Enjoy everyone I redid the chapter so it'll be better and slightly different all thanks to my beta reader Dustbunny3 anyways enjoy even though I do not own Naruto no matter how many packages of instant ramen I offer Massashi Kishimoto. Dammit. Anyways enjoy

Thanks

Mako-Chan

Their bodies slammed against the wall of the darkened apartment building hallway with such ferocity that a normal person might perceive it as a fight. But for these two it was quite the opposite. For them it was a prime example of what was known to most of their kind as "tough shinobi love."

Two meshed into one coat, they moved jerkily but steadily towards an apartment door. One figure exited the confines of the coat to jam a key pulled from his kunai pouch into the keyhole. He had just gotten the door unlocked and opened when he was assaulted from behind by his companion. They stumbled together through the opened door, slamming it closed behind them. Taking just enough time to discard their sandals and the coat, they fumbled down the hall and into Shino's small bedroom, never once pausing the heated battle of lips, tongues and teeth.

Shino leaned forward and kissed Sakura fiercely, swiping his tongue across her incisor teeth and further into her mouth. She responded by lightly nipping lower lip and using her own tongue to push his back so that it was her exploring his mouth. Never breaking the kiss, the couple fell back onto Shino's bed, Sakura landing on top.

Happy to be dominating, Sakura broke away to trail kisses along Shino's firm jaw line. She squeaked out in disappointed protest when he took the opportunity to flip them over. Shino didn't let her stay disappointed too long.

"You know I love you, right?" he whispered to her softly as he nibbled and licked at her ear.

"I have an idea of it, what with all the times you've told me," she giggled, sighing in pleasure a moment later. "Maybe I'll be more certain if you tell me again."

"No. I'll show you instead," he muttered suggestively, following through an instant later.

After a rather long and steamy make-out session, they lay cuddled together on his bed, wrapped securely in blankets and each other. On the nightstand beside the bed, the radio played softly, adding to the atmosphere. As they began to drift off, the words of How 'Bout Another First Kiss filled the room.

"Shino-kun," Sakura whispered tiredly, "do you remember our first kiss?"

"Mm," he mumbled. "I do."

"Me too…" Sakura mumbled. For the umpteenth time, the scene from three years ago played through her head.

"God damn it!" Sakura yelled, tired and frustrated.

One of the first things a medic is taught to understand is that no one can save every patient. There would be cases where pulling one through was just out of the question. No matter how many lives were saved, occasional death is always a given. Even the best medic would fail from time to time.

Sakura understood this. That didn't make it hurt any less when she failed. It didn't dull the ache that gripped her heart when she saw the fear and sorrow cloud the eyes of a dying patient. It didn't stop her from crying at night when images of fading life filled her mind.

It didn't stop her from beating defenseless training poles into a fine dust when she lost one as young as the boy from earlier that day.

"I hate when this happens! I hate to see them die. I hate the look they give me when they realize I can't save them. I hate knowing I'm helpless to save them! I hate it all!"

She continued to scream at no one as she punched the pole, tears streaming piteously down her face all the while.

"Don't we all?" spoke a quiet voice from behind her.

"Shut up! What do you know about it?" Sakura shouted as she turned to face the intruder.

Sakura blinked in surprise at seeing Shino and settled down almost immediately, embarrassed. She stiffened up and took a step back when he approached slowly, almost predatory in manner.

"I know plenty about losing people," he intoned evenly. "I know about losing people, not just patients. I've had to watch people too, but I was completely helpless to save them."

Sakura flinched, feeling like a total heel at her former words. For a moment there was silence. Shino stopped advancing, as though hesitant to go on. The feeling passed and he started forward again.

"I've known all my life what it's like to be alone. I know that's how you feel," Shino spoke as he went. "I see you all the time, trying to pretend that you aren't watching for him to come back. I see you and get so… angry."

This admission caused Sakura to blink again, her brow furrowed slightly in confusion. Why should Shino care one way or the other? And since when he speak so much at one time? Realizing how close Shino had gotten, she tried to back up again, stopped by the battered training pole behind her. Shino kept getting closer, but slower now, almost uncertain.

"Even if he returns, he will never be what you want him to be. He won't be who you want him to be, no matter how hard you try to pretend nothing has changed. He will never show the love or the companionship you crave. Maybe… someone else can."

Sakura could feel her face getting red, her heart pounding so hard that she was afraid Shino might be able to hear it. Her breath was becoming more and more shallow. Was she reacting this way for Shino, the infamous bug freak?

"Sh-Shino…" she whispered tightly.

"Sakura," he said quietly. "I know this must be weird for you, but I can help you if you let me."

To Sakura's utter astonishment, Shino reached up and removed his dark glasses.

Watching intently, Sakura felt her mind go on over-drive. She was going to see Shino's eyes! The way she heard it, not even Kiba or Hinata had ever seen his eyes. Shino kept his eyes closed for a moment before opening them slowly, almost teasingly. Sakura looked on intently, gasping when they were finally open to her.

Many rumors surrounded the Aburame eyes. One of the most popular and widely circulated was that they kept their eyes covered because the bugs could be seen crawling around inside.

Bullshit, Sakura thought. They're just afraid of the rabid teenage hormones.

Shino's eyes were the most gorgeous she'd ever seen. They were a deep, rich brown. Unlike the flecked, fragmented irises most people had, Shino's were solid and dark. Something deep within them shone, something too restrained to be sure of. They suggested such complexity that Sakura found herself wanting to dive in and pry into every corned until she knew all there was to know about Shino.

The first step was to see the rest of his face.

With no conscious effort of her part, Sakura reached for the zipper of Shino's high collared coat. By an act of pure will, Sakura pulled the zipper down slowly. Her eyes widened steadily as he was revealed to her. Cheek bones high and jaw strong and defined, Shino was a very attractive young man. A light scar, slightly jagged scar was situated on his left cheek.

Slowly, lightly, Sakura traced the scar with her fingers. Eyes locked with his, she brushed her fingers softly over his lips. Her hand trailed down and cupped his chin to coax him closer. He gladly obliged her and she leaned up and forward, meeting him half-way in a soft, chaste kiss- her very first. She pulled back to look into his eyes, a little more certain about what it was shining back at her.

"Okay, Shino," she said quietly. "Let's give it a whirl and see what happens."

Shino sighed quietly, recognizing the peaceful, content look on Sakura's face as she fell into sleep. It was the same expression she always wore when she reminisced about that day, much to his pleasure. He remembered it just as clearly. He had seen her there and for the first time in his life his self-restraint had failed him. Sakura had so much already that upset her, she didn't need to worry about forces outside her control. Determined to show her this and more, Shino had given into his feelings and gone to her. Somehow she had accepted him and it had come to this.

Shino looked fondly upon her sleeping form. For three years they had been together, though no one else knew it. Everyone would know tomorrow. Tomorrow everyone would know that she was going to be his wife. He secretly looked forward to their reactions.

Fingering the diamond ring on the delicate chain around Sakura's neck, Shino drifted off into slumber.

Thanks for reading and await the exciting next installment of MASTERMIND!

Thanks

Mako-Chan