The second chapter! I was hoping for at least one review before I put this up...but I guess that's not going to happen. Please review if you do take the time to read this- it would help me out tremendously! Thank you!

"Phew…I'm so glad that today's over and done with."

"Did they really tire you out that much, Nirika-san?"

"Enough to make me never want to teach again!"

Iruka Umino smiled, his face lighting up. "Just be sure that you'll show up tomorrow. I really need you here to help with their wall-climbing exercises."

"Yeah, yeah. You know, I'm starting to believe that you couldn't do a thing without me here to help."

To her surprise, Iruka said, "No, I probably couldn't. Thank you again for supervising them during recess today. I know it was hard on you..."

"No, really!" she interrupted. "It was no big deal at all. I'm training to become a teacher, aren't I? Digging a shuriken out of my back should be the least of my worries!" Nirika laughed nervously.

"Just be sure to clean it up when you get home. I'll make sure he gets detention for the next month at least!"

"N...no, Iruka..."

"Why not?"

"Because then I'll be the one responsible for him! You assigned me detention duty last week, remember?"

"Aww...dammit. Well, I'll be sure to figure out some sort of punishment for him. See you tomorrow, Nirika."

"Bye, Iruka-sensei!"

What a day. Her teaching internship with Iruka was becoming more and more complicated. She loved all of the students, and she treated them as if they were her own children, but sometimes…they were just too much. Today, she had had to break up Konohamaru's gang when he had suggested playing shuriken tag at recess. As a result, she had gotten hit in the exact same spot Raian's leg had impacted her. Oh well, she thought, massaging her lower back. Her eyes closed as she heaved out a sigh. Kids will be kids, no matter what you try to tell them otherwise…

"Oof!" she breathed as she stumbled into someone. "I'm sorry…"

She found herself looking up at the small black spectacles and upturned collar that covered much of Shino Aburame's face. She cringed a little as his glasses shifted to glare down at her. Had she angered him at all? She hoped not...

Truth be told, she was afraid of Shino. It wasn't the fact that he had bugs living inside of his body that crawled out through tiny black holes in his skin to battle. Instead she feared the glasses, the glasses he never took off. She shrank away every time she had caught him staring at her from an angle across a room, his shifting lenses catching the light, alerting her to his presence. She cringed when she though of his grim personality, his unusual formality towards people, his dark and serious demeanor. And yet, as much as she feared him, she was curious. Curious as to what kind of eyes were hiding away under those round shades. Curious as to what kind of body lurked underneath that all-too suspicious coat…But now, it was the fear that had taken over. She flinched, waiting...

He did nothing.

"Sh…Shino?"

He cleared his throat solemnly and placed a hand on her shoulder, causing her to jump in alarm. He took a deep breath, then spoke:

"Nirika…I need to ask you a favor."

She was shocked. She never expected someone like Shino to ask for help, let alone ask her for help. They had never been very close, and knew very little about one another. What was he thinking? "Ummm…okay, what is it?"

He cleared his throat again.

"I need you to come over to my house tonight. My father and I…well, we have a little problem on our hands, and I think you're the only one who can help us out. I'll explain more when you get there."

He removed his hand from her shoulder and started to walk away. "Show up at six, alright?"

Nirika couldn't move. She kept her eyes fixated on Shino as he sauntered away, the back of his jacket swishing behind him. Had he really just asked her to come over? Tonight? She groaned as she thought of all the papers she had to correct, but...maybe this would be a nice break. Then again...this was Shino, the boy she feared and loved. Anything could happen. She sighed a little as she began to walk home again, her various thoughts of the Aburame boy swirling around in her head, and started to wonder if maybe, just maybe, she could see what was behind those glasses tonight.