frogs from the patients and the maintenance team was busy keeping the emergency room, ICU unit clean. It was very clear that they really needed to help. Akamaru and Kiba were busy jumping on one another as frogs clung to them, probably just teasing them. Their efforts were quite useless.

But it was then that Shinorealized that the green rampage slow down. Little croaks were echoing in a very noticeable manner that the whole hospital lobby became silent.His heart skipped abeat as he observed a few small frogs approaching him, croakinginnocently, but their eyes flaring with great need. He took a step backward, afraid of thereason he had in mind.

Kiba couldn't be possibly right... right!

The next thing Shino knew was that he was racing out of the Hospital, a legion offrogs trailing behind him. He tried hard not to show any emotion of fear or distress despite the disgust andfright he felt. He could hear applause as he left thehospital, the people were cheering because ofhis brave and courageous spirit.He didn't really like that kind of attention, but he surely wished he was there when they praised him like that. He kept a slow pace for the frogs, making the insect-scent he had fill their brains so that they remained hypnotized to follow him. Darn... it wasn't really his plan to be major bait. Who wanted to be frog food anyway? Though the frogs couldn't really eat him, the possibilities of sucking, licking, sticking, and sliming were endless. Those things he had to avoid.Giving his pet insects the signal to leave, he dove into the nearest body of water he could find, dragging all the little frogs with him. He quickly rose from the water and sped up to the furthest tree he could find.

As he sat balanced on the tree branch shivering with cold, he took off his wet jacket off. He suddenly had the indescribable hate for frogs as he watched them squirm in the water like a school of fish caught in a net. Though he was hero today, he knew, life with peers wasn't going to be as entertaining. They would probably ridicule him for being what he was. He could already imagine Kiba laughing his eyeballs out because of the silly joke he said earlier. Darn. Maybe he should hide out for a couple of days till the news dies out.

Shino silently crept back to the ninja academy, using the best stealth skill he was capable of. It was certain that most of his fellow ninjas heard about the frog news now. He could have headed straight home if he didn't remember the freaking scroll his father asked him to bring home. His father asked him to borrow a silly concealing jutsu scroll. And Shino thought his father knew everything. But as he approached the room where they kept scrolls, he knew that bad luck was kissing him right in the nose. The door was locked. His senses tingled when he heard a couple of voices approaching from the hallway so he quickly hid behind a post. He kept his breath hitched. He wasn't a coward but he felt like he wasn't in the mood to take insults after what happened.

"I heard Shino was so brave when he led the frogs away from the hospital," a voice that belonged to apink-haired girl said. "I bet you felt proud, Hinata. God knows you've been spared from holding a frog!"

"Eeeeew! And it wasn't just a frog!" another voice chirped. It was Ino. "Those were frogs! A LOT of frogs!"

Tenten's laughter was heard. "We're ninjas but it doesn't mean we can't be girls!" She laughed again. "Why are you so silent, Hinata? Still got the goosebumps because of those slimey frogs?"

Shino's throat felt dry. Oh yeah, she was there.

"N-no," she whispered. She sighed. "Th-this was a s-strange d-day, huh…"

You bet, Shino thought. He shivered involuntarily as the breeze caught his damp coat. Not only did he get a bonus of holding her hand, he also got to be chased by little green freaks! And now he was listening as girls talked about him… and frogs. Yuck.

"Whoah!" Sakura's voice yelled. "Why are you so flushed like that, Hinata?"

"Ooooh! I bet she likes Shino! Ever since we started talking about him, she was all blushing and uneasy!" Ino teased.

Shino felt his ears grow warm. They were torturing him. If only he could disappear now. Whoever thought that these girls talked like this once in a while? He thought they were angry with each other or something.

Hinata didn't say anything.

"Buzz off, blondie," Sakura snapped. "Hinata is off limits. Naruto and she should end up together. She's just touched to see so much frogs because it reminds her so much of Naruto. So much like Gamabuntra, huh?"

Were they going to lounge at the hallway forever? Shino wasn't sure. And Gamabuntra? Now he was thankful that thing didn't eat him.

Sakura spoke more. "And besides, Naruto told me he finds Hinata cute-"

"Well that's because he finds you beautiful!" Tenten cut her off.

"No he does not!" Sakura exclaimed. "In fact, he told me he was going to ask her out on a date some time."

"Some time?" Ino asked. "After he gets over you?"

"You don't believe me, huh?" Sakura asked, her voice daring them all. Shino included. "You all should know that I am the closest girl to Naruto. So place your bets, ladies, by the time Naruto comes back from the mission he's in, watch your money fill my pockets because he will be asking her out."

Shino didn't really feel anything. In fact, he was quite used to it. Seeing Hinata blush so many times because of Naruto didn't make as much as stirring inside his body now that he found out the chance that Naruto should ask her out. What was to be jealous about anyway? They weren't together just because they kissed! Who was he kidding? He simply liked to touch him, kiss him…

He made his way to his home later that night, voices of silly girls making bets about Naruto's date-proposal to Hinata echoing all over and over his head. Sakura was the only one who bet that Naruto would ask Hinata out while Tenten and Ino was so sure that Naruto was only interested in one girl –Sakura. Hinata kept silent all throughout the bet and Shino speculated on what was going on inside her head. And if ever Naruto would ask her out, he probably shouldn't freak out. Yeah. Freaking out would be weird enough. Or not.

"Shino-kun," a faint voice called from behind.

He felt frozen on the ground where he stood, unsure of what to do next. It felt ages since she called his name again and it felt wonderful. Hinata was behind him, all right. Gazing at the dark sky, he turned his back to face her. "Hinata! You shouldn't be walking alone in the streets! What if something happens and you're here alone-"

"I'm not alone," Hinata whispered, walking closer to him. She handed him a basket.

Shino took it and frowned. "What is this for?" Was it a goodbye gift of some sort? It was quite heavy.

Hinata smiled at him. "It's a gift from the hospital, Shino-kun. They were so grateful of your efforts."

The moment he noticed she was inching closer, he felt his lungs grasp for air. Her scent was filling his brain and he was feeling… elated. He kept his head down, his gaze locked on the basket. "I felt like a fool."

Hinata reached out and touched his face. "Stop saying things like that. You have to accept that sometimes you will really do something good without you knowing it."

"Kiba was laughing, huh?"

"Who could hear him when all I could hear were the people saying how thankful they were that you came?" Hinata asked, seriousness on her white eyes. "The littleboys were quite disappointed that you took the baby frogs away but I must say, you've won all the little girls' hearts."

Shino wasn't sure it was their hearts she wanted to win.

"That was a really cool stunt, Shino," she whispered, the fingers she had on his cheek making a slow motion behind his head, firming on his neck. The feather touch was enough to pull and encourage and in a blink, Shino's lips were locked with hers.

"Goodnight," Hinata whispered as she gave him a hug and finally went the other way.

As her white jacket faded into the darkness, Shino was still confused like he was when he woke up this morning.

A.N. Sorry short chapter. Not my best. Sorry. I'm in Slump Island so… hope I still get some healthy reviews though this wasn't so great.