Disclaimer: I own nothing except Kumo, and a computer screen that dislplays a lovely "Review this chapter" button that no one is clicking.

Kumo felt that things were returning to normal, or as normal as they were going to get. She had started attending her lessons with Kakashi in human form, and she had stopped trying to kill the clones that startled her. She still spent the most time with Shino, but she had also begun to spend more time with Sakura and Hinata. She truly enjoyed their company, though she still was puzzling over what it was about Naruto that made her shy friend obsessed with him to the point where she would faint if he touched her. All his yelling and flourescent orange just gave Kumo a headache, but maybe Hinata was immune to them or something. Sakura had a more reasonable opinion of her former teammate in Kumo's opinion. But then again, she had heard a lot about Sasuke, and she didn't understand how Sakura could have been obsessed with him.

Today she was going to see Sakura though, and not as a friend. "Sakura?" she asked.

Sakura turned around to see the other girl standing in the doorway. "Is something wrong?" she asked.

"I think I might be coming down with something." Kumo explained.

"Why don't sit down and describe your symptoms?" Sakura requested.

"Well, sometimes my heart rate increases and becomes erratic. My stomach feels like it's trying to do flips, and blood tries to rush to my face. Then I'm so distracted by what's going on that I start stuttering and acting stupid. It's been getting worse."

Sakura smiled, to Kumo's surprise. Shouldn't she be worried? "Do these spells always happen when you're around a particular person?" she asked.

Kumo thought back. Come to think of it, it always happens when I'm around Shino. Why would that be? I guess it's probably just because I'm around him a lot, so the chances that it would happen while i'm around him are high.

"Yeah, I guess. It's probably just a coincidence though."

Sakura's smile widened. "What you have is called a crush. Who is it?" she demanded excitedly.

Kumo just stared at her. I have a crush on Shino? That's her explanation?

Sakura sighed when the girl didn't respond and repeated her question. "Who do you have a crush on?"

"…" Kumo continued looking at the other girl like she had sprouted an extra two heads, and they were both spouting gibberish. While dancing. And glowing green.

"Answer me." Sakura admonished.

"mumblemumble" Kumo said, hoping that would placate her stubborn friend.

Sakura looked at her, one eyebrow raised. "If you don't answer, I will shove an entire orchard's worth of lemon juice down your throat." Sakura threatened, knowing that Kumo hated sour things.

"Shino." Kumo whispered, cowed into submission knowing that her friend wouldn't hesitate to make good on her threat.

"SHINO!" Sakura yelled in surprise. "You like Shino of all people!" It looked like Sakura was as bewildered by Kumo's crush as Kumo was bewildered by Hinata's crush on Naruto, or Sakura's obsession with Sasuke.

Suddenly the look of shock disappeared from Sakura's face, and was replaced with a cunning look.

Oh no! I don't want to know what she's planning! Kumo thought, rapidly exiting the room before she could dig herself a deeper hole.

Kumo didn't have to wonder what Sakura was planning for long. The next day, when Kumo and Shino were talking, Sakura sneaked up behind the girl and pulled her feet out from under her. She fell forwards into Shino. By reflex, his hands reached out to catch her as she collided with him and their faces met, lips crashing into each other's. His lips are warm. Kumo thought before she caught herself and jumped back, her face fire engine red with embarrassment.

"I'm s-sorry Shino." She stuttered.

"Why did you stutter and turn red?" he asked, perfectly composed as always.

"Because that was embarrassing. I tripped and crashed into you, and…sort of…kissed you." Her voice trailed off as she turned even redder in the face.

"It was not because you find me revolting?" Shino clarified.

"No! I would never think of you as revolting!" Kumo exclaimed, then realized how vehement she had been. She just wanted the ground to swallow her whole at the moment. Why can't I just disappear right now?

"If you do not find me revolting, then, do you find me appealing?"

Kumo gulped and panicked. What do I say?

Shino leaned forwards and gently placed his lips on hers. She froze for a moment, then began to hesitantly kiss him back. He broke the kiss after just a few seconds, and looked at her. At least, she thought he was looking at her. He was wearing his shades like always. "You would not have kissed me back if you did not have feelings for me." He asserted calmly.

Uh. Kumo was having difficulty forming a coherent thought. Shino was behaving very strangely. Did he kiss me just to figure out if I liked him? Is that why he pulled back after a few seconds?

"Will you join me to eat tomorrow night?"

"Uh, like a date?" Is Shino really asking me on a date? The words Shino and date shouldn't even appear in the same sentence.

"Yes."

"Uh, yeah." Kumo desperately restrained the urge to pinch herself to figure out if this was a dream. It had to be, right? That was the only logical explanation.

"I will pick you up at seven." With that, he turned and left.

What the hell just happened?

A/n: Oh, Shino. He just has no clue how to be romantic.