DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto! Yay for that! Because if I did… it would probably be a romance story. And the title would be Hinata. Ahahahha… ahahah

A.N. Hello, dearest readers. I've decided to post an update just because of you all. But this isn't very much a good one. I think I really want to finish the fic quickly. Thank you so much for the wonderful responses… You guys are great! Hope this filler will be worth reading. Mwahugz to all.

Is there trouble ahead

For you the acrobat

The feel of Shino's lips were still fresh on hers as Hinata woke up that morning. Her morning routine was slower than usual, her pace was slowed down because of constant day dreaming and once in a while contented sighs. And when she faced the mirror to comb her hair, she was very surprised to see a deep hue of red on her cheeks and nose. For several minutes she tried deep breaths, facial massages, and profound thoughts about important matters like her heiress duties or plans of indulging into intense training to better herself with skills and jutsus.

Yes, intense training, she thought to herself as she stared into the once pale faced complexion of the girl on the mirror. Gee, was the blush really permanent? Training, training, she thought again, closing her eyes. Training with Team Eight; Kiba and Shino. Shino –topless, sweating, without the dark shades. Yes, yes, Shino topless… Hinata gasped as her eyes opened with alarm. "Oh my…"

A knock on the door interrupted the secret fantasies playing on the mirror where she gazed. "Y-yes…?"

"Hinata-sama," the voice from behind the door called. "Someone is here to see you. But the young man hesitates to come inside the house. He said he intends to 'surprise' you."

Hinata covered her face with her palms as she found herself blushing even deeper. Oh dear, she had to open the door with a face like this. She sat up straight on the mirror. Seeing she was looking rather idiotic and happy, she smiled. She would be so glad to see him this morning. I'll be surprised then, she decided. She thanked the servant and went to greet her shy guest. She took each step slowly, each with serious thought.

Was he that scared of her father after what happened? Hinata bit her lower lip and felt something stir inside her chest. Oh Shino shouldn't be scared! Kissing was normal for teens, wasn't it? But who was she to fool with a statement like that? Kissing Shino wasn't normal at all! She was baffled, jittery… Her feelings –along with her heart, felt very much similar like the very first time she went to the academy. She was so unsure of herself, so scared, so happy at the same time. But now, there was a little difference. Now she didn't settle hiding under a rock, instead she chose to hold his hand, keep close and… kiss him more.

Kiss him, kiss him –it was all that was in her head. If only he could respond with a little aggressiveness or pressure –just the thought of his wild kisses made her stomach turn and twist with excitement and anticipation. The thought of them sharing a rough kiss made her face warm.

The door was a few steps away. Hinata shut her eyes and took a deep breath. A smile formed her lips as she planned how to surprise him in return. Hinata wondered how he would react if she kissed him as a greeting? Hinata just knew he wouldn't be able to kiss her back right in front of their house. Feeling so giddy and bold, she was unable to suppress the daring glint on her eyes as she opened the door.

"N-Naruto…?" she asked, trying to eye what was behind him. Was Shino that scared that he asked Naruto to be with him when she opened the door? She secretly tip-toed a little bit, trying to see if there was something she missed. Was Shino hiding somewhere? But to no avail, only a bouquet of flowers appeared before her eyes and a very shy Naruto holding that. So it seems her surprise failed to happen and Naruto was lucky now. Puzzled she took the flowers, unable to comprehend what was really happening. She wanted to ask Naruto where Aburame Shino was but all she could ask was, "F-for me…?"

Naruto nodded and gave her his grin. "Yeah!" He laughed. "I surprised you, huh?"

Oh she was more than surprised. She was… disappointed. "O-oh… yeah. Right…" She kept her stare on the flowers. "Thank you, Naruto-kun."

"You're always welcome, Hina-chan," he said with a blush, scratching the back of his head. "I came because… um… I wanted to ask if you were busy because… if-you-aren't-maybe-you-could-go-out-with-me."

Hinata didn't really hear him say anything audible but the image of Sakura giving her a wink flashed in front of her eyes. The bet, she remembered. She sighed and gazed at Naruto's blue eyes. His eyes were really beautiful, she thought. But Shino's eyes were all she wanted to see. Even the shades would do right now. Hinata gave him a smile. "I really appreciate the flowers, Naruto-kun, you really didn't have to go through all the trouble of going here."

"Eh…?"

"Um… Naruto-kun… As much as I don't want to have Sakura-chan angry at me, I don't want people playing with what I feel," Hinata said with all the courage she could muster. If only she could tell him how manipulative other people are with her. At least keep your good image to me, Naruto. Don't be like the rest.

"Sakura, huh?" Naruto asked. He paused, his face in deep contemplation. After a while, he gazed at her and snickered. "Look, Hinata… Whatever Sakura told you, pay no mind to that. Believe me, right now is real."

"R-real…?"

"Yeah," he said, edging closer. "I'm real. You're real. We're real. And this," he whispered, holding her face. "Is just as real…" he trailed off, placing his lips gently on hers.

Her eyes widened in response.

"Sakura might know about my plans about asking you out," he said, letting her go, sliding his hands down to her shoulders. "But she doesn't know how serious I am."

Serious…?

Naruto laughed and nodded. "Yes, I'm serious."

He smiled and leaned down for another kiss but Hinata drew her head back. "I… I'm not so sure…"

"Not all good things happen in dreams, Hinata," he whispered, closing the distance between them.

Was this really… "Naruto…"

"Yes," he said as he kissed her. "This is me."

Inner Sakura didn't have to tell her how she must feel. She was laughing her brains out as she held out an open palm at the two girls, watching them in sheer mockery as they handed her some bills. She gave a smirk and clicked her tongue. "Tsk tsk. I told you, didn't I? I know I'm creative and gifted but I'm not such a brat to make up something like that."

Ino rolled her eyes and crossed her arms across her chest. She gave her blonde pony tail a toss behind her shoulder. "I bet you'll pay Naruto afterwards just to win this, huh? Or maybe you promised him a kiss or something."

"How insulting you sound," Sakura said in a not very delightful tone. "And yet so pathetic." She glared at Ino and snorted. How low class Ino suggested she was! Wasn't it clear enough that she reserved all her affection to only one man?

Tenten sighed as she emptied her pockets. "Oh well, what's gone is gone."

"But I have to admit, girls," Sakura said. "I myself was shocked to see that Naruto really found the guts to ask Hinata out."

"So you we really were gambling with luck…" Tenten trailed off, shaking her head in a disappointed sigh. "But that was one hell of a surprise, wasn't it?"

Ino nodded." She sighed as she stared at the sky. "Who'd ever thought they would eventually end up together?"

Wasn't it only about a few weeks ago that she had been fantasizing about being on a date with Naruto? But now, she was getting more than she had in mind. Not only were they on an actual date, Naruto had a somewhat possessive arm around her shoulders as they walked through the town and now as they sat across each other on a nice restaurant, Naruto held her hands in his and he was staring at her eyes. Hinata did her best not to feel uncomfortable. Not that she didn't want this… But the situation of having Naruto so close made her feel that way. Something wasn't just right. Inside she recoiled.

In fact, she tried almost everything just to give Naruto the hint that she wasn't having the time of her life. She walked a few paces behind him on the way to the restaurant so he wrapped his arm around her as they walked. And when he kissed her again, she tried to push him back but he only deepened the kiss. She put her hands on his chest to make sure he kept his distance but he managed to snake his arms around her waist. And of course she also said 'no' a couple of times but he just laughed at her and told her not to feel shy. He even said that if she said no again, he'd punish her with another kiss. Having heard that actually shut her up.

Naruto raised a brow at her as he squeezed her hands. "Tell me, Hinata. You're seeing someone right now, huh?"

Shino was the first person that popped inside her mind. But as much as his name wanted to breathe out of her lips for release, her mouth kept shut. How could she ever say she was seeing Shino like that? Yeah they see each other in the academy, the training grounds, in town… but, they weren't seeing each other to be with each other. Besides, what would Shino say if ever he found out that she thought of him as her boyfriend? He might get mad or… maybe she could just suggest that he should punish her with a kiss too? Yes, a kiss would be good… "N-not really…"

It took a while for the words to register in Naruto's head. "Not really! So that means you have someone else in mind…?"

Hinata's heart pounded against her chest. It will be a breeze, having Naruto like this.

"I don't care."

"H-huh?" For a few seconds, she actually had the mind to consider his probable goodbye a relief. But now, the flare of his blue eyes were starting to scare her it made her fingertips cold. She gently slipped her fingers from his grasp but he took hold of her hands and grinned.

I won't push you

Unless you have a net

Shino was so sure Hinata saw him as he 'accidentally' passed by the restaurant that Naruto and she were dining at. He was stung with such curiosity that he had to see for himself the result of Sakura's infamous bet. The feeling of seeing them close to lovers was astounding –though he knew that it was possible. Hinata should get what she wants, right? She deserved all the happiness she could get. And if that meant dating Naruto, maybe it was worth the little bomb of ache inside his chest. Yes, she deserved to be happy… that he was willing to give her the kisses she needed till she couldn't breathe anymore.

The sky was dark as he took his route back home, taking slower paces than usual. Confusion dragged his feet in lingering strides and the unrecognized spark of jealousy in his brain started to clench his heart in hard twists of pain. Why was he hurting? Though he chose to numb himself with other people's affairs –this, he noticed, he could not put away.

Holding hands… staring at each other's eyes with so much passion…

"Shino-kun," the soft melodic voice called again; the same tone that haunted him in his dreams. "Shino…"

His heart froze as he realized that she was behind him, just like last night. The way they kissed, just like last night. Did Naruto kiss her too? Did she respond with such skill and passion as she would respond to his? "Hinata… you shouldn't be out at this time." Wasn't Naruto kind enough to bring her home? He was proving the be the jerk Sasuke claimed him to be.

"Shino," she called again.

When he did not face her, he felt her familiar hands on his shoulder blades, warm and tempting to hold as ever. It was as if she was transferring all her energies through her hands, giving all of the warmth she felt to him. But unfortunately, those were mixed up with the scent of Naruto, the awkward remainder of the kitsune's skin…

"You saw us, didn't you?" she asked, surprising him by pressing herself closer on his back.

As much as he wanted to answer honestly, he kept his mouth shut. The darkness around him felt so much like nothing –only the two of them were alive. A part of him wanted to ask how the date was, but thankfully, it too was silenced because of the tension inside him.

"Oh Shino," she whispered. "Do you know what I had in mind when I was on that date?"

He barely moved.

"I thought, 'what if this was Shino I was talking to,'" she said softly, squeezing the cloth of his coat. "What if this was Shino… What if… we were together like this." She slipped her arms around his chest and embraced him. "Please say something."

"Isn't that what you wanted, Hinata?" he finally spoke. The question was quite uncertain now that he thought of it. What exactly did he mean with the question? Shino put his hands above hers that was on his chest, squeezing it gently. "There will be so much in store for you in the future. You just wait. Don't settle down for Naruto too soon." Don't settle down for me...

"But... Shino," she whispered, pulling him closer. "You and I..."

"Are friends," he continued for her, slowly disentangling from her embrace. "We're also teammates."

"But you told me you loved me..."

"And I still do," he whispered, facing her. Shino didn't know what else to say but his arms caught her small frame in his, crushing her against his chest. "And I am here... waiting for nothing."

Hinata shook her head as she inhaled his scent, nuzzling his collar. "Am I nothing then..."

"No," Shino said, capturing her face with his hands. He gave her a soft kiss on the lips. He gazed into her eyes that seemed to glow against the darkness around them. Her eyes were the only thing that existed in his world. He wanted to kiss her again but something held him back. And the words came out of his lips unexpectedly. "Come home with me tonight."

A.N.