"Wakeupwakeupwakeup!" Naruto was pouncing on her bed, her family members cooing over her bruised body. She sighed, she'd lost. But then she turned and smiled for Naruto.

"What's going on? Are all the exams over?"

"No, no! We have a month until the final exam! Me, Shino, Sasuke, fan girl, Gaara, that freaky puppet kid, Shikamaru, and Bandage Man!"

Ayami was highly disappointed in herself. She thought that she was doing so well. Her father sat next to her, and kindly hugged her.

"That family has a special technique, you know. It's called 'soft hands' and does damage to your internal organs. You didn't feel it until the end...I was studying about it while you slept."

She smiled at him and his kindness. He would probably later tell her exactly how to avoid this technique. She was grateful.

"Ano, ano...Mi-hime!" Naruto said bouncing more, "You're going to come see me right?"

"Of course!"

"Thank you!" and he rushed off.

♥ ♥ ♥

Her family left shortly afterwards, covering her with kisses and love, telling her grandfather had come before, and had promised to teach her a new technique before the last part of the Chuunin Exam. They all promised to help her, telling her next time would definitely be different. She sat alone in the hospital room, quietly eating some snacks brought to her from home, lovingly prepared by her grandmother. She felt much better, easily comforted by love and attention. Then Shino walked in, quiet and steathful as ever. He adjusted his glasses, and walked towards her, hand temporarily raised in a silent greeting. He sat on the bed, and looked at her.

"Feel okay?"

"Yeah." she gushed, "My family just came...this was a tough one. I'm sure I'll pass next time."

"I know you will. But..."

"But what?"

"It's Kiba."

"What's wrong with Kiba? Pride damaged and his heart failed because of it? Serves him right, taunting an opponent, it's the worst..."

Shino held up a hand. "I know, and your right. But he's acting very strangely. I asked him if it was the match, and he said he could get over that easily with his mom's dog biscuits. So I asked him again what was wrong, but he denied anything was wrong."

"And...?"

"I think you should talk to him. I'm his comrade. You are his friend."

"I don't want to."

"It's your duty, Mi-chan." Ayami pouted at this, crossing her arms and not looking at Shino. But she knew he was right, and he knew he had won. He affectionately rubbed her head, the first time he had shown such care, and then walked out.

'...stupid boys...'

♥ ♥ ♥

Ayami padded down the white hallways of the hospital, her white shirt with the bow tied in the back in place of the flimsy paper gown. Bandages still covered her hands, and underneath her clothes, and she had a large patch on her cheek. She felt fine, but knew the wounds were tender underneath the wrappings. She made her way to Kiba's room, after being told of it's location by a friendly nurse. She didn't know what she was going to say, and was even more lost for words when she saw Kiba. His head was covered in wrappings, and he was staring out the window, absentmindedly stroking Akamaru. She probably would have stood there a lot longer, trying to collect her words, if Akamaru had not alerted his master to the presence of a friend. Kiba quickly turned to face her, and her heart ached. He looked so forlorn, that she looked down, ready to apologize.

"I...I'm so..."

"So, your here? I guess you don't totally hate me."

She walked over to his bed, and sat in the chair next to the bed. "I'm sorry...I didn't show more concern for you when...when you lost, but..."

"Hey, it's okay. I deserved it. You were right about Naruto."

She didn't say anything, not even able to look at him, she felt so guilty. She felt a cold nose against her hands, then something warm. She thought it was Akamaru, snuggled under her palm, but when she looked, it was...Kiba's hand. He squeezed hers lightly. "Friends?" he said. She hugged him, long and hard, not daring to cry.

♥ ♥ ♥

Her grandfather taught her the long held secret, and she took to it, learning it faster than even her grandfather had. As she was practicing it, her grandfather held up her hand, looking at it, then holding her thumb's first joint between his fingers.

"Hey honey! That's a lot of willpower you have!"

♥ ♥ ♥

The Chuunin final round was about to begin, and Ayami sat excitedly in the stands with Kiba, ready to cheer Shino. The matches were good, much better because she wasn't in them, and didn't have to worry. When Shino's turn came though, his opponent Kankuro simply forfeited. This made Ayami extremely nervous. 'Why would he forfeit? Why would he give up now?' Kiba looked confused as well. Only a little while later they would know, and lament.

♥ ♥ ♥

After the destruction of Konohana, Ayami breathed a sigh of relief as she learned that everyone she cared for was still alive. She never dreamed that a death would come in her own family, would come to its strongest member.

The Hokage was dead.

Ayami was wrecked, her whole family was. They were like a lion with its mane cut off and wounded terribly, thrashing about. Ayami cried with her family, and on her own. She didn't see her teammates or anyone else for a week, although she heard that several were wounded badly. She sometimes lay prostrate on the ground, unable to breathe, so unreal was this. Her town was destroyed, the town that her grandfather helped to build, and her dear, dear sweet Dede was dead. She felt she would die as well, but knew she wouldn't, and couldn't for the sake of her grandfather's town. She finally saw everyone at the funeral, and seeing so many hearts broken along with hers helped her. Her grandfather would never be forgotten, his very face was carved into the wall. Akamaru even had on a little black coat, and Ayami almost laughed for what seemed like the first time in years. But then she remembered her grandfather would have wanted her to laugh, and so she did quietly. No one else had to understand.

♥ ♥ ♥

Soon everyone was repairing the town, and before you could bat an eyelash a new Hokage was in place, a woman. Ayami was happy, feeling protected again in her town. They started training again, Shino severely disappointed in not being selected to become a chuunin. Ayami knew he would have if the judges had actually seen him fight. As it was, only Shikamaru was chosen. Kiba and Shino worked harder than ever, and Ayami was finding it hard to keep up. Kiba even went home after training, he was so tired. Sometimes Ayami sought the stars herself, and even Shino joined her once. Kiba was working too hard and long, developing new techniques. She thought this was best for now, a little time for everyone to work off and heal private wounds, but then there came the order one early morning...

♥ ♥ ♥

"Naruto! Wait for me!" Sakura was running down the streets, early in the morning. Ayami had been up all night, unable to sleep, and was walking home when she heard her. Sakura had an urgent note in her voice, one usually only reserved for Sasuke. Ayami turned around and shouted at her, asking what was wrong. "It's Sasuke! He's run away! Naruto and four others are going after him!"

"What four others?"

"Chouji, Shikamaru, Shino, and Kiba!"

Ayami froze for a moment, Sakura anxiously stopping before her.

"How...how dangerous is this?"

"They're saying...they're saying they may not come back alive!"

Ayami needed no further motivation; she started running even before Sakura did. She ran through the streets all the way to the front gate of the village. And there stood the five boys, ready to leave. She heard Sakura's shout behind her, and they all turned. She just kept running, stopping before them to one side. She looked at all of them, memorizing their faces, as she heard Sakura running to Naruto. As Sakura stood crying before Naruto, using him to find her Sasuke, Ayami looked at Kiba, then Shino, then Kiba. She stared at Kiba, willing him to understand her. As Sakura finished, they started off. Ayami continued looking at Kiba, and he paused before going.

"What is it Mi-chan?"

"You'd better come home."

"Of course...because," And he turned, and started walking.

"Because...you are my dream."

♥ ♥ ♥

Ayami fretted terribly over the next few days, in more ways than one. A lot of boys she cared about were out there, and it was frustrating. She couldn't concentrate, but instead took to bothering the Hokage for more backup, even if it was just her alone. The Hokage listened, telling her that the earliest people available would be sent, but on no condition whatsoever was she supposed to go alone. Eventually everyone returned.

♥ ♥ ♥

"Hey! How are you and Akamaru?"

"Care more about the dog than me, huh? I guess it can't be helped." But he was pleased that she had asked about both. "I'm okay, but Akamaru needs some love." Ayami went over and obediently pet the puppy, kissing it on the head before going over to Kiba and sitting next to him.

"Hey."

"Hey." Ayami reached out to poke his undamaged cheek. "So what now?"

"Whaddya mean, 'so what'?"

"What am I supposed to do, with a boy going around saying things like 'You are my dream.'?"

"Oh, well, there is always affection for the girl's hero when he comes home triumphant."

And he caught her, so close she close feel his hot breathe. It was was warm puppy smell. She didn't look him in the eyes. If she ran away now, it would damage the team's relations. He might tell others. She peeked up. His face was a little red too.

But she didn't want to be ruled over by a boy. She had seen enough of that in the other girls, driving their actions to get their man. She wanted her own dream.

"Isn't that only in fairytales?"

"This can be ours. We can have a...dogtail!"

But...maybe this wouldn't have to be that way. Couldn't she just...do what made her happy?

"You've come to a conclusion in the middle. Rare for you." And he kissed her in the warm sunshine, while Akamaru happily barked away.

♥ ♥ ♥

"I don't want anyone to know about this." she said the next time they were alone.

"I know. I haven't told anyone."

"Because...because they might..."

"I know. It both strengthens and weakens a ninja. If others know about it, they know that ninja's weakness. But it gives them something to fight for and live for."

She looked at him, wondering how he knew. She wondered why she didn't anticipate his thoughts. 'But then again, that would have been boring.' she thought as she snuggled against him and Akamaru.

♥ ♥ ♥

They still snuck conversations under the stars, but added walks through the forest at the dead of night to their activities.

Everyday he told her something about herself. One day he said.

"Up close you smell a little different. Like a flower, a white one I've seen, but don't know the name of."

"Don't know the name either. You'll have to ask my mother."

"That would be an interesting conversation.'Could you please tell me what your daughter smells like?'" She started laughing, and then heard a sound. All of a sudden Shino was standing over her. Kiba smiled at him. "So...you've found us, Shino. Jealous?"

"I thought something was up."

Ayami immediately turned to Shino, grabbing his baggy jacket by the front. He looked a little concerned, like she would throw him or something, but instead she looked up at him. A look of desperation...Shino had never seen her with that face before. "Please...please don't tell anyone!"

"I wo..."

"Please!" She grabbed him now in a hug. "It's so important." Shino started blushing at this outpouring of emotion. He was quite unused to it. And how was it that the bossy Kiba got such a quiet girl? Perhaps this meant he was destined for a person of talkativeness.

'Definitely should try to speak more often!' Imagine, he could get a female Naruto.

♥ ♥ ♥

She was so happy these days; it was her dreams that became unsatisfying. She stayed awake in her euphoria, sleep becoming a chore rather than a comfort. The only thing that bothered was Naruto's unhappiness, ever since Sasuke had run away. It nagged at her, becoming more and more a insistent. She was sitting with Kiba and Shino after practice one day, and Hinata came to her, voicing the same exact concern as Ayami. Ayami looked at her comrades for a suggestion.

"Naruto is definitely..."

"Kiba-kun..."

"Alright, alright...but anyway."

Shino adjusted his glasses. "Well there is the Bikouchuu."

"Bikachuu?" said everyone.

And Shino explained.

"We are taking this to the Hokage." said Ayami.

♥ ♥ ♥

"Let's...go!" said a rowdy Naruto. It was a team of five to find this mysterious bug that could trace any smell if exposed to it before birth. Shino was the leader, and of Naruto had to come. Kiba, Ayami, and Hinata were there as well.

It was supposed to be a simple and easy mission, but Ayami knew that with Naruto nothing was ever simple. Shino was asking Hinata exactly how her Byukagan worked. He was taking stock of their resources.

"I guess it's time to show you my new technique than. It'll definitely be in tune with Shino's and your abilities." And she showed Kiba, the iris of her dilating in a sliver, the color in her eyes spreading throughout the white.

"Cool...now your freaky-eyed too."

"I think it's rather pretty."

"Well this way, you and I match. We'll be freaky-eye team."

"Hinata's left out?"

"Well..." said Kiba whispering. "Don't tell her or Shino, but I don't want to be on anyone else's team."

"Bad dog." Ayami whispered back.

"I know." Then Kiba said louder, "Show Shino now."

Ayami obediently went forward to show and explain her eyes.

♥ ♥ ♥

It went well enough, Ayami intervening on several occasions when the boys began to play rough. Kiba gave her a heart attack when they stopped to camp that night, insisting that the tent was too small, and that they should split up. Before he could get out exactly where he wanted who, Shino agreed and said that girls would be in one tent and boys in another. Ayami gave him a little smile of appreciation before she went with Hinata to set up camp. She didn't mind sleeping near Kiba, knowing that he'd keep her warm and that he'd definitely gotten better smelling recently, but she didn't want to arouse suspicions. They were already having trouble hiding it from their families, and if Naruto found out, that would be the end of it. It was difficult to understand why one of her teammates was over so much more often than the other, despite Ayami's explanation that he was shy. And when she went over to Kiba's, the dog's instantly knew from their smells that the two of them were an 'item.' Kiba had to quickly order them to say nothing to no one, but the dogs still could not hide their excitement and the unusual amount of affection that the dogs showed for this girl did not go unnoticed. He did sneak out once that night, and woke her up.

"What are you doing here!"

"Relax, Hinata's gone somewhere. It's been awhile, now. Even Naruto left."

"Everyone out of their beds. My grandmother would be hyperventilating right about now.

He crept over to her, enveloping her in hug. She went lax as usual. "How do you get so soft?" He said nuzzling her.

"Secret technique."

"Wanna try the Sexy Jutsu!"

♥ ♥ ♥

Next morning Kiba had a huge bump on his head.

The mission was a failure in the end, due to something Naruto did, but a lady does not discuss.

♥ ♥ ♥

"Hey!" Tenten shouted, running toward Ayami, waving one arm in salutation. She caught up to her childhood friend. "I haven't talked to you in forever!"

"I know! I'm so sorry, but you know how things have been..."

It was true, except for a very sincere apology that her grandfather had died, and a lovely hug the two had not spoken. It was certainly busy in Konohana.

"That's okay. Hey, remember your promise?"

Ayami smiled brightly, "Of course not!"

Tenten looked shocked, "Wow. Not like you...I'd thought you'd try to forget."

"Oh...well, I guess I've been looking around recently. I can see how boys can be a welcome distraction."

Tenten smiled happily, "Sooo...?"

"Well, there's not much to tell. He's from the Aburame clan; fighting style is far away, uses bugs that suck chakra stored in his body..."

"Maybe you really haven't changed dear..."

"Okay! He's really quiet, but really sweet. He cares deeply about his comrades. He knows everything about every kind of bug...and he collects bugs. I don't think he kills them, so I'm not really sure what happens to those. Um...he doesn't like loud girls. Actually, I'm sure you'd be good for him. You talk enough, unlike Hinata. If he was with Hinata they might never actually speak."

Tenten blushed happily. "I don't know what it is...I think it's partly his skills, but also those sunglasses. And he does seem so sweet."

"I'll introduce you than. I'm just going now to meet him and Kiba for lunch at the ramen shop. Shino says teamwork means that sometimes you just need to have a nice chat."

"Won't I be intruding then?"

"No, Kiba's not going to talk to him. He only teases him. I'll have to draw his attention away so he actually does improve his relations with Shino. You'll make my job so much easier. Even Shino can be distracted by a pretty girl."

Tenten readily agreed.

♥ ♥ ♥

"Hey guys! This is my friend Tenten! You remember her from the chuunin exams?" Shino looked over, but Kiba was involved in his ramen. His interest in girls began and ended with Ayami. Tenten bowed politely, blushing a little. "You don't mind if she eats with us? I haven't spoken to her in forever."

Shino shrugged, and returned to his food. Ayami pushed Tenten to the seat next to Shino, and then pushed Kiba down so she could sit between him and Shino. She ordered her food, while Kiba finished his noodle and started talking animatedly to her about what they would do for training the next few days. Ayami happily listened to him but concentrated on the conversation next to her, which was going very nicely. Tenten was talking about the exams and exactly how Shino's techniques worked, while explaining about hers. Shino went even so far as to compliment her accuracy at hitting targets. He was not fooled in any way by what was going on, and after waving a warm farewell (for Shino) he pulled Ayami over.

"I know what you're doing."

"What am I doing? I am doing nothing."

"She's cute, but she's not going to like me."

"How do you know? Maybe she already does."

Shino looked perplexed by this thought, and said no more, instead he starting walking home. But Ayami thought she could detect the faintest blush on his cheeks. Kiba pulled her back. "Let's ditch this place!" and he ran towards the forest, Ayami helplessly and happily trailing along.

♥ ♥ ♥

Naruto © Masashi Kishimoto

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