'It seemed as if Alex was going to tell him something, there was a serious look on her face, however when she opened her mouth Shino heard the voices of his students and he quickly span around and coughed as if nothing had happened.'

Shino stared at Alex's sleeping form, it had been years since he had seen her like this and back then she was in a worse shape that she was in now. Time had gone by since her mother and father had died and with that she had grown. Shino knew this all too well and made sure not to provoke those memories to save her the pain.

He took this time while the students were on a break, to get a good look at the lady she had become. As much time as Shino spent with Alex, he never really looked at her all that much, sure he stole glances at her when they shared time at the tea shop but really he was too afraid to look at her in case it made his feelings grow for her. If it wasn't obvious to himself then who would it be to? He was afraid of the feelings that were gnawing on his heart surrounding Alex. Sure, he knew what love was and how it worked, but he was convinced that it would never happen to him due to his attitude towards people. Over the years since their time in the academy he came to realize that Alex never looked at him with the fear or disgust that others did. Her eyes were always full of warmth towards him, even when she was hurt.

She always looked so peaceful and pain free when she was asleep and part of him wanted to reach out and stroke her cold cheek to send some warmth into them but he decided against it, in case she woke up and thought he was acting strange. Although he had become more accepting and warmer towards people since the war, he had yet to have any true contact with any of his friends. As Shino's eyes gazed over the beauty in front of him, he felt his cheeks warm up slightly at the view. His feelings towards Alex were still a mess inside his head but it seemed his beetles understood what was going on as their movement had gone from their sleeping state to moving around excitedly under his skin. Against his better judgment he placed his face close to hers. Not to act, but rather to study her face and to get used to being close to her. It was true that he was closer to her than any of his other comrades but he was yet to push himself further than their tea breaks and the odd walk around the village to help her healing process.

Unfortunately for Shino his movement had caused the jounin to slowly flutter her eyes open and without warning her clear blue eyes were staring through his sunglasses and into his eyes as if she could see them. It was as if he was a staring at an angel that would disappear forever if he dared to look away and the blush that stained Alex's cheeks bright red indicated that his actions were having an effect on her. Although this wasn't his normal behavior, he couldn't seem to get himself to move. Without warning Alex's hand rested on the top of his high collar and pulled it down gently and a smile replaced her shocked expression. Shino was stuck, he didn't know if to move or not. If he moved then she would stop looking at him with those beautiful eyes but if he didn't then he would be out of his comfort zone. That smile, Shino remembered that sincere smile from two and half years ago. It was the smile she wore when she saw his face and eyes for the first time. It was a difficult mission for him as he was forced to take off his glasses but the way Alex had looked at him that day was the same as it was now. Although he had convinced himself that the feelings he had were just nonsense, he kept questioning them.

It seemed as if Alex was going to tell him something, there was a serious look on her face, however when she opened her mouth Shino heard the voices of his students and he quickly span around and coughed as if nothing had happened.

"Take your seats and we shall continue our lesson"

Alex spent the rest of the day listen to Shino teaching his students the basics of being a ninja while she hid her face with a book. The blush that he had caused wouldn't leave and the memory of his face so close to hers was imprinted in her mind. She felt giddy like a little girl but at the same time she felt as if there was something she could of done.

Kiss him and tell him.

Was all that she could think but as much as her heart was pushing the idea, her brain was more sensible than that and knew the idea was completely ridiculous. Not to mention he wouldn't want that, at least that was what Alex thought.

'At least none of his students saw, more rumors about me are definitely not what not what I need right now." She thought to herself as she stared out of the little window by Shino's desk and watched the street below. It had become one of her favorite pass times at the academy, the people down in the village interested her and she wondered what it was like for those who never entered the life of a shinobi.

Hours passed but to Alex they felt like minutes before Shino cleared his throat to snapped her out of her own little world. Alex looked up at him with a blush tinted her cheeks as she stood up.

"Time for your Hinata visit. Why? because your not aloud to walk around on your own"

Alex frowned slightly at him at his words before following him.

"I hate that rule, why must Kakashi be so annoying"

"He's the Hokage"

"So?

"His word goes. Why? Because he looks after the village"

"Still" She left out a little huff.

"I'm not a child." She said as they exited the academy and walked down the middle of the village.

The streets were oddly busy and after looking at her watch a look of confusion was plastered on Alex's face.

"Why is it so busy? At six o'clock the village is normally quite"

"..."

Through the silence, footsteps could be heard coming towards the pair and as Alex's squinted she realized who it was and with a moan she stood behind Shino, mumbling.

"Please don't see me, please don't see me"

As the figure came into view for Shino, he stood still and watched them with his normal stare. The tall blonde girl stopped in front of Shino with a frustrated look on her face.

"Shino! Where's Alex? That lazy pig is needed by the Hokage! Honestly I don't know how someone like that is a Jounin!" Ino Blabbered as she looked around.

"She is a Jounin. Why? Because she sacrificed her career and life for the village and saved hundreds of lives."

Shino's statement made Ino even more furious that she already was.

"I saved lives too! and I can still go on missions with my darling Sai! " Hearts developed in her eyes before she snapped back into her furious self.

Before Alex had thought her actions through she poked her head out from behind Shino and began to shout.

"Shut up, loud mouth! I didn't ask to be a Jounin! Nor did I ask to be stuck within the village!"

Alex's pupils narrowed down and a look of regret forced it's way onto her face as she realized she wasn't hiding anymore.

"Dam it" She mumbled before she made a break for it, however Ino already had a grip on the collar of her jacket.

"Let! Me! Go!" She shouted as she tried to get away but it was useless.

"Your coming with me, whether you like it or not!"

"No!" Alex shouted before looking back at Shino.

"Shino, help me!"

".." Silence was all that her begging got her and that didn't make Alex happy but there was nothing she could do. If Ino wanted Alex to go somewhere, she'd be going even if it was to her death and so she crossed her arms and made the journey as difficult for Ino as possible by dragging her feet.

"Why are you making this so hard on me!" Ino said as she pulled Alex up the hill towards the Hokage's office.

"Because I was busy and you interrupted me! Also I don't like you" Alex snickered slightly.

That was a half a lie. Ino and Alex didn't hate each other nor didn't like each other either. Ino was jealous of Alex's Jounin status and Alex was jealous of Ino's beauty. It was a one way street that they both happened to be on together and no matter what happened they fought, even if it was an half-arsed attempt.

"Your pretty stubborn for a girl who has no love life"

Alex frowned at Ino and her statement was met with silence before Ino decided to push her through the door and into the Hokage's office, were she was met with Shikamaru, Temari and a slightly amused Kakashi. It was as if Kakashi knew what Alex's reaction would be to his request as he had Ino block the door.

As Alex back up slightly the amusement on the Hokage's face became more apparent.

"Alex Ohisuijza. As the second shinobi to come out of the war as a jounin and considering your condition you will be conducting the chunin exams with Shikamaru and Temari."

The look on Alex's face both a mixture of pain and annoyance, this was the last thing she wanted to be doing with her time and so she was going to make as many excuses as possible to get out of the duty.

"I have a few questions,then."

Kakashi nodded and let her ask anything she wanted.

"What if I don't want to?"

"You have to"

"But what if I really really don't want to"

"You still have to"

"OK, so what if I say no"

"That's the same thing"

"Gotcha, but I still can't be bothered"

"There's no way around it"

"So, let's say I ran. Would I still have to do it?"

"Yes"

"Even if I refuse?"

" You got it"

"You've thought of everything" Alex mumbled before Shikamaru spoke up for the first time.

"What a drag, your the same as always, Alex. Troublesome to the core."

She nodded and beamed at him before looking back at Kakashi with a sigh, her plan wasn't working. It was after this that Temari spoke up.

"Why are you fighting it? This is your job, no your duty as a jounin!"

Before Alex could retaliate Shikamaru had interrupted.

"Alex may be lazy, loud and have a strange addiction to tea which could be considered borderline ridiculous but she is a great organizer and has a knack for keeping people in line even if she is useless at everything else."

Alex frowned slightly and confusion appeared on her face.

"I'm not sure if I should be offended or not."

It seemed that Shikamaru's words weren't enough to convince Temari of Alex's capabilities, which meant Alex would have to prove it to her.

"Just for the record, I am useful for many things but granted without the use of my full chakra I am not that useful as a ninja but I can still help!" Alex winked slightly at Temari before she looked back at the Hokage.

"I will do it, even if it is to prove a point that I am not just lazy and loud but useful to the village."

Kakashi looked between the three shinobi in front of him as he started to regret the team he put together, nothing good could come of Alex trying to prove herself. It seemed that Alex had already gotten bored of the silence and began walking towards the door.

"Alex, one more thing"

"Hm?" she turned around and looked at Kakashi.

"Yes, Hokage?"

"Inform Hinata, Kiba and Shino that I want to see them."

With a nodded Alex pushed Ino to the side and opened the door to leave. She was already starting to miss the relaxing days helping at the academy.