Chapter 31: Teach Me Aurion!

"Ugh, Aurion? What do you want?" Shino asked as soon as he saw Aurion at his door.

"What kinda crappy greeting is that?" Aurion shook his head. "Look, I'm here to teach ya all the fine points of getting women!"

"What?"

"You were a total mess last night with my sister! You froze up and stuff, so I took it upon myself to teach you what to do!"

"And what did I do to deserve such a punishment?"

"Hardy-har-har kid. Let's go! We have a lot of work to do today!" He grabbed Shino's hand and pulled him out of the apartment.

"Work?"

"Yep! I'm a professional at this, so leave it to me!" They stood in the busy village streets. "Okay, look, the first thing I'll teach ya is how to recognize how to tell a single woman from one already in a relationship."

"How do you do that?" Shino looked away. "Wait, why would I wanna know that? I'm already, you know, in love with someone…"

"Silence, this requires concentration!" He scanned the area, looking closely into the eyes of the women. "Okay, see that girl over there in the blue kimono?"

"Yeah."

"She's taken."

"How do you know?"

"Look at her eyes. There's a certain look in her eyes that screams 'I have a boyfriend'. Alright, see that girl over there in the brown shorts?" Shino nodded. "She's free."

"Okay. It's the eyes right?"

"You go it. Let's move on." They continued down the streets. "Know I'm gonna show you how you pick up women."

"Aurion, I don't want to-"

"Whoa buddy, that girl over there is fiiiiiiiine!" He leaned over to Shino. "Watch this." He smirked and walked over to the woman. "Hey sweetheart, you're really cute. How about you and me go somewhere nice, huh?"

"Get lost," She said.

"Aw, come on, playin' hard to get is no fun!"

"Back off jerk!" She slapped him, then walked off.

"Oww, forget you then." He walked back to Shino.

"Nice job, you were so smooth."

"Shut up!"

"Listen, I don't wanna learn how to pick up women or anything like that! I know what I'm gonna do, so just leave me alone."

"Oh, I see. You wanna know how to confess your love! I get it."

"Aurion-"

"Alright…That chick over there! Listen Shino, I'm gonna show you how to tell a girl that you love her and mean it." He ran over to the other woman. "Ah, excuse me, miss?"

She turned around. "Oh? Yes?"

"I've seen you around a couple of times and I…um…think you're really pretty."

She blushed. "Oh my…Thank you."

"I…I think it was love at first sight because I…I'm in love with you."

She gasped. "You love me! W-Well, I um…" She smiled.

"I know that sounds stupid, but that's how I feel. W-Would you do me the honor of…uh…going on a date with me?"

She grabbed his hands. "Of course I will!"

He turned to Shino and smiled. "See Shino? That's how you do it!"

"Excuse me!" the woman shouted. "So I was just some show and tell object!" She slapped him. "You're a horrible man!" She ran off crying.

"Sorry! But I'm actually taken!" he shouted after her.

"You're taken?" Shino asked.

"Yeah."

"By whom?"

"By someone…Anyway, now that you know how you should confess your feelings, let's go find Airi!"

"What!"

XXXX

"Aurion!" Shino asked as he blushed lightly, "Why…Why are we at the women's bath?"

"My baby sis is here!" Aurion said with a smirk.

"But we can't go in there!"

"Okay, fine, fine! Let's go around back." They walked to the back of the building. "Oh, a ladder!" he said as he pointed to the ladder. "Let's climb up."

"Aurion, I'm beginning to think that you're just doing this to spy on girls."

"…What's life without love Shino? Tell me that." They climbed to the top. "Aah, we can look down thorough here." They peered down from the glass into the room below them. "Hey…"

----

"This is really nice," Airi said.

"Yeah, it reminds me of the herbal bath houses back home," Airas agreed.

"I'm glad you guys like it!" Kurenai said with a smile.

"I try not to come here a lot cuz then I don't want to leave," Sakura said with a giggle as she sank in deeper.

"It's very relaxing in here," Hinata said with a dreamy sigh. "So, um, Airi, are you and Shino together yet?"

"Wh-What!" Airi sat up.

"Yeah, how are things with my student, Shino?" Kurenai asked with a wink.

"Guys…" She blushed. "Do we have to talk about that now?"

"C'mon, tell us!" Sakura said.

"Ah…N…Not yet…"

"Not yet? You guys are taking way to long! I'm mean, Shino's seventeen already!" Sakura said. "I would at least think you guys hooked up before he turned seventeen."

"Does it matter? My birthday's in May, so it's not too far off…" She shook her head. "That's no important!" She looked back at Hinata. "And what about you Hina-chan? What about you and Naruto?"

"Me and…Naruto? W-Well…" She looked away.

"I'd say things are going great between you two," Sakura said.

"Yeah, we've seen you two together a lot," Airas added.

"You guys look cute together," Airi said happily.

"Well, I couldn't have done it without you, Airi," Hinata confessed.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that charm you made for me. It was a courage charm."

"Hinata, I meant to tell you that the first few charms I made when I came to this village never worked."

"What!"

"I was still perfecting my skills! You developed your relationship with Naruto on your own. It was your own desire that gave you courage. It was all you Hina-chan."

She smiled. "Thank you Airi!" They both hugged.

Airas looked away, then smiled herself. Airi has made some truly wonderful friends…

----

Aurion leaned forward as he began to drool. "Kurenai…"

"Aurion, you're shifting your weight when you lean forward! When that happens, you apply more pressure onto this glass! It's not very strong and it could break!" Shino hissed. He looked back down. "…Airi…"

"Kuuuuuuuuuuuuurenai!" He leaned forward even more.

"Aurion, don't-" CRASH! The glass shattered and the two plummeted into the room.

"KYAAAAH!" The girls screamed. "What happened?"

Shino hit the water, then quickly sat up. "Oww, damn you Aurion!" He looked up.

"Sh-Shino…" Airi said.

"Erm!" He froze. "A-Airi, I…Aurion he…we…Y-You don't understand, look…uh…"

She held on tighter to her towel. "…AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" She ran off.

"Airi, wait! I can explain! It was Aurion's fault! He dragged me into this!"

"Shino! Aurion! You perverts!" the other girls screamed.

"Hey ladies," Aurion said casually. "You're lookin' good."

"Aurion, you're dead!" Airas screamed.

"Oh God, Airas! You're here too!" He started to brush his tongue. "No! I just flirted with my sister!"

"And so are you Shino!" She started to crack her knuckles. "You're finished!"