Chapter 30: Awkward Date

Airi sighed hopelessly as her sister and Hinata dressed her up. "This is too much guys!" She tossed off the fancy dress and put her regular clothes on. "I look like a clown!" She wiped her heavy make-up off. "Besides, it's not like Shino and I are going on a date date!"

"Are you sure about that?" Airas asked slyly.

"Yes!"

"But Airi, you can't wear the same old thing!" Hinata informed.

"Fine, fine! But I'm not putting anything fancy on!" She tossed her top shirt off and removed her leggings. "There, happy?"

"It's a start," Airas said with a smirk.

There was a knock on the door. "O-Oh my God! I can't do this!" She ran into the bathroom.

"It'll be alright Airi! Just keep that transmitter with you and you can keep in touch with Airas and me!" Hinata said reassuringly.

"Airi, don't be like this!" Airas tried to open the bathroom door. "Airi?" She pulled on the knob. "Airi, open the door so you can go on your little date with Shino."

"No! I'm not coming out!"

A small vein popped out on her head. "Airi, don't keep your boyfriend waiting!"

"Screw you!"

"AAHH! That's it missy! Open this goddamn door!"

"Make me!"

"Oh please don't fight!" Hinata cried.

----

"Why isn't she answering the door?" Aurion asked.

"Maybe her fear of bugs kicked in again and she hates me…again," Shino said.

"No, I think she's over her fear of bugs."

"You're nervous Shino, I can tell," Kiba said. "Just relax, Aurion and I will keep contact with you by the transmitter we-" CRASH! "What was that?"

"Get out!"

Airi tumbled out of the room and slammed into Shino. "Oww…" She gasped. "Oh my gosh! Shino, I'm so sorry!" Aurion and Kiba jumped behind two chairs.

"It's alright," Shino said as they got up. This isn't a real date. R-Right! We're just going as friends…right?

"W-Well, let's go!" She laughed lightly to shake off her apprehension. They walked out of the inn, the atmosphere around them tense. "S-So, Shino, can I asked why you um, invited me out?"

"I was forced to against my will," was Shino's mumbled reply.

"Excuse me? Did you just say you were 'forced'?"

"No," he said casually as if he really didn't say that.

"Oh…" They walked nervously to the restaurant and sat at their table.

Shino, what're you doing? whispered Shino's transmitter.

"Huh?"

Don't just sit there like a rock you idiot! Talk to her!

"Fine, fine!" He cleared his throat. "How have you been lately Airi?"

"Hmm? How have I been lately? Good, I suppose."

Good you suppose! whispered Airi's transmitter. What kinda answer is that! You should be more enthusiastic.

"Okay…" She smiled at Shino. "What I meant to say, uh, Shino is that…" She took a deep breath. "I've been wonderful!" She made her eyes twinkle.

He sat there, a little confused. That was weird…

"Is something wrong?"

"N-No, nothing at all. I'm just…I'm just trying to get used to your new hair cut!"

"Oh?"

"Y-Yeah. I've known you with longer hair for a long time, so I might need a little time to adjust."

"Okay…" They looked around anxiously.

Say something you loser!

"…Wa…Waiter, where's the food?" Airi shouted. Everyone looked at her.

You dummy!

Shino gave her a curious look. "Uh…Never mind."

"S-Sorry Shino…" She looked away.

Shino, are you a man or are you a sissy!

"Piss off," Shino hissed into the transmitter.

We're the ones trying to help you, so be grateful!

"How are you helping?"

Look out the window behind Airi and see!

Shino looked up and froze. Wh-What the hell? "What the hell is wrong with you guys!"

Just do it, you bug freak!

He growled to himself. Th-Those idiots!

"Shino, is something wrong?" Airi asked.

"N-No, of course not." They stared down at the plates of food finally set before them. I can't believe this but here goes… "Airi, listen…I…I have some things that I would like to say…"

She looked at him and froze. "L-Like wh-what?"

He sighed. "Airi…You've been through so much…I feel as if your suffering is my fault. Because of my clan, you lost the people that you loved. What's worse, you were blamed for it. I'm so sorry that I made you suffer."

"Shino…"

"You came to Konohagakure to better yourself, but you only got heartache instead. Then you went through all of this crap with Shinji and your uncle…And before that, your sister tried to…" He stopped himself.

"…Shino, please. I've learned to deal with this pain. But now things are gonna get better, Don't blame yourself. We all make mis-"

"I'm sorry!"

"Huh?"

"I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you."

She looked at him. Shino…So you do care…

"Airi, I care so much about you…and I'm sure you feel the same about me. I didn't understand this before, but I'm learning now. I'm getting better…"

"Oh…I…I've always…"

"From now on, I won't let any harm come to you…" She began to tear up. "I…" He hesitated, then twitched. "I…n-need you…"

I'm gonna tell him how I feel! "Shino, I have to tell you that-"

He twitched again. "I…oh God…I w-w-want you…"

"Shino!"

"…GAH!" He pounded his head on the table. "How can you expect me to say that!"

She tilted her head, a baffled look plastered on her face. "Eh? Wh-What are you talking about Shino?" She touched his head. "Shino?"

He looked up miserably. "…Feh…" Voices from the transmitter screamed into his ear, but he couldn't understand them. He looked back at the window. "…I can't see…"

Shino! Tell my sister to move her fat head!

Aurion, that's mean! How can you say that about your sister!"

Shut it Kiba! Shino, do as I say!

Oh God, someone shoot me! "Airi, can you move your head please?"

"What?"

"I can't see the window."

"The window? Huh?" She moved.

"Thank you." He fixed his glasses. "Let's see…"

Say it!

"But…"

Say it! If you don't, that means you're gay!"

"What!" He shook his head in hopelessness.

"Shino, did you mean what you said earlier?" She looked down, feeling a bit flustered.

"Oh yeah, I meant it…S-Sweet…Sweetcheeks…"

Airi stopped smiling and looked up. "Excuse me? Did you just…Did you just call me 'sweetcheeks' Shino?" They sat quietly for a moment. "That…" She burst out in laughter. "That's the stupidest thing I've ever hear! HAHAHAHAHAHA!" She held her stomach. "I can't believe you just said that!" Tears formed in her eyes from the amusement. "I-I--HAHAHA--I'm s-sorry! I-I don't mean to--HAHAHAHA--laugh! It's just that…Buh…b-buh…BWHAHAHAHA!" She pounded her hand on the table. "You've been around my brother waaaay too much!"

"I'm gonna kill you Aurion…" Shino murmured into the transmitter.

"OWW!" Airi hit her head on the table as she grabbed her knee. "What the hell was that!"

He looked up at her. "You okay?"

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine. Something just…hit my knee, that's all…" She looked under the table and found Airas and Hinata. "What're you guys doing under there! And who the hell hit me!"

"That was me and I had a good reason too!" Airas hissed. "Don't laugh at Shino! At least he's trying unlike you!"

"You evil person! And you dragged Hinata under there too? Geez, Hinata, I'm sorry."

"That's alright," Hinata said with a cheerful smile. "I wanna help."

"Ugh, fine. What do you two propose I do, hmm?"

"Tell Shino you wanna do him!" Airas replied.

"Foul witch!" Airi pulled her foot back, then threw the kick.

Shino's eyes widened. "OWWWWW!"

"Sh-Shino!"

"You missed!" Airas called out from under the table.

"Oh my God! Shino, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to kick you! It was an accident!"

"It's alright, I've felt worse." Damn, that was some kick! That hurt!

"But I-"

"It's okay! Stop apologizing."

She sighed and put her head down. "S-Sorry…Oops…"

Shino looked out of the window and saw Aurion and Kiba fighting. What're they doing! Aurion pushed Kiba against the glass, right behind Airi. "U-Uh, I'm suddenly full! Do you wanna leave now?"

"Oh, yes! I mean, okay!" They got up and walked out…Well, actually, they ran.

XXXX

"Airi, I'm sorry about dinner," Shino sighed as they stopped at the park.

"Oh, no, I'm the one that's sorry. I kicked you," Airi said sadly. They sat on a bench and sighed. "Wow…Things have sure changed."

"What do you mean?"

"I didn't think I would get to live another year, but I guess I was wrong."

"But…that's a good thing. No one should have to sacrifice their own life like that."

"I know, you're right…But who would've thought that I'd meet people like you, Hinata, and Kiba? I'm really thankful." She smiled. "I bet if my clan allowed its people to become ninjas, we'd be really good. Ninjas of the mystic arts!"

"That would be cool."

She looked down. "Shino, when I said that things have changed…I…I wasn't just talking about the things and people around us. I meant…us." He looked at her. "Shino, our relationship has changed so much."

"In…In a good way or bad way? Has it…taken a turn for the worst?"

"No. It has developed into something…something very…" she looked at him, "beautiful." They looked right into each other's eyes. "…Shino…" As they leaned in closer, the world suddenly appeared to be moving in slow motion. "…I…I think I…"

SNAP! "AAAAHHH!" Hinata, Airas, Kiba, and Aurion came crashing out of the tree above Shino and Airi.

"Wh-What the fu-" The group of spies fell on top of the lovebirds.

"Oww! My head!" Aurion shouted.

"Get yer ass out of my face Aurion!" Kiba yelled.

"Airas, you're crushing me!" Hinata cried.

"So now you're calling me fat!" Airas hissed.

"KYAA!" Airi yelled. "Sh-Shino?"

"Ugh…" Shino looked up and the first thing he saw was Airi's white underwear. "Oh shit…"

"SHINO YOU PERVERT! Get your face out from between our sister's legs!" Airas and Aurion yelled. They grabbed Shino and tossed him aside like a rag doll. "Airi, are you okay! Are you traumatized!"

"I-I'm fine! What're you guys doing here anyway!" Airi was blushing furiously.

"W-We, um…W-Well, funny story…"

"You ruined my night!" She began to beat them up.

Hinata helped Shino to his feet. "Are you alright Shino?"

"I-I'm fine…" He was blushing uncontrollably.

"You're blushing!" she giggled.

"Kn-Knock it off…"

"AGH! I can't believe you guys!" Airi stormed towards Hinata and Shino. "Excuse us Hinata." She grabbed Shino's arm. "Let's get out of here."

XXXX

"Agh, Airi, I'm sorry about all of this. I didn't want this night to turn out like this," Shino said as he rubbed his head. "A-And…I didn't mean to, um…fall between…"

"I-It's in the past now," Airi said with a small blush as she adjusted her skirt. "So, h-how did you want this night to turn out?"

"H-Huh? How did I…? W-Well, I wanted to tell you that…" He looked around. "That…"

"Well, this is my inn," she said as they stopped in front of the quiet inn.

"Airi, I want to tell you that-"

She put her finger to his lips. "You can tell me later Shino. Despite that problem earlier, I had fun tonight." She placed a small, shy kiss on his lips. "Good night…Shino…" She smiled, then wandered inside.

"G-Good night…" He sighed. "I didn't get to say what I wanted to tell her but…" He touched his lips, then smiled. "But I'll settle for that…"