It's Always The Quiet Ones

When it comes down to it, we all just want to be loved.- Jamie Yellin

Shino watched his father Shibi rinse out his gourd. The man methodically wiped excess moisture from the cleaned container, only to have a swarm of insects rush back inside their home. Shino observed the parade of destruction bugs, feeling the small colony within him buzz a warning to the other. The young boy forced himself to relax and sent calming commands to his inhabitants, if he couldn't control the few hundred or so chakra eaters in his body father would hold him back from the academy. Again.

"Are you ready?" His father asked, adjusting the straps of his gourd. Shibi tapped his sunglasses to signal that Shino had yet to apply his. In the dim kitchen Shino nodded, his small hand fishing for the pair of glasses that would shield his sensitive eyes from the sunlight.

Father and son left the house, the former escorting the latter to the ninja academy. It was to be Shino's first day. Mother was off on another long-term mission so Shibi was doing the honors.

"You have all your supplies?"

Shino nodded. His heart warmed at the concern his father was exhibiting. Both of his parents often went on out of country missions, and didn't have much time for him. Any attention was a blessing, but he had to remain calm. If Shino became nervous or excited that would transfer to his 'allies' and it would be even more difficult to control them.

"Lunch?"

Shino held out his bento consisting of fried rice and vegetables with a small jar of watered honey for his bugs. As the two entered the village proper from their estate road, the whispers began.

"Is that the Aburames?"

"I thought they were to be gone for another month."

"Mommy say's that the man fed his son to bugs."

"I once saw the boy trying to talk to a grasshopper."

"My husband had to team up with one of them, said those bugs have probably eaten their souls."

Shino squeezed his eyes shut behind the dark spectacles. He didn't catch everything, but that was most likely a good thing. He had been called soulless by an old woman before, and declared a freak by the younger. It hurt, to know you disgusted the people you were taught to protect.

If Shibi noticed his son's discomfort he didn't say anything, but his hand moved to rest on the small shoulder. Shino's eyes darted to his father. Strong. He dad was always strong and smart. He didn't let anything or anyone break his cool. Shino drew from that, raising his chin a little higher and quietly marking the gossipers.

They didn't matter much, but they would need to be watched. Shino's colony thrummed, marching along and whispering its discontent. He could hear hundreds of tiny questioning voices. Today, maybe it will be different.

At the school gate Shibi stopped and turned to his son. In a rare display of affection he ruffled Shino's fluffy hair and smiled. "You're starting life as a shinobi now. Good luck."

"Thank you, father." Shino smiled back from behind his collar. He'd make him proud. Shino Aburame would be a world famous ninja, and everyone would respect the clan. The clan was important.

Raised by his allies as much as his parents, Shino wanted to make them both happy. His friends crawled beneath his skin, offering continuous companionship while his parents gave unconditional love and advice. Shino walked slowly into the building, hoping to gain new allies.

He paced down the hall, giving short bows to the various chuunin standing in the hallways to welcome the trainees. As his hidden eyes scanned the other students, Shino's heart fell; At least half were from civilian families.

When they saw his sunglasses and long coat, grimaces and whispers broke out. It was the same. People fear what they don't understand. But fear is an unwanted emotion, so they turn it to hate.

It was with a slightly slower step Shino entered his assigned class. The chuunin in charge gave the Aburame a heartfelt smile, "You must be Shino-kun. Have a seat. I'll be your homeroom instructor until you graduate. Call me Iruka-sensei."

Shino bowed then started up the stairs. A girl with pink hair wrinkled her nose and whispered to the brunette sitting next to her, "The Aburame clan is famous for using bugs in their fighting style." Girls inched away and boys looked on in half disgust and half fascination. Shino's bugs translated the subtle body signals of the intimidated students. He sighed. At least the teacher is pleasant.

"Hey."

Shino glanced up from his musings. A boy with half-lidded eyes and a spiky pony tail was waving absently. It looked almost as if the action was too tiring to put any real effort into. Shino blinked behind his glasses and altered from his course. Perhaps the lone seat in the back was for someone else.

"Nara." Shino asked near monotone.

"Shikamaru," Shikamaru corrected. "This is Chouji."

Shino nodded to the boy snacking on potato chips and sat down. He didn't feel like talking and neither did his two new allies. It was nice just sitting together.

Shino panted as his few thousand bugs resumed attack on the spinning ball that was Chouji. The boy was getting close to a juggernaut status with his attack. Shikamaru and Tsunade had theorized that with proper chakra control, and if taken together with a special deer pill, Chouji might be able to use his family's pills again. It was a big if, but the Akimichi wanted to have those as a last resort option.

So here they were, Chouji building speed and control with his meat tank attack. Shino's bugs were getting flushed under and out from rolling boy, as near visible chakra created a vacuum. Annoyed, he leapt into the air followed by Chouji, who came out of his spin and hurled two chakra laced shuriken.

The blue glowing metal ripped through part of Shino's jacket, at the same time revealing that the intended target was in truth a mass of destruction bugs. Chouji cried in dismay as he saw his foe disintegrate. When he landed, Chouji sighed. His pouch was missing. Shino won the sparring match. Again.

From the trees Shino walked out, holding the prized ninja pouch out to the loser. Chouji took it with a questioning look. "When my clone came apart, I had them briefly reform as they were passing by and take it."

"I hadn't thought about that." Chouji murmured as he dug out a roll. Both ninja were tired, but getting stronger. In an unvoiced agreement they headed back to the village.

Halfway there, a girl was running out to meet them. "Shino-san!" Her braided hair was hitting the broadsword on her back in rhythmic thumps. Shino recognized her easily as one of the civilians, her weapon odd yet fitting on her muscled frame. Her nose rounded off her features quite nicely, all in all he could see she was fairly cute.

"Yes?"

"Shikamaru-san and Tsunade-hime wish to speak with you as soon as possible." The girl leaned on her knees, a testament to her newness at hauling around large weapons. Shino wondered why she picked that particular blade if it was so much trouble.

"Good day, Chouji Akimichi." Shino nodded goodbye and jumped off.

"So. You need any help with that?" Chouji asked as Shino left. The girl eased up, shaking her head negative.

"No thanks. I need have to carry it myself if I'm ever going to be useful in battle." She bit her lip timidly and walked with the snaking boy. "Is it true we might go to war?"

Chouji glanced at the sky. "Possibly. There have been reports of several foreign nin…"

It didn't take long for Shino to reach the meeting place. Tsunade, he thought, was good looking by high standards and drop dead gorgeous with normal ones. Yet somehow, he didn't find himself attracted to her. It was confusing. He knew what he should want, but never felt anything.

Shino stepped into the common hall. As he expected Shikamaru was lounging on a couch. The former chuunin glanced over at Shino. Something in those brown eyes spoke to the bug user, accepting him. Shino felt himself relax in the others presence. The Nara was always calm, and not out of necessity, but of choice. He maintained a level head in all situations, a key for all true strategists.

Shikamaru waited for Shino to take a seat, not knowing the concealed eyes never left him. Shino watched. His ally wasn't the most attractive male, but his mind more than made up for it. His family jutsu to attack with shadows, something normally intangible, was simply amazing.

Shino exhaled heavily as his bugs swarmed with his chakra changes. He could feel himself 'pulling a Hinata' as he blushed, and was grateful for the large collar that concealed it. Why is this happening, again? He is male. I need a queen. Men do not yield progeny.

Tsunade burst open the door, her breasts swaying as always. Behind her, the ramen man followed to Shino's confusion. "Shino, you've been requested to escort Teuchi-san to the Mist as a B rank mission. Will you do it?"

Shino shifted his eyes toward Shikamaru, no doubt the one who decided Shino was best for the job. "Yes."

Tsunade smiled and held out a file. "This is suggested information for the mission. You'll be under-cover as a mercenary hired by Teuchi-san, AKA Old Man Ichiraku. Which, by the way, is the only thing you will be referring to him as during the assignment."

Shino flipped through the papers. "These are all different types of plants...what is this 'dro?'"

Shikamaru waved a hand dismissingly. "Just some hard facts and prices you'll need to know for Teuchi-san. What's more important right now is that you need a partner."

The old chef nodded. "Custom and protocol would suggest two. It's supposed to be a peaceful visitation..."

"Well then." Tsunade crossed her arms over the ample chests. "Shino has agreed. Who else would you like?"

"Heh heh. It doesn't really matter. The young Aburame fit's the stereotype close enough. He'll put them on edge."

Tsunade turned to Shikamaru, who sighed and picked up a pad and pen. "I'll post it on the mission list..."

Shino decided to follow the shadow manipulator. Maybe he would decide to come on the mission.

END.